Ah so this will be the last post for 2012 - the “end of the year” post.
Now that we’ve survived the “end of the world” I want to share some things I learned with blogging in 2012. I’m sure these tips will help aspiring bloggers to survive blogging in 2013 
Let me get straight to the point.
Prefer watching a video? Here you go!
Prefer reading? Read on…
1. Don’t be shy to learn everyday
No matter how popular you are, no matter how much knowledge you have on a topic, there’s always something great to learn on any topic.
Don’t be shy and don’t let your ego stand as a hindrance to your learning. If a newbie blogger offers you a suggestion, don’t neglect it just because the blogger is new in the field.
He/She might have a point. Even if there is no point or if his advice is irrelevant, thank him/her for the time he took to give you the suggestion.
Even though I have more experience than them, I never hesitate to try out the tool/idea they suggest. You never know what you can learn!
2. Networking is fun and rewarding
I don’t have an exact number on the people I’ve connected with in 2012. But I can say that I’ve got some golden connections. Some are my peers, some act as my mentors, so share the fun times and its really refreshing.
There are fun connections, business connections and client connections - all these are worthy connections.
It is good to get connected with as many people as you can, along the way. You never know which connection can open up a great opportunity for you.
Some can be great buddies to help keep your motivation up!
3. Help as much as you can (this will build your business)
Along the way, I’ve helped many bloggers. I’m not saying this to toot my own horn.
Whenever I get a newbie blogger email me a question, I take my time to do my research and help them as much as I can. You know what? Every time I do this, I earn a friend or even a fan.
In my opinion this counts a lot.
I am not saying that you should spend hours everyday in responding to every email in detail. In fact it could disturb your productivity a lot and sidetrack you from your goals.
But take a little time to be nice to people and help them out.
4. It is fun to make money while sleeping
Oh yes. That’s the power of blogging and having an online business. I say this because in 2012 most of my payments came through while I was either sleeping or shopping.
And most of it were passive income.
I don’t say that if you start a blog today you will be making money tomorrow (and that too while sleeping). It takes truck load of hard work to get there. But once you get there, you realize its true power.
5. Diversify your blogging income
Sure you can make money blogging. Everyone may have different ways to make money. Some use their blog to get clients for their business - this could be web designing, consulting, SEO services, freelancing services or others. These are not passive income, which means you have to do the work in order to get paid.
Some use direct or indirect advertising as a mode to generate passive income. Here you don’t need to do much work; you set up things once and forget so that your blog continues to make money.
For some, affiliate marketing will be a great source of income. I could write pages about using affiliate marketing to make money - but in short, it is one of the easiest ways to make money blogging.
Let’s say Google comes up with a strange update and the term “SEO services” becomes meaningless. If you’re only earning through link building services, you have to find a job!
6. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
Be it SEO, income sources, link building strategies, traffic sources, start ups whatever - do not put your trust on one thing and hope that it will work forever.
Things change fast these days. What worked yesterday might not work today and what is most popular today might be washed off from the face of the planet tomorrow.
Don’t put all your effort, investment etc. on one particular thing. For instance, don’t rely on search engine traffic - you might end up getting none one day.
7. Don’t forget to follow up
There’s always a golden opportunity in a mail box lol; OK at least it was so in my inbox.
Throughout 2012, I had a habit of digging through my old emails to see conversations with old clients, once in a month or so.
I emailed 80% of them doing a simple follow up - asking if my service (say blog audit, or Thesis customization) was useful to them. I asked them if they have anything they need help with.
I emailed old advertisers letting them know that their ads stopped running and if they wish to advertise again.
90% of those emails turned out to be new opportunities and 60% of them make me recurring income.
8. Affiliate marketing is grrreat
This is something I found in 2012. I knew affiliate marketing works and is good. But I found its greatness this year. As I said earlier, it is one of the easiest ways to make money online.
You don’t need to spend time and energy in creating a product in the first place - I think this is where most aspiring bloggers tend to hold back. You don’t have to go through hectic product launches, marketing, and other stuff. You don’t have to deal with painful customer support.
But you can still make money with a product you don’t own. And in some cases you can earn much more than the product owner (think about 75% or 100% commissions).
9. Do not over spend (on your business)
Think over and over before you enter your credit card details to make a new purchase.
I am one of those bloggers who keep on insisting newbies that they need to invest in their business and stop building a business on free platforms.
Yes, if you treat your business like a business, you need to make investments - say for hosting, email autoresponder, outsourcing etc.
But that doesn’t mean that you have to buy every software, plugin and e-book out there. If you could run a business successfully with what you have, you perhaps don’t need that extra software.
10. Do invest in your business
OK that might sound a little controversial, but what I mean is different. Do not go for free or pirated copies of software. They won’t serve the purpose and also will damage your reputation.
Do not think about saving $100 for a month of sleepless nights in tweaking your blog’s design. If you can get a decent theme for $100 or get it custom designed, go for it by all means.
Spend your time on the most important stuff that will actually build your business rather than pondering over stuff that someone (or something) else can do for you.
11. Collaborate with your competitors
In my opinion there is no such thing called “competition” with blogging. But ironically I call my fellow bloggers so here because that’s the term we are used to. Most SEO software and sites call our fellow bloggers as competitors (heard of these terms: SEO competition, competition spying etc.?).
Sure, they’re sharing similar stuff like you; they’re selling similar products; they’re interested in the kind of audience that interest you! But they are not you.
There’s only one you and that’s enough!
Rather than looking at your fellow bloggers as competitors, look at them as your pals. Oh I must say that this is one of the most valuable stuff I learned.
12. It is not all about money
Yes, this is highly important. In my opinion, blogging is not all about money. Sure money is the factor that keeps things running (with business and your life, coz you have bills to pay and mouths to feed).
But when it comes to a point where it is either money or relationships, don’t make it about money. Don’t break a relationship with a client just because he/she did not agree with your bargain.
Always make it a win win and keep things smooth.
Money is indeed important but don’t make it all about money.
Here’s a handy presentation of these lessons
And those are the lessons I learned this year Feel free to share your views and the lessons you learned this year.
Have a wonderful and a prosperous 2013!
