Today I am going to introduce you with one more power blogger Interview with Doyan Wilfred. Interviews are the great way to know person, her struggle, life journey and achievements. It make all of us strong and also give inspiration to create our own world of happiness.
Ans: Hi.
I am Doyan Wilfred. I live in Kerala, India. I love to read. And I like dragon rolls.
I am an entrepreneur by profession. I am a blogger. I love blogging.
When I’m not blogging you can find me running around after my two toddlers.
Q. How I entered blogging?
I was an extremely shy kid. I was the wallflower. But, I liked watching people. How they behave and communicate. I learned from people-watching that your success depends on how good you are at influencing people. If you can get people to take action. Armed with this knowledge, I set out to develop my communication skills.
I would help my friends. What is the point of developing a skill and then just let it rust with me right? I ran a small consulting service, helping people prepare for and attend interviews, negotiate a freelance offer etc. Now that I have two small kids I can't go out to work. So, one of my friends suggested taking my consulting online.
Blogging was not new to me. I had a hobby blog.
My uncle is my inspiration behind blogging. He introduced me to Blogger. Later I moved WordPress.com. Posting my own poems and short stories was my favorite pastime. I did not take it seriously.
Q. How the idea to make your own blog came in your mind? How you found the right people to develop it and what big obstacles you faced?
Ans: As I said, I ran a consulting practice business offline. Now that I have two small kids I can't go out to work. . So, decided to take my consulting online.
I set up my blog in WordPress.com. I built it and waited. Nothing happened.
And then I waited. Still, nothing happened.
What is wrong!
My biggest obstacle was my writing. It was crappy at best. And I was not reaching my target. Not able to reach as many people as I could find.
So I set out to learn how to write for the web. I did not know about copywriting and content marketing back then.
Did what all millennial do. Googled "writing for the web" And out pops copyblogger article. I devoured it. And went through their popular section. Signed up for the free membership. I learned everything I can.
Following their advice, I moved my site to self-hosted WordPress.
I am not a web developer. And setting up WordPress is not easy for someone who is not a developer. So I could not get my site to look just like I wanted. Enter Udemy. I found a course on setting up a brand new self-hosted WordPress blog.
Q. Can blogging really change someone`s life?
Ans: Yes and No. Anything and everything can change a person's life. If you have the passion and the drive to do it. You gotta find your reason for doing it.
Your 'Why'. As Simon Sinek calls it.
Otherwise, you will never reach your goals. Your Why is what pulls you through all the hardship. From my experience, money is not that reason. It is something much more powerful. Like a spiritual rock. When your Why aligns with another person's why a strong bond develops. Together your team can achieve anything.
Your Why is also the best tool that you can use to attract the right kind of customers.
Raving fans.
Q. What are your favorite Internet marketing tools?
Ans: I have a huge list.
Some of the must-have tools are:
WordPress - the only platform for serious bloggers
Customer.io, Jumplead (both have free plans with limited features), Infusionsoft, and the best tool for beginners out there-Mailchimp and alternatives for mailchimp.
Content marketer.io for influencer outreach.
Topsy - to stalk your competitor
Buffer, Post planner for Social media scheduling
Agorapulse to host contests
Also See : Online Video a “Must” For Mobile Marketing
Q. What is your daily schedule? And how do you maintain your tasks?
Ans: Trying to find time for my blogging is a real struggle while running a house and taking care of two toddlers who need my constant attention.
I try to work on my blog posts early in the morning when I'm at my absolute best. I wake up at 2 AM or 3 AM. (Yeah, I’m a light sleeper.)
I use the Pomodoro technique to keep track of time and stop working when the time interval is up. Also, I have the IFTT Do button installed and the 'Do not disturb fo the next hour' set up. Turn it on to prevent distractions.
Q. Blogging have different definition for different person. What is it for you?
Ans: My definition of blogging...
Blogging for me is a platform to help people stand out in the cacophony. How I can help bring change to the lives of my customers.
People you meet online are strangers. They won't trust you or buy from you at the first meeting. So for me blogging is my platform to attract my ideal customers. Connect with you on a regular basis. Remind you that there is a solution to your problems. Earn your trust. And build a relationship with you. Long term.
If you build it, they won't come. Empathy. Engagement. Exclusivity. The formula of a successful blog.
Q. Which are your favorite blogs?
Ans: My favorite blogs are Copyblogger - the leaders, Jon Morrow's Boost blog traffic, Ramit Sethi's I will teach you to be rich; it has an irresistible style, Amy Porterfield's blog, Social Media Examiner, Pat Flynn's Smart Passive Income Blog, Marie Forleo's blog and the latest addition to my list of favourites-Ann's MyBlogU
Also See : Gaurav Kumar Blogging Journey
Q. How much time do you spend on social media promotion and SEO of your blog?
Ans: I have the Yoast SEO plugin installed on my sites.
For every blog post, I add a focus keyword and a short meta description. The best SEO is writing for humans. And writing from the heart.
Social media promotion
I have a Twitter account and Google and Facebook business pages set up.
I use commun_it to monitor my twitter account. Their analytics is great. And is a breeze to set up.
I spend at least 45 minutes every day to engage my communities. During that time I go through my newsfeed and comment, share, like, retweet the content I find interesting. And also respond to any comments and other notifications. I use Buffer to schedule some posts.
Q. How much time do you spend for blogging daily?
Ans: I spend two to three hours a day every day.
I typically spend a couple of hours every day writing, editing, re-editing and formatting the blog posts. And another half-hour on the images.
For every 1 hour, I spend writing my blog I put 10 hours to prepare it-I like to do it in my head.
Q. Finally, I would love to have your message for my readers and any suggestions for newbies?
Ans: Remember, whether online or offline, Connecting with people is key. There are two tools that can never go wrong in connecting with people.
Empathy. Engagement. Exclusivity.
Blogging is hard work. And like any other work, to reap rewards, you must be passionate about what you do. If you are in it just for the money you will not make it. You must find your WHY.
Don`t forget to share about Interview with Doyan Wilfred on your social profiles. If you want me to Publish your interview, feel free to contact me.
This is the 28nd edition of powerful, successful and inspirational interviews in the series of Journey of a Professional Blogger, interviews on EASKME.com.
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| Interview with Doyan Wilfred : Journey of a Professional Blogger : eAskme |
Ans: Hi.
I am Doyan Wilfred. I live in Kerala, India. I love to read. And I like dragon rolls.
I am an entrepreneur by profession. I am a blogger. I love blogging.
When I’m not blogging you can find me running around after my two toddlers.
Q. How I entered blogging?
I was an extremely shy kid. I was the wallflower. But, I liked watching people. How they behave and communicate. I learned from people-watching that your success depends on how good you are at influencing people. If you can get people to take action. Armed with this knowledge, I set out to develop my communication skills.
I would help my friends. What is the point of developing a skill and then just let it rust with me right? I ran a small consulting service, helping people prepare for and attend interviews, negotiate a freelance offer etc. Now that I have two small kids I can't go out to work. So, one of my friends suggested taking my consulting online.
Blogging was not new to me. I had a hobby blog.
My uncle is my inspiration behind blogging. He introduced me to Blogger. Later I moved WordPress.com. Posting my own poems and short stories was my favorite pastime. I did not take it seriously.
Q. How the idea to make your own blog came in your mind? How you found the right people to develop it and what big obstacles you faced?
Ans: As I said, I ran a consulting practice business offline. Now that I have two small kids I can't go out to work. . So, decided to take my consulting online.
I set up my blog in WordPress.com. I built it and waited. Nothing happened.
And then I waited. Still, nothing happened.
What is wrong!
My biggest obstacle was my writing. It was crappy at best. And I was not reaching my target. Not able to reach as many people as I could find.
So I set out to learn how to write for the web. I did not know about copywriting and content marketing back then.
Did what all millennial do. Googled "writing for the web" And out pops copyblogger article. I devoured it. And went through their popular section. Signed up for the free membership. I learned everything I can.
Following their advice, I moved my site to self-hosted WordPress.
I am not a web developer. And setting up WordPress is not easy for someone who is not a developer. So I could not get my site to look just like I wanted. Enter Udemy. I found a course on setting up a brand new self-hosted WordPress blog.
Q. Can blogging really change someone`s life?
Ans: Yes and No. Anything and everything can change a person's life. If you have the passion and the drive to do it. You gotta find your reason for doing it.
Your 'Why'. As Simon Sinek calls it.
Otherwise, you will never reach your goals. Your Why is what pulls you through all the hardship. From my experience, money is not that reason. It is something much more powerful. Like a spiritual rock. When your Why aligns with another person's why a strong bond develops. Together your team can achieve anything.
Your Why is also the best tool that you can use to attract the right kind of customers.
Raving fans.
Ans: I have a huge list.
Some of the must-have tools are:
WordPress - the only platform for serious bloggers
Customer.io, Jumplead (both have free plans with limited features), Infusionsoft, and the best tool for beginners out there-Mailchimp and alternatives for mailchimp.
Content marketer.io for influencer outreach.
Topsy - to stalk your competitor
Buffer, Post planner for Social media scheduling
Agorapulse to host contests
Also See : Online Video a “Must” For Mobile Marketing
Q. What is your daily schedule? And how do you maintain your tasks?
Ans: Trying to find time for my blogging is a real struggle while running a house and taking care of two toddlers who need my constant attention.
I try to work on my blog posts early in the morning when I'm at my absolute best. I wake up at 2 AM or 3 AM. (Yeah, I’m a light sleeper.)
I use the Pomodoro technique to keep track of time and stop working when the time interval is up. Also, I have the IFTT Do button installed and the 'Do not disturb fo the next hour' set up. Turn it on to prevent distractions.
Q. Blogging have different definition for different person. What is it for you?
Ans: My definition of blogging...
Blogging for me is a platform to help people stand out in the cacophony. How I can help bring change to the lives of my customers.
People you meet online are strangers. They won't trust you or buy from you at the first meeting. So for me blogging is my platform to attract my ideal customers. Connect with you on a regular basis. Remind you that there is a solution to your problems. Earn your trust. And build a relationship with you. Long term.
If you build it, they won't come. Empathy. Engagement. Exclusivity. The formula of a successful blog.
Q. Which are your favorite blogs?
Ans: My favorite blogs are Copyblogger - the leaders, Jon Morrow's Boost blog traffic, Ramit Sethi's I will teach you to be rich; it has an irresistible style, Amy Porterfield's blog, Social Media Examiner, Pat Flynn's Smart Passive Income Blog, Marie Forleo's blog and the latest addition to my list of favourites-Ann's MyBlogU
Ans: I have the Yoast SEO plugin installed on my sites.
For every blog post, I add a focus keyword and a short meta description. The best SEO is writing for humans. And writing from the heart.
Social media promotion
I have a Twitter account and Google and Facebook business pages set up.
I use commun_it to monitor my twitter account. Their analytics is great. And is a breeze to set up.
I spend at least 45 minutes every day to engage my communities. During that time I go through my newsfeed and comment, share, like, retweet the content I find interesting. And also respond to any comments and other notifications. I use Buffer to schedule some posts.
Q. How much time do you spend for blogging daily?
Ans: I spend two to three hours a day every day.
I typically spend a couple of hours every day writing, editing, re-editing and formatting the blog posts. And another half-hour on the images.
For every 1 hour, I spend writing my blog I put 10 hours to prepare it-I like to do it in my head.
Q. Finally, I would love to have your message for my readers and any suggestions for newbies?
Ans: Remember, whether online or offline, Connecting with people is key. There are two tools that can never go wrong in connecting with people.
Empathy. Engagement. Exclusivity.
Blogging is hard work. And like any other work, to reap rewards, you must be passionate about what you do. If you are in it just for the money you will not make it. You must find your WHY.
Don`t forget to share about Interview with Doyan Wilfred on your social profiles. If you want me to Publish your interview, feel free to contact me.
