How To Build Your Blog Credibilty

Success depends on lot of things. One of the things is uniqueness. If a blog/site does not offer anything unique and useful to the visitors, its just another Regular Joe. Hard work is another thing that goes with success. And most of all, some may disagree, luck is something you need as well.

While there is some truth to the assertion that you need to practice something for preaching, it is not essential. Dr. Seuss never had a child, did not know child psychology, did not teach to children, yet he produced contents for children that are still considered master pieces in children literature and tools for teaching children “how to read”

Great post John. I agree about the credibility of a blog starts from the “about page”. The more you know the more you feel connected to the blogger. Also the other thing is about ” make money online ” blogs. They are growing like wild mushroom in a jungle, people havent made a penny and they start writing about how to make money.

My blog personally is about things that I enjoy writing about. My views , my opinion. I am not an expert in anything its ablog where a general user shares his views and opinion as he sees it while welcoming everyone else’s to lemme know how others see it as well. Conversation is the key to any blog.

John Chow you are the man! I feel really inspired and motivated to blog just by hearing your name in my mind!
I’m learning a lot from you..

Best Wishes as always,
- Wakish -

Good post! I need to add some more info to my “About Me” page. Thanks for reminding me.

Really good post. This came at a fantastic time, I’m going to start a blog at the beginning of December called road2blogging.com, a journal type blog on a 24 month project where I aim to learn, advise (and hopefully teach) other about blogging.
Being yourself and writing in your own words is something that I’ve come to understand as being good work from great bloggers - on the other hand trying to become something or someone you’re not, will only push people away.

For some reason I don’t think my 2 paragraph about page stacks up… must get onto that

It’s interesting that you feel being passionate about your subject, and transparent to your readers is the best way to build credibility. I can see you are passionate, and I’ve been reading your E-book, which certainly makes you transparent. Until I read this post I didn’t even HAVE an ‘about’ page, and being a smartaleck I called mine “Unauthorized Autobiograpy” which I’m pretty sure I swiped from someone’s book title. I’m massively transparent as I write about every single weird thing that happens to me. I guess I mostly wanted to thank you for setting my mind at rest, as I was pretty sure I was driving people away with all that transparency.

Excellent post. I’ve still got to get an ‘About’ page up, will do that in the next few days. Glad to hear that you guys accept guest posts, I’ll definitely send one in!

Make that Unauthorized Autobiography. And I just read your book about always spell checking…doh!

I like that University idea.

Boy oh boy, I can’t tell you how right on this post is as I’m 3 days into a new blog. Time to update my About page. And the nugget of wisdom I read is basically, water seeks its own level.. hanging out with like-minded people, and hopefully get a picture taken with them.

I miss their “Dude you’re getting a dell” camaign. Kind of…

Good advice…most of us like to retain some semblance of anonymity though..

But I think you’re right…the more personal info we put on our about pages the more transparency and thus more credibility..

This is really hard to do when you’re first starting out. I think credibility also comes with age. As you keep blogging people realize that you probably know your stuff and therefor you earn their respect.

Screenshots or a real time guide (ie on a PPC campaign)

Great post John, only when you talk about technology or Operating Systems(Linux, Open Source) like I do it is difficult to get personal, you’ve got say things as they are, at times it is even difficult to be objective. You’re write…. Thru your about page it is possible to make people understand why you write the way you write

John doesn’t it reduce your credibility to talk about ways to trick people into thinking you have cerdibitliy. I do think it is funny, and I personally don’t have a problem with the topic. The implentation of these tactics are a bit shady. Before I go on I will admit my blog doesn’t have a focus and I will probably end up breaking it into several blogs once I have enough tie to orient my topics so I don’t have any credebility as a critic. I also, don’t have any pictures. It is just tough for me to hear your comments on education. My teachers beyond highschool all had a lot of success in carreers before becoming teachers, and I can stratch that to include many of my highschool teachers as well. A lot of them wanted ime to publish papers their day version of blogging with a lot less pay. You should consider the loss of you credibility when making blanket statements about professors. My comments is not meant to get you down. I read your blog religiously with my brother. Despite the morally concious lecture I am not above using some of the tactics.

The university idea proves one more time that you’re a root-of-evil, but don’t worry, one day you’re going to stand at the podium of those ivy-league schools, telling their professors and students how did you make money. I love that part about university John beside all other stuffs you mentioned there.

Forgot the emoticon, John. Here they areL First, for the university part, I need this one. Second, I need this one.

I think that’s the first time I saw John without a huge smile! I definitely can understand that he’s nervous and all with Michael Dell beside him but be yourself

Money making blog no longer just talk about 100% money making opportunities but also give insight values on how you can better optimize your blog to make more money.

Making a speech in Uni - not a bad idea

Great post Mr. Chow These are great tips, but it’s hard for some of us to follow it.

-Mike

Very good post. This goes to show that it’s not really about what your credentials really are but how people perceive your credentials to be. It’s not always a good idea to fake things but you can always twist every experience you have to accentuate the good points and to make things sound a lot more important. I wrote up a post on how image is everything here: http://www.winningtheweb.com/thirst-nothing-image-everything.php

Great posts John. Before read your article, i don’t know the about page is so important. I think i had to rewrite the about page again…

I think that credibility is very important in blogging and online business.

I agree with several of the comments…. i must change my about page.. or create one for that matter. i never realized that many readers will go to that upon a first visit.

Hi John,

That’s a wonderfully insightful post! Credibility is one of the most difficult things for a blog to establish since the barrier for entering the blogging field is almost nill. I agree with you that one of the first pages that I go to with respect to a new blog or website is the ABOUT page. Your post has given me some real thought to reworking my own about page so that it’s more functional and credible. I also think that having good quality, unique and insightful content on a blog, rather than regurgitated or rehashed material that you can find in a hundred different blogs speaks highly of the blog author in terms of credibility as well.

Thanks for giving me some great ideas!

Good post. Will at least make me rethink some of the things I’ve decided to do on my website. I agree that credibility and trust are very important things, but there are important reasons not to as well. All in all, I think it really comes down to the purpose of your blog and why you are doing what you are doing.

John, want to do a free SilentPillow.com tshirt give away? I can send you a bunch to give away.

Great post. I could not agree with you more.

Thanks for your insight.

http://www.weeklyincomenow.com

Pretty cool ideas. I don’t know about joining a trade guild, but doing a guest post is always a cool idea.

Hey John, why not take that uni idea one logical step further. Just christen your basement or bedroom office “The University of Woolwich” (in my case) and say you “give regular seminars at The University of Woolwich”.
That would be much more efficient. You could give lectures in your bathroom too. “The University of Scheibenhaus.”

Super post John, Thanks. I’m filing this one.

Thansk for the great post! I am happy to see I am not the only one who doesn’t have an about page. I think that will be my project for the night.
I know if I am getting information from a blog I want to believe the blogger has some experience in the field. Otherwise, how do I know it isn’t all BS?

Very nice post. Thanks John for teaching so many things.

i just started my blog, and reading this article give lot of information,
i never know that ‘about’ page is very important, but now i know..
in my blog i try to put many different kind of stories do it is good or not? and why…
may i ask you opinion about my blog what should i add and what should i do not do?
-thank you

I’m going to have to try that Speech at a University.

What ever you write on your About page is your problem, very few people get there, it’s more important to write well.

“That university thing” is actually how one of my lecturers got started:

First he rented a few rooms for a conference event - when that was cancelled, he kept the rooms and did a lecture.

From that - and after having a good turn-out - he rented a room again.

He was invited back a third time and by his tenth ‘official lecture’, he was invited to be a part-time guest lecturer and now he’s full-time staff at the university.

So it does work. Just be careful what university it is in case they have a strict policy against unofficial lectures and events.

Everything works like a dream in the post till you come to the last paragraph. Come on John, some guys may just take you seriously and do precisely what you suggest! There are some gullible guys like that still around you know?

I should say that credibility is one of the most important elements if we want people to trust us and also to listen to what we have to offer.

I should say this post gave me hope. I thought you are a blogger that don’t really like guest posts since I seldom see it here. I know that a blog with your name as a domain will be difficult to fit in a guest post but I’ve seen it here. Anyway, I hope some of the bloggers out there (perhaps me) will be lucky enough to produce a post that John Chow likes.

I love the last tip. Wonderful!

I gave a few presentations back in the day in college. I wonder if that counts as a keynote speaker?

Hey john, you have excellent tips for blogging. It’s crucial that you have your own credibility.. thanks for the tips..

and i love your make money online e-book.. really opens up your mind on other things that I didn’t even notice while blogging for money..

There’s an easier explanation for your success. In the words of Louis Pasteur, “Luck favors the prepared.”

In any given market there are only a finite number of above average returns while most are below. No different for mo’ money blogging. You and Shoemoney are the exceptions. There was a opportunity ’space’ to be filled and you happen to be there to park.

Instead of advice on how to write a great blog (which you do), help us figure out how to make a bigger lot.

Offer some free food/soda and student will show up.

Now you gonna get a lot of emails with guest post.You should make a section with the “Not to do” when is about Guest posting because i’m pretty sure you get a lot of crap.Cheers

In general, building cred takes a long time. Techcrucnh has tons of cred because ithas been around for awhile.

I have started a “how to make money online” blog as you mentioned but as you mentioned, I use it only as a journal and to pass info to new stay at home parents. I don’t expect this blog to generate a fraction of the revenue my niche blogs do. Great advice and I love the last tip.

Oh dear, I, like the masses have recently jumped on the “make money online train and for a start, this isn’t me in this picture. I’m a lot more handsome.

Wow, I’m working trying to build my blogs credibility right now. Thanks for the tips!

speak at a university??? let me check with various university in my place if they wanted me in to speak on their career forum.. hihi. i’d rather teach them how to blog and make a living out of blogging compared to working fulltime just to pay taxes and debts..

You make some excellent points. I learned about the “speaking” at the University trick from reading The Four Hour Workweek. I plan on using that at a very prestigious school here in the next month.

a simple round table discussion on a certain topic you know could be a good start i guess..

Would you gain more credibility if you charged an entrance fee for lectures/lessons on blogging for money?

well if your commercializing too much i doubt.. people got some weird interpretations about commercialization.. i used to join hr forums that charge for less still credibility of the speakers are intact.. what’s important is you’ve shared lessons.. but everything boils down to who you are and you’re up to.. seen bloggers sharing their failures to others including me to learn from those mistakes.. at no cost.. even some management guru’s could offer their time being your mentor for less or even for free.. thus, it’s up to you..

that last suggestion you gave john sounds like its right out of the 4 hour work week book… Before I may have thought that anyone speaking at a university might have had some credibility but I don’t anymore. it’s an evil suggestion, but sorry, not a good evil suggestion…

This is the great way to drive traffic..

LOL. good idea about speaking at a university. Maybe in a few years when I’m graduated. Plus, I’m a real pussy when giving speeches.

You have to write on topic that u have some knowledge and passion not just research informations and write with it own article but also include your own thoughts and experiences.

I just go to a school and tell them i make more money than you do kids and show them a little fancy stuff. Will they believe?

I don’t mind taking pictures with people but giving speeches, no way. I’d have a seizure on the spot.

Hi there,

Nice post. There are so many different ways to build credibility. However, seeing someone pose with a celebrity isn’t one of them. In fact, sorta makes me think the person might be a stalker, lol!

Seriously, the focus for bloggers is to always build their online credibilty. You touched on teaching a course at a local university, which may not be possible for a lot of folks.

I wanted to chime in and mention that most Community Centers or Chamber of Commerce -type organizations are always willing to give you a platform to speak. If you teach an hour class 5 or 10 times a year, you’d be surprised at how quick your rep can grow.

You might even be able to contact the Learning Annex and be a part of their offerings in your area. Then you can even get paid for your efforts.

Point is, the best way to build credibility is slowly, by providing great value to your readers. I’m new to the blogging game, but I have been making modest money on the web for a decade.

I have no name to speak of, but I guarantee you that what I have to offer will help a ton of folks. Once people start to benefit from my experience, the credibility will happen naturally.

Have a great week!
brian

At the end of it all I think the single most important thing is content. If the content is good a lot of things fall into place.

Wow, I found an interesting statement from Mr. John inside this post. Great informative helpful post as usual. Thanks.

u listed what to do to add cred, but you didnt list how to go about it.

I fully agree that many blogs need more credibility. One of the ways of building your blog credibility is to be honest with your readers. I’m sure this first step will help many bloggers.

Hi John
Sorry I missed you at Blog World. I would have enjoyed a conversation. . . .