Blogging is not easy. We get to experience it as soon as we start getting our feet wet in this exciting water. We have to learn about insurmountable topics with ever changing interest of readers. There are few people out there who are passionate about blogging and taking it as a serious business. With their hard work, they have tasted the success, making good amount of money and now work on the things they love.
A great success in our initial experiment of interviewing Mommy Bloggers has inspired us to bring more experts on our platform. We are reaching out to other versatile bloggers who have achieved remarkable success by their hard work and making a mega living by earning from blogging. We hope the experiences of those pro bloggers will guide you, teach you and inspire you in your blogging career.
In this new series, we introduce to you Ryan. A globe-trotting and island-hopping blogger who is always there to share incredible experiences from his enviable lifestyle. Ryan shares his experiences on Blogging From Paradise and he has been been featured on sites like Richard Branson’s Virgin Blog, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Fox News, Positively Positive, Life Hack Dot Org, John Chow Dot Com, Neil Patel Dot Com, Pro Blogger and Blogging Tips Dot Com.
Let’s know more about his journey straight from his words:
Hello Ryan, please share a little bit about yourself. Your island life and how come you entered into Blogging world.
I have been island hopping for the past 7 years but left the 9-5 gig to become a pro blogger. I was fired from my security guard job and my wife told me about the online business aka blogging bit. I dove in, had some bumps and bruises but eventually built up my blog.
This might be a silly question but how do you survive on your blog as you have a traveler soul? What do you like to do when you don’t have an Internet connection?
These days, we research places before visiting to ensure we have a dependable connection. But when we started traveling in 2011 we had to do some creating offline and surrender being online in spots with poor connections. Work offline by creating content then take advantage of up time by loading your work and checking email when the internet is up.
You are a passionate learner, creating E-books. What are you reading or writing on right now?
I am writing tons of posts and reading tons of blog posts too. I do most research through blog posts on sites like Pro Blogger and Blogging Tips. But reading fiction is important to me too; fires up my imagination. I am reading The Lord of the Rings Guidebook as I am in New Zealand now and want to see some of these places; big Hobbit fan LOL!
What kind of hardships have you faced living a globe-trotting, island-hopping life? Your suggestions on DOs and DON’Ts could help our readers a lot.
My 1 chief hardship; I left home with heavy mental baggage and deep fears that I was forced to face on the road. Instead of getting my shop in order, working on my mindset and feeling better back home in the US I traveled the world while still clinging to limiting beliefs, so me and my wife ran into financial problems early during the trip. Eventually I worked through these issues but doing so at home before traveling would have enhanced our experience. BUT….I do believe everything happens at the perfect place and perfect time. So these experiences made me who I am today and were meant to happen when they happened.
Is there any day when you got disappointed to the extent that you thought to leave blogging? What type of challenges did you face while getting started in the blogging world?
Nope; I never genuinely thought of quitting. I fell too in love with freedom to let my fears call the shots. I did run into problems driving traffic, increasing profits, monetizing my blog and thinking like an entrepreneur. Working on my mindset helped me get through these issues when I learned to feel my fears and to blog mainly for fun, with a sense of detachment about blogging.
How did you overcome your initial failures? Any tip for a newbie to stay motivated in initial days?
Don’t use motivation; this is a common rookie mistake. Motivation is looking outside of you for drivers, toward people, money, traffic, and since change is constant, you will lose motivation. Follow your passion. Blog mainly for fun. If the money or traffic doesn’t arrive, you will keep blogging because you’re doing it for fun.
If I don’t have money, how can I get started?
You cannot get started without money. Don’t bother; don’t waste your time. Get a job and buy a domain and hosting. Or ask someone for money and buy a domain and hosting. This is a blogging non-negotiable and also a good blogging practice for doing freeing but uncomfortable stuff. Spend money to make money.
How do you monetize your blog and which are your favorite/most effective monetization platforms?
I have over 10 income streams. I have no faves because my focus is on having fun with blogging. It’s like a carpenter who loves their work; whether using hammer, saw or ruler, they just love their work. I write and self-publish Amazon eBooks, I create online courses, offer coaching, offer freelance writing services, sell audio books I co-created, sell ad space, sell sponsored posts and work a handful of consulting streams.
How to get into affiliate marketing or contact influencers?
2 different concepts; you can start affiliate marketing via any affiliate opportunity. Contact influencers by spending *1 to 3 months HELPING THEM WITHOUT ASKING FOR ANYTHING*. I capped these words because hundreds of people ask me to do stuff for them and I don’t care about them because they don’t care about me; prove you don’t want to use me, but that you want to befriend me. This is how to impress, befriend and partner with influencers. Also, practice writing. A lot. Improve your skills to impress influencers.
SEO is a great thing if you use it right way. What steps you have to take to implement SEO on your blog. Any particular Plugin or other strategies you want to suggest?
I do little SEO as it feels heavy-boring to me. Instead, I focus on creating content, serving people and befriending top bloggers, all foundations of a successful blogging business.
How can I come up with content ideas for things to post about?
I mine sites like Quora, the Warrior Forum and scan my comments and emails.
Sometime we enter into writer’s block, how to overcome with it?
Sit with it. If you feel the fear of writer’s block arise, sit in that spot and breathe deeply. Like everything, the fear passes, and you get a blog post idea.
How do you feel about link building strategies? Do you feel this concept is ignored by most bloggers?
I focus on creating helpful content, making buddies and the links pile up for me.
Nowadays, many aspirant bloggers think that it’s easy to earn money from blogging and they are expecting overnight success. What are your views on that and what would be your suggestions for them?
Set aside the next 2-4 years of your life. Dedicate these 2-4 years to building a successful blog the right way. Good things take time.
Why connecting to other bloggers is beneficial in long run? Why creating a personal network is important for making a brand?
1000 is better than 1. If I tweeted my stuff all day long, a few people visit my blog. But 1000 people or more tweeting my stuff over weeks means more folks visit my blog 🙂 1000 is better than 1. Make friends.
How do you see your life after 5 years? Your long-term vision for life.
None. I live in the moment; that’s where my power is. Seriously; people wonder how I wrote 126 eBooks or 2,000 blog posts. They are focusing on the future and I am in the Now. Time is an illusion anyway so whether it is 30 years from now or 2,000 years in the past we are always in the Moment.
How readers of Escape Writers can find you? Your Social Media Links.
Sure thing:
https://twitter.com/RyanBiddulph
https://www.facebook.com/ryankbiddulph
That was fantastic Ryan! It’s so good to know about your highly inspirational blogging journey and lifestyle. Our readers will surely learn a thing or two from your experiences. As they say ‘Fortune favours the bold’, some of your bold decisions have brought you this success and you will keep reaping fruits of it in future too.
We thank you from bottom of our heart to take out your precious time and sharing so many things with us. We wish you all the very best for all your future endeavours and trips! Thank you once again.
Guys, if you have any questions for Ryan then please feel free to post it in comments. Don’t forget to share the interview with your friends and family to inspire them!
Em
Great interview! I also believe in buying own domain name.
Ryan Biddulph
Thanks Em much appreciated buddy. Only way to go.
Ryan
Lisa | amerytina
I’m so inspired! Thank you for creating this series and I am looking forward to reading more. Ryan has so many great ideas and I love his mindset on the world of blogging. My favorite line: “Follow your passion. Blog mainly for fun. If the money or traffic doesn’t arrive, you will keep blogging because you’re doing it for fun.” Yes! I totally agree. It will not be fun if we get trapped in the mindset of just making money, it makes it another rat race.
Ryan Biddulph
Lisa thanks so much for reading and sharing.
Ryan
Rosey | Simply Be Mama
This is such a great interview with so many good tips! Love this thought – “Good things take time.” Thank you.
Ryan Biddulph
Rosey thanks a bunch for sharing. Good things really do take time, and are well worth the patient generosity we embody.
Ryan
travel and treatz
Great interview. I follow his Ryan’s tweets and blog posts. There’s usually something thay makes me think out of the box a bit or something that inspires me. I recently wondered why he commented on quora so much. Lol now i know! Smart guy!
Jessica
Blogging is a bit difficult without money, you must invest a little to get the most. I’m 4 months in but still have yet to gain much income out of it 🙁 but staying patient 😉 is key!
Jet
Great interview! With so much info online about making an exorbitant amount of money in less than a year blogging, it’s great to hear from someone who acknowledges that it can take time. to build up a following. I also agree that blogging should be fun and that if even you don’t “get rich quick” you should be ending up with something that enjoy doing regardless of the money.
Grace
What a great interview with Ryan Biddulph! I am going to start following him now!
Alecia
I love hearing another bloggers perspective! Great interview
Alison Rost
Sounds like he knows his in and outs when it comes to being a successful travel blogger. I think it’s awesome that he decided to start and push through with it. I learned so much through this interview!
Natalie
That is a unique perspective coming from a successful blogger. Enjoyable and inspiring as well!
Mohan
Great Interview! Inspirational and motivating!
Sarah
I always enjoy reading about other successful bloggers! It’s encouraging. Sounds like an interesting blog too!
Kelsey
LOVE this interview! Island hopping and full time blogger?? Ryan totally lives my dream life! Also, I agree with reaching out and helping people without asking for anything in return!! Great advice!
Tawnya
Interesting interview. It’s nice to hear from people that have “made it” blogging and be inspired to work harder at your own craft. Thanks for sharing!
Jessica
Great post. I love how Ryan repeatedly says to live in the moment and to blog for fun! It’s important not to get too focused on the numbers, blog because you love to write and blog about your passion first and foremost!
Dalene
Blogging is not an easy task for sure; it requires commitment and resources! I love how Ryan points that out frankly. Anyway, I also agree that embracing the blogging community is one great way of growing as Ryan mentions. And as a big fan of fiction too, I think it totally fires one’s imaginations;which is a good tip when it comes to writing posts as a blogger.
Idora
Such a great interview! It would be a dream for me to dedicate all my time to my blog and move away from the 9-5 life, I’m so glad he’s able to fully embrace the writing that he loves and spend every day doing it!
Ingrid
This was a very enlightening and educational interview. It seems that being a blogger on the road has ushered you into a process of growth. I liked how you selflessly shared resources to fellow bloggers. In particular I would like to explore Pro Blogger and Blogging Tips. Thanks for sharing with us.
Msddah
Such a great interview. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I definitely got the vibe that he truly lives in the moment!
kartika nair
Really very informative ost . I am newbie in blogging and I learned alot of new things from this interview about seo and earning from blog . Thanks !
The Panicked Foodie
There were a lot of great tips in this interview. I am a fairly new food blogger, and am still learning as I go. There are a lot of tips in here that I will be using going forward. Thanks!