How Reading Can Help You Become a Successful Blogger

How often should a blogger read? What has reading got to do with blogging? You will answer these questions yourself by the time you are through with reading this article. Those who have visited my blog and read my articles will observe that i sometimes write topics that either looks irrelevant or unimportant. But i want you to know that on the internet, what you term little and irrelevant usually make big differences.

I recently wrote an article on TycoonBlogger titled “12 Traits of Highly Successful Bloggers” and one of such trait is that successful bloggers are proactive learners. In the blogosphere, things change very fast and with such change comes either increase or decline in blog traffic.

For you to survive and excel in an ever changing world, you must constantly update your knowledge base and one of the best ways to do this is by reading. Being an entrepreneur, investor and a blogger, i have come to acknowledge that there is still much to learn and despite my tight schedule, i still make out time to read.

As an entrepreneur, investor and blogger, i read for the following reasons:

1. I don’t want my business or blog to become obsolete. i don’t want to be old fashioned. In the world we live in now, things change so rapidly that if you are not on guard, you might be left behind. What is an innovation today may become obsolete tomorrow. I remember sometime ago, Yahoo chat was the rave of the moment, then came MySpace and now, it’s FaceBook. What will be the next innovation? Only time will tell.

“A cup that is full is useless.” – Chinese Proverb

2. As a blogging entrepreneur, i have to keep my eyes open for opportunities and by reading; i might come across business opportunities posing as problems.
3. I read to be updated on industrial and general trend. Trend can be a very strong competitive advantage for you in the blogosphere only if you can spot it fast enough and take advantage of it.
   Though i am not an analyst, i have some blog trend analyst and experts whose write ups i read.  After they must have done the dirty work, i simply pick up their journals and see what they have to say and how it relates to me and my business.
4. I read to learn and be informed. As you know, to be a successful blogger, you have to be a proactive learner. As a blogger, you must know a little of almost everything that relates to blogging.
5. I read to develop myself and be a better person. Remember that blogging is all about giving out information and you can’t give what you don’t have. So therefore, i read anything that will help improve my writing skills, reading skills, communication skills and any other skills that will make me a successful blogger.

Now since i have explained to you why i read, you might want to know the kind of stuffs i read. Well, below are things i read and i will also recommend you read:

“In the best books, great men talk to us, give us their most precious thought and pour their souls into ours.” – William Ellery Channing

1. I read industrial magazines related to my business so i can be aware of changes in the industry.
2. I read business books, magazines and journals in general to develop my business skills and to see if i can spot a niche in another industry i am not involved in.
3. I read investment books, magazines and journals to increase my financial intelligence and improve my investing skills.
4. I read articles, blog posts and books published by successful entrepreneurs such as Robert Kiyosaki, Richard Branson, etc.
5. I read autobiographies and biographies of successful entrepreneurs such as John D. Rockefeller, Henry Ford and J. Paul Getty, so that i can learn from their mistakes and success.
6. I read newspapers about happenings in the society. Remember societal problems are opportunities for smart entrepreneurs and bloggers.
7. I subscribe to the blogs of highly successful bloggers such as Tim Ferris, Steve Pavlina and Darren Rowse because i someday hope to get to their status.
8. Lastly and most importantly, i read the bible to seek God’s advice, build my faith and gain spiritual understanding and wisdom.

In conclusion, i want to encourage you to improve your reading capacity. One thing i have come to observe is that; whenever i read anything; be it a book or blog post, i learn something new and with each new found knowledge comes potential power. As a final note, always remember that “readers are leaders”.

Does reading have a direct impact on bloggers? Please share your views in the comment box below.

Tagged as: bloggers, Blogging, reading, successful bloggers