Tell me about your Blog?

The first thing to know is that The Unlikely Entrepreneur is not a blog; it’s a blog/wiki hybrid (Martin Fowler calls this a bliki). I chose this platform because I have so much crosslinking and multiple authors that I wanted to be able to do much more than the blogging platforms such as WordPress and Blogger were capable of at the time. Now that I’ve really started exploring the wiki functionality of it I have to say I don’t think I could ever go back.

My blog came about because when I was talking with people about my career, I had so much information that I was drowning people in facts. So eventually I decided to blog so that I could rather elegantly refer them to my blog and let them learn as much as they were comfortable with,rather than make them want to run away from me.

The Unlikely Entrepreneur started out to be about having to learn to be a business owner in addition to being a musician, but quickly morphed over into its current format of posting and reviewing research on classical music published in peer-reviewed clinical journals, and letting people know why the research was important, and how they could use the information to their benefit. After having blogged for six months, The Unlikely Entrepreneur was named one of the top 100 music education blogs. I occasionally still do an op-ed post, but for the present I’m focusing on the research. I intend to start doing more op-ed posts soon (on the days when I just can’t read another journal abstract!).

What was your first blog?

I had a personal blog for a few months on a private social network, just to get used to the idea of blogging, and trying things out with a limited audience before going public. I eventually decided that I didn’t want to reveal that many personal details, and gave up blogging altogether, before some friends of mine convinced me to try again and to do a more informational blog.

What is the biggest tip you would give to a newbie blogger?

Decide on a posting schedule and stick to it. I post Wednesdays and Saturdays, with a few occasional posts in between, such as for Blog Action Day and a few other blogging events. Have some material ready for a post or two ahead in case life catches you by surprise.

What do advertisers do that you wish they wouldn’t?

Another great idea is giving stuff away–such as the software available on http://www.giveawayoftheday.com. By giving away the software, you are attracting, say, 1000 customers, who will, if they like your software, then tell all their friends. I know I’ve sent out countless emails targeted to friends who are really interested in what the product might do for them, and even suggested ways in which they can use it in their businesses. I liked one program and their company’s customer service so much I even became an affiliate for them–and a year ago I would never even have considered such an arrangement.

Another thing that I find irritating is when the whole blog exists only to get someone someone to click on their ads to make money, or only to advertise their product or service. I can’t send my business to everyone in the whole world, and if I’m going to take the time to read your blog post, I want something useful I can take to my vendor, if I already have one. For example, I’m not going to send my piano to another country and back to have it tuned, but if you have a piano tuning blog, I want information I can discuss with my own tuner.

What do you wish bloggers would do?

I find the crosslinking at my bliki extremely helpful and it certainly keeps visitors on the site much, much longer (the usual complaint I get is that people come on the site, and look up from the computer, and it’s 4:00 a.m.). I’d love to see more crosslinking between posts so that you can follow a train of thought. I love breadcrumbs as well.

I like the bio pages on blogs and everyone should have one, in addition to other static pages such as those on my site: environmental policy, guest post policy, comment policy, general site policy, etc. These are useful additions for serious bloggers. In view of the new FTC rule to take effect in December, there should also be a policy on each site concerning accepting free products for review, paid reviews, and more. In general, I want to know why you’re a credible source.

Where do you see growth in the blogging field?

I see the trend away from tech/seo/make money/how-to-blog blogs and more towards other kinds of blogging: social action, nonprofits, political action, citizen journalism, such as reporting on disasters or the live tweeting from Iran as events were unfolding (not opinion masquerading as journalism), etc. Nonprofits such as Doctors Without Borders, environmental groups, etc. have an almost unlimited opportunity for blogging. There’s a big opportunity for corporate blogging although most corporations don’t seem to understand the importance of it.

What new ideas are advertisers coming up with to take advantage of new trends?

Integrating advertisements as part of the blog posts, much like product placements in the movies. However, these should be clearly marked. The “fan pages” on facebook are a good idea, as well–if I’m really interested in your product, I will read the press releases, but the opt-in portion is important. One thing that irritates me about facebook fan pages is the continual messages to join. It would be much better to have the fan page on someone’s profile–that way you would get not followers who will quickly unsubscribe once they see what the fuss is all about, but rather a few dedicated followers who genuinely want to know about what you have to offer and keep up with what’s happening. I would much rather subscribe to some corporate website and have the original referrer continue to be paid for as long as I follow the website, rather than feel obligated to click on some ad to support a blogger (note: I am not advocating click fraud!).

What do you do to improve the world?

I saw an interview recently with Faith Mbazi, who said something to the effect that “being an entrepreneur means changing the world through business.” I educate people on the importance of classical music and music education for their brain development, health, well-being, and give them research they can discuss with their doctor. By aggregating all the research in one place, I try to add a little credibility to the field. It’s easy to dismiss one or two studies; I have posted over 120 and so now there’s a weight of evidence beginning to accumulate. And of course, I educate people on how to choose music teachers for themselves or their children. There are so many bad teachers out there, and only a few good ones; the bad ones are popular because they don’t demand much from their students, and so it’s easy and convenient to go to them. The good ones are worth every penny and every iota of work that you put into your music education and the results can last a lifetime, long after you quit studying or playing.