[quote style=”boxed”]You have to approach [business blogging] deliberately; create topics based on what your customers have questions about or problems with, and make a content schedule.[/quote]
Michael Martine creates online business success for coaches, consultants and freelancers by working one-on-one as a mentor. His site, Remarkablogger.com, is an information resource for marketing your business online with blogs, social media and email. Michael has been blogging since 1999. He lives in Vermont and works from home.
What are you working on right now?
The next version of my site and business. I’m calling it “Remarkablogger 2.0” to myself.
Where did the idea for company come from?
I was watching a TED video of Seth Godin talk about being remarkable, and you can figure out the rest.
What does your typical day look like?
It mostly looks like somebody not doing very much, because I sit at a computer all the time. I try to get out for a walk at least once—if not twice—every day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I try to put myself in my customers’ shoes and to think about problems and questions from their viewpoints. That is how you create things that may appear to be typical on the surface but are in fact nothing like what others offer.
What’s one trend that really excites you?
The utter disruption of old industries by internet technology. Music and newspapers are feeling it now, and real estate and secondary education are going to really feel it soon.
What was the worst job you ever had and what did you learn from it?
Working at a Bob Evans restaurant when I was a teenager. The lesson I learned was to never allow others to take advantage of me (especially when they think I need a job). I walked out on my job, right in the middle of the busiest time of the busiest day of the week. And when the manager came after me, yelling, I didn’t even look at him. I just flipped him the bird and kept walking.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Keep a journal. It’s how I hold myself accountable.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Build your personal network and fill it with awesome people. It’s best thing you can ever do for any business.
What are your three favorite online tools or resources and what do you love about them?
I use Google reader in order to stay informed without wasting my time, Hootsuite in order to manage social media a number of ways, and WordPress for blogging (plugins and themes rule).
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene Schwartz, because it’s the book everyone else’s over-priced marketing courses are secretly based on.
Three people we should follow on Twitter and why?
Find your customers and peers, and connect with them. They are the people you should follow. Most peoples’ Twitter streams are complete shit and are not worth paying any attention to at all. Make sure you’re engaging with people and posting the most useful stuff you can.
When was the last time you laughed out loud? What caused it?
This morning—at some screenshots of bad iPhone autocorrects.
Who is your hero?
Any full-time fiction writer.
What’s the most important thing to know about business blogging?
You have to approach it deliberately; create topics based on what your customers have questions about or problems with, and make a content schedule. There is no “muse.”
Connect:
Michael Martine on Twitter:
Remarkablogger on Facebook:
Michael Martine on Google Plus:
Mario Schulzke is the Founder of ideamensch, which he started a decade ago to learn from entrepreneurs and give them a platform for their ideas.