Sportsman's Blog

I’m convinced if you want to learn more about yourself and what it is you do…sometimes you need to step back and look at things from a fresh new perspective.   I’ve been fumbling around now with this blog for almost 8 years and the more I attempt to discover about the craft of blogging, the more I quickly realize how much I still have to learn.

This past Saturday I spent the entire day with a bunch of hard-core food bloggers from the Minneapolis/St. Paul surrounding area.   In total, there must have been 70+ attendees specializing in everything from cookies, cupcakes and desserts to artisan breads of all types.   As one can imagine, when it comes to food a person can specialize in a multitude of different areas.

So, what was a blogger who mostly writes about hunting and fishing doing by infiltrating this quadrant of the blogosphere?   Learning, observing, discovering, and well, of course, finding many good eats to pass the day.

But seriously, each time I hang with bloggers outside the realm of hunting, fishing and the outdoors I find it completely fascinating to compare how I do things with their challenges and opportunities.   What I learned may surprise you.   In fact, you may want to argue this point with me…but in many ways the food bloggers (at least those observed locally) are light years ahead of some of us in the outdoors industry.

Consider these thoughts:

Food bloggers have better developed their “voice” than most bloggers in the outdoors/shooting community.   What do I mean by “voice?”   I’m talking about the ability to stand up and be heard as a group by channeling expertise.   As blogging evolves it’s simply not enough to be a solitary entity spewing forth a few hundred words from a basement computer on a daily basis.   Nope, bloggers of all genres need to develop local communities where they gather often and understand they are not in competition with one another…instead, they have the unique opportunity to build an alliance where combined learning and readership has power.   Only then will marketers and public relations people begin to take bloggers more serious.

Food bloggers also tend to give readers better value for the time spent on a blog.   Honestly, I know I’m stepping on toes here, but it behooves all of us outdoors bloggers to take a moment for some introspection.   Do you ever ask yourself…”what will a reader learn from my blog post?”   We should.   Is the blog being written because we just have something important to say…or do we construct each post with the intention of rewarding the reader with some morsel for the time they spent reading?   Consider this, in almost ever food blog the blogger either reviews a restaurant (sharing advice on yea or nay to visit) OR the blogger provides a tested recipe with a potential mouth-watering payoff to the reader.   What do we give our readers as a “take away” for their time?

Food bloggers have amazing pictures that help sell their content.   Don’t get me wrong, a food blogger showing a picture of a sizzling burger on the grill layered in cheese and bacon has a distinct advantage here.   But let’s face it…the outdoors has tremendous opportunity for captivating pictures, too.   I think we can all do a better job of whetting the reader’s appetite for the outdoors by including more creative visuals.   It certainly is one of my goals for this blog.

And finally…Food bloggers do an exceptional job interacting with their readers…both on and off the blog.   If an outdoors blogger can garner a handful of comments after a post…that is typical.   But check out a popular food blog and you will often see posts turn into virtual discussions.   Readers suggesting variations in a recipe, pointing out links for additional information not shared…just a whole host of positive interaction.   Furthermore, it appears to me that many of the food bloggers make it a point to spend time on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. because they know how to go where both their potential and active readers are hanging out.

Look, I’m not suggesting that outdoors bloggers are doing it all wrong.   Instead, I think it’s time for the outdoors blogging community to step up to the plate (pardon the food blogger pun) and realize we might have to adjust the way we are doing things if we want to keep step with other bloggers and the success they are achieving.

Hanging with a bunch of food bloggers for a day was definitely a fun experience I will not soon forget.   But above all, the experience taught me if outdoors bloggers want to be respected and appreciated for our efforts…we still have a ways to go.

Case in point, I recently tried to unsubscribe to a GunsAmerica newsletter that I did not subscribe to in the first place.   Customer service wanted to know why upon making my request…so I explained I did not like how one of their employees bad mouthed bloggers at the last SHOT Show.   In return, I received a terse e-mail calling me a “bumblehead” which they later unsuccessfully attempted to remove from ever being sent to my mail system.

Here you have food bloggers and the food industry trying to positively align themselves with one another as they are forward thinking and can visualize where this is all going.   Then we have our industry and the prevalent short-sightedness that lingers because those of us who are bloggers need to do a better job of reclaiming who we are and enlightening the world as to where we plan to take things.   Other bloggers are already achieving these successes.   Those of us in the outdoors/shooting blog community need to better change our focus to attain similar results.   Indeed, a lot can be learned from our food blogger comrades.

©2012 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

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Don’t get me wrong…I’m not bored with outdoors blogging, but every now and then a person must change things up just to make life more interesting.   Indeed, it is just too damn easy to fall into the same old rut and continue to do things the same way over and over again.

Consider it sort of like throwing a burger on the grill.   Do you always season it with just salt and pepper…or occasionally do you get a bit “wild” and try something new like Cajun seasoning just to spice things up a bit?   I’m guessing it depends a lot on your personality.

You see, I come from a conservative Norwegian upbringing which often relates to doing things the same old familiar way each time you do something.   If it works and tastes good, well, then for heaven’s sakes why would you risk doing something different and adventurous?   That said, it goes against my very nature to make radical changes and to step outside the proverbial box in the way I do things.

Expect to see more pictures like this one on the blog as I turn into a “foodie.” Just kidding!!

That all changes beginning tomorrow morning.   Yup, I will be attending a blogger conference in Minneapolis that has very little to do with shotgun shells, fishing tackle, or for that matter anything outdoorsy in a recreational sense.   I will be attending my first ever food blogger conference called TECHmunch (facebook.com/techmunch).

So, how does a hunting and fishing blogger fit in at at a conference with a bunch of knife wielding, whisk swirling foodies?   I have absolutely no idea…but it should be fun to give it a try.

Actually, I’ve come to learn that it really doesn’t matter what the blog topic is about…bloggers of all genres have many of the same challenges and opportunities when it comes to their craft.   In fact, the unique manner in which some of these food bloggers meet those challenges I’m guessing will serve as an inspiration for how you might see me doing things here in this blog during the coming months.

Here’s the deal…as many of my long-time blog readers probably know, I have not been the most active blogging over the past year as I have been dealing with the time consuming end-of-life process of my mother.   Last week was her funeral and it sort of closed a chapter in my life with a new one about to open.

Each of us has the power to choose how the book of our life is written.   Obviously, the last chapter in my life was difficult and filled with sadness.   Well, guess what…the next chapter is going to be vastly different because that is how I choose to have it written.   No more excuses!

Beginning tomorrow I will be doing some fun things that break me out of the rut I’ve been in.   Yes, I will be having fun at a food blogging conference and I plan to report about it right here.   Oh, and by the way…maybe this is a great time to introduce another blogging venture I have started.   As I have since 2004, you can read about my outdoor exploits right here in this blog…but I would like to introduce you to my other NEW blog:  www.BaconWrappedBlog.com

This new blog promises to be a fun way for me to share some of my foodie experiences…mostly as produced on the BBQ grill or the smoker.   I urge you to check it out as I get this new blog up and running.

In the meantime, thanks for putting up with me as I have been in this rut.   It’s time to move on…and I truly believe I have some exciting things planned for the months and years to come.   I hope you’ll continue to be along for the journey.

©2012 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

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Seriously.   If I opened my wallet right now how much money would I need to hand over to own your blog’s persona.   I’m talking your URL…all the past written and pictorial content…basically everything about your blog site.   So, again, how much money would it take from my pocket to basically purchase outright your blogging rights completely?

Any idea?

First off, if you’re not a blogger and just a reader…bear with me here.   As you will eventually see, this blog posting is also about you the reader…but for the time being indulge me a bit as I get into the specifics of valuating a blog.

Now in the business world it’s a common rule of thumb to valuate a business’ goodwill and profit potential for a pending sale by using a rather simple calculation.   Figure out a business’s net profits for the year and then multiply that by a factor ranging usually anywhere from 3 to 10.   For instance, a business that made $50,000 last year could be offered up by the owner for that amount times a factor of, let’s say…5.   The resulting calculation would be simple.   $50,000 x 5 = $250,000 as a potential valuation to carry out the purchase deal.

But in the blogging world nothing is quite that simple.   Oh, sure, some bloggers do make money from their sites…but most do it for the fun or for the “perks,” as I will nicely call them.   So, how then do you value a blog?

Many have tried to answer this all important question.   Here’s one idea of someone posting their thoughts on the topic.   But the truth of the matter is putting a $ sign on a blog can be a very elusive task.

A good friend of mine who runs a very popular blog told me last January he wasn’t quite sure what he would sell his blog for, but knew the price tag would be in excess of $50,000.   Why?   Because that is what someone has already offered him and he turned them down.

Of course, this got me thinking about what my blog would be worth.   Now, rest assured, I AM NOT LOOKING TO SELL MY BLOG…rather, I’m just playing the speculating game.   If someone offered me 50 grand for SportsmansBlog.com would I take it and run.   Gosh, I might be tempted.   I know for sure at half that price I wouldn’t even consider it.

And this finally gets me to the crux of this blog posting.   There are a lot of bloggers out there that if you offered them $1,000 to own their complete blogging effort they would likely jump at the chance to turn a quick buck.   Are those the kind of bloggers you find yourself reading on a regular basis?

My blogging philosophy starts by putting a high value on one’s blogging effort.   After all, if the blogger doesn’t take a great deal of personal pride and sense of ownership in the effort…why then should others be wasting their time reading it.   I hate to be so brutal, but the blogosphere is a fluid thing and the bloggers who outlast the competition are the ones who generally place great value and professionalism into their communication efforts.

So in reality…this blog posting is not about how much money a blog might sell for on the open market.   Quite the contrary, blog readers need to be asking themselves how much a certain blog’s content is really worth to the loyal visitor.

Remember this.   I had an actor friend once tell me you can never outperform your own self-image.   Let’s paraphrase that just a bit relating it to the blogging community.   As a blogger, your blog’s value will never outperform the effort and worth you place into producing it.   Perhaps it’s time both readers and bloggers alike elevate our expectations for what we derive from our favored blogs.   It all starts by considering a blog’s value.

©2011 Jim Braaten.  All Rights Reserved.  No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

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Back ten years ago if you wanted to have a “voice” as an outdoors writer you needed one or more of the following.   You needed:

1. To have a columnist gig writing copy for either a local or regional newspaper; or
2. To be a free-lancer or staff writer for some monthly print magazine; or
3. Perhaps become a radio/TV show host; or
4. Even a published book author.

Oh sure, there were other possibilities that existed to make a name for yourself as an outdoors communicator, but to be honest what I have just listed comprised at least 80% of the outdoor communicating opportunities existing a mere decade ago.   To become established in this field you worked your tail off perfecting one or more of the communication mediums I outlined above.  In fact, not much had changed about the communicating profession during most of the 20th Century.

So, maybe the thought of entering a new Millennium began to change people’s mindsets.   Even six years ago when I began blogging few people took the effort seriously.   At that time the Outdoor Writer’s Association of America had not yet taken bloggers, or for that matter, most other online publishing content very seriously.   And the Professional Outdoor Media Association was just forming so this group was in a perfect position to grasp all the crucial changes taking place.

The point I’m trying to emphasize here is we are living in a fast-changing, and I dare say a very exciting time to be a communicator.   Before the Internet a person could work their entire career and not be known outside a 25–mile radius.   Today, such a statement would be almost impossible to make.   Even small town newspapers post content to the Internet for potential worldwide search access.

Let me demonstrate the power of the Internet, and more specifically Social Media (SM) Marketing.   Back in January of 2006 I wrote a blog piece about Diamond Dog Food as the company was embroiled, at the time, in a controversy regarding some of its products.   In fact, due to a suspected aflatoxin fungus found in certain dog food, 100s of dogs allegedly became sick and died.   I chastised the company in my blog for this carelessness and days later was contacted by none other than the president of the company to explain their position and how they were trying to make things right with the consumers.

Over the course of several weeks I received dozens upon dozens of e-mails from readers ranging from those who were just highly concerned, as well as individuals who suffered the heartbreak of losing their dogs.   Suddenly, a light bulb went off in my head realizing these occurrences could not have been made possible before the Internet.

Hardly a day goes by and my blog does not generate e-mails of some kind.   It ranges from people wanting to buy fillet knives I’ve discussed to others seeking advice on how best to market their father’s estate with all his outdoor gear.   It’s part of what makes this blogging effort exciting—in fact, I consider it the fuel that keeps me wanting to further develop the blog.

Alright, but you say what does any of this have to do with Social Media Marketing.   Well, I consider blogging to be sort of the original hybrid of SM marketing.   Still, most experts would agree that sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are evolving so quickly that marketing and public relations professionals simply cannot ignore the developing trend.

Here’s another example.   Did you see my blog post yesterday on the return of Shakey’s Pizza coming back to Minnesota in 2011?   Yeah, I know…it didn’t really relate to what I typically do with this blog site talking about the outdoors…but it was something personally fun for me.   That restaurant chain has some awesome childhood memories for me and my mouth is already salivating as I remember the great pizza it once sold.

Why did I post the news release?   Simple.   I made a comment last Friday on Twitter “re-tweeting” this exciting local news of Shakey’s return.   It turns out some public relations firm read my tweet, investigated a bit more as to who I was, and then made contact with me.   They e-mailed me not only the press release I posted, but they also offered interviews with folks at the pizza joint’s corporate office.   In other words, Shakey’s Pizza has such a pro-active PR agency they were out hustling the news to gain maximum exposure.  (as a side note, I have every reason to believe this blog post will likewise catch their eye…that’s how all of this works)

Here’s another example of the power of Twitter.   Last year my stepson was at the Minnesota State Fair and stayed in the encampment with all the other youths from around the state.   To make a long story short…last August he ended up contracting one of the first widespread outbreaks of H1N1 flu here in Minnesota.   I made a simple statement on Twitter how my stepson was a 4–Her at the fair and is not home sick with the “swine flu.”   Within minutes various news agencies were sending me messages wanting to interview me on the topic!   WOW!

The point is whether I post something in this blog or talk about it on my Facebook page or Twitter, I can give you numerous examples as to how the world is reading it.   The mere mention of a product name — good or bad — is going to get you noticed these days.   The savvy companies have marketing firms monitoring this “chatter” and often times contact is made with the party who makes the comment.   In fact, what better way to minimize bad publicity than to locate it, mitigate it, and turn a once upset person into a happy person again.

Just a few days ago I received an e-mail from an executive of the National Shooting Sports Foundation asking my opinion on SM marketing as it relates to outdoors writers.   Turns out he was soliciting my thoughts in preparation for an upcoming talk on the subject.   I shared lots of information with him, but essentially I told him to drive home these few points.

Make sure outdoors writers don’t continue living in the past thinking SM marketing is just some passing fad.   Instead, tell outdoors communicators to embrace SM marketing, strive to understand it, and attempt to overcome any natural objections so that it may be used to its fullest potential.   The sooner those of us in the outdoors industry (both communicators and companies) grasp the potential of what the Internet has to offer, the quicker those same folks will achieve 21^st Century success.   The times…more than ever before, they are a changing!

©2010 Jim Braaten.  All Rights Reserved.  No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

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