Syracuse University Graduate Who Built Successful Blogging Platform Shares Tips, Advice

Meet Write Money Inc’s Featured Business Leader:  Jessica Ann Mitchell is a Syracuse University graduate.  She is also a writer, experienced marketer and public relations specialist.  In addition to managing The National Black Pages, Jessica serves as the founder of Lamzu Media.  She is a passionate creative business leader, successfully connecting one blogger and innovator to another.

WMI:     How has the Internet changed since you were pursuing your degrees in Pan-African Studies and Public Relations at Syracuse University?   

JAM:      I completed my master’s programs fairly recently, so the only major change that I can pinpoint is the rise of Twitter. When I began creating my own online projects, I began to see the internet as a source of constant interaction and innovation. I was an avid Facebook user but then Twitter became this new open medium that increased dialogue and interaction.  

WMI:     When did you start blogging and why did you decide to take a community rather than a personal (e.g. here’s what I did this weekend) approach at your blogs? 

JAM:      I started blogging two years ago after engaging in a Facebook debate with a friend. I felt like I needed to say more, so I decided to start a blog. I had never really thought of it before that moment. However, as a writer and poet, blogging seemed to come natural to me. I started to take the community approach because I wanted to address pertinent issues in African descended communities. However, I have recently begun to make my blog posts more personal. Both methods have benefits. The community approach is great for discussions but the personal approach is great for self-awakening and the exploration of ideas.  

WMI:     You refer to yourself as a creatologist. Sounds like you coined a word!  Tell Write Money Inc. visitors what a creatologist is as well as how you arrived at the term. 

JAM:      When I was in my public relations program, I learned about creatologists during a guerrilla marketing course at the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University. Creatologists are people that are creatively inclined, innovative and highly imaginative. I am the type of person that is constantly changing. But the one thing that never changes about me is the fact that I love to create new things and expand on ideas.  Sometimes I get so caught up in my ideas I have to stop myself before I end up launching a new website every week. So, I didn’t coin the term but I definitely embrace it.

WMI:     What’s the National Black Pages and how do you keep the sites from taking traffic away from each other? 

JAM:      The National Black Pages is an online collective of media networks designed to focus on the needs and concerns of the Black community. The collective includes BlackBloggersConnect.com, NationalBlackPages.com, BlackFathers.org, BlackHairStylesOnline.com, BlackRelationships.org, BlackBloggerNetwork.com, and BlackAdvertising.net. The sites each serve as a support mechanism for one another. Traffic is increased because all of the sites are linked to each other and people generally want to see what else is available. If someone is learning about Black Bloggers Connect, they are likely to learn about National Black Pages or Black Relationships. So, they go from one site to the other, increasing traffic on each one.  

WMI:     In addition to creating your own blogs, you also write for periodicals and websites like USA Today Topics Section, American Banking & Market News, Women’s Net, India Times and Conversations for a Better World.  Do you think it’s important for business owners, particularly solopreneurs with a blog presence, to create content for other websites and publications?  Why or why not? 

JAM:      I think it is more important to write content for yourself and then spread your article to other sites. Most of the websites that have featured or linked to my articles have done so based on their interest in the topic that I wrote about. Then they pick up the story and send more traffic to my sites. However, it is always a plus for solopreneurs to be featured on websites that have a larger presence. Sites with large web presence are always looking for more quality content. In many cases they will publish your article and this will help you gain more prestige in the online community. It’s a win-win situation.  

WMI:     So many entrepreneurs blog.  Yet, not everyone generates the search engine, social network, etc. traffic to pay the bills. That said, what three steps can entrepreneurs take to gain more exposure and visitor traffic for their blogs? 

JAM:      The first step entrepreneurs should take is to develop an outreach plan. Take the time to figure out where your potential readers are and focus on them. Too often we think that just because something is on the internet, people are going to see it. No, we have to actively pursue readers at all times. Start looking at Facebook groups, LinkedIn groups and Twitter hashtags (#) that are related to your niche. Second, create an email list-serve so that you can always stay in touch with your readers. However, do not overwhelm them with emails. Try to limit email blasts to only two or three times a month. Third, offer advertising on your site. It’s good to start with Google Adsense and also allow other businesses to promote on your site for a set fee. However, you have to make sure that you have a steady flow of traffic.  

WMI:     When and why did you create Book Look, the Literary Mash Up?   

JAM:      The Book Look was created by Charisse Carney-Nunes and D. Amari Jackson. They created the online show to highlight Black literature online and increase Black literature readership among our youth. It’s an excellent resource and online show.

WMI:     How can interested writers have their work featured at Book Look or contact you for an interview on the show?

 JAM:      Interested writers should contact The Book Look staff at submissions@thebooklook.com.

 WMI:     Have you noticed the trend of business owners with blogging success having several blogging sites?  If so, what do you think is driving this trend?   

JAM:      Several blogging sites provide bloggers with a variety of platforms to reach people. It’s kind of similar to what I do with the National Black Pages collective. With several blogs, you have a greater chance of reaching more people. However, each blog must have its own outreach plan in order for this to work. Furthermore, each blog should be linked in a highly visible area on all sites.  

WMI:     The Internet has created a world of opportunity for millions of people.  Today writers can get published from home using a laptop and PDF package, creating e-books or print-on-demand books.  Business owners can position themselves as “experts” by creating engaging blogs.  Musicians can access sites like MySpace and YouTube to create an online following.  Gone are the days when people waited on established companies (e.g. major book publishers, record companies) to validate their work.  This is good.  On the other hand, it can appear to have crowded the field.  If the pace blogs, e-books, independently produced music, are being created, marketed and promoted continues, do you think it will water down the impact of the work?  Why or why not? 

JAM:      The watered down effect is a possibility. But one thing that I have learned over the past two years is that great content is going to rise to the top no matter what. Good music, good commentary and good writing that utilizes innovation will not be tainted or outshined by mediocre work. Excellence versus mediocrity is what keeps the field from being over-crowded.   

WMI:     What’s next for JAM, the awesome creatologist?  What’s next for The National Black Pages?  Where do you see yourself and your businesses in the next three to five years?

JAM:  Currently my most important project is BlackBloggersConnect.com. It is the hardest thing that I have ever worked on but I believe that Black writers and bloggers truly need to connect and utilize our resources. I’m also forging partnerships with other online mediums in order to network and increase traffic. We have a networking event coming up June 2^nd -7^th 2012, The Black Bloggers Connect Cruise to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. This will be a great opportunity for bloggers and webpreneurs to network and enjoy the summer.

In the next three to five years, I see my online networks expanding to include a plethora of information and career resources in the media. I will also be connecting with more companies to provide products and services that will assist bloggers with their online success.

As for myself, I will always be dreaming, imagining and creating.