What Do You Know?

Now that you know what you can build, let’s take a look at what you want to build.

The first step in that process is looking at who you are, what and who you know, and what you love. What do you have to offer the millions of potential readers who will join your Blog Empire while they sip their morning coffee?

To find out we’re going to answer the most important question for your future success: where you’re going to build your capitol, the headquarters of your own Blog Empire. Basically, we’re going to brainstorm and free associate.

There are no right answers, no wrong answers, and nothing is too crazy to write down at this point.

Remember, if you love it, someone else probably loves it, too.

Take out a blank sheet of paper and get a nice, tall drink. Then answer the following questions as best as you can. Some, like your age, may seem silly or irrelevant. Some you may simply not have an answer to. That’s perfectly all right. Just be as thorough as you can.

Question 1: Who are you? What is your age? What is your gender? What is your race? Are you religious? Are you a dazzling urbanite, a laid-back rural, or something in between? Do you think about these issues every day? Do they matter to you or to your friends? HOW do they matter? What languages do you speak? If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? Try that last one again, honestly this time.

Question 2: What do you know? What and who do you know? Where have you gone to school? Where do you work and what do you do? In what areas are you an expert? Who else shares your love, your passion, your expertise? What work, education, or hobby-related areas could you be said to have a reputation? What do you have a reputation for?

Question 3: What do you want to know? When you log onto the internet, where is the first place you go? What are you looking for? What do you expect to find? How long does it take you to find it? Is everything in one place? How many sites do you visit before you’re satisfied? What do you WANT a reputation for?

Question 4: What are you passionate about? What makes your blood boil? What makes you jump up and click your heels? Have you ever written a letter to the editor? What was the subject? Did you check the paper every day for responses? What politicians or issues do you love enough to walk door-to-door for? Why? If you were king, what would be the first thing you’d do? If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you’d buy?