Interview: Benny Hsu Founder Of Get Busy Living Blog

One day I was browsing around the web trying to find new blogs to follow and to learn from and that day one blog stuck out at me and it was Get Busy Living. The title alone caught my interest as I always feel that you should enjoy your life and always try and prosper to do something more. As I read the content on this blog my motivation to work harder and smarter seemed to grow enormously.

The content that was being shared on this blog blew me away. I had never read content that went so in depth that it changed the way my thinking process was. As I started to get more involved with the blog and engaging with the webmaster Benny Hsu I realized that he was an amazing guy that just wanted to do something more with his life.

Today’s interview is with Benny Hsu Founder Of Get Busy Living:

Benny writes at Get Busy Living, where he writes to unleash the best that’s inside of you. No matter what stage you are in your life, it’s never too late to live out your dreams. Be sure to get his free ebook, “Get a Life That Doesn’t Suck” and learn the one sentence that changed his life.

 

What would separate a beginner blogger from a pro blogger?

I think what separates them are one that looks at it as a hobby and one that takes it serious and works on improving each time they hit publish on their blog.

 

What has been the best strategy you have used to grow your blog?

Mine has been through networking. I’ve spent a lot of time commenting on other blogs. I share posts on Twitter. I’m on Triberr, which helps my content get shared by my tribe members and vice versa.

Through networking, I’ve been invited to do guest posts. I’ve done interviews like this one. If I write something that others find valuable, they’ll mention it in their blog post. That all gets me in front of a new audience.

 

How could someone find and create their unique blogging voice?

One way I’ve learned to find your blogging voice is to write like you talk. Sometimes when I type, I’ll say each word softly as I type. I don’t use big words in my writing because if you met me, I wouldn’t use them.

By doing that, I show some of my personality through my writing.

 

When you first started out did you have a “blog business plan”? A set idea of how many posts you were going to put out?

When I first started, I didn’t have a business plan. I knew that I wasn’t going to post every day. I had a hard enough time coming up with posts to start. I began by working on posting twice a week. I didn’t have set days. Some do to force themselves to write. I just wanted to work on publishing two posts on any two days in the week.

Now I prefer to write something when I get inspired. I don’t force it. I do try to post at least once a week, whether it’s something from me or a guest post.

If you’re just starting out, I would set a schedule for yourself. Just to get into the habit of writing and publishing consistently. Don’t think you have to post every day. Remember you want quality over quantity.

 

What you know with blogging now what would you go back and do from day one when you first started your blog?

That’s a tough one because I can’t think anything major that I would change. What I would do if I could go back to day one is write more. In order to be a better writer, you have to write more. I had much more free time early on and I wished I just worked on writing every day, even if it was writing that would never get published.

 

How important is design for a blog? Does it matter if you have a customized design for your blog? Which design do you use?

A great design is important, but when you’re starting out, don’t worry about it too much. There are so many free themes available that look great. Go for something clean and simple. Don’t lose new visitors in the first seconds by your messy design.

Learn from my mistake. When I first started my blog, I had a free theme that I liked, but I wanted it to be customized. I thought it would make me stand out more. So I hired a web designer on Elance.com and told him the changes I want. I looked at other blogs and pulled what I liked. I spent around $100. After he was done, I was happy with it for about a week and then decided to just go back with the original theme.

I wasted time and money! It was a costly mistake. I should have just focused on content and networking. The free theme I ended up using was great. It didn’t need to be customized. I got a lot of compliments on it. After months of blogging, I noticed other bloggers using it and now I was at a stage when I was ready to go with a premium theme, to stand out from other blogs.

Now I’m using the Standard Theme and customized it myself. I’m so happy with it.

You don’t need a customized theme. You can get many premium themes that are ready to use out of the box. If you don’t have money to spend, go with a great free theme until you’re ready for a redesign after your blog grows.

I just felt comfortable customizing it and knew the basics. If you don’t have time or don’t know how, you’ll find many great premium or free themes that will fit your need.

 

What is your goal with your blog? What message did you want to get across to your audience?

My goal of my blog is to make it a place where people love the writing, the message, and the products I create. It really makes an impact.

My message I want to get across is to get people to take control of their lives. To understand that life doesn’t have to suck if they choose to not make it suck. Too often we get used to playing the victim and blaming external factors for our lack of success.

We all have a choice. As much as the world seems against us sometimes, it’s true.

 

What are three things that any blogger should concentrate on to be the best and why?

First is content because without it, you won’t get people to come back. If you don’t have anything of value for them, why will they want to come back?

Focus on networking. One thing I love about blogging is to get to know other bloggers. Many who are writing and doing great things. Blogging is not a journey that should be done alone. If I blogged in a bubble and didn’t interact, I wouldn’t have this much fun.

Always be learning. Constantly learn to be a better blogger. Don’t get complacent. Once you start getting lazy and not find ways to make your blog better, other blogs are working hard to pass you.

 

Who was a person you looked up to when you first started blogging? Why?

Before I started Getbusylivingblog.com, I had been a fan of Darren Rowse at Problogger and Yaro Starak at Entrepreneurs-Journey. I saw them making a full time living online. I thought that was the best job in the world! However, I didn’t start because i didn’t know what I should blog about.

Once I started getting serious about blogging earlier in 2011, I looked up to Pat Flynn and Corbett Barr.  Pat was laid off of a job he loved and Corbett left a startup to do start blogging.

Pat has such loyal readers. He has built up so much trust through his valuable content and personality. They listen when he talks. His monthly income reports are insane. That just shows how much people his blog.

I like Corbett as well because he constantly writes epics posts on both of his blogs. When he started blogging, he knew nothing. He said he wasn’t even much of a writer. Now he has two thriving blogs. I like his business model of creating products that have incredible value.

Both have become an authority, built up successful businesses, and I look up to them to do the same.

 

What is the best advice you could give to the blogging community?

I would say blog because it’s something you love to do. Find a topic you love to read about, think about, and write about. Don’t start a blog and think you’ll be making enough money to quit your job in six months. It’s possible to make a full time income online because there’s proof out there. However, it takes time. I’m talking at least a year. You’ve got to give it that long to see if it’s worth continuing. Anything less won’t be enough to gauge.

But if you’re writing about a topic you love, you’ll want to keep going.