Ace, Volleywood Founder:
In 2013 alone, volleywood.net reached almost 2 million views, a 25% increased from 2012, which is a positively overwhelming number for me. I never pay to advertise Volleywood. The growth of the brand I founded in 2009 is all ORGANIC and all word of mouth.
Within the last 5 years, I have seen a lot of volleyball related Facebook Fan Pages and to see such increase puts a happy smile on my face instead of fearing that Volleywood has a lot of competitors.
I don’t fear competition. As a matter of fact, I always compete with myself to become better in what I do. What matters most to me is that I am
happy with what I do for the sport of volleyball, the players and the fans.
If you plan on becoming a blogger in 2014, I have these 10 tips for you:
1. Identify Yourself
It’s a huge plus that you identify yourself on your blog. Your visitors need to know the person and the voice doing the blogging. It helps you build credibility for your brand.
There’s nothing to be afraid of.
2. Interact With Your Audience
This is the fun part!
It’s OK to respond to someone’s comment and most of all it’s OK to interact with your followers.
Aside from Facebook, I make use of other social media sites like Twitter and Instagram to interact with followers of Volleywood. In doing so, I have made valuable connections.
3. Dealing With Haters
I’ve had a few…
Haters are your secret admirers. If you don’t have them, you’re not relevant at all. Some people will always hate and will not like what you post or maybe your style but just IGNORE them.
The ‘block’ or the ‘ban user’ is just one easy click.
4. Be Natural
Don’t try too hard to please your audience. It’s not about pleasing others. Blog and write from the heart and you will eventually see great results down the road.
5. Be Honest
Write what you really and truly feel. Don’t hide nor conceal what you want to share to your audience. People are smart and can easily tell if you are sugarcoating or telling the truth.
Take note, honesty is an open invitation to criticisms.
6. Loyalty Is A Rare Commodity.
Tips 1-5 have allowed me to build strong connections which led to friendship with other volleyball fans from different parts of the world. I am in touch with them on a regular basis. We spend minutes chatting about volleyball and life in general.
I am very lucky to have such loyal Volleywood friends who are always around to help me scout news to share and also when I need an article to be translated.
Knowing that there are some people out there who can easily destroy what I’ve built from the ground up, I am lucky to have a loyal crew.
7. This Blog Is Mine
I am the captain of my own ship. I can navigate Volleywood the way I want to. I won’t let someone else steer it for me.
In other words, I can write what I want.
8. Emotions
This is one of the toughest parts of being a blogger. After 5 years of blogging, I still find it hard to write about someone’s death, when a player is seriously injured or when a team suffers a heartbreaking defeat.
At the end of the day, I really try my best to detach my emotions from any of the aforementioned subject.
9. Got Gossip?
The love for gossip is part of human nature. Knowing someone’s business is a guilty pleasure.
10. Be Proud Of Your Brand
It doesn’t matter how many likes you get and how many followers you have, great things will come your way as long as you LOVE & you are PROUD of your brand.
It’s not about the reward but it’s all about your passion shared to others.
<3 I Am Ace Volleywood
Volleywood, Founder/Managing Editor, Apr 2009 – Present:
Volleywood.net is a website and social media platform dedicated to the growth and popularity of Volleyball. Our vision is to shine the spotlight on the captivating events surrounding the sport, using a fully integrated social media platform to distribute our content. Volleywood on Facebook generates 3 million post views per month while the website receives over 1 million hits a month.
2013 CEV Men’s European Championship, Contributor & Social Media Correspondent
http://goo.gl/TexVkE
Member of Guardian UK’s “The Experts’ Network” for Volleyball at the 2012 London Olympics: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jul/25/olympics-experts-network-2#Volleyball.
Member of Connexia’s “Kill Shot Team” awarded with the “Premio Assorel” last Nov. 25th, 2011. Press Release: http://j.mp/tgM5nN. Video:http://youtu.be/108Vq2u6XaA
http://goo.gl/hr8E1l
FIVB Heroes, Content Manager, Aug 2011 – April 2012.
Generate content on the FIVB Heroes Facebook Page and create plans to direct fans to visit the official site.
Volleyball Magazine, Contributor:
Dec 2010: When In Rome, My whirlwind experience at the 2010 Men’s World Championships in Rome. (http://www.volleyballmag.com/articles/50-2010-men-s-fivb-world-championships)
Jul 2011: A Peek Inside Matt Fuerbringer’s World, Featured cover article where I interview the rising star. (http://www.volleyballmag.com/articles/153-a-peek-inside-matt-fuerbringer-s-world)
Kill Shot Team Member, Oct 2010
I was a member of the Kill Shot Team and represented USA in Rome, Italy to blog about the Final Round of the 2010 Men’s World Volleyball Championship.
The Net Live, Guest Reporter, Jul 2010 – Sep 2010
Reported on the latest international volleyball news for popular volleyball radio show.
*International Sports Press Association Member 2012-2013
*National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Member
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