Got Sustainishmentability? It's The Key To Online Success!

simon m foster on flickr

So what’s the most important thing to seeking, and achieving, online success?

Is it graphic design? No.

Is it content? No.

Is it having lots of free giveaways? No, and thank goodness for that.

Lots of white papers available for download just by giving up an email address and sperm sample? LOL, and No. [that's me laughing at you, btw...]

Is it spamming the heck out of people on Twitter? Uh… No. [If you do this, stop reading, and leave my blog alone.]

Lots of hip paid advertisements? No.

Featuring world renown guest bloggers? No.

Demonstrating new ideas? No.

New concepts? No.

Instructional? Informative? Insightful? No. No. No.

New, fresh perspectives? No.

Timely information? No.

So what is the most important thing? It’s one word:

1. Discipline.
2. Sustainability.
3. Sticktuitiveness.
4. Maintain.
5. Nourishment.
6. Determination.
7. In it for the long-haul.
8. Patience.

And I lump all of the above words into one concept: SUSTAINISHMENTABILITY!

Sustainishmentability is having the patience, discipline, and determination to maintain and sustain your online efforts for as long as it takes. Chris Brogan says it took him eight years to get 100 followers. Some of the best, and most recognized bloggers have been at it . . . for years. And years. Dooce, who feeds and supports her family from her blog, has been at it for eight years…

[OK, so my new word isn't real. But hopefully you get the point.]

Now, that said, don’t get me wrong. Some of those reasons cited above are important to the success of a blog. But if you plan on riding one of those to blogging and online stardom, you will fail. It does take good writing, being human and being yourself, and thinking things through strategically.

And gosh, it takes patience. You may see great progress over a period of time, and just when things get difficult, most people fold it up and move on, chortling about how “blogging” doesn’t work. You may see your Alexa ranking stall, slow, or even decrease over the course of time. You may wish for more comments – for more retweets – for more requests to advertise. No, see, you MUST double your efforts just when things get difficult and hard. That’s when the magic happens.

I am not saying that JUST sticking around is the only thing. But assuming you have the right combination of content and strategy –> sticking around is the most important thing.

Nope, online success is a long and lonely road. Once you take the first step, success will be waiting, way on down the line. So, stick to it. Be patient. Ride the waves. And remember, those waves go up. And they go down.

Good luck!

Tagged as: Blogging, Chris Brogan, Dooce, Social Media, Sustainishmentability, Todd Schnick, Twitter