Blogging Tips From Ryan Biddulph At Blogging From Paradise
I’d like to welcome Ryan Biddulph to the blog today. Ryan blogs at Blogging From Paradise, which is his new blogging venture. You could say that Ryan lives the dream, living and traveling around the world whilst using his blogging to fund it.
Ryan can consistently be seen around the online world and that is part of what makes him so successful. He practices what he preaches!
So grab a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy what Ryan has to share with you today.
1. Tell us about yourself and your new blog at ‘Blogging From Paradise’
Hi Catherine, first off, let me thank you for extending me this wonderful opportunity.
My name is Ryan Biddulph. I’m a 39 year old internet lifestyle junkie from New Jersey in the USA. I don’t spend much time there though; I’ve traveled the world for the past 39 months in a row.
I’m a blogger and freelance writer who is the owner of Blogging From Paradise, my new blog. At BFP our community chats about how to retire to a life of island hopping through smart blogging. Right now I’m living in Savusavu, Fiji for 4 months. I’ve lived in spots like Bali, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, Cambodia, Peru and Costa Rica too.
2. What made you get started in blogging?
I was fired 
Actually I was downsized from my security guard job in NJ. Kelli – my fiancee – told me about the make money online bit, and from there I learned more about blogging. I thought it sounded neat, and I didn’t like the idea of working odd hours as a security guard for another shipping terminal, so I bought my domain and hosting 5 years ago. I dug the idea of being free to set my schedule, salary, and to call the shots.
3. How much time do you dedicate to your blogging?
How do you keep track of what you are doing?
This has changed over the years Catherine. Now I may work 4 to 8 hours a day. Back in the day, I worked 16 or more hours on some days but that was because I wasn’t working an intelligent system of creating content for a targeted audience and connecting with blogging authorities.
I keep a tidy little To Do list on a basic Notepad file. I list out my tasks for the day, and check each one when I’m done.
4. If you could have told yourself ONE thing when you started blogging, what would it be?
Get super clear on why you’re blogging and also, build your blog, from the domain, through the title, through the tagline, through the content, through the images, and ads, and pages, on ONE core, super strict, narrowed idea…..meaning, get uber specific on your ideal reader.
First off, if your blogging “why” is tied to some form of being free you’ll push yourself through tough spots. Nope, your “why” can’t be to make money because you’ll quit quickly when the dough doesn’t flow in.
As for your hyper targeted niche, consider my new blog. First, I wanted to share blogging tips (general niche), then, I wanted to share blogging tips to people who want to retire to become pro bloggers (drilling down a niche), then, I wanted to share blogging tips to folks who want to retire to become pro bloggers, who want to island hop/ aka travel all the time (drilling down to an even smaller niche).
From Day 1, I’d have tied my “why” to being free, and I’d also have drilled down my niche to a really tight market, and that’d have been reflected through my domain name, title, tagline, and all the way through the content of my blog.
5. You have been running an income producing blog for some time now. What would be your biggest tip for someone that wants to make an income from their blog?
Get a job. Or keep your job. Or do stuff other than blogging, to pad your savings, so you can blog like you don’t need the money. Trying to force my blog to make money – during lean times – was one of my chief mistakes online. Make money through other channels, so you can be detached from blogging outcomes.
When detached, you blog intelligently, and network intelligently, with pros, then you don’t even care about making money through blogging, and then you’re blogging with a pure intent, and then, money flows in the back door, when you weren’t looking for it.
6. What would you say is your favourite social media platform and why?
Twitter far and away, and not just because they never put me in the doghouse like Facebook does, and like Google Plus has. Quick and easy engaging, and you can share more than 2 or 3 updates a day without turning people off. I love it. You can engage quickly, share content, and keep abreast of industry trends by using the hashtag feature.
7. What has been the biggest hurdle that you have come across in your blogging career to date?
How did you overcome this?
Learning how to detach from outcomes, blogging-wise. I’m no detached, self-actualized Zen master but I feel more detached these days. I meditated, visualized, affirmed, trusted, expressed gratitude through my successes, and also, made money through different channels, to become a more detached blogger.
Most of these channels were directly related to my blog but I had to accept the fact that my Adsense checks, or other channels through which I wanted to make money, were not going to fund my trip without tens of thousands of targeted visitors each day.
When I promoted my freelance writing business and seized other opportunities this end of my blogging business took off. It was such a nice fit too. I had practiced writing thousands of posts, so the freelance gig became a piece of cake.
8. How do you drive traffic to your blog and grow your readership?
I create and connect. I create targeted content for a specific audience, and publish three, 2500 word posts weekly, then I connect with industry leaders, or experts in the blogging niche, by posting in-depth, thoughtful comments which masquerade as mini guest posts. This creating and connecting bit opens the door for interview requests, guest posts opportunities and other business ventures which are prospering to all involved, and that’s how I drive traffic to my blog and grow my readership.
I also genuinely care about each commentator who takes their precious time to comment on Blogging From Paradise, so I respond to each comment thoughtfully, and I thank as many folks as humanly possible on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus for their support in sharing my posts or commenting on my posts, on those social sites.
9. What is the most important piece of advice you could give to a new blogger?
Know why you want to blog, and that reason better be overpowering, You must want to be free more than you fear doing uncomfortable things if you want to succeed in this niche. Blogging becomes easier and easier if your motivator is pure, and if you want to help others become free through sharing your blogging insights.
Now it’s your turn:
Do you have any other questions you would like to ask Ryan?
Please share at the end of this post.
If you would like to connect further with Ryan, you can do so at his social media profiles.
Would you like to be considered for an interview at Friday’s Featured Blogger?
Please complete the form below, and provide some information about yourself and your blog.
You will be contacted once your application has been considered.
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Written by Catherine Holt
Catherine Holt is the founder of Blogging Tips 101. She has been an internet marketer since 2012. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Google and Pinterest.
Hi Catherine,
Thanks SO much for sharing this opportunity with me!
I appreciate you.
Also, I dig the new look of your blog. You know I like green from my blog, and your header image is showing up quite nicely too.
Well done
Thanks Ryan, it was an absolute pleasure to have you here. Thanks for taking the time to share your tips with us
The blog design is always a work in progress. I like green too….it’s nice and calming and I want readers to be able to relax whilst they are here. Thanks for the positive feedback about it
Great interview Catherine.
Ryan makes a great point about being detached from the outcome.
I know you like to leave big comments Ryan, but it’s 9:15 pm at the moment so I’ll just give you a short well done:)
Thanks Nick. It’s not as easy as it sounds being detached from the outcome, but it certainly has it’s merits. If you can step away and love what you do, you will find yourself at the outcome soon enough
Focusing on it though is like watching a kettle boil….it never boils!!!
Haha Nick, no worries
It’s 12:22 AM here in Fiji – on Saturday – so I do hear you.
Detaching is a chore but doing so opens us to so many wonderful opportunities.
Thanks so much for commenting and reading our interview!
It’s interesting how many you read about that got started online after losing a job. The stories are always inspiring.
Ryan, do you have any tips for managing and balancing work and pleasure while living in a lot of different, interesting places?
Hi Marc, so true. Seeing other like stories inspired me to take the plunge too.
I’d say, start your day with 20 minutes of meditating. This helps you think clearly and also helps you establish the balance you need.
I exercise at least 1 to 2 hours daily. Keeps me energized, and off of the computer.
Kelli and I do travel stuff at least 1 to 2 times each week, touristy stuff, that is, to keep the balance established.
Also, watching TV, sitting on the porch to admire nature and just committing to getting off the laptop have helped me form a nice balance, between working, and soaking up the tropics.
Thanks so much for stopping by Marc
Hi Ryan
Blog interview is an interesing type of content but if its your interview it becomes more interesting.
Your liveliness at social media and very spot-on comments and views all around there are noticeable by all.
You rightly said if you rely on your blog to make your living you will be in a mess. Once you forget about making money from it and keep the real spirit of blogging high then money will come from the backdoor. Wonderful lesson for money bloggers.
Thanks a lot Catherine for sharing the interview of a hugely networked blogger.
That’s one of the things I love about blogger interviews Mi Muba, we all get to learn so much more about others and there is always something we can take away and implement.
I agree, relying on your blog to make a living is going to be hard in the early days, you really need to wait until things have established. It’s a lesson not to give up the day job too quickly!
Hi Mi, thanks so much
You totally get it too; you’re a networking machine, and share value frequently on your blog. When you detach from money, you do what matters, and money flows in through the back door. Thanks again Mi.
Hi Catherine,
Thanks for introducing Ryan to those who didn’t know him, and giving those of us who did know him more info about him!
Ryan,
I like your piece of advice: “Know why you want to blog.”
Answering that question would clear things up for so many bloggers. “Why are you doing this? What do you hope to get out of it?”
Since I just learned more about you, I should return the favor, Ryan, and let you I was featured this week, too. Enstine Muki has a post with background info galore:
http://enstinemuki.com/kevin-duncan-better-blogger/
You two have great weekends!
Thanks Kevin, I thought people would appreciate this interview with Ryan
Knowing your “Why” is incredibly important isn’t it. Once you know that so many other things will fall into place. It’s the why that drives you and pushes you forward. If you have no why, then how can the destination be reached. It’s definitely something all bloggers should be thinking about!
Kevin, thanks so much for sharing the link. I’ll head over in a few to check it out. That why question is huge. It adds so much clarity to your blogging intent, which can make your job infinitely easier when it comes to creating and networking. Thanks again KD, see you at Enstine’s blog
Hi Catherine and Ryan,
I see Ryan all over the blogoshpere! He is great and engaging. I mean someone who visits at least 100 blogs a day show that he values relationships and DEDICATION big time!
I think Ryan’s tip on not blogging focusing on the money early on is huge. Blogging for money, the right way, takes time and patience. When you need money right now, time and patience go out the window!
Take care…
It’s very exciting to have Ryan here Steven. Your right, he is seen everywhere and now he is here too….yay!!!!
Ha ha…so true about time and patience. If you need money ‘right now’, then blogging is probably not the right thing for you. It’s not a get quick rich thing that’s for sure!
Thanks so much Steve. Actually I’m cutting down that number a bunch these days ;)….but I do get around a bit. So do you, you’re an outreach king, and a major league value provider. Detachment is just such a huge part of the equation. Thanks again for reading and sharing.
Hi Catherine,
Thanks for sharing tips by top influencer “Ryan Biddulph” here on your blog. Your blog always has something interesting every time but this time its really great to see Mr. Ryan here. His tips are life changing if implied. My favorite line ” Blogging becomes easier and easier if your motivator is pure, and if you want to help others become free through sharing your blogging insights ”
. Thanks again 
- Rohit
Aww, thanks so much Rohit, that is lovely of you to say
Ryan certainly shares some awesome encouragements and is very inspirational. You have highlighted a great thing here too…..helping others is so incredibly powerful in so many ways
Rohit, thanks so much for sharing buddy. That intent question is huge; make it pure, and tie it to helping others as well as yourself, and magic will happen. Thanks again Rohit.
Hello Big man Ryan!!
Its so amazing to meet you here, I have always wanted to know something more about you apart from simply reading your inspiring post and travelling adventures.. Am always able to learn something new from you..
Soon enough, I would be have a monthly interview series on my blog and I would be excited if you are the first to be featured, Am a great fun… Thanks for your inspiring words..
Regards,
DOK Simon
Thanks for stopping by Dok Simon. I look forward to seeing your interview series too….how exciting
There is certainly always something to be learned from Ryan, so I’m glad you enjoyed the interview
Dok thanks so much! I’d be honored to be featured, for sure. I appreciate you reading and sharing, and look forward to your new interview series.
Hi Catherine,
Nice Article. It’s on Ryan. He is a nice blogger and I’m regular reader his blog. It’s so interesting and cool. You’ve wrote nice article on him. I liked your blog too. Now, I’m your regular reader of your blog from today onward.
Thanks for sharing such nice interview
Welcome Pritam, and thanks for leaving a comment on your first visit here
I’m really glad you liked the interview with Ryan and found it helpful. It’s always great to see what bloggers have to share in interviews and Ryan is certainly very inspirational! I look forward to seeing you here again soon
Pritam, thanks so much for stopping by and reading, and for your support on my blog too
Ryan, you are amazing! I love this post. I am inspired once again! Thanks for sharing yourself. You always keep me thinking about why I am doing this.
It’s great to see that Ryan inspires you Lauren. We can certainly learn a lot from him and I loved having him as a featured blogger here. Thanks for stopping by
Lauren, thank YOU for supporting me for so many years. I appreciate you being there, day after day, when I needed a kick through some tough times. Appreciate it!
Hi Catherine,
This is my first visit at your blog and found the interview with Ryan. Really interesting because, I am good fan of Ryan and love his writing.
Great interview Ryan and Catherine. This is inspiring too. Thanks Ryan for sharing your experiences and tips to drive traffic and grow our audiences.
Thanks again for the awesome interview.
Have a great day ahead both of you.
Welcome to the blog Nisha.
I’m pleased that you enjoyed this interview with Ryan as he has a lot of really great information to share with bloggers. It’s always good to keep yourself inspires as that is what will keep you motivated. Find those bloggers that inspire you and be sure to check in on them regularly.
Thanks for sharing with us today and hope to see you here again soon