3
2010
What can an NHL pre-season fixture teach bloggers?
An article by 
Pre-season games are common in the NHL to let players get warmed up and back into the swing of things after a few months off-season. This year, the Boston Bruins feature a pre-season game with a difference. Rather than taking on another NHL team, or a top team from one of the super leagues of Europe, they are taking on a select team of the Elite Ice Hockey League of the UK – at the home arena, in Ireland, of the Belfast Giants.
This game is very much the big fish against the little fish. But what can it teach us bloggers?
My take on this game is what helps me draw parallels to the purpose of this post. In recent years the popularity of hockey in the UK has been dwindling a little. The by-gone days of the old “Super League” which featured many retired NHL players are long gone. Nowadays the league is popular with players looking to make that step from the North American set up to the European leagues, and use the UK as a stepping stone to carve a name for themselves.
The fortune of having a team as popular, and as well known, internationally, as the Boston Bruins playing a game against a smaller team will boost the profile of the sport across the UK. I hope such exposure will bring more fans to the games, and regenerate the game to the glory days of the past.
But what has this got to do with blogging?
Networking with your blog
Blogging is a social past time, where you can share your views and meet many new people. Networking is critical to your success, because without any readers, you’ll not get recognised.
The game of hockey here in the UK, is much like a new blog, with not many visitors, and not well known. We read time after time the importance of blog commenting. We’ve all left comments on big blogs, trying to get recognised. Trying to stand out to build our profile.
In this exhibition game, the Boston Bruins are the big blogs. The publicity of the Belfast Giants and the Elite League being associated with the Boston Bruins, and the NHL pre-season is boosting the profile of the game in the UK. Much like commenting on big blogs is boosting your smaller blog profile.
Guest Posting
Like the exhibition game, guest posting can boost your profile. Our big blog, the Boston Bruins visiting Belfast will bring visitors from all walks of life. Visitors from Ireland, the mainland UK possibly even Europe and the USA. This will do wonders for Belfast and hockey.
In blogging circles, if you can network to a point that you can ask a high profile blogger to write on your blog, and help you advertise this, you will get some seriously awesome traffic. A guest post by a noted blogger can be perceived by readers as a personal endorsement of what you are and represent.
It is clear that as obscure as the title is, post inspiration is all around us. Learn from this, and use it to maximise your networking and promotional efforts.
Image Credit – slidingsideways
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About the Author: Mark Bell
Mark is a research engineer by profession, with a passion for helping people succeed. He is a self-taught web developer. At his Bloggers Journal, Mark writes openly about his efforts to realise the "internet lifestyle".
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What can an NHL pre-season fixture teach bloggers?…
NHL preseason fixture Boston Bruins vs Belfast Giants select can teach bloggers to network with bigger bloggers. Use them to boost your profile….
Nice one Mark! I never thought of guest blogging like that. Personally I always think of the smaller blogger coming to write on the more popular blog to get a piece of their audience. But what you suggest takes much more courage!
This post is fresh, I always love articles that draw parallels like this!
Thanks Tom – I think looking at it the other way can be just as beneficial, if not more beneficial. But as you say, it does take some courage. The chance of it happening is probably much lower.
Hi Mark,
Thanks for sharing the insightful parallel.
Guest posting and commenting leverage your presence. By networking with the big dogs you reach into a whole new network.
Ryan Biddulph
Hey Ryan,
Thanks – getting recognised is hard – but if you start getting some from big names you will start to get a little more traffic. Thanks for following me on Twitter btw
Hi Mark,
I agree with Ryan, I am excellent insight.
It’s all about networking. The NHL is such a cool sport. My personal fav is martial arts.
Hey James,
Hopefully some good networking will work for us all.
HI Mark,
This post was put together nicely, it also made me realise as well that I should allow the opportunity for other bloggers to guest post on my blog, so if your interested in guest posting let me know!
Cheers,
Daniel
Hey Daniel,
Thank you for that offer! I’ll be in touch in the future.
Creative Post Mark, good way of integrating some real life stuff into the context of blogging. Smart job!
Hey Daniel,
Thanks man! Thought using a title like that would catch a few Canadians or Boston people
Hi Mark,
Great post. It boggles my mind how many bloggers I see that don’t believe in being social. Networking is key in building up a successful blog, plus it’s fun. I like how you related everything into the NHL, I always enjoy looking at concepts from a different perspective.
Hi Brian,
I agree – after all without being social we cannot form the relationships that turn readers into regulars or subscribers.
Your commentluv title has stolen my eye! Ill have to read it – I’m very intrigued
This is an excellent analogy you have created here. As Thomas said, I love the parellel you drew between the guest post and the game.
) because I know you are actually doing it BIG TIME.
You are definitely becoming a true blogger (look out man, its dangerous) and I love reading the posts about building your brand(community?
Awesome Mark
Hey Alex,
Thanks mate – appreciate the encouragement!
Excellent Post Mark. You’re really doing awesome work. I like the parallel you drew between the guest post and the game. Nice idea.
Thanks for sharing your insights. You’re really doing awesome work. keep at it.
Hey Dev,
Thanks – glad you liked the post!
I had to read this post as I had no ideas what the NHL was! See I’ve learnt something new. Plus I’ve also leant that you live in Northern Ireland – beautiful countryside.
Anyway, great parallels drawn with NHL, the other thing I’d add is create a loyal fan base and develop and nurture them like young plants.
Hey Matthew,
I’m glad that this post has proven useful and been more informative than I intended it!
I agree with your additions – like the analogy of nurturing!
Re hockey – as a notthingham lad – you should check out the nottingham panthers at the NIC if you want a saturday night out!
Hi Mark
Nice analogy, mate. Yes, networking, building community and interacting with fellow bloggers is critical in the early stages and more so when established.
You are doing a great job over here and your networking skills are killer.
Thanks for sharing – great read!
Michael
Hi Michael,
When it comes to networking – I think starting out how you mean to go on is a good mentality
THanks for your encouraging words
Great point. I hadn’t really thought of a “big” name guest posting as a sign of an endorsement, but it really makes sense and is true.
Good stuff, thanks for sharing
You’re welcome Steve. I had a thought that having a post accepted means your writing is obviously worthy of a big blog publication – but to get a big blogger guest post on YOUR blog can mean much more
Helpful summary, bookmarked the blog with interest to see more!
Thanks Kathryn – I hope to satisfy your interests in the future!
What can an NHL pre-season fixture teach bloggers?…
Pre-season games are common in the NHL to let players get warmed up and back into the swing of things after a few months off-season. This year, the Boston Bruins feature a pre-season game with a diff……
hey sir,want to tell you how great this was,thanks again