I’ve been blogging about brands for two years. Regular readers know that my platform is lessons in business that can be learned from rock ‘n roll. All of these blog posts have become the formation for the book Brand Like A Rock Star which comes out October 1.

Over the past two years, I’ve also noticed some rock ‘n roll examples that can be applied to bloggers, and today blogging has become a business of its own.

For bloggers, it is tough keeping both quality and quantity up. It is sometimes discouraging thinking nobody is reading your material. Often you can go a long time without any feedback. It isn’t easy, but it is fun and rewarding… just like making music.

Here are five lessons bloggers can learn from the music industry:

1. Create. In Nashville (where country music isn’t just an art form, it’s an industry) songwriters get together in writing studios and simply write and write and write. Not all of it is gold, but from quantity comes quality. As a blogger, the more you write the more likely you are to create material that you are proud of. My hard drive is full of drafts that will probably never see the light of day.

2. Learn from the past. Hit songs have formulas. Jay Frank writes about it in his book Future Hit DNA. Smart songwriters analyse what connected in the past and use those lessons to create their next masterpiece. When blogging, look back at the posts that generated interest and reaction. What do they have in common? Examine your popular posts and use the results to create your next blog masterpiece.

3. Be consistent. Did you know that Brian Johnson of AC/DC is a huge fan of Rodgers and Hammerstein and the Broadway musical? In his spare time, Brian even started working on a musical version of Helen of Troy. Being as consistent as he is, he never attempts to bring those influences into AC/DC! AC/DC is consistent, song after song, album after album. When blogging, stick to your theme relentlessly. Fight the temptation to blog about things completely disconnected from what you usually discuss. If you have other interests, start another blog.

4. Promote. Music that doesn’t get promoted seldom gets heard. Becoming the next viral musical sensation on YouTube is a long shot. You need to promote your music to the fans who are likely to be interested in it. Likewise, when blogging you must commit to telling people about your latest post. Expecting the world to find it on their own is crazy. Social networks like Twitter and Facebook are a great start, as is commenting on similarly themed blogs.

5. Be real and build relationships. Lady Gaga has an incredible network of “Little Monsters”. The Grateful Dead had “Deadheads and Jimmy Buffett has “Parrotheads”. Networks of fans help spread the word about music and create a built-in fan base in each city for concert ticket sales. When creating a blog, it helps to build up powerful networks of other bloggers and people who are interested in your blog’s theme. You can do that through honesty and integrity, not through spam or auto-replies. Comment honestly and intelligently on other posts. Have dialogue with those who comment on your blog. Interact and be part of a community, and in time your network will expand.

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