What can you learn from The Godfather

I enjoy and learn reading great blogs.

As we talk about great blogs some domain names start flashing within my mind. One of them is, obviously, Copyblogger.

I was inspired for one of the –recently typical- what [insert famous here] can teach you about [insert whatever you want here] so I decided to write using this method.

I started my research, looking for some famous guy or movie that could teach something that is blogging-related or at least internet related.

It was hard, but just before giving up I thought about a movie that could be used as an example while you blog, and particularly about a character.

I’m talking about The Godfather and Vito Corleone.

What can Vito Corleone teach you about blogging?

This may sound weird but actually a lot so let’s start.

1) One of the things that matters the most to Vito Corleone is relationships, considering them as the key to succeed and the most direct way to have power –social power- and popularity.

We’re always talking about how important relationships are when it comes to have a healthy blog and a profitable business.

Corleone was right; you can’t ignore relationships if you ever want to succeed. Not only with your blog but with every business, both off and online.

2) “[…] because there’s nothing more important for a man than its family” is one of the famous quotes from that great movie.

I think we can change the words “man” and “family” and introducing “blogger” and “community” instead of them and have a great blogging advice.

The blogging community –such as problogger.com- can help you to achieve what’s stated on the first point: relationships and social power, as it’s a great way to introduce yourself and start meeting friends.

3) If you ever have seen the second part of the Godfather, you would have noticed that Corleone, when starting, just focus on give no matter what he could get in return.

The same can be applied on the blogging world.

Some bloggers may feel depressed because they see that despite all their efforts linking to other blogs to get some links in return, or despite their efforts to get a ‘fair’ deal with a famous bloggers they just don’t get nothing positive, it always looks like you are the one that puts the work and the others that gets the profits.

Be patient. You always need to give before trying to get. It works like this with every business.

Work hard and you’ll be rewarded, guaranteed.

4) The Godfather’s known because he exactly knows how to return a favor. Always quid pro quo.

People like to see a favor returned back. I stated on the point number three that, in order to succeed, you need to give before you try to get something, especially when starting.

Returning a favor when someone offers you something is as important as the point above. Returning it without the need to be asked to is what we’re talking about. You’ll be even a better blogger than you already are.

5) When making deals –with other families or where other families participate too- the Don’s always caring about the competition, looking at what other families will get out of the deal and making sure that it’s his family the one that gets the most out of it.

Well, this is a good example about what you need to do because you always need to take a look at your competition, especially from the SEO viewpoint.

Do you have something?

I can’t think now about something more that could be taught by Don Vito Corleone. Have you ever watched the movie? If so, what would you add to the post?

Remember that there’re always new sources to learn from. You only need to see things from a blogger’s perspective. Possibilities are endless.

Thanks for reading.