Can a mastermind help you grow your blog business? Absolutely! But before we look at how that’s possible, let’s take a look at mastermind groups in general.
If you haven’t been in one before, and maybe never even heard of them, a mastermind group is about having the support and education necessary to help you reach your blogging and business goals.
HOW A MASTERMIND GROUP CAN GROW YOUR BLOG BUSINESS
When I first started blogging I didn’t belong to a mastermind group. I was just out there on my own, trying to maneuver the blogging landscape.
BIG mistake!
In 2016, Ruth Sukoup from Elite Blog Academy offered her first VIP Mastermind Retreat and I signed up.
It was not only an eye opening experience but the skills I learned helped to catapult my business to new heights and allowed me to make a full time living blogging.
Although no longer part of her VIP Mastermind Group, the original participants minus a few who did decide to spend another year under her guidance formed our own mastermind.
This past week I spent five days with my blogging BFF’s for our second Mastermind Retreat of the year.
Because we are all insulated bubbles sitting all day long by ourselves working, a mastermind group becomes our go to people to do everything from providing feedback, suggestions, critiques and sometimes complete tear downs of our processes.
So, what makes a mastermind group so great that you should take time out of your already-overloaded life to participate in one?
TYPES OF MASTERMIND GROUPS
There are two different types of mastermind groups. The first is where everyone in the group is working toward the same goal.
Henry Ford famously created a mastermind group to help him build his cars. He had the vision of what he wanted and he surrounded himself with people who knew how to make it happen. Everyone working toward the same goal, building a car.
The second, and most common, type of mastermind is everyone working toward their own goals and finding the support they need to make that happen.
In this type of group, everyone has an individual but similar goal, like growing their blog, and everyone is at a different point in their journey. But everyone comes together offering support and advice from their own experience to help each person reach their personal goal.
With a blog mastermind group, you can expect to find:
- A small, select group of bloggers
- Bloggers who are like-minded and interested in achieving the same or similar goals
- Blogs of about the same size but a variety of niches
- Bloggers who offer support, encouragement, and advice when needed
PAID VS FREE MASTERMIND GROUPS
There are both paid and free options for mastermind groups and I’ve participated in both.
FREE
Free groups usually don’t have a coach or expert leading the group, but still provide a good option for a peer-to-peer type group. You can even start your own by gathering a few like-minded bloggers together in a private Facebook group and setting some goals and rules for your group.
Keep in mind that these types of groups are usually for support or to bounce ideas off of other bloggers since there isn’t a formal structure.
PAID
Paid options can range anywhere from $50 a month to a couple thousand dollars a year based on the size of the group and the expert or experts running it.
These groups are usually the better option if you’re serious about growing your blog. The bloggers who pay to be in a mastermind group are more committed to doing the necessary work and supporting everyone else in the group.
And these groups are led by one or more people who have the experience you need to help you reach your goal. There is work involved and assigned tasks designed to help you reach your goal.
You can also participate in mastermind coaching calls on a per call basis like The Fly on the Wall Mastermind Call.
These are one-time group calls on a specific topic and they are hosted by several experts in that field. These are a great option because you don’t need to commit long-term, just an hour or two of your time for the call, and you can participate whenever there’s a topic that interests you.
WHAT TO DO DURING A MASTERMIND
You can meet with your mastermind group in person, on a conference call, through a Facebook chat, or through a video chat. It all depends on the group and how it’s set up. Some masterminds meet once a week, some once a month, and some have an ongoing discussion board.
Topics covered in your mastermind meeting might include:
- Sharing a big win from the last meeting
- Asking a strategy question
- Brainstorming ideas
- Ask for help in promoting posts
- Share opportunities that may help others
- Have a training session with a coach or expert in the field of the training topic
It all depends on the type of group you join and what the goals of the group are so look for a mastermind group that fits your goals.
It may take some getting used to but be prepared to be vulnerable in your mastermind group. You can’t get the support you need if you aren’t willing to open up about what’s going on.
In the beginning, you can sit back and watch, let others participate in the discussion, and just how it goes. But at some point, you need to throw caution to the wind and join the discussion yourself. It’s the only way to find the growth you’re looking for. Everyone is there to learn and grow so you’ll find there is very little if any, judgment within the group.
Masterminds tend to be a safe place to share what’s going on.
Don’t forget to give back. It’s wonderful to receive the support of the group, but you have a lot to offer as well so support your fellow masterminders by sharing your own advice and ideas. Someone in the group needs to hear what you have to say.
HOW TO CHOSE THE MASTERMIND GROUP THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU
With so many types of mastermind groups out there, how do you possibly choose the one that’s best for you?
To start with, determine your goals and the way you like to interact with a group. Are you interested in learning more about a specific topic? Do you prefer to just listen and take notes without participating? Would you like to “try” a few things out before committing? If so, then something like Fly on the Wall Mastermind Calls is perfect for you. You can participate when you want, listen in, and not have to share too much about yourself.
If you’re looking for something a little more interactive, you may want to do your homework and check out a few different groups. Choose one or two that charge by the month and visit for a couple of months to see if it’s a good fit. If not, you haven’t lost too much by participating and checking it out.
And if you can’t find the “just right” mastermind group to join, start one of your own. Create goals, set rules, and invite a few bloggers that you feel will support each other as well as offer great advice.
Whichever route you decide to go, participating in a mastermind group is a sure way to grow your blog business.
