If I’m not mistaken, LiewCF began his entrepreneurial Malaysia problogger journey back in 2005. He celebrated his first anniversary as a Malaysia problogger back in September 2006. But, before becoming a problogger in Malaysia many actually doubted someone of his achievements would make it.
I didn’t personally meet LiewCF but have been reading his blog last time. I’m not one to say my English is good but me and LiewCF were about the same. His English not so good but now has improved. I’m also improving, right? Anyway, while everyone thought this I gave him the benefit of the doubt and true enough, he’s now a successful problogger in Malaysia.
(Comparing Alexa ranking for Liewcf.com and Kongtechnology.com)
Ever since then, he’s become my inspiration then on with the aim to become a problogger in Malaysia too. He made me believe all talk is nothing without starting. And I too celebrated my anniversary not too long ago. But I’m not a Malaysia problogger just yet… 🙂
Anyway, nothing is rewarded without working smart. Including what have been said before by some other Malaysia probloggers. I personally think LiewCF is a successful problogger in Malaysia because he:
Walked the walk and not only talk
Many of us know how to talk the talk but when put the test, never walk the walk. LiewCF, on the other hand walked the walk after he resigned from his full time position. Which I find truly brave and adventurous.
Rode the Malaysia technology blog wave
When LiewCF first started his blog, there were little to no technology blogs in Malaysia. I remember when he started, there were others who tried copying him by doing the same. But many didn’t survive the campaign against the copy-and-paste bloggers.
Exchanged links with plenty of related blogs and website
Before daddy Google came down hard on the link farms, link exchanges were very active and it was one of the key methods to help your blogs climb the search engines. By taking advantage of this ‘flaw’, his empire became stronger with this method.
Took the effort to market himself
When he claimed he was the first problogger in Malaysia, the whole blogosphere reacted to the statement. Even the blog celebrities (some weren’t yet) made comments on it. Slowly this became a more than effective viral marketing campaign which ran on its own. Now, why didn’t I think of that!
Never thinks he knows everything
He understood technology keeps evolving, so must he. The only way to do this was to read up on other probloggers like; Darren Rowse, and other international full time bloggers.
Carefully selects his news sources
Even as a content aggregator, nobody will read what they have read or is potentially uninteresting. Therefore, he selects his news sources in a smart manner, that’s do his research.
Filters content his audience wants to read
I think part of a Malaysia problogger’s duty or ‘sixth’ sense is to identify what content your audience wants to read. Technology is advancing almost every hour (or even minute). So I’m also trying my best now to filter my content before sharing with my readers also.
Maintains a low profile like any other Malaysia problogger
I’m very surprised not everyone knows LiewCF like Kenny Sia or others. Although he’s one of the more famous tech blogs in South East Asia, not everyone knows about LiewCF being a Malaysia problogger. But I think that’s cool. Because when you meet blogebirty in person, then you feel ‘syiok’.
Continues to expand his reach
Last and not least, he had foresight and noticed communities were going to become a large part of the Internet. Thus, he created a forum for Malaysia Bloggers. His blog also served as a much needed forum for his readers (many of whom shared common interests).
An increasingly important part of LiewCF.com is the Online Store and Job Board. When you Google a job in Malaysia, his website often comes up in the first page. Very clever SEO and traffic strategy indeed.
Well, above are some of the reasons why I think LiewCF is a successful problogger in Malaysia. Hopefully, some day I’ll be able to pay my bills with just this blog too when I become on par with him! 🙂
In the meantime, if I get the chance I’d look forward to interviewing LiewCF personally to ask about some of the secrets he could share with bloggers like me – aiming to be a Malaysia problogger. You all also certainly want to know how he earns so much money right? Hahahaha…