Today I’m very excited to interview a friend of mine Robb Sutton. Robb Sutton earns a full-time living online and also reviews $100,000′s of products yearly. Robb has been a great inspiration and success in the blogosphere by writing his popular books Ramped Mindset and Ramped Reviews.

Let’s start the Interview.

Me: Hey Robb, glad to be doing this awesome interview with you today. To start off this interview, can we get a little bio about you and what you do?

Robb:

Thanks for the opportunity!

I have a degree in Economics from the University of Georgia. My professional life outside of the Internet has been a combination of different sales positions which eventually lead to regional sales for a major oem manufacturer responsible for over 11 million dollars in annual sales volume.

I used this background to leverage partnerships with manufacturers in the mountain biking industry to start my first blog Mountain Biking by 198. Having been an active mountain biker for 15+ years, it was only natural to start blogging on a subject I was the most passionate about.

From there things just kept growing to where they are today.

Me:  Wow, that is really amazing to hear. Your company definitely show how your previous work experience has benefited you. What inspired you to start blogging, and what motivated you to continue?

Robb:

That is actually kind of a funny story. One of the component manufacturers released a new standard that I didn’t agree with, so I started a blog and made my first blog post about exactly why I thought it didn’t make sense. Fast forward 7 months later and they were sending me one in to review.
My driving passion behind that blog and the others that keeps me going is wanting to be a part of the industry and contribute rather than just another participant. I really enjoy the partnerships that have grown out of blog. They wouldn’t have been possible without it.

Me: Haha that’s interesting to hear.  Today you receive over $100,000 of products that companies send you to review. How do you reach out to these companies to encourage them to let you review their products, or do they come to you?

Robb:

Both. Just like any beginning venture, it was me contacting them 100% in the beginning. Once you build up enough of a reputation, the offers start coming in via email.

I normally contact perspective companies for review product via email. For larger corporations, I have even sent typed letters to the VP of Sales or Marketing to get my name out there. It is all about being creative and showing how a review of their product on your blog will increase their brands awareness.

Me: Yea I bet, must have been hard at first building a name for yourself, but you’ve managed to do it! You run several blogs and written a couple of eBooks that are real popular amongst the web. What advice would you have to offer for bloggers who are wanting to start their first blog?

Robb:

You have to keep with it. I think there is a strong misconception out there that if you build it they will come. Just like any other business venture, blogging takes a lot of sweat and tears to make it successful. However, you can just start a blog to share pictures with friends and family…and that is OK. But…when it comes to actually making a real income from blogging, you need to treat your blog like it is an investment. The low barriers to entry make blogging an easy in easy out situation. If you treat your blogging seriously from day one, others will take you seriously as well. If you see your blog as a little bit of side income…that it all it will ever be.

Me: True words spoken from a true success. That’s a real compelling statement Robb. What differentiates your blog from the other blogs that are on the web?

Robb:

I try to stay as honest as I possibly can. My mountain biking blog provides reviews for its readers that are not buttered up advertisements used as a ploy to entice more review product…they are honest reviews written for the normal rider. I try to bring that same honesty to my other blogs as well. Blog readers can read through the bs like no other reader, so you need to really focus on them when you draft up articles. The more I can teach and inform…the better. There are a lot of blogs in that niche that are obsessed with search engines and advertisers to the point they forget about the reader. Oddly enough…by focusing on my readers…I outrank those that are worried about search engines!

My blog about blogging (robbsutton.com) is different in that I bring my professional background into the blogging world. I found that a lot of bloggers/internet marketers are great designers/coders/etc. but a lot of them do not have business experience. I try to bring that knowledge back to the internet because…after all…we are running our own businesses and selling for others through advertising and affiliate promotions.

Me: I agree, so many people focus on search engines that they forget about what really matters, their readers. You definitely are putting yourself on the leading edge by focusing on your readers.  What advice would you offer to those running their own business?

Robb:

For anyone that is looking to make any income on the internet…it is time to incorporate. My sites are all under their own company, with their own tax ID, with their own bank and PayPal accounts. This will help with credibility and long term asset management.

Never give up. Just when you think you can’t take it anymore and you are about ready to throw in the towel is about 2 seconds before you are about to make it. There are a lot of successful companies in this world that are successful just because their competition gave up too early. Continue to test and adapt to the times and you have no choice but success.

Me: I agree man. A lot of entrepreneurs I talk to said they gave up because they were not seeing the income they expected to receive. So instead of working harder they gave up. What advice would you offer to those who are struggling to make a descent income with their business?

Robb:

Start looking for ways to expand and grow. Maybe you are trying to concentrate on too small of a market. Of course, the opposite could be true as well. You might be too broad and need to tighten down on your scope. It is all about finding that balance and connecting with a customer base (for bloggers…that is readers/subscribers). Those that adapt will succeed. Try not to be blinded by what you think is right and read the signs.

Me: Very interesting. You’ve written the books Ramped Mindset and Ramped Reviews, Mind telling us about these books?

Robb:

Ramped Mindset is a mind jump start to change your way of thinking to be successful. Successful entrepreneurs think much differently than employees, so if you want to be successful in running your own business…you have to change the way you think from day one.

Ramped Reviews is a step by step guide on how to become a review blogger and get free review product for your blog. I take you through everything you need to know to be successful from setting up your blog correctly to contacting companies to writing reviews to what to do after the review process is complete. Readers of Ramped Reviews have gotten in all kinds of review product for their blogs…it is really exciting to see that success in others. I think that has been the best part of releasing Ramped Reviews.

Me: That’s amazing man, I always love getting emails from others telling me how they’ve achieved something due to one of my products or articles, so I know the feeling is good for you as well. So do you believe a key part of becoming successful is having the right mindset?

Robb:

Absolutely. It all starts with the way you think. All of the successful businessman and business owners I have come across have a similar way of thinking that largely contributes to their success. It begins with realizing that you have to be a do’er and no one is going to hand you anything. You have to go after what you want in life.

Me: Agreed. Your fortunate enough to be able to live the Internet lifestyle. What do you like most about living the Internet lifestyle? What do you like least about it?

Robb:

The flexibility. I was uploaded content and videos from a cruise ship last weekend. The Internet never turns off, so when 5 pm hits…your income is not off the clock.

The flip side is that you are also never off the clock. You do have to spend time during “off hours” doing simple management tasks.

Me: I understand where your coming from. Do you think the working online has given you more freedom to do what you love and enjoy?

Robb:

It is allowing me to do what I enjoy for a living. How many guys can say they get to do what they love and make money at it?

Me: Haha I agree, not many people can say that. Have you ever looked up to someone or modeled yourself to anyone while working online? (You can name more than one person)

Robb:

A lot of the regulars that people are used to.

Darren @ Problogger

Jeremy @ Shoemoney (incredible success story)

There are some projects in the works. Be on the lookout for a HUGE free ebook on how to become a better mountain biker titled Ramped Riding and another large blogging ebook titled Ramped Blogging. See the theme?!

oneninety8 is going to continue to expand and enjoy the ride.

Thank you again for the opportunity. It was a blast. I think we covered about everything! Just keep at it.