Leaving Work Behind

The Leaving Work Behind 100 – My Top 10

Tom Ewer

I launched the Leaving Work Behind 100 this time last week, and it has proven to be a great success. I am really excited to say that a lot of people seem to have taken a lot of value out of it.

However, quite a few people have commented on the sheer number of blogs listed. And I get that – few of us have the time to go through 100 blogs. That is why I broke the blogs up into categories, so that you can pick from the topics that interest you the most.

But today I’d like to take that a step further by recommending my pick of the LWB 100. The original list was based upon a ranking algorithm and didn’t reflect my personal opinion of where blogs should be ranked, so I figured it would be remiss of me not to let you know which blogs are my favorites.

If you don’t have the time to trawl through the full list, the following 10 blogs (in no particular order) are the ones that I couldn’t be without.

Smart Passive Income (Internet Marketing)

Without wanting to come over sounding too dramatic, discovering Pat Flynn’s Smart Passive Income was a pivotal moment for me. That was the point at which I realized that it was actually possible to make money online in a legitimate manner. That you didn’t need to be an expert or a “guru” – you just needed to work hard, work smart, and persist.

Although there is no doubting the quality of Pat’s content, I think the biggest draw is his story. He wraps his personality around the blog in such a way that not only has us rooting for him, but also makes us realize that success is possible.

Three of the Best

Social Triggers (Marketing)

I have got a lot of time for Derek Halpern’s blog. Unlike many bloggers out there, when an argument is put forward by Derek, you know that a great deal of thought has gone into it. Every argument he makes is backed up meticulously by studies and research.

Moreover, he provides you with direct and actionable advice that you can put in place with immediate effect. I know that, because I have taken many of Derek’s suggestions on board with this blog. The feature box on the home page? The uncluttered sidebar? The “Resources” links? All ideas inspired by Social Triggers.

Three of the Best

Think Traffic (Marketing)

I would happily include Corbett Barr’s blog in this list on the back of one blog post alone: Write Epic Shit. Out of the hundreds of articles I have read over the past several months, that is one of the few that has stuck in my mind.

But Think Traffic has so much more to offer, not least the Million Dollar Blog Project, a fascinating real-time case study of how to build a successful blog. It is no great surprise that Corbett’s own site for that project, Expert Enough, is doing fantastically well.

Steve Scott Site (Affiliate Marketing)

Steve happens to be one of the nicest guys in the internet marketing niche, but that is not why his site is on this list. The reason it is on this list is simply because of the number of strategies I have learnt from his blog that I have successfully applied to my own.

All too often blogs are full of hot air, with no real actionable advice. That is not the case with Steve Scott Site. Not only does he provide you with actionable advice, he gives you full disclosure on his own progress – which in itself often reveals valuable lessons.

Three of the Best

The Sales Lion (Marketing)

Marcus Sheridan of The Sales Lion is an absolute legend. There, I said it. But it’s the truth people. He covers the topics of content marketing and social media with unparalleled enthusiasm – you can’t help but get involved. I have commented on more blog posts of his than I have any other blog.

As is the case with many of the bloggers on this list, it is his story that makes his blog as special as it is. He used the power of content marketing to turn a failing business into one of the biggest in its region.

Three of the Best

Niche Pursuits (Niche Sites)

If you are interested in building niche sites, you will find Niche Pursuits to be a seriously valuable resource. Spencer Haws cuts through the fluff and gets right down to the nitty gritty of what is required to build successful niche sites. And most remarkably, he does it all without charging you a penny.

Forget the multitude of paid courses and eBooks that there are out there – I firmly believe that Niche Pursuits offers you all of the help you need in order to set up a profitable portfolio of websites.

Three of the Best

AdSense Flippers (Niche Sites)

This is another must-read site for niche site builders. Justin and Joe offer a different perspective on the niche site business model, as their primary aim is capital gains from the sale of niche sites (as opposed to ongoing income).

Although they produce quality articles on a regular basis, the jewel in the AdSense Flippers crown is the podcast. Subscribe, listen, and learn.

Three of the Best

Sparring Mind (Marketing)

When it comes to crafting blog posts of real quality and substance, Greg Ciotti of Sparring Mind can teach us all a lesson or two. His site is quickly becoming one of the best current resources for blogging strategy.

I can’t remember the last time he produced a post which I didn’t get some sort of value out of – although most bloggers are guilty of producing “duds” every now and then, Greg works hard to deliver the goods every time.

Three of the Best

Freelance Switch (Freelancing)

This list certainly wouldn’t be complete without a freelancing blog, and Freelance Switch really is the best of the best. Far too many people feel that self-employment is out of their grasp, but this site shows you how it is possible for you to quit your job and work for yourself.

Three of the Best

Copyblogger (Marketing)

When it comes to crafting engaging content and marketing it in an effective manner, there are few better resources than Copyblogger. I have learn more from this one blog than most others combined (present company excepted) – especially when it comes to the art of crafting engaging content.

Three of the Best

What Are Your Picks?

So there you have it folks – my favorite 10 blogs out of the Leaving Work Behind 100. I can’t say that it was easy picking just 10 out, as there are so many fantastic resources to choose from. I am sure that many of you would have picked a different top 10 – what blogs do you not see above that you think are worth of inclusion? Let us know in the comments section!

Creative Commons image courtesy of yoppy