Many people think that being a travel blogger is all about snapping pictures and writing out your adventures, but there’s so much more to it than that—and there are certain things that newbie travel bloggers should know before they get started.
We’ve compiled everything we wish we’d known when we started out on this journey into one handy blog post (which will hopefully save us from having to make this same list over and over again). Here are some tips for newbies who want to start their own blogs:
Haiku Stairs, Kaneohe, United States. Photo by Kalen Emsley, Unsplash
Have a plan
A lot of people don’t set goals for themselves, but it’s important to do so if you want to succeed as a blogger. To make sure your blog is successful and keeps growing, it’s important to have a plan for the future and know what exactly you want to achieve with your blog.
For example, if one of your goals is increasing video content on your YouTube channel because that’s where most of your audience is, then make sure that happens right away! It’s also smart to have some sort of outline or plan for any videos on the channel—it should be easy enough since they’re all scripted beforehand anyway.
You should also try not to forget about social media either; having an Instagram feed full of images from around the world isn’t enough anymore – nowadays, there needs to be some sort of story behind each photo so people can relate more easily (this goes back again into having good quality content). If someone sees something interesting while scrolling through their feed, then chances are good they’ll click through – which means more views!
Anaheim Hills, Anaheim, United States. Photo by Jordan Wozniak, Unsplash
Be consistent
If you want your blog to be successful, you need to be consistent. Having a schedule and posting regularly is key to building an audience and gaining subscribers. If people know when they can expect new content from you, they’ll be more likely to visit regularly and interact with your posts.
Don’t forget that consistency in style is just as important as consistency in frequency! Your readers will appreciate knowing what they can expect from each post—that means sticking with the style of writing (like first-person or third-person), tone (casual or formal), length (longer or shorter), and format (article vs listicle).
Make sure your content is useful
When it comes to content, make sure it’s useful. Don’t just talk about your trip; share tips and tricks that will help the reader plan their own adventure. You can even include a section on the blog where you answer people’s questions!
If you do this well enough, people will feel like they’re getting more than just a travelogue from your blog: they’ll also be learning something while they read. They’ll be able to get inspiration for their own trips and have ideas for how to spend their time once they arrive at their destination (which can make them more likely to return).
San Diego, United States. Photo by Frank Mckenna, Unsplash
Diversify your social media channels
You should use different platforms for different purposes. For example, your Instagram could be all about travel photos and what’s going on in your life at the moment; as it’s not really appropriate to post about business topics there! You can keep your LinkedIn account for that. So, if you’re looking to grow your following on social media, make sure that you’re posting content that fits with each channel’s personality—and not just copying-and-pasting the same thing everywhere.
Use social media for research and networking. It may sound counterintuitive at first (since we’ve been told our whole lives not to talk about schoolwork), but think of blogging as a job: If someone was paying you an hourly wage with benefits included, would they expect their employees not to ask questions? Of course not!
Connect with other bloggers
If you’re a new blogger, the best way to connect with other travel bloggers is to get out there and find them—and don’t just stick to the Internet! Make it a point to attend conferences or meetups in your city on a regular basis so that you can build relationships in person as well as online.
Partner up with hotels and airlines
There are several ways to find hotels and airlines that would be good partners for you, but the best way is to start by checking out your competitors’ partnerships. If they’re working with companies like Hyatt, Hilton, and American Airlines, then those could be good options for you as well.
Highway 212, Lithonia, United States. Photo by Matt Duncan, Unsplash
Travel safely and learn how to protect your stuff
Most people would only talk about growth but not about how to protect your stuff while traveling. We find it as essential as the other points because one bad memory can scar your future travels forever.
Hence, it goes beyond simply bringing a lock and keeping your stuff on you at all times. You’ll also want to make sure you have insurance in case of theft, loss, or damage to your items. The best thing to do is get travel insurance as soon as possible before leaving home, but it’s not too late if you already have a trip planned!
Travel with friends whenever possible. While solo travel is great for some people, having someone else with you can help reduce stress levels while traveling abroad and keep things from getting boring when there’s nothing going on in your itinerary.
Conclusion
We hope this article has been helpful in guiding you to start your own travel blog. If you have any questions, feel free to ask us!
Michelle Schroeder-Gardner never thought her family would be living on a boat. She just wanted to pay off her $40,000 in student loan debt.
“I was living paycheck to paycheck,” says Schroeder-Gardner, whose first salary out of college was $40,000/year, despite having an MBA in finance. “I was searching for ways to pay my student loan debt and make more money.”
The financial analyst stumbled across an online magazine that featured personal finance blogs, including stories about the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement, in which people aspire to become financially independent earlier in life. FIRE culture celebrates cutting expenses and seeking out additional sources of income to design the lifestyle you want, which may include flexible or uncommon living arrangements in order to see the world.
“I read the stories of regular people creating financial independence and thought, ‘If other people could do it, why couldn’t I?’” she says. Over the next eight years, Schroeder-Gardner cut living expenses and increased her income through side hustles. One of those strategies was to start a finance blog called Making Sense of Cents, which she established in 2012.
The bootstrapped website helped her pay off her student loans and go on to achieve financial independence at 30 while she and her husband travelled the world in an RV, and, later, a 42-foot sailboat. Her blog now generates $760,000 annually in passive income, and the couple live on the water nine months out of the year.
The finance blogger has advice for anyone who wants to reel in expenses, make money online, and pursue financial independence.
Get Inspired, Then Take Action
Although Schroeder-Gardner liked her analyst job, the salary was barely enough to cover the mortgage on a home she had purchased in 2009 (with her then-boyfriend), their car, her student loans, and everyday living expenses. Schroeder-Gardner spent evenings searching online for ways to pay off her debt and increase her income.
“I started diving into the personal finance community,” says Schroeder-Gardner. “I decided to start my blog so that I could talk about how I wanted to stop living paycheck to paycheck and pay off my student loans.” The struggling analyst liked what she saw with blogging, so she decided to start one of her own to chronicle her financial journey. She started a blog called Making Sense of Cents to document her journey toward financial independence.
Schroeder-Gardner spent six months commenting on other personal finance blogs to bring attention to her knowledge of finance. She wrote guest articles for blogs with a larger audience, with a link to her blog in her bio. She also became active on Pinterest to make more people aware of her blog, and used strategies like display ads and affiliate links to create passive income.
“At this point, I wasn’t planning on turning Making Sense of Cents into a full-time income or anything like that, but I thought it could be a pretty good extra income or side hustle,” she says.
Schroeder-Gardner’s efforts helped her establish a reputation online. Her blog grew to 50,000 monthly readers in less than a year, and created several opportunities to generate additional income.
Test Lots of Side Hustle Ideas
Schroeder-Gardner knew she was onto something when she landed an opportunity to make $100 by reviewing a financial company in a sponsored post on her blog.
“Back then, $100 was a mind-blowing amount of money,” she says. “I had no idea blogs could even make money like this, and I loved my blog, so $100 was super amazing.”
The blogger also found ways to increase her income through other side hustles. She took on work as a freelance writer for various websites, and managed the social media accounts of five other bloggers. Outside of blogging, she found items at garage sales and items from around her house that she could sell on eBay. Her eBay side hustle brought in an extra $5,000 in 2012. She took on work as a contract mystery shopper, making $200 a month. She and her boyfriend even rented out the spare rooms in their home; they charged $400/month per room, and had four roommates from 2009 to 2013.
Schroeder-Gardner says she spent 40 to 50 hours per week growing her side hustles while working 40+ hours at her valuation job. She would often work 100-hour weeks.
Pay Off Debt and Invest Spare Income
Between the blog, the side hustles, having roommates, and her day job, Schroeder-Gardner’s brought in $12,000—$13,000 a month in income throughout the second half of 2012 and the first half of 2013. She used this extra income to pay off her $40,000 in student loan debt fully, and decided to quit her job in October of 2013.
“I quit when I was making more money in my business and side hustles than I was making at my job,” she says. “I felt pretty secure because I knew I was making a good monthly income, but I also had just paid off my student loans, so I didn’t have that huge monthly debt hanging over my head anymore, which helped me feel more comfortable.” Schroeder-Gardner and her then-boyfriend Wes (now her husband) celebrated with dinner, but the more significant celebration was that he was also quitting his job to help build Making Sense of Cents.
Most of the revenue from the blog at that time came from affiliate marketing and display advertising. Schroeder-Gardner was paid when links on the blog and social media posts sent visitors and/or sales to partner brands. With over 50,000 readers visiting the blog every month, the clicks added up. She also continued freelance writing and social media management. Altogether, the top-line business revenue in 2013 was $116,519.
With extra income in the picture, Schroeder-Gardner was able to invest. The blogger says she chose to prioritize investing in low-cost, low-risk index funds such as Vanguard’s Total Stock Market Index (VTSAX), Vanguard’s Total International Stock Fund (VTIAX), and Vanguard’s Total Bond Index Fund (VBTLX).
Pro Tip
Look for ways to cut back on your budget or make more money to widen the gap of excess income. That might include lowering your housing costs, house hacking, cutting back on monthly food costs, and/or finding ways to make passive income.
Embrace Location Independence
Michelle and Wes had often talked about how much they wanted to travel. Since their income sources were now entirely online, the couple decided to put their house on the market and explore digital nomadism, a work lifestyle that allows you to see the world while still generating an income.
“We wanted to fully immerse ourselves in the full-time travel lifestyle,” she says. “We didn’t feel super tied to our house, we [had] owned it for about five years, and selling it was another way to save money.”
Wes was interested in RV life after they sold the home, but Michelle wanted comfort. They compromised, bought a Class B-plus RV for $70,000 using savings, and used a loan to cover the rest. Building an online business means you need good WiFi, so Schroeder-Gardner ensured they stayed at campgrounds, camped on public land, and had a Verizon hotspot when necessary to run the business remotely. The business continued to grow, and the revenue in 2014 was $163,929 from Making Sense of Cents and freelancing.
Michelle and Wes Schroeder-Gardner on a hiking trip. Once the couple’s income became 100% location independent, they decided to sell their house and purchase a camper van, which they lived in for three years while traveling around the country.
The couple eventually found their rhythm, and 2015 was a good year, with business revenue being $320,888. Schroeder-Gardner turned in a notice to all her freelancing clients and stopped offering client services altogether. She went all-in on the blog as the way the couple made money.
Diversify Your Income Streams
Schroeder-Gardner knew it would be wise to diversify the business’ revenue, so she got into selling information products. She created her first online course in 2016. Online courses are notorious for being high profit with low effort, but they require proven expertise to fly.
With her firsthand knowledge of blogging, advertising, and affiliate marketing, she launched a course called Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing. She charged $197 for the course. The course launch was a huge success, and business revenue more than tripled to $979,321 in 2016.
Schroeder-Gardner cemented her monetization strategy, and used 2017 to focus on building her audience. She did 100 podcast interviews, grew her Facebook page to 80,000 followers, built her email list to 70,000 subscribers, and grew blog traffic to an average of 500,000 visitors a month. Business revenue in 2017 was $1,536,732 — Schroeder-Gardner’s first million-dollar year.
“2017 was a huge year for me and my business,” she says. “Not only that, but I also traveled full-time and went on many hikes and bike rides. It was a great year where I finally started to manage a good work-life balance.”
From Campervan To Catamaran
Michelle and Wes did RV life for about three years. In 2018, one of Wes’ friends, who had a sailboat delivery company, invited him along to sail from France to Croatia — about 3000 nautical miles. Wes was hooked after taking the trip, and the couple decided to trade an RV for sailboat life. They did a lot of research, bought a 42-foot sailing Catamaran, and vowed to continue building the business from the sea.
“We wanted to try something new,” says Schroeder-Gardner. “We had done RV life for about three and a half years, and we thought a life of sailing sounded fun.”
Even though the couple didn’t start their financial independence journey with a traditional FIRE number, they achieved their goal of financial independence in 2018. The pair had enough cash, investments, and passive income to where work was now optional, and could retire early.
Michelle and Wes have done sailboat life since 2018, sailing to Exumas, Eleuthera, Berry Islands, Puerta Plata, Dominican Republic, Palmas Del Mar, Puerto Rico, Key West, Florida, and Annapolis, Maryland. In 2021, they bought a cabin in Colorado to spend three months on land during Hurricane season, as they now travel with their seven-month old baby. They still live on their sailboat (with their baby) nine months out of the year.
Prioritize Your Boundaries
Up until 2019, Schroeder-Gardner had published income reports, sharing the financials behind her journey and the lessons learned along the way. One thing she did not expect was the extra attention and requests for money sharing her income would bring.
People saw how much money Making Sense of Cents was making and would ask for money frequently. Michelle and Wes also had a scary incident in which someone tracked them down at an RV park and confronted them, asking for money. After that, Schroeder-Gardner decided to stop sharing the specifics of what she was making. She also prioritized optimizing the business to where she could work less.
“I spend ten hours a week working,” she says. “I write posts, make Pinterest graphics, and evaluate affiliate and sponsorship offers. I publish one blog post a week, and my team consists of an editor and my sister as my virtual assistant.” Schroeder-Gardner says her part-time employees each work about ten hours a month, which is mostly spent editing articles, doing social media marketing, monitoring Facebook groups, and providing admin support.
When it comes to Making Sense Of Cents’ income streams, affiliate marketing commissions are 50% of the revenue, 20% comes from course sales, 5% comes from display advertising, and 25% comes from sponsorships. The Schroeder-Gardners’ online income streams have made millions, and they now own a paid-off sailboat valued at $750,000, a paid-off campervan valued at $150,000, and a cabin valued at one million dollars.
Once the couple found their stride online, they focused on generating the same amount of income in fewer hours or work per week to maximize boat life. The couple spend three months out of the year on land to avoid being on the water during hurricane season.
Schroeder-Gardner’s Advice to Achieve FIRE
The successful blogger says that, when it comes to FIRE and pursuing financial freedom, it’s important to get clear on your why.
“What’s your reasoning, and what do you envision yourself doing once you reach FIRE?” she says. “Then, figure out how much money you’ll need to get there. See how you can cut back on your budget or make more money. That might include lowering your housing costs, house hacking, cutting back on your monthly food costs, and finding ways to make passive income. You can do this with a plan, hard work, and being consistent.”
Design the lifestyle you want, even if it means continuing to work. You might end up loving it so much you don’t want to retire; that’s the plan for the Schroeder-Gardner family.
“I plan to continue what I’m doing.”
Feature Image Credit: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner and her husband on their 42-foot catamaran. The former financial analyst’s blog, which she started to help pay off her $40,000 in student loans, now generates over $60,000/month in passive income.
Whether you are a professional or a new blogger, you might be surprised by how big changes have been introduced in 2021
Whether you are a professional or a new blogger, you might be surprised by how big changes have been introduced in 2021. If you are searching to refresh your mindset, or just want to get new tips in your business, this post is best for you. Before reading this post, it would better to read out the safety eyewear program, so that you can protect your eyes. In this post, there is a breakdown of major tips so that you can keep in mind while beginning the business blog or just want to enhance your blogging according to 2021 trends.
Enhance your content strategy:
Just digital landscape is growing and more and more people are restricted to their homes than before because of COVID-19. So, You have a chance to avail of large traffic at your disposal. And you just have to catch those social media audiences through your quality content. Therefore, this is the time to plan new strategies just not for your blog post, but to make rich imagery and even your videos should be more engaging and relevant to their main content.
Influence social media:
Just to stick with the blogging mean your site is hampering your victory. An excellent way to display your business blog in front of people is to build strong social media visibility and you should have an impressive fan following simultaneously.
By creating incredible content that is producing for your blog should make different ways on social media. Therefore, it’s time to get the benefits of a live stream and plenty of other tools so that you can keep your audience in full grasp with the social media platform of 2021.
Don’t forget your niche:
Well, the blog landscape is dense, and therefore, there is strict competition. So, you should stick with your specific niche and try to make it creative and unique for your audience. For a business blogger, there are several categories you need to polish in one. But first of all, you need to understand, what is your area of interest and expertise? In which are you are qualified that you can bring more creativity in that niche?
Just like that, there are several questions that you must ask yourself and they will help you to become clear in your niche. Besides, these are the important questions that you must relate to day-to-day things. Keep your content bespoke to your niche. For example, if your blog is related to marketing, but good focus on it and find it new way to enhance this field. If you are well aware of your niche, you are better able to hit your targeted audience and then serve your followers in a better way.
Stick with the latest events:
Covid-19 tension across the world is bringing forever change in businesses. So, you need to make plenty of blogs that how this pandemic is affecting business with the blog post that should have a solution as well. Keep remember, this is a great time to hold your audience with the latest trend and unique strategies.
For example, online businesses have exploded all over the side because of COVID-19. Therefore, this perfect time to help your people and tell them why eCommerce is essential and how can they come out of their business from its effects.
One important thing that you need to consider is to create new strategies. What should be your next strategy, you must watch out latest events closely and creative stories that emerge on social media. What kind of content audience is like most, follow it and then implement the same techniques in your blog posts as well? Through this way, you will first-mover benefits which help to bring a significant audience for your blog posts.
Make sure bout up to date SEO:
With the start of a new year for your business blog, this is also time to monitor the setting of your website in plenty of areas with SEO as well. If your keyword stuffing is shifting, it is time to make big changes in them. Make sure your entire content is optimized with meta titles, meta tags, and headers as well. Avoid your blog with over-optimization because it can hurt your ranking despite helping you.
Watch out for analytics:
Are you looking for whether you are going in the right way or not? Or what kind of new things you need to highlight in your blog posts? While for business blogging, check out your analytics is significant. With the help of insight and data, you can bring big changes to your content, websites, and even marketing techniques. All these things will help you to engage your audience in a better way.
You may require to check the demographic of your users and then counts their visits, and even bounce rate as well. But if you want to enhance your setup one step ahead, you need to analyse the layout of your website as well.
Use different tools like Crazy Egg where you can see how can the attention of visitors on. Besides, which buttons they are clicking more and how far they are scrolling down the different pages. Make sure, you also joined Eyeweb safety, so that you can shield your peepers from hazardous things effectively.
What content types work best? Is content important for SEO? This monster collection of content marketing statistics will answer all of your questions.
There’s been a long-standing debate as to whether content marketing is as effective as it used to be.
Sure, there’s more competition… But content marketing is not only still effective as a branding and acquisition tool, due to the maturation of new channels it might be more effective than ever before.
We put together this monster collection of statistics to prove it.
…or continue scrolling to read 29 crucial content marketing statistics you’ll need to guide your strategy in 2019.
*Editor’s note: Check how well your content is performing with our Google Analytics Content Analysis dashboard. It gives a breakdown of sessions, along with how many goal completions each page is generating:
General Content Marketing Stats
1) Content marketing costs up to 41% less per lead than paid search
First of all, let’s discuss why content marketing should be a huge part of your marketing plan.
Your marketing mix might include several channels–such as paid ads, social media marketing, and email. Why should content be a priority over those?
Here’s why: Research by Oracle found that content marketing costs up to 41% less than paid search for larger businesses, and 31% less for mid-sized companies:
2) 47% of buyers view at least 3–5 pieces of content before contacting a sales rep
So, why does content marketing get such a great ROI for the cost (compared to paid search)?
It’s because 47% of B2B buyers view at least 3-5 pieces of content before contacting a sales rep. That’s right: Before a sales demo, and long before an initial contact form submission, your target leads want to feast their eyes on content.
3) 53% of content marketers’ goal is to attract new visitors
With the previous content marketing statistic in mind, it’ll come as no surprise to learn that over half of the marketers we surveyed said their content is written to attract new visitors:
Just less than half (47%) of our experts said their content is designed to nurture or educate existing leads.
Both are worthwhile strategies, because B2B buyers are looking for content at all stages of the sales funnel–not just the beginning. Your content is a great way to retain the users you’ve already got.
4) 79% of content marketers write their content for people (rather than search engines)
There’s no doubting that SEO is a huge part of content marketing.
We’ve previously likened it to the chicken and the egg: You can’t have great content without SEO, but your SEO won’t be successful without incredible content.
Despite Google being a huge priority for marketers, 79% of the people we surveyed said their first priority when creating new content was to write for people:
Blogging Statistics
5) Blog posts account for 64% of all content being created
Our experts said blog posts account for 64% of all the content they’re creating, compared to almost 80% two years ago:
So, what other types of content are included in the other 36%? Here are some examples:
White papers
Videos
Podcasts
Case studies
Emails
Remember: Content doesn’t always have to be written text.
6) 61% of consumers made a purchase after reading recommendations on a blog
While written text doesn’t form 100% of the content a company creates, there’s a reason why blogging forms the majority.
It’s because 61% of consumers made a purchase after reading recommendations on a blog.
Whether you’re a SaaS, eCommerce or service-based business, your customers want to read content before they hand over their payment details–and they’ll finish their purchase, as a result.
7) The most important blogging KPI is “email signups”
It’s a well-known fact that blogging takes a while to see results.
You can’t publish a blog post and expect to see hundreds of sales overnight; nor can you expect a lead to purchase after consuming a single piece of content.
Our survey indicates that businesses do see content marketing as a long-term strategy, with the majority voting “email signups” as their most important blogging KPI:
8) Content ideas from customer inquiries are the fourth most-used methods of finding content ideas
Finding new content ideas can be tough. So, we asked a handful of content marketers where they found them.
Personal ideas take the top spot; inspiration from other blogs take second; feedback from their team take third.
But arguably the most important–customer inquiries–are ranked fourth. (Despite those people being the audience you’re writing for.)
9) …but just 42% of companies are talking with customers to understand their needs
Companies are using customer inquiries as a source of content ideas.
But even more worryingly, just 42% say they’re talking with their customers to understand their needs.
Without speaking to your customers, how do you know what type of content they want to consume, or the topics they’re most interested in?
(Schedule surveys into your post-purchase emails to get this type of feedback. Or, take a look at the questions your sales team are frequently asked. It’s a great source of content ideas.)
10) WordPress is the most popular blogging platform
So, are you convinced to start blogging (if you aren’t already)?
11) 87 million posts were published on WordPress in May 2018
If you’ve picked WordPress as your blogging platform of choice, you’ve got plenty of competition.
Research by Backlinko found there were over 87 million blog posts published on WordPress sites in May 2018–which is over 27 million more than two years prior:
12) 15% of SaaS companies don’t have a blog
Sure, there are millions of companies you’ll be competing with when you start a blog. But not every business has a blog on their website–especially when it comes to SaaS.
You’ve invested time and effort into creating content, and you’re starting to see a handful of email signups as a result.
But you’re still not ranking in search.
You’re not alone. In fact, Ahrefs discovered that the vast majority (90%) of content gets no organic traffic from Google:
Solve that problem by applying these SEO fundamentals to your website, and tracking your content’s SEO performance with our Google Analytics SEO dashboard.
14) Over 30% of marketers think social media is the most effective way of driving traffic
If Google doesn’t drive traffic to websites, what does?
Our experts think social media is the answer, with more than 30% voting it as the most effective channel for driving traffic to the content they produce–shortly followed by email and paid social:
15) Posts with longer headlines get more social shares
If you’re sharing your content to social media, you can’t just post the link to your Facebook Page and expect people to flock to your website.
You’ll need to optimize your content for social media.
What does that optimization look like? According to this data, you’ll need to write longer headlines for your content. It’s proven to help garner more social shares:
Content Marketing ROI
16) The most important KPI for content marketers is “leads”
Earlier, we mentioned that the main KPI for blogging is email signups.
That’s the same for content marketing, as a whole–with our experts voting “leads” as the most important metric to measure the success of their strategy:
17) 72% of successful companies measure their content marketing ROI
It’s important to know whether the content you’re producing is achieving the results you’re hoping for.
Content Marketing Institute found that 72% of the most successful companies measure their content marketing ROI, compared to 22% of the least successful:
18) Only 8% of marketers consider themselves “successful” or “very successful” at measuring content ROI
Despite the most successful companies tracking their content marketing ROI, it seems like not many marketers know how to do it.
Research has found that 2% of companies consider themselves “extremely successful” at measuring content ROI, and just 6% think they’re “successful”:
19) The majority of marketers measure their content success every week
Earlier, we touched on the fact that content marketing takes a long time to pay off. You can’t publish a piece of content and expect leads overnight.
Unfortunately, there is no “best practice” for how often you should measure your content marketing ROI. The more content you publish, the more frequently you could measure it–but you’ll need to give your content enough time to get the wheels turning.
20) The average conversion rate for a blog is 19%
Email signups is the most popular content marketing KPI.
If you’ve chosen the same metric, you might be wondering what the typical blog conversion rate is so you can tell whether yours meets (or beats) it.
The majority of marketers we surveyed said 1-5% of visitors to their blog turn into a newsletter subscriber, with the average visitor-to-subscriber rate falling at 19%.
21) Almost half of marketers prefer multi-touch attribution models
When you’re measuring content marketing ROI, your figures can vary massively depending on the attribution model you’re using. It can be either:
First-touch: The first page they visited
Last-touch: The page they visited immediately before purchasing
Multi-touch: The several pages they visited throughout the process
Almost half of our marketers said they prefer a multi-touch attribution model, particularly because it allows you to track a customers’ full journey through your funnel:
Content Marketing Teams
22) In 55% of organizations, one person manages the editorial calendar
Content marketing isn’t a one-man-band job. As you’ll see later, content departments are teams, with several people helping to drive those subscribers.
So, how can you encourage more people within your workforce to help with content creation?
Start by explaining the value that content gives, and how it’ll help improve the day-to-day life of the people you’re trying to involve. (For example: If you’re asking a sales rep to contribute content, tell them they’ll have a detailed link to pass onto customers who ask the same thing.)
Content Marketing Budgets
24) Marketers allocate of 26% of their total marketing budget to content marketing
Ah, the fun part of marketing: Budgets.
Even though you’re not directly investing cash into a platform (like Facebook Ads, for example), content marketing still needs an investment–which usually comes from a broader marketing budget.
Izea found that on average, B2B marketers allocate 26% of their overall budget to content marketing. That comes down to 22% for B2C companies.
25) 32% of a content budget goes to development, and another 27% to distribution and promotion
Once you’ve got the percentage split you’ve got to assign to content-related tasks, you’ll need to decide where to spend it.
Data by Target Marketing found that on average, 32% of the budget does to content development, and 27% heads towards paid distribution and promotion.
26) 56% of B2B marketers increased their spend on content creation
Just 32% of the average content marketing budget is spent on creation.
However, that seems to be on the rise. Content Marketing Institute found that 56% of B2B marketers increased their spending on content creation in the last 12 months:
28) 68% of marketers think blogging is more effective than two years ago
With these content marketing statistics in mind, it’s interesting to think where we’ll be in a few years time. (Especially when things have changed so much within the previous two.)
We wanted to get a rough prediction on what content marketing might look like beyond 2019, so we asked whether marketers found blogging more (or less) effective than two years ago.
The majority think it’s more effective:
29) Almost 50% of marketers would focus on blogging if they started from scratch
Judging from that previous statistic, any form of content (particularly blogging) isn’t set to die down anytime soon.
Elise Dopson is a freelance B2B writer for SaaS and marketing companies. With a focus on data-driven ideas that truly provide value, she helps brands to get noticed online–and drive targeted website visitors that transform into raving fans.
I woke to the news recently that I have been nominated in the Best Lifestyle Blog category of the Annual Bloggers Bash Awards. I sincerely thank whoever nominated me and I humbly accept the nomination. I’m thrilled, proud as punch and amazed to even be nominated!
BUT….
But there’s a problem – I’m a fraud. Well maybe that’s a bit harsh, I just feel like a fraud and only sometimes, not all the time!
I think I’m having one of my confidence meltdowns – where I don’t think I’m good enough, or have anything interesting to say or get confused or simply overwhelmed by everything. Do you ever feel like this?
Despite having been blogging for years and somehow amassing thousands of followers, I still don’t think I’m any good at it. I’m not looking for compliments here or being self deprecating, I’m seriously doubting my abilities – which I do from time to time! At least I’m an honest fraudster I’ll be fine in a day or two!
Why do I do this to myself and where has this feeling come from?
I really had to stop and think about it. I don’t know if I’m just having a mini confidence crisis, feeling lost, overwhelmed by things going on or is it just a slight case of imposter syndrome?
Maybe it’s just a mix of lots of things. Hopefully it will pass and I will resume normal transmission soon. Do you feel like this sometimes, I’d love to know?
But I’ve also read a few articles about on-line bloggers/wellness experts/influencers who have abused their power and had some major negative press, and well deserved I must say, as a result of their questionable actions. Only this week I read Jennifer’s review of a book about one such person and as she said, if it was a novel, it would seem unbelievable.
I’m not one to presume to tell anyone what to do. I don’t like to give advice very often as I don’t think I’m qualified to do so. Blogging is different for everyone, some want to entertain you, some want you to buy things, some want to rant about issues impacting on their lives, some want to tell you what to do.
I suppose this hit me as we all tend to hide a little behind our keyboards. Life isn’t always as we blog about it.
I’m fortunate to have met in real life, some of my friends who I’ve got to know through this blogging community. They have all been lovely, real, kind, generous, authentic and caring people – something I aim to be too.
Blogging Awards in fiction
Given the recent nominations for those of us lucky enough to have received them, these two books by Holly Wainwright also struck a chord. I read them a while ago, and although works of fiction, they hit a nerve.
I thought of them and had a wry smile, as I read the post about the Annual Bloggers Bash Awards. Thankfully I think it is an over the top depiction of bloggers, and none of us are going to go to such lengths to win an award!!
They are light reading but for those of us who are bloggers they also have some home truths, as many people can, and do, get caught up in their own ‘online’ and sometimes ‘unreal’ world.
Sometimes life behind the screen is not as rosy as it seems…
Meet three Mummy Bloggers – each of them followed, idolised, imitated, taunted and trolled online.
Elle Campbell is a glossy, lycra-clad mum with washboard abs, a ten-year plan and a secret past. Abi Black has quit sugar, moved to the country and is homeschooling her kids. Leisel Adams slogs away at her office job each day before rushing home, steeped in guilt, to spend precious moments with her kids before bedtime.
When all three women are nominated for a prestigious blogging award with a hefty cash prize, the scene is set for a brutal and often hilarious battle for hearts, minds-and clicks. As the awards night gets closer, their lies get bigger, their stunts get crazier – and some mistakes from the past become harder and harder to hide.
The Mummy Bloggers is a frank and funny look at the perils and perks of life online.
This was my review on Goodreads:
I was conflicted with this book. I’m a blogger, though not a mummy blogger, more of a midlife blogger, and understood many of the issues. The using everything that goes on around you for fodder for a post, the social media aspect and the time involved in maintaining a blog. Holly Wainwright got most of these things spot on. It made me stop and think about my ‘following’ and how intrusive some parts of blogging can be, in terms of time and effort. I don’t blog for money, have nothing to sell, and use it as a creative outlet but I could still see similarities, which I didn’t like! I also didn’t care much for the main characters. My blogging community is a much nicer world than the three bloggers in this story, I’m happy to say. The story was quite well done but it all just left me a bit cold at times. I also read the second book before reading this one so maybe that clouded my thinking a bit. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either.
The bestselling author of The Mummy Bloggers is back with another page-turning, rip-roaring story about mums, phones and the cult of self-improvement.
In the rolling green hills of Australia’s hippest hinterland, a new guru is blogging about her breakfast.
ELLE CAMPBELL is back, holed up in an exclusive retreat where women pay thousands to mimic her extreme lifestyle, or die trying. But who’s bankrolling Elle’s new empire? And why are her two tiny sons suddenly absent from her glossy public image?
ABI BLACK just wants to marry her true love under a tree in the garden on New Year’s Eve. But her ex-husband is building a financial cult in the shed, Elle is looming and her teenage daughter’s YouTube channel is gaining followers for all the wrong reasons. The wedding might have to wait.
FRANCES GRAHAM has a colicky newborn, an absent husband and a WhatsApp mothers’ group that’s giving her anxiety. But she’s certain that if she can just be more like those fitmums on Instagram, things can only get better. And surely, if she can scrape enough money together to make it to Elle’s retreat, everything in her life will be just . . . perfect.
Through a world of fake gurus, green smoothies and bad influencers, How to Be Perfect follows Elle, Abi and Frankie into the cult of self-improvement that’s taking over your phone . . . and your breakfast.
These books show just how easily people can get hooked on believing something that’s far from real. I’m not sure I recommend you read these books but it showed me how thankful I am that my blogging community is completely different to the world in these books.
What I’m trying to say is that blogging is like any creative artwork, we all have our ups and downs from time to time, a crisis of confidence, writer’s block, burnout – you name it!
MY 6 TOP TIPS ON HOW TO BE A GRATEFUL BLOGGER:
I suggest we:
Engage with others regularly
Find a blogging buddy or a mentor and interact
Check in on your buddies from time to time – it can be hard to know why some bloggers just disappear from our feeds
Never be mean or nasty in comments – it is fine to agree to disagree but do so politely
Try to meet in person – it can be such fun!
Support each other wherever possible
So, in summary, I am trying to be a grateful blogger and I truly appreciate all your continued support. Thanks again for the nomination, it made my day
Take your blog from zero to hero with these amazing tips that can make or break your blogging experience
Have you ever wondered why some blogs garner more attraction than others? Of course, you have and tons of you might have tried to decode the hack to do that as well. We all have been there. If you are someone reading this article at this moment, you either are a blogger or you plan to be one.
If you believe your blog or your idea is unique and captivating, make sure hundreds, thousands and eventually the millions out there share the same perspective.
To give you a clear view let me quote Jonathan Perelman, head of Digital Ventures, ICM Partners, a popular talent and literary agency in Los Angeles. The man simply said, “Content is the king but distribution is the queen and she wears the pants.” If you can understand the crux of this you are moving on the, right path my friend.
There are a lot of reasons why someone prefers one blog over another. Blogging isn’t a rocket science. It is about being you and putting your vision out there. But at the same time, it is hard as you need to stay interesting and relevant to your viewers.
In order to give you a clear context, Entrepreneur India sat down with Priyanka Bharwani, a blogger from Mumbai who goes by the name ‘AMomInLove’ on Instagram. She has been an entrepreneur, then became a mother and lately has donned the hat of a mommy blogger. So here are some tricks and tips from one growing blogger to another.
Patience is a virtue
You can’t own the digital space in one day. It is a growing process and patience is the key. If you lack the basic quality of forbearing blogging is certainly not your thing.
“Be very patient. Follow your gut feeling. Post whatever you like. Within a month you will know where you are heading. Accordingly, you will know what your forte is. Starting engaging your audiences and be patient that’s the key,” says Bharwani.
Know your calling
Source: Pixabay
The most important factor that makes or breaks your blogging experience is knowing what sector you intend to venture into.
Tap on to a new area of blogging. Don’t be part of the rat race because you already have a huge line before you will even be noticed. Always find a niche and accordingly pursue your passion.
6-8 months process
Source: Pixabay
Blogging isn’t about creating a lot of content. It is about creating smart content. Just like any start-up, blogging is a venture which takes time to fly. Usually, it takes 6-8 months before someone potential approaches you.
“Even for me it to get the first response it took me good 6-8 months and that too posting and creating content every day,” she shares.
Be ready for criticism
Source: Pixabay
One thing that you can’t ignore is criticism. When you are out in the open, posting and creating content you are more open to scrutiny than any other individual.
“Initially, I received a lot of criticism and even I used to wonder should I put my son’s picture on social media. There were people who were being extremely negative about my approach and laughing over how I was conducting myself. People asked me what I was trying to do as they failed to understand the term mommy blogging. I have got a lot of bashing but then it got better,” explains Bharwani.
Like, trust, business
Putting it out bluntly, if your content is liked, people automatically listen to you. Listening builds trust and soon they are open to doing business with you.
But how will you know if you are growing? The amount of people who connect with you and the response you get tells you how you are growing.
The Right Time To Convert Blogging Into A Business
Source: Pixabay
It is all about knowing the right time and quoting the right amount so you don’t lose on the opportunity.
“When people start approaching you themselves that is the time. So start with charging a small amount. When you charge, only then people appreciate your work and you are taken seriously. Things become more formal and your work approach becomes better. Initially, you even do barter before you actually start charging in a monetary manner. The amount of effort you put into one post, it might not be understood by a lay person. The ideation, the content creation and that take a lot of effort. Don’t overvalue yourself but don’t undervalue yourself also,” says Bharwani.
P.S. All the blogger, this job is all about innovating and creating. So remember the day you feel your creativity is over, just remember the more you create and use it, the more you have it in you. It never gets over, it keeps growing!
Thanks in small part to the explosion of influencers and the myriad of highly visible fashion, beauty and lifestyle bloggers that have successfully cut through the clutter to make lucrative careers for themselves, blogging has had a rise in popularity and has pretty much become the “it” career of choice for the modern world. In fact, according to a survey back in 2014, already over 25% of under 25’s in the UK alone identified a future as a blogger on their list of aspirational careers and that figure will have significantly increased now that many bloggers have moved over into the mainstream.
In part that is due to a huge misconception that blogging is easy and doesn’t require much of a time commitment, is lucrative and can deliver big bucks sponsorships and brand collaborations and will bring social admiration and respect from your peers! While some of that may indeed be true, it’s also a long hard slog ahead to get visibility, traction, and engagement. In the UK alone there are over 100,000 searches every month on “How to Blog” and “Can I start a blog” which just shows you how prevalent the subject of blogging has become.
Not that we want to put you off starting your own blog, we positively encourage it, and we certainly admire your ambition. However, it is a hugely competitive landscape, so if you want to do it right and more importantly stand a chance of being both successful and profitable, then you need to set out on the right track from day one. Luckily for you, we’re here with our Top 10 Tips To Start a Blog in 2019, so hopefully, you can jumpstart your new passion or career and get ready to share your passion with the world. Whether that’s DIY, Fashion, Gardening, Tech or even Business related, there will be an audience out there that are interested in what wisdom you have to impart. So let’s take a look at some of the tips that will set you confidently on your way.
1. It’s a marathon, not a sprint! Blogging DOES take time and also effort
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was a successful blog. Get honest before you even put pen to paper and ask yourself why you want to start writing a blog in 2019. If it’s to make money online quickly, then blogging perhaps isn’t the right path for you. However, if you are passionate about your niche (more on that later) and are prepared to put in the hours and hard work to grow your audience, then read on! Chances are that nobody will even read your first blog. Certainly, you won’t see results immediately. So don’t lose heart. Keep working at it and know that the rewards and the audience will come in time. If they don’t, then at least ensure you are blogging about something that comes naturally to you and that puts fire in your belly and a big smile on your face.
2. Know your niche and identify who your target audience is going to be
This is absolutely crucial. You can’t possibly be all things to all people. You need to get clear about what you are blogging about, why and to who. Then you need to stick to that niche with sharp laser focus. Even if your friend suddenly has hit the jackpot blogging about their Dog’s daily antics, if you don’t have a dog and your passion is planting, it doesn’t matter how successful they are, it won’t come naturally to you, and your audience will sense that a mile away. Choose a topic that you are absolutely passionate and committed. That will resonate throughout your writing and really hit home and engage with your core audience.
3. Remember that Content is King, Queen and also your Ace card!
Yes, quantity matters, as does consistency but quality should be your Number 1 objective. Don’t be shallow and just write drivel. Make sure that you really give value and that your content is interesting and inciteful or humorous or practical. Whatever your niche is, your content needs to be relevant to that and to strike a chord with your audience.
4. Tap into your Social Network to drive more eyeballs
If you already have a Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, then use them. You need to be your own PR machine and blow your own trumpet. The aim of the game is to raise your visibility and so it’s not just enough to write fabulous content and hope that people will just naturally stumble across you. You need to be proactive and while your content takes it time to naturally rank with search engines, getting busy on social media, promoting your latest articles, boosting your posts and even consider strategically buying some traffic to get your blog kick-started in earnest.
5. Learn some basic technical skills
Today there are some fantastic blogging platforms available that you can easily , so there’s no need to be a coding pro, but a little bit of general technical knowledge will most certainly stand you in good stead. There are literally tones of customizable themes and useful plugins you can bolt onto your blog that requires no coding experience, but if you do have a good handle on the basics, you can ensure that your blog really does look the business and is a cut above the rest.
6. You really need to understand the basics of SEO
This is fundamental. Even if you don’t do it, make sure that someone else is aware of the importance of SEO and ensuring that your blog is fully optimized. Again, many of the blogging platforms now come with built-in SEO that helps take the guesswork out of your set up, but traffic comes from search engines and is the key to growth so have a very clearly defined SEO structure in place and know your critical keywords. If you are blogging about the best Italian food in Brooklyn, then make sure that phrase is utilized nice and natural throughout your content and even consider having it included in the name of your site. Something along the lines of The Best Italian Food In Brooklyn!! Yeah right, that one has already gone, but you get the gist. Don’t over complicate things by giving your blog a totally irrelevant and nonsensical name, clever as you might think you are being. Choose something that is relatable, and that will further help with your site’s important SEO.
7. The legal nitty gritty! Sorry folks, but you need to wise up to copyright issues
Right now you might well be writing articles that only your Mum and your best friend are reading, that doesn’t mean you have carte blanche to steal other peoples ideas. The internet is like the wild wild west, and you don’t want to the latest Outlaw driven out of town! You don’t want to be accused of plagiarism nor do you want it happening to you either. So brush up on your basic copyright knowledge and educate yourself so that you don’t unintentionally become a content thief by using someone else’s articles or images in whole or part without giving them due credit or checking with them first. Civil and straightforward rules of engagement!
8. The design is so important – so don’t just identify your niche, also identify your site style and your personal brand too
How a design looks can really influence how people even perceive the content. We are visual beings after all. Drawn to color and imagery and likely to be turned away by a long stream of consciousness or a blog that is either downright ugly or in a font type and size that is basically eligible. Also, remember that Google’s latest algorithms are heavily skewed towards prioritizing mobile-based content so don’t neglect to ensure that your blog is fully optimized from a design and navigation perspective for all mobile devices. Fewer people these days are consuming content at their desk on a big screen, and more and more people are dipping into their favorites while they are out and about. Make sure that your blog is pleasurable and easy reading experience and that is totally mobile friendly as well as responsive. Learn about optimizing your image sizes so that it loads quickly otherwise the bus may well have come and gone while your potential reader is still waiting for your content to load!
9. Be natural and be authentic. Above all else, by yourself!
You are you, not some imposter so keep it real. Always, always be yourself and stay true to you. To build real-time trust, your audience need to connect with you, trust you, engage with you and respect you. That is especially true if your ultimate aim is to monetize your blog by adding on a revenue stream. Whether you are selling a product that you own or on behalf of a brand, or are in a service based industry or network marketing model where recruiting new customers is the end game, if you’re not natural and you don’t foster trust, you will never succeed. Be open with your readers, allow them to engage with you and vice versa. Actively encourage interaction and participation by opening up dialogue and debate.
10. Keep going and have a plan in place for the short, mid and long-term
As with life itself, it pays to get clear on your goals and intentions. Set yourself some markers in the sand that you are working towards achieving and make sure that you keep one eye firmly on the short term and the other on the long game. Don’t allow yourself to get overwhelmed. Starting out no-one knows every step of the journey ahead, and that is part of the magic as well as the frustration. It’s good to visualize your success and what that looks like. Whether that’s 20,000, 200,000 or 2,000,000 subscribers down the line, keep your sites firmly set on the horizon, steady your ship and success will come. Trust in the process and know that each little step you take puts you on track towards hitting the blogging jackpot!
Just do it!
Procrastination will have you sat on the fence for so long you will get blisters in your backside! If you are committed to making 2019 the year that you launch a blog, whether that’s a personal or a professional one, you better just get on and do it! Find your niche and define your audience. Decide which platform you are going to use and then set your blog up, giving it a really snappy and relevant, SEO friendly name. Crack on with creating some awesome content then get busy sharing the hell out of tapping into all our social touchpoints both online and generally by starting up conversations with people about what you are up to. They’ll love listening to you, and if you listen to them too, you might get some valuable feedback that will help you better engage with your audience. But above all else, if we can only give you one Top Tip to take away with you that will help you to start a blog in 2019, keep it real! Be natural, have integrity, gain your audience’s trust and act authentically.
Blogging is dynamic, and you need to be too. You need to attack it with your full spirit, all guns blazing and with a childlike sense of wonder and enthusiasm. No excuses! Stop watching the TV. Stop sitting on that proverbial fence. Commit today to set up a blog in 2019 and start laying the foundations to your future success. Carve out the time to blog and keep at it. Commit to creating some awesome content and commit to making your dream of being published a reality. This is no get rich quick scheme, but it is an incredibly rewarding, fun and fulfilling journey so enjoy the ride.
If you are a blogger, chances are that you want to make money at some point. That’s ok – there is nothing wrong with making money online. There is nothing wrong with making money at all. Quite the contrary – it’s the way the world works.
But at the point when you want to start making money, you may be faced with a situation you know nothing about: Running a business. Running a business means making money from something… but from what?
Your answer may be that you make money from a product – and that is not wrong. But, surprisingly, products are not a core element for a business. Products change – here are a few examples:
BlackBerry: Just 10 years ago, when someone said “Smartphone” they meant BlackBerry. Then the IPhone and Android came along. And BlackBerry lost most of its core business. Today the Smartphones that are sold under the BlackBerry brand are made under license by other companies. BlackBerry’s core business is now business software – and business security software.
Apple: Apple’s core business used to be desktop computers and a bit later Laptops. They lost the fight against Microsoft – and then Steve Jobs came back and turned the company around. They still make computers, but now they make phones, make money through music services, the AppleTV, IPads, watches, … Computers aren’t their core product any more. They are not a computer company today – they sell a lifestyle.
Amazon: When you think about Amazon, you think eCommerce, right? Amazon started as eCommerce in general and books in particular – but today they are much more. They sell cloud hosting through AWS, they produce TV and movie content, they are a video streaming service, and so much more. They are not just eCommerce any more – they basically do everything that brings entertainment to the end consumer via the net – on all levels.
You really cannot say that these companies aren’t successful. That means it’s not the product that it sells that makes a company successful.
In my opinion, there are 3 core elements that make up a successful company – any company. But I see many bloggers fail because often, in the online space, these values have been forgotten:
1. A Mission (or… what you WANT to Achieve)
Heard of a company called SpaceX? Probably – because even if you literally live behind the moon, they are working on paying you a visit, and go even further. SpaceX was founded by Elon Musk (who is also CEO) with the mission of bringing mankind to space in general and to Mars in the near future. Elon Musk was a cofounder of PayPal – and he is also the CEO of Tesla. He is famous for saying things like:
“I would like to die on Mars… just not on impact.” – Elon Musk
Not every “mission” needs to be this kind of visionary (or crazy – depending on your viewpoint) approach. But a mission defines what you work on. It defines the approach you take building your business. SpaceX works on getting into space – so what they work on is building better rockets (yes… what they do IS rocket science, literally). What they sell is transportation into space – satellites for instance.
A mission isn’t only important for a company to define a direction – it is also important because it helps you stay on target when things go wrong. It’s the one thing you shouldn’t change – or if you do then you need a really good reason to do so. Changing your mission will lead to a massive change in your company – to the point where changing the mission is actually the same as closing your company and building a new one.
What does having a “Mission” Mean for Bloggers?
When you are running a blog, this gives you purpose. Without a mission, you will probably aimlessly write blog posts about various topics. You might write a post about handling personal finances – followed by a post about your best chicken salad recipe. Without a mission you will not be able to decide what your blog is about.
Many bloggers start this way – and at least 99% of them fail. Having a mission is the most important thing for any business – but especially for bloggers – because when bloggers want to build an online business, this provides a direction, right from the start.
Even when you are just starting out, and you haven’t identified your niche clearly, you kind of just want to “check out that blogging thing,” having a mission is something you can work on with every article. Having a mission is what allows you to build an audience around that mission. Without a mission – it’s impossible to have a message. Without a mission, it’s also almost impossible to have any kind of persistent audience.
If you want to know what our mission, here at The Social Ms is, here it is:
We want to allow bloggers and small businesses to grow and profit – no matter their size.
Here is why this mission is something that we care deeply about: Our start in the business world was back in 2010, when I and Susanna founded a company called exploreB2B. It was an online publishing platform – similar to Buzzfeed and Medium, but focused on the business content niche. We thought we would hire someone but it turned out that we had to learn marketing and especially growth marketing from the ground up.
exploreB2B failed in the end – but our marketing was sound. We got the platform to 80.000 users and 500.000 pageviews per month. But that was a hard piece of work – and not every business has the time and resources to work everything out from the start. That’s why this mission is important to us. (If you want to find out more about this story – here is the full story of exploreB2B, with all its ups and downs.)
No – it’s this is not yet something you would pay me for, right? But it’s an honest goal – something I work towards!
If you are starting a blog or running one – take some time and think really hard about what you want to achieve. And then write down your mission and stick to it. (Thank me later 🙂 )
2. A Message (or… what you Achieve for Others)
Let’s return to SpaceX for a second – we know their mission is to bring mankind to space. But that’s not their message – and that’s not how they make money. If that was their message, no one would pay them.
I don’t have access to SpaceX’s marketing department – but depending on how they phrase their message, it might be something like:
“We build better (or cheaper) rockets.”
“We bring your stuff into space.”
I know these examples aren’t very scientific – but they should get the point across.
Your message is your value proposition – it is what you want others to see you can do for them. Your message isn’t your goal, it is how you achieve goals for others. It’s not “This is what I do for the world” or “…myself”, instead, the message is: “This is what I achieve for you!”
Contrary to a mission, a message can change – but changing your message can still lead to drastic changes in your business. Look at the two messages I had for SpaceX above. The first one leads to a business selling rockets – the second one leads to a business selling transportation.
Having a message is mandatory for any business because it determines how you communicate with your audience. And communication is key for a business.
As a Blogger – When Do I Need a Message?
As a blogger there is one point when you absolutely need a message: When you turn your blog into a business. Without a message, you won’t make money.
Born Fitness is a very popular fitness blog and website run by solopreneur Adam Bornstein – and it’s one of the few places that have mission and message down perfectly.
But I will go one step further – you should have a message right from the start. You don’t have to publish your message, but a message determines how you communicate with your audience. It will determine whether you are a teacher, a politician, a visionary or anything else. Without a message – you are “just” a blogger.
Think about it – why should I (or anybody else) listen to YOU – when there are millions of other bloggers out there? That is what your message gives you.
I can’t let you continue reading without letting you know about at least one message for a blog. Here is our message at The Social Ms:
The Social Ms helps you start and grow YOUR business MASSIVELY by teaching you FREE online, social media and content marketing methods you can implement RIGHT NOW!
So when you are starting out – write down a message right below your mission. Again: You can thank me later 🙂
3. A Brand (or… an Audience)
“Your brand is what other people say about you when you are not in the room.”
Now here is the third core element of any business and that is… (drumroll)… a brand. But what is a brand, really?
A brand is an audience that perceives your business in a certain way. (At least for the purpose of this article.)
A brand is different from the other core elements simply because this is something that you won’t fix with a sheet of paper and scribbling a few words. Any company that wants to sell anything needs to be known within its target audience. And not just known – it needs to be perceived positively.
This can mean a lot of things – I’ve seen companies that had a target audience that consisted of… maybe something like 15 other companies. But each of these companies knew they existed and knew they had the solutions they needed so they were doing extremely well.
On the other hand, usually, when you talk about “brand” and “audience” you mean a very clear perception of your company in a huge group of people.
There is no shortcut to achieving this. You cannot buy a huge audience that perceives you in a certain way – even if you buy your audience through advertising, you still have to work on your brand image – the perception.
This is how Apple has long cues of people in front of their store every time a new IPhone is released. This is why German car companies are selling their cars at higher prices than Toyota – a BMW says “luxury” and “power” while a Toyota is more likely to say… “middle class.” (Don’t turn this into a discussion of what’s better – I don’t drive a BMW.)
How Do I Build my Brand as a Blogger?
As a blogger you need to be ready to invest a lot of time into building your brand… But brand for bloggers translates directly into “traffic” and “audience.”
This is why you need hustle to get eyes on your content – and then convert these eyes into email subscribers and send regular newsletters. What you are doing is building an audience and working on how this audience perceives you. You nurture your new subscribers to have a certain, positive image of you in their brains.
No – this is not something you can work out right from the start. But having a mission, and a message helps. This is why blogs sometimes take a while before running profitably – but this is also why blogs have so much potential. A blog is often run as a sideshow – until it really takes off. A true blogger doesn’t just write for the fun of it – but also not just for money. A blogger publishes out of love for his/her audience! And to satisfy an even bigger audience a blogger will work on achieving a bigger audience!
When you do that – you are set to become a successful blogger – and if you concentrate on these core elements of a business, you will be able to monetize and make a good life just from your blog!
Final Words
These are in my opinion the core elements of any business. Sadly they are often neglected online – and I do blame some online marketing influencers by making promises of easy money that anyone can make online. Many of these marketers leave out that any business needs to have these core elements – and that any business without these elements isn’t built to last.
Sure, you can sometimes make a few bucks quickly – but that won’t make you rich. And often you will lose more than you gain. For instance – I get offered money for sponsored posts fairly often. But either the content isn’t right for our audience, or the quality isn’t good. Or both.
It would hurt my brand extremely if I started publishing these to earn a few more bucks on the side. And it would jeopardize my mission and destroy my message.
You may or may not know that I haven’t always been Copyblogger’s editor.
For many years, I was a Copyblogger reader. I didn’t know Brian. I didn’t know Sonia.
But I pretended that I did. Of course I didn’t tell anyone that … I just received so much guidance from Copyblogger that helped me position my writing and editing services for success that it felt like I knew them.
Although it was just a website with content I read, Copyblogger supported my business journey.
I’m bringing this up today because I’m happy to pay it forward, if you will, and share a list of Copyblogger’s top 30 tips that help you become an in-demand freelance writer.
1. Start with the basics
The overhead to work as a freelance writer in the digital space is quite small compared to a brick-and-mortar business.
Get clear on the bare minimum you need to get started, which includes:
If you’re like me, you’ll also need a lot of Moleskine notebooks for ideas and drafting.
But see? Nothing too complicated.
2. Assess short-term and long-term goals
It’s fun and exciting to think about all the projects you have planned for your business.
But one of the most important skills you can build is the ability to focus on your current work and short-term goals that keep the current incarnation of your writing services running.
You don’t have to forget about your ambitions; you just have to prioritize your time properly.
That could look something like spending 90 percent of your time on your immediate responsibilities and 10 percent of your time working on that Next Big Project.
Because, remember, you’ll never get to your long-term goals if you don’t meet your short-term ones.
3. Create an order of operations
Once you’ve got a handle on your short-term and long-term goals, select an order for the tasks you need to accomplish.
What marketing projects will help you get your first clients?
If something sounds like a good idea, but you don’t have the time or budget for it yet, it’s a distraction from actually making money sooner rather than later.
During this process, you’ll narrow down your short-term and long-term goals even more. Swiftly move distractions to your “possibility list for the future,” when you’re in a better position to take them on.
4. Recognize that your skill set helps businesses
People often have a difficult time understanding how you make a living as a writer.
However, some might assume you write fiction. Perhaps they ask if you work in entertainment. That one is somewhat easy to grasp.
So, when you say that’s not the type of writing you do, confusion sets in — along with the notion that you probably just write as a hobby.
Amateurs don’t excel at good, strategic writing, and that’s what sets you apart. You think in terms of using your communication skills to help others clearly convey their messages.
5. Determine your prices
Many people don’t know where to begin when it comes to translating ideas in their minds into cohesive sentences and paragraphs.
Your professional writing services can become the answer to their needs.
Accordingly, you have to set your prices with confidence. And it doesn’t have to be an overwhelming process, either.
6. Demonstrate you’re dedicated to producing excellent work
Proof that supports your professional rates is a win-win.
You’ll communicate your dedication to your clients, so that you don’t feel like a sleazy marketer, and your clients will get a clear picture of what it’s like to do business with you.
7. Outline the details you consider when evaluating a new project
As a premium service provider, you won’t be able to accept every project someone proposes.
You have to be a good match for the job, and the work has to be a good match for you.
Gathering information about a project helps you decide if it’s the right fit for your business and also allows you to tailor your service — before a client has given you any money — in a way that justifies the rate you’ll charge in exchange for your exceptional work.
You’ll convey that you’re highly focused on your client’s business goals — and that you may have even given those goals more consideration than he has.
Some questions you might ask are:
Does the client have a budget for this project? If so, what is it?
What’s the client’s business goal?
How does this project fit into the client’s marketing strategy?
Does the client intend to make any alterations to the completed project (i.e., edits to the text)? Or, is there any subsequent work the client or other service providers will perform related to this project (i.e., formatting, graphic design)?
Is this a project that could lead to regular work (daily, weekly, monthly), or is this a one-time task?
8. Present a compelling proposal
After you’ve evaluated a project, outline what you will produce if the prospect chooses to hire you.
And, most importantly, provide details about how your services will help them achieve what they want.
When you present the benefits of your offer as well, you provide the information your prospect initially requested and potentially even spark excitement about your collaboration.
9. Set (and meet) your own deadline
If your client gives you a specific deadline, give yourself one that is even earlier than theirs.
The earlier the better — it gives you time to handle unexpected events that may arise in your business or life and still keep the promise you made to your client.
If your client is vague about a deadline, set a precise one for them based on the information you gather about their project. Then tell your client when the project will be completed and meet (or beat) the deadline.
10. Communicate that clients must agree to your terms of service and payment policy
Just as setting your prices doesn’t have to be stressful, having a terms of service and payment policy doesn’t have to be intimidating.
You could think of them as a “comprehensive frequently asked questions form” that your clients must review and agree to before working with you.
Some aspects will be standard for all clients and some you’ll customize each time.
Elements you might want to consider include:
A detailed description of the client’s goals for the project
How your service will specifically meet each goal
Your project deadline — the date and time you will return the completed project
The number of revisions included in your price
Payment method options and when payment is due
The best way for the client to contact you if they have a question
When and how the client will receive a payment transaction receipt
What will happen if the client cancels the work requested after payment has been made but before the project has been completed
The extra costs and consequences that will incur if the client has an additional request that goes beyond the terms outlined
Once a client agrees in writing, you have a work contract you can reference if confusion arises.
When you draft your first terms of service and payment policy, you don’t have to cover every possible scenario that could develop.
Rather, think of them as “living” documents you can update with:
Rules to prevent common problems
Additional details that help your clients understand your offerings
Processes that will make your workflows easier
Your business and future clients will both benefit from these types of revisions.
11. Think like a professional artist
All of the tips above cover business logistics, which are necessary for a sustainable writing career.
“Wise marketers embrace art as integral to what they do, as much as strategy and execution are.”
12. Embrace the art of copy
Since 2006, Copyblogger has existed in the intersection of persuasion (copywriting) and online community (blogging).
Copy … blogger.
Words that drive specific actions can transform blog posts, podcast episodes, and videos into business assets — for both your own business and your clients’ businesses.
13. Master your marketing voice
When you master your own marketing voice, it demonstrates to clients that you can help them with theirs.
Tomorrow on Copyblogger, you’ll get a tutorial on how to help your clients find their writing voices.
When freelance writers don’t specify who they want to work with, they often end up taking low-paying jobs or unfulfilling assignments.
But the real danger in that is believing that low-paying jobs or unfulfilling assignments are the only options for freelance writers.
If you want to work for companies with substantial budgets for creative work, you must speak to them directly in your marketing materials and appeal to their sensibilities.
15. Learn content marketing strategy
Strong writers make great content marketers because clear communication is essential when you deliver a company’s message.
Content marketing strategy helps you meet prospects where they are and guide them to where they want to go — all while positioning your business as the only reasonable choice for their needs.
Most writing services are going to look the same to prospects who need to hire a freelance writer. It’s your job to communicate the unique qualities you bring to the table.
Let’s look at an example from the mattress industry.
It’s difficult to find the right mattress — and most brands look roughly the same — so a mattress shopper might not know how to narrow down their choices.
The ad below (with more than 100 million views) for the Purple mattress brand uses multiple time-tested copywriting techniques — such as problem, agitate, solve — to stand out as a top option.
And don’t forget that a copywriter was paid to write the script for this video.
What type of positive transformation do you provide?
20. Deliver a return on investment to clients
You want to make it clear that your writing services don’t just provide words on a page for clients — you get results for their businesses.
If the work you do for a client makes them a profit that exceeds the cost of paying you, everyone wins. You get paid what you’re worth and they are happy to pay high rates for your services.
Copyblogger’s Certification program teaches you how to be the kind of writer that businesses value.
If you’re interested in joining our list of Certified Content Marketers who we recommend to businesses, make sure to sign up for the waitlist at the end of this post. You’ll be the first to know when the program reopens to new students soon.
21. Organize your email inbox
Keeping an immaculate inbox helps you respond to prospects in a timely manner.
Use folders or labels to keep track of different types of inquiries, so you can easily reference them in the future.
Freelance writers commonly blur the lines of their professional and personal time, which can lead to overwhelm and burnout.
When you treat your writing services as a business, you have set time for work and set time for leisure, just like an employee of a company has.
You’re an employee of your own company, so put procedures in place that help you manage your time, such as outlining your activities during a typical workday and crafting templates that help you answer frequently asked questions.
23. Market to those already looking for copywriters or content marketers
This one will save you a lot of time and effort.
Rather than trying to convince someone that they need to hire a copywriter or content marketer, speak directly to someone already looking to hire a copywriter or content marketer.
Here’s another win-win for both your business and your prospects.
When you’re a subject matter expert or you specialize in a type of writing, you’ll have an easier time marketing your business and prospects will immediately get a clear picture of the services you offer.
Publications you pitch articles to could also be thought of as “prospects.” Your expertise makes you more valuable to a publication looking for the best advice for its readers.
Your favorite websites likely have online communities you can join, or you can browse professional groups on social platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn.
28. Connect in person
In-person meetups and conferences can help you grow your digital business.
Your first year (or first few years) as a freelance writer might not turn out exactly as you planned.
In fact, it probably won’t. Welcome to being a freelance writer.
It’s perfectly natural to make mistakes on your business journey. Successful freelance writers adjust their goals, learn new skills, and move forward.
If you’re feeling stuck, you can always go back to tip #1 and then outline what you want to accomplish in the next year.
30. Get Copyblogger Certified
We know making a living as a writer isn’t easy. Finding new clients, managing your business as a business, positioning yourself to rise above feast-and-famine cycles …
The Copyblogger Certification program exists to reward good writers with more clients, more revenue, more stability, and more respect.
Blogging is a great way to reach out to a large audience and convey your message. However, blogging at a personal level has its own limits. This is the reason why guest blogging became popular as it allows a blogger or company to generate leads by reaching to a greater audience. When done carefully, guest blogging can help you build a consistent readership and reputation in the online world.
Guest blogging is a popular method used by bloggers to increase traffic to their website. There are a number of guest blogging websites where bloggers can submit their content to sell their product or services to the desired audience. But like everything, guest blogging has its own set of rules and regulations. Considering these rules will ensure that your guest blogging effort becomes successful.
In this article, you will read about tips every blogger must follow when writing guest blogs.
1. Stick to the Guidelines
Many newbie bloggers make the mistake of ignoring guidelines for the website they are writing for, thinking their creativity cannot be bound by a certain set of guidelines. This leads to rejection of the article submitted by the blogger.
So, it is important to read the guidelines given by the website and formulate your content accordingly. Keep in mind the guidelines and the target audience of the website which you are writing for. Doing otherwise will only ruin your relationship with the host blogger.
2. Be Unique and Impactful
Good blogging is all about creating an impact on the users. Whatever content you write in the guest blogs reflects your brand directly. You have to make a careful choice of words, topic, and keywords to ensure it leaves a positive impact on the reader.
Try and be unique in terms of what you cover in your article. A distinct storyline that makes some valuable points is more likely to get read and will help you build a loyal audience.
3. Funnel your Audience to a Specific Outcome
Guest blogging gives you an opportunity to get more traffic on your website, blog, social media profile or wherever you want to with the helps of links. But as mentioned before always check with sites guidelines around links, some sites (like Digital Doughnut) won’t allow you to link to pages that include a data capture form. These links can be used to take the reader to a product page, Facebook ad, eBook, video etc.
The aim is to take your audience to a specific place where you can achieve the desired outcome, but also provides value to your reader. Avoid inserting random links which leave the reader confused.
4. Aim for a Long-term Result
Most bloggers are eager to get a huge amount of traffic and subscribers by publishing random posts. But if you want to build a consistent brand image then you have to be patient. It demands close monitoring and analysis of stats and figures to ensure the article returns long-term results.
Aim for a guest post with a long term strategy and not just 10 hours of buzz. For instance, with a solid keyword research, you will be able to boost your reputation and credibility in that particular niche. Also, this ensures that the guest post ranks well on Google.
5. Never, Ever Ignore Comments
We all know the importance of getting comments on guest posts. It clearly means people are reading it and finding it valuable enough to leave a comment. It’s through comments that you can develop long-term relationships with your loyal readers.
Also, the comments section is the place where you can enhance your image as a brand or an expert. So, make sure you respond every single comment or question in the comment section on timely basis. You can also take up an idea from the comments for your next post and announce it then and there.
Do you Have any Guest Posting Strategies?
These were some of the guest posting strategies that have really worked for me and my team members. If you have another strategy or even a half-baked idea, feel free to share them in the comments below.
I’ll be fine in a day or two!
