Blogging

Links I’m Loving: Blogging Better #1

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Welcome to Blogging Better! One thing I have learned in the last two years of blogging is that for every one thing I learn about blogging I also discover ten new things I need to learn to help me blog better. I believe that whether you are a brand new blogger or a veteran blogger there is always something new you can learn, so this series is designed to help you become a better blogger by learning from each other. If you have topics you’d like to see covered in future Blogging Better posts, please comment below or email me at girlonthemoveblog01 {at} gmail {dot} com

And now on to some general blogging tips I’ve learned during the last two years that I’d like to pass on to you…

Decide what YOU want to get out of your blog.

Everyone blogs for different reasons and I think it is important for you to figure out why YOU blog. Some bloggers would like their blog to lead to a book deal where as for other people they’d prefer the blog to lead to speaking engagements. Other bloggers blog as a creative outlet and aren’t looking for huge growth. Still other bloggers are looking for some combination of these outcomes. None of these reasons are right or wrong as long as they are a good fit for the blogger. I would encourage you to take some time to think about why you blog and what you want to get out of your blog and then make decisions that allow you to stay true to your blog dreams.

Without a social media presence it can be difficult to promote your blog.

There will be some people that find your blog by doing a simple Google search but if you want to really begin growing your blog you will need to promote it…and one of the best ways to do that is on social media platform. I don’t think you need to be active on seventeen different social media platforms but I would suggest at least trying to create a presence on the big four…Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Not sure where to begin when it comes to social media? Explore the series I’ve been writing this month on social media!

Connect with others.

Blogging can seem lonely because for the most part you’re behind a computer and not really connecting with others. So go out and start connecting with others! Search for other bloggers who have similar interests to you and reach out to them. You can reach out via social media, by commenting on their blog or by going to their About Me page and emailing them…I’ve done this and have met some great bloggers because I took the time to email them and introduce myself!

Ask for help.

Some parts of blogging will probably come easily to you and other parts will be more difficult. This is when those connections I talked about in the previous tip come in really handy! If you are stuck with a blogging problem and everyone in your “real life” just gives you a blank stare when you try to talk about it, then reach out to your blogging friends…most likely someone will be willing to help you out!

You will need to spend money to make money.

Please don’t read this and think you will need to spend thousands of dollars to launch your blog but if you want to make money, you will need to spend some money. Head over to Lisa’s blog to read more about spending money to make money.

Be consistent.

Some bloggers choose to post five days a week. Some bloggers choose to post two days a week. I don’t think one is right and the other is wrong…as long as you consistently make the same choice. Your readers are going to be confused if you have five posts one week, two posts the next week, and zero posts the following week. They won’t know when to come visit your blog and so they’ll probably stop coming. Set a schedule and stick to it so your readers know what to expect. Blogging Better 1

Join us for the very first Blogging Better link-up below!

Once a month beginning this month, I’m co-hosting a link up on blogging resources called Blogging Better with Lisa Kerr.  We would love it if you linked up your best blogging resources below. Our readers are new bloggers, mid-level bloggers, hobby bloggers, professional bloggers, small businesses and social media managers. Our link-up will go live on the last Tuesday of every month. Join us on Twitter using the hashtags #bloggingbetter and #blogbetter.

Blogging Better Purple
About Your Hosts

Lisa Kerr Headshot
Lisa Kerr is my co-host and a fellow Southern California blogger. She is a veteran blogger of more than four years whose work has been featured on the Huffington Post TED Weekends, HuffPo Live, NPR and more. During her four years of blogging, Oprah’s network has contacted her and the CW developed a pilot TV show about her first blog, so she has learned a lot about the business side of blogging, blogging beyond monetization and protecting your intellectual property. She now advise companies about how to connect with their clients by creating a compelling story and building community and works with new and mid-level bloggers, teaching them how to manage their social media communities, tips and tricks for WordPress optimization, and how to create a professional writing portfolio that will further your career.

GOTM about me
If you’re new here, I’m Julie DenOuden and am a girl on the move who blogs about traveling, fitness, cupcakes and social media resources. I started blogging just over two years ago and enjoy sharing what I have learned with others. I offer social media tips and resources and my 31 Days to Create a Social Media Plan is a must-read for any blogger.

I hope you’ll find the tools and tips we share here helpful in developing your blog, and as always, we’re here to answer any questions you may have (either by email or comments) in future posts.

Sign up for future Blogging Better email updates here

To join the link-up:

Visit at least 2 posts from below and comment on them.

Follow your hosts on social media:

FOLLOW LISA ON TWITTER – FACEBOOK – PINTEREST

FOLLOW JULIE ON TWITTER – FACEBOOK – PINTEREST


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