ProBlogger Podcast: Blog Tips to Help You Make Money Blogging

Three Breakthrough Tips That Helped a Blogger Become Profitable Here’s another episode from our Blogging Breakthroughs series, which features bloggers’ stories about breakthroughs in traffic, income, and other aspects of blogging. About two years ago, after a career in Air Traffic Control and dealing with health issues, Michele Robson decided to start a blog about luxury travel on a budget called Turning Left for Less. Michele had some writing experience, but didn't really understand blogging. Her blog started out slowly, but has now reached a point where she earns a liveable income. Michele shares three breakthrough tips that helped her grow her luxury travel blog from just a few readers a day to where it’s at today. Post every day Befriend a blogger you admire and have them become your mentor Be first to market and review products and services Michele has built credibility, and industry leaders are now coming to her. She no longer needs to chase them for information. As bloggers, we all star

How a Mindshift Changed One Blogger's Perspective This episode of our Blogging Breakthroughs series features eight-year blogger Sarah Cook. Her blog Sustainable Cooks shares recipes, gardening tips, and real food for food people. Sarah describes how a simple and practical mindshift recently ramped up her efforts as a blogger. She changed her mindset from “me” to “we”. Most bloggers put the emphasis on themselves, which is natural. But if you want to build a big audience and monetize your blog you should focus on your readers. You can still inject yourself into your blog. Just remember who is reading, what their lives are like, what role you play in their lives, and how you can help them. Create an avatar to learn more about your readers. If you have one, revisit and update it. Another option, depending on how brave you are, is to connect with your readers directly. Before each post Sarah asks herself, "How will this post improve my readers' lives?" Keep it real, and show your readers what normal life

How a Lawyer's Home Cooking Blog is Helping Her Replace Her Law Income Libby Hakim features in the fourth episode of our Blogging Breakthroughs series, where listeners share stories about traffic, income, mindset, and other blogging areas. Libby has a new blog, Cooking with Nana Ling, which focuses on home cooking based on her great-grandmother’s recipes. Before her blog, Libby was working a part-time legal job and had two small children. But with her blog, Libby has experienced four mini breakthroughs: Mindshift: Presumed she would never make more than she would as a lawyer, but started to believe she could make a living by blogging. What to Blog About: Had heaps of ideas, but got tired of them. Her cooking blog gives her and others joy and happiness, so she has been able to sustain it. Overcoming Perfection: Launch deadline makes you commit to moving forward with your blog, even if you don’t think it's good enough yet. Like-New Blogs: Don’t compare yourself to bloggers who’ve been around awhi

How a Table Tennis Blog Allowed This Blogger to Quit His Job This is the third episode in our Blogging Breakthroughs series, which features bloggers’ stories about breakthroughs in traffic, income, mindset and other aspects of blogging. Today we hear from Tom Lodziak, who has the Table Tennis Coaching blog. He started with nothing – no income and no audience. He started his blog in the wrong way and, at times, felt like he was blogging to nobody. Tom found a way to get to the point where his dream of quitting his job to pursue his passion was possible. Tips: Focus on great, quality content to increase traffic and grow audience. Spend 90% of time on article that serves your audience, and 10% on income-generating posts. Experiment with content and income streams. Some income streams don’t work now, but may later. Monetize early with a small product to test the waters. Try something that's easy to make and not too expensive to buy. When it comes to blogging, be persistent. It takes practice. Keep go

How One Blogger Grew Her Readership by 500% with Help from Three Practical Writing Tips In this episode we continue our Blogging Breakthroughs series, this time with a story from my friend Kelly Exeter. Kelly is a regular speaker at our events, has contributed ProBlogger content as a guest writer, and has been a guest on this podcast several times. Today, the story Kelly shares is a great companion piece to the “How to Become a Prolific Content Creator” episode. Her blogging breakthrough is about going from someone who is a good and proficient but bland writer with a plateauing audience to someone who writes with more personality and in a way that's magnetic to readers. A lot of readers. To get to that point, Kelly was willing to find someone to critique her writing. We all know it can be difficult to accept criticism, but it’s well worth doing. Sometimes you write something that has good information and is well written, but doesn’t connect with people. It’s too vanilla. It isn’t read, commented on, o

How a Book Deal Launched the Career of a Blogger We’re kicking off our Blogging Breakthroughs series, where a variety of bloggers share their stories of breakthroughs they’ve experienced over the years with their blogs. We received submissions from numerous bloggers. And today I want to introduce you to Andrea Vahl. When Andrea started getting into social media, she realized nobody was teaching it in an entertaining way. So she invented a character: 'Grandma Mary: Social Media Edutainer'. She'd even show up at events as Grandma Mary – a great way to stand out! Here's Grandma Mary and myself at an event several years ago. Andrea is also the co-author of Facebook Marketing All-in-One for Dummies and a public speaker. She was a presenter at last year’s Success Incubator event. In her blogging breakthrough story, she describes how she started her blog in 2009 and how she got her book deal. She also shares some good blogging tips: Start experimenting with monetization early on Be open to where your b

The Power of Being Vulnerable with Your Readers Have you experienced the power of taking a step out of your comfort zone and being vulnerable with your readers? I have long believed in the power of being vulnerable. It can be hard to be vulnerable. It feels very risky, but brings about a feeling of freedom. I’ve witnessed the power of vulnerability. But I am always wary about being too vulnerable. I worry that to show weakness might take away some authority I’ve built, or that too much vulnerability will frustrate some readers and listeners. I’ve built my brand around how-to content, and I know just talking about my insecurities, problems, and failures isn’t really going to help anyone. But I was recently reminded that allowing myself to be more vulnerable can make good things happen. You may have read the article I published on Medium about having a bit of a mid-life crisis. I don’t want to talk about that crisis, but about what happened when I did share this information with my audience. I put the p

Share Your Blogging Breakthrough on the ProBlogger Podcast Do you have a blog? Why not? It’s time to get started. Imagine the breakthroughs you could experience. And if you do already have a blog, have you had a breakthrough? You have? Then tell us about it. We're seeking submissions of stories to appear on the ProBlogger podcast for the theme, My Blog Breakthrough. Our goal with this series is to feature bloggers from around the world telling stories about breakthroughs in their blogging. We want to inspire ProBlogger listeners and give them practical ideas to try with their own blogs. Your breakthrough can be about anything, big or small. For example: How an influencer helped you grow your blog A new income stream How you made your first dollars blogging How a post went viral An opportunity that arose from blogging A mindset shift that led to growth in your blog A tool you started using that led to new results Refocusing your blog on a new, narrower, or broader niche How you overc

What You Can Learn From the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Course From a blog post series to an eBook and now a course, 31 Days to Build a Better Blog has certainly evolved. And in doing so it has helped many people. Today’s episode is based on information about the course. I created the course, which is a combination of repurposed teaching from places on ProBlogger and the blog post series, to: offer teaching that inspired action help people develop good habits give them a variety of things to try. The goal is to give you 31 modules that each contain teaching, a challenge, and further reading using a combination of videos, audio files, printable worksheets and links. There’s also a private Facebook group just for the students in the course to share what they’re doing and interact with each other on their journey. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Who is it for? Those who already have a blog; beginners to advanced bloggers; and groups. Does it have to be done daily? No, it can be done at yo

11 Things Thomas Edison Can Teach You About Profitable Blogging If it wasn’t for Thomas Edison, you'd probably be sitting in the dark feeling quite bored. Edison was a prolific and influential inventor. He invented world-changing technologies including the light bulb, the phonograph and motion picture camera. And his views back then on emerging technologies can teach you about blogging today. Quotes from Edison and thoughts on how they apply to blogging:   Start with a need: “I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others… I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent.” When building a blog, think about what problems it will solve, how it will serve people, and what changes it will bring.   Work smart: “Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. S

Everything You Need to Know About Getting Started with Email Have people been telling you for years that you need to create an email list for your blog? Is it time to finally bite the bullet? Let’s talk about email – how to get started, email providers, types of messages, opt-ins, and sequences or auto-responders. When it comes to choosing an email provider, start simple You don't need all the bells and whistles. Get subscribers used to hearing from you. Send a simple email message once a week or so to keep in touch with readers. The more useful and actionable the message, the better. Readers will look forward to receiving them from you. Once you have an email provider, you can start collecting email addresses of new subscribers. Grow your email list fast by using an opt-in, exit popup, sign-up form or incentive. While opt-ins can be good, some subscribers will sign up just to get whatever freebie you're offering rather than what comes later. To increase engagement, make opt-ins related to what comes

How to Create Killer Filler Content for Your Blog This week I’m sharing a list of content filler types you can use for your blog. And they don’t take a lot of effort or time to create. If you’re struggling to create thoughtful, original long-form content, these will help fill some of the gaps. Here’s how to create killer filler content and add value to both your blog and your readers. Reader Discussions: Ask a question to generate a debate/community workshop Polls: Increase reader engagement and start a good discussion with a question Homework/Challenges: Specify a topic, and give readers an assignment Link Posts: Link to another blog/article (or include a list of links) to build relationships and find out what others are thinking Best Of/Archive Posts: Post useful posts new readers have never seen Guest Posts/Regular Contributors: Include posts written by others, or find a regular writer to do a semi-regular post Embeddable Content: Use photos, cartoons, or go to YouTube; search keywords r

Do Schedules and Deadlines Help or Hurt Your Blogging? Have you ever missed a deadline? Do you have a content schedule or editorial calendar for your blog? Yes, today’s episode is all about schedules and deadlines. Whether you follow a daily, weekly or monthly schedule, does it allow you to produce the best content? What if you can’t come up with something good enough to publish? I don’t have a schedule at all because it seems to be too limiting. I won’t publish anything unless I have something that's worthwhile. Am I doing the right thing? Or am I overthinking and over-worrying? Will my readers even care? Do they pay that much attention to what I do? No rules exist, but here are some lessons I've learned from blogging: Quality beats quantity: If the quality of your blog content is suffering, it won't lead to long-term, sustained growth. Quantity is still important: Don’t slow down so much that you hardly post anything; if you feel everything you write is second rate, that perfectionism will stop

6 Places You Can Find Writers to Help with Your Blog As much as we'd all like to write posts for our blogs, it's not always that easy. You may find you don't have enough time to dedicate to your blog. Or you may lose your passion for the topic after writing about it for so long. So why not look for another writer who can help you out? Always be on the lookout for people who: Demonstrate knowledge Seem genuine and generous in helping others Communicate well Put themselves out there and look for opportunities Are interesting and different Understand social media and online communication Six places you can find writers for your blog: Guest Posters: If you have published guest posts in the past, take a look at them. How much traffic did they get? What was the quality like? How easy were they to work with? Did they go above and beyond with the post? If one of the guest posters stands out, contact them. Readership/Commenters: Look at the comments people leave on your blog, and contact the write

Starting a Blog on a Topic Where You're Not an Expert Can you start a new blog when you're not an expert on the topic you'll be writing about? Of course you can. You can blog about any topic you like. But should you blog about a topic you don’t have any expertise in? I think it’s okay to start a blog on a topic you don’t know a lot about. I certainly wasn't an expert when I started my blogs. I had some experience, but I was far from being an expert. I'm not sure I even consider myself an expert now. Part of the success I’ve had with my blogs is due to the factI wasn’t an expert. Experts are great, but they sometimes come across as inaccessible or unrelatable. And not being an expert gave my blogs a sense of momentum and excitement. I was actively learning, growing, improving, and sharing with my readers. Here are a few tips to help you get started with your new blog and topic: Be ethical and transparent. Be upfront about who you are, how much experience you have, and why you’re blogging. Be careful

9 Things I Wish I Knew About Blogging That Will Accelerate the Growth of YOUR Blog In today’s episode I want to share my keynote at this year’s Social Media Marketing World – 9 Things I Wish I Knew About Blogging that Will Accelerate the Growth of YOUR Blog. Here are the slides from my talk: 9 Things I Wish I Knew About Blogging that Will Accelerate the Growth of Your Blog from Darren Rowse Keep focusing on the pillars of pro blogging: Profitable blogs are built on great content Take the initiative to drive traffic to your blog Take ownership of building engagement with your readers Monetization. Don’t skip over these pillars or take shortcuts. And here are 9 accelerators to grow your blog faster: Understand and engage with your audience. Know your readers’ needs. Transform your readers’ lives. Great content leaves a mark on your readers. Focus less on the number of eyeballs, and more on engaging the hearts of the right readers. Create a design based on what you know about yo

Why Shiny Object Syndrome Can Be Good for Your Blog and Business Do you suffer from Shiny Object Syndrome? Are you easily distracted by something new – a tool, medium, tactic, or income stream? Whatever it is, it captivates and distracts you in the moment. And it can easily take over your day, week, or even month. Shiny Object Syndrome has the power to take you away from your core business, which can be destructive. But it can be a good thing, too. JR Caparas asked me how to avoid Shiny Object Syndrome in blogging. My answer? Don’t avoid it. Just make sure you put boundaries around it. Sometimes shiny objects can give you energy, spark new ideas, and help you discover new ways to engage your audience. So rather than avoiding shiny objects, make time for them. But don't let them hijack your business, your time and your life. You need to spend most of your time focusing on what’s most important, what keeps your blog growing, what’s already working, and what’s proven to work. But put some time aside

How to Promote Your Blog Offline Today I'm tackling questions from listener, Julianna Barnaby about whether it’s important to spend time offline building your blog’s personal brand and reputation. The answer is simple. “Yes.” Offline promotion is worth it. Get creative, and get out and meet people. You may need to step out of your comfort zone, but that can be rewarding. You never know when someone you meet will become a reader, collaborator, team member, or even sponsor. The sky's the limit when it comes to offline promotion, and engagement is sometimes much stronger. People are more likely to comment on, share, and buy your products and services. Offline methods to promote and grow your readership: Events (conferences, conventions, and meetups): Go to events (or create your own) to speed up engagement and build relationships. Media: Pitch ideas for stories to newspapers, TV stations, radio stations, etc. Publications: Pitch story ideas to industry group publications, too. They're always looking

Tools and Techniques for Blogging While Travelling Today I tackle a question from a listener about blogging on the road. Carmen Fellows asked about technicalities such as how to get content online and ways to access your blog. How can you balance blogging while traveling for work or vacation? It depends on the situation, and sometimes it's a juggling act.   While you're away, here are seven approaches to try when it comes to blogging: Take a complete break, and give your readers a break too Work harder, and schedule as much as you can before you go Highlight previous content, or feature a “Best of” series Schedule one of more guest bloggers Blog on the road Use posts that are easy to create (polls, embeddable content, link posts, etc.) Do a combination of the above If you plan on blogging on the road, think about where you can find internet access, and whether you want to bring your computer equipment or leave it behind. There are pros and cons to bringing and using devices such as a smar

Creating a Product Library for Your Blog In today’s episode I’m tackling a question from a Facebook group member about creating products to sell on your blog. Kathy Farrokhzad of Horselistening.com is wondering how often she should create, sell, schedule, and roadmap new products on her blog. Is she doing too much in too little time? Try to publish 3-4 new products on your blog each year, whether they're courses, software, ebooks, templates or updates. You want to avoid audience fatigue. But at the same time you don’t want to wait too long between launches. Either of these two extremes may cost you customers and money. Engage your customers, but don’t burn them out. Create a schedule to plan content and products a year in advance. Figure out what products to create, redo or replace, as well as what promotions to include. The frequency of new products depends on various factors, such as how many products you can create and how many different tools need to be created. Come up with themes for your produc