How to Start a Blog Day 10 - Misc Tips + My Must Have Blogging Tools

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Blogging Tips

Be Authentic

Just be you, be real and have fun. Readers can tell if you are faking it and they tend to not come back. The most successful blogs are the ones where the readers feel like they know the blogger, even if they don't!

Have an About Me/Contact Page

You need to have an about me page so your reader can really learn about you. This is also for brands to see what your blog is about. Then you need to make sure to have a contact me page so brand CAN contact you! This is also a place to feature any accomplishments you are proud of, places you have been featured etc.

Make it Easy to Subscribe

Make sure your readers can easily subscribe to your email and your social media channels. This will help draw them back in to read more posts. I want them to subscribe to my email over my social media to that is more prominent on my site.

Reply to Every Comment

Think about it, if you take the time to comment on something and the writer or page owner doesn't reply what are the chances you are going to go back to that page. Where as, if the page owner and website owner interact with you and answer your questions you will remember that and return. So make sure to reply to each blog comment, each comment on social media, and especially any emails your readers take the time to send. You don't have to write a book even just one line is better than ignoring them.

I won't lie I have vented several times to friends because I have replied to a reader and they send me an email back thanking me over and over because ‘other bloggers' ignore them and hey just had a simple question. Don't get too big for your britches! Remember your readers make you but they can also break you.

Post regularly

I suggest posting at least once a week if not more. For two reasons. If readers return only to find no new content. They are less likely to return again and also if Google sees you aren't ‘active' they will pull you from the search ranking and you lose your search traffic!

My Top Blogging Tools

Many of these I mentioned through the course but I want to put them in one place for you and add a few others to the list.

Yoast

The Yoast SEO plugin is a must-have for any blogger. It helps with parts of SEO you don't even want to mess with and then helps you optimize each post for your target keywords!

Co schedule

CoSchedule has been a lifesaver for me. I started using it to help manage my editorial calendar. I love their drag and drop feature! Then I started using their social media template and using them to help post to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+. THEN I fell in love with their task tools to keep due dates for sponsored post and reminders of things to do in one place. Now that I have a few VAs helping me it keeps everything in one place!

Pretty Links

I mentioned using Pretty Links with Instagram but I used them for a lot more too. I use them for pretty much all my affiliate link (except for Amazon since it's against their TOS) It makes the links look a lot less scary. Think about it which one for a deal on diapers do you want to click? This one:
http://linksynergy.walmart.com/fs-bin/click?id=kmfVy46h3YM&subid=0&offerid=223073.1&type=10&tmpid=1082&RD_PARM1=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.walmart.com%252Fip%252FParent-s-Choice-Unscented-Baby-Wipes-800-ct%252F44162660

Or one a bit less scary that looks like this: https://www.thefrugalnavywife.com/DiaperDeal

Yep, that's why I use Pretty Links.

Tailwind

I mentioned that I use Tailwind to help manage my Pinterest account. I love their analytics and their scheduling. They also have a tribe feature to connect with other pinners!

Board Booster

I use Board Booster for Pinterest as well. I use it to schedule my own pins to group boards on a more automated basis. I use it to help clean up my boards and keep older boards more active.

Manage Flitter

Manage Flitter is for Twitter. I use it to help find people to follow, weed out the spammer and help unfollow those that don't follow me back. The main reason for Manage Flitter is to help grow my Twitter account.

Active Campaign

Active Campaign is I have my email list. This is the 3rd email service provider I have used and they have the best customer service, the price is fair and they have so many options to help send your emails, set up automation, and even sell products!

Buffer

I use Buffer side by side with CoSchedule to schedule my social media. IT allows me to set up a schedule for my social media posts based on the best time to post when my accounts have the most interaction.

Deposit Photo

When you make a blog post each one should be optimized for Pinterest and to do that I will use stock photos from Deposit Photo if I don't have pictures for the post.

Recommended Blogging Courses

You should always keep learning and keep growing. I still take courses to learn new things blogging. Blogging is always changing and always forming. Not every course is free but these are the paid ones I have found that are worth the money!

Learn to Blog SEO Course

SEO is a beast all in its own. There are so many layers and things to know from how to read your webmaster tools to the proper way to set up a blog post. The Learn to Blog SEO Courses have taught me quite a bit on mastering my SEO!

Blogging Basics Bootcamp

If you are a new blogger you can't go wrong with the Blogging Basics Bootcamp. Learn what you need to know to get up and going, set up your blog in detail and helps you fill up your editorial calendar for 3-6 months.

Email Course

I have said before email is one of the best ways to reach your readers, you are subject to algorithms and changes to social media sites and you have so much more control. The Effective Email Course teaches you how to set up your emails, and the best practices for them.

Selling on Amazon Kindle

If you have an interest in self-publishing an eBook on Amazon Kindle I suggest this course. It helped me get started in publishing eBooks, and he shares his promotion strategy that helped my book reach the #1 slot in its category at launch AND hold the top 10 for 2 years after with no promotion!

PR Pitching

Dealing with PR and gain sponsored content is intimidating. This ebook is a great way to learn the tips and tricks on landing sponsored content no matter what size your blog. Pitch Session: The Blogger's Guide To Pitching Partnerships, Collaborations, and Sponsored Posts.

So I want to know if you have any questions! Hit reply and let me know if you have any questions. Just give me a day or two to get back to you!

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