15 Steps Every Blogger Should Take…Today!
Last Saturday I attended Bloggy Boot Camp in Las Vegas and it honestly has changed how I look at blogging in almost every way imaginable. I learned sooo much in just one day – it was amazing! I went to the conference expecting to gain some valuable information and I came away with so much more! The inspiration that I found at the conference was phenomenal. Listening and learning from experienced, successful bloggers really gave me the courage and motivation to take my blog to the next level.
I have always been fairly satisfied with Mom On Timeout. I realize now that I should never be satisfied and should always be striving to better myself as a blogger with the goal of making my readers experience better and better.
One of the main reasons I chose to attend Bloggy Boot Camp in Las Vegas was because Laurie Turk of TipJunkie.com was speaking. I think Laurie is the epitome of success in blogging and I was eager and anxious to hear what she had to say. I was not disappointed. The conference was jam-packed with amazing speakers and information designed to help bloggers become more successful. I have lots to share but I wanted to start with 15 simple steps you can take today to improve yourself and your blog.
1. Work smarter – not harder. This is something that I struggle with daily. No, hourly. I find myself wasting so much time at the computer because I don’t sit down with a clear purpose in mind. Know what you’re doing and how you’re doing it and figure out ways to save time and energy on that task. Identify you most important task and start with that.
2. If you want your blog to be a business – treat it like one. Fill out a one-page business plan to kick-start yourself and your vision for your blog.
3. Develop a brand. Your brand is your business and it should represent you. Don’t have a brand? Get one! All images should have text, URL, and a logo. People will steal images – so be careful! {I sat next to one blogger at the conference who casually told me that she searches for recipe images that look like what her recipe “could” look like and uses them – IN HER BLOG! She passes them off as her own. I had to literally hold myself back and calmly explain to her why this was SO WRONG! It happens people!}
4. Never automate something that can be eliminated; never delegate something that can be automated. Laurie talked about using time-saving tools such a HootSuite to schedule tweets. Every minute you save is a minute you can be doing something else productive for your blog or your family.
5. Let your readers in. Share yourself and your life with your readers. In order for someone to become invested in you, they need to know you. This is really hard for a lot of bloggers but is essential for building relationships with your readers.
6. Avoid blog envy. This is a huge trap for bloggers. Let me just tell you right now that there will always be a blog bigger than you, a blog doing better than you, and a blog with more opportunities than you. Get over it! We should be working together and supporting one another. You have to be the best you can be with your expertise and strengths. Which brings me to the next topic…
7. Know your strengths. What is it that you do best? Don’t know? Look at your top five posts. Your readers are telling you right there! Focus on developing your strengths and delivering your expertise to your readers.
8. Set goals. Set a 3 month goal, a 6 month goal, 1 year goal, and a 5 year goal. If you know what you are hoping to achieve you can more easily plan out the steps to help you get there.
9. Use your profile picture in every post – not your avatar! People do not connect with avatars no matter how cute they may be. People connect with people!
10. Your blog should load in 3 seconds {one thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three} – check it and then come back….Longer than three seconds? Look at your blog and start eliminating. What really needs to be on the front page? Can certain things be moved to other pages? Can they be eliminated?
11. Are you on Blogger? I am – but not for long! Making the switch to WordPress can be daunting but it’s worth it. Presenting a professional appearance is super important if you want increased opportunities and visitors to return.
12. What browser do you use? Guess what? It doesn’t matter! What does matter is that you open your blog in every browser you can think of to make sure it loads and looks right.
13. Your header should be 250 pixels or less. Guess what mine is right now? 400 pixels! Ouch! I’ve already designed my new header that is 200 pixels that will be used in my new WordPress design.
14. The top left area of your blog is the most viewed. What do you want readers to see when they come to your blog – an ad or YOUR CONTENT??
15. Make sure you back up your blog! Too many people have been devastated by the loss of their blog – don’t let it be YOU!
Okay. So I realize this is a lot of information. Pick three steps you can take right now and start there. When you’ve got those taken care of, come back for more 🙂
I’d love to know how long you’ve been blogging and what platform you use. If you could give a new blogger one piece of advice, what would it be?
Other posts you might find helpful…
How To Create A Custom Watermark in PicMonkey
Goal Setting for Success: 5 Tips for Bloggers
Connect with me!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Linking up here, Home Stories A2Z, Savvy Southern Style, Serenity Now, and My Repurposed Life.
Designed by Dawn Nicole says
This is a really helpful list! I need to do more than one of these things. Pinning to my blog tips board to start checking things off. Thanks so much for sharing!
Danya Banya says
Great tips. I’m trying to improve my blog every day. Little steps. Little steps.
Being Inspired says
Some great tips there. You’ve really got me thinking about where I want my blog to go. Part of me is happy to just let it be a way of motivating myself to be more creative but there’s always the tiny part that goes – “what if…” 🙂
Vanessa says
I’m just starting out with blogging, so these are some really great tips. I can’t believe that someone would actually steal someone else’s pictures… and admit to it! Actually, I can believe it, it’s really sad though.
Carole says
Spot On, Trish! Great post, lots of good ideas of relevent things to do NOW, today! I could feel your excitement! I enjoyed BBC LV and look forward to more conferences in my future. Thanks for “wrapping this up” in such a neat package.
Growing Book by Book says
Just found your site and love these tips. Please keep them coming. I feel like I learn something new everyday as I blog
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I’m so glad! I don’t think bloggers ever stop learning 🙂 There’s always something new to work on!
Pint Sized Baker says
Awesome tips! Sounds like it was a great event. So glad you attended. I can’t believe that lady next to you. Well, yes I can believe it, but I can’t believe she would admit it!! Jeez! I have plans for MORE during my Sophomore year blogging!
Trina says
Awesome tips! I’ve been thinking about them all evening. Made me think! I can’t wait to see more of your lessons. Thanks for sharing!!
SizzleandZoom says
Why di you have to have 250 pixel header or less and how do you find out what yours is? Great post made me think.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Great question! The idea of a smaller header has to do with what content is “above the fold”. Basically that means what is visible without having to scroll down the page. A smaller header allows for more actual content to show. If you have Blogger go into your layout and select your header. Search for “height” and you should see how many pixels high your header is. This is what my code looks like: height=”400″
Betty Hayden says
Trish,
I really appreciate sharing these blogging tips!
My blog is in need of lots of attention – currently it’s wordpress.com but was told I should switch to .org just haven’t had the time to switch.
I enjoy blogging, doing it just as a hobby now but would love to grow soon 🙂
Thank you again!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I think blogs are almost always a work in progress Betty 🙂 Just focus on one thing at a time and don’t let all this information overwhelm you.
Food Done Light says
Great post. I started doing a logo but nothing seemed right. Guess I need to pick that up again. You also confirmed what I was thinking that I need to put my picture up on my blog. Hopefully the pictures we had taken this weekend will have one I can use. That is always intimidating.
One thing I am struggling with in setting up goals is what are achievable and realistic numbers for subscribers, comments, followers on facebook, etc. I haven’t seen anything yet about what are realistic stats when you are starting out.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thanks for the feedback! The next post I do is going to be about goals and I’ll share with you what my goals were when I started out and how I achieved them. Just as an FYI, I was unable to reply via email because you are set to a noreply-comment@blogger.com 🙂
Amanda says
Trish,
I’d love to visit with you more via email! Love your tips!! I am smack dab in the middle of moving to WP and having a designer build a new site for me. Daunting but I’m excited.
When you say our profile pic should be in every post…like down at the bottom near all the places readers connect to us?
Amanda
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Love to Amanda! I’d love to know what your experience has been thus far as far as the transition to WordPress goes.
As far as the profile pic – the recommendation was at the bottom of every post. In addition to your profile pic, you should also have your signature, and various methods of connecting {Facebook, Twitter, RSS, etc.} I believe one of the speakers said something along the lines of – They may not like you at the beginning of the post, where are your social media icons are, but they may want to be friends by the time they get to the bottom of your post 🙂
Erin says
This is super helpful! Thanks!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Awesome Erin! I’m still working through my notes but I’m planning on a few follow-up posts so let me know if you have any specific questions you would like answered 🙂
Steph @ Crafting in the Rain says
Sounds like some great info! My problem is that I don’t see my blog as a business…but I spend tons of time on it. Hmm 🙂
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
That’s entirely up to you Steph but you have to be honest with the questions you ask yourself. If you’re spending time {and time is money!} on your blog to get a payoff, then you need to start considering what it is you want. From your post back in late September “Has Blogging Made Me Dependent?” I would guess that you are fully immersed in blogging 🙂 While we are ALL struggling to find that balance, it makes sense to many bloggers to start earning money from their blog. Some people get paid in currencies other than money – recognition – high traffic – experiences – so the answer may or not be monetizing your blog. For me, at this point, I have to be earning money in order to take time away from my family. Yes, I like to paid in other currency as well {i.e. high traffic and recognition} but the bottom line is money. If my blog costs me more in terms of time away from my family than what I am taking away – then I’ve got to reassess. If you are interested in monetizing, let me know because I’ve been working with some really awesome companies that allow you to have your own voice in all sponsored posts.
MelissaKaylene says
GREAT tips! It’s sounds like the blog boot camp was an amazing experience! I can’t wait until I can attend one someday! 🙂
Melissa
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
It was incredible Melissa! If you ever have the opportunity – jump on it! You won’t regret it 🙂