If you've been around the blogging community now, I'm sure you've heard many a blogger talk about the importance of defining your niche as a blogger. And it is important. Sort of. But there's a much more important question to be asking. Something that will give you a clearer picture of where your blog is heading and why. It also gives you the freedom to cover more than one topic on your blog without it becoming confusing. This question is: Who ...
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Why you need to have a CONTACT ME on your home page (with your email!)
I wanted to tell you one thing that can help you dramatically. HAVE A CONTACT ME PAGE AND PUT IT ON YOUR MENU BAR! Why? Picture this scenario… A sponsor comes by your page and loves your content. They decide that you would be a great fit for an upcoming campaign or ad. They decide that they want to talk to you about it. They want to find out how much you charge, how many links you will include and so on… So, they look for it: CONTACT ...
How to make a post go viral
Ok, so a LOT of you ask me this question: How did you get a post to go viral? I have been grateful each time that I write on a viral topic and it takes off. It really boils down to just 3 things: 1. A good title. A simple title. A FUN title that engages them. Let's look at a few examples: Say we are talking about a parenting lesson about kids leaving toys out. The post is about how they leave their toys out, so you have decided to keep ...
Tips For Blogging While Traveling
Tips for blogging while traveling. Are you headed on vacation this year or off to visit family? We've compiled a list of tips for blogging while traveling to help keep you safe, your content fresh and your readers engaged, even while you are gone! {this post has affiliate links} I'm personally just coming back from a week-long trip to San Antonio, with my kids, my aunt and uncle and my grandmother! This was by far the easiest trip blog-wise ...
Where to find Sponsored Posts {Master List}
Many of you have asked where you can find sponsored post opportunities. We've compiled a master list, sharing the places we know offer great opps for bloggers of various sizes. Some of these are referral links. Our strategy is to be a member of many sponsored post sites such as these. You won't get something from each of these sites every month. Either for lack of offers or simply not being offered posts that fit your niche. This makes ...
How to be a Part Time Blogger with a Full Time Income
Do you ever find yourself looking at all of the great blogger income reports and seeing the success other bloggers are having, but frustrated that you don't seem to have the time to make it happen for you? We get that! Maybe you have a job outside the home. Perhaps you're homeschooling and can't carve out as much blog time as you'd like or have young kids keeping your hands full. Maybe you have other commitments that keep you from giving your ...
5 things you MUST DO when using the photo editor picmonkey
Some of us (myself included) do not have photoshop. I rely heavily on Pic Monkey. I will never put a photo onto my blog without editing it. Here are the 5 steps that I take every single time… 1- Adjust the exposure to make it brighter (brighter pictures look better on Pinterest & other social media). You can do this automatically. (see picture below). 2- Adjust the clarity & sharpness. This makes a WORLD of ...
Beating Blogger Burnout
Blogger Burnout. At sometime or another it happens to all of us. You don't feel like writing, or engaging followers on social media and the mere thought of creating eye catching images or optimizing your site for SEO, just makes you want to hurl. I have been there more times than I can remember but I keep working through it. I have my reasons that keep me going and even enjoying it on hard days/weeks/months. To be honest, this week has ...
Writing in the shower?!
"Beck? Are you almost done?" Mickey calls me for the second time, ready to watch our show. "I'm writing" I call back. Writing? In the shower? Yep. I do my best "thinking up ideas" & writing them down when I am in the shower or when I am lying in bed at night, or or when I am taking a jog around the neighborhood. I do my best writing when I am waiting in the carpool line for twenty minutes because I arrived too early and school ...
5 Security Habits Every Blogger Should Make a Part of Their Lives
So you’re officially a blogger. Your topics are interesting, and you regularly engage your audience. Everything is going well—for now. But there are some things you need to know if you want to protect that successful blog. How you handle your habits and daily activities can be the difference between running a secure blog and opening yourself up to hackers and data thieves. Because security is no laughing matter, you’ll need a mixture of ...