Are you trying to build a successful blog? Does it feel like an uphill battle?
Do you wonder how to create a blog that captivates, motivates and inspires your audience?
When I first started blogging, I had so many questions. I suspect that you do too.
Last week I was lucky enough to join Denise Wakeman on her show, Adventures in Visibility where we talked about blogging and it’s power when leveraged effectively.
Below are forty things you wish you knew before you started your blog.
Whether you’re new to blogging or looking to improve your results, these tips will help you boost your blog performance and effectiveness!
What You Wish You Knew…
1. Your Purpose
If I asked you why you were blogging, could you answer? You have to know why you’re using a blog to market your business before you can make it a success.
Ask yourself why you write, what purpose it serves and how your blog will support your overall marketing goals?
2. Commitment Matters
Get clear on your blogging commitment. Know how often you can blog and stick with it. Knowing this will allow you to stay consistent. Because consistency can be a deal killer.
Think about it. When was the last time you revisited a blog that wasn’t recently updated? Probably never. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot by making this big mistake.
3. Take a Look at the Competition
Do your competitive research and learn what’s working for your competition and what’s not. Find holes within their strategy and fill them. There’s a great big audience out there dying to hear what you have to say.
If you want to leverage your competition, read this post from Debra Trappen, a Business Consultant with D11 Consulting and find six ways you can get to know them…fast!
4. Research Keywords
Research the top keywords and phrases that your audience is using to find you. That’s valuable insight you don’t want to overlook. Take the guesswork out of your research and use tools like Google Keyword Planner and SEMRush.
5. Clearly Identify Your Topic
Get focused on your topic. What are you passionate about? If you don’t write what fires you up and gets you excited, you’ll burn out quickly.
Tool Tip
Once you identify your topic, use a tool like BuzzSumo to find top performing content. Identify what’s resonating within your industry and then lend your voice to that topic. Figure out how you can write about it, but with your unique point of view.
6. Write Down Your Goals
What doesn’t get written down doesn’t get done. Write down your goals, identify your desired outcome and then celebrate your milestones.
7. Get Crystal Clear on Your Audience
If I asked you who your target market is, would you know the answer? (Hint: the answer is not everyone) To succeed, you need to know who you’re talking to.
Have a deep understanding of who your market is and what they’re looking for. Don’t assume you have the answers. Do your homework.
Tool Tip
Social Mention is a nifty tool with a ton of functionality that will help you get to know your audience. Dissect, analyze and research content based on keyword, phrase or Twitter handle.
Begin by taking a look at your industry specific keywords and then drill down into the blogs, tweets and posts that pull up in the stream of most recent content shared.
8. Niche Down
As the saying goes, “the riches are in the niches” and it’s absolutely true. If you want to grow your blog, you need to niche down. As I mentioned above, get crystal clear about your target market.
Talking to everybody means you’re speaking to nobody. Show your readers how much you care by researching who they are and what it is that matters most to them.
9. Speak to an Audience of One
Make your message targeted and designed for your perfect buyer, client or consumer. Identify your core reader and understand what they’re looking for when they land on your blog.
How to Identify Your Core Reader
- Put yourself in the shoes of your target market. What challenges do they face, what questions do they have and what problems do you solve?
- What is your competition talking about? Does that seem relevant to your audience?
- Now look to the Internet. Research keywords and phrases that your audience would type in if they were looking for your product or service.
10. Know Your Limitations
What is it you’re willing to talk about and what are taboo topics? Knowing you’re limitations will make it easy to stick within those boundaries.
For many, there are moral or religious reasons for staying away from certain topics. Whatever the case is for you, know them before you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.
11. Create a Content Calendar
I live and die by my editorial calendar. I am a checklist girl and what isn’t on the list, doesn’t get done. That holds true in my business and flows through to my blog and social media. Create a calendar and map out specific topics like:
- Company milestones
- Upcoming events
- Hot topics
- Industry news
- Core values
12. Never Stop Learning
Never stop learning and growing as a blogger. Become an avid reader and find ways to improve your blogging abilities.
Write daily and know that every word better connects you to your audience. Be a student of your craft and learn from others who are succeeding within in your industry or field. Then take that knowledge and make it your own, unique to you.
13. Edit Ruthlessly
Take your time to spell check and review your article before you post. Eliminate any needless words or phrases. Keep it short and to the point, removing any adjectives or adverbs that only belabor a sentence.
If you struggle with grammar, then pass off the review to a colleague or Virtual Assistant.
14. Make Your Content Easy to Read
While it might be typical to talk in industry jargon within your office, don’t make it a habit on your blog. Using fancy words or terminology doesn’t make you sound smarter, it leaves your readers scratching their heads.
Speak their language and make your content easier to read with a tool like Hemmingway. Simply copy and paste your post and then look to your score for guidance. Update the misspellings, grammatical errors or complexities in a matter of moments.
15. Rework Your Opening Paragraph
You have one chance to grab your reader’s attention. Don’t miss the opportunity to craft an opening to your blog post that seizes your audience’s attention from the moment they land on your blog.
Take these tips from Copyblogger to open your blog post with a bang:
- Ask a question.
- Share an anecdote or quote.
- Invoke the mind’s eye.
- Use an analogy, metaphor or simile
- Cite a shocking statistic.
16. Walk Away
Ever find yourself staring at the screen, longing for inspiration? Yep, me too. At that point, it’s time to take a break. Get up, stretch, walk around the block, grab a cup of coffee. Whatever you do, relax your mind and your body for a few minutes. It will do wonders for your creative juices, I promise!
17. Offer an Enormous Amount of Value
Don’t be afraid to give away your knowledge and years of experience.. Take the advice of Pauline Cabrera, the savvy mind behind TwelveSkip,
An article will spread naturally if people can learn something from it. If the content contains information that readers can use in their lives, then the article will be read by a lot of people. When you write your articles, make sure that you’re providing useful, well-researched, and credible information.
18. Give a Sneak Peek Into Your World
Let people into your day. Share what you do to help customers and how you’ve solved their problems. Give unique insight into your industry or niche that allows your readers to make an educated decision.
We all love to see behind-the-scenes. Your readers are no different and will appreciate the chance to get to know you better.
19. Build Relationships with Fellow Bloggers
Build relationships with other like-minded bloggers. Go beyond the four walls of your blog and create conversations across other networks, including social media.
Join blog groups that have created Tribes of individuals who share the same interests and will support spreading your message. My top resource is Triberr – an amazing community designed to amplify your message and expand your reach. I’m also a big fan of Social Buzz Club. You find/connect with your fav bloggers, add your blog and start sharing others content!
20. Build Relationships, Not Numbers
I understand that your blog purpose is to draw potential clients in, but bashing them over the head with boring stats and constant promotional ads is not the way to build relationships.
Your blog audience wants you to woo them. They want to get to know you and understand how you can solve their problems. Share your value, but do it in a conversational way.
21. Build Your List
One of the biggest mistakes I made initially was not building my list. I had a list I’d built within my business, but not one specifically centered around my blog. Don’t make that same mistake.
If you want to get the word out about your blog, building a list is a great way to do it. Write amazing content that goes out to just your email subscribers. Get them excited and involved in your marketing efforts.
22. Schedule Your Marketing Time
Promotion is almost a bigger part of your blog than writing your posts. Commit time to getting the word out. Create separate images for all social networks to match the size requirements for each.
23. Use Eye-Catching Graphics
Use images to create brand awareness and as an instant identifier. Be recognizable! Use the same layout, font, and design to better connect people to your company. Allow people to connect with you and that essence that makes your business special.
24. Create Graphics Specific to the Social Network
I create separate images for all social networks to match the requirements for each. For example, if you’re using images on Twitter, ensure that you’re creating them correctly.
Peg Fitzpatrick, a Social Media Strategist who consistently uses images in a creative and highly effective way offers this advice,
“The best size to use for Twitter graphics and images is 1024 pixels by 512 pixels. Batch your images and create a design template. This makes it easy to quickly create a series of tweet graphics that are ready to use when you need them.”
25. Find Content Everywhere
One of the top questions I’m asked is, “where do I find blog topics?” My answer? Content is everywhere! It’s wherever you go, whatever you do, and in every conversation you have. Begin to look at everything as potential content for your blog.
Did a client ask a question that your readers might find interesting? Answer it and then offer advice on what best to do. It will position you as an expert, and an authority on the topic.
26. Use What You Have
Look around at all of your current marketing collateral. Everything from old newsletters to emails can be repurposed to become fresh content. Why reinvent the wheel when you have everything you need right at your fingertips?
27. Create Content by Listening
Listen to your readers. Comb through their questions and find ways to solve problems. Offering a substantial amount of value builds trust and will establish you as the industry authority. Remember, trust takes time and will not happen overnight.
28. Find Your Own Groove
While understanding your competition is smart, watching their every step can be unhealthy. Stop mimicking everything your competition is doing. Every blog is different and every audience is unique.
Do what feels right to you. Test, tweak and find your own rhythm.
29. Stop Blasting Only Promotional Stuff
Stop promoting and instead focus on being an invaluable resource. While traffic and views matter, people aren’t going to take an interest in your blog until you show that you care about them.
Neil Patel, co-founder of Crazy Egg, Hello Bar, and KISSmetrics offers advice every blogger should take,
These days, I do make money, and lot more than I used to when I first started blogging, but money is a side effect of solving problems and helping people. If I had to put a dollar value on my responses to comments and emails, I probably would be in red. But how could you put a price on helping people?
30. Share Your Blog…everywhere
Add your blog post to all of your marketing including postcards, email signature, newsletter and other promotional items.
Share your latest blog post across all of your social networks and tweet it multiple times throughout the week. Change up the verbiage to test what works and what doesn’t. A common misconception is to tweet or post once. Never assume everyone in your audience saw it.
Share, share, share!
31. Track Your Stats
Install Google Analytics and track your stats. Not reviewing your statistics is like driving at night without your headlights on. You may get to your destination, but the ride won’t be pretty.
32. Make Your Title Powerful
Don’t forget the power of your blog post title. Take the time to create an attention grabbing, descriptive, SEO friendly headline. Tips to create a great blog post title:
- Evoke emotion
- Personalize the content
- Solve a problem
- Simplify a process
- Encourage an action
Use Advanced Marketing Institute’s Headline Analyzer to test your title. Submit your blog title and see how it ranks based on their Emotional Marketing Value analysis.
33. Get Commenting
A promotional strategy often overlooked is commenting on other blogs within your niche. It builds relationships and reciprocity. Someone who makes this look effortless is Adrienne Smith. If you want to become a blog commenting superstar, she is the one to follow!
34. Let Others Share…easily
Make sure your share buttons are prominent on your blog. Don’t make your readers hunt and peck to find a way to share your content.
35. Know Your Best Times to Share on Social Media
Are you testing and analyzing when it’s optimal to share across social media? From Google Analytics to Facebook Insights, use the tools available to you to understand when your fans and followers are online.
36. Make Your Blog a Destination
Share your knowledge and expertise by giving readers and subscribers the content they really want. Make your blog a destination and one they cannot live without.
37. Use a Call to Action…always
You’ve written a great post and you’re ready to go live. Don’t hit that share button quite yet! Make sure you’ve added your compelling call to action.
Your call to action (CTA) is the exact next-step you’re asking your readers to take. Whether it’s a subscription or download, give clear instructions. You never want to assume they know what you want them to do.
38. Join the Conversation
The single most effective way to build loyalty and trust is through conversation. A blog allows readers to get to know you on a very intimate level. If you let comments sit without responding or even acknowledging them, you are giving away a valuable opportunity.
39. Have Fun
Nothing is worth doing if it’s not fun, right? Have fun with your blog. Just because blogging is a commitment, doesn’t mean it can’t be an enormous amount of fun.
40. Stop Selling and Start Serving
Stop selling and start serving your audience. When you create content from the heart of a servant, amazing things begin to happen.
Final Thoughts
It’s no secret that your blog is a powerful tool. It’s the foundation of your online presence. Knowing best practices and mistakes to avoid can save a lot of time and energy.
If you want to succeed at blogging, you need to be strategic, focused, and totally zeroed in on your audience. So what are you waiting for?
What changes can you make today to build a blog that your audience looks forward to coming back to time and again?
Really nice post, and really nice blog you have here! I’ve been coming to this site often now as it is a great model for how a blog should look and how it should be ran!
Hi Rebekah,
I know I’ve shared your post but I didn’t comment. Shame on me since you mentioned me here as well so I want to apologize for not having been by sooner. I can pull excuses out of my hat but why! LOL!!!
I love this list and I tell you when I started I wish I knew what I know now. It would have saved me so much time which is why I love this one. Granted I didn’t understand quite a bit yet and I was somewhat uncomfortable with certain things like commenting if you can believe that.
Yeah, it’s been a long road but one I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.
Another wonderful share of course and thanks again for the mention. I’m truly honored.
~Adrienne
Isn’t that the truth Adrienne? If we only knew what we know now, think of how much further we’d have gone in short amount of time. Although, we might not have tackled all that we did if we’d known what we were getting ourselves into. 🙂
Rebekah,
How have I not been commenting here all this time? I’ve been reading/loving your posts for months now!
I’m right there with you on all of these, and I absolutely love each of the other bloggers you cited here. The idea of “content being everywhere” is particularly relevant to me right now if you look at the post I just published. One of my favorite ways to find new content ideas is to read new meaning into everyday life events.
You’re so smart. Thanks for sharing more of your wisdom!
Brittany
I’m so glad you decided to start commenting Brittany – thank you! Just popped over to your blog and shared and pinned. Thank you again for including me!
You’re so classy, Rebekah! I’m honored that you were willing to do that. I made sure to feature your beautiful blog in the post I have linked here, if you haven’t seen it yet. Here’s to more comments to come!
Brittany
Amazing tips , it’s really hard work to do even half of those, but it’s necessary.
Hi Rebekah
These are awesome tips! Thanks for putting together the list. I especially like number 2, Commitment. Without that, nothing else really matters. I have met too many bloggers that just stop blogging after a few posts. It takes time, patience and commitment to get a successful blog going!
Thanks again for these valuable insights.
Lisa
Waoo this is very interesting…. As a starter I found this very helpful and a great tip for starters….
Bless.
Great post, Rebekah. That goes straight to my training archive. Just set up my new blog at http://www.entrepreneurz-inc.com and all are welcome to visit, guest blog and comment. I will be back here regularly for more great inspiration from you.
Hi John! Congrats on starting a new blog. It sounds like the perfect place for any entrepreneur or small biz owner. I’ll hop over and check it out!
I love 32 Rebekah, That one is just too true!
The other day I was promoting a post on FB by saying something along the lines of Check out Phillip’s Evil Sprout’s Kinda wanting to pique people interest with it, for some reason it’s not worked though!
as for the rest of the list you are soo right and this is one epic evergreen post it is deffo more of a resource than a Blog Post and I have it bookedmarked now in my Epic Content Folder. I will be back to visit it from time to time!
I have especially got to get to grips with working to a schedule and all that good stuff! Thanks Rebekah for sharing this and will speak soon!
Have a great day!
– PD
It’s fun to try new things Phillip and see what resonates with our community. It’s always interesting to me what works and what doesn’t. You are such a pro – I know you’ll keep tweaking and playing with it!
Hi Mam,
Thanks for the great post. For a newbie like me who is planning to launch his blog, these tips are very helpful.
But I am unable to grasp them in one read. I have to come back here over and over again to check whether I am doing the needful or not.
These forty points are a kind of checklist for me. 🙂 🙂
Thanks a billion ton.
I think it’s smart Nitin to bite off just a little bit at a time. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself overwhelmed and quite before you even start. Look forward to seeing you again!
The tip about looking to BuzzSumo for ideas is awesome. Frequently, I have to wrack my brain to come up with fresh blog ideas–and I blog often. Having this is an immensely helpful tip! Thank you thank you!
It’s a phenomenal tool. You’ll love it!
Awesome set of advice here and definitely some I wish I had known before I started blogging.
Finding a niche has proven quite hard for us. It’s crazy but I’ve seen that happen to a lot of companies / bloggers. You don’t want to shut down possibilities so you chose a super broad subject even knowing that this never works out.
The problem now is to find the right niche.
It’s not crazy at all Aurelie, it’s definitely a challenge for a lot of companies. As you pointed out, you don’t want to shut down possibilities. But the reality is, you’re actually closing yourself off from even bigger opportunities when you don’t get crystal clear on your target market.
First time I am on your site and reading this amazing article – true value!!! How many times we see that bloggers are trying to over sell instead of just creating value and building trust. The money will come when the reader trusts you!!
It’s a fine line to walk Bennie, but when you can find the balance of sharing value while promoting your business in a conversational way, the magic happens.
Hi Rebekah,
1 is far and away, hands down, A1 in my book….or eBook 😉 You know where you’re heading, why you’re blogging, who you want to serve, and you’ll reach your blogging goals. If you don’t know who you’re serving, or have no purpose, you’re doomed. I started my blog with a clear intent; I want to take everybody with me, who wants to blog from paradise. I’ve retired to a life of island hopping, and want others to do the same, so that’s why I’m blogging.
I’ve built each post, page and eBook I’ve published around this clear intent, and things have taken off quickly for me. I’m humbled, and grateful, and really it just makes perfect sense. Start with a purpose guys. Build everything from the domain down, and connect with folks who lift you up, and share your vision, and wow will the magic happen, quickly.
Thanks Rebekah, what a list! Tweeting, and signing off from Fiji.
Ryan
It really is amazing to see what you can accomplish when you’re clear in your intent. You have obviously stayed on task and clearly followed your purpose. It’s exciting to watch that magic around you continue to unfold!
Hi Rebekah.
That was a great list of great advice. I think never stop learning, and find content everywhere are my favourite tips from your post. It’s so true that I keep learning so much now that I wished I had learned ages ago.
Thanks for the tips.
Nathan.
It’s amazing how much is available on the Internet Nathan. There’s never a lack of educational material to be found and devoured! 🙂
Such a solid list! Everyone should take some time to go through this and apply this to your blog. Scheduling your time and writing down your goals are the best first steps you can take! Great post!
Hi Craig! Oddly enough, goals in social media and blogging are often overlooked. It really is a critical first step to knowing what you want and how you’re going to achieve it.
The changes that I can make to improve my blog is to write a call to action because I normally don’t do it and it is something I will change from today.
Also, just trying to have a great headline that will get the attention of the readers and sharing it multiple times a week because I don’t want to come across as self-promoting.
Thanks for this post, Rebekah.
A call to action can be uncomfortable for some people Cheval. They shy away from just “asking” their fans, followers or readers to take the next step with them. Test out yours and see what works!
Thank you, Rebekah for the suggestion. I will try it out and see if the call to action works.
You did it again Rebekah. You’re right on the money when you advise us the importance of uncovering what questions your target audience is asking Siri or Google Now and how well or are we able to provide the answers and solutions to these questions. Taken a step further and leveraging the concepts Amerland and other advise us on; what are the conversational queries people are asking that you have expertise in and can demonstrate via articles, videos or SS Decks when appropriate as you’ve done in the past quite effectively I might add 😉
That’s it exactly Neil! Just look to the questions that your clients are already asking and the content you’ve already created. Now repurpose, repurpose, repurpose!
Great tips Rebekah!
The hardest part for me is actually building relationships and following the editorial calendar. Ugh. Still working on this blogging thing lol 😀
Thanks! Sharing this out on Triberr
It really is hard to stick to a schedule when we have life and business tugging at us. To me it’s all about baby steps. Do what you can, master that and then take on more. That way it doesn’t feel so heavy and overwhelming.
Thanks Rebekah!
I’ll put your tips into good use 🙂
Awesome Dennis! Glad they’re helpful!
Loved all the tips!
Loved the statement: “Talking to everybody means you’re speaking to nobody.” Niching down isn’t easy but is so important. I love saying market to everybody sell to nobody.
Have an Awesome Week ~ Mike
If it was easy, everyone would do it, right Michael? But I do believe there’s enormous value in it…if you’re willing to do the hard work and truly identify your target market.
Hi Rebekah,
Owning a blog and growing one in particular is not for the faint of heart! It’s hard work that requires a lot of attention.
That’s why your points are so powerful. If you’re going to make a blog work for you, you better know why you’re doing it, who you’re doing in for and what you want to get out of it.
So many I’ve come across have such great ideas but they are not capitalizing on this tool because they haven’t thought it through.
I learned many years ago that if you’re going to be successful you better:
1. Know what business you’re “really” in
2. What problems you “really” solve
3. Who you solve them for
4. How your products or services are part of the solution
Then, have strategies, goals and objectives and execute. Have realistic expectations and work hard to exceed them.
Depending on your audience and the time you’re willing to give it will determine how fast or slow it grows.
The biggest challenge for many is “stop selling and start serving.” It takes time for some to learn this one and I’m not sure most ever do.
Great post Rebekah!!! I appreciate the thought and strategy you put into this article.
I hope you have a great week!
~ Don Purdum
There is no magic pill or quick road to success is there Don? As you pointed out, it’s hard work and takes a lot of determination. But it can happen! You just have to see the end result and keep working it towards it daily!
Fabulous post and terrific way to repurpose a hangout! Every tips is great, and your “final thoughts” really say it all…
“If you want to succeed at blogging, you need to be strategic, focused, and totally zeroed in on your audience. So what are you waiting for?”
Thank you for being a terrific guest on Adventures in Visibility!
Thank you for having me on Denise! As I said, I’m a long time fan of yours and truly honored to “share the mic” with you! 🙂
Hi Rebekah,
Awesome post. I can’t agree more with #1. What’s the main reason for you to blog?
That’s an important question for anyone who want to start blogging. Most of the time, I hear people saying they want to make money blogging.
Well, blogging is way bigger than that!
Thanks for sharing and appreciate it.
~RC
Ahhh yes, the typical answer that usually doesn’t have anything to back it up. As you said, it takes a lot more to monetize a blog than simply throwing one up. Making money is a great benefit of offering an enormous amount of value!
You are right Rebekah.
Many of us are able to make awesome blogs. Seriously!
But when money comes into play, everything tend to fall apart. Trust me on that!
Money can really be a blog killer :/ Happened to me once! Enough is enough 🙂
Have a blessed day dear friend!