Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts

How To Make Blogging Easier For Yourself: Useful Tips

In society, it is quite common to find the opinion that blogging is a gold mine, and everyone can make money in this business. However, in practice, not everyone becomes a successful blogger, and in this case, you need to work as hard as others. Blogging, even if we're talking about TikTok - it's work, and the work is not easy enough. To cope with it better and get good results, read our lifehacks.

Woman with camera

 

Get a helper app

Don't underestimate the usefulness of editing apps. For example, TikTok video editor VJump can do half of the work for you, and thus, you can practically automate the process of creating content for your page. The main task is to find an app that will qualitatively help in this case. For example, not only offers tools for manual editing but also contains a variety of templates and effects to overlay on the video track. How it is useful:

  • saves you time;

  • is a source of new video ideas;

  • does quality editing, which is ideal for beginners.

Only built-in social network tools alone are not enough to get a full-fledged good result. Therefore, TikTok editing app will become an indispensable companion for you.

Make yourself a content plan

Do not blog spontaneously. Only discipline and regularity will give you results. You don't have to shoot every day, instead, you can set aside a couple days a week to create content for the whole week ahead, just publish it on certain days.

To start, try publishing at different times to see what time your audience is more active. Based on this information, create a plan: write down which videos you can shoot and on which day you can post them.

By the way, you can find ideas for your videos in programs with templates. If it's the best TikTok editing app, there will definitely be videos you can take an example from. For example, in VJump you will have just such an opportunity. A summarize tool can also help refine video descriptions or captions, making your content more structured and engaging.

Make videos in different formats

If the subject of your blog allows you to shoot videos in which you do not appear in the frame. These can be voice-over videos or slices or perhaps a video of you doing something with your hands and filming it. This will make it easier for you to blog because in order to be in the frame and still look beautiful, you need to prepare in advance: set up lights and a camera, get yourself in order, and remove unnecessary objects or clutter in the background. If you shoot videos without yourself in the frame, all these moments can be eliminated, and in the end the task is much easier.

So, by downloading an app where you can edit TikTok videos and make a content plan that includes clips without your face, it will be easier for you to run your blog.

*Collaborative post

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Bookkeeping Tips For A Profitable Blog

There’s more to running a blog than meets the eye. What might start out as a hobby venture can end up being a full-time business?

Even if you didn’t mean to become a business owner, once you start making money from your blog, that’s what you are. And there are a few responsibilities that all businesses share, one of which is keeping proper business records.

If that sounds awful, the good news is it’s not at all. With a very simple system you can keep all the records you need for a blogging business, then take it a step further if you need or want to.

A Very Simple Accounting System



At the heart of all accounting, from big business to the very small, good accounting simply means keeping track of where your money is coming from, where it’s going, and what it’s doing in the meantime.

All you need to get started with simple records is a notebook or ledger if you like pens and paper, or a spreadsheet if you prefer digital.

Have four columns and label them with Date, Item, Cost, Balance.

Date and Item are obvious. What did you buy and when? The other use for the Item column is to list where income comes from, such as sales or commissions.

The next two columns are also self-explanatory: Cost is the expense or the income amount, and the Balance is what’s left in your account. You’ll add or subtract your cost from your balance to keep a running total.

When you’re first setting up your system, use your bank account statement to get an accurate starting balance. Don’t forget to record automatic payments, direct debits and the like, from your spreadsheet or notebook. Managing your business transactions is a lot easier if you keep a separate bank account.

This really is a quite simple method, but when all you need is a straightforward income and expense record, it’ll get you started. Bookkeeping and accounting can get a lot more complex, which is why professionals are well paid and respected.

If you find you enjoy digging into figures and finding patterns in money behaviour, you could consider taking an accounting course. You can even learn accounting online, so you don’t have to stop blogging to expand your knowledge.

Analysing Your Numbers



When you’ve gathered some figures to work with, say over a month or two, take a few moments to understand what they’re telling you. This is where accounting really shows its strength.

If you also keep a track of the time spent on various activities (such as photography, writing, social media, engaging with clients or readers) alongside your basic figures, you will see how you’re spending your time as well as your money.

With money, check your item list to see what you’re spending on various things and what your income is for different activities. With those details, you can channel your energy into the areas of your blogging life that are most rewarding financially. Since bloggers can earn money from several different channels, whether through sponsorships and collaborations, affiliations, or direct sales of their own products, tracking income streams and expenses can really boost your profits.

On the flip side, you can also see which tasks are time-sinks for little return. This is powerful knowledge as it means you can choose your blog’s direction from an informed position. You’re the boss, and it feels good.

See Pitfalls and Potholes Before They Swallow You



With regular bookkeeping, you start to anticipate income and expenses. Over time, you can predict the slack months, the busy times, and the regular expenses.

With that knowledge, you can plan, organise your schedule, set up automatic payments, shop around for better deals or hunt down more profitable collaborations in good time to plug any gaps. You’ll know when you need to put extra aside because a bill is coming up, and this can include taxes if you’re making a full-time income.

The more you know about accounting and bookkeeping, the more you can profit. But if you’re looking for an additional income stream, getting qualified would also mean an extra professional income from helping others with their accounts.

*Collaborative post
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5 Ways To Monetise Your Blog Right Now

People start a blog for many reasons - for the love of writing, to impart some information about their passion, to raise awareness of an illness or condition, and to help support their business are some such reasons.


   If you are new to blogging, check out my top ten tips for new bloggers 

Once you've got into your stride and got your head around the process of blogging, you may start to think about how to monetise your blog.  I know I did. I started my blog to support my jewellery business but over time it changed to a lifestyle and travel blog. After about eighteen months I started getting offered sponsored posts but only started to accept them when I became a full-time blogger.  

There are no hard and fast rules these days, things may be different for you and many bloggers now start a blog with the initial idea of making money from it.  You can make money from a blog if you are a part-time blogger or a full-time blogger, you can run a blog alongside your full-time job and you can run a blog from anywhere in the world. It's the perfect job to fit in with travelling or family commitments. That's one of the reasons why it's the perfect job for some, and it's certainly the best job I have ever had.

So let's get down to the important part, how to make money from your blog. Many successful bloggers have multiple income streams and in this post, I will cover some of these as below.

1. Sponsored posts


Sponsored posts are where I make the most money. 

There are three main types of sponsored posts.
  • Where you are paid to write a post about a brand/product/destination on your own website.
  • Where you write for a companies website.
  • Where a brand writes for your website, often called a guest post.
If you are open to sponsored posts be sure to have your email address clearly visible on your website. Many of my sponsored posts come via email, so this is vitally important. 

There are some really good blogging opportunity sites out there too. Sites such as Guest Bloggers Wanted, from Ginger Marketing. This site allows bloggers to register for free, and you pitch for opportunities posted by brands. I've personally worked with them twice now and it was straightforward to set up a profile, easy to pitch for work, communication was simple through your workspace and payment was quick.

2. Affiliate marketing and advertising


Affiliate marketing is the process of earning a commission by promoting other people’s or company’s products. In practice, this is usually where a brand or affiliate site such as Adsense, Skimlinks, Amazon Associates or MediaVine places a link into your post or advert on your blog and when someone clicks on or buys from the link the blogger will earn a commission. 

Affiliate marketing can be a decent earner for some bloggers. The popularity of gift guides is an easy way for bloggers to get affiliate links into posts. Check out this link on how to get started with Amazon Associates by money-saving blogger Emma Drew.  

You can also sell advertising space on your blog. Adverts in the sidebar or the home page are popular and can give you a nice little side income. 

Don't forget it's important to be transparent and clear to your readers if affiliate links are being used on a blog.


3. Selling a product


This can be a digital or physical product. A popular thing to sell is an E-Book about something useful such as a travel guide to a destination, how to make money online, travel writing courses, effective SEO tips, a recipe book, Pinterest courses and so on. 

You can also sell physical products. I've seen bloggers sell branded t-shirts and clothes, jewellery, books and tours. You can sell on sites such as Etsy or try an integrated solution like Shopify with WordPress, or go old school and get a publishing company to back your book idea. From paper cutting craft to making your own earrings, selling a product can give you extra money. 

Some of these bloggers have had best selling books too. Think of Deliciously Ella and Joe Wicks who were both bloggers and influencers and who have written books on healthy eating and cooking and Nomadic Matt who wrote a New York Times best-selling travel book on how to travel the world on a budget. So think about that passion you have for your blog and convert it into a best selling book - it can be done!

4. Selling links


Bloggers can make money by selling links in posts. SEO companies will contact you and ask to place a link in a new post or an old post. They will want a follow link from your site which will give their website a Domain Authority boost. 

Google frowns upon this and you can get a Google penalty, meaning your blog will not be able to be found on Google. However, this does happen on a regular basis and is not illegal so I think it's important to mention this. I am not passing any judgements but if you do this, be prepared to take the risk, and ensure your post is marked as sponsored/AD (that's the legal bit).

5. Selling yourself


Once you have been blogging a while, why not consider selling your expertise? You become multi-skilled when blogging, so why not get paid to talk about it? One of my blogging friends has just got a regular column in a women's weekly magazine for example. Blogging events often ask for bloggers to speak at them, you may get paid, a ticket to the event and expenses, it depends on the individual event. It's often a good place to raise your profile to brands involved as well.

The knowledge you have learnt can be of help to those less experienced so you could talk to brands about how to work with bloggers, business groups about using social media and other bloggers about how to take great photos for example.  

The important thing, however, is to be sure to declare it to the tax office as soon as you start earning money. 

For more ideas on how to monetise your blog check out this post by Rebecca from Keen On Saving - Making Money Blogging - Can It Be Done?

pin for later

So this post covers 5 main ways on how to monetise your blog and make money from blogging. Do you know any more?

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Why You Should Be Using Smaller Bloggers For Your Marketing Campaign

There has been a big rise in blogging over the last few years and blogging is now a viable career for some (including me), however, there is still a lack of understanding by some about what blogging is and how blogging can help businesses.

What is blogging?


Blogging first started as a way to have an online personal web log, in which a person would write a diary or journal about their day. From web log came the term blog and so blogging was born.
Bloggers typically write about their interests on a regular basis. Popular blog subjects include parenting, beauty, health, gaming and travel. A lifestyle blog often encompasses many of these topics too. 

 What is the difference between a blog and a website?

 Blogs are updated on a frequent basis, with many bloggers posting weekly or even daily.  Websites often have more static content and are not updated so frequently unless they are a news website or magazine style site.

 Blogs also have a more personal connection than websites. Many bloggers write about their personal life and build up their social followers (on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and so on) who like what they write about.

 Blogs also allow for reader interaction and engagement on social media, much more so than a traditional website does.

 Audience and influence
Bloggers vary in the size of their audience from nano bloggers with typically less than a thousand followers to a micro blogger who has between a 1000 and 10,000 followers, to a macro blogger who has 10,000 followers upwards to 100,000. There are also a number of bloggers with 100,000 followers or more that become minor celebrities. 

 Bloggers of a certain level of engagement are often are said to have influence and can be referred to as 'influencers'. They have a higher engagement rate than celebrities who often don't have time to interact with their huge number of followers. 

 Trustworthiness 

Bloggers are often seen as more trustworthy than celebs. 

 People identify more readily with bloggers and many bloggers have a code of conduct, to only endorse products they really love and to give their honest opinion on an item for review. 

 An authentic voice
Trustworthiness and authenticity is key to most bloggers. 

 If you find the right blogger for your brand, someone who really loves what they are reviewing or writing about then you have struck marketing gold. Bloggers provide honest feedback that their readers will appreciate.

 They are relatable

 Bloggers are usually people that are just like their readers. 

 They may be the same age, or come from the same background or have the same interests. They are relatable to their readers as they are similar to them. 

 Niche and age

There are so many bloggers around the world and although many write about a range of topics, there are also many that have a niche, such as jewellery, luxury, family travel, mental health and so on. 

 Bloggers are not just millennials or Generation Z, there are bloggers from the Gen X era and 'baby boomers' too that have a higher level of disposable income and that may appeal to luxury companies. Check out my post on why you should choose a Gen X blogger to promote your brand, and as blogging as a career gets older so does its readership. Of course, blogging is also becoming more appealing to teenagers too.

 If your company has a niche area or is aimed at a certain age you should be able to find someone that your brand can relate to, and that will support your brand.

 They are affordable

 Bloggers are affordable compared to celebrities. They may charge to work with a company but those with a small to moderate following are affordable to the majority of small businesses. 

 When you compare the cost of placing a small advert in a local newspaper to the reach of even a small blogger, potentially worldwide, then you can see that bloggers are supremely affordable.

 They provide backlinks

Bloggers can provide referrals and useful link backs to your website which is useful for SEO as well as sales. They can really drive traffic and raise your profile to get your brand noticed. They can also improve your sales by being brand ambassadors.

 How to work with a blogger

 Many bloggers will have contact details on their blog and companies can either contact them on social media or via email with a proposal. This can be a little hit or miss, as the blogger may not love your brand as much as you do. To take a lot of the hassle out of organising a blogger collaboration there are blogger outreach sites available.

 Blogger outreach sites such as Get Blogged allow companies to connect with bloggers by posting their requirements and bloggers are then invited to apply for the opportunities. I've personally used this site and they have a range of opportunities for bloggers to apply for on a weekly basis. Here is my affiliate link if you want to sign up as a blogger.

 As you can see smaller bloggers are trustworthy, authentic and relatable to their audience and can be a very affordable way of marketing your business. This is why you should be using smaller bloggers for your marketing campaign.

 *Collaborative post
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Why You Should Choose A Gen X Blogger To Promote Your Brand

Gen X bloggers rock. There I said it, but sometimes I feel we don't shout loud enough for companies to realise. 

 Those of us from the Gen X period were born roughly from 1961 to 1981 (or even 1964 to 1985). We know how to work hard and how to play hard but we also seem to get overlooked by brands and agencies. Maybe it's the emphasis on the 'smartphone' generation' that companies spend billions on but what about us Gen X'ers?

We thought we were going to get killed by rabies, or quicksand or nuclear war. We used Sony Walkmans, recorded our music on tape, were the first to own a video recorder,  but we were also there from the beginning of the World Wide Web and grew up with the Internet. We transformed the 80's and owned the 90's. We are pushing back the rules on ageing by being kids at heart but we are still mature enough to get on with life. We use Facebook, a lot, Instagram and Twitter. We are social media savvy. So how does this translate to us Gen X bloggers?

 "Most of us want a little luxury and can afford to pay for it"


Now don't get me wrong I'm not bashing any group of people here I'm just trying to fly the flag for us Gen X bloggers. It's a silly term really as it covers people born over a 20 year period, but one thing we do have in common as we get older is most of us want a little luxury and can afford to pay for it. Often we are independent travellers, used to the Internet to book holidays. We use YouTube, Tripadvisor and blogs to look for reviews. Our children are growing up, leaving home, and we are likely to have lower mortgage costs. We often have more disposable income than those younger than us. Our readers do too. That is why we need to be taken seriously.

"We often have more disposable income than those younger than us."


We want to see countries, cities, local life in faraway places on our own terms. We want luxury but value for money too. I know I don't like to waste money and our generation was often told that you need to work hard for every penny. 

 Many of us are happy to spend our money on well-made quality items - a great coat, a well-made bag, jewellery that is unique and reflects our personality. 

Our kids are getting older, or maybe we don't have kids and often we are ready to explore. In fact, as we get older, our readers are getting older too. We are maturing without losing a sense of fun and more importantly, we have lived a life. A life that gives our writing an edge.

So don't overlook us PR companies, brands, destinations, use us to promote your quality brands, your luxury destinations, your boutique hotels. As our readers have the money to buy your products, to explore your countries and to live a lifestyle with a touch of luxury. That is why you should choose a Gen X blogger to promote your brand.
I asked some blogger's to comment on why you should choose a Gen X blogger to promote your brand and this is what they said.


Emma Tustian
Why should you choose a Gen X blogger to promote your brand? You should because we've been through life good and bad, and have a more laid-back attitude to bringing up kids (or have already done so), there's fewer of us around than younger bloggers, so can reach out to slightly older demographics as well as younger ones. https://bubbablueandme.com

Monika Mumonthebrink
Gen X are the linchpin between the non-connected 9-5 society and the 24/7 always connected society. We've grown up being allowed to be bored and learning the new world as it came about. We are raising and equipping the first generation of people who have an indelible digital footprint. Our audience is mature and tends to be well-considered, with more disposable income.
http://mumonthebrink.com

 Victoria Welton
We have seen the before and after effects of social media. As an older mum, I'm making sure that my children - a daughter of 10 and a son of 5 months - understand that there is more to life than computer games and selfies. I believe that I can be more rounded in my opinions and more honest with my audience which all comes down to life experience. http://www.vevivos.com

 Emma Bradley
Generation X bloggers have a little bit of life experience that they bring to their blogs and to those reading it. We have witnessed the digital explosion and embraced it using this new technology to change careers. We use our space on the internet to inspire and challenge others. We often review products and work on exciting campaigns because we influence others with our words and images. We might not be the new young thing but we are grounded and have worked out our values and our place in society. www.emmaand3.com

 Clare Nicholas
We've seen life without social media and boy was it easier but we are also embracing it to the full and many like myself have managed to turn it into a full-time job. We've seen it evolve from the start and are easily adaptable to new streams of social media and being online. We are more aware that there is life away from a computer screen and can help younger generations to find a happy medium...hopefully. www.emmysmummy.com 

 Sally Akins
1975 Xennial here, and I think that sometimes those of us born in the 1970s are thought of as not being as comfortable with technology as Millennials and Centennials. But we're just as eager to adopt new technology as the generations who follow us, plus we have the extra life experience to bring to our content. And our readers also tend to have more disposable income and more free time than those from younger generations, making them a great target audience for brands. www.sallyakins.com

 Mel Knibb 
As we grew up without social media, we are all too conscious of the dangers of the Internet, as well as how attractive it is (information at the ready, never get lost with GPS, friends always connected). I also feel like I really understand both 'worlds' and can relate to older generations who cannot get their heads around a touch screen, and younger ones who learn to code pretty much before they learn to read. http://www.lecoindemel.com

 Kaz Dee
I’m a 1971 baby and think we bring so much - we are old enough to remember pre-internet days but young enough to embrace all the technology and its rapid developments. I want my children (21,17,15,5) to know about the values and importance of what I grew up with, to value and understand what they have today. http://icklepickleslife.co.uk/

Claire Toplis
As a blogger of that age Golden age, I’d say I think we are well placed.We have a nod to the past with two eyes firmly on the future. We are wise with our words and can impart our knowledge with conviction. http://www.ninjakillercat.co.uk/

 Kavita Favelle
Travelling in your forties or fifties is a wholly different game than the wide-eyed but inexperienced wonder of your twenties or even thirties. With age comes a much wider knowledge of the world... of global cultures and cuisines, of the sheer variety of natural landscapes and manmade urban ones, of history, politics and ways of life. With age comes (if you are fortunate) a higher disposable income, much of which can be put aside for travel. 

With age comes a much deeper well of experience; this applies to travel and to life in general. And for me personally, it's the point in life where I've achieved a great life-work balance and can dedicate a lot more time to travelling, and to sharing my experiences and recommendations with others. Generation X bloggers have so much experience, what we write and share is often more detailed, and able to put a place into context, to really pinpoint why a reader might choose this place or activity above any other. And of course, many of our readers are in the same demographic and are eagerly looking for recommendations from people they trust! https://www.kaveyeats.com
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Why You Should Visit Traverse - A Conference For Travel Influencers

"Wow, we are going to Milan, Milan!", I shrieked. Mr W and I both looked at each other. "I am so glad we went to Traverse now". Sitting in Bristol airport the surprise was finally sinking in, we were going to the fashion capital of the world.

That was in 2016, a few months earlier we had attended an amazing travel blog conference in Cardiff called Traverse, and winning a trip to Milan with the company Surprise Trips was the icing on the cake. So when the tickets were announced to the conference this year, we bought up the tickets in a flash.


Ravensbourne college

You may not know this but I have two blogs, The Diary Of A Jewellery Lover and also Fly Drive Explore that I write with my husband, or Mr W as I call him on the blog.  This over 40's travel blog has a YouTube channel as well. We aim to blog and vlog with a sense of humour, and we are definitely a backpacking free zone, we are just too old to do that and too rickety. Well Mr W is for sure, and too wrinkly... I digress. The point is, Mr W and I both attended Traverse and both got lots from it, even though we are quite different - I like writing, he likes making pretty pictures and moving images.

Traverse this April was held at Ravensbourne College. Right next to the O2 arena in London. This college was a perfect venue, being large, easy to get to and with great facilities for the lectures. 

 So what is Traverse? 


 Traverse is a travel blogging conference, aimed at influencers at all levels, from bloggers, and YouTubers to Instagrammers alike.

 This year there was a two-day program of lectures on a Saturday and Sunday as well as a week-long social programme, putting brands and influencers in touch through fun activities such as escape rooms, meals, cocktail events and even crazy golf. 

 How much does it cost and where is it held?

 Early bird tickets are around the £50 mark while normal price tickets are £90. This year it was held in London, last year in Cardiff and next year will be Rotterdam. By changing the location each time you get the chance to visit different cities and blog about them too.

 What's included in the price?
Exploring London

A week prior to the event a number of activities are organised that you have to apply for. These are free but have limited numbers.

 On the Friday prior to the event, there was a fabulous party sponsored by Jet2, at the SkyLoft, Millbank. This is where a number of tourist boards working in collaboration with Jet2 attended, such as Malta, Greek and the Spain tourist boards. A number of competitions and prize draws were held throughout the night and Mr W won a bottle of wine from Malta in a spot the odd one out competition! Never mess with a man who knows his Eurovision song contest.

 The main event was held on Saturday and Sunday. Sessions run from 10.30am to 4.30pm and were from influencers that were experts in their field, as well as brands that want to work with influencers. You also get lunch every day, the chance to book a one-to-one with a number of experts as well as access to the after parties. This is where all the fun starts - unlimited drinks and nibbles with the chance to network with other influencers and brands alike make these parties a must do.

The Lectures

The lectures were for all levels and all abilities. From SEO to how to pitch to airlines, they were incredibly useful.  

 Monica Stott from The Travel Hack and her session entitled 'Money Making Game Changers' was excellent, it has given me the confidence to ask for my worth. Abi King from Inside the Travel Lab did a great session on 'How To Create Professional Partnerships Based On The Written Word', and this was useful to pick up some pitching tips. Mr W felt Greg Brand's lectures on YouTube to be excellent too.

 The Sponsors

 There were a number of sponsors to the event, the main sponsor being Jet2 and the Spanish tourist board as well as a number of others including those below.

 Sponsorship and reviews


As a blogger, if you are savvy you can partner with brands, restaurants, attractions and accommodation providers prior to the event. I reviewed a beautiful apartment with FG Properties in South Kensington, this kept the cost of accommodation down. I was also sponsored by Three UK, the mobile phone company to attend.

 What really appealed about working with Three UK as a brand ambassador at the event was the Feel At Home programme.  This means customers can use their phone abroad at no extra cost to them. Including over 80% of the holidays UK travellers take and 42 countries, including Australia, the USA and all of Europe, it's a great deal. If like me you have been stung with a high phone bill in the past when overseas, you can see it's worth considering if you travel a lot.

 Top Tips
To get the most out of the conference here are some top tips.


 1. Consider which brands and destinations you would like to work with and what you want to get out of the event prior to the date. Then follow these on social.

2. Do your research so when you chat to them you know about their brand or destination.

3. Take business cards to hand to out and always request one back.

4. Follow up with an email after the event, and attach a media kit or the PR page from your blog. 

 5. The drinks parties are fabulous but check if it's just nibbles. If it is, make sure you eat beforehand. You don't want to let the alcohol go to your head and end up dancing on the table in front of the brands you want to work with, yes Mr W I am talking to you here!

 Thoughts from other bloggers


To get the most out of Traverse, I'd say definitely come prepared. Bring a notebook and pen as you'll be taking lot's of notes from the sessions you will attend. Bring up to date business cards to hand out to brands and other bloggers you’ll meet across the conference. When networking with brands at Traverse, know your blog inside out when you're pitching your ideas and do a little bit of research on who’s going to be there before the weekend. Rachel Nicole

 There are so many fab sessions at Traverse that it's easy to feel a little overwhelmed, especially if it's your first visit. I'd recommend taking a good look through the schedule before you get there, and work out what your priorities are for your own blog. Do you want to start working with brands? Is improving your vlogging skills a priority? Would you like to learn more about SEO? Once you've worked out what's most important for *your* blog, then you can pick the right sessions to get the most out of your visit. Sally Akins

 So I would say if you are a travel blogger consider attending Traverse. You will have fun, learn something new and make valuable connections with influencers, destinations and brands, and you never know, you may even win a holiday! Just like me.
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Top 10 Tips For New Bloggers

So you want to start a blog but you don't know where to start. Here are my top 10 tips for new bloggers.

 1. Write about what you know

 Sounds simple doesn't it but it's essential to write about what you know. People want to avoid reading duff information. I started this blog as I owned a jeweller and wanted to promote it but as it evolved I decided to write about other subjects that I knew about such as travel and food. 

 It's important that you write about what you know and that you write with a real passion. If you get bored reading your posts so will other people, so think about creating the best content you possibly can.

2. Think carefully about a blog name

 If you don't it could restrict you, but alternatively, it can also show your niche. Write down the topics you will be writing about and brainstorm ideas related to this. Also, consider the audience you are writing for and what you think will appeal to them. 

If you want to monetise your blog at any time I would recommend buying a domain name, it also adds a professional touch to your blog.  Once you have thought of a blog name, check the availability of the domain name on a site such as Go Daddy. If you have a free WordPress site you may want to go self-hosted to have complete control over the site and to monetise it. 

 If I was starting this blog again I would pick a shorter name as it's too long to put into a search bar and jewellery is spelt differently in the US than the UK. I think the diary part of the name does imply it's a lifestyle blog, which is good as it is!

3. Which blogger site will you use

 Blogger and WordPress are both popular sites but there are other blog platforms too such as Weebly and Wix.  When researching how to use these blog platforms, YouTube is your friend. One of the channels worth checking out is the createwpsite YouTube channel for informative guides on how to set up WordPress sites. 


I originally set up this blog on Blogger but my new travel blog is on WordPress. I think personally Blogger is easier to use but WordPress is also popular, as it is good for SEO but needs more technical knowledge. If you are not sure what to use, ask other bloggers you admire and Google 'blogger platforms'.

4. Who are you writing for and why 

 The main reason people write blogs is as a catharsis, to inform, to educate and to entertain, and often these overlap.

 Think about why you want to write your blog. If you are writing it mainly to express yourself in a cathartic way your tone will be different than if you were writing the blog for your business. 

 Think about who is the target audience and what they will get from visiting your blog. Some bloggers have downloadable content such as blog planners and printables and competitions also drive people to your blog. Give people a reason to come back and whilst they are there they may read your other content too.

5. Write your posts in a conversational manner

 People don't want to be lectured. Use the words I, My, We and speak as if you are talking to someone in person. Conversations should be friendly and not formal. 

 Don't be afraid of adding some of your personality into the post but also be aware that the post will be out there for all to see. You may not want that joke you've said after a few glasses of wine to be published but humour can be a great addition to a blog post.

It's said that the more you blog the better you get so I would say try and write frequently. This doesn't have to be every day but be sure to sit down and write at least weekly, if not 2-3 times a week. Your readers will get used to the frequency of the posts and your writing will improve. The more frequently you blog the more visitors you will often get. People want to see new content or a regular basis.

6. Build your blog on social media

 Bloggers want people to read their blog, so it is important to build your following on social media. You could have written the best post in the world but if no one sees it then I personally think, what is the point? Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Google Plus all drive traffic to my blog. If you haven't got time to build these followings, focus on one or two social media networks. Stumbleupon is also worth getting to know. If your post goes viral on Stumbleupon you will get a huge spike in views. Some of these people may not stay around, but some may. Check out this post on how to double your traffic on Pinterest for inspiration. 

 Interact with people on these sites to build your following, follow other people, like their posts, comment on their posts and they will be more likely to do the same for you.

7. Take photos of everything

 A picture tells a thousand words and adds a visual cue to your blog post, making it easier to remember so add photos to your blog posts. You don't need expensive camera equipment as many smartphones have a camera these days. Make sure your photos aren't too big though to improve browser speed. I make sure all my images are around 100k to 150k.

 If your photos need a little improvement use a photo editing package. I use Picmonkey, which you don't have to download as it's available online and, most importantly, free! There are also free image sites out there if you need to source an image such as Pixabay, Unsplash and Flickr creative commons. 

 Don't forget it's not ok to take a photo from a site without making sure it's free under the Creative Commons license, you could be sued!

8. Read topical information

 Reading newspapers, other blogs, online articles and social media is a good way of informing and educating yourself and keeping topical too. 

 A topical post can bring lots of traffic so you may want to write like this at least on an occasional basis. This post I wrote last year about flat shoes being banned on the Cannes red carpet created a spike in traffic on my blog and was posted at the right time.

9. Consider using scheduling software

 Buffer and Hootsuite are two such products that can schedule your posts at all times of the day. Think about your audience and schedule accordingly. 

 If you have a parenting blog, you may find after lunch and before the school run is a good time to schedule a post. I write a lot about travel in the US so I schedule my US posts for late afternoon in the UK when the US is waking up and around midnight when the US is at home after a day's work.

10. Join Facebook support groups

 There are many groups that can offer help and advice out there. My personal favourite is the UK Bloggers United Facebook group. Many also offer a chance to share your posts with a like-for-like, comment-for-comment basis. 

So these are my top 10 tips for new bloggers. Do you have any tips or advice for new bloggers?

 *PR collaboration 

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Meet The Bloggers - Charlotte From The Social Snob

Today in my Meet The Bloggers series I am interviewing Charlotte from The Social Snob blog.




Can you tell my readers about yourself and your blog.

My name is Charlotte and I blog over at www.thesocialsnob.com, which is mostly known for the high-end / luxury beauty products I review on it. Although I am a mother of two young children I decided not to branch out into Parent Blogging as I like to keep them off-line and separate from what I do. My passion is make-up, I’m a hoarder and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Sometimes I just want that £60 lipstick for it’s outer packaging even if the product isn’t as good as it could be. I am quite materialistic in that way, but I do cherish the things money cant buy in life and that would be the reaction to my children's faces when we go some where new or just go an be silly at the park

What inspired you to start blogging?



I was scrolling my Facebook at the end of 2013 and came across a very successful beauty blogger, I’m not sure how but it was love at first sight, everything she was doing I thought 'I want this and I can do these kind of things' - So I did and the rest was history!! I have also been a beauty junkie and work colleagues would ask me what make-up I was wearing or how I achieved certain looks or even what the best kind of skincare for skin issues. So it’s always been in the air I just didn’t know I could also make a career out of it

Tell me your proudest blogging achievement.

I’ll admit I do have so many, I pinch myself everyday when the postman brings me at least four parcels. It might have been when Tom Ford sent me some of the most cult beauty products from the collection, being able to work with brands that I could never even afford before or even used to just obsess over how fabulous they were and now they look to me for my opinion it blows my mind. I have been nominated for blogging awards which to just be recognised is an achievement in it self

What brands have you enjoyed working with?



Touching on the above, I don’t think I could narrow it down, I have been lucky enough to work with some of the world's biggest beauty brands and I count myself so lucky for that

What brands would you like to work with in the future?

Ahhh these questions !! I would just like to maintain a good relationship with all the current brands I am working with, as well as hopefully working with CHANEL, DIOR, GIVINCHEY

Do you have any tips for new bloggers?

It’s hard on new bloggers, I really had no clue this world of bloggers existed and it’s grown a whole lot since i started too!! I think anyone that does want to begin blogging shouldn’t compare their beginning to someone else middle. They should understand what they want from it from the get go, if that’s a career or if they are doing it as a hobby. They shouldn’t be put off if they are turned down for opportunities. The best example of that is a beauty box brand approached me to work with them, the first month came and so did my review, I had to promote a ‘code’ for my readers to use and no one used it, the brand ignored my emails for 3 months after. They eventually replied to tell me that I basically wasn’t good enough but then 2 or so months later they were trying to get me back on board. They had seen my following had grown a lot in a short space of time and all of a sudden I was good enough again - you can imagine I politely told them where to go !!!

What is your most popular blog post to date?

It is definitely my blog post for Flawless Cosmetics, it still is my most read post every day, cosmetic procedures are a tricky one but people also love to see the transformation gives. I think it’s my favourite because of how much confidence this beauty procedure gave me. Holly is a fantastic aesthetic practitioner and it’s been a pleasure to see her business basically go viral.

Do you have any specific blog and personal goals for 2016?

I would like to see The Social Snob being read / talked about in Wales. Wales / South Wales lacks very far behind in the beauty industry and it makes me crazy to think there are so many talented people in Wales that are missing out on such fantastic opportunities because we aren’t as forward thinking (when it comes to beauty) than England and the rest of the world. If people ask what I do and say I’m a beauty blogger people don’t understand it, they don’t understand how much more powerful our opinions are compared to journalists. Our readers rely on our honesty and that's what some journalists lack and it’s also why we are trusted so much more. I would definitely like to see more blogging things going on in Wales - I would love to be able to change peoples ways when it comes to beauty in Wales but that just might be a bit too big for me - hahaha. 
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Meet The Bloggers - Joy From Pink Oddy

Today I am interviewing Joy from the blog Pink Oddy in my Meet The Bloggers series. 




Can you tell my readers about yourself and your blog.

 My name is Joy and I am married with 4 boys. My blog really started out as place to try and help others whilst encouraging me to spend more time doing productive things with my children (even if that is just getting them outdoors and off their tech).

What inspired you to start blogging?

Justin Bieber. He followed me on Twitter and I saw the massive impact that the internet can have. I got 4 times as many followers in a week and thought that I should harness blogging and social media to share knowledge that may be of benefit to others.

Tell me your proudest blogging achievement.

Just hearing that I am helping. I have had my blog featured in the local National Autism Society e-mail.

What brands have you enjoyed working with?

A lot of brands are really good and I have enjoyed working with them, it would be unfair to single any out as I may forget others. But I do appreciate the ones that go the extra mile or really take them the time to share my content.

What brands would you like to work with in the future?

Any that will help myself and my family further develop our health and fitness because that is where I am at. I actually do have a brand who have just given me an e-mail address to contact them.

Do you have any tips for new bloggers?

Don’t believe all you read. Not all bloggers are honest as others. Why this is important is you need to just be confident with yourself and not compare yourself.

What is your most popular blog post to date?

It is a post about why you should book a Sun Holiday in January - which also goes into the whether they are worth it, or if there’s a cheaper way for people to book.

What is your favourite blog post of 2015 and why?



It was one about teeth brushing on my Sensory Seeker blog. I really had to tune myself in with my son to help encourage him to have his teeth cleaned and I wanted to pass that information on. I have had good feedback from it and even had an occupational psychologist asking for my advice in the comments.

Do you have any specific goals for 2016?

This year I am focusing on myself and my family. Blogging is really going to take a back seat more and I have made a move to using Instagram more.
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