A couple weeks ago I attended my first big conference, Snap! the Conference in Utah. It was an incredible experience and not only did I meet amazing people, but I also got to attend some pretty amazing and informative sessions while I was there.
I though it would be fun over the next few weeks to share some of what I learned with you.
The first session I attended was all about Blogging Basics and we got to hear from an awesome panel of speakers: Amy, Cheri, Cindy and Kari.
Finding Your Niche
- Follow your passion
- Ask yourself, what would I be able to work on daily?
- Identify your strengths
- What is your traffic potential?
- Pick an angle
- Come up with a Mission Statement for your blog and stick to it!
Branding Your Blog
- What do you want to to be known for?
- What differentiates you from others?
- Use 5 adjectives to describe your blog? This one really got me thinking because I’m not sure I would be able to come up with 5 right away.
- Be sure to use consistent messages, images and values on your blog.
Building a Community
It is SO important to build a community when you are trying to grow your blog. After all, why would people want to follow you if they don’t feel like you try to connect to them as well. Here are some great things you can do to create a community.
- Comment and ask questions: visit others blogs and not only leave a comment, but as a question that warrants a response.
- Center posts around readers: write posts your readers would be interested in reading
- Feature others and share links: share, share, share. It’s all about paying if forward
- Participate (discussion groups, chats)
- Challenge readers
- Social Media: know what social media outlets your readers use and interact with them on those sites. If your followers enjoy Facebook more than Twitter, make it a point to spend time interacting with them on Facebook daily.
How to Stand Out
- Blog Design: In my personal option I enjoy reading blogs whose headers says something about who they are, whose layouts are clean, easy to navigate, and blogs who include clear and large pictures.
- Writing Personality: Be the same person you are on your blog in real life.
- Unique information or perspective
- Be YOU!
Working with an Ad Network
Working with Brands
- Reach out to relevant brands
- What can you offer?
- Create a Media Kit. (this is also really good when reaching out to potential sponsors)
- Be Professional
- Be honest, but do it in a tactful way. If you don’t like a product simply send it back rather than dragging it through the mud on your blog.
Affiliate Programs
- Ad Networks (such as BlogHer, Collective Bias, Clever Girls Collective, Rivit, or Social Spark)
- Affiliate programs
- Selling Goods/Services
- Sponsored Posts
- Ad Spots
- One thing I learned that I never realized is that when you do a tutorial you are hoping people will pin to Pinterest, use a vertical picture!
- Post a finished picture at the TOP of the post!! Do NOT hide the final product at the bottom. You need to catch peoples eye from the get go.
- Have a pinboard for your blog
- Truncating
The Management Side of your Blog
- Learn when to say NO!! It’s not always fun to say no especially when you’re trying to grow your blog, but if you are too busy you need to learn to say no rather than over committing.
- Use a blog calendar. It will help you keep track of your month
- Working in Advance. Schedule out posts when you have extra time to do so.
- Be Patient!
- Know there are different types of success
- Have a goal and work to reach it!
- DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS!
I hope you are all able to find these tips helpful. Please feel free to email or leave a comment with any other questions you have and I’ll do my best to answer them all.
Did you see anything you already want to change about your blog or how you manage your time?
Shauna says
Thank you for posting these tips. I started my blog a few months ago and love reading advice on how to grow and improve.
Sandy a la Mode says
i think the most important take away for me right now, is learn when to say no!!! I always overcommit and it’s kind of affecting my sanity and sleep schedule!! Not good!!!
Mackenzie says
Wow, this was so helpful! I definitely want to write a mission statement now. What is a media kit?
Kim says
Awesome tips! Thanks so much for sharing. I had no idea to use a vertical picture for pinterest. Interesting..
Antonette Scott says
Thank you so much. I have always found your information to be helpful. It never hurts to hear that statement “say no” too often, at least for me. That’s my biggest challenge.
Sassy Diana says
Thanks much for this! I blogged before kids and then recently tried to keep things simple on tumblr but now have taken the plunge to attempt at being a regular blogger through wordpress. I’m always looking for feedback, ideas, tips and more and this post was so helpful. I’ve added some new thoughts for my ‘blogger notebook’ and appreciate your time and effort to help us newbies 🙂 Thanks again!
@sassydianamarie
Beth @ dot in the city says
these are great tips! thank you for posting 🙂 i’m loving the management tips and have been using a blog calendar for the last month or so and it’s been very helpful!
Lauren says
Great information! What would you put in a media kit? I’m working on building my blog and getting sponsors, and I hadn’t thought about that before.
BTW- Do you like how I took your advice and left a comment with a question? 😉
Jacqui of Baby Boy Bakery says
This made me miss our amazing weekend!
aimee steckowski says
excellent post — thanks for sharing. i look forward to reading more about your SNAP updates {& feel like i was sorta there!}.
Laura @ Our Reflection says
I forgot to mention… I just Pinned your beautiful TOP vertical picture. ^_^
http://pinterest.com/pin/58969076341191052/
Allyson says
Thank you so much – these are all so helpful!
Andrea Worley says
I didn’t get to attend this workshop, so I’m glad you posted your thoughts. It’s a good list to review, thanks for sharing it.
Kassi @ Truly Lovely says
There’s lots of great tips here I see! I didn’t know about the vertical picture for Pinterest! I have an angle I think… but I don’t know that I have a niche… Unless writing about what you want to is a niche… 😉
Shari Lynne @ Faith Filled Food for Moms says
Great info Alissa! I need to revisit many of these points..whoosh lots to learn and relearn all the time 🙂
Blessings!
Samantha says
Hey. I love the tips. Such an excellent list and so very helpful.
Quick question though, when you said “create a media kit” under working with brands, what do you mean? Like, what exactly is a media kit??
Thanks,
XO Samantha
Stephanie Hillberry says
These are great tips–thanks for sharing them. I’ve been blogging for over four years now and I still like to go back to the basics regularly! I would also give one more tip: don’t give everything away for free. Consider what you can monetize (write an ebook! create an ecourse!) and don’t be afraid to ask for money. Your ideas and creativity is valuable!
Bree says
Thank you so much for blogging these tips!! I just pasted this into a word document and printed it out to *study.* :))
Julie S. says
Thank you SO much for posting these! I just did a blog makeover and I think it’s fits me SO much better. It’s cleaner, the photos stand out- overall, it’s just better. I HATE blogs that are so cluttered you can’t find anything! And yes- learning to say NO is important! It’s hard to when you are trying to grow! 🙂 Thanks for posting this!
Brittany says
Great tips! I’ve always wanted to attend a blogging class
Aime says
I am just seeing this post today but wanted to say thanks for sharing some of these highlights! I tried to make it to SNAP this year and was unable to. I am so glad you were able to go and learn so much!
Beth says
Thanks for sharing the great tips!! I am just starting out and only a few months in and love to read all the tips I can.
Also, love your blog!!
Sadie says
Really great and informative post! Pinning this 🙂 So helpful.