5 Ways to Grow Your Blog

My new Blog (Photo credit: Crazy Ivory)

 

Growing your blog is easy, and really does not have to take large blocks of time. If you already have your ideas set to paper, in the form of titles and/or notes, you can get started right away.

 

How do you start?

 

By setting aside 30 minutes a day to work on your blog. In this time, you should be able to write a quality blog post, proof it for grammar, spelling and punctuation, and do at least one other quick task related to the blog.

 

So start now, and grow your blog.

 

1. Invite other bloggers to write an article for you. Be sure they blog about things in your industry, and will link to their post on your blog.
2. Add links in the side bar to articles (in the same industry) you have written for others.
3. Use Bottlenose to look for trending topics in your area of expertise.
4. Add a description and link to your sidebar, featuring a free or paid eBook, workshop or special report that you have created. Write a blog post about this same product, also linking to where your reader can find the product, and be sure to link to the post on all your social/networking profiles.
5. Link to your main blog page from all your social and bookmarking profiles.

 

Extra: Whenever you come up with an idea for your blog, but cannot get to it right away, write the idea down. Use this list as your 30 minutes of daily blogging checklist. You will always have something to do. The list might contain topic or title ideas, sidebar addition ideas, networking ideas and more.

 

Happy blogging!

 

Shannon L Buck

 

Tips for Becoming a Freelance Writer

Blog! (Photo credit: solofotones)

Becoming a freelance writer may seem confusing, but it really isn’t. There is a lot that goes into building this type of career, yes, but you can take it slow, getting your feet wet before jumping in head first.

Build up to it.

Don’t be too hard on yourself.

1. Write. Every day. Something. A blog post. An article. Something.
2. Write more. Two or three articles, plus a blog post or two, will get you even further.
3. Edit everything you write.
4. Create a blog. One about the topic you write the most about, or a writers’ blog about you and your business.
5. Monitor comments on your blog. There is a lot of spam that comes through on a blog. Set your controls to indicate you want to read comments first, then allow posts manually.
6. Edit the blog as well. Grammar and punctuation are so important.
7. Find the clients you need to keep yourself in business. Your blog is the first step, but you also have to actively search out writing opportunities. Make sure your query letters are also well written. So many are not these days.
8. Offer guest posts to other freelance writers, or to bloggers who cater to the audience you are looking for. Be sure these guest posts are well written and edited as well, as they are an example of your work.
9. Check your email. Limit the amount of time you do this, but check. Especially if you are waiting to hear from someone about a possible writing job.
10. Meet your deadlines.

Freelance writing is a worthy career choice, but you will have to work at it.

Shannon L. Buck

Related articles

• Do You Have What it Takes to Become a Freelance Writer? (howtolivethefreelancelife.wordpress.com)

Special Report: Formula for A Successful Blog

Image via Wikipedia

Formula for A Successful Blog

A Special Report by Shannon L. Buck

In this special report, Formula for A Successful Blog, I will show you how easy it is to set up a successful blog for your business. Whether you own a store online or off, you work in one of the many freelance fields or you work in another area all together, you will find this Special Report useful.

It will also help you to determine what your own needs are so that you can decide what the best features are for your blog.

This Special Report is available through: PDF Format

This Special Report is available for: $3.95

Formula for A Successful Blog

Thank you!

Shannon L. Buck

How to Live the Freelance Life

eCourse: Setting Up Your Business Blog

Image by MyEyeSees via Flickr

Setting Up Your Business Blog

an eCourse by Shannon Buck

Do you want to put your business online?

Are you unsure about how to set up a business blog?

Then this 5 week eCourse is for you!

The eCourse Setting Up Your Business blog will help you to brainstorm and plan your career blog. You will learn about affiliate marketing, informational products, and how to set up a blog. The eCourse also covers such topics as newsletters, online filing systems and business accounts.

Format: PDF

Price: $10.95

Setting Up Your Business Blog

Thank you!

Shannon L. Buck

How to Live the Freelance Life

Write Now, Publish Later

My schedule is a hectic one. I do not have the opportunity to write every day, but I want to start keeping somewhat of a schedule for my blogs and Examiner.com channels.

Doing so will allow me to stay on track, and give my readers for each venue something to look forward to.

Each of my blogs has this feature.

English: Examiner.com official logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Each of my channels has this feature.

By using these feature, I am able to get as far ahead as I want with my writing, and have everything scheduled to post on specific dates and at specific time. I will be utilizing this feature much more this year than in previous years. Indeed, this is a new feature for Examiner.com.

During the on season at the inn (a period of time that lasts all but a few months out of the year) I do not have enough time to write regularly. In November (NaNoWriMo month!), I do not have time to blog much at all, and certainly no time to write articles.

By using this type of feature, I can keep everyone reading by doing all my work during the off season and scheduling it for later.

This means that, for the next two or three months, I am working triple time: At the inn, writing current posts and articles as well as doing marketing tasks, and writing for the on season.

Let’s see how it all works out for me.

How do you handle busy times?

Shannon L. Buck

Welcome to Year 4!

Last year was a big year for me, in many ways. I am very pleased with my accomplishments, that have set me up for a great Year 4

This year I start off being used to working with the two factors listed in the Year 3 Wrap Up

“Writing”, 22 November 2008 (Photo credit: dr_ed_needs_a_bicycle)

post, so I have a (somewhat) schedule and will be able to schedule more time for the writing of articles. Most of these will be written ahead of time, so they are ready when the time comes to publish them. For example, Halloween articles will be written in September and Thanksgiving ones in October. This puts me a little ahead of the game.

Most of my freelance income will likely come from revenue share opportunities around the web, starting with the many, many articles that have already been published. I will also add to the growing number of these articles each month.

I am looking to expand my opportunities for writing articles, and possibly eBooks, for others.

I want to concentrate on getting that first book of short stories published, as well as resume work on the next two books, and to look into what it takes to sell photographs online. I have much to do for both ventures, and am very excited.

A marketing/promotional plan for the first book of short stories (finished last year) will also be necessary, so I will be doing more research in how to go about those tasks. I am getting more and more excited for this, the more I learn.

This blog is another aspect of my freelance career that I will be working on. I am planning more eBooks, etc., as well as posts and challenges. I hope you will all enjoy what I put into it.

Have a great freelance year, no matter what it is that you do! I know I will

Shannon L. Buck

Related articles

• eBook: Greening Your Freelance Business (howtolivethefreelancelife.wordpress.com)
• May Starts Year 4 (howtolivethefreelancelife.wordpress.com)

Journaling/Blogging the 4 Week Write Your Own E-Book Challenge

I love to journal and to blog, and feel that it is important to do so when taking challenges because I can keep track of all aspects of the challenge, from questions I have to emotions that I am feeling. Doing so also helps me to follow along, and provides a recording of what challenges I had and accomplishments I am proud of.

Blog Machine (Photo credit: digitalrob70)

You may want to do the same for this challenge. Discuss different aspects, such as how you enjoy the recipes and what you are learning about nutrition and yourself.

Feel free to post your answers here when they appear in the challenge, in your journal or on your own blog. You can even link to this post in your own blog entry.

Enjoy the challenge!

Shannon L. Buck

http://thefitnessjournal.wordpress.com

http://frugalrecipes.wordpress.com

http://livingthelowincomelife.wordpress.com