My Advice To Aspiring Pro Bloggers

**I originally wrote this article back in 2009, and it's kind of surprising how relevant it still is today.. I've thrown in some updates too (starred and italicized).** 

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It's funny how widespread this pro blogging dream has grown over the years. It seems like it was just yesterday that word came out about bloggers earning a full time income online, and suddenly hundreds, then thousands, and now maybe millions of people are trying to do it, too. (I don't know how many, to be exact. I was never one for statistics.)

And it kills me to think that so many people are under the impression that they can create a blog, update it, plaster ads all over the place, and make money.. Yeah, that's pretty much the gist of it, don't get me wrong here. But really, do you have any idea how difficult it is?

I have been blogging for several years now. **Over a decade!** I have created many blogs, and abandoned half of them for various reasons, which I'll get into later. While I am not considered an A-lister by any means, I do make money from my blogging, and have learned a LOT. And of course, I continue to learn new things every day.

Here's a long list of things I feel must be said about this topic:

1) Why do you want to be a pro blogger?

I have to ask you this before I continue, because it is the most important of all. Why do you want to blog professionally? What reasons, other than money, do you have?

Would you do it for no pay? Because let's face it- it is incredibly difficult to earn a living from a blog alone. Would you be willing to put in the time and effort required to create a popular blog, with a high possibility of your plan failing? Would you take what you've learned and try again? And again? Does it mean that much to you?

2) Know what you want to achieve.

What do you want to achieve with your blog(s)? Are your goals realistic?

3) Understand that blogging isn't easy..

I don't care how many people say it is, or who they are for that matter, it really isn't as easy as it's made out to be. In order to be "successful" as a blogger (Success takes on many forms- it depends on your goals, so I'm being very general here), you usually are required to treat your blog as a full time job.

Many people have a full time job already, and must keep it in order to pay the bills. Now, to go from that to blogging full time, it's usually necessary to invest a similar amount of time into your blog in addition to your job. And if you have a family and kids to take care of, well, that's another full time job in itself. What a burden. Most people cannot do it.

However, there are quite a few whose life situations match up nicely with a career in blogging. I am one of them. The number of unemployed people is pretty high where I live, and it's hard to get what most would call a "real job". I have dedicated much of my time away from "real work" to blogging, as well as my various music projects. Each of my career goals supports the other, and I am working hard to build my future. **I have had a few other jobs since writing this article. I currently work at a tattoo shop (however out right now due to health issues), I blog every day, make music, and when something interesting comes along, paranormal investigation. Oh, how life has changed over the years!** 

And it definitely isn't easy.

There are many days when I don't get paid. Then there are days when my financial situation is looking fantastic. And you never know for sure what's going to happen next. It's scary sometimes. But I love what I do, and honestly feel that it will work out in my favor one of these days. **It looks better every day.. I still have my ups and downs, but looking back, I've come a long way.** 

4) ..And there is no "happy ending". Not for a while, at least.

Like I said, the results of your blogging will vary from day to day. You have to keep working hard at what you're doing, despite the "bad days", which are bound to happen every now and then.

In addition to that, you must understand that the blogosphere is constantly changing. It's important to keep up with the current times, as well as push to improve beyond that. Never stop learning. Never stop trying new things. Take everything you've learned and use it to push beyond your current limitations. Break new ground. As a blogger, your job is never-ending.

5) You learn through trial and error.

You will make many mistakes on the way to becoming a pro blogger. If you are afraid of failure, you will probably never make it. Don't be surprised if you fail on your first attempt, or even your tenth. Just analyze what you did wrong and learn from it. Try something new. Keep trying. Keep learning.

This applies to many aspects of blogging. Whether you're trying to find your specific niche(s), or style of writing, or the best way for you to earn money, you will learn through trial and error. Many ideas will fail. And that's fine. Either revise your technique, or accept it and move on to something new.

You may wind up abandoning several blogs, because you later realized they didn't suit you, and that's fine. I did. And I learned a lot from doing so.

6) Develop a schedule.

Just like a "real job", you need to have some sort of routine. Work out what time you have available for blogging, and do it. Work during the hours you've allotted, stick to a general posting schedule, and work out some sort of content creation routine that will help you continue blogging, as well as avoiding as many mental roadblocks as you possibly can.

7) Prioritize.

Good time management is important. Even with a schedule, you will often find that some things will require more time than others, and you may not have enough time to finish what you wanted to do that day. Get your priorities in order- do the most important things first, then take care of the rest.

Distractions are, well, distracting. But it's important to keep mental clarity, and stay focused on the important topics at hand. Do what you need to do first, then have fun. I know, it's a hard lesson to learn. And it's one of those things that need to be mastered if you want to be a pro blogger.

8) Never rely on a single income stream.

It may be common sense not to rely on a single source of income (like AdSense profits alone), but it's surprising how many bloggers do. Earnings are hardly ever steady, and rarely can you pay all your bills every month with a single check (or funds transfer) you've earned. The few who can are putting themselves at risk- if their source of money dries up, they have nothing to fall back on. Don't put yourself in that position.

9) A full time income may require more than one blog or website.

While there are some who support themselves with one blog alone, they are few and far between.

Don't be afraid to take on another project if you have the time. It's common for people to have several interests- don't limit yourself to just one. Having a few blogs/websites can be more than just financially rewarding- you will have the opportunity to learn more, and blogging about a variety of topics helps to prevent boredom.

You don't have to start a new website if you don't want to, either. There are plenty of sites already that are looking for contributing bloggers, and many of them pay well. But make sure that's what you want to do before you commit. Blogging for someone else isn't a gig that's right for everyone.

Think of blogging as a way to further your dream career, rather than a career in itself. Your "empire", ideally, should reflect what you ultimately want to do. Because let's face it, not all of us are interesting characters worthy of earning a living by simply documenting what we do every day.

10) Know when to say no.

Don't take every opportunity that comes your way. You may encounter some opportunities that seem great at the time they're offered, but won't be beneficial in the long run. Analyze any offers you receive, and the positive and negative effects of taking on that project. If the negatives outweigh the positives in relation to your goals and current projects (time is an important issue), then turn down the offer. And don't feel bad about doing so. Do what is right for you.

11) Cater to your readers..

Your readers are important, so you need to make them happy. Respond to their comments and emails, chat with them on Twitter, **Facebook, Google+, etc.,** really get to know them and what they want. If you understand your readers and what they are looking for, you will be more apt to satisfy them with new content. They will reward you with their support, by referring others to your blog, perhaps even buying products or donating money.

12) ..But don't lose yourself in the process.

Always keep in mind what is important to you, and don't deviate from that simply to satisfy others. 

**Being yourself is important! Not everyone will like you, but who cares? It can be a good thing when someone unsubscribes- you're cultivating your audience, people who appreciate you for who you are and what you do. These are your supporters.** 

13) Get to know your readers on a more personal level.

Too often I see bloggers forget that their readers are people too, and not just numbers on a traffic report. (And yes, I have been guilty of this in the past.)

It's emotional engagement that keeps people coming back to your blog, so give them something to laugh at, or think about. Really connect with them. Treat them as the competent people they are, and not search engine spiders.

14) Sometimes we have to "sell out"..

In order to pay the bills, it is often necessary to support other products/companies on our blogs. The most common is contextual or banner advertising, but it is not rare to see text links, posts advertising a product or website, or bloggers selling products of their own. There is nothing wrong with this, if you put your readers first.

15) ..But don't really sell out.

Keep money in its proper place. Don't advertise products you wouldn't buy yourself. Don't create something crappy and sell it for a fortune. That's just bad business.

16) Be transparent.

Trust is based on transparency. Tell your readers who you are (on an 'about' page), and your motives for blogging. Label all sponsored posts as such. Never misrepresent yourself if you can help it. What readers do or don't know about you and your blog will impact their trust in you.

17) Social media is your best friend.

Get on Twitter and Digg and Facebook and any other social media websites that you feel will best help you and your brand, and use them often. Network with people who share similar interests and keep in touch with them. With the help of social media, a good blog can spread like wildfire.

However, don't use your social profiles simply to advertise yourself, make a point to connect with others and provide them with value when possible. Help them with any problems they may have. Participate in discussion. Be friendly. Be an active community member. You must give before you can receive.

18) Keep writing.

There will be many days when you will feel uninspired, and words will be hard to come by. When this happens, just keep writing anyway. Write a personal entry, or some other writing exercise (that you may never even publish) to get the creativity flowing again. Usually that will help.

Keep writing through the tough times. The more you avoid the problem, the easier it becomes to procrastinate. And you'll never get anything done.

19) Keep improving.

Always look for new ways you can improve your blog, whether it be your writing, design, monetization tactics, etc. Don't focus on working harder, try working smarter. Don't be afraid to try something new.. you may learn something in the process.

20) Feel free to break the rules.

While there is a sort of blogging etiquette to follow (spam=bad, etc.), don't be afraid to break the various unofficial blogging rules, such as how many times you should post each week, or how long each post should be. Every blog is different and there are really no set rules. Figure out what's right for you and just do it.

That's all I have to say on this for now. Do you have any advice you'd like to share?

How To Get Thousands Of Visitors To Your Blog Every Day [With StumbleUpon]

Lately I've had a LOT of success using a tried-and-true method I discovered years ago. I get hundreds, if not thousands, of hits to my blogs every day now... Can you guess how?

**Note: This method is especially great for newer blogs that are still too young to rank high in the search engines.

1) Create lots of unique, quality content.

This is the most important part of growing your blog, and there is no way around it. You have to write lots of unique and useful posts, provide lots of quality photos that capture attention, and videos when possible.

Write for people, not search engine robots. Focus on user experience and build the best blog you possibly can.

You have to put in the time and do the work if you want your blog to grow. If you don't have the time or skill to do it, blogging probably isn't for you.

2) Submit your best posts to StumbleUpon.

If you're not already a StumbleUpon member, click the link and create an account right now! (I'll wait....) No matter how new your blog is, you can get TONS of visitors from this social sharing website. Even though it's not as popular as it used to be, it still works wonders for my blog traffic!

(Yes, I know there are tons of other article submission sites out there, but you will NOT get the kind of traffic that StumbleUpon can offer, and certainly not as quick!)

Submit your best posts, and Stumblers will rate content as they click through. The more thumbs-ups your posts get, the more people will see them.

Like any other social site, you have to do your work, too- complete your profile, add your friends, install the toolbar, and click through pages of any topic that interests you.

3) Lather, rinse, repeat.

This isn't a one-time thing. You must continuously write and submit, write and submit, etc, etc.

If people like what they see, they will vote you up and more and more people will see your posts. Keep writing. Keep improving. Pay attention to your traffic stats and get an idea of what people like, then keep writing more, and keep improving far beyond you ever thought you could!

You will be pleasantly surprised by how easy this is (considering you write stuff that people want to read), and amazed when you get more and more visitors! Granted, these people are more into Stumbling and rating pages than taking the time to comment on them, but when you run ads on your blogs, every visitor counts!

16 Simple Ways To Get More Page Views

For those who make money with their blogs, more page views are important for a couple of reasons:
a) more page views means more ad views, and
b) it means people are staying on your blog longer.

Here are a few ways to increase page views on your blog, most of which can be implemented quickly and easily.

**Note: This article is about getting more page views with the web traffic you already have, as opposed to finding more visitors from other sources. [more blogging tips]

1) Make your blog easy to follow.

Be sure your subscription and social profile links are obvious, and encourage your readers to follow you. If they get a notification every time you post something new, it's more likely they'll revisit your blog.

2) Post often.

When you update frequently and regularly, you give people a reason to come back for more!

3) Create "pillar content".

"Pillar content" is the stuff that people keep coming back to, the posts that people read the most- those super-informative and/or inspirational 'everything you need to know about a particular topic' articles. These are the articles that people want to share with others. Write a lot of that stuff.

4) Interlink your posts.

Link to other posts you've written when you can- it encourages visitors to read more!

5) Install a related posts widget on your blog.

There are all sorts of 'related posts' widgets out there for a number of different blog platforms. Displaying a list of your other posts is, in my experience, the most effective way to get people to read more.

6) Display your best, or most popular, posts.

Having a list of your most popular articles in your sidebar is a good way to show off your most engaging content.

7) Tag/label your posts.

Organize your posts into categories, and keep them both obvious and relevant. Use keywords. You want to make specific topics easy to find.

8) Write a series.

Create a series of articles to encourage readers to come back for more, and click between them.

9) Use excerpts.

Display excerpts on your home page to encourage readers to click through to the individual post pages.

10) Install a search bar.

Put a search bar on your blog to allow readers to search for, and click through to, what you've written about a specific topic.

11) Start a mailing list.

Aside from your regular content, you may want to consider starting a mailing list to provide a little something extra that your more avid readers will want, and you can remind them to visit your blog.

12) Split your longer posts up into multiple pages.

This is a common trait of news websites/blogs- splitting up longer posts into multiple pages. The more pages, the more clicks (and page views) required to finish reading the post.

13) Encourage comments.

Make sure your comment form is embedded into the post pages themselves, not a pop-up, etc, and encourage comments! The more your readers (and you) talk, the more page views.

14) Headlines are important!

What you title your posts is a huge factor in whether or not readers will click through for more. Grab their attention with intriguing headlines.

15) Make navigation easy.

Are your page links, categories, etc. clear and easy to find? Make navigation simple so readers can find their way around.

16) Improve page load time.

The more quickly your blog loads, the more likely visitors will stay and click around for more. If they have to wait a while for a bajillion widgets and other crap to load before they can read anything, they'll be less inclined to stay.

That's 16... Can you think of more?

I Don't Read Fashion Blogs, And Here's Why

Before you give me a lecture on the importance of networking and reading other blogs in your niche, hear me out-

I don't read other fashion/style blogs for a very good reason.

Here's why:

When you spend so much time on other peoples' blogs, taking in their style, watching what they do... you eventually begin modeling yourself and your posts after those people and their blogs.

Not that it's a bad thing- it's great for beginning bloggers who need and/or want to learn. But as an experienced blogger (I began online journaling back in 2002, before 'blogging' was even a word), I know exactly who I am. I know (for the most part) what I want to include on this blog. I know what I like, as well as what I don't like.

And I don't want to lose that. I'll look for inspiration and material for reference, but that's it.

Fuck fashion, and fuck everyone who thinks you have to blog a certain way to be considered successful. 'Success' is defined by the blogger, and the goals he/she has set for him/herself.

You set your own rules, and don't let anyone tell you differently.

Blogging Tip: You Can't Please Everyone

I could rant about this for hours, whether it be pertaining to blogging, or real life matters-

YOU CAN'T PLEASE EVERYONE.

I see so many style bloggers out there who are trying so hard to be 'famous' by trying to fit that style blogger cliche. You know what it is- that 'hot' item that everyone's raging about, paired with the crossed ankles pose or something similar, etc etc etc... You are not 'new' or 'fresh' or any other word you can come up with that means you stand out. You are just another clone.

While you have something in common with a lot of other style bloggers, you will be overlooked by a lot of professional brands because you have nothing new and exciting to offer. You're just like everyone else. And you're going to miss out on a lot of opportunities.

And if you choose to be yourself, something different, you may be limiting yourself to a smaller (or non-existent) niche, but your character (who you are) will be more memorable.

No matter what you do, you can't please everyone.

So spend some time figuring out who you are, and have fun with it! Don't worry about what others are going to think- it's likely you'll be appreciated more for being yourself.

Narrow your focus and create your own niche. It'll be okay. It's for the better.

On Maintaining That Certain Level Of Transparency

In my recent blogging article, Want To Make Money Blogging? Here's What NOT To Do, one of my tips was, "Don't be a liar."

Sounds like common sense, right?

Well there are a lot of style bloggers out there who claim they got free swag when they actually paid for it. And it's the same vice versa- some get free stuff and don't tell us that in their posts.

And that's why I feel I need to elaborate on this point.

It sounds like something so minor to a lot of people, but it really is a big thing. When it comes down to it, everyone demands a certain level of respect, whether it be business, friendship, whatever.

So get over yourself already, and be honest.

When the truth comes out, and it will, your readers, and brands you may (eventually) work with, may feel something similar to betrayal. They can't trust your opinions anymore. You lose your readers, you lose your opportunities.

Do you want that? Didn't think so.

Your ego isn't worth your overall blogging reputation, and any jobs you could possibly get.

What Is The Hardest Thing About Being A Style Blogger?

Here is an interesting question I'm not asked very often:

"What is the hardest thing about being a style blogger?"

Is it collecting inspiration, photos, coming up with new outfits, shopping, finding sponsors... what? Well, it's none of these! I think all of this comes along with having the blog, and I haven't had to do much searching. There is so much to write about, so much I can do!

The hardest part, for me, is to keep writing every single day despite my busy schedule.

I work full time at a tattoo shop to pay the bills. Then, on the side, I try to write at least one post a day for this blog, work on my music, and do some paranormal research when I get the time. Then add the boyfriend and promoting our art on top of that... I am really busy, all the time!

You may notice I spend a lot of time on my phone. Hardly ever playing around, mind you. I'm either working or learning. Or both.

It gets difficult a lot of days. Especially now that I have a 'rapid growth' plan for this blog (aim for two posts per day). I need to work on being a more prolific writer and not getting distracted from my goals.

So it's not at all a lack of things to write about, it's finding the time.

Do you blog? What do you think is the hardest thing about it?

Question: How Much Money Do You Make Blogging?

Here's a question I've been asked MANY times over the years....

"How much money do you make blogging?"

It's hard to give a direct answer, because I have several blogs and several sources of income.

On this blog, I make less than $20 a week and receive items in exchange for reviews more than anything. Still, not too shabby for being a relatively new style blogger. This may or may not have something to do with my image as a musician.

My music blog earns less than $20 a week from Google AdSense, but that is hardly my main income source. I also earn money through music sales on multiple platforms, ReverbNation, and other sources.

My paranormal research blog also earns less than $20 a week via AdSense. That is my only form of monetization for this blog.

I also work at a tattoo shop because I currently do not make enough money to sustain myself as a blogger. I have to sell my time and services in other ways.

So to put things simply....

Do not expect to make a full time income with your blog alone. You will have to diversify, and sell your services and/or creations. Your blog should be thought as a supplement to what you have to offer, not as the main product.

Do you make money blogging? How do you feel about the subject?

Want To Make Money Blogging? Here's What NOT To Do.

I've heard the same question for years (I'm not kidding, almost a decade!) -

"How do I make money blogging?"

Okay, let me break it down for you.... You find your own way, for one. Your methods will be determined by your subject matter, as well as the needs of your readers. THERE IS NO ONE RIGHT WAY TO MAKE MONEY BLOGGING.

But I can tell you what not to do........

Don't overload your blog with ads.

In other words, there are plenty of other things (other than advertisements) that should be in your sidebar, so take it easy! Leave plenty of room for your  most recent posts, popular posts, a short bio, etc. Ads should be second to your content, not overwhelm your readers.

No keyword stuffing!

Write for humans, not search engine spiders. Anyone who could possibly take your blog seriously will NOT like spammy content. Write the same way you speak, and you should be just fine. If you type "violet tinted sunglasses" every other sentence, there's a problem. Lay off!

Don't be a liar.

If you received a product for free, in exchange for a review, etc., be honest about it. Never claim or imply you bought something when you didn't, and vice versa.

I'm appalled by the number of bloggers who claim to have been gifted items they actually bought. WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU DO SUCH A THING?? To appear popular and/or wanted by popular brands? That doesn't make any sense! Be honest and show your readers your real style! Your blog is about you, not the items you seem to define yourself by... if this is the problem, I think you need to do some soul searching, and figure out why you started blogging in the first place.

Don't blog about something you aren't passionate about.

It's obvious when you don't absolutely love the thing(s) you're blogging about. So why waste the time and hassle? If you want to write, write about something you know well, and are passionate about.

Don't do it just for the money.

I must be honest- you will spend many hours blogging for no payback whatsoever. If you won't do it for free, don't even bother! It will take time before you make any money, and even then, it will be a small amount. Don't expect a high return on your time and effort. It doesn't work that way.

Don't skimp on text.

Google is text-based, meaning if you post nothing but a ton of photos with nothing to say about them, you will not get found in search. 'They' say, "a photo is worth a thousand words," but 'they' obviously don't know anything about SEO (search engine optimization). It's better to have a thousand words than just a photo (or several). Better yet, post photos and text.

These are only 6 "don'ts" for bloggers... Can you think of more?
(And remember, there are no set rules for blogging!)

How To Get Your Style Blog Found

I promised myself it would be a while before I wrote a blogging tips post here (I do have quite the history blogging about blogging LOL), but I think it's time to answer the question that every new personal style blogger who dreams of 'making it big' wants to know...

How do I get more people to my blog?

This really isn't as difficult as it seems. However, there is a lot of competition out there, and the standards for a 'good blog' nowadays are much higher than they were 5 years ago. The key is to work smarter, not harder.

And before you scoff at my fashion resume, I would like to point out that this blog is not the big project of my lifetime. I must remind you that I am an industrial musician/producer, a tattoo shop manager, and a paranormal investigator. In being a performance artist and public figure, it is important that I have a defined style, a personal brand. This blog is my way of keeping track of my outfits, makeup, and personal growth. It is public because if someone can benefit from my own musings, that will have made my problems, and time spent writing, worthwhile.

With that said, here we go...

1) Content is important.

If you read other articles of this nature, you will read this tip a lot. And it's true. Your blog is only as good as its content. Use keywords, but write for people, not robots. Keep it rich in text, not just photos, videos, etc.

Also, the more quality content you have, the more possibilities of people finding your blog. Every post is a separate page, a separate entrance to your website. If you have 50 posts, that's 50 different pages people can find on the internet. If you have 500 posts, your chances of getting found are tenfold.

I try to post something every day. If I did this successfully for an entire year, I would have 365 pages. That stuff adds up. After 5 years, I would have 1826 pages for people to find (this includes a leap year, if you're doing the math).

2) Get involved in social networks.

Networking is also super important. Go where the people are- Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Chictopia, Twitter, Digg, etc. It's important to have friends/fans you keep in contact with, who will support you, and share your content with their other friends. Without them, it is going to be near-impossible to reach your blogging goals.

3) Build backlinks.

If no one is talking about you, no one is noticing you. The sites that link back to you have a lot to do with how well (or poorly) you rank in Google search results.

Of course, you probably won't have anyone linking to your blog in the beginning, but there are ways to overcome this- you can start by including your blog link in your social profiles and sharing your posts. This is a great way to get your content out there to your current friends/fans, and the links will eventually contribute to your site rank.

You can also submit your link to blog directories and carnivals, and comment on other blogs in your niche (get out there and socialize). You may also want to include your link in your signature on any forums you contribute to, write guest posts for other blogs in exchange for a link back to yours, and/or link back from any other websites you may have.

4) Tag your images.

Are you remembering to write alt tags for the images you post on your blog? This is important so your photos get found in Google image searches.  You will want to describe the image and include relevant keywords.

A lot of my visitors come from image searches, so never underestimate the power of alt tags. This could be a major 'game changer' for your blog.

5) Buy online ads.

This is probably the simplest and quickest way to get traffic to your blog, but you do have to deal with the dilemma of whether the traffic is the kind of traffic you were looking for, etc. And the price of advertising will vary depending on what, how, and who. While this is a proven method, I believe that word of mouth is a much more effective thing to focus on.

6) Advertise offline.

Make flyers, business cards, etc, and pass them out to everyone you meet who could possibly be interested in what you do. Even if it's not for them, they could pass your info on to someone who would love your blog. Traditional marketing isn't dead yet, so don't overlook it.

7) Don't forget about email!

Putting your blog link in your email signature is probably one of the first things you should do. That way, the friends, fans, family, coworkers, etc. you email regularly will know about your blog. Those are the people who are most likely to get involved in the first place, and encourage others to do so as well.

What do you do to get traffic  to your blog? Do you have any ideas I haven't included here?