Blogging Archives – Katherine McLee

Using AI for Blogging: A Simple Guide

Katherine McLee — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 07:30:00 +0000

In this post we will be going over using AI for blogging and the ways it can enhance your content.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all the rage just now and while many avoid it, it can be a powerful tool for bloggers when used correctly.

I want to preface this by reminding everyone reading this that you shouldn’t be using AI to WRITE full blog posts or content, but as a tool it can be incredibly helpful.

AI, when used correctly, can be a game-changer for bloggers.

It can help to streamline the content creation process, improve SEO, and spark more ideas and inspiration.

By integrating AI thoughtfully and carefully into your blogging, you can maintain the authenticity of your own personal voice and vibe while leveraging technology to enhance your content and content creation process.

Let’s now get into how to use AI for blogging for maximum effect.

How to Use AI for Blogging

There are a few different ways you can use AI for blogging.

Here’s a quick list of a few of the most common benefits of using AI for your blog:

Content Inspiration: AI can generate topic ideas based on current trends and audience preferences, helping you stay relevant and keep your content fresh.

Improved SEO: AI tools can analyse search trends, suggest relevant keywords, and provide insights on optimising your content for better search engine rankings.

Quality Improvement: AI-powered grammar and readability tools can help refine your writing, ensuring your content is clear, error-free, and engaging.

Consistency: AI can help maintain a consistent posting schedule, ensuring that your blog remains active and up-to-date.

Audience Insights: AI can analyse audience behaviour and feedback, providing valuable data on what types of content resonate most with your readers.

Data-Driven Decisions: AI can provide detailed analytics and reports, helping you make informed decisions based on real data rather than intuition.

Inspiration Boost: AI can suggest new angles and perspectives on topics, sparking creativity and helping you overcome writer’s block.

Scalability: As your blog grows, AI can help manage the increased workload by automating tasks and providing scalable options and solutions to suit you and your blog.

Trend Analysis: AI can keep you updated on the latest trends in your industry, helping you create timely and relevant content.

Improved Accessibility: AI tools can assist in creating more accessible content, such as by suggesting alternative text for images or ensuring your content meets readability standards.

How Can You Implement AI Into Your Blogging?

Sparking Ideas and Inspiration

Even the most creative minds can hit a block when it comes to blogging and content ideas! AI can serve as an amazing source of inspiration when you’re struggling to come up with new topics or different angles.

By analysing popular content and trending topics, AI can suggest fresh ideas that resonate with your target audience. Additionally, AI tools can help you identify keyword ideas, allowing you to create unique content that stands out.

By utilising AI as a blogger, you can save time, get loads of new ideas for keywords, help your SEO and content creation, and maintain a consistent posting schedule, all while staying informed and inspired!

Once you have your keyword ideas you can then input into your Keyword Research Tool to narrow down on exactly what you are going to write about!

For more information on Keywords, this post goes more in depth but in an easy to understand way!

Research Assistance

AI tools can gather information really quickly from various sources. This can provide a comprehensive overview of literally any topic you’re interested in!

This saves you the time and effort of manually sifting through a lot of different articles. While your own research and fact checking is important (AI doesn’t always get things right!), it can certainly help speed things up in the earlier stages of content creation!

For lengthy articles or information, AI can help to generate a summary for you. This allows you to quickly understand the main points without having to read everything in detail.

Streamlining the Content Creation Process

One of the most time-consuming aspects of blogging (I’m sure you’ll agree) is the research and pre-planning of your post before even writing the post itself!

AI can assist you in giving you information on a particular topic quickly and in an easy to understand fashion.

Quick tip: If you ever don’t understand something AI has said, or something from the internet, ask AI to reword it in a more broken down/simplified way and this should help!

Once you’ve written your content, AI can help you to refine it by checking for grammar and how easy it is to read for your audience! It can check that your writing is clear and error-free. AI can also suggest improvements to make your content more compelling and easier to understand but be aware to really double check all suggestions as it’s not always as natural sounding as it should be!

Enhancing SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is so important for any blogger wanting to increase their visibility and reach a bigger audience!

AI can analyse current trends, keywords, and search algorithms to provide insights on the best strategies for optimising your content. With AI tools, you can track the performance of your posts to make data-driven decisions!

AI can also provide insights on how to optimise your blog content for better search engine rankings, helping you attract even more readers.

Improving Readability and Engagement

AI tools can also help you to refine your writing to make it more engaging and accessible to more people.

Tools like grammar checkers, readability analysers, and tone detectors can help you fine-tune your content to ensure it’s easy to read and resonates with your audience!

It’s really important you don’t let the AI content take over your personal voice in your blog! Using AI to help improve readability isn’t about solely using AI, it is just a tool that can help if you aren’t sure a certain point or sentence doesn’t quite make sense etc.

Common Questions About Using AI for Blogging

Can AI Replace Human Writers?

AI can assist with drafting and generating ideas, but human writers like you and I are essential for creativity, personal touch, and nuanced understanding of topics! AI may have the facts (most of the time), but you will only get that human touch from an actual human.
AI tools can produce relevant content, but they lack the depth, emotion, and unique perspective that human writers bring and add to their content. Human writers excel at connecting with their readers on a personal level, which is crucial for maintaining a loyal audience!

Is AI-Generated Content SEO-Friendly?

Yes, AI can help optimise content for SEO, but human oversight is necessary to ensure the content is accurate, high quality and aligns with your brand voice.
AI tools like Yoast SEO and Keysearch use algorithms to analyse content and provide recommendations for optimising keywords, meta descriptions, and readability. However, human review ensures that the content remains engaging and accurate.

How Accurate is AI in Understanding Context?

While AI has significantly improved in understanding context, it still requires human review to ensure accuracy and relevance!
While AI tools like GPT-4 are trained on huge amounts of data and can understand context to a certain degree, they can often still struggle with highly specialised topics or certain specific questions. This is why it’s so important for a real human to edit and refine any AI info/text to ensure it is contextually correct and comes across like it’s been written by a human.

Is Using AI for Blogging Expensive?

There are both free and paid AI tools available. The cost depends on the tool’s capabilities and your specific needs.
Free tools like Chat GPT or Grammarly offer basic writing assistance, while premium versions provide advanced features like style and tone suggestions. Similarly, platforms like Keysearch offer various subscription plans based on the level of service required.

Concerns About Using AI to Help With Blogging

While AI does offer many benefits for bloggers, there are several concerns and potential drawbacks that you may have.

Understanding these concerns can help you to make informed decisions about integrating AI into your blogging/content creation!

While AI has loads of benefits, it’s important to use it ethically. As mentioned earlier, relying too heavily on AI for content creation can lead to a loss of your personal touch and authenticity.

Always ensure that your voice remains at the forefront of your blog. Use AI as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for your creativity and expertise as YOU are what your readers want to read and know.

Benefits of Using AI Voice Overs for Blog Posts

Adding AI voice overs into your blog posts and blog content can have numerous advantages It can enhance the accessibility, engagement, and reach of your content.

While it won’t be for everyone, for some niches voice overs can work SO well.

Whether you want a section of your post or the whole post available as an audio option, the option is there!

You can of course use your own voice to record voice overs if you’re comfortable with this.

The other option is to use an AI voice over tool such as ElevenLabs.

Often AI tools work on a character basis.

This means you type in/copy text in of what you would like to be read out, generate the speech (you choose the voice you would like too) and then download it as an audio file! Super simple!

If you’re needing less than 10,000 characters per month then it’s free too!

They have paid plans at really affordable prices too. For example the first paid plan is only $5 a month for up to 30,000 characters!

There are 3 further plan options if you need them too.

For all of the plans you get to use any of the 29 different voices they have available to you.

I’ve included a snippet of a few of the voices as an example of how different they sound and how you can choose whichever suits your content the best!

ElevenLabs is also an amazing way to do video voice overs for your blog, for YouTube, TikTok or any other platform where you are sharing your video content.

You can easily add this voice clip into a video editing software or even Canva to easily add voice overs to video clips!

I hope this has been helpful in clarifying a few points regarding using AI for blogging. I also hope it has alleviated any concerns you may have had about using AI to help you in creating content but without either feeling “icky” about using it, or without being penalised by Google.

As you can see from the voice over software above, there are some amazing ways to utilise AI for your blog or for other forms of content creation!

Do you use AI for your blog?

Have you ever tried voice overs for blog or video content?

Let me know in the comments below!

Speak soon!

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The post Using AI for Blogging: A Simple Guide appeared first on Katherine McLee.

7 Ways You Can Make Money From Your Blog

Katherine McLee — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 20:13:13 +0000

In this post we are going to go over the top 7 ways to make money blogging!

Making money from your very own website is so exciting, especially knowing the earning potential is completely limitless. But what are the popular ways to be able to actually make money?

The niche you are in will of course have some sway over which monetisation options are best for you. The good thing is that there are multiple ways to monetise your blog so there’s definitely something for everyone!

While there are of course no income guarantees, you should be able to find at least a few options from the list below that suit you and the way you want to make money from your blog.

Let’s get into the top 7 ways to make money blogging.

There’s such a range in the ways you can truly make money from your blog.

The beauty in having your own blog is that you can choose whichever strategy and whichever monetisation strategy that suits you.

Do you only have to pick one of the options below to make money from your blog? Nope! You can absolutely choose one, a few, or even all the ways listed below.

Choose the combination that’s right for you and your blog, and that suits you as to how you want to make an income.

Remember there are many more ways not listed also! This post is just to touch on the top 7 ways, but there are many more!

The first two on the list I truly believe anyone can implement for you to make money from your blog.

They are also (in my opinion) the easiest to get started with.

These are Advertising and Affiliate Marketing.

Advertising

This is probably the most widely known way to make money blogging.

Adding adverts to your blog can help you to make money passively from your blog.

Where Do You Find Adverts For A New Blog?

As a new blog you are best signing up for Google Adsense where you can place Google Adverts on your blog.

Google Adsense has a very low threshold as to what’s required to get into their program, so it’s perfect for newbies and people with lower pageviews.

You can absolutely stay with Adsense if it suits you so it isn’t only for new bloggers! It’s just the one I would recommend for newer bloggers.

With Adsense Google provides the adverts for you. You can choose where the adverts are placed on your site or you can even let Google choose. Google will automatically place them where they feel they will perform the best so you don’t have to do anything, but they don’t always end up where you may have placed them yourself.

Experiment and see which performs the best and which is better aesthetically for your blog and your readers.

How Much Can You Get Paid With Adverts?

The amount you get paid from advertising can vary dramatically.

It depends on which adverts are showing, where they are placed on your website, how many views your site gets and how many people click onto them.

The amount you will get from adverts will go up and down with the seasons too!

Adding adverts to your website is probably one of the simplest of these 7 ways to make money from your blog mentioned here. Personally I would never purely rely on advertising as an income due to the fluctuations mentioned above so I would always choose at least another one from the other options to compliment it.

Once you grow a larger following and have more pageviews/sessions you can request to join other advertising companies.

With a larger amount of monthly pageviews, you will be able to apply for higher paying advertising. So that’s always something to look forward to as your blog grows!

Some people don’t like the look of having adverts on their blog which is personal preference. I’m happy to have adverts on mine as I’m happy seeing adverts on other people’s!

Affiliate Marketing

This is, hands down, one of my favourite ways you can make money from a blog.

The earning potential is limitless, and is more based on your own efforts, rather than the advertising rates set by an external company.

It is a term used all over the Internet, but is often portrayed as more complicated than it actually is.

It’s one of the ways you can potentially make a lot of money in a short amount of time…

BUT

Be aware that as with everything, seeing real results will most likely take time and effort.

The bigger the audience and the more they trust and respect your opinions and recommendations, the more you will make.

I have a full post explaining Affiliate Marketing in more detail here!

As a quick run down though…

What Is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate Marketing is when you get a commission from selling someone else’s products or services.

How does it work?

To start with affiliate marketing, you start by joining an affiliate program with a company or a network that offers these programs. This could be directly with the company such as Amazon, or through an affiliate marketplace such as Clickbank.

The company then provides you with your own unique link that tracks any clicks through and any sales.

You can then share this link on your blog, social media, or other platforms, recommending the product or service to your readers.

Whenever someone clicks on your link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission, which is a percentage of the sale!

This percentage will vary company to company and even product to product.

Essentially, you’re getting paid for helping a company sell its products by using your platform to reach more people.

It’s basically a win-win!

Be careful not to promote any bad products though as the last thing you want as an affiliate marketer is a bad reputation!

Promoting products you use and love is the ideal here as you can openly talk about how much you enjoy them and how they can also benefit others.

Most companies have affiliate programs now!

If there’s a product or service you already love and want to share with your readers, you can check directly with that company’s website and see if they have an affiliate program you can join.

Here’s an example and one anyone with a self hosted blog can do – Share Your Hosting!

If you love your hosting company, see if they have an affiliate pgrogram (nearly all of them do), and then talk about them and why you like them!

This means no matter what niche your blog – there will absolutely be affiliate programs you can join.

If you love your hosting provider – recommend them!

You already use and love them, so share them with your readers.

How Much Can You Make With Affiliate Marketing?

The amount you make depends on the company’s commission rate, how big your audience is, and how much your audience trusts you.

One of the best parts of affiliate marketing is that you can sign up to as many affiliate programs as you like.

Imagine how much money you can make just by sharing products you already love with your audience.

Selling Your Own Digital Products

If you are a new blogger, this one will most likely sound scarier than the rest. It doesn’t have to!

There are loads of ways to create and sell digital products so if you are interested in going down this route then absolutely do.

If you’re unsure just now, have a read and maybe keep this in mind as a potential for the future if you don’t feel ready just yet.

This money making option has a few parts to it, but as an overview, you create your own digital products and sell these through your blog or through a site linked to your blog.

This could be through sites such as Shopify or Etsy.

For a more indepth look at Shopify and who it can benfit the most, check out this post here!

There are many different types when it comes to digital products. The types of digital products you can create and sell are things like:

E-Books
Courses
Planners
Subscription Websites
Worksheets
Checklists
Other Printables

One of the great things about digital products is that you only have to create them once but can sell them over and over!

Once they are created, your job is then just to promote and share with your audience why they will benefit from your products. If you’ve made a high quality product, this should be fairly simple!

Obviously if they need updated/refreshed then do this, but on the whole once created, you can then profit from them over and over again.

The overheads for these sorts of products are also very low, which means the profit margin here is very high.

This is because as much as you have spent your time creating a product, an unlimited amount of people can then purchase it from you.

If you are a newer blogger or new to your niche and don’t feel you could create a full online course yet, you could try for printables!

The beauty in selling digital products is that there really is something for everyone, and they will all be unique to you.

Selling Physical Products

For some niches, this option can work amazingly well.

Say for example your blog was about crochet or healthy dog treats. You could absolutely sell physical products relating to either of those topics.

The overheads and time needed can be a lot higher, but that’s not to say it’s a bad option at all.

If you love to crochet and are crocheting all the time anyway, why not sell it too!

Making products to order can save you ending up with a large amount of inventory, but puts a little more pressure on you to get the products out in the timescale advertised.

You can set up your own online store again through platforms such as Shopify or Etsy.

This income stream won’t suit all website niches.

But that’s the beauty in choosing the best ways for you to make money from your blog. It’s all personalised to you.

Selling Your Own Services

Selling online services is an amazing option if you can offer a service to a person or group of people.

This could be one-on-one phone calls (for example a coaching call in your specific niche), personalised video tutorials, online consultations or VA services.

You don’t have to talk on the phone to sell a service online either as there are so many options so you can do it as a purely online service if this is what suits you better!

If you are knowledgeable about a specific topic but don’t have a large audience to be able to fully utilise the above other money making options, this is a great way to make money.

You can promote your services on your blog, on social media or on platforms such as Fiverr.

As with the above points, some niches will do better with this than others.

If you are knowledgeable on a certain topic, you can absolutely consider sharing your knowledge and advice in the form of a paid service.

This is also one of the “quicker” ways to make actual money from your blog – along with selling digital products – as you will get paid for your services there and then. This is unlike money from adverts or affiliate links where you have to hit payout thresholds and then often only get paid the month after again.

I wrote a whole post explaining what to expect from making money from your blog if you are looking for more information on the topic!

Click here to check that post out!

The last of the 7 ways to make money from your blog is…

Freelance Writing

Like above, if you love writing about a specific topic or topics and don’t have a large audience of your own yet, you can offer your services as a Freelance Writer.

This is where people hire you to write a specific blog post but for THEIR website, not yours.

Freelance writing is different to offering a guest post for another blog.

With a guest post you will still write content for another blog but will include your own information/links back to your own blog.

The bonus about this is that often you can link that post back to yourself/your own website which will also get your blog more exposure, growing your own audience.

With freelance writing/content creation, you provide a blog post you have been paid for, but purely for the other’s site.

If you have a lot of knowledge in a certain area, or if you are amazing at research/understanding and can learn and then craft a helpful and understandable post for different topics, you may want to look into this!

There is also no limit as to how many people you can write for, so time is your only limitation.

With freelance writing it’s often a good idea to reach out to blogs/companies you would like to write for. Unless you offer your writing services on a platform such as Fiverr, bloggers may never know you offer this as a service.

So that’s it!

Those are my top 7 ways to make money from your blog.

There are many other ways but those are the most popular and simplest – especially when first starting out.

Some are trickier to learn/implement than others, but all can be very profitable. Whether used alone or combining a few options and having multiple streams of income (always recommended!).

One last thing to note is to not undervalue your time and services!!!

When starting out it can be very tempting to agree to any amount people offer you. And there’s nothing wrong with this in the early days while you’re building up your blog and experience. As you grow, take some time to really figure out your cost and go with this number. Your time is valuable, and only you can decide how much you want to charge. No matter if it’ a coaching call, written content, personalised placed adverts or selling digital products. Work out what numbers suit you and go with these!

I really hope you enjoyed this explanation of the top 7 ways to make money blogging.

Which of these are jumping out at you as the best options for you and your blog?

Have you already started implementing some of the options above?

Which are your favourites?

Let me know in the comments!

Speak soon!

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The post 7 Ways You Can Make Money From Your Blog appeared first on Katherine McLee.

19 Must-Know Questions About Blogging Answered: Your Ultimate Guide to Blogging in 2025!

Katherine McLee — Tue, 07 May 2024 14:51:33 +0000

In this post we will be answering the top 19 questions about blogging in 2025!

Whether you are a newer blogger or have not started your own blog yet, these answers should help answer some common concerns you may have!

As with any new business or hobby, there are always things to learn. Some people prefer to research and learn as much as they can beforehand, whereas others prefer to dive in and learn as they go.

No matter which your learning preference is, you may well have had one, two or any number of questions in relation to starting a blog in 2025.

While some of the questions below may seem obvious from the outside, often there’s more to the answer than you may initially realise!

Let’s get into the answers to the top 19 questions about blogging in 2025.

1 – How Do I Choose A Niche?

This is one of the first things you may think about when you first decide you want to start a blog.

For some, this will be a fast decision and you’ll know instantly what topics you want to blog about.

Others may have no clue what they want their niche to be, or they may have a few options.

It can be tricky to pick the niche you want to blog about but there are some guidelines you can follow which can help you choose the best niche for you.

The trick is to choose a niche that is something you’re passionate about, but also something that has an audience and good potential for growth and monetisation.

One common misconception is thinking that you need to be an expert in a topic to have a blog on it.

While having some background knowledge in your chosen niche is advised, it’s certainly not essential to be an expert. Being open to learning, researching and enhancing your own skills and knowledge as you go in a certain niche is also a good reason to choose it.

Picking a niche that has an audience is important. Nearly every topic in the world will have an audience, but not all topics will be easily monetised if this is the route you are wanting to go down.

If you aren’t sure there is an audience for your chosen topic, have a quick Google and see how many other websites pop up. This will show you if there’s a need for your information!

Unless you have chosen a very specific micro niche, Keyword Research will help you never run out of ideas of things to write about.

2 – Do I Need Technical Skills?

This is a completely valid concern and my honest answer is no, but, it will be a lot simpler for you if you did have some.

Blogging isn’t just putting text up on a website, there’s the technical aspects of blogging, such as setting up your website, managing hosting, dealing with domain names, adding in lines of code etc.

A lot of the aspects of blogging can be learned as you go, and often there are plugins and tutorials to help simplify or walk you through the steps you need.

Your hosting company will help you with anything hosting related. This includes website errors and anything to do with the setup of your website.

Choosing a hosting company with good customer service is so important for this very reason.

While some technical knowledge can be helpful, it’s not always necessary to have advanced technical skills to start a blog. Many blogging platforms, such as WordPress, offer user-friendly interfaces and guides to help beginners set up their blogs without much technical know-how. Additionally, there are plenty of online resources, tutorials, and communities where you can seek assistance if you encounter technical challenges.

3 – Can I Make Money From Blogging?

One of the most common questions about blogging is whether it’s possible to make money from blogging and if so, how.

People often wonder about different monetisation strategies. These can be things like advertising, affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and selling products or services.

Yes, it’s absolutely possible to make money from blogging! You just need to be aware that it takes time, effort, and some strategic planning.

Some of the more common monetisation strategies include things like advertising, affiliate marketing, sponsored content, selling digital or physical products, offering services, and membership or subscription models.

It’s important to build a solid audience and provide valuable content before focusing on monetisation, as readers are more likely to engage with ads or purchase products from a trusted source.

I have a full post here explaining making money with a blog and how soon you will see the money!

4 – How Do I Drive Traffic To My Blog?

Building an audience is crucial for the success of any blog.

Another of the most common questions about blogging that new bloggers especially have is how to attract readers to their blog.

This can include concerns about SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), social media promotion, email marketing, and other strategies for increasing traffic.

When it comes to driving traffic to your blog, ideally you want to aim for a combination of strategies. This includes optimising your content for search engines (SEO), promoting your blog on social media platforms, engaging with other bloggers and communities in your niche, guest posting on relevant websites, and building an email list.

Consistently creating high-quality content that resonates with your target audience is key to attracting and retaining readers.

5 – What should I Write About?

This of course will depend on your specific niche, but the worry of whether you’ll find enough things to create blog content about long term is often a question people have when they are looking into starting a blog in 2025..

Keyword Research is such an important topic but can feel a bit confusing. This post here should help explain exactly what keyword research is, and how to use it for your own blog!

Finding inspiration for blog topics can come from various sources, such as your personal experiences, interests, industry trends, reader feedback, keyword research, and competitor analysis.

Brainstorm ideas regularly and keep a running list of potential topics.

A content calendar can work wonders here as you are then never out of ideas for what to write about and always know what’s coming up next.

Aim to provide valuable information, solve problems, answer questions, entertain, or inspire your audience with your content!

6 – How To Deal With Criticism and Negative Feedback?

Fear of criticism and negative feedback can hold people back from starting a blog or sharing their writing online. Understandably so!

Many worry about how to handle criticism in a constructive way and develop a thick skin.

It’s natural to feel apprehensive about receiving criticism, but it’s important to remember that feedback, whether positive or negative, can help you grow and improve as a blogger.

Remember, there is a huge difference between someone leaving feedback, questions or suggestions, and someone who has left a nasty comment just for the sake of being nasty.

You can develop resilience by focusing on constructive criticism, learning from mistakes, and staying true to your voice and values! People enjoy your blog because it’s you – remember that.

You can consider establishing clear guidelines for yourself for moderating comments on your blog to maintain a positive and respectful community.

For example, if it’s a question, opinion, feedback or constructive criticism, you can keep it and respond/answer their comment. If it’s nasty/rude you can just delete it and move on!

7 – Is It Too Late To Start A Blog?

With so many blogs already out there, some people worry that the blogging world is oversaturated and that it’s too late to start a successful blog.

You may wonder if there’s still room for new voices and perspectives.

The answer is that it’s never too late! People are always searching for information.

While the blogging world is competitive by nature, there is still room for new voices and perspectives.

The key is to find your unique angle or niche, create high-quality content, and consistently engage with your audience.

Keep in mind that building a successful blog takes time and persistence, so focus on providing value and building genuine connections with your readers.

Enjoy it and find your voice as you go!

8 – How Much Time Does Blogging Take?

People often worry about the time involved in starting and maintaining a blog. Understandably so! Especially if you have other responsibilities like a full-time job or family obligations. You may be wondering if you can realistically fit blogging into their busy life.

The answer is, of course you can, but I would encourage you to be realistic with how much time you can put into it.

Your time commitment for blogging will vary depending on factors such as how frequently you publish new blog posts, keyword research and research of topics, and how much time you are wanting to spend on social media/promotion of your content.

It’s so important to set realistic goals and expectations based on your available time and resources. Consistency is way more important than frequency. So prioritise quality over quantity when it comes to creating content , come up with a schedule that suits you and don’t stress about not being able to work on your blog for 6 hours a day!

9 – Will Anyone Read My Blog?

There’s often a fear of putting in so much time and effort to start your own blog, only to have no one read it.

People worry about whether they’ll be able to attract an audience and whether their writing will be liked or be “good enough” for their readers.

The beauty of blog posts as opposed to professional news articles is that people know there’s a person behind your posts. They will enjoy the way you write, the way you put information across, and any other unique qualities you have to offer. Don’t worry if things aren’t perfect, blogs are loved for their realness as much as quality information.

Building an audience for your blog takes time and effort.

Knowing it will take time can help as you won’t be expecting a huge amount of readers straight away, but with dedication, learning and a good strategy, you can attract readers who truly want to read your content.

Focus on creating valuable, relevant, and engaging content that addresses the needs and interests of your target audience. Use SEO techniques, social media promotion, and networking within your niche to increase your blogs visibility and attract an audience to your blog.

Putting out high quality content that helps your reader solve a problem or answer a question is one of the best ways to gain the attention of your target audience.

10 – What Blogging Platform Should I Use?

With so many blogging platforms available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. You may worry about whether to use a free platform like WordPress.com or Blogger, or whether to invest in a self-hosted WordPress.org blog.

When choosing a blogging platform, consider factors such as ease of use, customisation options, scalability, cost, and ownership of your content.

Popular options include WordPress (both the self-hosted WordPress.org and the hosted WordPress.com), Blogger, Wix, Squarespace, and Medium.

Research and read into the features and limitations of each platform to determine which best aligns with your needs and goals for your blog.

From a personal perspective, I would always recommend a WordPress.org blog with your chosen hosting.

Free blogs are great for those with no extra money, for someone just starting out and unsure if they will like blogging, or for those wanting to blog as a hobby or not wanting to make an income from their blog.

The free blogging platforms are often a little simpler, but this comes down to having less features and less customisation options.

You do not own your blog if you have it on a free platform. The platform does.

If you want the security of owning your website, want to be able to get an income from your blog, want to be able to have freedom to customise your blog as much as you like and already know you enjoy blogging, absolutely go for a self hosted blog on a platform such as WordPress.org.

Keep in mind that you can always migrate your blog to a different platform in the future if needed. It isn’t always simple but it’s absolutely doable.

11 – Where Can I Find Resources To Learn Proper Blogging Techniques?

This is a very common question as there is so much information everywhere you look, but the tricky part can be finding the RIGHT information that will actually be useful for you and your blog.

You can learn the skills you need to learn about blogging through online courses, tutorials, blogs, and books dedicated to blogging.

When it comes to online courses you have a range to choose from. Please remember that not all courses are created equally, so word of mouth from someone you trust and reviews can help a lot here.

You can buy courses directly, use paid platforms such as Skillshare or get information for free from places like YouTube.

YouTube is such an amazing way to get lots of information about blogging. Not only that but it’s one of my favourite places to troubleshoot when things don’t always go to plan!

That being said, to find the exact information you need while filtering through all the less-great information can take so much time and energy.

Investing in a decent blogging course will save you a lot of time and energy in the long run. Plus an added bonus is that often courses will provide free updates too so you’ll always have the most up to date information!

On top of all things mentioned above, you can also join some blogging communities. Talking and networking with other bloggers and more experienced bloggers can provide valuable insights, support and guidance.

12 – What Are The Best Practices For Writing Engaging Blog Posts?

Writing engaging blog posts involves a mix of grabbing your readers’ attention with strong blog post titles, clear formatting for readability (using subheadings, bullet points where needed, and images), incorporating visuals, and ending with a clear conclusion.

It’s important to make sure you are solving a problem or being entertaining for your readers. Keeping your blog content reader-focused is key.

There are a few steps you can follow to create the best content for your specific audience.

Know your audience: Understand who your target audience is and create your content to suit and meet their interests, needs, and issues they may be having.

Start with a captivating blog post title: Grab your readers’ attention right from the start with an intriguing headline that promises value or solves a problem they may be having/experiencing.

Break up your text: Use shorter paragraphs, bullet points, and subheadings to make your content easy to read and digest. Frequent spaces and images can help with this too. You can of course also add video if this suits your content.

Provide value: High quality blog posts offer actionable tips, insights, or solutions to your readers’ problems. Make sure your content is informative, useful, and relevant to your audience. Don’t make your posts too short but don’t waffle just to fill space! The more relevant and helpful information you can provide, the better.

Encourage engagement: Invite your readers to leave comments, ask questions, or share their opinions at the end of your posts. Make sure to engage back by responding to comments which will help your audience to know you better and know that you’re a real person where they can ask questions and will get an answer.

Edit and proofread: Before hitting that publish button, have a read over your post for spelling and grammar errors, clarity, and coherence. A well-edited post reflects positively on your credibility as a blogger.

Blog posts do not have to be perfect, and can be in a more conversational tone, but making sure they make sense and flow well is important.

For a full list of epic and eye-catching words you can add into your blog post titles, click through to that post here!

13 – How Often Should I Publish New Blog Posts?

How often you publish new blog posts depends on your time, goals and resources.

Consistency is key, so aim for a publishing schedule that you can realistically maintain over the long term. Some bloggers publish twice weekly, once weekly, some are once a fortnight and some are even daily. Experiment with different posting schedules to find what works best for you, your audience and your content creation process.

For more information on the exact number of blog posts you should be aiming for, check out this in depth post!

14 – Do I Need To Be An Expert In My Niche To Start A Blog?

While having knowledge in your chosen niche is a plus point, it’s certainly not necessary to be an expert in your niche to start a blog.

(This doesn’t include topics such as finance or anything medical etc.)

Passion, a genuine love for your chosen topic, and a willingness to learn and share your journey is also an amazing way to connect and share information with your readers.

If you do have experience or are qualified in certain topics then you can of course use this to share your knowledge to enhance your blog content.

15 – How Can I Build An Email List For My Blog?

Building an email list is one of the best decisions you can make while blogging.

It’s not only an amazing way to engage with your audience, nurture relationships, and drive traffic to your blog but long term can help with an online income too!

Your email list is something you own, and is a way for you to engage directly with those who have indicated (by signing up) that they are really interested in what you have to say.

To get readers to join your list, you can offer incentives such as free downloadable pages/products, exclusive content, extra tips and information or special promotions (niche dependant) in exchange for their email address.

Use opt-in forms strategically throughout your blog (you can experiment to see what works best here for you and your readers), promote your newsletter on social media, and you can even run paid ads to encourage sign-ups if you feel this would be of benefit to you.

16 – What Are Some Effective Ways To Monetise My Blog?

Luckily there is a range of different ways to monetise your blog.

This means you can choose whichever monetisation strategies suit you and your niche the best!

In addition to the more “traditional” monetisation methods like advertising and affiliate marketing, there are various other ways you can monetise your blog.

These include sponsored content, offering consulting or coaching services, selling digital products (ebooks, courses, templates etc), creating and selling physical products, and providing subscription-based content.

To dive deeper into the world of blog monetisation, have a look at this post here for more information on blog monetisation strategies.

17 – Should I Focus On Building My Blog’s SEO or Promoting On Social Media?

When it comes to getting your blog seen, both SEO and social media play important roles in driving traffic to your blog and growing your target audience.

Up until recently I would have said SEO (talking Google) was the best thing to focus on, but due to various updates, this may not be the best strategy for all bloggers now.

Social Media is more of an active way to grow your blog as it requires more hands-on marketing (unless opting for paid ads etc) but can be really effective in terms of getting your blog seen.

Focus on creating high-quality, SEO-friendly content that answers questions your audience may have and incorporates relevant keywords.

Alongside SEO practices, actively engage with your audience on social media platforms! Share your blog posts, participate in relevant blogging/business communities, and leverage social media advertising to increase your blog’s visibility and engagement.

18 – How Do I Stay Motivated And Overcome Writer’s Block?

Staying motivated and overcoming writer’s block can be challenging for bloggers. Every blogger you speak to will have had this at some stage though so you are not alone if this has happened to you!

The biggest tip to overcome writer’s block is pre-planning out content.

Do your keyword research and from this, create a content plan so you have your upcoming posts all planned out.

Other things that can help are things such as establishing a consistent writing routine, setting realistic goals, breaking tasks into smaller manageable chunks, and seeking inspiration from other bloggers!

For more information on overcoming writer’s block as a blogger, check out this post!

19 – How Can I Measure The Success Of My Blog?

What success means for your blog will vary depending on your goals and personal/business objectives.

The most common metrics to track include website traffic (unique visitors, sessions and pageviews), engagement (comments, social shares), conversion rates (email sign-ups, sales), and revenue (from advertising, affiliate marketing, product sales etc).

The easiest way to track most of these metrics is to use web analytics tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console. You can also use plugins on your WordPress website to help show a snapshot of these numbers.

When it comes to monitoring numbers such as affiliate sales, often the best place to check these is through your affiliate homepage for that specific company.

This may be a dashboard if you use a website such as Clickbank, or on the website directly for direct links from Amazon for example.

It’s important to monitor these metrics and make informed decisions to optimise your blog’s performance.

Don’t get caught up in checking all of your metrics all of the time, but keeping an eye every so often can help you see what’s working and what can be altered for better performance.

These are just a few of the common worries and questions about blogging that people have when considering starting a blog.

Each individual may have their own unique concerns based on their specific goals, interests, and circumstances!

If you have any other questions about blogging, please feel free to leave them in the comments below and I’ll answer them as best I can!

For a full post on how to start your own blog, check out this post here!

How To Start A Blog in 2025!

Speak soon!

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3 Legal Pages You Need To Have On Your Blog: Keeping Your Blog Protected

Katherine McLee — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 22:59:02 +0000

This post is all about knowing how to legally protect your blog by explaining which pages you need and where to get them.

Quick disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and this post is for educational and informational purposes only. I am just sharing what I have learned and passing on the knowledge to make sure you and your blog are covered! If you have any further questions, please contact your own Lawyer for any specific legal advice or questions.

Keeping yourself and your blog legally protected is so important.

Often new bloggers don’t realise they need these 3 legal pages on their blog, or they don’t realise the importance of the pages, but it isn’t something that should be missed out or skipped over.

If you are brand new to blogging, you may not know that there are certain pages you need on your blog to keep everything above board.

We will go over the top 3 legal pages to keep your blog protected in this post below.

A quick Google search will show you which pages you need but won’t often tell you where to get the ones you ACTUALLY need.

You may be tempted to grab free templates online, making the pages up yourself or skipping one or all of them altogether. While this may sound like the easier option initially, it will take a lot more time in the long run to then rectify those pages once you realise that the free templates aren’t sufficient.

It may sound scary or daunting thinking about where you can get these pages, but there are easy ways to get all the legal pages you need for your blog.

You can then personalise them to you and your blog, and can get them live on your blog very shortly after.

Protecting yourself, your blog, your business and your hard work is crucial. The earlier you can get those pages up and in place, the better!

Let’s get into exactly what legal pages you need for your blog and where to get them.

Who exactly needs to have Legal pages on their blog?

Legal pages are essential for anyone who owns/runs a blog or website. It’s important regardless of its size or niche!

These pages help protect both yourself and your visitors by clearly outlining the terms and conditions of using your site, privacy policies, disclosures, disclaimers, and any other legal information required by law.

Please double check what is required in your country as it can vary around the world!

Bloggers: No matter whether you’re a hobby blogger or want/have a blogging business, having legal pages is crucial to establish transparency and protect yourself as a content creator.

Business Owners: If your blog is associated with a business, whether it’s a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation, legal pages are necessary to outline the terms of doing business with your company.

Affiliate Marketers: If you participate in affiliate marketing programs and earn commissions through affiliate links on your blog, you are required to disclose this relationship to your audience, typically in a disclaimer or affiliate disclosure page.

This also requires a little research between companies you are an affiliate for but often you can get a plugin or add in a disclaimer at the start of each post that contains affiliate links.

This is super important to have on the page BEFORE any affiliate links show up.

This can then either link or direct people back to your disclosure page for further information.

E-commerce Websites: If your blog sells products or services directly to consumers, you must have legal pages that outline the terms of sale, refund policies, shipping information, and other relevant details.

Content Creators: Anyone who creates and publishes various types of content, such as articles, videos, podcasts, or digital downloads, should have legal pages to protect their intellectual property rights and establish usage guidelines for their content.

Email Marketers: If you collect email addresses from your blog visitors for marketing purposes, you need to comply with email marketing laws, such as the CAN-SPAM Act in the United States, by including an email marketing disclosure and privacy policy.

Bloggers with Sponsored Content: If you collaborate with brands or receive compensation for promoting products or services on your blog, you must disclose these relationships to your audience to maintain transparency and trust.

Basically, anyone who owns or operates a blog or website and interacts with visitors, customers, or subscribers in any capacity should have legal pages to ensure compliance with applicable laws and protect both parties’ rights and interests.

So let’s get into it…

Which Pages Exactly Do You Need?

There are 3 main pages you must have on your blog.

These are:

Privacy Policy Page

A Privacy Policy is a legal document that outlines how your website collects, uses, discloses, and protects the personal information of your visitors. Personal information can include names, email addresses, IP addresses, and any other data that can be used to identify an individual.

Terms and Conditions Page

Terms and Conditions (Ts&Cs) are the rules and guidelines that users must agree to abide by in order to use your website or service. These terms cover a wide range of topics, including copyright, user conduct, disclaimers and more.

Disclaimer Page

A Disclaimer is a statement that limits your liability for the information presented on your website and advises users to seek professional advice or assistance when necessary. Disclaimers can cover various topics, such as the accuracy of information, the suitability of advice, and the risks associated with following your content.

You will also need a disclosure page if you choose not to buy a bundle with the disclosures included into the disclaimer page.

Please be aware that if you blog about anything legal, medical/health-related, or indeed anything that you do not want to be held responsible – for example financial advice, then you may need a dedicated Disclaimer Page.

Where Do You Get These Important Pages For Your Blog?

There are a few places you can get these pages for your blog.

If you’re a Lawyer you can of course draw these pages up yourself!

If you are not a Lawyer, you can either get your own Lawyer to draw up these pages for you, specifically tailored to yourself and your blog, or you can buy the pages from a Lawyer who has specifically written them as templates that you can customise and tailor to suit your needs.

The second option is by far the simplest, quickest and cheapest way to get all the legal pages you need and get your blog protected as quickly as possible.

The cheapest way you can get these pages is through a Legal Bundle. A legal bundle is a bundle of templates of the key pages you need, specifically made to be customised and added to your blog/website.

Included in this Starter Legal Bundle you will find all three of the above required pages, with the disclosures included.

Often a variety of bundles will be offered to suit your own needs, but for any blogger just starting out or anyone wanting to cover their blog/website without the hassle, a Starter Legal Bundle is perfect.

You can of course buy the pages individually if needed, but it may cost you more doing it this way.

Depending on your site’s needs you may need a larger bundle or extra pages to add on but for most newer/smaller sites, the Starter Legal Bundle is ideal!

The exact bundle I bought and still use is this Starter Legal Bundle.

After doing lots of research I found that this bundle had all the pages I needed, could be easily customised to suit myself and my blog, and could be edited and live in less than half an hour (for all 3!).

What exactly does the Starter Legal Bundle include?

The Starter Legal Bundle I mentioned above includes all 3 legal pages which can then be easily tailored and customised to suit your/your blogs needs.

From the website directly itself it states:

“THIS IS THE LEGAL BUNDLE YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR WEBSITE LEGALLY COMPLIANT IN THE NEXT 15 MINUTES WITH NO STRESS AND OVERWHELM!”

Here’s a quick rundown of the pages included:

Privacy Policy

Why it’s important to have it written by a lawyer:

Privacy laws vary from country to country, but they all often have stringent requirements for how blogs and websites handle personal data. A lawyer can ensure that your Privacy Policy aligns with these laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States.

Terms and Conditions

Why it’s important to have it written by a lawyer:

A lawyer can draft Terms and Conditions that protect your website from legal disputes and liabilities. This includes disclaimers of warranties, limitations of liability, and clauses that govern user behaviour to minimise the risk of legal action against your website.

Legal language can be complex, and poorly drafted terms may be ambiguous or unenforceable. A lawyer can ensure that your Terms of Service are clear, understandable, and legally binding, reducing the likelihood of misunderstandings or disputes with your users.

Disclaimer

Why it’s important to have it written by a lawyer:

A well-crafted Disclaimer can help protect you from legal claims arising from errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in your content. By clearly outlining the limitations of your advice or information, you can reduce the risk of liability for any adverse consequences experienced by your users.

Certain industries or types of content may have specific legal requirements for disclaimers. A lawyer can ensure that your Disclaimer meets these requirements and provides adequate protection for your website.

How Much Is The Stater Legal Bundle?

As of the time of writing this, the bundle is still only $197 as there is currently over $100 off!

You can of course buy the page templates individually but this is a more pricey way to do it!

The amazing part of this bundle is that as it’s a customisable template written by a Lawyer, not only will you be protected with the pages you need, but if you have more than one website, you only have to buy the bundle once!

Click Here To Protect Your Website Today

What Happens If You Don’t Have These 3 Legal Pages On Your Blog?

It may be so tempting to skip these pages but if you fail to have the 3 essential legal pages (Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, and a Disclaimer) on their website, they could potentially face several negative consequences, including:

Legal Non-Compliance

Many countries have legal requirements mandating the presence of certain policies on websites. This is particularly regarding data protection and user rights. For instance, laws like the GDPR in the European Union or the CCPA in California require websites to have a Privacy Policy disclosing how they collect, use, and protect users’ personal information. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in legal penalties, fines, or enforcement actions from regulatory authorities!

Risk Of Lawsuits

Without clear Terms and Conditions and/or a Disclaimer, you may be leaving yourself vulnerable to lawsuits from users or third parties. For example, if a user relies on advice or information provided by your blog and experiences negative consequences, they may attempt to hold you liable for damages.

Similarly, if your blog contains copyrighted material or user-generated content, without proper Terms and Conditions outlining the rights and responsibilities of users, the blogger could face legal disputes over intellectual property rights.

Loss Of Trust and Credibility In Your Blog

A lack of legal pages can also harm trust and credibility with your users. Internet users are becoming increasingly aware of their rights regarding privacy and data protection, and they may be hesitant to engage with a website that does not provide clear information about how their personal data is handled.

Alongside that, users may view the absence of legal pages as a sign of unprofessionalism or lack of commitment to ethical standards, damaging your blog’s reputation which isn’t great!

Missed Opportunities

Beyond legal and reputational risks, the absence of the 3 essential legal pages may also lead to missed opportunities for collaboration or monetisation.

Many businesses, advertisers, and affiliate programs require websites to have certain legal protections in place before entering into partnerships or agreements.

Without these safeguards, bloggers may be excluded from valuable opportunities to monetise their content or collaborate with brands.

Neglecting to have important legal pages on a blog can have serious consequences, ranging from legal penalties and lawsuits to damage to reputation and missed opportunities for growth!

I hope this post on the 3 Legal pages you need to have for your blog has helped you realise the importance of keeping your website and your readers protected!

Having the right legal pages on your blog is crucial for protecting yourself and your audience. By clearly outlining your terms and policies, you establish transparency and trust, while also ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations!

Remember to include essential pages such as the Privacy Policy, Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer, and/included Disclosure to cover all bases.

If you’re unsure where to start or what to create, there are online resources and templates available to help you create these pages efficiently and affordably such as the Starter Legal Bundle.

Don’t overlook or ignore the importance of legal compliance—investing time and effort into setting up proper legal pages now can save you from potential headaches and legal issues down the road!

Speak soon!

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11 Top Rated Blogging Books On Amazon: How To Master Blogging in 2025

Katherine McLee — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 16:32:00 +0000

In this post we will be going over some of the top rated blogging books on Amazon in 2025!

When it comes to blogging resources, there are lots of options out there.

No matter what your preferred method of learning is, books can be such an amazing way to enhance your knowledge.

While you will often get a lot more information from online courses, you can always find valuable tips, information and experiences in books!

Of course one of the amazing advantages of books is how portable they are!

Knowing which books would be best to read as a blogger can be confusing, so I’ve compiled a list of top rated books so you’ve got a good place to start while choosing which ones suit your blogging needs best.

Let’s get into the top rated blogging books on blogging on Amazon in 2025!

These books cover various aspects of blogging, from content creation strategies and monetization to successful blogging habits and journalistic approaches. Always check the latest reviews and descriptions on Amazon to find books that suit your interests and goals in blogging.

Let’s get into the 11 top rated blogging books on Amazon below!

The Million Dollar Blog

The Million Dollar Blog is a book by Natasha Courtenay-Smith.

This is the book I spoke about in this Gift Guide as it’s such a great read with a lot of information and experiences from hugely successful bloggers!

The description of this book reads as:

“In a world where everyone wants to blog and blog posts are ubiquitous, how do you stand out? How do you blog your way from nobody to somebody?

How do you make money blogging, how do you start your own blogging business, and how do you, as a business owner, use content to build your brand and drive your success?

What do the world’s most successful bloggers know that you don’t know (yet)?

No matter who you are – a mum at home, a budding fashion blogger, a lifestyle blogger, a food blogger, a big business owner or a small business owner – The Million Dollar Blog is about blogging the smart way.

The Million Dollar Blog will be your ultimate guide to starting a successful blog or taking your existing blog to the next level.

Through a combination of practical advice and interviews with some of the world’s most famous and successful bloggers, vloggers and content strategists, including Seth Godin, Lily Pebbles, Grant Cardone and Madeleine Shaw, entrepreneur and digital strategist Natasha Courtenay Smith shows you how to build a blog that will increase your profile, create new opportunities, earn money and change your life.”

Who is This Book Best For?

The Million Dollar Blog is best for people who are wanting to monetise their blogs and turn them into profitable ventures! This book is particularly suitable for aspiring bloggers, entrepreneurs, and online business owners who want to learn effective strategies for growing their blogs and generating significant income.

ProBlogger: Secrets For Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income

ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income (Third Edition) is written by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett.

The description of this book reads as:

“An update of one of the bestselling blogging books, written by two of the world’s most successful bloggers.

There’s a reason why the first two editions of this book have sold thousands of copies worldwide. Written by two of the world’s most successful bloggers, it’s one of the clearest books out there on how to earn an income from your blog.

This new edition gets you up to date on the very latest changes that affect the blogging-for-business landscape. Featuring new material on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn; plus new ways and tools to grow your audience and expand your business beyond your blog, this professional blogger’s bible is better than ever.

Helps novices choose a blog topic, analyze the market, set up a blog, promote it, and earn revenue.

Gives aspiring bloggers proven techniques and the tools they need to succeed in building a business from their blogs.

Reveals 20 key ingredients for a successful blog post.

Offers solid, step-by-step instruction on how bloggers actually make money, why niches matter, how to use essential blogging tools and take advantage of social media and content aggregators, how to optimize your advertising, and much more.

Includes techniques for attracting and growing an audience and how to mine new business opportunities beyond your blog.

Written by two full time professional bloggers, this exciting, updated edition of “ProBlogger” tells you exactly how to launch and maintain a blog that makes money.”

Who is This Book Best For?

ProBlogger: Secrets For Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income is aimed at those aspiring to achieve financial success through blogging. It is most suited for: Aspiring Bloggers, Intermediate Bloggers, Content Creators, Entrepreneurs and Online Marketers.

How to Blog for Profit: Without Selling Your Soul

How to Blog for Profit: Without Selling Your Soul is written by Ruth Soukup

The description of this book reads as:

“Ever wondered what it takes to create and grow a successful online business? Your step-by-step guide is here! Whether you’re an author, blogger, podcaster, business owner, or maybe, just want to know how to get started, How to Blog for Profit is for you. It is jam-packed with easy-to-implement advice for creating an authentic, successful, and profitable online business.

With wit, wisdom, and the insight of someone who’s been there, The New York Times best-selling author Ruth Soukup shares how she grew her own blog-based business into a seven-figure media empire.

Master the art of creating compelling content that naturally attracts your own tribe of raving fans and loyal customers. Grow your audience faster by learning how to focus on the proven traffic strategies that actually work. Gain a clear understanding of all the options for monetizing your platform as well as which revenue streams offer the best ROI. Improve your productivity, learning to work smarter not harder, and take concrete steps to transform your blog into a business. Learn what the most successful bloggers and online business owners are doing differently than everyone else so that you can, too.”

Who is This Book Best For?

How to Blog for Profit: Without Selling Your Soul is best suited for:

New Bloggers, Aspiring Entrepreneurs, Content Creators (inc.Writers, creatives, and individuals who want to understand how to create engaging and valuable content that attracts a loyal audience), Stay-at-Home Parents and Bloggers Interested in Authenticity.

Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content

Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content is written by Ann Handley.

The description of this book reads as:

“In the newly revised and updated edition of Everybody Writes, marketer and author Ann Handley improves on her Wall Street Journal bestselling book that’s helped hundreds of thousands become better, more confident writers.

In this brand-new edition, she delivers all the practical, how-to advice and insight you need for the process and strategy of content creation, production, and publishing.

This new edition also includes:

All-new examples, tools, resources
Updated step-by-step writing framework
Added and expanded chapters that reflect the evolution of content marketing (and evolution of Ann’s thinking about what works today)
The same witty and practical how-to approach
How to attract and retain customers with stellar online communication
How to choose your words well, sparingly, and with honest empathy for your customers
Best practices and ideas for crafting credible, trustworthy content
“Things Marketers Write”: The fundamentals of 19 specific kinds of content that marketers like you write
Inspiration. Confidence. Fun.

Content marketing has evolved. Yet writing matters more than ever.

In this new edition of Everybody Writes, you’ll find the strategies, techniques, tips, and tools you’ll need to refine, upgrade, and (most of all) inspire your own best content marketing.“

Who is This Book Best For?

Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content is best suited for: Content Creators, Digital Marketers, Business Owners, Marketing Teams, Beginners in Content Marketing and Anyone Interested in Writing. Whether you’re a casual writer or someone who wants to enhance their writing skills for personal or professional reasons, this book provides a lot of quality information!

The One Hour Content Plan: The Solopreneur’s Guide to a Year’s Worth of Blog Post Ideas in 60 Minutes and Creating Content That Hooks and Sells

The One Hour Content Plan: The Solopreneur’s Guide to a Year’s Worth of Blog Post Ideas in 60 Minutes and Creating Content That Hooks and Sells is written by Meera Kothand

The description of this book reads as:

“Unlock countless content ideas. Sell your products and services with ease. Get your content to work harder for you.

Does any of this sound like you?

1. You never know what to write.

On most days you struggle to come up with blog post ideas and haven’t planned in advance what your content is going to be about. You’re always looking to fill a publishing queue.

2. You chase after content trends.

You go after what you think will make your post go viral or get more shares. There isn’t necessarily a thread in any of your content pieces.

3. Your content doesn’t have a strong link to the products or services you offer.

You’re not sure how to create content to promote your products or services.

If you’re nodding yes to any of the above,The One Hour Content Plan Will help you generate countless ideas. To be exact, a full year’s worth of traffic building and sales boosting content ideas in 60 minutes or less.”

Who is This Book Best For?

The One Hour Content Plan: The Solopreneur’s Guide to a Year’s Worth of Blog Post Ideas in 60 Minutes and Creating Content That Hooks and Sells is best for:

Solopreneurs and Small Business Owners, Content Creators, Digital Marketers, Entrepreneurs, Busy Professionals and Marketing Coordinators.

This book by Meera Kothand is designed to be accessible and effective for everyone, no matter their varying levels of experience in content creation and marketing.

Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and More) That Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business

Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and More) That Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business is written by Ann Handley and C.C. Chapman

The description of this book reads as:

“The guide to creating engaging web content and building a loyal following, revised and updated

Blogs, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and other platforms are giving everyone a “voice,” including organizations and their customers. So how do you create the stories, videos, and blog posts that cultivate fans, arouse passion for your products or services, and ignite your business? Content Rules equips you for online success as a one-stop source on the art and science of developing content that people care about. This coverage is interwoven with case studies of companies successfully spreading their ideas online―and using them to establish credibility and build a loyal customer base.

Find an authentic “voice” and craft bold content that will resonate with prospects and buyers and encourage them to share it with others
Leverage social media and social tools to get your content and ideas distributed as widely as possible
Understand why you are generating content―getting to the meat of your message in practical, commonsense language, and defining the goals of your content strategy
Write in a way that powerfully communicates your service, product, or message across various Web mediums
Boost your online presence and engage with customers and prospects like never before with Content Rules.”

Who is This Book Best For?

Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and More) That Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business is best for:

Content Creators including bloggers, writers, podcasters, video creators, and anyone involved in content creation looking to enhance the quality and impact of their content! It’s also best for Marketing Professionals, Business Owners, Digital Marketers, Communications Specialists and Aspiring Content Marketers!

The Essential Habits Of 6-Figure Bloggers: Secrets of 17 Successful Bloggers You Can Use to Build a Six-Figure Online Business

The Essential Habits Of 6-Figure Bloggers: Secrets of 17 Successful Bloggers You Can Use to Build a Six-Figure Online Business is written by Sally Miller

The description of this book reads as:

“Struggling to gain traction with an online audience? Plagued by posts providing little to no financial return? Do dreams of making money seem unattainable? Seasoned business analyst, MBA, and web expert Sally Miller interviewed seventeen top bloggers who gross over $100,000 every year. And now she’s here to share how they turned their passions into a financially and emotionally rewarding career.

The Essential Habits of 6-Figure Bloggers: Secrets of 17 Successful Bloggers You Can Use to Build a Six-Figure Online Business is a one-of-a-kind guide to boost your reach and propel you towards commercial goals. With detailed interviews and practical examples, Miller’s insight will help you break through stubborn blocks keeping you from living your dream life. By implementing her three patterns of success, you’ll turn your personal message into a fulfilling way to make money from anywhere in the world.”

Who is This Book Best For?

The Essential Habits Of 6-Figure Bloggers: Secrets of 17 Successful Bloggers You Can Use to Build a Six-Figure Online Business is best for:

Aspiring Bloggers, Intermediate Bloggers, Entrepreneurs, Online Business Owners, Content Creators, Marketing Professionals and Marketers seeking insights into the habits that contribute to the success of bloggers and how these strategies can be applied to other marketing efforts.

The Badass Blog Planner: Your guide to defining your purpose, creating clarity, and building a year of killer content

The Badass Blog Planner: Your guide to defining your purpose, creating clarity, and building a year of killer content is written by Sarah Morgan

The description of this book reads as:

“Calling all bloggers, small business owners, freelancers, entrepreneurs, artists, and general creators of awesome things online—this workbook is for you!Whether you’re setting goals for the new year or just hoping to step-up your blogging game, The Badass Blog Planner is the must-have workbook to blog with purpose and grow your online presence like a pro.

Packed with over 60 worksheets, this one-year planner will help you review the past year and hatch a plan to improve your online presence. It includes worksheets to evaluate and plan blog content, social media posts, products and services, email newsletters, marketing, advertising, your budget, and website design.No more late-night post idea panic or stressing over social media! You’ll take action with the confidence to create compelling and shareable content, promote your brand, organize your website, set goals for growth, plan product launches, and feel excited and inspired all year long. *Not suitable for those just starting their blog *”

Who is This Book Best For?

The Badass Blog Planner: Your guide to defining your purpose, creating clarity, and building a year of killer content is best for:

Intermediate and more experienced Bloggers, Content Creators, Goal-Oriented Bloggers, Organizational Enthusiasts, Creatives Seeking Clarity (creatives who want to define their blog’s purpose, gain clarity on their niche, and build a cohesive and impactful content plan), and Aspiring Professional Bloggers.

The Elements of Blogging: Expanding the Conversation of Journalism

The Elements of Blogging: Expanding the Conversation of Journalism is written by Mark Leccese and Jerry Lanson

The description of this book reads as:

“Becoming a blogger takes practice, hard work, and, ultimately, a passion for the craft. Whether you plan to blog on politics or parenting, The Elements of Blogging is designed to give you the skills and strategies to get started, to sustain your work, and to seek out a robust audience. This book is loaded with practical advice on important topics such as determining a niche, finding the best stories, and blogging effectively and ethically. It features examples from both amateur and professional bloggers that show the techniques for building an argument, finding a voice, crafting a headline, and establishing a brand.

Key features:

Real-world applicability. This book includes thumbnail profiles of bloggers and their sites, which illuminate key skills you will need to become an effective blogger
Interactivity. Each chapter features discussion points and exercises intended to get you to think about, reflect on, and apply the contents of each chapter
Creativity. While this book dives into software and plug-ins for bloggers, its main goal is to cover how to write blogs on a myriad of topics: news, opinion pieces, travel, politics, art, and more.“

Who is This Book Best For?

The Elements of Blogging: Expanding the Conversation of Journalism is best for:

Journalism Students, Journalists Transitioning to Digital Platforms, Bloggers Interested in Journalism and Professionals and Educators in Media and Journalism.

This book explores the connections between blogging and journalism, offering a thoughtful examination of the ways in which blogging has influenced and expanded the conversation within the field of journalism.

It is for a slightly more specific audience but definitely worth a look into if you fall into one of the above categories.

The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use Content Marketing, Podcasting, Social Media, AI, Live Video, and Newsjacking to Reach Buyers Directly

The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use Content Marketing, Podcasting, Social Media, AI, Live Video, and Newsjacking to Reach Buyers Directly is written by David Meerman Scott

The description of this book reads as:

“As the ways we communicate continue to evolve, keeping pace with the latest trends in social media, including social audio like Clubhouse, the newest online video tools such as TikTok, and all the other high-tech influences, can seem an almost impossible task. How can you keep your product or service from getting lost in the digital clutter? The eighth edition of The New Rules of Marketing and PR provides everything you need to speak directly to your audience, make a strong personal connection, and generate attention for your business.

An international bestseller with nearly half a million copies sold in twenty-nine languages, this revolutionary guide gives you a proven, step-by-step plan for leveraging the power of technology to get your message seen and heard by the right people at the right time. You will learn the latest approaches for highly effective public relations, marketing, and customer communications―all at a fraction of the cost of traditional advertising!”

Who is This Book Best For?

The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use Content Marketing, Podcasting, Social Media, AI, Live Video, and Newsjacking to Reach Buyers Directly is best for: Marketing Professionals, Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners, Digital Marketers, Content Creators and PR Professionals.

The Content Code: Six Essential Strategies to Ignite Your Content, Your Marketing, and Your Business

The Content Code: Six Essential Strategies to Ignite Your Content, Your Marketing, and Your Business is written by Mark W. Schaefer

The description of this book reads as:

“Named world’s best SEO book by Book Authority and one of the top five business books of the year by INC magazine!Mark W. Schaefer has delivered a path-finding book exploring the six factors that will help you break through the overwhelming wall of information density to win at marketing now … beyond content, beyond social media, beyond web traffic and Search Engine Optimization.

The Content Code starts where your current marketing plan ends, and provides the launch code for next-level success. The book dives deeply into the true value of social media marketing and the steps companies need to enable to achieve measurable results.

A pioneering book that explores the psychology of sharing, it is also highly practical, offering hundreds of ideas that can be used by organizations of any size and any budget.Book highlights include in-depth explorations on the connection between brand and content transmission, a focus on audiences that will move content, practical steps to build “shareability” into all your content, and the new role of promotion, distribution and SEO in a very competitive, digital world.Unlock your business value, unleash your audience, and uncover the six digital secrets of The Content Code.”

Who is This Book Best For?

The Content Code: Six Essential Strategies to Ignite Your Content, Your Marketing, and Your Business is best for: Content Marketers, Digital Marketers, Business Owners, Social Media Managers, PR Professionals and of course Bloggers and Writers.

Hopefully this list of top-rated blogging books on Amazon in 2025 has inspired you!

Of course, remember that the journey of a blogger is one of continuous learning, growth and patience.

Each of these books listed above offers a unique perspective, giving tips, advice and experience into the ever-evolving world of blogging.

No matter whether you’re wanting to refine your content strategy, enhance your writing skills, or learn more about the ins and outs of digital marketing, there’s a book here for you!

It can be helpful to remember your blogging goals and what you are personally wanting to learn and achieve. Both books and online courses are amazing ways to learn invaluable blogging information. Success in the blogging world is not just about numbers; it can also be about finding your voice, connecting with your audience, and of course, enjoying the journey!

Have you read any of these books?

Which of these books appeals to you most?

Let me know your opinions in the comments to help others gauge which books are best for them too!

Speak soon!

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30 Awesome Christmas Gift Ideas For Bloggers

Katherine McLee — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 13:53:07 +0000

30 Awesome Christmas Gift Ideas For Bloggers

Here you’ll find a list of 30 Christmas Gift Ideas for Bloggers and Content Creators!

We all want to buy the perfect Christmas Gift, but that’s easier said than done!

Chances are if you’re reading this you’re either a blogger, content creator, or someone you know is.

Finding the perfect Christmas Gift that’s right for the person can be tricky.

That’s why I’ve compiled a list of perfect gift ideas for bloggers or those who create content!

These ideas range from just a few pounds up to the more extravagant so there’s something for every budget!

1- Domain and/or Hosting

This may sound like an unconventional gift, but it’s the one thing anyone who wants a profitable blog NEEDS in their life.

To have a profitable blog you need your own website name and someone to host it.

As you can see from the image below, it’s cheap as chips for a new website!

2 – Website Theme

There are many, many themes out there.

Choosing a simple, readable but highly customisable one is key for any new/aspiring blogger!

This is the one I would personally recommend due to its features and ease of use.

I personally have used this theme for years (and still do as of Nov 2023!) so can absolutely vouch for its ease of use and regular updates!

Plus it’s totally affordable and is just one quick one-off payment!

Ashe Blog Pro Theme

3 – Keyboard

What is a blogger without a decent keyboard?

I spoke about this keyboard in this post and you can find a full review here!

WOW.

The retro look and feel of this keyboard makes it an absolute dream to look at and type on.

A decent keyboard is such an important tool for anyone typing a lot – especially for those longer blog posts!

The colours are SO pretty and bright – even after 12 months of constant use! Absolute love.

There are so many lighting modes and combinations, anyone can find the patterns they enjoy the most.

4 – Headphones

Noise Cancelling Headphones to be more specific!

Being able to block out a lot of distraction can be key to productivity.

Or you may know someone concious of their neighbours even though they like their music or podcasts loud!

Overear, comfy, squishy noise cancelling headphones are just the best. They are the perfect tool to help get/maintain a focus when spending so many hours at the computer!

5 – Smart Speaker

There’s a few versions of these now! I love that I can just shout to (at) her to set timers, reminders or play music.

I love it as it makes working easier due to the fact it streamlines certain things without being disruptive!

6 – Wireless Speaker

This is one of those perfect gift ideas for bloggers if your blogger doesn’t want a smart speaker and doesn’t need/want headphones.

A cute wireless bluetooth speaker to sit near their computer is perfect!

7 – Curved Monitor

A curved monitor is an amazing way to get the space of two screens but without needing to set up two monitors.

Whether the blogger in your life is also a gamer, or not, I cannot recommend a curved monitor enough!

I ADORE mine. I initially got it on a bit of a whim but it’s honestly been one of the best blogging purchases I ever made!

(My one is a few years old now and doesn’t seem to exist anymore but this is the closest I could see at the time for the one I have if anyone is interested in my one.)

8 – Portable Charger

You really cannot go wrong with a good portable charger!

Not even just for phones but could be to charge the headphones or speaker!

You can also run smaller USB devices/lights off of them!

9 – Electric Blanket Throw

This is one of my favourite products I bought this year.

It’s the perfect gift for any blogger as sitting down at the desk a lot can make you feel cold!

Varying temperature settings means it’s perfect for anyone!

10 – Hot Water Bottle For Feet

Sticking with the theme of not wanting to be cold, how cool is this?!

It’s literally a hot water bottle with little pockets for your feet.

If your feet are warm, you will be so much warmer!

Perfect for winter or for anyone with bad circulation!

11 – Planner

Ahhh the trusty planner!

For a planner that covers all of your personal and work/business needs, you really can’t go far wrong with a Clever Fox Pro!

12 – Notebooks

Maybe the blogger in your life isn’t a fan of planners or is very particular in which ones they use?

Fear not!

Notebooks!

Getting pretty notebooks with DECENT paper in them is more of a treat than you would expect!

13 – Posh/Fancy Pen

Along these lines, what about a cute pen in a gift box?

Choosing from these gift ideas for bloggers doesn’t have to be extravagant and can be super budget friendly.

Just think about what they spend a lot of time doing and if that’s writing, a cute pen could be the way to go!

14 – Set of Coloured Fineliner Pens

Coloured pens are perfect for the blogger who is either super organised, artsy or just loves stationery (I’m the latter lol). Coloured pens to match the planner or notebooks is a great gift!

15 – Salt Lamp

Salt Lamps have a lot of health benefits but honestly I just love the colour of it.

If you’re sitting in the same spot at the computer a lot, you want your space to feel/look cute!

Salt lamps are a perfect addition to any desk!

(Please just be aware that they are heavy so need a solid surface!)

16 – S.A.D Lamp

When on the computer a lot it can be easy to miss out on a lot of daylight.

I’m not recommending using one of these lamps to replace natural sunlight!

But sometimes we spend more time indoors than is ideal.

Getting a S.A.D lamp not only gives you a boost but can help combat S.A.D (Seasonal Affective Disorder – also known as Winter Depression.)

17 – Diffuser

Something a little different could be a diffuser!

This diffuser not only changes colours but it looks like a mini fire pit on your desk!

18 – Walking Pad

We all know we should be aiming for 10,000 steps a day.

Often though that’s easier said than done and we spend more time sitting than we mean to!

Getting a walking pad/under desk treadmill is an amazing way to get steps in while working or watching a Webinar!

19 – Desk Fairy Lights

How cute are these?!

They would make any desk look so cute and really make a workspace feel more cosy!

20 – Tripod

A tripod is especially important if the blogger in your life is looking to either get more into photography or is venturing into video!

I love this desktop tripod as it’s a lot more portable than the big ones!

21 – Ring Light

Anyone who takes photos should get a ring light!

It can make phone photos look so much more professional and means you don’t need perfect lighting to get the perfect photo!

22 – Book: Million Dollar Blog

For any blogger you know who wants to turn their blog into a real business and income stream, this book is a definite must!

Following the guidance and wisdom of those already in the position that bloggers are often aiming for is cruical, and also so inspiring!

23 – Water Tumbler With Handle

If the blogger in your life is notorious for not drinking drinks due to forgetting about them (guilty) – the solution is an aesthetic and huge water tumbler!

Having a large cup to keep water cold is the perfect way to stay hydrated, while the cup itself looks so pretty!

24 – Camera

A camera would be so appreciated by any blogger!

Photos are a big part of blogging, even for those of us who use a lot of stock photos, we still need to take our own photos!

A lot of bloggers and content creators take a lot of their own photos so a high quality camera is KEY to getting those sharp, clean, aesthetic pictures we all see and love!

25 – Digital Photo Frame

Photos are a big part of blogging, even for those of us who use a lot of stock photos, we still always need to take our own inbetween times!

How cute is this?

This is one of the more unique Christmas gift ideas for bloggers as you can fill it with photos that are special to them!

Picking up an SD card will mean you can fill it with memories, or you can leave it blank and they can fill it themselves with images of their choosing!

26 – Water Bottle

While sitting at a desk for long periods of time, we can (too easily) forget to stay hydrated!

Having a cute water bottle to keep handy absolutely helps combat this! Especially if it has motivational sayings on the side too!

27 – Desktop Whiteboard

This desktop accessory is a great way to stay organised without needing a large whiteboard!

It’s perfectly shaped to sit behind a keyboard and be easily visible but without being bulky or in the way!

28 – Perfume

You can never go wrong with perfume!

Of course perfume is a personal thing as evereyone’s tastes are different but smelling amazing can be such a mood booster!

29 – Blue Light Glasses

Blue light glasses are a must for anyone looking at screens for long periods of time!

They have clear lenses so don’t distort any vision but really can help to protect eyes!

Loads of different styles to choose from too!

30 – Motivational Cards

These cards are so cute!

It comes as a little deck of cards and each one has a motivational saying or quote on!

They are perfect to give someone that little motivational/mindset boost!

Hopefully you found this helpful!

Let me know in the comments which you decided to buy for yourself or for the blogger in your life!

Speak soon!

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Understanding The Google Sandbox: Tips On How To Get Out!

Katherine McLee — Sat, 21 Oct 2023 17:32:05 +0000

This post is to explain what the Google Sandbox is, and what it means for new blogs and websites.

If you are in the world of blogging, digital marketing and/or search engine optimisation (SEO), the term “Google Sandbox” will be a phrase you will have come across, most likely in your frustrations!

The Sandbox is a term used for when newly launched websites (including blogs) are subject to limited visibility within search engines.

Google Sandbox is (in simple terms), the idea that new blogs and websites experience a temporary period of lower visibility and organic rankings in Google search results. This means that new websites could be less visible and show up less in Google rankings for a temporary amount of time.

The idea is Google does this on purpose to assess the credibility and quality of a new website before giving it any higher rankings in search results.

While this makes sense in theory, it doesn’t stop it feeling disheartening when you put so much work in and see little results (from Google).

While your new blog or website is stuck in Google’s Sandbox, your site may not receive as much organic traffic from search as you’d maybe be hoping for!

The good news is that over time as your blog or website becomes more established, its trustworthiness increases tenfold.

The overall authority will also improve the longer the website is live and the more high quality content is published. As your blog gains this trustworthiness, it will start to emerge from the sandbox and you will start to notice it achieving better rankings and visibility!

Let’s dive into what Google Sandbox is and why it’s important to be patient.

What Is The Google Sandbox?

The Google Sandbox refers to an online filter that Google applies to new blogs and websites. It’s one of the main reasons why the visibility of new websites in searches can be so low. It can affect both direct searches and organic rankings during an initial period after the launch of your site.

In simple terms, the Google Sandbox is basically like a test zone for new websites. When a site or blog is brand new, Google puts it in this ‘sandbox’ for a while.

This is why you may not find new websites easily in searches.

Google does this to make sure the websites are good quality and not spammy. They want to check if the site is worth showing to people and if it will be useful in the long run!

The purpose of the sandbox is believed to be for two main reasons:

To prevent spammy or low-quality websites/content from achieving quick (high) rankings
To evaluate the long-term credibility and value of newly created websites.

The main idea is that Google wants to see if the website is trustworthy and credible. They check things like the quality of content, how much people interact with the site, the links coming to the site (backlinks), and how good the site looks overall.

Not all websites are created equal and this is what Google is trying to determine!

Why Do New Websites And Blogs Go Into The Google Sandbox?

Websites are believed to enter the Google Sandbox for a couple of reasons:

To Prevent Spammy Websites and Low-Quality Content

Google aims to maintain the quality and reliability of its search results as much as possible. The Sandbox helps to filter out websites that may be created solely for spamming or providing low-quality content. By subjecting new websites to a probationary period, Google can evaluate their trustworthiness and weed out those that violate its guidelines.

Assessing Long-Term Credibility

The Sandbox also serves as a way for Google to assess the long-term credibility and value of newer websites. It takes time for a website to establish a solid reputation, build a quality backlink profile, and grow its user engagement. By observing a website’s performance over a period of time, Google can better determine its authenticity and whether it deserves higher rankings!

It Levels The Playing Field

The Sandbox creates a level playing field for both established and new websites. It prevents new websites (and blogs) from rapidly climbing up the rankings and overshadowing older, more established websites.

This ensures that newer websites have to prove themselves over time and gradually gain visibility as they demonstrate their value.

Is My Website/Blog In The Sandbox For Doing Something Wrong?

The Google Sandbox is very different from manual penalties imposed by Google for violating its guidelines which could impact your website being shown in search.

While penalties are a result of specific rule violations, the Sandbox is a natural process affecting ALL new websites to some extent.

Websites in the Sandbox have not done anything wrong; they are simply undergoing a period of evaluation.

How Does The Google Sandbox Work?

This is tricky to know/answer as the exact workings of the Sandbox haven’t ever been fully disclosed!

Imagine the Google Sandbox like a waiting area for new websites. When a website is brand new, it goes into this ‘sandbox’ for a while.

During this time, Google watches the website closely to see if it’s trustworthy and valuable!

While in the Sandbox, the website won’t show up much in Google searches.

It’s like being on a timeout!

There are several theories put out by those who understand the workings of Google and their ranking system. Those theories are based on their observations and the key points are as follows:

Time-Based Delay: When you create a new website, it might not show up much on Google at first. This is because there’s a delay where the site doesn’t appear as high in search results. This delay can last a few weeks to a few months, and during this time, the website doesn’t rank as high as you might hope.

Trust Building: The Google Sandbox checks if a website/blog is trustworthy and reliable. They look at things like content quality, how people interact with the site, the links to the site, and how good the site looks overall.

Gradual Ranking Improvements: As your website gets older and proves it is active and full of reliable, high quality content, it starts showing up more on Google. This means more people can find it, and it becomes easier to see in search results. More people will then be able to visit your site too!

As the website proves itself trustworthy by having good content, engaging visitors, and gaining credibility, Google slowly lets it out of the sandbox.

This is when it will slowly get better rankings on Google!

This means more people can find it when they search, and more people click through and visit the blog or website.

How To Navigate Out Of The Google Sandbox?

The Google Sandbox can be a frustrating period for anyone who has ever owned a blog or website! As website owners, we are all eager to see our new site gain traction! There are however several tips and tricks that can make things progress and speed up the process of getting out of The Google Sandbox:

Focus on Quality Content

Creating valuable and original content that aligns with user intent is crucial. Making content that people find useful and unique is really important.

If you keep creating great articles, blog posts, or videos, Google will see that your website is helpful for users. You want to demonstrate to Google that your website provides value to your readers!

Natural Link Building (Backlinks)

Instead of using tricky or spammy methods to get backlinks linking back to your website and blog posts, try getting good-quality links from trustworthy sites. You can do this by guest blogging, partnering with others on content, or connecting with influencers in your field.

The more high-quality backlinks you can get from reputable sources, the better it looks in Google’s eyes.

Social Media and Building Your Brand

You can use social media platforms to promote your content and engage with your target audience. Building a strong online presence and brand reputation can help establish credibility and attract organic traffic.

Pinterest especially is an amazing way to get your blog and content seen while also helping to grow your online brand!

Sharing your content on social media can attract traffic, generate user engagement, and potentially earn backlinks from interested users or influencers in your niche. It’s a win all round!

Improve User Experience

Enhance the user experience on your website by optimising its design, navigation, and loading speed. Ensure that your blog or website is mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, and provides a seamless browsing experience as much as possible!

A positive user experience encourages users to spend more time on your site, reducing bounce rates and improving engagement metrics.

Patience and Persistence

This is the tricky part but not one that can be skipped! Knowing that The Google Sandbox period is a natural part of the SEO journey for new websites can lessen the blow though.

Stay committed to implementing sound SEO practices, continue producing high-quality content consistently, and keep an eye on your website’s performance to identify areas of potential improvement.

Monitor your website’s performance using analytics tools such as Google Analytics or Jetpack. Track your organic traffic, k eyword rankings, and user engagement metrics. Identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments to your SEO strategies, content, keywords or website itself.

For more information on best Keyword practices, check out this post here!

How Long Can You Expect Your New Website To Be Stuck In Google’s Sandbox?

The duration of the Google Sandbox period (or the time it takes to get out of it) can vary significantly from website to website.

There is, unfortunately, no fixed timeline or specific timeframe for your website to emerge from the Sandbox. Sorry!

Some websites may experience a shorter period of limited visibility, while others may take several months. Sometimes for unknown reasons!

This is why it’s SO important to keep on improving your website and creating amazing content!

On average, many SEO experts have reported seeing improvements in rankings and visibility within 3 to 6 months after launching a new website.

However, it’s important to note here that these timelines are rough guides and are not set in stone. There are cases where it has taken longer for websites to emerge from the Sandbox. Especially for non-experts!

It can take 12-18 months for a newer website to emerge from The Sandbox. Don’t be discouraged, keep going and it will emerge in its own time!

Several factors can influence the duration of the Sandbox period.

This can include (but isn’t limited to) the competitiveness of your chosen niche, the quality and relevance of your content, your website’s backlink profile, user engagement metrics, and overall website authority.

It’s really important to focus on implementing SEO best practices, keyword research, creating high-quality valuable content, and consistently improving your website’s credibility and user experience.

All of these points combined will increase your chances of a faster exit from the Google Sandbox!

While waiting for the Sandbox period to end, it’s important to remain patient and persistent. Keep improving and keep going! Monitor your website’s performance, upscale your SEO strategies, and consistently produce high-quality content.

Over time, as your website gains trust and establishes its authority in the online space, you should see gradual improvements in organic rankings and visibility in search engine results pages.

Frequently Asked Questions About Google Sandbox

Can a website in the Google Sandbox still rank for long-tail keywords?

While the overall visibility of a website in the Sandbox may be fairly limited, it can still rank for specific long-tail keywords and less competitive keywords!

Is the Google Sandbox the same as a penalty?

Not at all. The Google Sandbox is different from penalties. The Sandbox is a natural period of evaluation for new blogs and websites. Penalties are imposed for violating guidelines!

Can paid advertising help overcome the effects of the Google Sandbox?

Yes, paid advertising (such as Google Ads) can provide immediate visibility and traffic to new websites. It can bypass the impact of the Sandbox on organic rankings for the time the adverts are running.

What strategies can be used to speed up the process of getting out of the Google Sandbox?

Strategies include focusing on quality content creation, building a diverse backlink profile, implementing long-tail keywords, improving user experience, leveraging social media, and being patient and persistent!

Can a website experience multiple Sandbox periods?

On the whole, the Google Sandbox period is experienced just once for new websites. This is why it can take such a time, as Google wants to be sure!

However, if significant changes occur, such as a major domain change, a new evaluation period may happen!

Are there any specific signs or indications that a website is in the Google Sandbox?

There are no definitive signs or indications that a website is in the Sandbox since it is not actually officially acknowledged by Google. The limited visibility and lower rankings can be an indication, but other factors may also be at play.

Is the Google Sandbox the same as the “honeymoon period” for new websites?

The Sandbox and the “honeymoon period” are related concepts but not exactly the same. The honeymoon period refers to a potential period of initial higher rankings for new websites, whereas the Sandbox implies limited visibility during that time. The Sandbox also affects all websites, the honeymoon period is a period that “can” affect the rankings of a website.

Are there any official statements or documentation from Google about the Sandbox?

Nope! Google has not officially confirmed the existence of a specific Sandbox algorithm or filter for websites, so there is no official documentation about it from Google.

Are there any known cases of websites bypassing or avoiding the Google Sandbox altogether?

As far as I’m aware (and as far as research shows), there are no known cases of websites completely bypassing or avoiding the Sandbox.

Please note that these answers are based on current knowledge and observations within the SEO community, as the exact workings of the Google Sandbox remain undisclosed by Google.

The Google Sandbox remains an intriguing and (sometimes) frustrating concept in the world of websites and blogging. While the exact algorithms and workings of the Sandbox remain a partial mystery, website owners can take proactive steps to navigate through this low ranking period. By focusing on creating valuable content, building a strong online presence, and employing solid SEO strategies, you can increase your chances of your website emerging from the Sandbox with improved organic rankings and increased visibility on Google!

Speak soon!

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Perfecting Blogging Course Review – Is This The Perfect Course For New Bloggers?

Katherine McLee — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 21:56:08 +0000

This post is an in-depth and honest review of the online blogging course Perfecting Blogging by Sophia Lee.

Whether you have been blogging for 5 years or 5 minutes, there’s a high chance you’ve heard about this blogging course.

There’s a lot of hype around it and honestly I can see why! But we will cover all points in this blog post.

If you’ve been thinking about whether it’s worth investing in for you, this post should help you decide!

I purchased and completed the course a while back so I’m able to give a full and honest review for you!

This course is aimed at newer bloggers but it absolutely has its place for more experienced bloggers too.

This review will help you make an informed decision as to who this blogging course is for and how it could benefit you.

Let’s get into the review of Perfecting Blogging!

LINK TO ALL COURSES HERE

The Importance of Online Courses

When I first started blogging many moons ago I didn’t purchase any course as I didn’t see the point. I figured I could work it out myself for free.

I have discovered that this is honestly not a good idea. And there’s a few reasons why!

Firstly you will never find all the information from online courses, online for free. You may find quite a lot, but chances are the key pieces of information you need to really help, may still elude you! (This is what I found out!)

Secondly, our time is precious. What I also discovered is that I could spend hours upon hours researching and trying to source answers to some questions, whereas if I’d bought the course sooner (on whichever topic I was needing at the time), I’d have gotten access to the answer straight away!

Courses help you learn all the “secrets” from those highly experienced in their field.

If you’re blogging as a hobby and have no intention of wanting to really grow your blog or ever make money from it then you may not feel the need to invest in an online course. Completely understandable!

Online courses are an amazing tool for hobbies – in anything – as they provide you tricks and insights you just don’t get for free.

Where online courses become (in my opinion) crucial, is when you have chosen to take blogging (or any other activity/venture) seriously.

Blogging especially has one of the lowest startup/overhead costs of any business. That doesn’t mean free, but it can be kept low.

Setting yourself up for success, and saving SO much time by taking courses is always the best idea.

Since I started taking online courses a few years back, I now love them. Anything I want real, fast, effective information on, I buy a course.

One thing to be aware of is that there’s now an abundance of online courses out there. Some may not be great or what you’re looking for. Reviews and word of mouth recommendations are important to save yourself money and time!

GRAB THE COURSE HERE

Now onto the review…

Perfecting Blogging Course Overview

This course had been on my radar for quite a while before purchasing, but my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to grab it and see what all the fuss was about.

Let’s get into the ins and outs of this course. I will share my own personal opinion on the course itself, along with what’s included, price and who it’s really for!

Firstly, what I love about Perfecting Blogging in particular over other online courses I’ve taken based around blogging is that this course covers everything you need to start/enhance your blogging journey.

Of course if you are looking for a course specifically to learn about one specific aspect of blogging such as Backlinks then this specific course may not be the fit for you.

On the other hand if you want amazing, in-depth information on all aspects of blogging you need to grow your own successful blog, I would highly recommend Perfecting Blogging.

I love the fact it goes over all areas of growing and enhancing your blog, in super simple to understand video and text modules.

There are multiple downloads included, along with all videos, all text information, and you have lifetime access. Some courses offer limited access times or no free updates, but Sophia gives you lifetime access so you can go back over parts as often/as many times as you like!

All updates are also free/included in the one-off course price! This means you have automatic, full access to the newest updates at no additional cost.

Recently there has been another large update with extra information added, completely for free for those who have purchased the course, and of course is all included for anyone looking to buy the course themselves also.

What Content Is Included In Perfecting Blogging?

As of me writing this, there are 9 Modules, each with their own lessons/information in.

Within these 9 modules are 61 checkable items. This includes all lessons, downloads, information etc.

As you can see from that number alone, you get a lot of information on a lot of different topics for your one-off price!

The main modules of Perfecting Blogging (as of July 2023) are:

Welcome to the Perfecting Blogging Master Course!
Perfecting Blogging: Really Freakin’ Important Things You Need To Know About Blogging
Perfecting Blogging: Setting Up A Website That Your Readers Will Trust
Perfecting Blogging: Content, Content, Content (The MOST Important Thing I’ll Teach You About Blogging)
Perfecting Blogging: The Exact Steps I Take When Writing Every Single Blog Post
PERFECTING BLOGGING: The Techniques I Use To Make Money From My Blog
Affiliates
Worksheets + Printables
BONUS SECTION!

Within these modules you will find all the lessons, downloads, printables and text information on various topics.

These include topics such as:

Choosing a niche

Blog/Website Aesthetic

Blog Themes

Graphics

Branding

Content Planning

Blog Post Writing

Structuring Blog Posts

Keywords

Affiliate Marketing

Ads

Plugins

Motivation

Making An Income

And many more topics, many of which are across multiple lessons!

Once you have purchased the course, you also get access to her exclusive blogging group! There is information within the course contents as to how to find/join this.

The group is an amazing community of people sharing ideas and asking questions which can be invaluable to anyone wanting to take their blogging journey seriously.

Buy Perfecting Blogging Here

What Is NOT Covered In Perfecting Blogging?

This course is perfect for any new blogger and anyone wanting to really grow their blog, but I just want to highlight a few things that aren’t in the course for full transparency!

As mentioned, the course is being updated often (free of charge once you’ve purchased the course), but as of when I completed the course, there are a few topics not mentioned, or not mentioned about much. These include:

Affiliate Marketing

There is some information on affiliate marketing but not so much on disclaimers or any real in-depth information.

Legal Pages

You must must must make sure you’re blogging legally.

Unless you are getting your “main 3” pages drawn up by your own lawyer, the most cost effective way to cover yourself and your blog is to buy a template bundle for all 3 pages (Privacy Policy, Disclaimer and Terms and Conditions), that was written by a lawyer and that you adapt for your own blog and circumstances.

This Starter Legal Bundle offers exactly those, specifically for bloggers, and is the bundle I still use now.

These are super easy to buy, modify and publish on your blog.

I feel this is an important topic that should have been mentioned more!

Pinterest and Email Marketing

Both topics are touched on but not extensively. This can be easily rectified by grabbing Perfecting Email and Perfecting Pinterest though!

Anything Overly Technical

This wasn’t a surprise for me as I knew in advance that that wasn’t the point of this course. If you are looking for highly technical information or more info on SEO, sitemaps or Google Sandbox etc, you won’t find it here. Not yet anyway!

Other than those, Perfecting Blogging is an insanely high value course which is SO easy to understand, even for the newest blogger. It covers so many topics that you most likely have questions on with straight-to-the-point, concise information.

With free information on YouTube and online, it can take hours listening or reading to find the one snippet of information or answer to one question.

With this course, everything is answered so clearly and without any fluff added in at all. All information and lessons are purely the information you need for your blog.

How Much Is The Perfecting Blogging Course?

At the time of writing this, the price of Perfecting Blogging is $257.

Now I know what you’re thinking! If you are new to online courses you will instantly be thinking that $257 for a course sounds like a lot of money for a course.

If you are more experienced with blogging or online courses you will know how amazing that price is!

To me, no cost is “too much”, if it’s going to gain you the results you are looking for!

Think about how much that will make you back in the longrun!

Quick note – depending on which country you are in there may be a tax to pay ontop of that base price.

If you have looked into high value online courses before, you can instantly see that a lot of courses are $500+. To the point I was actually pleasantly surprised that the BSL Perfecting Blogging course was so much less!

No real business is free, and for the amount of value you get from this one course alone, it’s 1000% worth it.

You can buy Perfecting Blogging alone for $249, or as part of one of the bundles.

Beginner’s Blogging Bundle – this bundle contains both Perfecting Blogging and Perfecting Pinterest and is currently $427 ($514 value!).

They also offer the Ultimate BSL Blogging Bundle which includes Perfecting Blogging, Perfecting Pinterest, AND Perfecting Email which is currently $699 ($793 value!).

LINK TO ALL COURSES AND BUNDLES HERE

What Other Courses Are Available From BySophiaLee?

Perfecting Blogging is the main course that covers all things blogging, but there are other courses on BySophiaLee!

The next two courses are:

Perfecting Pinterest is perfect for anyone needing to up their Pinterest skills and engagement.

Perfecting Email is all about email marketing! If you need the extra help/guidance when it comes to growing an email list and email marketing, this course is for you.

Lastly there’s the NEW course: Perfecting Social Media which is just $89!

Perfecting Social Media is perfect for anyone looking for a little extra guidance in growing an online following.

Alongside these 4 courses, Sophia also offers bundles at a discounted rate.

If you are interested in more than one of the courses, one of these bundles would be the most cost effective option for you!

As mentioned above;

Beginner’s Blogging Bundle – this bundle contains both Perfecting Blogging and Perfecting Pinterest.

They also offer the Ultimate BSL Blogging Bundle which includes Perfecting Blogging, Perfecting Pinterest, AND Perfecting Email.

LINK TO ALL COURSES AND BUNDLES HERE

Does Perfecting Blogging Offer An Affiliate Program?

Absolutely!

As mentioned in the module list above, there is information as to how you can become an affiliate for the course.

This means that if you love it, you can also promote it and earn a commission back.

The commission rate is 40% with a 60 day cookie tracking period!

This means that if anyone clicks on your specific link and buys the course within 60 days, you will receive 40% of the cost back in commission.

Affiliate programs are fairly common throughout blogging/online courses from experience, but not all have as good percentages or tracking periods.

Plus if a course isn’t good, why would you want to promote it anyway lol.

Perfecting Blogging is the best of both worlds as it’s an amazing, high value course with an amazing affiliate program!

Who Is This Course Not For?

As with anything, nothing is ever “one size fits all”.

As I mentioned earlier, I want to be completely transparent as to whether it’s worth the money to help you make the most informed decision.

There are a few people this course isn’t for!

If you have over 10,000 monthly visitors a month and are already making a decent income each month, this course may not add much value to you.

This course isn’t for you if you are expecting instant results or aren’t keen to put the work in – although that’s true of any aspect of blogging or any online course!

If you are wanting in-depth information on SEO, or specific information on anything more technical such as sitemaps, this isn’t the course for you.

There is hardly any mention of Email Marketing but this does make sense with there being a full, in depth course available.

Who This Course Absolutely IS For

If you are a brand new blogger, or a blogger who already has a blog but is looking for more information, support and guidance, and you are looking for an in-depth course on how to write blog posts along with so many more tips and tricks on Keywords, Images, and other important aspects of blogging, then this Perfecting Blogging Course is the best course for you.

Sophia herself states “These courses are best for someone who is a new blogger or is looking to turn their blog into a business that makes them money. They are basically my dream courses I wish I would have been able to take when I started getting serious about blogging. If I would have known all of this information, my blog would have grown even faster and I would have made money sooner.

P.S. If you are an experienced blogger and already incorporate keyword research, you may not need the bundle that includes Perfecting Blogging.”

This is the first course I recommend to all new bloggers and to anyone wanting to take their blog seriously and turn it into a serious venture.

If you are wanting more professional information on blogging and how to blog properly, you will get a lot out of this course.

If you feel you know a lot of the free information out there and are looking for the next level of information then this course is for you!

Quick summary of the main key points of Perfecting Blogging:

The course is a mixture of video and text sections
You get free updates and get lifetime access to the course
You can go entirely at your own pace due to the lifetime access
Keyword research, on-page SEO, writing blog posts and titles, blog post templates, a branding kit template and more are all included in Perfecting Blogging
Perfecting Blogging is PERFECT if you are new to blogging or needing further help/information to really get your blog off the ground. My regret is that I didn’t do it earlier!
Perfecting Blogging doesn’t cover things like off-page SEO or sitemaps
You can request access to the affiliate program for Perfecting Blogging once you have purchased the course
Once you have purchased the course you can get access into the Perfecting Blogging Facebook Group for no extra cost
If you are also interested in more than one of the courses, you can buy them together in a bundle for the best value to save money

Taking Perfecting Blogging has really deepened my understanding of a lot of the different aspects of blogging. For new bloggers it’s the ultimate guide to cover all bases and save you SO much time trying to find all the information for free, even if that was possible.

If anyone ever asks for my top recommendation for a course for new bloggers, I recommend this one.

The advice is so easy to implement and incorporate. You will feel more knowledgeable after every module!

Get Perfecting Blogging Here

Please come back and let me know how much it helped you understand more about the blogging world and your own personal thoughts on it!

Remember, blogging is a dynamic and diverse business. Always be open to learning, experimenting, and adapting your strategies along the way!

With the right information and action, you will find exactly what works for you, your blog and your audience.

Best of luck on your blogging adventure!

Disclaimer: This course review is based on my own personal opinion after purchasing and completing the course. Results may vary depending on individual efforts and commitment of course! While nothing is guaranteed, setting yourself up for success with a high value course such as this one certainly sets you in good standings for it.

Speak soon!

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Why You Need A Sitemap For Your Blog: Why Sitemaps Are So Important For SEO

Katherine McLee — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 20:15:24 +0000

In this post, we will go over why you need a sitemap for your blog. We will also go over what a sitemap actually is, and how you create one.

In the vast landscape of the internet, ensuring that your blog gets discovered by search engines and visitors alike is essential. One powerful tool that can significantly aid in achieving this goal is a sitemap.

In the ever-evolving world of SEO, it’s crucial to stay informed about the tools and techniques that can enhance your online presence.

One tool that plays a significant role in ensuring search engines effectively crawl and index your website is a sitemap.

If you’re new to the world of blogging, websites, or are unfamiliar with SEO practices, the term “sitemap” might sound scary at first. Don’t let it worry you!

This post will explain everything you need to know in relation to sitemaps.

This includes their importance in helping search engines navigate your blog!

We will also go over the benefits of utilising sitemaps and how they can improve your website’s visibility, user experience, and overall SEO performance!

Additionally, we will go over common misconceptions and answer frequently asked questions about sitemaps.

In this blog post, we will explore what a sitemap is, why it is crucial for your blog’s success, and how to create one.

What Is A Sitemap?

A sitemap is a file that lists all the pages and content on a blog or website.

It acts like a roadmap for search engines, providing them with information about the organisation and structure of a website.

Think of it as a table of contents that helps search engines understand and navigate your website’s content more effectively.

Imagine you have a big house with many rooms. If someone wants to explore your house, they would find it easier if you gave them a map showing the layout of the rooms and where everything is located. Similarly, a sitemap is like a map for search engines. It tells them which pages are on your website and how they are connected.

A sitemap can include various types of content, such as web pages, blog posts, images, videos, and more. It helps search engines index your website’s pages and improves the chances of your content being discovered by users when they perform relevant searches.

What Are The Two Main Types Of Sitemaps

This post is to explain why you need an XML sitemap for your blog but I want to mention HTML sitemaps quickly here.

There are two main types of sitemaps: XML sitemaps and HTML sitemaps.

What is an XML sitemap?

An XML sitemap is a file that search engines use to understand the structure and content of a website.

It’s like a roadmap for search engine crawlers.

XML sitemaps are written in a special format that search engines can easily read. They contain a list of all the important pages on a website, along with additional information like when the pages were last updated and how often they change.

XML sitemaps help search engines discover and index the pages of a website more effectively.

Think of it as a cheat sheet for search engines. Instead of having to explore every nook and cranny of a website to find its pages, search engines can refer to the XML sitemap to quickly see a list of all the pages and their details. This helps search engines understand the website better and display relevant search results to users.

The XML sitemap includes information like the web addresses (URLs) of the pages, when they were last updated, and how often they tend to change.

It helps search engines keep their search results up to date and ensures that users can find the most recent and relevant information when they search for something.

In simpler terms, an XML sitemap is like a helpful map that search engines use to navigate a website and show the right pages to people who are searching for them.

What is an HTML sitemap?

An HTML sitemap is a web page on a website that helps visitors navigate through the different pages. It’s like a table of contents or a directory. HTML sitemaps are designed for people, not search engines.

They display a structured list of the main pages, subpages, and categories of content available on the site. Visitors can click on the links in the HTML sitemap to directly access the pages they are interested in, making it easier for them to find the information they need.

An HTML sitemap is a web page on a website that lists all the important pages in a structured format, similar to a table of contents. It is designed to help website visitors easily navigate through the site and find the information they need.

Imagine you’re exploring a big library with many books. The library has a directory near the entrance that shows you the different sections, like fiction, non-fiction, and reference books. Within each section, you can see a list of specific books available.

Similarly, an HTML sitemap acts as a directory for a website. It presents a hierarchical structure of the website’s pages, organised into categories or sections.

Visitors can access the HTML sitemap and see a list of the main pages, subpages, and categories of content available on the site.

HTML sitemaps are typically created for user convenience, allowing visitors to quickly locate specific pages or topics of interest. They can be useful when a website has a lot of content or a complex structure, as they provide an overview and make it easier for visitors to navigate through different sections.

Unlike XML sitemaps, which are primarily used by search engines, HTML sitemaps are primarily designed for human users. They serve as an additional navigation tool to complement the regular website menu or search function. Visitors can click on the links within the HTML sitemap to directly access the desired pages on the website.

In simple terms, an HTML sitemap is like a map or directory for a website that helps visitors find their way around by providing a list of pages and categories, similar to how a library directory helps you find books in different sections.

All other sitemap references I make in this post will be directed at XML sitemaps.

Why Are XML Sitemaps Important For Websites?

Having a sitemap is important because it helps search engines discover and index your website more efficiently.

When search engines visit your website, they follow the links to find all the pages. Sometimes they might miss some pages though, especially if they are hidden or not connected too well.

A sitemap makes it easier for search engines to see all the important pages and understand how they are organised!

By creating a sitemap and submitting it to search engines, you can improve the chances of your website showing up in search results. It helps search engines understand what your website is about and which pages are the most important. This can increase the visibility of your website and bring more visitors to it.

A sitemap is important because it assists search engines to effectively discover, crawl, and index your blog’s content. It contributes towards improved visibility, higher search engine rankings, and a better user experience!

Having A Sitemap For Your Blog Offers Several Important Benefits:

Search Engine Crawling And Visibility – SEO Benefits

Search engine bots use sitemaps to discover and crawl all the pages of a website. By providing a clear and concise list of URLs, a sitemap ensures that search engines can find and index your content effectively.

This can help search engines understand the hierarchy and relevance of your content, potentially influencing how they rank your pages in search results.

This is especially beneficial for new websites or ones with complex navigation structures that may be challenging for search engines to crawl and index efficiently.

A sitemap can play an important role in supporting your overall SEO strategy.

By providing a clear roadmap of your content, it increases the chances of your pages getting indexed and displayed in search engine results pages (SERPs).

It helps search engines better understand the context and relevance of your content, potentially leading to improved search rankings.

Sitemaps Help With Indexing

Sitemaps ensure that all important pages, including new or updated content, are promptly indexed by search engines. It helps search engines understand the relevance and importance of each page, increasing the likelihood of those pages appearing in search results.

It can speed up indexing. With a well-structured sitemap, search engines can quickly navigate and index your website’s pages.

It eliminates the need for search engines to rely solely on following internal links within your site, potentially speeding up the indexing process. This then helps prevent valuable pages from being overlooked or delayed in the indexing process.

If you frequently publish new content to your blog, or your content undergoes regular updates, a sitemap can be hugely beneficial.

It ensures that search engines are aware of the latest changes and can promptly index the updated or new pages.

Sitemaps can also include URLs for multimedia content such as images and videos. This helps search engines discover and index your mobile and multimedia content, improving its visibility in relevant search results too.

Improved User Experience

While primarily designed for search engines, sitemaps can indirectly enhance the user experience. They provide a structured/organised overview of your website’s content and organisation. This makes it easier for visitors to navigate and find what they’re looking for. This can lead to increased user satisfaction and engagement!

Troubleshooting

By checking your sitemap, you can identify potential issues or errors that may impact search engine indexing.

This means that you can detect broken links or missing pages through looking at your sitemap. This allows you to fix them and maintain a healthy website or blog structure.

How Can You Create And Submit A Sitemap For Your Blog Or Website?

If you are using Yoast SEO for WordPress, it automatically generates and places your XML sitemap for you.

If you are a WordPress user I would highly recommend installing the Yoast SEO plugin.

It’s what I use! I’ve never had a need to upgrade to the paid version either so the free version works amazingly well!

You can install the plugin from the WordPress plugins page. Alternitively you can head over to the Yoast website and install from there! (Scroll down for the free version.)

Once you have installed and configured the Yoast SEO plugin on your blog, it takes care of creating and managing your XML sitemap.

Yoast SEO automatically generates the XML sitemap based on your website’s content and settings. It includes the necessary pages, posts, and other content types that you have chosen to include in the sitemap. The plugin also adds relevant metadata, such as the last modification date and change frequency, to each URL entry in the sitemap.

It then places the generated XML sitemap in the appropriate location on your website, typically in the root directory (e.g., yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml). This location is where search engines expect to find and access the XML sitemap.

If you aren’t using Yoast SEO specifically or are choosing to do it manually, this next section will help guide you.

Creating And Submitting a Sitemap

Generate Your Sitemap

Choose a sitemap generator tool. There are various online tools and plugins available that can generate a sitemap for your website automatically. Some popular options include XML-Sitemaps.com, and Screaming Frog SEO Spider (for larger websites).

Enter Your Website’s URL

Provide the necessary information (such as your blog’s URL) to the sitemap generator tool.

Optimise And Customise Your Sitemap Settings

Configure the settings according to your own preferences. This can include things like; selecting the pages and content you want to include, setting priority levels, and defining the update frequency.

You may want to include important pages, categories, tags, and relevant metadata in your website’s sitemap. Make sure it remains up to date as you add or remove content! This helps search engines understand the importance and context of your pages.

Validate Your Sitemap

You will want to ensure that your generated sitemap is free from errors and follows the sitemap protocol for best results. You can use tools like Google Search Console’s Sitemaps report or the W3C Markup Validation Service to validate your sitemap.

Submitting Your Sitemap To Search Engines

Take advantage of Google Search Console or Bing Webmaster Tools to submit your sitemap and monitor indexing progress. This ensures search engines are aware of your blog’s structure and updates!

For Google Search Console: If you haven’t already, set up a Google Search Console account (previously known as Google Webmaster Tools) and verify ownership of your website.

Then, navigate to the “Sitemaps” section within Google Search Console and submit the URL of your sitemap. Google will regularly crawl and index your website based on the information provided in the sitemap.

For Bing Webmaster Tools: Similarly, create a Bing Webmaster Tools account, verify your website ownership, and submit your sitemap URL in the “Sitemaps” section.

For Other Search Engines: While Google and Bing cover a significant portion of search engine traffic, you may consider submitting your sitemap to other search engines like Yahoo, following their own submission processes.

Where Should You Place Your Sitemap On Your Website?

If you’re not using a plugin like Yoast SEO, your XML Sitemap file should be placed in the root directory of your website. The file should be named “sitemap.xml” to adhere to the standard naming convention. For example, the URL to access your XML sitemap would be “www.yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml“.

Search engines typically look for the sitemap file in this location when crawling your site.

Do You Need To Update Your Sitemap?

Yes it’s important to update your sitemap when there are changes to your website’s structure or content.

Keeping your sitemap up to date ensures that search engines can accurately discover and index the latest content on your blog or website.

Before you panic if you have never done this, if you are using a plugin such as Yoast SEO for WordPress, it will do it automatically for you!

Yoast SEO has the capability to update your XML sitemap automatically. Once you have installed and configured the Yoast SEO plugin on your WordPress website, it automatically generates and updates your XML sitemap as you add or modify content.

This means that whenever you publish a new post, page, or any other content type that is included in your sitemap, Yoast SEO will automatically update the sitemap to reflect the changes!

It adds the new URLs to the sitemap and includes the necessary metadata for each URL, such as the last modification date, change frequency, and priority.

Yoast SEO also notifies search engines, such as Google and Bing, about the updated sitemap through the respective search engine’s webmaster tools or search console.

This helps search engines discover the changes and ensure that the latest content on your website gets crawled and indexed.

It’s important to note that you need to enable the XML sitemap functionality within the Yoast SEO settings and configure any specific sitemap options according to your website’s needs. By default, Yoast SEO generates a sitemap that includes the most common content types, but you can customise it to include or exclude specific post types or individual pages.

Keeping your Yoast SEO plugin up to date will help you to take advantage of any new features or improvements related to sitemaps for your website!

If you are not using a plugin such as Yoast SEO, this next section explains when you should update your sitemap:

Here are some scenarios when you should update your sitemap:

New Pages or Content: Whenever you add new pages, blog posts, or any other type of content to your website, it is important to update your sitemap. By including the URLs of the new content in your sitemap, you help search engines find and index them more efficiently.

Modified Content: If you make significant changes to existing posts or pages. This is things such as updating the page title, meta description, or content itself, it’s good practice to update your sitemap. This allows search engines to recognise the changes and reflect them in their search results.

Removed Pages or Redirects: When you remove pages from your website or set up redirects for outdated URLs, it’s important to update your sitemap accordingly. Removing or redirecting URLs that are no longer available helps search engines maintain an accurate index and avoid crawling and indexing broken or irrelevant links.

Regularly updating your sitemap ensures that search engines have the most current and accurate information about your website’s structure and content.

This improves the chances of your web pages being indexed and ranked appropriately in search engine results.

Sitemap submission is an ongoing process. Especially when you make significant changes to your website! By keeping your sitemap up to date, you help search engines (such as Google) discover and index your content properly. Thus improving your blog’s visibility in search results.

Overall, having a sitemap offers so many benefits. Including improved search engine visibility, efficient crawling, better indexing of relevant content, and a better user experience.

It is a valuable tool for optimising your website’s discoverability. It also ensures that your content gets the attention it deserves from search engines and visitors alike!

I hope this post has helped you learn more about sitemaps for your blog; and why sitemaps are so important for SEO.

The technical side of blogging can feel daunting. But often there are plugins to help which can make things a lot easier!

If you have any further questions regarding sitemaps, let me know in the comments below!

Speak soon!

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Keyword Research Explained For Bloggers: Why Are Keywords So Important?

Katherine McLee — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 12:39:01 +0000

Have you ever wondered what keywords are and why keyword research is so important for bloggers? Let’s go over it all in this post!

As a blogger, it’s essential to understand the importance of keyword research for driving organic traffic to your blog.

Keywords play a crucial role in search engine optimization (SEO) which helps your blog posts rank higher in search engine results. This in turn can attract readers interested in your content.

For new bloggers especially, keywords and keyword research can be confusing and can feel overwhelming.

In this post we will break down what keywords are, what keyword research is, and why it’s so important for your blog!

What Is A Keyword?

A keyword is a word or phrase that is used to search for information on the internet. This can be one word or multiple words. Keywords don’t have to just be one word as the name would suggest!

When you want to find something online, you type specific words into a search engine like Google or Pinterest.

The search engine then looks for websites, pages, images or other online content that is relevant to those keywords.

It can be a word or a phrase that represents the main idea or content you are looking for.

Keywords are important because they help search engines understand what you’re looking for and match it with relevant content on the internet already.

If you use the right keywords, you’re more likely to find what you’re searching for quickly and easily.

As an example, let’s say you want to find a recipe for chocolate chip cookies. You would type “chocolate chip cookie recipe” into the search bar.

In this example, “chocolate chip cookie recipe” is the keyword.

The search engine will show you a list of websites and web pages (including blogs) that have information related to making chocolate chip cookies.

What Are Long-Tail Keywords?

As a blogger you have probably heard the term “long-tail keywords”.

A long-tail keyword is a more specific and detailed phrase that contains 5 or more words.

Unlike shorter and more general keywords, long-tail keywords are more specific to particular topics or niches.

They typically have lower search volume but can be highly valuable for targeting a specific audience!

Long-tail keywords are perfect for newer bloggers who are looking for keywords with a lower competition.

The keyword “running shoes” is broad and generic. This means a search engine could bring up a huge range of results and as a new blogger you may not get anywhere near the top pages of search results.

However, a long-tail keyword like “running shoes for women with arch support” is much more specific and targeted to a very specific audience.

It narrows down the search to a particular type of shoes for a specific audience, making it easier for the reader to find relevant information or products.

As mentioned, the advantage of using long-tail keywords is that they tend to have less competition compared to broader more generic keywords.

This means that if you have a website, blog or a business targeting a specific niche, using long tail keywords can help you attract a much more specific audience to your content.

Additionally, long-tail keywords often indicate higher user intent, as people using such specific terms usually have a clear idea of what they are looking for.

What Is Keyword Research?

Keyword research is when you identify and analyse these specific words and phrases that people use when searching for information, products or answers on search engines like Google.

It involves understanding the search intent of your target audience and determining which keywords are relevant, popular, and likely to drive targeted traffic to your blog.

It’s like finding the right key that unlocks the door to more visibility and potential visitors for your online presence.

Keyword research is such an important part of search engine optimization (SEO). I honestly cannot stress this enough!

Think of keyword research as detective work. You’re trying to uncover the specific words or phrases that people type into search engines when they’re looking for something.

Keyword research is what helps you find the most relevant and effective words or phrases that people use when searching for information online.

By carrying out keyword research, it allows you to find out the terms, questions and queries commonly asked and searched by your target audience in your specific niche.

The only hosting I would recommend for new bloggers: HostGator.

This then allows you to choose the best keywords to focus on within your blog posts, and all around your blog or website.

As an example, if you have a food blog and you write an article about healthy breakfast recipes, some of the keywords for that article could be “healthy breakfast recipes,” “easy breakfast ideas,” or “nutritious morning meals.”

These keywords reflect the main topic of your blog’s content and are words or phrases that people might use when searching for breakfast recipes.

Remember that not everyone searches for information in the same way.

Never assume you can wing it and guess what people are searching for!!

By understanding keywords, you can optimise your content and blog to match what people are actually searching for. This in turn also helps your content appear higher in search engine results!

Using keywords not only in the content of your blog but also in your post titles, categories, tags and other areas of your website will help search engines such as Google to really understand what your blog or website is about.

The more search engines understand what your blog is about, the more likely it is to show it to the right audience.

If you are truly serious about blogging and getting your blog found by readers looking for information in your niche, then keyword research (done properly) is non-negotiable.

Why Keyword Research Is Crucial For Bloggers

Keyword research is crucial for bloggers for several important reasons.

Keywords help search engines understand what your content is about, and they play a crucial role in determining where your content appears in search results!

Keywords are the bridge between your content and your target audience. They help to connect your content with the right audience who are actively searching for information related to those keywords.

By conducting keyword research, you can identify the specific words and phrases people use when searching for information related to your content.

When you then strategically incorporate these keywords into your blog posts, you can increase the chances of your content appearing higher in search engine results. This then can lead to improved visibility and organic traffic.

You Get To Know Your Target Audience

Keyword research helps you to understand your target audience better. When you spend the time learning the keywords people use to search for information, you gain insights into your audience’s interests, needs, and pain points.

This understanding enables you to create content that directly addresses your specific audience’s queries and provides valuable information, resulting in a more engaged and targeted readership.

Proper use of keywords is essential for search engine optimisation (SEO) and are used to improve the visibility and discoverability of your blog/content on the internet.

Competitive Advantage For Bloggers

The blogging world is a highly competitive space. Keyword research provides serious bloggers with a competitive edge.

By identifying keywords that have moderate search volume but low competition, you can target specific niches and rank higher in search results.

This can help you attract readers who are specifically interested in your content, rather than competing with well-established blogs for highly competitive keywords.

When search engines know exactly what your content is about, they know exactly who to show it to!

How To Carry Out Effective Keyword Research

Keyword research involves several steps.

Brainstorming

Start off by brainstorming potential keywords based on your topic or niche. These topics can be general areas of interest that align with your blog’s niche. For example, if you have a travel blog, your broad topics could be “budget travel,” “adventure destinations,” or “travel tips.”

Use A Keyword Research Tool

Then, you use a keyword research tool to explore the popularity/volume and competition of those keywords.

A free keyword research tool will give you a rough idea, but not enough information if you are serious about ranking in search engines.

These tools provide insights into how many people search for a particular keyword and how difficult it is to rank for that keyword!

It means you can pick specific keywords based off of what people are actually searching for.

Analyse Search Volume and Competition

Pay close attention to the search volume of the keywords you find. Look for keywords with a decent search volume, indicating that people are actively searching for content related to those keywords.

At the same time, assess the competition level for each keyword. Aim for a mix of keywords with both moderate and low competition to increase your chances of ranking well.

Based on what you find out, you can then choose the keywords that are most relevant to your content and have a good balance between search volume and competition.

Seek Out Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords as mentioned above are longer and more specific keyword phrases. They often have lower search volumes but can be highly effective in targeting a more niche audience.

Look for long-tail keywords that address specific problems, questions, or interests within your blog’s niche. These keywords can inspire focused and valuable blog posts that cater to a specific audience’s needs.

Take Note Of Keywords and Related Topics

Once you have gathered a list of keywords, make sure they align with your overall topic. Look for keywords that complement or fit within your chosen niche specifically.

Choose the keywords that spark ideas for informative, engaging, and valuable blog posts!

Use the keywords as a starting point to expand your ideas.

Research more about the topic, look into related topics, and then search the new topic keywords.

This process can help you generate more in-depth and comprehensive blog posts!

Note Down Blog Post Ideas

Once you have a list of relevant keywords, brainstorm blog post ideas around those keywords. Think about different angles, subtopics, or aspects you can cover within each keyword.

You can also look at the “People also ask” section in Google search results for additional ideas!

It will also show you related keywords which you can use in your content or save for later!

These keywords will help you attract the right audience to your blog or website, improve your search engine rankings, and increase your chances of getting more visitors!

Keyword research is one of the most crucial parts of a new blogger’s journey towards building a successful blog.

By following the points talked about above, you can use keyword research to generate blog topic ideas that are relevant, valuable, and aligned with what people are actively searching for!

It helps ensure that your blog posts address the needs of your target audience and increase the likelihood of attracting organic traffic and engagement.

By understanding your niche, identifying target keywords, and creating high quality content, you can attract organic traffic, engage readers, and establish your blog’s authority!

This post has hopefully explained to you what keywords are, what keyword research is, why it’s important and how to do keyword research to benefit your blog!

Have you noticed an increase in organic traffic since starting to implement keywords and keyword research?

What was the most confusing part of keyword research to you?

Let me know in the comments below!

Speak soon!

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Blogging Archives – Katherine McLee

Using AI for Blogging: A Simple Guide

How to Use AI for Blogging

How Can You Implement AI Into Your Blogging?

Sparking Ideas and Inspiration

Research Assistance

Streamlining the Content Creation Process

Enhancing SEO

Improving Readability and Engagement

Common Questions About Using AI for Blogging

Can AI Replace Human Writers?

Is AI-Generated Content SEO-Friendly?

How Accurate is AI in Understanding Context?

Is Using AI for Blogging Expensive?

More Questions People Have About Using AI for Blogging

How Can AI Help With Keyword Research?

Can AI-generated Content Rank Well on Google?

Is AI Ethical To Use in Content Creation?

What Are The Limitations of Using AI For blogging?

Concerns About Using AI to Help With Blogging

Benefits of Using AI Voice Overs for Blog Posts

If you’re needing less than 10,000 characters per month then it’s free too!

7 Ways You Can Make Money From Your Blog

Advertising

Where Do You Find Adverts For A New Blog?

How Much Can You Get Paid With Adverts?

Affiliate Marketing

What Is Affiliate Marketing?

How does it work?

Here’s an example and one anyone with a self hosted blog can do – Share Your Hosting!

How Much Can You Make With Affiliate Marketing?

Sponsored Posts

You are. That’s why they asked you.

Selling Your Own Digital Products

One of the great things about digital products is that you only have to create them once but can sell them over and over!

Selling Physical Products

Selling Your Own Services

Freelance Writing

There is also no limit as to how many people you can write for, so time is your only limitation.

19 Must-Know Questions About Blogging Answered: Your Ultimate Guide to Blogging in 2025!

1 – How Do I Choose A Niche?

2 – Do I Need Technical Skills?

3 – Can I Make Money From Blogging?

4 – How Do I Drive Traffic To My Blog?

5 – What should I Write About?

6 – How To Deal With Criticism and Negative Feedback?

7 – Is It Too Late To Start A Blog?

8 – How Much Time Does Blogging Take?

9 – Will Anyone Read My Blog?

10 – What Blogging Platform Should I Use?

11 – Where Can I Find Resources To Learn Proper Blogging Techniques?

12 – What Are The Best Practices For Writing Engaging Blog Posts?

There are a few steps you can follow to create the best content for your specific audience.

13 – How Often Should I Publish New Blog Posts?

14 – Do I Need To Be An Expert In My Niche To Start A Blog?

15 – How Can I Build An Email List For My Blog?

16 – What Are Some Effective Ways To Monetise My Blog?

17 – Should I Focus On Building My Blog’s SEO or Promoting On Social Media?

18 – How Do I Stay Motivated And Overcome Writer’s Block?

19 – How Can I Measure The Success Of My Blog?

3 Legal Pages You Need To Have On Your Blog: Keeping Your Blog Protected

We will go over the top 3 legal pages to keep your blog protected in this post below.

Who exactly needs to have Legal pages on their blog?

Please double check what is required in your country as it can vary around the world!

This is super important to have on the page BEFORE any affiliate links show up.

Which Pages Exactly Do You Need?

Where Do You Get These Important Pages For Your Blog?

The second option is by far the simplest, quickest and cheapest way to get all the legal pages you need and get your blog protected as quickly as possible.

What exactly does the Starter Legal Bundle include?

Privacy Policy

Terms and Conditions

Disclaimer

How Much Is The Stater Legal Bundle?

What Happens If You Don’t Have These 3 Legal Pages On Your Blog?

Legal Non-Compliance

Risk Of Lawsuits

Loss Of Trust and Credibility In Your Blog

Missed Opportunities

11 Top Rated Blogging Books On Amazon: How To Master Blogging in 2025

The Million Dollar Blog