blogging advice

Side Hustle Spark 274: Free ebook–Fix those business blogging mistakes

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A portion of HubSpot’s ebook on business blogging

HubSpot and General Assembly are offering this 8-Part Planner to Get Your Blog Up & Running to Grow Your Business. A checklist is included.

I know I’ve shared other blogging resources before, but different tools resonate with different users, so it’s worth sending these along.

I just started reading it, but I’ve already run across some interesting items:

— Companies who maintain a blog receive 97% more links to their website.

— B2B marketers who blog get 67% more leads than those who don’t.

— Marketers who prioritize their blog are 13x more likely to see positive ROI.

I say it’s worth the time and HubSpot is a proven and reputable resource.

Side Hustle Spark 228: Blog layout tips from Ryan Robinson

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Ryan Robinson covers blog layout with a post that could easily qualify as a mini-course.

In fact, this is a ‘pour yourself some coffee, sit back, and take notes’ kind of post. (Suggestions: Open a Google Doc and copy/paste the ryrob.com tips most helpful and relevant to you. To further cement the information, read it aloud. Record yourself, even.)

My goal after reviewing this post: Make at least three immediate changes to sidehustlecurator’s layout.

As you can see, I have not been overly invested in layout and design.

I want to deliver the content to you folks and move on.

But who’s fooling who(m)? (The grammar gods are annoying at times.)

A better design will more effectively provide content for the audience.

For now, because I want #228 ouit there today, I’m sticking with my utilitarian design for this post and plan for improvements next week.

Sections of this post that I will click to first:

Ryan also covers building engagement, calls to action, branding, page load strategy, image quality, and designing a relatable layout.

Finally, use the comment box to let me know if there’s a more helpful way that I can curate/present content like this for you.

Side Hustle Spark 181: Check out themanifest.com

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While reading The Do’s and Don’ts of Publishing on Medium.com, I learned about themanifest.com.

You can subscribe to their how-to guides, here.

A realization: It’s entirely possible that the more resources I send you to, the less you’ll need to check in here. While I’m not trying to steer you away, hey, if the destinations help you more than this blog, then I guess ‘mission accomplished’.

Forge ahead!.

I promise I’ll keep plugging, myself.

Side Hustle Spark 180: Ali Mese and growthsupply.com

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I liked this tagline found on growthsupply.com’s ‘Studio’ page.

I ran across Ali Mese while reading the post The Do’s and Don’ts of Publishing on Medium.com. (Note: You might need to sign in on medium.com to read that post. Otherwise, this article written by Rhonda Bradley can be found at The Manifest.

The writer noted that Ali (at the time with 64,000 readers) consistently uses bold statements, easy-to-read strategies (subheaders, numbered/bulleted lists), quotes, video, and social media posts in his pieces.

I followed up on Ali and his growthsupply.com site. (“Get smarter at building your thing.”)

Some relevant titles on the front page include:

A realization: It’s entirely possible that the more resources I send you to, the less you’ll need to check in here. While I’m not trying to steer you away, hey, if the destinations help you more than this blog, then I guess ‘mission accomplished’.

Forge ahead!.

I promise I’ll keep plugging, myself.

Side Hustle Spark 171–: Freebie from Side Hustle Nation: How to Start a Side Hustle Blog

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Since January is often about ‘starting’, take a look at Nick Loper’s free six-part video series on blogging.

Even if your blog is well-established, Nick raises salient points and shares worthwhile tips.

The six components:

  1. 4 Reasons to Start a Blog
  2. Don’t Call It a ‘Blog’
  3. 8 Ways Blogs Make Money
  4. What to Blog About
  5. How to Get Your Site Online
  6. How to Install WordPress

Added freebie: The lead magnet 365 Blog Post Ideas.

Note: There are plenty of blogging experts out there, including Ryan Robinson of ryrob.com, whom I’ve pointed you to several times.

My bias as a long time teacher: One expert’s approach may fit your needs and learning style better than another’s.

And what you bring to the course at any given time makes a big difference…so again, I’m trying to set the table. It’s up to you to grab a plate and dig in.

Best of luck. I’m in your corner.

My manifesto

Side Hustle Spark 165: Copyblogger: “Connect Your Content!”:

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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 

Coopyblogger Editor-in-chief Stefanie Flaxman shares advice on using internal links to create a ‘web of content’.

Title of post: One Ridiculously Easy Blogging Ingredient that Satisfies Hungry Prospects

The post’s three suggested strategies:

  1. Plan your links. Look for/aim for/point to connections between your posts.
  2. Choose intriguing words and phrases. Use terms that match or pique your visitors’ interests. (Ex. ‘call to action’ and ‘selling points’)
  3. Let your content inspire more content. Link back to previous relevant posts and add a reminder to further explore a concept in future posts.

** Because of the nature of sidehustlecurator, this post is a prime example of do as she says, not as I do.

Also due to the nature of my blog, most posts are merely pointers to the better stuff. DO follow the links!

Side Hustle Suggestion 87: Overnight Success, Well Not Quite (Chris Guillebeau’s Free 2009 Book)

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Greetings, side hustlers.

I was overdue to link you to a freebie and there are plenty out there, but I chose to revisit Suggestion #17—

279 Days to Overnight Success, Chris Guillebeau’s second manifesto–this one detailing his nine-month journey to becoming a full-time writer–offers much guidance and advice that still applies today.

I like linking to the Goodreads ‘quotes from the book’ pages, but I couldn’t find one for 279 Days.

Instead, check out this overview and breakdown from businessbackpacker.com. Good stuff.

Suggestion 83: Monetizing Your Blog–tips from ryrob.com.

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Moving on to the third section from ryrob’s 40 Blogging Tips and Advice From Top Bloggers in 2020— Monetizing Your Blog.

Points to consider:

  1. Treat your blog like a real business.
  2. Work backwards–pinpoint profit opps, then create targeted content.
  3. Your blog should be a jumping off point for your services/products.
  4. You and your team should play the ‘long game’.
  5. Ideal customer, ideal customer, ideal customer.
  6. Leave your comfort zone.

CONTRIBUTORS:

Tim Soulo, Nathan Barry, Preston Lee, Adam Enfroy, Darren Murph, Jon Morrow, Adda Birnir,