Is blogging dead? This is an inevitable question which comes up time and time again every year but the swift answer is NO!
Blogging is absolutely still relevant in 2022!
However, the practice of blogging is everchanging and getting your blogs seen by an audience may be harder than ever.
Blogging is still a totally viable digital marketing strategyin 2022 and beyond, which is why we are going to share with you our 5 top tips on how to ensure your blog can thrive in 2022…
Share Your Blogs
Whilst blogging will primarily occur on your website, other platforms can grow your audience and create more engagement with your blogs.
Platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and others can drastically improve your popularity. Which platform you choose will depend on your content and your audience. If your content is formal and business-focused then LinkedIn will be the spot for you, whereas if you write informal and chatty stories or guides then YouTube could be your friend.
The best way to share your content to these sites is through repurposing.
Repurposing is the act of using content you already have and creating something new with it.
You can repurpose your content by:
Creating a video: This could be of yourself talking about your content or an infographic video showing a how-to guide.
Social media posts: If you have written a blog then you will have lots of written content ready and available. Use a website like Canva to create visually appealing text posts using the most important parts of your content. Use more content to create an appealing caption and link out to your blog.
If you are not confident appearing visually in person, don’t worry! You can create videos and social media posts anonymously without your face or, if you are posting as a business, you can find another employee who is willing to be involved!
In 2022, your blog will not be found as easily as in the past therefore you need to make yourself stand out more especially when you are just getting started.
Create Visual Content
People love visual content and it is a great addition to your blogs to keep your audience engaged.
When most people find your blog, they will not have searched for your website specifically and have no prior connection to your blog. This means that you need to keep them interested and engaged from the outset.
Using videos and images, you can break up your text into more manageable chunks and brighten up your page.
When including images on your page, you need to include ‘Alt Text’. For those of you who do not know that that is, alt text is the writing which will be displayed in place of an image if the image fails to load or to help visually impaired users.
Your alt text should describe the image clearly and in detail for your audience.
Update Old Content
If you have had a blog for a period of time then it is common to have old content which may now be out of date or in need of a refresh.
Taking time to update this content can be just as useful as creating new content. As you create blogs, you will learn skills, develop your writing style and the world will change.
Giving your blogs a (metaphorical) facelift can be all you need, here are a few tips to look out for in your old blogs:
Outdated statistics. If you have outdated statistics from years ago then your audience will presume the rest of the content is outdated. Make sure to update your statistics often even if this means that you need to update the rest of the content of the blog.
Broken links. If your blog links out to other sources, websites, brands or products then you should check that these are all functioning and in use. If any of your links are broken then you should change these. Search for other links that can serve the same purpose to avoid reader disappointment.
Outdated strategies. If your blog is business-related or notes the best practices in an industry then it is important that this is current and accurate information.
Use Email Marketing to Promote Your Blog
Once your blog is reaching an audience, you need a way to keep them connected and engaged with your blogs even when they aren’t reading them.
Creating an email marketingstrategy for your readers and attaching a button/link to your blogs ensures they can be notified every time you post a new blog.
Using a platform such as Mailerliteallows you to easily create email campaigns with a drag-and-drop editor. This means that you can create your own emails even with no prior experience or knowledge.
The main items you should include in your emails are:
A catchy title
An intriguing subject line
CTA’s. These can be in the form of links in the text or interactive buttons
High-quality images
Make Your Website User-Friendly
So far, all of our tips have been directed towards the content of your blog and sharing it with new audiences however this tip is regarding your website.
Having amazing content is great however you need your readers to be able to access your blog easily.
How many times have you been on a website and immediately left because it was taking too long to load? Or because on your mobile phone, the text and images didn’t fit on your screen properly?
Most readers are now searching on their mobile which means that your blog not only needs to be optimised on desktops, but also for phones. Below are a few things to consider when making your website user-friendly:
Ensure quick loading times
Simple website navigation
Display social media icons
Use a chatbot
Use high-quality images
So, is blogging dead? No! By using these 5 tips, you can keep your blog relevant and thriving in 2022.
Do you need help creating your own blog in 2022? Look no further…
We love creating articles (blogs), posts, quotes, and top-notch content to deliver to your audience through your website, email campaigns, and social media.
We work with you to develop a content strategy which will also be researched in line with our SEO service to ensure we maximise the reach and engage the right people, your ideal clients.
Do you want to start a blog? Blogging with WordPress is great but it can be scary to start especially if you are not technically minded. Don’t worry, you aren’t alone, and many people have the same fear, but it can be so simple.
If you want to start a blog, then we would recommend using WordPress. No scary coding or jargon here. Whether you are a beginner or a blogging aficionado looking for a new platform, WordPress can be as simple or complicated as you would like to make it.
Keep reading to find out more about WordPress, tips on how to write a blog and how to upload your very own blog!
What is WordPress?
WordPress is the simplest, most popular way to create your own website or blog!
Yes, really! In fact, WordPress powers over 43.3% of all the websites on the Internet. That means that more than one in four websites that you visit are likely powered by WordPress.
The best thing about it is that WordPress makes building a website accessible to anyone – even people who aren’t developers.
You can use WordPress to make all kinds of websites and blogs. You may primarily want to start blogging with WordPress, but if you are a business owner then you can also create:
Business websites
eCommerce stores
Blogs
Portfolios
Social networks
Membership sites
…and pretty much anything else you are looking for!
There are two forms of WordPress which you need to know the difference between.
WordPress.org, which is commonly called self-hosted WordPress, is the free, open-source WordPress software that you can install on your own web host to create a website that’s 100% yours.
WordPress.com is a for-profit, paid service that is powered by the WordPress.org software. It’s simple to use, but you don’t have as much flexibility in comparison.
When discussing WordPress, people usually refer to the self-hosted WordPress and if you would like to truly own your own website then it will be the best option for you.
Setting Up Your Blog
Firstly, before you can start blogging, you need to set up your blogging platform. We recommend using WordPress.org for your blog.
All you need to set up your blog is a domain name and web hosting!
A domain name is what people type to get to your website. It’s your website’s address on the internet. Think google.com or creativeintime.com
Web hosting is where your website files live. It’s like you’re a house for your website on the internet. Every website NEEDS web hosting.
We would recommend using Bluehost as your hosting provider as it is one of the oldest web hosting companies on the internet and is recommended by WordPress itself! Let us explain how to set up your Bluehost:
Choose your plan (we would recommend the basic plan if you only need one site and are a beginner)
Enter your domain name
Fill in required information to create your account
Confirm how long you want your hosting to be
Continue to payment
And done!
To connect your Bluehost to WordPress, you need to click the tab called ‘marketplace’ and follow it to one-click installs. You need to click install on the WordPress product and select your site name and tagline, and then select your domain name.
Once WordPress has been installed, you’ll be notified by BlueHost, along with your installation details, username, password, and the option to login to your new WordPress website straight away. Go login to see what your website looks like so far.
When you have logged in, WordPress will ask if you need help setting up your website, you can select yes or no depending on if you need help. Regardless of your choice, once you are ready to launch your website, simply select ‘Bluehost’ from your navigation bar and click ‘launch’.
How To Write a Blog
Blogging is a great way to spread information and there are a few components which you need:
Title: Tell the reader WHAT they are going to read. Avoid clickbait or vague titles as these will cause your readers to bounce off your content, sending bad signals to Google.
Introduction: Introduce the blog, what is it about? What can readers expect to learn? Don’t be afraid to show your personality!
Background Information: Include/explain any information that may be needed before answering the question. Imagine your mum is reading your content, would she understand what you are talking about without any context? Use this section of a blog to explain the details as if this is the first time your reader is hearing about this topic (which it very well could be!).
Answer the Question: Answer the question clearly and honestly. You can voice an opinion however present the facts clearly and without bias.
Outro: Include links to any relevant products, to your shop, your social media accounts or to other related blogs. ALWAYS link to something. Explain what your blog/business is about and why people should keep up to date with your latest content.
We recommend blogging weekly to build up traction and get ranking on Google. Blogging is a sure-fire way to keep your website fresh and inviting, it keeps your website active and keeps people on your website for longer. A quality blog gives other sites a reason to link back to your site which can build trust.
Uploading Your Blog
Once you have written a blog, you need to get it live on your website. To write a blog post, click on ‘Posts’ and then ‘Add New’ on your WordPress dashboard.
You will see an editor area where you can write your first blog post!
You need to transfer your blog information onto WordPress and then there are many extras which you can add in such as:
Subheadings
Images
Bullet points
Links
Categories
And more!
Once you are done, you can click the preview button at the top right to see how your blog will look and then click publish when you are ready for it to go LIVE!
And just like that, you have a blog live! Keep posting and marketing your blogs to get readers and rank higher on Google.
If you think blogging will benefit your business (which it totally would) but you aren’t sure that you can write quality blogs then get in touch now.Everyone knows content is king. From Blogging with WordPress to Infographics and Case Studies, we will get your business noticed.
Blogging is an amazing way to bring more traffic to your website, become an authority in your field and build a community.
What is Blogging?
Blogging is the act of posting content on a website. They are informal articles written for the main purpose of showing thought leadership and expertise on a certain topic.
Often, you will be reading a blog and won’t even know it!
That recipe you just read, blog.
List of fashion trends, blog.
Technology tips, blog.
If you’re searching for it then someone is blogging about it and vice versa, if you want to blog about something then the likelihood is that someone is searching for it.
If you want to know the ins and outs of how to start blogging in 2023 then keep reading!
Step 1: Choose your Blogging Host
To get people to start reading your blog, it needs to be online!
If you are starting from scratch, then you need to use a blog host to get your blog online.
In this guide, we will show you how to use BlueHost for all of your blogging needs. Let me tell you a few quick reasons:
They register your custom domain name for free
30-day money back guarantee
Free, automatic installation of WordPress blogging software (this sounds scary but don’t panic)
Step 2: Create Your Account
Once you visit their website, you need to select your plan. We would recommend that for a blogging beginner, you will only need the basic plan.
Next, you need to input your domain name. Yes, this may seem like the complicated part.
If you already have previously paid to register a domain and wish to use that to host your blog, then you can put it in the right box. If you have not, then input your chosen domain name into the left box and click “next”.
Now for the easy part, I’m sure most of us have bought something using the internet before, so fill out your billing details on the registration page now.
You will also need to choose your hosting package and extras, for a beginner blog, it is likely you are not going to need any extras as your account plan will have everything you need for your blog.
You are now ready to create your BlueHost account and password! Not to be that person but please choose a secure and unique password, I don’t want any birthdays or full names here!
Once you have your account set up, you will be shown an installation helper but since you are reading this you can just click on “skip this step” to follow along with us instead (or do both!).
The WordPress blogging platform will automatically install, and you can click on the “log into WordPress” button on the top right-hand corner to go to the administrator section of your blog.
Step 3: Customise your blog
This is where the fun really begins, here is your opportunity to customise the appearance of your blog!
How you want your blog to look is personal preference, there is no right or wrong answer for how your own blog should look.
One of the benefits of WordPress is its “themes” which can be accessed through the “appearance” tab. You should have some free WordPress themes already installed for use on your blog and unless you have a very specific design in mind, we would recommend using one of these.
Once you pick a theme, all you need to do is hover other the theme and click activate. It’s that easy!
If you don’t like any of these themes, just click “add new theme” to browse lots of other WordPress themes which you can install and activate.
On WordPress, go to the menu on the left and click “posts”.
Delete the post which is already there (it defaults on all new blogs and is not needed) and then click “add new”.
You can now add in a title, your content and even extra things such as images. Don’t forget your SEO as well (what is SEO for blogging, you ask? Click here to find out).
If you are creating your own blog, then you will also need to promote it. What’s a blog if it isn’t being read?
Some ways to promote your blog are through social media, email marketing and search engine optimisation.
Are you looking to get into blogging? Or perhaps you are an experienced blogger looking to refresh your memory, we’ve got you either way!
Blogging is a sure-fire way to keep your website fresh and inviting, it keeps your website active and keeps people on your website for longer. A quality blog gives other sites a reason to link back to your site which can build trust.
Keep reading all about HOW to make your blog the best it can be, and some of our personal favourite tools (shhh…it’s just between us!)
Write About Topics People are Searching For
Once you have decided blogging is for you, you will need to find your blog’s topic. You can write blogs about ANYTHING! If someone is searching for it, you can blog about it. Technically you can blog about something no one is searching for, but no one will see it so…what’s the point?
What do you enjoy? What are you passionate about? Your topic should reflect this. If you are not passionate or even interested in your topic then it will show through in your writing.
Blogging tips:
Use short paragraphs – Short paragraphs invite readers in whereas long paragraphs are daunting.
Include multimedia – Images, GIFs and videos can illustrate your point without more text and can provide relief from reading.
Use short sentences – Most people read in their mind’s voice and using short sentences can be easier to follow.
Read your work out loud – This helps point out areas that your content is boring or doesn’t flow right. Don’t worry, you don’t have to read to anyone else, just yourself!
Your blog title is so important! A brilliant blog title will improve the click-through rate of your blog. What is a click-through rate, I hear you ask. It is the ratio of users who click on a specific link versus the number of total users who view the page.
Here’s an easy way to get the best blog title. First, decide on your topic, then decide what sort of title you are looking for… Is it a guide? An answer to a question? A list of things? Then you can create a basic working title for your blog and develop it into the BEST title.
Check out our examples below!
Example blog titles – Guides
“A Start-To-Finish Guide…”
“…: A Step-By-Step Guide”
“An Experts Guide to…”
Topic: Using WordPress
Okay Title: A Guide to Using WordPress
Great Title: A Simple Guide to Using WordPress
Best Title: An In-Depth Guide to Using WordPress Efficiently
Example blog titles – Listicles
“5 Myths About…”
“10 Reasons Why…”
“The 8 Best Tools For…”
Topic: Writing a Blog
Okay Title: 5 Blogging Tips
Great Title: 5 Blogging Tips Everyone Should Know
Best Title: 5 Amazing Blogging Tips That You Might Not Know
Example blog titles – Questions
“…? Here’s How…”
“What Is… And How Should You…?”
“…? These Tips Will…”
Topic: Social Media
Okay Title: What Social Media Should You Use?
Great Title: What Social Media Should You Use? 10 Questions.
Best Title: What Social Media Should You Use? 10 Questions to Help You Decide
This is not an exhaustive list of titles, there are hundreds of phrases to choose from, the key is to make it catchy yet to the point. Your readers want to know WHAT they are going to read before they even click.
Check Out Our Favourite Tools
Now that you know your topic, it is time to start researching your blog! Before you start writing your blog, you should find out what people are SEARCHING for and what people WANT to know.
If you want your blog to be found, you need to know what people are searching for. Using a tool such as Ubersuggest will allow you to find keywords to use in your blog.
Keywords are what people enter in a search engine to find a website. Using relevant keywords throughout your blog can improve your ranking on Google and increase the chances of your blog being found.
Want to find out more about how blogs help you get found? Click hereto check out our content on how blogging helps SEO.
Another blog writing tool is AnswerThePublic. This tool is used to research what people are searching for on search engines. When you know your blog topic, this tool is useful for deciding what information to include and can be useful for writing subheadings.
Another amazing tool for your blogs, to ensure your grammar and spelling are up to scratch, is Grammarly.If your blogs have spelling errors or grammatical mistakes, people may not trust what you say or can even leave your website all together! Harsh but true.
Now, Go Forth and BLOG!
With your new found knowledge you should be all set to venture into the world of blogging!
We have lots of our own blogs on our website to help with all things blogging, SEO, social media and digital marketing. Click here to visit our website now or click here to have a chat with us!
Is blogging in your marketing strategy? If it is, perfect! Keep reading to find out some nifty tips and tricks to give your blogs an extra edge and find out how blogging makes money. If blogging isn’t in your marketing strategy, let me show you why it should be!
Did you know that 77% of people regularly read blogs online?
In 2020, the number of blogs on the internet grew to over 600 million. With such a large amount of blogs available, it may seem overwhelming to break in and succeed but trust us, it is definitely possible!
What is blogging?
Blogging is the act of posting content on a website. They are informal articles written for the purpose of showing thought leadership and expertise on a topic.
Often people will be reading a blog and they don’t even know it! Maybe you search for dinner recipes or help with your tech, more often than not the webpage you end up on will be a blog.
I’ll let you in on a secret…this is a blog! Shhh keep it quiet. Want to check out one of our other blogs on how to make your marketing cost effective? We bet you do.
Setting up your blog
Before you start making money, making a blog should be the first thing on your agenda.
Your blog needs a niche to grow, it doesn’t need to be radical, it just needs to give you a unique voice. Pick something that you enjoy, I mean why would you blog about something you don’t care about. If you aren’t passionate about your blog, then it can show in your writing and people will notice.
Once you have decided on a niche, you need to find out whether it can bring in readers, a blog can’t make you money if no one wants to read it. A quick Google search can show if people are searching for your topic or not.
Then…pick a name! Think catchy, short and memorable.
Once you have decided on your blog topic and name, you need to sign up to a web hosting service, we recommend blogging with WordPress, and choose your domain name. Once this is all set up, you have your blog!
Now, your blog will not look inviting to begin with, so you need to customise it to suit your style. If you are using WordPress as we suggested, you can click on ‘appearance’ in the sidebar and select ‘themes’. Click ‘add new’ and then select one of the many WordPress themes to add!
Optimise your blogs for SEO
Search engine optimisation (SEO) is vital for making money from your blog. SEO is the way in which you optimise your website to rank higher in search engines through keywords and phrases.
If you are blogging with WordPress, you can install a plugin called Yoast SEO which gives you tips and suggestions to improve your SEO.
Improving your blogging SEO will make your blog more visible so it is imperative to pay attention to it.
If SEO confuses you or you would like to learn more then you click here for our beginner’s guide to SEO. Alternatively, we can do this for you too! Book a call nowto find out how we can help with your SEO.
How blogging makes money
Using ads is one of the best ways to monetise your blog. When incorporating ads onto your blog, you should try to use targeted ads that will appeal to your readers instead of bombarding your readers with unnecessary and unrelated ads.
Keep track of your analytics and monitor if your bounce rate changes when you add ads, if you notice a higher bounce rate then you may need to consider repositioning your ads or reducing the amount.
If you have a product or service to sell, using your blog to do this is a great way to make money through your blog and direct traffic towards your business.
How else does blogging benefit your business?
Blogging has other benefits for your business other than making money such as helping your websites SEO.
