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Tools and Tips To Write Engaging Content Your Audience Will Love

Dec 3, 2015 By Julie Petersen

Note from Kevin: Today’s guest post comes courtesy of Julie Petersen. Need help writing engaging content? Julie has some great tips and tools…

tips-tools-portraitWhat?s the last truly great article you read?

Did you share it with anyone on social media? Did you tell your friends and family about it or quote it later in your day? Did you save it so you could read it again?

If any of these things are true, I bet I can tell you two facts about the article. First, I can say with confidence that it was well written. The author took their time to compose their thoughts in a way that drew you in and engaged you on an intellectual level. Second, it was visually appealing. You saw a picture, video, slideshow, or something else that got your attention.

These things don?t just happen.

It takes time to craft engaging content that audiences love. And if you?re pressed for time or new to writing, it can be a challenge to produce quality articles over and over again.

The following tools and tips will help make the process a little more seamless. Use them to improve both your writing and your visual content so your readers will love your work.

Writing Tools

no1Hemingway Editor

Write like Hemingway!

Hemingway Editor is an awesome website that can improve the readability and clarity of your writing. You just copy and paste your article into Hemingway Editor?s platform, and the site will highlight any sentences that are hard to read.

It also points out passive voice and adverbs so you can modify them as you wish.

no2Tweak Your Biz Title Generator

Tweak Your Biz?s online Title Generator comes up with a huge list of possible headlines for your blog posts. All you have to do is type in your topic, and specify whether the topic is a noun or a verb. Tweak Your Biz does the rest.

Choose the headline that grabs your attention the fastest. It?s sure to have the same effect on your readers.

no3Ninja Essays

Ninja Essays is a tremendous resource for writers.

For a small fee, Ninja Essays can write your articles for you. If you need help with editing and proofreading, they have services for those as well.

They?ll even help with formatting!

no4PlagTracker

PlagTracker will ensure that your articles are free of plagiarism.

The website will scan your article, find any instances of plagiarism, and replace them with original content.

Rest easy knowing you will always have truly unique content for your readers to enjoy.

no5Word Counter

Longer content is viewed more and shared more across social media. Longer posts also offer more opportunities for backlinks and embedding SEO keywords.

For these reasons, it?s important to have a minimum standard for the length of your posts. Aim for at least 400 words per post.

Essay Mama?s Word Counting tool will make this step in the process very easy.

Visual Content Creation Tools

no6Canva

Considered to be one of the easiest design websites for anyone to use, Canva uses a ?drag and drop? tool to make stunning graphics for your website or blog posts.

Kevin J. Duncan uses Canva to create many of the graphics you see here on Be A Better Blogger!

no7Pixabay

Choose from a selection of over 490,000 free photos and illustrations.

Pixabay makes it easy to find what you?re looking for with their search tool.?You can further filter your results based on orientation, theme, or prevalent color.

It’s pretty nifty.

no8PiktoChart

PiktoChart lets you easily create infographics for your website.

You start by selecting a template, and then you add charts, video, pictures, and data. With built in social media options, you can easily share the infographic across your web pages.

You can also choose to download and print it, or embed it into a website.

no9WeVideo

Unlike most visual content creation websites, WeVideo lets you make videos for your page.

The site has advanced options for people who are a bit more tech-savvy, as well as basic designs for those of us who are lacking in artistic abilities.

WeVideo is free for 5-minute videos and up to 2 GB of cloud storage. After that, plans start at $11/year.

no10GIFMaker

GIFMaker is a free site that lets you make animated GIFs, slideshows, and video animation. It?s one of the only content creation websites that doesn?t require you to sign up.

The tools listed above will make content creation process much easier and effective. However, you need to know how to use them appropriately to get the desired effect.

10 Writing Tips to Make Your Content Engaging and Viral

#1. Use Keywords

When you write your article or blog post, it has to compete with thousands of similar articles in order to receive decent placement in Google?s search results.

One way to help your article rise to the top of the list is to incorporate keywords that will draw readers to your page. Use keywords in your bio or the ?About Us? section of your social media profile. Also, include them in the title of your article and anywhere else that is appropriate.

Just be sure that the writing sounds natural.

#2. Always Respond to Comments

This should go without saying. But you?d be shocked to learn how many businesses and individuals neglect to respond to questions or comments on their social media profiles.

This is absolutely crazy because you have an interested customer right there in front of you asking for you to talk to them. This is even true if you receive a negative comment. Engage the person in conversation. Take advantage of this great opportunity.

If you fail to respond, someone who might have been interested in your product or service might move onto another company or website where they won?t feel ignored.

#3. Tell A Story

Stories connect us to one another. If you can find a way to tell a story within your article, people will be more engaged and interested in what you have to say.

Tell a truthful, personal, and relevant story. This might be on your ?About Me? page or within a blog post about how your business grew from the ground up.

Allow your readers to cheer for you and see themselves within your story.

#4. Be Unique

Unique content will be re-blogged, liked, and shared. Content that has been spun and spun across the web will not.

Find a way to make your article stand out from the rest.

If you?re writing about the best type of dog for each person, for example, maybe focus on the best type of dog for each person based on their eating habits or their sleep schedule. It?s more interesting than basing the decision on their work schedule or space in their home.

#5. Use Pictures and Video

People are visual by nature. We are far more likely to read articles with images to keep us engaged.

People are also more likely to purchase from a business that has great images on their website. It?s not always fair or logical, but it?s true. Use this to your advantage. Incorporate images into all of your posts.

#6. Take Advantage of Social Media

Do some research to learn which social media platforms your potential customers use on a daily basis, and put serious effort into sharing your posts on those pages.

If you find out that you have a lot of potential readers on Twitter and Instagram, for instance, then only posting to Facebook won?t be very effective.

There are many wonderful social media tools that can help push your content to your audience. Take advantage of these tools to make the most of your writing.

#7. Be Trustworthy

When someone reads your article, they will be anxious and apprehensive about the content unless they feel that they can trust you or relate to you in some way.

People trust academic technical experts the most. But directly after the experts, they trust people who seem most like them. They are generally less trusting of CEOs.

If you happen to be the CEO, don?t let this stop you from writing. Just focus on how you are like the reader instead of focusing on your title.

#8. Eliminate Distractions

Keep your article simple and without a lot of fancy distractions.

Do not offer multiple calls to action at the end of the article. When people feel overwhelmed with their choices, they frequently opt to remove themselves from the situation entirely. Provide your readers with very limited options for a next step.

One way to do this is to have an email list that readers can join. You could also ask that they like your Facebook page or subscribe to your blog. Do not ask for all of these things at once.

#9. Give Advice, Not A Pitch

People are smart. They can see a marketing pitch coming from across a football field. If your article seems ?salesy? you will lose your audience before they ever reach your call to action.

If you want to recommend your product or service to them, do so in a way that feels like you are genuinely offering your expert advice. You don?t need to come right out and pitch your company. They?re already reading your article on your website.

Just advise the reader on how you can help them without coming across as aggressive.

#10. Spend Some Time On Your Headline

The headline is the only thing standing between you and your readers. Without an attention-grabbing headline, your potential readers will skip your article and completely miss out on the content.

Constructing a great title isn?t hard. It just takes a little time and thought. Focus on using ?emotional? words that will cause people to react. Some emotional words are ?fear,? ?protect,? ?comfortable,? and ?shocking.?

You can also use tools like Portent?s Headline Generator to build a great headline.

Over to You

There you have it!

Hopefully these tools and tips will improve the quality of your work. Be sure to bookmark this article away as an easy reference until it becomes a habit.

Over time, you?ll get used to turning to them for help with creating slideshows, editing your writing, and making graphs.

[avatar email=”julie.petersen1988@gmail.com” size=”125″]About Julie Petersen
Julie is a content marketing specialist and a blogger. She is running her educational blog AskPetersen and working as a private English language tutor. You may contact Julie here.

How to Resurrect Your Blog and Turn it Into a Business

Nov 26, 2015 By Wichly Cazeau

Note from Kevin: Today’s guest post is from Wichly Cazeau. Want to resurrect your blog so you can turn it into a business? Wichly is here to help…

resurrect-blogIt seems that everyone and their neighbor has a blog, but – sadly – very few people know how?to turn it into a business.

Not all blogs are created equally and there are a variety of?things and practices you can put into place that will thoroughly resurrect your?blog and turn it into a moneymaking masterpiece.

So whether you blog as a hobby,?to strengthen your SEO standing with Google, or as a voice for your company, it?s?time to start analyzing your website, layout and content and rejuvenate them with?these fresh changes so you can start tearing the industry up with a storm.

Let’s dive in…

Recognizing Your Mistakes

One of the very first things you need to do in order to turn your blog into a business?is to recognize your mistakes; recognize why your blog hasn?t become a business?already and recognize what hasn?t worked for you previously.

The blogging industry?is incredibly fast, and you may quickly notice that one of your biggest mistakes may?have been that you didn?t keep up with the rapid pace or, more importantly, you dismissed the constant changes that are required for your success.

Maybe you didn?t?stick to a consistent publishing schedule, missed deadlines or overlooked important?emails and opportunities? Recognizing what you should, could or would have done?differently provides you?with the opportunity to learn from your mistakes.

As soon as you are able to?recognize the business and blogging mistakes and make appropriate changes, the?rest will typically follow suite. Even if you think your blogging strategy has been?foolproof, you?ll find something.

Just take a look.

Design For Success

Providing fresh, creative and entertaining content is certainly key to resurrecting?your blog and turning it into a business, but the importance of design and layout?should never be overlooked either.?Your blog has to be user friendly with precise?navigation, accurate links, and a layout that isn?t overwhelming.

Many blog owners?often think that plastering their content with ads will turn it into a business, but it?often does the absolute opposite as your layout will no longer appeal to your?audience and will encourage them to abandon the site.

Fortunately, you can reverse?the negative effects your current blog theme may have taken on your analytics?by spending a couple of dollars for a unique blog theme that promotes a crisp and?clean layout.

Additionally, Internet usage?via mobile devices has significantly increased over the years and is continuing to do?so,?so?your blog design must be responsive. This means your design will?automatically adjust to whatever device that it is being viewed on, whether it?s a?desktop, laptop, smartphone or tablet.

By ignoring mobile users, you are limiting the people?that can view your website; you?re limiting your success.

Build a Team

Building a team doesn?t necessarily mean that you have to hire some employees, nor?does it mean that you have to break the bank to pursue this business endeavor.

With so many incredible freelance websites out there, you can hire professionals for?every need, as you need it. Work-for-hire contractors can be used for everything from?your web design, to content, marketing, search engine optimization and so much?more.

It is important to recognize that you are never going to be able to thoroughly?handle all aspects of your business on your own. You are also probably better at?some things than others and, for the components of your blog in which you?aren?t?an expert, hiring freelancers so you can reap the benefits of their expertise often pays off in the long run.

Your team may consist of one or two work-for-hire freelancers or 50 full-time employees, but everyone needs help eventually.

Listen To Your Audience

Your blog should have some sort of analytics provided, and if not, it is certainly time?to set?them up. Your analytics are the only proof you have that is going to tell you?exactly what is working for you, what isn?t, and who your audience is.

Many people?overlook their blog?s statistics, and this is one of the biggest mistakes bloggers?can?make. Learn how to read?your analytics and make necessary changes to provide your audience with what?they want.

For example, if you have been providing content specifically for women?aged 35-40 but find that your audience equally consists of both sexes, you may want?to adjust your tone to cater to all.

Age, location, topics, pages and time of peak traffic?are a few of the statistics you should be consistently following.

So, ?give the people?what they want?.

Ads and Affiliates

Generating revenue is likely your main goal when turning your blog into a business, but in order to do so you need to have reliable traffic and content that is?relevant to your niche or an advertiser?s product/service.

You can easily add many?text-ads onto your website with a simple widget such as Google’s AdSense, and they?will automatically scan your website for keywords and display relevant ads.

However, these methods often don?t generate a large amount of income and you?need to be careful with how you place them on your website, since web design is so?important (as mentioned previously). There are also many other blog advertising?options that can have a better payout. Affiliate programs are one that gives you?commission anytime a click-through from the ad placed on your site results in a sale.

While there is thousands of affiliate programs, be sure to only choose those that are?suitable for your content and that offer a higher percentage of sales.

You can also?sell ad space to other companies; many of which will pay good money in comparison?to the other two options mentioned. However, for all options, you do need a high?amount of traffic to see any significant amount of money coming in.

Furthering Your Profit

Income can certainly be generated outside of ads and affiliate programs as well,?depending on the niche of your business.

You can start by offering premium content?for audience members that pay for an upgraded membership, or even sell?merchandise such as t-shirts, mugs, and notebooks with your blog?s logo on it.

Merchandising your brand will also help with creating brand recognition and?promotions. You may also want to start using your blog as a platform to sell your?expertise.

Coaching is one of the largest growing industries in the world, and?depending on the niche of your blog you can get a coaching certificate and start?helping others improve the areas of their life that you have expertise. Alternatively,?you can?start providing coaching on a creative skill you possess. Not only is this a monetary?opportunity, but it is an incredibly rewarding job that can quickly provide many?additional opportunities such as webinars, online courses, workshops etc.

Get your?certificate, create a sales page on your website, and you can be booking your very?first clients in minutes.

You may also want to consider adding an eCommerce store?to your blog that sells items that you frequently discuss. Instead of advertising the?products of someone else?s online store on your blog, you could direct your?audience right to yours.

You can also generate income with sponsorships since?advertising on blogs is often a more affordable option for many companies;?as?such, they are looking for businesses just like yours to pay and provide product to.

You will need a decent amount of traffic, but with excellent content and the previous?tips taken into consideration, you are well on your way. All you have to do is create a?media kit (or hire a freelancer to) and start distributing it to PR agencies and brands?that will want to have access to your audience.

With any one of these options or a?combination of some, you can certainly be furthering your revenue with your blog.

Be Genuine with your Approach

One of the biggest mistakes many blog owners make is that they are blogging for all?the wrong reasons, and when you aren?t genuine within your approach it shows?within your content.?More importantly, it will reflect in the lack of loyal viewers that?come to read your blog.

While everyone wants to generate some revenue from their?blog and efforts, doing it solely for the money aspect isn?t going to bring you the?success you?re looking for. So, forget about what other people are thinking and truly?invest your heart and soul into your blog and the rest will follow.

Be genuine,?authentic and different.

If the writing isn?t your strong point, resort back to the?previously mentioned tip and hire some freelance writers to handle the content for?you so you can focus your expertise on other elements.

Your Turn

As you can see, your blog can easily be turned into a profitable business with some?simple adjustments, fresh content and marketing tactics.

Toss some ideas around?and see what works for your new business endeavor, and just because something?may not be working right now doesn?t mean that it is a write off.

Sometimes, you?just need to sit back and analyze your blog, content and analytics to see how you can?implement new ideas and opportunity into your business.

Creative Commons Image via azadam.

7 Irresistible Tips for Creating Catchy Headlines

Oct 23, 2015 By Stephanie Norman

catchy-headlines-portraitAlmost all writers and marketers struggle to think of creative, captivating titles for their publications.

But the payoff? The payoff is huge. That?s why David Ogilvy, the father of advertising, spent weeks perfecting the headlines of his most famous ads.

If you don’t pay much attention to the process of developing catchy headlines, you shouldn’t be surprised when your content is met with high bounce rates.

A catchy title will increase the appeal of your post and compel your visitors to take the time to read it. Without it, the post you worked so hard to create will be handicapped – it’ll be doomed to fail from the outset.

The good news is once you come up with an idea, properly constructing a catchy title is fairly easy. Here are 7 hacks to help you:

#1. Your Readers Matter. Have a Conversation With Them. Ask a question!

Smart bloggers and content writers do their best to involve readers in the content they write. They address them and make them feel like they?re talking directly to them. This approach makes readers feel appreciated, but it also enables them to connect with the writer.

Have you ever thought about implementing this strategy in your headline?

For example, you can start with a question: ?Are You Planning Your Next Vacation? These Tips Will Help You Prepare!?

The question needs to be direct, and it would be great if the reader answers with a ?yes.? That?s certainly a way to get their attention.

You can also make the question in the title a bit provocative. For example:??You Support Pro-Choice? These Facts Will Make You Look at Abortion from Another Point of View!?

This type of formulation will probably get a reader frustrated since you?re trying to change their opinion about something. However, you?ll provoke them to read what you have to say, and you?ll probably get lots of comments. You should offer a top-quality post based on facts if you want this headline to be successful.

Don?t try to be too clever when asking a question in the headline; make it as direct and clear as possible. Of course, you need to leave an impression that you?re about to teach them something they don?t already know. That?s the only way of getting the reader interested in finding out more.

Don?t ask a question like, ?What?s Your Favorite Childhood Story?? However, do formulate the same idea into something like ?Looking for the Best Stories for Children? Check Out This List of Favorites!?

#2. Adjectives are cool. Use them!

If you use an editing tool such as Hemingway App, you probably get suggestions to reduce the number of adjectives. This is done for the sake of clarity and readability. It?s good advice, but don?t abide by it when writing headlines.

With headlines, adjectives are almost necessary. You need an intriguing, strange adjective that will add a bit of excitement in the title. Use words like chilling, heartbreaking, invigorating, exhilarating, effortless, or any other unusual adjective you can think of.

Theasurus is an online tool that will help you find the right words.

#3. Get Many Ideas and Choose the Best One

You have greater chances of coming up with awesome headlines if you generate plenty of ideas. In this case quantity really matters.

There are different techniques that get your mind into a creative mode, but brainstorming is still the most efficient one. If you?re working on a blog post, you can cover the idea-generation process on your own. Use a plain piece of paper to note down all ideas you get. If things get messy when you start writing, you should follow the signs and start using an online brainstorming tool.

Bubble.us and MindMeister enable you to brainstorm and create inspiring digital mind maps online. Although creativity is a messy process, a little visual order can only benefit you. When you?re writing on paper, you can?t connect all the ideas when you?re finished. An online mind map enables you to find connections between the different ideas you get, so you?ll end up with a more creative headline.

If you?re trying to think of a headline for a really important post you?re about to publish, you should try team brainstorming. A few heads are always smarter than one, right? With GroupMap and Stormboard, you can collaborate with your team in a constructive online environment.

Here is a technique you can use in team brainstorming: one member of the group starts with a pitch. It can be anything related to the topic. Then, every other person tries to refine that suggestion, add a different angle, or offer another option that might be better.

#4. Rely on Online Tools

Thanks to the Internet, there is almost no obstacle you cannot surpass. For example, let?s say you haven?t started writing a post because you?re having trouble thinking of a twist on the topic you have in mind. Tweak Your Biz Title Generator is a great tool to use in such situation.

Using this generator, you’ll?receive?suggestions on the topic headline. You?ll get several alternatives categorized in lists, how-to titles, best, love, questions, business, secrets, and other groups. You?ll surely find something suitable in this huge selection of potential titles.

Portent?s Content Idea Generator is another tool that helps you get a catchy headline for your posts. Each suggestion comes with explanations. For example, when you search using the subject ?headline?, you will get something like, ?The Simplest Ways to Make the Best of Headlines.? Some of the suggestions will be ridiculous, but they will at least serve as a guiding point for the creation of your own title.

Australian Writings is another type of service that can help you come up with a catchy headline. We are not talking about automated software this time; you?ll get to collaborate with a real writer.

This service delivers custom-tailored results. You provide your detailed instructions and explain what exactly you need. Then, the company pairs you with a writer who has relevant experience and expertise, so you can collaborate with him or her through a direct messaging system.

You can use this opportunity to ask for several title suggestions.

#5. Prove That Your Content Is Useful!

People waste a lot of time doing useless things on the Internet, but some of them still want to learn something that will improve the quality of their lives. This is the type of audience that will read your posts and comment on them.

The best way to target real readers is to offer something useful. Needless to say, you need a headline that proves they will learn something from your text. How-to titles always work!

Everyone has needs, problems, and goals to achieve. If you tell your readers how to solve some issues and how to achieve their goals, they will certainly want to read what you have to say.

A how-to headline is rather simple to construct; you only need to express the final benefit or result of the content you offer. Here is an example:

?How to Write Catchy Headlines in 6 Simple Steps.?

This construction makes a potential reader believe that he or she will develop an important skill by reading?your article. You can make the title even better if you indicate a more useful final effect. For example: ?How to Attract More Readers by Writing Catchy Headlines.?

#6. Add a Number!

Numbers give precision to a title. For example, ?10 Books to Read in This Lifetime? sounds much more inviting than ?Books to Read in a Lifetime.?

When you offer a numbered list of suggestions or tips, the reader will have realistic expectations. The second version of the title seems too broad, so one might assume you are offering a list that?s too long and impossible to accomplish.

Are you wondering which numbers you should use in the title? There is no rule on this, but remember to stay realistic. You can?t expect someone to read 129 tips on writing catchy headlines.

#7. Pay Attention to Search Engine Optimization

SEO and online content go together like milk and cookies. If you don?t make your text attractive for Google, it won?t reach the audience you target.

The process of search engine optimization starts with the title. When you?re using Google to find the content you need, you first locate titles that fit your keyword search. That?s exactly why you should insert the right words and phrases in your headline.

Some keywords make the title sound strange, which is why it would be best to use a general phrase and leave the longer, more specific ones for the body of the post.

Optimization is not only important for search engines; it?s also helps you attract readers who are looking for the exact things you offer.

Google Analytics can be?your best friend. Use it to identify your top-performing pages.

The analytics will help you realize what your target reader is looking for at your site, so you?ll have a better idea of the titles that work. WordStream, Ubersuggest and AdWords Keyword Planner are some of the best tools to help you infuse the right keywords in your headlines.

Now You?re Ready to Start Crafting Better Headlines!

The 7 tips provided above are really simple. That?s exactly why they work!

Your title needs to maintain an authoritative tone and give the impression that you know what you?re talking about. Readers want to get tricks, tips, rules, lists, and hints. When you manage to create such a useful post and pair it with a catchy headline, you can rest assured that the bounce rates will be low.

Are you ready to write catchy headlines? Let me know in a comment below!

Creative Commons Image via Kevin Lim.

Mastering the Chaotic Mind

Oct 15, 2015 By Cathi King

mastering-the-chaotic-mind-portraitIf there was an award for most scatterbrained person on earth, I would surely be a top candidate.

It seems there is no end to the relentless assault of thoughts that jump from neuron to neuron in my brain. These tiny demons have long plagued my head and have made it a challenge to work with me since my childhood years.

Now that I’m an adult, not much has changed other than I’ve entered the workforce. So how does someone with the attention span of a guppy become a functioning citizen of society?

I learned to embrace it.

Those of us with chaotic minds are more creative and perceptive than our non-chaotic counterparts. In short, when managed properly, a chaotic mind is a beautiful thing.

There are downsides, of course.

Having a bustling mind can drop your emotional IQ and make you prone to stress. Plus, when your brain is constantly on overdrive, it’s very difficult to have structure. Ideas and inspiration come and go whenever they please. It’s on us to catch them when they appear and not let go.

As a writer, one of my biggest problems is coming up with relevant ideas. My head is full of stories of dragons, elementals, and a winged heroes, but those are hardly usable in everyday writing. I also tend to bounce around from being completely lost to being hyper focused.

Sound familiar?

If so, I want to share 10 methods I employ to help me focus, stay organized, get inspired, and keep my brain moving at full force.

#1. Free Writing

To begin the process of inspiration, incorporate about 5-10 minutes of free writing. This is writing about whatever you want. Just let the words flow through your fingers and onto the computer screen. This will kick start the creative juices. It’s a great warm-up exercise, whether you’re a professional blogger or a student getting ready to write a paper or academic essay.

Don?t worry about grammar or spelling. Just have some fun with it. Be creative.

Write in a serious tone or a funny one. I find myself writings words in a Shakespearean manner on occasion. Do whatever sparks your creativity.

#2. Puzzles

Try your hand at challenges and problem solving.

Learning about something we don?t know much about is great way to think of new ideas. The subject could be about almost anything. The only issue with this is we have to be interested in the topic otherwise boredom sets in fast. On the flip side, this is where that hyperfocus can be utilized. In college, I could research a topic within a couple hours if it was a topic that fascinated me.

Another way to challenge the brain is through playing games. I have an unhealthy addiction to Luminosity and FitBrains. Playing games will not only makes our noggins tick, but it helps to get our minds off writing. This helps prevent us from burning out.

Be judicious with these two methods. They are awesome, but they can also be time consuming. Learn to manage your time wisely to make sure you are still being productive.

Once you kick around a few ideas, the next road block will be focus. This may very well be your biggest downfall because distractions can come from everywhere and everything.

Even having a simple conversation with someone can steer us off course. We will notice something about their hair, clothes, accessories, and then our minds are gone.

#3. White Noise

Using white noise is a great method for staying on track. Its soothing effect can help you relax and slow down your brain.

My favorite white noise is rain, but it has to come from mother nature – ambient rain music in the background just doesn’t work for me. If I was Ororo Munroe I could make it rain all the time. I’d cause massive floods and the townsfolk would probably hunt me down.

We don’t want that.

If you’re like me and you need your rain to be the real deal, fans are a great white-noise alternative while you wait for the skies to open outside.

#4. Disorganization

I will confute what the professionals say about keeping your desk organized and clear of distractions. For me, having a clean desk is more frustrating.

A somewhat cluttered work space helps focus my thoughts. At home, my computer desk has random trinkets and novelty items on it. When my mind rebels, I?ll play with one of them. Try putting a couple of toys at your desk and see if they can be beneficial to you.

Having something to play with not only helps your brain slow down, but it helps you focus. Instead thinking about pie, Marvel comics, or the texture of my socks, I’ll think about one of the random items on my desk. This helps me keep my random thoughts to a minimum.

Obviously, this strategy may not work for everyone, so if having a clean desk makes you happy it?s definitely best to keep it that way.

#5. Active Thinking

Doing something with your hands is a good pacifier. Drawing while thinking of ideas is one technique. Various studies have indicated that doodling can improve memory and focus. Having that visual helps us to focus on an idea and remember new ones.

The idea is known as embodied cognition. Simply put, the way we process thoughts is affected by our bodies.

Whenever I hit a mental block or I’m having trouble thinking of ideas, I will whip out my sketch pad and begin to create a picture. I also have a rubix cube that I can play with when I?m not feeling artistic. These are great at helping me think of new ideas.

#6. Walking

This is another good method to get the blood flowing. A short walk outside will help spark creativity by pulling inspiration from your surroundings. Walking outside and enjoying nature helps to spark new ideas.

Next time you?re sitting at a computer or staring at an empty piece of paper, get up and move around.

In addition to helping you master your chaotic mind, it will improve your cardiovascular system.

#7. Talking to Yourself

It’s okay to admit it. We all talk to ourselves on occasion. Did you know this is another oddity we can use to our advantage? Talking out loud to myself makes me slow down.

Whenever I think to myself, my thoughts go by as fast as the speed of light. I know the same can be said for many of you. Trying to slow down the racing thoughts seems like we’re trying to catch the wind with our bare hands.

However, speaking out loud, though still fast and sometimes undecipherable, helps our minds slow down and actually think about what we?re saying.

#8. Colors and Sticky Notes

My computer has decorative edges made of sticky notes. These serve two purposes:

One, the various colors help me think of new ideas. I use multi-colored sticky notes rather than the plain yellow ones. I found I overlooked most of what I had written down if I only used one color.

And two, since my ideas come at random, they let me quickly jot down notes so I can remember the idea later.

After I use the ideas on the sticky notes, I discard them to make room for more madness. From the outside looking in, this may seem like a clutter nightmare, but it works for organized my disorganized thoughts.

#9. Hydration and Nourishment

The human brain relies on glucose for its main energy source. If you’re an avid writer you need your brain to function at 100%.

When blood glucose plummets from the lack of food, that?s when you get dizzy or angry. Nobody wants to deal with an angry writer.

Note from Kevin: It’s true. My wife keeps almonds in her purse at all times. Apparently I’m grumpy when I’m hungry.

I’m not saying pump yourself full of processed sugar. Foods high in simple sugars may give you a temporary boost, but you will soon be lagging and may be worse off than before.

I used to eat doughnuts or a muffins everyday for breakfast. Soon after eating, I?d be hungry again and lose all my ability to focus. I made the switch to fruit and oatmeal and it has made a tremendous difference. Try opting to eat healthier and see how it affects your brain power.

Also, don?t neglect the H2O. When cells become dehydrated it starts a chain reaction that has a negative effect on the body.

Problems such as headaches, fatigue, and nausea are all problems associated with dehydration. A good practice is to have have at least 20 oz. of water when you wake up. Make sure to drink an adequate amount of water during the day as well.

#10. Ten?Minute Meditation

This is a nice little trick I learned from Andy Puddicombe on TEDTalks. Doing nothing for 10 minutes is beneficial for my relaxation and my focus. I sit outside and stare into space.

I literally do nothing – I don?t listen to music or play on my phone. I let all my thoughts come and go as they please and I don?t get focused on one particular subject.

Meditating before bed is also a good practice. Unless I?m super tired, it takes me a good hour to fall asleep. My significant other is the type than can fall asleep in 10 minutes, and I cannot fathom how he does it.

As he is trying to sleep, I try to spark up a conversation. Sadly he has gotten really good at tuning me out, which leaves me alone with my thoughts. When this happens, I do a short meditation to try to help calm my thoughts.

This method is a recent one, so it remains to be seen how well it will help me tame my brain. But, if nothing else, it is a good way to de-stress and prepare myself for the next day.

Now It?s Your Turn

If you’re like me and the traditional methods of focusing don?t work for you, try some of these tips.

Don’t fight what is in your nature. So what if you have a chaotic mind? You just need to approach it from a different angle.

Do you struggle with focus? What methods have helped you? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment below!

Creative Commons Image via Allan Ajifo.

Blogs vs Vlogs (Which is Right For You?)

Sep 3, 2015 By McKinley Carbone

Note from Kevin: This post is written by freelance journalist and Be A Better Blogger reader McKinley Carbone. McKinley is going to compare blogs and vlogs (video logs), and help you decide which is better for you.

blogs-vs-vlogsThere are many reasons to start a blog or vlog.

Some people want an outlet to express their feelings, opinions, and struggles about life. Others are creating content to inform and promote a business or brand.

Since blogging and vlogging are both effective strategies for gaining relevancy and popularity for your website, which one you choose may ultimately come down to your reason for creating a blog or vlog in the first place.

Blogs and vlogs each have their benefits and drawbacks. If you are able to consider your personality and what you are trying to portray to your audience, it is easier to decide which is a better fit for you.

(It’s sort of like books and movies ? both are entertaining, but some audiences prefer books and others prefer movies.)

Here are some helpful guidelines to consider when deciding between a blog and a vlog…

Blogging Pros

Blogging is a great way to express a story, advice, or idea from your perspective. Some people prefer this type of interaction as opposed to being spoken to through a video. Because you cannot see the blogger, they tend to care a great deal about the appearance and character of their blog.

With writing there is the option of skimming the article before committing to reading it. Not every blog post will relate to every person, so having the option to skim the article gives the audience some control over what they are reading.

Another upside of blogging is you can do it anywhere. Unlike vlogging, where you are tied to the location of your video camera, as long as you have a computer and internet connection you can blog.

If you are traveling and you have a great content idea (Example: “8 Reasons Airports are the Worst”), you can easily write that post while you are sitting in the airport. The task would be much harder as a vlog post, and it would take longer.

Blogging is prime for businesses that want to provide information, guidance or promote business ideas and tips. For example, writing a blog post on secrets to web hosting makes a lot more sense than a video. With a blog you can describe step-by-step directions and screenshots to demonstrate your service.

Blogging Cons

Blogs also have their downsides.

There are countless blogs on the internet and countless blogging platforms such as Tumblr, Blogger, Pinterest and more. This is good on one hand because there are a lot of options in terms of who you want to reach out to and how you want to gain your audience. However, it is a lot harder to separate yourself from all of the other bloggers that are around you.

Also, it is arguably more difficult to keep blogging content fresh and up to date like a vlog can do. Clearly there are blogs that can do that well, but because you are expressing life through words rather than images it can be a challenge.

One more thing to consider when blogging is your voice. In some cases your voice in a blog can be misinterpreted more often than a vlog. It is easier to understand a person when you can see facial expressions and listen to the influx of their voice. If a blog post has a joke in it, some of the humor may be lost if there is no physical pause before the punch line.

Vlogging Pros

There is something about a person talking to you that just feels good, even if it is through a computer screen. Vlogging is visual. You can see facial expressions, and you can put a face to the name. Because you can see the vlogger, it makes them more engaging.

There are some businesses that need a visual outlet to promote their brand or their product.

For example, it would be difficult for a makeup, cosmetics, or hairstyle brand to fully portray their potential through a blog. With vlogging, people can see the hot new hairstyles or makeup trends, and how to do them. This gives more credibility to the vlogger and ultimately the brand.

Beauty and hairstyle blogs have the option to show fun hair style infographics and photos. This is a useful and effective way to elevate beauty blogs. Some however, prefer to use vlogs so they can show the actual steps to obtain that finished look. Carli Bybel is a great example of a successful makeup/beauty vlogger.

Another important aspect of vlogging is the platform.

YouTube is the host of thousands of vlogs and because of that there is high traffic all the time, which decreases the need for vloggers to focus on SEO.

Using vlogging as a personal platform rather than a business platform can be really useful in self-promotion. If you have good content on YouTube, people will find your vlog. So not only does your brand grow, but people will know your name and be able to put a face to your name.

Vlogging Cons

Vlogging may have more visual interaction, but that doesn’t come without complications.

Vlogs can be a lot more time consuming than blogs. When you consider lighting, set up, filming, editing, and downloading, it can make the process much longer. That is not including coming up with ideas and content for your vlog as well. These are all skills that can be learned over time, but it takes more knowledge of computers, video, and social media to make an alluring vlog that people will want to follow.

Equipment costs are also a lot more for vloggers than bloggers. Some of the equipment vloggers need includes a video camera, headsets, editing programs, and a tripod. True, not that all of that equipment is 100% necessary, but there’s no denying there are more equipment needs for vlogs than blogs.

An additional difficulty of vlogging is that after it is published on the web it’s tough to edit it or fix a problem.

With blogging if you see a spelling or punctuation error it is relatively easy to go in and change what you posted. With vlogging you would have to take down the video, go back and re-record the mistake, and then repost it. That tends to be a more lengthy process.

Questions to Think About

Depending on your whether your goal is to grow your business, sell a product, or just tell your story, you can choose to write a blog or record a vlog. Both of these options are awesome ways to get your name out there and can help promote your brand.

But what will make the most impact for what you do?

Which platform will make your audience want to read more or subscribe to your channel?

Here are some questions to ask yourself. The answers will help you choose:

What does your target audience relate to more?

Does your audience want to see a lot of ?how to? videos and tutorials or do they want to know 50 ways to keep their blog up to date? Do you have a product that needs a canvas or visual aid or do you prefer to leave some of your story to the imagination?

If you are a business blogger, your audience may be more likely to read your posts rather than listening to your video. If you are promoting yourself and like to reach out to a larger crowd, then maybe that will translate better through a vlog.

What are you more comfortable with, writing or talking?

This is a pretty basic yet important question to ask yourself.

Blogging requires a lot of writing and vlogging requires talking to a camera. If you are camera shy, vlogging may be a bit of a learning curve. If you don?t enjoy writing, blogging can be a struggle.

What is the voice you want to portray?

The voice that you choose will reflect the feeling of your post. More outgoing people may have a fun time making a vlog because you can see and hear their enthusiasm. If you are sarcastic or use a lot of humor, it may be better to use a vlog so that type of voice isn’t lost in your words.

What is your niche?

I mentioned some vlog niches earlier which included hair, beauty, makeup, and cosmetics. These are some niches that would mesh well with a vlog because they can have more impact with a visual representation.

Both vlogs and blogs can accommodate any number of different topics and niches. This is not something that should be a deciding factor when determining which is better for you, but it is one aspect that can shed light on which may resonate better with your audience.

Considering the differences between a personal and business blog/vlog is important as well. What you are trying to portray through your blog or vlog makes a big difference for branding and translation of information.

In the End…

Ultimately blogs and vlogs will both help promote yourself and your business. They each have their pros and cons, but it comes down to the individual and how you choose to connect with other people. There is no right or wrong answer, and if you still don?t know which one to choose there is nothing wrong with doing both. It will only increase your followers and it can be a good way to change things up if you are getting bored! If you start with both you may eventually stray toward one or the other, and then you have a definite answer.

Every person does things differently and the most important thing to consider is what will you enjoy doing the most?

If you are blogging but you hate writing content, your post will not be fun to write and it will not be fun to read either. If you are a camera shy vlogger, you may have issues there as well.

Do what you feel comfortable with, and eventually you can figure out how to incorporate other techniques into your repertoire.

How to Protect Your Blog from Hackers

Aug 20, 2015 By Cassie Phillips

Note from Kevin: This post is written by Cassie Phillips of Secure Thoughts. Cassie is going to share with us tips for securing our blogs. Read Cassie?s ideas and, when you?re finished, be sure to leave her a comment!

baby-hackerYour blog is one of the most important things in the world to you. It is the way that you communicate with the outside world, share your passions, and potentially even make your income.

There are other people out there who do not feel the same way.

These hackers want to take your blog and use it for profit by either spamming ad-filled posts on your blog or using your subscriber lists for their criminal purposes.

If your blog is taken over by a hacker, not only might you lose your blog, you might lose some of your readership and your reputation. It is worth any inconvenience to make sure this doesn’t happen.

The Basics

What goes for the rest of the internet doesn?t change for your blog. Many of the threats to your computer can affect your blog as well, so you have to maintain a constant vigilance on both fronts. Know these basics and know them well.

Passwords and Usernames

While it may be convenient for you to have a simple password such as ?Password123? or something similar, hackers will be able to crack such a password in five minutes on a slow day. You need something better with different types of characters, no words in the dictionary, and enough characters to keep the number of possibilities high (at least 10). Once you commit a good one to memory, you won?t care so much about the hassle, and it will get easier to remember a new one each time you change it.

If you are looking for some examples of what a good password looks like, check out the listed examples below:

  • Typ561Tesert?
  • M0O0Nrare!
  • J0hnsm1TH
  • !Pra531cTiCal

As for your username, this naturally won?t be as well protected, but there are steps you can take. The biggest one is not using ?Admin? as your username.

Many different exploits and attacks hackers use will start on the premise that Admin is a username or profile name on the website, so if you’re using it you’ve made their job a lot easier. Other than this, just make sure not to hand your username out to everyone. Keep it as safe as your password.

Security Software

Your computer is linked to your blog, and there is nothing you can do to change that. If your computer is attacked, consider your blog attacked as well. Any cookies or saved passwords on your device could be stolen and used to gain access to your blog.

You need security software on all of your devices, and you need to make sure it is updated consistently. There are both free programs and premium programs available. Some of the better free products include Panda Free Antivirus, AVG Free Antivirus, and Avira. Some of the best premium programs and brands include Norton, McAfee, and Kaspersky Total Security.

Each have their benefits and disadvantages (for example, Kaspersky is the most expensive, but has every feature you could want), and you will have to decide what is in your budget and most compatible with your needs. Consider it an investment in your blog?s survival.

Email Security

Where your blog is concerned, your email security is of equal importance to your general computer security. If a hacker manages to get into your email account, they can pretty easily find your password and/or your username. This is in addition to the many other problems you will have to deal with when your email is hacked (such as potential identity theft).

This is why your email should be the most protected account you have. If you are particularly cautious, you will want to create a separate email for blogging purposes. You can also use it as a separate contact point for readers so you can more easily organize your emails. A second email address is free and easy to start, so there is no disadvantage to setting one up (other than time).

In addition to this, you will want a strong password (see the tips outlined earlier). Your email account might also have other verification options such as a security image or security question you have to answer whenever you log in on a new device. Take any and all of these options, and note that you don?t have to share your email with everyone you meet.

Platforms, Tools, and Plugins

A strong webpage is your first line of defense against potential hackers. Hackers aren?t necessarily lazy, but they are opportunistic and will attack the weakest blog they see. If your blog looks dated, it’s security is probably dated, too. Try to think how a predator thinks, and then take measures that will ward them off. Try to do this from a holistic viewpoint, taking into consideration the platform, the base blog, and any plugins you have installed.

Security Tools and Add-ons

Most blogging platforms, WordPress especially among them, have a lot of tools and plugins available to users in order to make your website more secure. Let us take a look at some of the most popular and useful ones:

  • Acunetix WP Security Scan is one of the first plugins you should download for your blog. Once activated, it will scan your blog and design for any potential security holes and then recommend fixes for you. It is continually improving and is a great introduction to WordPress security.
  • WordFence is likely the most popular and well-known of all the plugins for WordPress right now. The plugin scans the coding of your website, then optimizes your security and allegedly makes it up to fifty times faster. It has some of the best blocking features (you can block entire networks), will scan for both common and not-so-common holes and leaks, and has a firewall. There is a premium option that is great, but the free option is more than enough to protect your blog from most threats.
  • Sucuri Security is a plugin from a company that specializes in auditing and internet security. It will incorporate many different blacklist engines onto your blog to protect it, and it has a ton of monitoring features available so you can know every last thing about the security and activity on your site. It is a fantastic all-around security application.
  • Brute Force Login Protection is probably your best bet if you are being targeted with a botnet attack or, as the name suggests, a brute force attack. Since most of these types of attacks are automated, you need a good level of protection that will work automatically for you, and this plugin will block the IP address of a hacker who tries to log in too many times. You can even get an email when this happens so that you are aware of the frequency of attacks on your site.

Whatever security plugins you choose, be sure to research them thoroughly. Many options are either out of date or malware in disguise and will give you a false sense of security. In the worst case scenario, you could even be giving hackers a front door method into attacking your blog. Doing your homework will save you a lot of money in the long run.

Tip from Kevin: Stick to plugins found in the official WordPress directory. You’ll be able to see when a plugin was last updated, whether it’s compatible with the latest version of WordPress, how often its developers answer “support” questions, and the star rating other users have given it. Plus, all the plugins are free. I like free.

A final tip regarding this is to take an hour or so every few months to review any applications you might be using on your blog. If they are outdated, don?t hesitate to replace them. Cybersecurity evolves too quickly to be loyal to something that no longer works.

Use the Latest Version

If you are using WordPress or another hosting service which has multiple versions, make sure you are using the most recent one available. Hackers find a lot more security holes and problems in older versions of blogging platforms, and the hosts most likely do not support them nearly as much at their latest product.

If you can upgrade, do it now. There are few disadvantages to upgrading after the first month (where they get the bugs out), and you can take advantage of the other features offered.

Protecting Your Blog on the Go

Many bloggers love to travel or work from outside the home, and this is a great thing. It allows for new perspectives and a faster, more consistent rate of production. However, there are many risks while blogging on the go, and you need to be prepared for them with the right knowledge and the right tools.

Public Networks

When it comes to internet security in general, public networks are your worst enemy and a hacker?s best friend. While they are useful to many people who want to browse the internet for free, most people do not know the inherent lack of security many of them have.

The biggest problem with a public network is that it is really easy for anyone to intercept your data uploaded or downloaded on the network. Think of your computer as a broadcast tower. Anyone with a receiver and the knowledge to use it can pick up the signal. Unfortunately, the receivers aren?t expensive, and they?re pretty easy for even novice hackers to use.

When your data is picked up in this manner, it can easily be used against you. Try to imagine if your passwords and usernames were just broadcast unencrypted for someone to pick up. If you log in without protection, that is what will happen. Heaven forbid you try online banking or blog-related financial transactions.

Use a VPN

The best way to counter the problems of public networks is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to defend yourself. What a VPN will do is connect your device via an encrypted connection to another server offsite. This connection can act as a tunnel and will mask your IP address, which will allow you a maximum level of security and privacy. Hackers won?t be able to know anything, even on a public network.

There are many different VPNs out there, and many of them are specialized. Doing some research on the subject will help you find out which to use to ward off hackers on public networks as well as stay private. If you want a decent one, you will have to pay a subscription fee, but it is well worth it compared to the questionable free ones out on the market.

If you travel to other countries or have to access sensitive data, then another important thing about VPNs should be noted. The fact they mask IP addresses and make it appear as if you are browsing in a different country means that you can bypass government censorship if you are in a restrictive country. This is necessary for bloggers who are reporting on risky subjects.

Secure Your Smartphone

If you are travelling or even walking around town, you should make sure your smartphone is on you at all times and you can feel it. There is a huge market for stolen smartphones, and pickpockets love to make profits off of them.

Your smartphone is likely connected to your blog, so if your smartphone gets stolen you need to make changing your password on it one of your first priorities. If a smartphone thief gets a blog to sell in addition to a new phone, you?ll have one more problem on your hands.

If you are worried about travelling with your smartphone, try leaving it in a safe place in the hotel if you don?t think you are going to need it, or place it on your person in a place a pickpocket won?t try to reach. One popular measure is to attach your smartphone to an arm strap that people like to use when working out and then wearing something over it.

Also, try to have some sort of verification measure set up on your phone so that not just anyone can open it. This can take the form of a passcode (that isn?t ?1111?), a fingerprint verification, a voice command, or something else. Check to see what options your phone has available and pick the one that fits you and is the most secure.

Conclusion

To review, there are a lot of threats out there, but there are an equal number of defenses. You need to maintain an active and current website, have an adaptable and strong defense for all of your technology, and be even more wary when travelling.

The final and best tip is to simply use common sense when using your blog. If something doesn?t look or sound right, don?t get involved. Check out any inconsistencies immediately. Don?t trust anyone.

Thank you for reading. I hope you have a better knowledge of the ways your blog is vulnerable and the ways you can protect yourself from hackers.

Creative Commons Image via Kevin Galens.

Overcoming Fears and Kicking off the International Bloggers Association Network-a-thon

Mar 10, 2015 By Kevin J. Duncan

Yours truly kicks off the International Bloggers Association Network-a-thon on October 12, 2015. Get 50% discount here.

“Hello. My name is Kevin Duncan. And yes ladies… I’m single.”

Several years ago, before I met and married my lovely wife, this was how I introduced myself in a speech to an auditorium full of strangers.

At the beginning of my speech, I was supposed to simply state my name, my marital status, and the church I attended. Those were the instructions we speakers were given, and it’s the script followed by everyone who spoke before me.

I guess you can say I tweaked the script a bit.

[Read more…] about Overcoming Fears and Kicking off the International Bloggers Association Network-a-thon

Everything You Need to Know About Evergreen Content

Feb 12, 2015 By Luke Jordan

I am so tired.

Do you ever have those days where nothing seems to go your way?

Today was the mother of all ‘nothing-is-going-my-way’ days.

I was late for work after waiting round for a repair man to come and take a look at my bath.

Well, I use the word ‘bath’ lightly.

What I seem to have, and have had since I moved in a few months ago, is a large tub with taps on it. The funny thing about these taps is that they’re apparently just for show.

They’re a constant reminder that mocks me every time I look at them.

Every now and again I would like to relax in a hot and steamy soak – perhaps with a few bubbles here or there (yeah I’m that guy) – but my bath just isn’t going to play ball.

In fact, even if I wanted a freezing cold soak, it’s still not possible.

It turns out my bath is just for show. A decorative ornament that takes up over half of my bathroom.

It also turns out that the repair guy actually didn’t come round to fix it, he simply arrived (late) to tell me it didn’t work.

I was so grateful for this, because I hadn’t realised the twenty-or-so times I’d previously gotten into it and just pretended to have a wash.

So, off I went to work for a busy day. A busy, long day.

Staying two hours or so late to make up for the time spent having my groundbreaking bath diagnosis, I got home and thought I’d treat myself to a delicious fudge brownie hot chocolate.

I’m still too hurt to say what happened next, but this picture accurately describes everything you need to know:

Enough About My Day

I’m not really here to discuss everything that happened to me throughout today, even if it did help a bit to vent my frustration.

So,?why did I write that nonsense at the start?

Well, it turns out that you could really benefit from it.

More specifically, you could really benefit from spotting what the most glaring problem with it is.

Have you spotted it yet?

It’s not all that interesting…but that’s not the answer I’m looking for.

It’s also pretty much all about me, which is mistake numero uno on Successful Blogging’s 7 blogging mistakes to avoid.

However, neither of these things are the true downfall of this post. Blogs can still be a success even if they are somewhat boring or ego-driven.

The main downfall of that short introductory section is that it’s not?evergreen. More on that in a moment or two.

Are you looking to get more visitors, more views, more shares, more exposure?

If you’re a blogger or content marketer – and I’m guessing there’s a good chance that you are at least one of these if you’re reading this – all of the above should be targets of yours.

After all, why would you be content with only sharing your wise words or hilarious and interesting stories with just a small circle of people?

We’re all chasing that all-important internet fame, myself included.

Myself? How foolish of me, I’ve not even introduced who ‘myself’ is.

I’m Luke, by the way. I run Intergeek.

It’s such a pleasure to get the chance to speak to you on Be A Better Blogger, a website that I’ve followed and admired almost since its inception.

When I read the recent post on here about blogging through personal tragedy, which was delicately touched upon but also really insightful, it gave me an idea for a new post of my own.

There were some great takeaways, including creating ‘rainy day’ content.

Rainy day content is where you create a small backlog of posts that you can save to go live at a time where you’re not particularly interested in blogging; such as whilst you’re on holiday or suffering for any reason, whatever that may be.

Another area that particularly interested me in that post was evergreen content, and I wanted to enter a deeper discussion about this.

It plays such a pivotal role in the growth and sustainability of a blog.

What is Evergreen Content?

An evergreen tree is something that stays green all year round.

Evergreen content, by and large, is exactly the same. These blog posts, articles or infographics stay interesting and insightful all year round, no matter what the season, weather, holiday, whatever.

What I wrote at the start of this post is the exact opposite of evergreen content.

Even if I somehow had thousands of people interested in the daily challenges that I’d faced – unsurprisingly I don’t – they’d only be interested for that day.

I could only promote it for that one day, too.

It might even do well (unlikely), but traffic would dwindle away after 2 to 3 days at most.

After this, or until I next post at the very latest, it becomes old news.

How often would I get natural search traffic to a post about my terrible day??Never.

With evergreen content, you’ll gradually start to build up a base of organic (natural) traffic that lands on your post every single day of the year; picking up engagement and linkbacks slowly along the way too.

You can also return to older posts and re-promote them whenever you wish as they’ll still be relevant; perfect for if you’re stuck in a content glut.

How to Put an Evergreen Spin on Your Content

Before you even start to write a piece of content, it’s vital you learn to adapt it to become evergreen. This will help so much in the long run.

Hopefully, with the help of a few examples, you can start to picture evergreen content ideas at all times.

It really is a case of once you get it, you?really get it.

Let’s consider the intro to this blog post again about my crappy day. In order for it to become evergreen (and ultimately more successful) what could we do?

Well, it could be broken down into several different, useful?posts.

Some evergreen article opportunities in that text were:

  • How to Fix a Broken Bath
  • Top 11 Excuses When Being Late for Work
  • How to Make the Perfect Hot Chocolate
  • Top 10 Things to Hate About Cleaning

It’s worth noting that I didn’t have any evergreen article ideas in mind when I started to write about my day, I was just writing the first things that came into my head.

It’s important to plan?beforehand?when creating a post that is going to succeed for weeks, months and years to come.

Let’s consider some of the times you may be tempted to produce something that isn’t evergreen:

  • Valentine’s Day
  • Easter
  • Christmas

I’m sure you’d see a big spike in traffic each year by writing a post about “Top 55 Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas” – but what’s your end goal?

Would you rather see 2,000 visitors a day for a week to your post, or 250 visitors a day for a year?*

If you need the math on that, there’s a whopping?77,250 visitor difference between the two over a 365 day period.

Whilst your Valentine’s Day post could be updated and recycled each year, why not spend your time more wisely and create something evergeen?

You could change this to “Top 55 Unique Presents to Buy For a [New] [Girlfriend].” Substitute as appropriate: girlfriend, wife, long-term girlfriend, etc.

There are some excellent ways that you can reach a more niche audience all-year round with evergreen posts like this.

Some other ideas to go with all three of the aforementioned seasonal topics:

  • Best Chocolate Gifts to Buy for My Girlfriend
  • Top 21 Non-Chocolate Gifts to Buy for My?Wife

By adapting posts to prevent them from being seasonally related, you can promote them (and reap the rewards) all-year round.

*Figures were plucked at random from the top of my head. I can not guarantee you would ever receive a single visitor from writing about Valentine’s Day, or any subject at all for that matter.

Other Evergreen Tips

It’s not just all about the content that you’re writing.

When it comes to blogging and content marketing, the most successful things aren’t always written down.

Often, it’s images, infographics or interactives that go viral.

It’s vital, therefore, to create visually appealing media that can be shared time and time again.

It’s typically considered most?profitable for a blogger or business to produce content that doesn’t revolve around specific incidents, events or holidays. This way, you’re spending time creating pieces that are going to be loved every day for years to come.

I’m thankful to Andrea over at The Branded Solopreneur?for a recent tip she shared on Google+, which is to make things?pinnable.

In other words, with every post you create, make sure they’re optimised to be shared on Pinterest, or other social media sites too, with incredible, unique images.

(Cue incredible, unique image)

Evergreen Content promotional image created on CanvaAs you can probably tell, design isn’t really my strong point.

However, I created this in just a few minutes using Canva?- and it was free!

Having images like this is a great way to ensure your evergreen content gets shared as often and as naturally as possible.

Is There Ever a Time for Non-Evergreen Content?

Of course.

If you have an opportunity to reach a large amount of people in a small timescale, by all means create something that will have a shorter lifespan; if you think the results will be worth it.

An example of this would be Kevin’s recent post about the Super Bowl. He used the game as inspiration for some great blogging tips, but as he noted in the post it’s not going to be relevant five years from now. It’s not going to be evergreen.

Another example would be if a brand new Google penalty came out. Let’s call it Google Dolphin.

No one knows why this penalty has come out, until you see a message in your Webmaster Tools that tells you exactly why you’ve been penalized.

You take it upon yourself to create the single greatest guide ever made on Google Dolphin – who cares if it’s the first one? – explaining how you diagnose the penalty on any website and make a step-by-step guide on getting the penalty removed.

This post would have a longer life cycle than a day or a week and you’d be likely to see some great benefits, huge exposure, and an influx of newsletter subscribers and backlinks.

However, in all probability, your guide isn’t going to be relevant in a year’s time with the amount of updates Google carries out.

Not forgetting the fact that bigger sites will jump on the bandwagon and overtake you in the search results.

How?dare they have a better website than us. Life is so unfair.

As time goes on you could try editing your post to become more relevant, but chances are you’re unlikely to pick up serious volumes of visitors on it ever again.

Some blogs can even thrive by producing?nevergreen content, but chances are tyours isn’t one of them.

Make the Most of What You’ve Got

If you’re going to be creating posts or infographics with a short shelf-life, you’re probably going to need to have an established audience already.

If you’re looking to build an established audience – that’s what most of us are doing – look to make the best possible use of your time: write content that will appeal for years to come.

Wouldn’t you love to be making money in five years from something that you wrote?today?

With evergreen content, this is more than just a possibility.

Flickr Creative Commons Images via Kim Seng.

Why Building Connections is Crucial

Sep 22, 2014 By Luke Guy

Connections are everything in life. It takes connections to be successful or to even get a job these days. So as a blogger you should want to achieve connections as much as possible. That process should never end. No matter how big you get, keep the connections coming. It?s the only way to get ahead.

The one with the most connections wins.

[Read more…] about Why Building Connections is Crucial

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