There’s a world of difference between wanting to start a blog and actually doing it. You might like the idea but when it comes to it you don’t know what to write. Perhaps you’re looking at your already packed schedule and wondering where on earth you’re going to fit it in. Maybe you’ve even tried writing your first blog and got stuck. You spend hours on it and get nowhere or think what you’ve written is rubbish. Sometimes all you need to get started is a bit of education. Thankfully there are lots of different ways that you can learn about blogging. Here are just a few.
Free resources
There is loads of blogging advice available online (including here). You can access it for free and just search for what you need. If you want advice on blogging topics, structure or what platform to use, it’s all out there somewhere.
In fact, the ‘somewhere’ is the main disadvantage. If you know what you struggle with it’s easy to search for the answer. It’s not quite so straightforward if you have no idea where to start. After all, you don’t know what you don’t know. Also, are you getting good advice? I’ve had training along the way and can tell you what’s worked for me and my clients. There are also some fantastic platforms featuring pieces from experts in their field. Generally speaking, anything from Orbit Media, Digital Marketer and Copyblogger is worth reading. Their advice often goes beyond blogging into other useful marketing topics too.
Paid courses online
If you’re able to hand over some cash there are lots of courses available online. The beauty of any course is that all the information is presented for you. Some will be available to access all the time and others will have a limited release. This often depends on what the course is offering. Some will give you materials that you work through on your own, perhaps getting feedback from a tutor. These are great if you need to fit learning in around other commitments and can’t always stick to a regular time for online workshops. If you need the buzz of a group you might be better off with a course that has a limited time frame but plenty of interaction. The level of interaction you get with your tutor is usually reflected in the price.
Checking on the credentials of your course provider is particularly important here. There are some great courses available via general training providers like Udemy and Skillshare as well as writing and marketing specialists.
Group workshops and one to one training
I’ve put these together as they both work best face to face (although I’ve had some fab training experiences via Zoom as well). Getting together to learn with other people who are in the same boat as you can be fantastic, particularly for beginners. Your trainer can take you through the basics and answer questions as you go. I really enjoy learning like this because you can learn from everyone in the room. Everyone has different ideas and questions and it creates a great atmosphere.
Of course, you might feel a bit nervous about asking a question and looking silly. (For the record, there’s no such thing as a silly question.) You might need something that’s a bit more tailored for your business, especially if it’s something out of the ordinary. Maybe you just want to be able to focus on the topic without anyone else distracting you. In those circumstances, 1:1 teaching could be your best option.
Ultimately, only you can decide how you learn best. If you want to know more about the training options I offer you can sign up to my mailing list to find out more.
When you want to learn something new there are usually a range of options available. Blogging is no exception (and if you want to know more about the ways you can learn about blogging, read this). Actually choosing the right method for you can be tricky. Do you opt for a workshop where you don’t know anyone and could be out of your depth? Would you rather get some 1:1 help? To be honest, you could find a way to talk yourself out of any of the options. If you’d prefer to learn in an environment you know will be friendly, you might want to consider training with a friend. There are all kinds of benefits. Here are my top 4.
I know, you’ve heard people like me bang on endlessly about using storytelling in your marketing. It’s a great way to get personality into your content and set yourself apart from the crowd. The thing is, how do you do it? It won’t surprise you to hear that it’s not just a case of telling everyone your life story. It’s all about balance. Your customers will love the fact that you’re relatable but they mainly want to hear about how your business can benefit them. Here’s how you can start using storytelling in your marketing.
It’s time that I came out of the closet. I’m one of ‘those’ Mums. The ones they warn you about when your child is starting school. I’m the person you’re encouraged to actively avoid in the playground. I’m the chair of the PTFA at my sons’ school. Before either of my kids started school I wouldn’t have had myself down as a PTFA person at all, even though my Mum volunteered at every school fair when I was the same age. I was invited to a meeting to write an article for the local magazine about the latest fundraising project and found myself inspired by everyone’s enthusiasm. I’m stepping down next term and my last event is done and dusted. I found myself wondering (not for the first time) why I took it on in the first place and what I’ve learned. Here’s what I came up with.
Whenever you create a new piece of content for your business you need to think about what you want it to do. I know that might feel as if I’m asking you to analyse every single little thing that you put out there (and I am) but it doesn’t have to be a pain. Your marketing has one really simple job to do. It needs to tell customers that you exist and convince them that you have something they need. I know it’s not that easy in practice but it gives you a good starting point. There are loads of ways that your content can achieve your aims. It could explain the benefits of what you offer, educate your audience or just raise awareness of your brand. Whatever you want each post to do, you need to follow it up with a good call to action. Here’s how it works.
I know that some of you roll your eyes when I start talking about technical stuff. Others rub their hands in glee. Whichever one of those you are, you need to know about A/B testing. This recent blog talked about getting to grips with your data by looking back and analysing what worked in the past. A/B testing allows you to do that in a much more dynamic way. Those quarterly or half yearly reviews are still important as they let you see the bigger picture. So what is A/B testing and why should you be putting it to work in your marketing? Read on…
I had a fabulous meeting with a lovely lady recently and it got me thinking (again) about all the different skills you need in business. She was talking about all of the different elements that she was bringing together to make sure that the message she was sending reflected her values and the work that she does. Talking to me about getting the words right was the next stage in the process. She’d written a few things herself but hadn’t been happy with them. It’s a common theme when I speak to small business owners. There seems to be this feeling that they should be able to do it themselves. Writing is easy, right? If you’re holding back from working with a writer because you feel you shouldn’t have to, here’s why you might want to reconsider.
I sometimes feel that I get bombarded by other people’s definitions of success. I hear all the talk about hustle and being a weekend warrior. Someone in one of the business Facebook groups I’m in even asked whether members were aiming for ‘five figures or six’ this year. I’m not saying that people shouldn’t have those goals, if it makes them happy. My only issue is when it becomes the only definition of success.
Yawn. I know what you’re thinking. I’ve gone from creating mildly entertaining blogs about writing and marketing to suddenly deciding to bore you all to death. Unless you’re someone who loves numbers and digging into an analysis of the figures. If you are, thank you. I love you for understanding figures and data because that may mean you’re an accountant and people like me need people like you. However, this blog isn’t really for you. It’s for the people whose eyes glaze over when you mention analytics. If you don’t know why you need to track your marketing data, read on. I may never teach you to love analytics but hopefully you’ll see the benefits.
This is another one of those subjects where I’ll forgive you for reading the title and saying huh? The question should really be – when you look back over the blogs and social media posts you’ve written, do they all sound like you? When you keep things consistent you’ll get better results from your marketing and your life will get easier.