Blogging

Is this the end of an era?

February 28, 2023 jacquelineobyikocha4 Comments

For those of us who enjoy putting our thoughts down in writing and etching our memories in journals and blog pages hopefully not to be forgotten, it is kind of disheartening to realize that there seems to be a natural decline in blog posts, bloggers and blogging. Correct me if I am wrong, but it does appear that the continuously evolving, newer and shinier ways of Social media interaction such as Tiktok and many others that I don’t know of keeps eroding into the audience that was initially dedicated to blogs.

Readers keep minimizing and engagement has dwindled down to the barest minimum. From my own perspective, I think this can be attributed to various reasons,

Personal blogging is quickly becoming a thing of the past, but as I mentioned above, there are multiple types of blogging.

The type of blogging that’s still alive is probably content marketing.

I think that the main shift here is that personal blogging is focused on the writer/blogger whilst blogging with the purpose of content marketing is focused on the reader.

The question online writers today are faced with when content writing is “how to their readers solve their problems?”

And from my observation is that the bloggers thriving nowadays are the ones who are:

creating problem-solving content
recommending products (either affiliate products or their own) that further solve their audience’s problems

I feel that in as much as content marketing has exploded in other areas of the internet, like YouTube, Instagram, podcasting etc. the written word still remains powerful.

Nowadays, for the most part, I don’t think people are logging onto their computers or phones excited to check up on their favorite blogger/writers like before. Maybe it’s me, but I would love to hear your thoughts about the blogging phenomenon.

But Do People Really Still Read Blogs?

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Blogging · How To · How To Tips · This Is My Life

Key Notes…

November 23, 2021 jacquelineobyikocha7 Comments

Getting back to blogging, I have found myself at a certain loss. It feels so familiar yet strange, because like everything that changes over time, a lot seems to have happened in blogosphere. I feel like a newbie, albeit with some jaded sense of know-how. I am tip-toeing around my blog trying to find my way once again, afraid to click on unknown features just in case I break something – not literally, but you get what I mean.

I recall that when I started blogging I could plug away for hours on end and derived such joy from putting my thoughts in writing. The joy has not gone though it has ebbed a bit. The hours to plug away on the keyboard has gone with the vagaries of life, since bills don’t pay themselves. Back then, I jumped in with such gusto and gumption and decision to make it work; to eke out a living doing something that I truly love. Things got in the way, life happened so much so that it made me question my trueness.

I have questioned my authenticity and second-guessed my passion for written and spoken word. I have found myself comparing and wondering if I am really true to my art. If I really want to be a writer as passionately as I had supposed? Because, as we are told, if you want something badly enough, you will do what needs to be done and you will find the time to make sure that it works out. It may sound romantic being a hungry, starving artist, but the rude awakening and harsh reality of life makes such aspirations a near impossible feat to achieve in this part of the world and in most parts I daresay.

NOT paying your bills can land you behind bars in my neck of the woods. As valuable as words may be, mine are yet to land me that goldmine and to present the peace of mind that money can buy or rather being able to sleep without your landlord hounding you for rent. I derail.

I have had to revamp my mind. To remember that often times the key notes of our life’s story might be out of tune for a bit, but once our fingers glide over the keys, like the gentle caress of a cherished old lover, we kindle with familiarity.

My thoughts are on how the blogging field has changed though my keyboard remains the same. How there are now many icons, bells and whistles here and there. I almost feel as if I should enroll in learning how things work here once again. Sadly, the course is paid for and I most certainly can’t afford such finesse. What do you think? Is going to WordPress University a worthwhile investment or do you think that I can find my way just by tinkering around?

Blogging

Making Money From Your Blogging Space

January 14, 2019 jacquelineobyikocha2 Comments

When it comes to blogging there are so many ways to do it. As a daily journal, talking about what you do and who you are. Using it as a space to explore ideas and share your life. Some start a blog with the sole purpose of making big money. You can always combine the two. And it’s not that difficult to turn your online space into a little money maker. Most blogs start because the writer has a niche that they are interested in. It might be parenting, it could be healthy eating, it could be business. Whatever it is, you can use that to generate income.

If you already have a blog, then you are well on your way. If not check out some online guides to starting your own WordPress website. In a matter of minutes, you can have a beautiful site and start writing content.

Photo by raw pixel on Unsplash

Once you have a blog set up, or perhaps just taking a look through the one you already write, you can think about the direction you’d like to take it. You can create content specifically for your audience. Become a valuable resource for people to return to over and over. Hook up product links to an affiliate link network so you can generate an income every time someone purchases something you have recommended.

Reputable affiliate marketing platforms are Amazon, Share-A-Sale, and Clickbank. Take a look and see what products they offer that you can either create content based around or weave into content you had already planned. If you use affiliate links be sure that you are disclosing as such to your readers.

Reach out to brands and mention the pieces that you are working on and see if they would like to be involved and either pay for a link mention or gift you some products to be included.

Your mailing list will be one of your biggest money makers. In each mailout talk about products you are loving so that people can click through, and view the products and perhaps even buy them too.

The more you write in your chosen niche, the more trust you will build with your readers. The more they trust you, the more likely they are to make purchases of the products that you recommend.

Brands, PR firms and SEO companies will likely approach you to ask about having their products or links featured without you needing to chase them first. You can set your own prices and work as you see fit for your own space. Adding in Google Adsense will also give you a running income from visitors who wouldn’t need to buy, but just the impressions will count.

OFten blogs can be used as supporting materials when applying for online part times jobs too. It will give recruiters an idea of your tone and writing ability, as well as how you manage your social media, growth and work ethic.

Your blog can be the portal to all of your online money making, and it will all come from something that you loved to do.

This is a collaborative post.

Blog · Blogging

Little Rant…

June 15, 2018 jacquelineobyikocha22 Comments

I don’t know if it irritates me or amuses me. Still trying to work out my sentiments. Sometimes, someone would leave a comment that sounds completely odd and far away from your post that you actually have to go back to your post to read it again to figure out exactly what it was that you wrote to prompt such an asinine comment.

Then, it dawns on you that they didn’t read it, but they summarized what they felt you said and made their two-bit comment that makes you wonder, why people do that. Yeesh! I also think that there’s an automatic ‘like’ button that some bloggers have learnt how to manipulate ‘cos I can’t relate with how fast a post gets liked considering that you just clicked the publish button.

Blog · Featured Blogs

Posts that caught my interest…

June 15, 2018 jacquelineobyikocha

Sometimes Shaving is Necessary It simply wasn’t what I was expecting. Short, good read.

A plague of discontentment I daresay we’ve all walked down this path.

When life throws a curveball and it surely will throw you a couple of them.

Thoughts Short and true

Comments are closed to encourage you to visit the featured posts.

Featured Blogs

Featured Posts…

May 29, 2018 jacquelineobyikocha

Sharing, Blogs, Networking, Growing Readership, Connection, Bloggers, Blog Posts

Gosh! I haven’t done this in donkey months and believe me when I say that it perturbs me. My blogging schedule has gone to rack and ruin 😉 Life happens and sometimes when it does, you are left grappling to get a grip on things.

La, di, da, anyway, let’s get it going. Please do send in your precious links to your inspiring, interesting posts that you want others to eyeball so that I can share with my supportive readers. Let’s revive this comatose feature. It will feature twice weekly and you can add your link ‘through this loop,’

This post is closed to comments to keep it tidy. Just click on the link above.

Remember, sharing is caring. When we come together we grow together.’

Thank you.

Blog

HOW TO CREATE A SMART BLOG BUSINESS PLAN.

May 26, 2018May 26, 2018 jacquelineobyikocha6 Comments

You may wonder how important a business plan is for your blog and I must confess that as a beginner I wondered the same thing and I learned this the hard way after dabbling around with my first blog. Having a business plan for your blog is not mandatory, but if you regard your blog – or plan to do so – as a way to earn income, to grow your platform, to showcase your creativity and create a brand, then your blog is your business and creating a blog business plan is essential.

Why you need that business plan.

To help you keep up your focus.
It will help you develop a short and long-term strategy that will help you gauge your progress.
Help you to carefully plan ways to make money from your blog in the best way that suits your brand.
Gives you a clearer picture of how you will promote your blog.
Helps you budget and guides you through future decisions for your blog as a business.
It helps to serve as an evidence to interested parties or investors who want to partner with you. Assuming that your blog grows popular over time and investors express interest in partnering with you, the decision to partner or not to partner with you could hinge on their assessment of your business acumen and a possible peep into your blog’s business plan. Such decisions are easier to make with documentation no matter how simple it is.

With this clarity on why you need a blog business plan, let’s go into the details of how to develop a simple, smart plan for your blog.

Thinking it through.

There are certain thoughts that you should have on your mind as you create your plan such as:

The platform (hosted or self-hosted) that you want your blog on – WordPress, Blogger, TypePad, Others.

If you are self-hosting, consider how to get your domain name, how to buy hosting service, customizing and designing your blog and consider what the annual fees for maintaining your blog will be.

What are your three main goals for blogging? Identify them and use them as your focal point.

What will your blog subject focus be?

Who is your target audience and what are the possible solutions that you plan to offer to them?

When a reader visits your blog, what are the calls for action that you want them to take – Subscribe, buy, share etc?

How will you encourage them to take such action?

Search and study your competition. What is it that they are doing that you can learn from and possibly improve on.

How often will you update your blog? Think of your first ten blog posts, develop the content and come up with a list of focus keywords for your blog.

What are the strategies that you will use to increase your blogs’ SEO? Do you plan to run periodic promotions for your blog?

How will you measure your success? Think of the methods that you could use – Google Analytics, Email and RSS subscription, comments, and feedbacks. Read More…

Blogging · Finance

Should You Start To Get Serious About This Blogging Thing?

May 25, 2018May 26, 2018 jacquelineobyikocha17 Comments

https://unsplash.com/photos/fI6PXU5-kKU

As you first start out on your blogging journey, you don’t always know where it’s going to take you. First of all, it’s often going to be something you start as a hobby. Maybe you love a certain topic and you want to share your thoughts on it? Maybe you want to write, and so you start to write about anything and everything that you love. Maybe you’re a big blog reader and you just wanted to create your own little corner of the internet? When that’s the case, you can often fall in love with all things blogging. So much so, that you start to want to do it as a job. Or maybe you’re even getting a lot of hits and you really believe that you can turn it into a business. Either way, when you think that you’re ready to get serious about blogging, here’s what you need to do.

Defining Your Brand

The first thing you need to think about doing is defining your brand. And this is crucial. If you want to turn your blogging hobby into a legitimate business, branding is the key. You need to figure out who you are and what you stand for, the build up a brand identity around that. Visually speaking, this will mean that your logo, your colours, and your fonts all need to fit in with the idea of who your brand is. Then you can start to brand everything you do and really establish yourself in a business sense.

https://unsplash.com/photos/Iq1D_TVnCBg

Marketing More

From here, you then need to think about your marketing. Right now, it’s highly likely that you’ll have social media platforms that you share your content on. But now, you need to get serious. You need to market as much as possible and have a plan of what you want to achieve too. Think about why you’re marketing on each platform, who you’re reaching, and what you can do to add more value to the content that you’re putting out.

Setting Up An Office

If you just tend to write from your bed or the couch, you need to change that. It’s time to cut out distractions and get focused on building your business. So clear out your spare room or attic space, put everything into storage like www.mybekins.com, and work on creating an office. Think about setting everything up so that you feel motivated to work and that you have everything you need around you to do a better job.

https://unsplash.com/photos/rBh0T1QaC1Q

Monetizing Your Content

Then, you need to think about how you’re going to monetize. And take your time. Look into options like www.neilpatel.com and find out what will work best for you. Start off slow and then you should find that you start to earn real money by doing something you love.

Creating A Game Plan

Finally, you then need to think about where you want to take things. Work out what your overall goals are and then pull a business plan together. This is going to be that one step that helps you to get serious about your blog and turning it into a profitable career path.

Blog · Blogging

Boosting Your Social Profile As A Blogger

May 3, 2018May 3, 2018 jacquelineobyikocha8 Comments

Image source

If you want to get your teeth into the best hot dog in Times Square, are you going to go to the vendor that has no one queuing up their cart or are you going to the chap that has twenty people standing in line? Exactly. It’s called social proof and it is a surefire way to tap into the psychology of people. But it’s not just hot dog vendors that can use this marketing tool; it’s something we bloggers can use to encourage people to read our words, subscribe to our blogs and follow us on social media.

So, without further ado, here are some pretty genius ways you can add a dollop of social proof to your marketing strategy and encourage more people to buy into your brand – whatever that is.

Let An Expert Takeover

You must have come across an online publication, newspaper supplement or Instagram account where someone with influence takes over for a day or so. They might play magazine editor for a special edition, they might do a guest post on a blog or take over a brand’s Insta-stories. Whatever it is, having an expert or influencer takeover is a great way to tap into the followers and embrace the halo effect.

Highlight Milestones

Another super awesome way to create social proof is to highlight a milestone by showing a bunch of gratitude towards it. Perhaps you just reached 10,000 Instagram followers, or 5,000 Facebook followers or a 20,000 blog subscribers – reaching a milestone like this is cause for celebration, offers you a chance to say thank you and, best of all, let’s other people know you are worth following.

Big Numbers Appeal

The moment you come across a blog that shows they have a social media following of tens – or hundreds – of thousands of followers, you automatically click the ‘like’ or ‘follow’ button. Why? Because there has to be a reason why so many people are following them and you don’t want to miss out on it. The best way to achieve this kind of following is organically, but a great way to get a head start is to buy cheap Instagram followers. It’s not cheating, it’s just embracing the fact that perception is reality. Distinction.

Curate User Content

User-generated content is the secret weapon used by so many brands, bloggers, influencers and everyone else and that’s because it helps grow a following to record numbers in almost no time at all. A great example of a brand that loves user-generated content is Fairfax & Favor. It’s the backbone of their marketing strategy. The way it works is simple: you repost user’s posts by encouraging them to use a branded hashtag.

Get An Endorsement

One of the most amazing ways to boost your social proof is to get your blog endorsed by industry leaders or well-known brands. We’ve all been on a blog and noticed a section titled “as seen on” followed by a load of logos you recognize: Cosmopolitan, Huffington Post, Daily Mail etc. That’s the aim right there.

Tag: Bloggers

Key Notes…

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Making Money From Your Blogging Space

Photo by raw pixel on Unsplash

This is a collaborative post.

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