These tips are mostly for women, but can be applied to men as well: dress conservatively and professionally.
Wordless Wednesday: Sleek and Worldly Office
Blog Photos 101
Personally, I’m a terrible photographer. Every photo I take is blurry, or off centered, or too dim. That’s why I mostly use creative commons photos. However, if you run a blog where having your own photos are integral (a cooking, craft, mommy, or gardening blog, for example), making sure these photos are professional and alluring is crucial. This is doubly true if you are selling a product with your blog. For tips on taking better photos for your blog, check out this post by Kelly at A Swell Place To Dwell:
-Give yourself time- Photography is a skill that you have to practice, it’s not going to happen over night (well, that’s encouraging!)
-Invest in a camera- Once I started learning my new DSLR I totally fell in love with photography
-Learn Manual Mode- Manual mode lets you produce what YOU want to produce, not what the camera THINKS you want to produce. Practicing will not cost you a penny.
-Always turn off your flash, look for beautiful natural light in your home.
Friday Fun Video: Awesome Office Design
These ideas are so refreshing and inspiring!
Why People Aren’t Reading Your Blog
Bloggers read other blogs- it’s how we get inspiration and connect with similar readers, plus it’s fun! I love seeing other people’s content when I’m not writing my own. However, there are definitely blog turn-offs out there that will make me immediately stop reading and move on. Want to make your readers stay? Read this post by Elena at Living With Batman! She lists her frustrations with certain blog posts, and I 100% agree with her on the first one!
-Email subscriptions/ pop ups at entry- Holy Crap! I just hit your blog for the first time and you want me to subscribe? Give me a break.
-Not mobile friendly- most readers are reading on smartphones.
-Too long and visually boring- avoid large walls of text!
-Too busy- you don’t have to include photos, videos, WordPress plugins, different colors of fonts, and quotes all in the same post!
Wordless Wednesday: Adorable Office/Craft Room Storage
Sites That Will Help Anyone’s Productivity
The hardest part about writing for a living is staying focused and managing time wisely. With a traditional job, you’re at a desk from 9-5, and you work during that time. It’s much easier to focus than when you’re at home, with the TV on, Facebook in the background, with kids running around you. And that doesn’t even take into account the writer’s block that can happen daily. That’s why I love this post by Julia Hughes at S Trends! Here are her top websites that will keep you focused, productive, and on track- no matter what it is that you are trying to do:
-LinkedIn- is a fantastic networking tool for freelancers and young professionals.
-Resume Genius- provides an easy, stream-lined online form
-Google Drive- for your online storage needs
-Tomato Timer- keeps you from taking breaks that last too long
-My Daily Schedule- This schedule gives you the option of logging what you’ve done that day or seeing how your time adds up over the course of a week.
How To Stop Procrastinating and Get Your Writing Done!
This article by Monica M. Clark at The Write Practice was written for people who are working on novels, short stories, and other creative writers. However, the tips can apply to anyone who writes for a living (or for fun). That’s you, bloggers! Even if you love writing, sometimes it can be so hard to just stop procrastinating and start typing. And for some reason, having a deadline can be counterproductive and actually make the procrastination worse! In the immortal words of Shia Lebouf, JUST DO IT! Or, check out Clark’s tips for getting started and staying productive:
-Don’t pull all nighters, and never PLAN to pull one! This will mess you up even more!
-Pay limited attention to progress of peers with same goals. Stop comparing your blog to your friend’s.
-Log out of Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter- etc. Block them if you have to (I turn off my wifi while writing).
-Eating, watching TV, etc., are all distractions. Don’t take a break until you meet a certain goal.
No More Blogger’s Block
If you’re a blogger, it can be incredibly demanding to constantly be thinking of ideas for new content. You have to post a few times a week, and you want to keep readers interested and your posts fresh and compelling. For a list of blog post ideas to jog your brain, check out this article by Iida at Iida Emilia:
-DIY Project or Tutorial
-Tips and Tricks
-Glimpse of your personal life
-Lists
-A Beginner’s Guide
-FAQs, Q&As.
-Hot topics of your industry, current events
-Your blogging process
-Host a giveaway
