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What I Learned By Getting Hacked

malware warning from Google

“The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn’t understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had.” – Eric Schmidt

Most of you know by now that my website was hacked last week. You probably saw big warning screens like the one above when you tried to visit my site. And most of you have been asking what happened. So… Here’s the story: I’m traveling like crazy this month, so I had to cram most of this months blogging work into one week and a half long period in between a conference in Texas, and my trip to the Nike Young Athletes Innovation Summit in a couple of days. I was pretty stressed at how much work I had to do, but ready for the challenge.

Then – I got hacked.

I mean, majorly hacked. I had been working on a sponsored posts for Clever Girls, and took a break for lunch. When I came back to my desk, my dashboard had been replaced by a huge malware warning screen. I freaked out a bit. I’m NOT tech savvy, and am not good at troubleshooting when things go wrong. So my first step was to check in to my Facebook groups to ask for help. None of the simple solutions worked. Ugh. What to do?

“There are three kinds of death in this world.  There’s heart death, there’s brain death, and there’s being off the network.” – Guy Almes

I was already starting to get messages – emails, tweets, fb comments – asking what was going on. My next step was to call my hosting company for advice. Long story short – After 2 days of waiting, being assured that the scanning service I had purchased would find the problem, and the GoDaddy security team would help me fix it once found – I was informed that all 5 people I had spoken with had given me the wrong info. While the scanning system would assist me in finding the issue, there was no one at GoDaddy who would be helping me to fix it. Oh. My. Heck. 2 1/2 days of waiting to find out that I was still at square one?? I kind of lost my cool for awhile. Luckily for me, the uh-MAY-zing Beck Ryan from Stone Alley 4 WP came to my rescue!! {Connect with her on Facebook too – she is awesome.} Everyone has told me how super smart she is at fixing just about any WP problem imaginable – so I was so relieved to have her helping me out! She was able to login to my account, find the malware, and clean it up right away. But…. It kept coming back. Again, and again. Since Becky is pretty much a genius with this stuff, she was incredibly frustrated by this – and said she’d never seen anything quite like it. Finally, I felt bad for taking up so much of her time, and decided to look for some additional outside help.

“A blogger is constantly looking over his shoulder, for fear that he is not being followed.” – Robert Brault

At this point my Adsense account had been suspended, I had caused problems for a ton of other bloggers who were linked to me, Google had me blacklisted – and I’d missed an incredible amount of deadlines. And – I’d been online night and day, trying everything I could to get things fixed. Every time we thought things were clean, and starting to clear up – another attack would hit and knock me back down again!! But, finally, we figured out what we THINK was the trigger to it all –

The problem: ADV Plugin Scam for WP – Malware and More!

I’m always super careful about adding plugins. But, this was back at the holidays, the company had looked reputable, and I was so over-worked that I fell for this and didn’t do my research. It was supposed to be for adding ads to my site – but then I didn’t realize in the craziness of the holiday season, but I never heard from this company again, and just kind of forgot about that plugin. It was most likely the door that let the hackers into my site. From what GoDaddy told me, this malware originated in Russia – it caused my site to FILL with porn pop-up ads, and added malicious code that would attack the visitors computer. Since this was such a devastating ordeal, I have named it the Russian Porn Pop-Up Attack of 2012, to try and give it a bit of humorous side. You know, so I don’t cry when I think about it :)

The Silver Lining in the Malware Cloud

Does it seem crazy to say that while this was the MOST stressful thing that has ever happened since I’ve started this site, it also had some positives to it? Well, it did, and I want to share some lessons learned:

  • I now know SO incredibly much more about the inner workings of my site than I did before. I know what FTP is, where to login to it, and how to change my password. I know how to look at the coding in my site, and some red flags to watch for. And I know everything in my Webmaster Tools dashboard like the back of my hand!
  • I finally added some extra services to help me run my site. Things have gotten too big for me to handle it all on my own. And, since I rely on only this income to support me and my little girl – I cannot afford another crisis like this! I now have a great security company doing daily scans of my site, monitoring it for problems – as well as basic maintenance package to stay on top of updates.
  • I learned that I have an incredible group of friends and fans online! I cannot even tell you how helpful all of the tips and information you all sent me. The words of encouragement were so needed and appreciated. And to all of the other bloggers who offered assistance – You all rock. I had no idea how truly amazing the people I’ve met online really were until this crisis hit!

So – Thank you SO much to everyone for sending me the kind words, the offers of assistance, and great tips to try. Luckily, everything is FINALLY fixed, and determined by Google to be totally clean and safe again. Whew – What a week it’s been!

What to do if your site has been hacked:

Most cases of malware are pretty simple to clean up – might be a bad link in a spam comment, or an ad or button in your sidebar causing problems. But if you think you’ve been hacked, here are a few tools and resources to check out:

  1. Check out your sites health in the free security scan on Sucuri.com – it’ll let you know what types of problems your facing.
  2. If your WordPress site was hacked, this article will give you some tips on what to look for – if you’ve got some decent tech skills, you might be able to fix it up yourself.
  3. Need more help? Then check out the great services offered at Stone Alley 4 WP – she is totally affordable, and super amazing!
  4. Want to protect yourself from problems in the future? Check out this article on How to Protect Your Website from Hacker Attacks. Great tips that can help you avoid a huge catastrophe like I just went through.

Make sure to always keep your site updated with the latest versions of WordPress and each of your plugins. Be sure to use secure passwords. Be cautious in how many plugins you use, since they do add a bit of risk to your site. And if your site is more than a hobby, I recommend adding a maintenance package and security services to your site too, to make sure you have access to quick assistance if you need it.

Share your story

Have you ever had your site hacked? Any tips to share – what to avoid, how to fix it, services that rocked? Share your story in the comments – maybe it can help someone else avoid a mess too!

Thank you so much for your patience & support – I’m glad to be back!!

 

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Posted by on April 24, 2012 Filed Under: Blogging Tools | 24 Comments

Mom Entrepreneurs Rock: Get the Best Guide to Being Your Own Boss

The barefoot executive, book, business book,

“The only thing that ever sat its way to success was a hen.” – Sarah Brown

Love that quote. And I love this book. If you’ve never heard of Carrie Wilkerson before, let me tell you – she is not a hen. This woman is a total firecracker. And it’s amazing how well she puts her personality and high energy into written words on the pages of this book. It’s so easy to read – and you feel totally motivated every time you get through another chapter. This is rockstar stuff here, ladies.

“None of us can change our yesterdays but all of us can change our tomorrows.” – Colin Powell

I would have loved to have come across Carrie’s book a year ago, when I was making my big life changes. Most of you know my story of how I went from a high-paid position in Retail Management to an unemployed new mom – It was pretty stressful stuff. I had no job, it was a totally crummy economy, I was a totally unprepared new momma, and still a full-time online student. Those factors all combined to make finding a new job really difficult. Plus – I had unexpectedly lost a great job that I loved just a few years before that too. It was a new branch of a fast-growing online sales company, and I was one of the companies top sales people. Then one day they said – “Grab your purses and coats, and you can come back in two days to get a box with the things from your desk. We’re closing the site immediately.” And just like that, I was unemployed. Total shock. So now that this was my second unexpected job loss in less than 5 years, I realized that having a “safe” job just wasn’t really all that safe anymore. It was time for me to find a new plan….

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” – Stephen R. Covey

I realized that just like Carrie talks about in her book – now that I was a mom, my priorities had shifted dramatically. It no longer seemed so important to be putting in those long hours, hoping for that next advancement – store manager, then regional, and more… No, what mattered most to me now – more than money, or titles, or recognition – was flexibility. I wanted the ability to raise my baby myself, and stop worrying about finding a safe and reliable daycare facility. I wanted to be a part of family functions again. I didn’t want to miss the birthdays, and holidays, and school events that I’d been missing due to always having to work. I had no tech knowledge, but was studying for a Marketing Degree – so I decided to jump into the world of blogging, freelance writing, and social media, and see what I could do. If you’re in that same early stage, this book will save you countless hours  – The Barefoot Executive is packed with amazing steps to help you figure it all out. If you’ve already started your journey, and are in the process of building a business of any type for yourself, this book will help YOU too!

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that. The really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.” – Mark Twain

Carrie’s spark and enthusiasm for helping others achieve their dreams comes though loud and clear in her book. One of my favorite sayings in business has always been – “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” – and it’s so true! Over 30% of new businesses fail before they reach their second year, and most of that is not because they didn’t have a great idea, or because they didn’t work hard enough – it’s because they didn’t have a plan! It’s the whole, “Work Smarter, Not Harder” idea – and Carrie is going to walk you through the steps on how to do that as you read through this book. She covers the basics in a really powerful way –

  1. Who: Are you? What are you good at? What skills, education, and experience do you have? {Never worked? Doesn’t matter. As a best friend, a sister, a daughter, a mother, or a wife – you’ve gained skills. This book helps you figure out what YOU can do better than anyone else.}
  2. What: Best suits you? What types of work are you most successful with? Detail or number oriented? People person? She’ll help you figure out what you do best.
  3. Why: Do are you doing it? Why is this important to you? Why is this your passion? You’ll need to hang on tight to that when your working so many hours, to remember what your building towards.
  4. Where: Do you want to go? What goals do you want to reach? What does your ideal future look like?

How are you going to get to your dreams if you don’t have a clear picture of what they are and why you want them, right?

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” – Johann von Goethe

This is more than just a motivating book – although it will leave you feelin’ pumped. This is more than a self-help book – although it will help you realize so many new things about yourself. Where this book really gets set apart from all the other books I’ve read to help me build my business, is that it includes action. Once Carrie does more than just help you figure out who you are and what you want – She also helps you get there. She gives you tips on how to stay focused and ignore distractions. How to find support. She breaks it into actionable steps for you – Why to start a business. How to start it. And how to make it work for YOU.

“Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week.” – Spanish Proverb

Don’t put it off until you “have time” – We’re all incredibly busy women, and none of us is ever going to get “more time”, lol. Get this book today. Order it right now, and when it arrives on your doorstep, take it out and get started. You will be so glad that you did. Get Carrie’s book on Amazon.com – The Barefoot Executive: The Ultimate Guide for Being Your Own Boss and Achieving Financial Freedom. It is going to knock your socks off ladies. Guaranteed.

Want More: Connect with Carrie on Facebook and Twitter, or check out some video clips of her speaking events on her site too!

{Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from LivingMyMoment.com – so that I could share an honest opinion of it with you great ladies. All opinions, & overuse of exclamation points, are 100% my own – this book rocks.}

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Posted by on March 8, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution, Blogging Tools | 8 Comments

How this service can help organize your life online

How to get organized, for moms

Organize Yourself Online is a comprehensive service designed to make it easier than ever for you to get yourself organized

Your personalized program offers unique tools and ideas to organize yourself when and where you need it most – right at your PC desktop.

What You’ll Get with this Program

This service is packed full of great tips, ideas, tools and helpful resources to help you finally get organized – and stay that way!

  1. Get updated information on organizing techniques that really work.
  2. Track daily progress toward your personal goals.
  3. Get support from others in the exclusive community discussions.
  4. Review your new skills with customized quizzes.
  5. Develop organizing strategies with your personal journal.
  6. Answer your toughest questions with access to the experts.

You’ll also get a FREE copy of their book, Discover 28 ways to avoid procrastinating filled with quick tips to help you get in gear, and get motivated to move forward towards your goals!

Do you need help getting your life organized?

This resource has helpful information sections to address all of the areas that busy moms need help with, including:

  • Office
  • Household
  • Children
  • Managing Time
  • Financial Records

The past year has been a whirlwind for me – Having a baby, moving to a bigger new home that needs a lot of work, having family move in with me, starting a blog and other online businesses – and I’m realizing that I need to bump all of my organization methods up to a new level. When you have so much to do, and juggle so many different roles and responsibilities, you have to have awesome organization systems or you just can’t keep up with it all. Being organized keeps can help you feel SO much less stressed – You know where things are, and how to find them. You know you’re keeping the right records and information on file. You know what tasks need to be accomplished each day, so you never miss a deadline.

If this all sounds great to you – Check out OrganizeYourself.com today!

And, for more great tips – Check out more of my Busy Mom Solution resources:

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Posted by on March 5, 2012 Filed Under: Blogging Tools, Busy Mom Solution | 5 Comments

Pinterest 101: Pin Like a Rockstar

Pinterest, Social Media, Blogging

Hi. My name is Meagan, and I’m addicted to Pinterest….

Anyone else here a Pinterest junkie too? It’s such a simple idea, you wonder why no one invented this sooner – and once you start using it, you wonder how we ever lived without it. I’m like a little Magpie on the web each day, collecting new shiny things I find. I used to have huge bookmark lists – But like Amber from Thrifty Ninja shows you in the video below – when you look at your bookmark lists, it’s hard to remember what each link goes to. With Pinterest, I can easily save all of those shiny bits of the web, categorize them into themed boards, and easily find inspiration when I need it. Perfection!

Pinterest, Computer, Procrastinator, Humor

Getting Started on Pinterest

You’ve probably heard the warnings – Beware of joining Pinterest! You’ll get sucked in. You’ll spend hours dreaming and pinning pretty projects to make, organizing strategies you plan to use, recipes you’ll make…. tomorrow. You spend so much time pinning, you don’t have enough time left to DO any of those things you pin. Sometimes you’ll sit down with a glass of wine, to browse, and find yourself on a “pin-binge”, and as you re-pin more and more, you’ll start to hear a Charlie Sheen voice in your head yell, “PINNING!!” It’s ok. We all go off the edge a few times when we first get started. You’ll learn to manage it soon enough. And once you get the hang of it all, it will become one of your most useful tools on the web, guaranteed! Here are a few resources to check out, if you’re new to Pinterest, and need a little help getting started:

Learn to Pin Like a Rockstar

Now that you’ve figured out the basics, you’re ready to pin like a rockstar. Since Pinterest isone of the fastest growing social media sites, ever – it’s definitely something you want to use to the fullest. If you’re a blogger, crafter, designer, or business owner – You can drive huge amounts of traffic to your sites using Pinterest! For many people, it’s now their top traffic referrer – bringing more new faces their way than search engines, StumbleUpon, or any other social media. Here are a few resources to give you some awesome ideas:

  • Seven Cool Ways to Use Pinterest: Once you grasp the basics, this second post from Blogworld.com will show you some more interesting ways to maximize your time using it. Love this post.
  • 10 Creative Ways to Use Pinterest for Marketing: Love these ideas. I also like that he talks about cross-promotion between your Pinterest page and your other social media – I have a few tips to share on that too – Keep reading. But the thing I don’t agree with is pinning coupons – I’ll explain that one too.
Pinterest, Pottery Barn, DIY, Social Media, Humor

A Few Tips for Using Pinterest 

Since Pinterest is still new, the “rules” to using it are still being figured out. You can read a little bit about Pinterest Etiquette on their site. And here are a few of my own personal opinions on using Pinterest. There is no real right or wrong, and not everyone will agree with me, but here we go…

  • Only Pin Evergreen Content: Evergreen content is the type that will still be as relevant a year from now as it is today. A cool recipe for lasagna cupcakes is just as awesome next fall as it was when you pinned it today. But a coupon? That pin only has value for a week or two. If we start pinning and re-pinning content that will quickly expire, then we end up spamming up Pinterest with things that turn into junk. Plus – Yes, pinning that coupon from your site might drive some short-term traffic. But what about 6 months from now when someone comes across that old coupon because it’s pinned on someone else’s wall – If they click it, and their first visit to your site brings them to an expired coupon, it’s doubtful that they’ll be back. – Quick tip: Did you know you can pin videos too? Love that!
  • Link to Correct Sources: One thing that I see a lot is when people pin from the homepage of a blog, instead of going to the post itself first. Then when I click that pin a week later to go and check it out – It takes me to the home page, and the post has been buried away. Another problem is when someone pins directly from Google Images – that pin won’t take me back to original content either. And while Pinterest is all about pretty pictures, the whole point is to be able to easily find the original post for reference too, so be sure to “pin it” so that it links back correctly. Thank you in advance :)
  • Learn What People Pin: You can check to see what content on your site is being pinned, to learn what is most popular. The first time I looked this up, I was really surprised at some of things that people were pinning from my old posts. Type this into your browser to check it out: http://pinterest.com/source/yourdomainhere.com – obviously, type in your site name instead. Very cool tool!
Pinterest, Wine, Humor

Cross Promotion

If you really want to build a following on Pinterest, there are some easy ways to connect it to the other places that you “live” on the web. When I find someone cool online, I always look to see where else I can find them too. Make it easy, since people have short attention spans on the web.

  • Edit Your Profile: On your home page, right under your profile picture, is a button to, yep, you guessed it – “edit profile”. Click it, and link your page to your website, Facebook, and Twitter. Save it, and go back to your profile – See those little social icons under your profile? Now if someone visits your pinterest page and loves it – they can find you everywhere else too. Very cool, right?
  • Add to Facebook: You can also add a Pinterest tab directly to your Facebook page too – If you get confused by her instructions {I did!} read down in the comments, someone left a great tip on installing the tab. If you want to see what it looks like in action – Check it out on my Facebook page.
  • Plugins: Another great way to really maximize your Pinterest page is to add a Plugin – You can see mine, the Pinterest RSS Widget, in my sidebar, under Recent Pins. There are a few others to choose from too, and you’re sure to find one that will be perfect for your site.

Wrapping it up

This is the longest post I’ve written in quite awhile – But heck, when you love something so much, it’s hard to keep it short and sweet, right? I hope I’ve answered some questions, helped you get started, or helped you learn something new. If you have any Pinterest related questions, feel free to ask them here, or on my Facebook page, and I’ll share any answers that I have. Above all, remember – It’s Pinterest – Not Brain Surgery. Have fun with it!

Already pinning? Follow me on Pinterest!

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Posted by on February 20, 2012 Filed Under: Blogging Tools | 27 Comments

Your Blogging Business: Tax Time Tips are Here!

Tax Book Tips

Blogging + Taxes = Confusion!

I know that when I started blogging last year – {can you believe it’s been almost a year already that I’ve had this site? Craaaazy….} – I didn’t realize all of the things that I should be keeping records of. I tracked my income {which of course wasn’t much at first} and I have a kind-of/sort-of list of the products I reviewed. I kept a list of some of my expenses, but don’t have receipts for so many other things because I had no idea I could write them off on my taxes! I’ve always done my own taxes, but was getting a little bit nervous this year, and contemplating seeing a professional {meaning = expensive} tax helper. Well, if you’ve been stressing over taxes too, this book can totally come to your rescue!

Who should NOT buy this book

This book can’t answer every tax question – there are so many different pieces, that sometimes you really do need expert advice. So if you made a ton of money from your blog, or if you paid employees to help you, or if you have a really unique question or problem – You might still need to talk to a pro. And if you made less than $400, your taxes are really pretty simple, and you may not need any extra help at all.

Who WILL be helped by this book

All the rest of us! Lol – But seriously. This book covers all of the core things that you need to know, in a fun, totally easy to read way. From how to track your expenses all year, to what can be written off at tax time – She can help you learn to maximize all of those business deductions that we’re entitled to get. And she has tons of great ideas to help you keep your info organized during the coming year – so that next tax season is a breeze!

Tax Book for Bloggers

Want to check it out too?

Click here to visit Your Blogging Business

The ebook is called Your Blogging Business – Tax Talk and Tips from a Bookkeeper turned Blogger. It’s only $4.99 for the book – and I tell ya, it’s well worth the few bucks!!

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Posted by on February 17, 2012 Filed Under: Blogging Resources, Blogging Tools | 6 Comments

7 Ways to Rock Your Blog Today – #RockYourBlog2012

Keep Calm and Rock Your Blog

“Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.” – Brian Clark

My new phrase to keep me motivated this year is #RockYourBlog2012 – {feel free to start using it too, I want everyone to be blogging rock stars this year} – so when I came across this totally amazing graphic over at abeachcottage.com, I knew I had to share it! You can read some really great tips from Sarah at A Beach Cottage below, along with 6 other totally awesome posts filled with great information, tips, ideas, and motivation for the new year! And if you’re looking for more ways to boost your blog, join our group for the 31 Days to a Better Blog Challenge, based on the Problogger book. {Read about the First Week Warm-Up we just completed, and link up with us for the 31 Days Challenge that starts today!} If you have a great blogging tips link too, share it in the comments – I’d love to read it.

7 Awesome Posts help you Rock Your Blog

  • Sweet Blog Tips for New Girls – This post is where the totally awesome image above came from, the lovely Sarah that runs this site, abeachcottage.com, created it herself. That shows you a little bit how awesome she is! Love it – and love her realistic tips here.
  • How to Work from Home Like You Mean It – There are a lot of articles with tips for working at home. But this is different – It’s a really honest and realistic look at the true challenges you face working from home, with solutions. Love this.
  • 10 Hard-Hitting Link Building Tactics That’ll Boost Your Rankings – Quick Sprout has some great tips for legitimate ways to increase your links. You can also sign up for their newsletter, and get a free “Marketing Secrets” report.
  • Simple Tips to Improve Blog Readership – Every bloggers goal is to have people actually read what they take so much time to create. These easy to put into action tips will help you increase your traffic. {FYI: Sign up for their email updates – awesome stuff!}
  • Learn Code in One Year – Code Year will email you a new lesson once a week. They claim that after a year of getting their easy weekly tutorials, you’ll be coding like a pro. Worth a shot, right?
  • Five Essential Personal Writing Tips – I really enjoyed this ideas about creating more powerful writing, perfect for bloggers.
  • How to Add a Pinterest Button to All Blog Posts – You know I’m a Pinterest Junkie – {follow me here!} – and it is quickly becoming a major influencer on the web. This is a great tutorial for those of you on Blogger. If anyone knows of a good WordPress tutorial too, I’d love you forever if you share it with me!
  • 8 Ways to Show a Blogger You Like Her – Nice Girl Notes is one of the funnest sites to read! And this is a really wonderful post – Let’s all go and show another blogger how much we love her today! {Read her “How to Use Twitter Like a G” post she links to in this article too – so funny!}

Have a great week!

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Posted by on January 16, 2012 Filed Under: Blogging Tools | 15 Comments

Build a Better Blog 2012 – Chapter 5 #RockYourBlog2012

2012 Blog Building

“The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.” – Arthur C. Clarke

I’ve partnered with a group of bloggers to follow the advice from the super duper amazing guys at Problogger, to follow the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog book together – And I am SUPER excited to take on this challenge! I started my blogging journey in late February of 2011, and what a fun {and sleepless!} year it’s been so far! Now that I feel like I’ve got my feet planted pretty firmly here on my little patch of the web, I’m ready to take things up a notch. I think that the 31 days of ideas, tasks, projects, and posts is going to be pretty darn cool. To prepare for the 31 Day Challenge, we’re first doing Problogger’s Guide to Your First Week of Blogging {Click here to learn more} – and while it’s written for your first week of blogging, this is an incredibly helpful book for any blogger! If you’ve missed the beginning of the series – catch up here.

Problogger Ebook

Chapter 5 – Putting Yourself Out There

To get the full notes on this chapter of the book, read Misty’s post on CEO of Me, Inc – and I’ll share my ideas on this chapter with you here. For this chapter, it’s all about getting out there into the web. Getting to know other writers and bloggers in your niche, learn what your readers are interested in, and interacting more with others. Because really, that’s what blogging is all about.

“Link to your enemies. Link to your competitors. Link to everyone. Instead of being sticky, be linky.” –Robert Scoble

Blogging is about community – the community you build with your readers, the community you belong to in your blogging niche, and even the community of other bloggers of different types. So get to know them – I love a quote Misty mentioned, “Leaders are Readers and Earners are Learners.” Perfect.

Task 1: Sharing Your Story

Get your “My Story” post that you worked on earlier in the week posted and shared. I used that task as motivation to update my About Me page, since that had been neglected for much too long. You can use this task to set up a new About page, update your own, or just write a story sharing a little info about the face behind the blog – it’s up to you. Then, share it! Share it with your fans on social media, and ask for feedback. Ask a blogging buddy or two to take a look and offer suggestions. {Here’s my About Me – Let me know what you think in the comments!}

Task 2: Start your Pillar Content Post

By now you have a folder of great blog ideas, including plans for a series of posts on an “Evergreen” topic, that will still be relevant at this time next year. Misty has amazing tips on creating a successful blogging series. Earlier this week, I set up an editorial calendar, with themes for each month of the year – I’ll use these to help me stay organized, and plan content. I’ll be putting together a new series each month, which I’m excited about.

Task 3: Using Blog Comments to Help Create Content

This is a such a great idea! Read through the comments that people leave on your blog. Is there a question that you could answer with a post? What types of content get the most attention and interaction? And – read the comments on other blogs in your genre. Not to copy anyone, just to see what types of posts get a lot of attention for others. Your blog is unique, because YOU are unique. Never try to be someone else, or compare yourself to them. But – it can really helpful to see what is working for others, and use it to create cool new ideas to use on your site.

Task 4: Ask the audience

{This reminds me of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, lol} Choose a topic that you cover on your blog. Now ask a few questions about that topic to ask your readers, and followers on social media. Make sure that this is an open-ended question, something that requires more than a yes or no answer. Example: I recently asked my Facebook fans, “What’s the best and worst parenting advice you received as a new mom?” – It was very interesting to hear their answers, and some of those gave me ideas to write about in an upcoming series. I’m also going to start an “answer the readers” type weekly post, which will be kind of the opposite of this, but fun. I’ll ask them to come up with THEIR questions about a topic, and I’LL answer them each week on my site. Your readers are your customers – get to know them. If they’re anything like mine, they’re awesome :)

What do you think so far?

We’re almost done with this Guide to Your First Week of Blogging ebook, and I have learned so much! I love that this book centered on setting up systems, getting organized, and building a solid foundation for your blog – new or experienced, every blogger should revisit these ideas from time to time, and make sure they’re moving in the direction they want to go. We’ll soon be starting our full adventure – Problogger’s 31 Days to Build a Better Blog ebook – and you can join us! To join, just buy the ebook – {Click here to view more details} – and then link up your homepage below! After you join, send me an email, and I can invite you to our group on Facebook.  Rock Your Blog in 2012!! #RockYourBlog2012



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Posted by on January 13, 2012 Filed Under: Blogging Resources, Blogging Tools | 1 Comment
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