Hi, My name is Erica Dietz and I blog over at 5 Little Monsters, a craft blog where I share my crochet, embroidery, and sewing projects, as well as free patterns. A little over a month ago, I had the opportunity to attend SNAP!, a blogging and social media conference for creative entrepreneurs, thanks to a ticket I won here on Creative Income. It was an awesome experience, and today I want to share a few of the things that I learned there. They are tips I hold on to each day as little reminders to stay motivated and become a better blogger. Hopefully they will do the same for you!
1. Try Fearlessness on For Size!
During the opening session of the conference, each attendee was given a necklace with the word Fearless on it. I loved that reminder because I sometimes struggle to step outside my comfort zone. Going to SNAP! was a chance for me to do this. I had the opportunity to meet and talk to sponsors and other bloggers and to experience things that I normally would not have. After the conference was over, I was determined to continue to push myself forward. I did not want to hold myself back because of what someone might be thinking anymore. As a result, I have already had some new opportunities open up to work with companies and grow my blog.
2. Get Organized!
I started my blog less than a year ago, and I didn’t have a very clear vision of where I wanted it to go. One of the classes I attended at the conference talked specifically about organization and had some great tips, but even classes on other topics really helped me recognize the importance of getting organized. Since SNAP!, I have been utilizing spreadsheets. Spreadsheets are great for keeping track of stats, blog posts, expenses and income, brands and brand contact information and so much more. I have also adopted an editorial calendar, which has worked magic on my daily life! You can use different colors to highlight deadlines or different types of posts. You can also make lists of ideas for new posts or projects.
3. Use Social Media to Your Every Advantage
This was a big one. For some reason, social media has always been a challenge for me. I think it goes back to the fact that it is hard for me to put myself out there, and with social media I feel like that is exactly what I have to do. I knew it would play an important role in growing my blog, though, so I was really excited to learn some new tips. I think the biggest thing that I got from all of the classes I went to was consistency and variety. You need to make sure you are posting consistently on your social media accounts. For example, it’s best top post to your Facebook page 6-8 times per day. Also make sure that you are not only self-promoting, but sharing content from other bloggers as well. Scheduling your social media posts ahead of time—with a scheduling site like HootSuite–makes this a lot easier.
A few tips for posting on major social media sites:
- On Facebook: People like to see things that appear doable
- On Pinterest: People want pretty photos, long vertical collages work the best
- On Instagram: You also want to use pretty pictures, but you can focus on more of the “behind-the-scenes” work going on at your company, rather than only finished projects.
4. A Few Extra Thoughts
The last I want to share is not necessarily a tip, but it has to do with the feeling I was left with at the end of the conference…
There were several amazing keynote speakers, and one common thread that was woven throughout each of them was to be yourself while following your dreams. If you stay true to yourself and do things because it is what you love, it will show through in your work. That is what will make you stand out from the crowd. There is no reason you can’t achieve your dreams if you are willing to put in the effort and work for it.
Going to SNAP! was an awesome experience, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to go. I have only been blogging for a short time, but it has been a fun adventure and I am excited to see what the future holds for my little blog. I came home from SNAP! feeling motivated to work hard, to achieve the goals that I have set for myself and my blog, and with the feeling that there is no reason in the world that I can’t achieve my dreams.
What blogging tips do YOU have to share?
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