Cendrine Marrouat - Blog Your Way to Success: 35+ No-Nonsense Tips for Authors and Writers

Blog Your Way to Success

35+ No-Nonsense Tips for Writers and Authors

Cendrine Marrouat

Copyright 2020 by Cendrine Marrouat

Cover photo by Wokandapix (Pixabay)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the author.

Introduction

D id you know that the first blog was created in 1994 and the term weblog was coined three years later? In almost a quarter of the century, the blogosphere has grown by leaps and bounds.

During my time as a social media coach in the 2010s, I had the opportunity to meet and advise many different people. In my workshops and individual sessions, the same question kept surfacing: What is the secret to getting hundreds of thousands of eyes on my blog?

My answer never changed: There is no secret. You need to be realistic, pragmatic, committed, and focus on the long run.

While my involvement as a social media coach is now less frequent, the question continues to be asked to this very day. Authors and writers are among the ones who ask it the most often. As an experienced author, writer and blogger myself, I want to offer my help.

That is the reason why I created this book. Blog Your Way to Success: 35+ No-Nonsense Tips for Writers and Authors is a collection of the best tips / advice I have shared with clients and participants in my classes. They are practical. They work. You just have to take the time to implement them.

Thank you for reading.

To your much deserved success!

Cendrine Marrouat

January 2020

1. Envision the Big Picture

I n this day and age , serious authors and writers understand the importance of having a blog. Actually, it is almost impossible to thrive online without one.

Simply put, blogs are platforms where experts are born, discovered and trusted. They allow you to reach visitors in a meaningful way, while offering services and products that meet their particular needs.

Do you have one or more favorite blog(s)? I like ProBlogger and Seth Godins blog, for example. I consider them very successful for two reasons:

- They have been around for years.

- Their creators see the big picture.

If you want to be a successful blogger, ask yourself the following questions:

- What do I want to achieve with my blog?

- Where do I see myself in two years?

- In five years?

- And even in maybe ten years?

Of course, things will probably change along the way. But, if you have a plan and stick to it, your ability to overcome challenges may well surprise you.

2. Do Not Fall for the Get-Rich-Quick Scheme

Learn to make a six-figure income in a few months through blogging.

W ho has not read that enticing proposal on social networks? I see it everywhere and it irks me.

Only a minority of bloggers earn a very decent amount of money thanks to sponsors, advertisers and reviews. However, do not expect blogging alone to make yourself rich.

If you work hard to provide good content for your readers, blogging will facilitate brand visibility. In turn, you will attract an increasing number of visitors interested in your work. They may even hire you because they need your expertise!

3. Understand the Meaning of Reader Engagement

W hen it comes to blogging , one of the most recurring questions people ask is: "How do I get more comments on my articles?"

I was once in the same boat, until I chanced upon the phrase 'reader engagement' during one of my numerous sleepless nights of research.

Reader engagement occurs every time someone takes action on what you post. It can be a comment, a share on social media, or a mention in a blog, website or book. Reader engagement also applies to blog recommendations and likes.

In a nutshell, we could say that reader engagement is how your readers react to your content.

Now, your next questions will probably be: "What if people don't leave comments under my articles? Will it impact my chances of being a successful blogger?" I do not think it does.

People do not leave comments for several reasons:

- They do not feel like doing it.

- They prefer sending comments by email.

- They do not know what to say.

- They are just browsing.

- They do not like your article.

Those familiar with marketing know that a great response rate starts at 5-10%. Out of 100 readers, only 5 to 10 will leave comments. The largest blogs in your field get many comments because they have hundreds of thousands of visitors!

My best advice to you: Do not get discouraged if you find your comment count disappointing. Everything takes time. The Internet is full to the brim with content, which makes discovery of your articles difficult. Consistency and hard work are the best policies to gain more exposure for your work.

4. Know Your Niche

D o you know who your readers are? How old are they on average? Where are they located? Which social networks do they use? How did they find your blog? What keywords did they use?