17 Need-to-Know Blogging & Business Lessons I Learned in 2017

Dear 2017, You were one of the most exciting, challenging, amazing years of my life. Highlights include… + A 4-month RV road trip across Canada this summer + Moving to a new city with approximately 5,000 people + Going to Las Vegas for Scott’s birthday in March (so fun!) + Doubling the income I used to make at my old day job with my blog I wouldn’t trade this year for anything. I’ve learned so much, grown a ton, and I’m feeling ready to charge full speed ahead into 2018. I have a feeling this year is gonna be our best one yet. 😉 Last December I shared 16 Eye-Opening Lessons I Learned in […]

How to Start a Blog: The Ultimate Beginners Guide for 2018

You’ve made the exciting decision to start a blog in 2018. Go you! You’ve landed in exactly the right place because today’s post is about how to start a blog in 6 simple steps. Because amidst the excitement and butterflies, I’m guessing the tech side of starting your blog maaaaybe has you a bit hung up. Am I close? There are probably a zillion questions rattlin’ around in your pretty little head right now. Things like… + What exactly should I write about on my blog? (and will anyone actually read it?) + What should I name my blog? + Which blogging platform should I choose? WordPress, Blogger, Squarespace… And why are there so many freakin’ choices?! […]

The Ultimate Blogging Toolkit: The Best Tech, Courses, & Discoveries of 2017

In 2017, I discovered some fantastic tech and software, took some incredible courses, and used some awesome tools to stay organized and on track in my business. And today, I’m rounding them all up for you! To make this as easy as possible to digest, and so that you can immediately find the recommendations you’re looking for, I’ve divided this guide up into five sections: 1. Social Media Tools 2. Email List Tools 3. Planning and Organization 4. Courses I Took This Year 5. My Favorite Things of 2017 I’ve kept the descriptions relatively brief, but where possible I’ve linked to extra resources where you can learn more about that tool or course. I’ve also added […]

How to Create a Quarterly Plan for Your Blog to Boost Productivity & Focus (+ a free template!)

I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve become a *bit* obsessed with planning lately. At the time I’m writing this, the new year — 2018 — is just around the corner, so I’m guessing I’m not the only one. There’s just something about a fresh new year that brings out the Blair Waldorf in all of us (and I mean the Type-A organizational skills, not the bitchiness). One of my favorite ways to stay on track to complete all of my blog and business goals is to create a Quarterly Plan. I haven’t heard too many bloggers talk about this before, but it’s been an incredibly valuable strategy for me so I wanted to share my […]

How & Why to Set Up Batch Days For Your Blog

One of my blogging friends sent me this message the other day: “My biggest issue is being able to work out a solid plan to tackle #allofthethings and actually do them. I feel like I have so many things I need to get done, and I’m running around a little aimlessly and only getting everything half done.” And I totally, completely get where she’s coming from. I remember feeling like this not too long ago — drowning in my never-ending to-do list, lying awake at night thinking of all the things I didn’t get done that day, and hoping I could somehow tack an extra 3 days onto my work week. If your blog is a […]

7 Questions To Ask Before Creating Your Next Freebie (So You Don’t Waste Time on a Dud)

So your first attempt at an opt-in freebie was a total flop. No one signed up for it (or, if you were lucky, your mom and BFF did) and you were left staring at a big glaring “0” in your MailChimp account. You must have read a zillion and one blog posts about creating a freebie that was guaranteed to *explode* your email list. You thought you had it all figured out. So what happened? Don’t sweat it, girlfriend – we’ve all been there. Myself included! True story: My first freebie generated a whopping 8 – count ‘em 8 – signups. And *ahem*, that was over a span of two months. Let’s just wipe that one from the books, shall […]

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