This post was most recently updated on July 29th, 2016

Today I want to give you a checklist of the 10 best ways to blog in 2015.

While this is not a complete list of the things you need to do, I hope it will get you asking yourself some questions about how you are going to blog in 2015.

Many of you bloggers have been around for a while and have prepared your updated goals for the new year.

I’m sure you know that blogging alone is not likely to bring in the online profits you want, though, unless you properly root your blog in a sound monetization strategy.

For those of you who don’t really understand what it means to have “a sound monetization strategy,” think of it this way. All of your online activities… blogging, social media, videos and all the rest… form a circle.

Your blog is in the center of that circle.

All of your online activities lead to capturing leads on your opt-in forms, or selling your products and/or services.

This is best done by leading people from your social media and other sites, onto to your blog. That’s where you get to build a deeper relationship with them, and make them part of your business.

So, what are the 10 best ways to blog in 2015?

Last week, I wrote a post about Blogging in 2015.

I talked generally about setting your goals for blogging in 2015, and I even gave you a link to view my webinar on the subject.

As of the time of this posting, it’s not too late to catch the replay of that webinar, even though the expires soon. Here it is again:

“Turn Your Blog Into A Business”

Today, I want to talk not so much about WHAT you want to accomplish with your blog in 2015, but HOW you’re going to do it.

So here, from my point of view, are the 10 best ways to blog in 20151. Make your blog personal.

1. Treat your blog like your home.

Make it about you and your brand, and let people know why they want to be there.

Your blog is your “home,” your private real estate that no one can take away from you. Make your home inviting to all your guests.

2. Throw out the welcoming mat.

When people visit your home, treat them like folks you’re happy to see.

Always greet them at the door with a friendly welcome.

Most of all, serve them up some high-value content that is congruent to the niche you are in.

Make them see they made a good choice to visit you.

3. Build your list.

Have you made that opt in on your side bar, yet?

Even if your “free offer” is an affiliate product or service, you must have something to serve up as an appetizer… something they’ll want to pick on before the full course meal arrives.

I find it best to do a one minute video of YOU introducing the free offer. This is how you will brand yourself, even if you’re an affiliate. That, my dear friends, is so important.

4. Embed your “Calls To Action”

At the end of each blog post, always encourage reader engagement by giving a clear Call To Action (CTA). The idea is to make it easy, and also enticing for people to comment. It is like giving them a “hint” of what to say.

You can make your CTA something like this: “If you enjoyed this post, please let me know how you could apply this to your own situation…”

Remember, people love to talk about themselves, so give them permission and encouragement to. This makes your blog personal, so people will remember you.

5. Give your readers an “Author Box”.

Have you installed your “author box” so new people coming to your blog can see what you are all about?

If not, do it now, and make it easy for people to read.

Even more, though, give them a Call To Action in the author box, too. 

Something like this… “I’ve been doing a lot of Facebook Ads, lately. In fact, I’ve done a video showing you to avoid the mistakes I made early on… watch it here [link to your video].”

6. Work your blogging process.

Now, get out there and work your blogging “process.”

This process involves replying to comments left on our blog, and then reciprocating by going to their blogs and leaving comments of your own. This is of utmost importance, but many bloggers get lazy with the process.

Every time someone comments on one of your blog posts, make sure to leave a good reply. Do this promptly. Don’t wait a week before replying. The sooner your replies are published, the more “real time” and conversational your blog will feel to your readers.

Then, you need to reciprocate.

Go to each of their blogs and leave a really great comment. People do read comments, and you bet your bottom dollar that when they see that you have left a good one, they get interest in you.

When I say to leave a “good” comment, I mean one that shows you actually read the blog post.

When you give intelligent feedback on it, others will see it and will be prompted to visit your blog and see what you are all about.

To understand this process in more detail, I refer you to Don Purdum’s article whereby he shows the importance of doing this.

7. Enhance your Social Media presence.

Be active on social media!

Whatever you have done last year, pump it up in 2015 with the many white hat marketing strategies you can apply. (Later, for that post lol).

Yes my dear friends.

Whatever social media platform you favor, resolve to increase your activity level there in 2015. Stick to it consistently, keep posting daily and never stop engaging with others.

8. Use your blog for marketing.

Make sure you either hire a coach or do some intense course training to get up to date on the marketing strategies that will work in 2015… not the ones that worked last year, the ones that will work from this day forward.

This is the most important thing of all.

If you do not know how to market correctly, your blog is just going to be flapping in the wind. I don’t care how many people love your blog, it won’t bring you the results you want.

You really need to get your game on and learn how to market.

You may think you have already learned the “secret sauce”, and that is fine.

But here’s the big questions you need to ask yourself.

• Are you dissatisfied with the results you’ve been getting?
• Would you like to improve on them in 2015?

If so, you absolutely must explore different avenues of marketing, otherwise you simply are not going to gain any traction.

I can tell you from my own experience that David and I have always used coaches. That’s what professionals do.

They consult with people who can help them get to the next level in their business. It’s an ongoing learning process.

Doctors and lawyers call it “continuing education.”

Entrepreneurs call it surviving and thriving.

Whatever you call it, it means keeping abreast of the best online marketing strategies on a continuing and ongoing basis.

There is so much to learn, and to apply when it comes to cutting edge marketing with your blog. I can write another blog post about that one, for sure.

For now, keep your eye on the ball… attend webinars, get coaching, do anything…but never stop learning how to market. The minute you stop, your business will, too.

9. Implement!

Implement your marketing strategies consistently and wisely on your blog in 2015.

This will lift you to heights that most bloggers never even dream of.

10. For “extra credit” – create a product.

Now, here’s your “extra credit” assignment. If you’ve never created a digital product, try creating your first one in 2015.

It could be a paid product, but it could even be the free “lead magnet” that you use to build your list.

Did you ever think of creating your own product, bloggers?

If you have done so… that is great and you know that feeling going from blogger to product creator. You’ve seen how it really pumps up your authority status and personal brand.

If you’ve never tried creating your own product, you can do it in 2015!

It can be an e-book, a video, a service, an ongoing training product. Whatever you choose.

If you have never made your own product, please make 2015 the year you do, even if you are a newbie blogger.

In my upcoming posts, I will address this issue and elaborate on it.

Now… I would love to know your strategies and how you are going to rock your blog in 2015.

Would you like to add something to my list of the 10 best ways to blog in 2015?

I look forward to reading your comments below.

-Donna

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• Bio
• Blogging Magic

Donna Merrill

Donna is a well known blogger and creator of "Blogging Magic" - an intensive guide to blogging. "Blogging Magic" is for beginners who are trying to figure out how to bring their blogs to life with tons of visits, comments and social media interaction. It's even for advanced bloggers looking to reach new levels of authority and engagement with their audience.