Welcome to the Blog

Business owners flying solo have unique challenges when it comes to marketing their business, but the greatest challenge seems to be a lack of time to do it everything on their own. I hear you. I have been flying solo for many years now and I can tell you from experience, it’s not easy. To […]Read More »

Are you tired of barely making ends meet with your social media efforts? It’s time to step up your game and learn how to make more money with these 7 easy steps. Whether you’re an influencer, business owner, or just looking to monetize your online presence, these tips will help you maximize your earning potential […]Read More »

The first time I had heard of GDPR was in April of 2018. I was listening to a blogging podcast and the topic was GDPR for US Bloggers. I learned that a European data protection law would impact my blog. Failure to comply with this law can result in severe penalties and I had never heard […]Read More »

Pinterest is the best way to get readers to your blog as a new blogger. Knowing this, Pinterest offers bloggers and other content creators analytic tools to help us create content to drive traffic to our blogs. One of the most recent additions to Pinterest Analytics is Audience Insights. Audience Insights is an amazing tool […]Read More »

.Blog pages are an important part of your blog that is easy to overlook. When you start a new blog, most of your initial focus will be on your blog posts. You know that you need content in order to attract readers, and that is true. However, the pages of your blog are just as […]Read More »

You may not think of an about page as a sales page, but this page on your blog can easily convert readers into subscribers and customers. It is one of the most influential pages on your blog and should not be overlooked or underestimated. In this blog post, I will explain how to write a […]Read More »

An affiliate link disclosure is a necessary part of affiliate marketing. If you have been following my blog monetization series of blog posts, then you know that it is possible to earn a substantial income from affiliate marketing. However, one topic that I haven’t touched on is the legal requirements for doing so. It is […]Read More »

Most bloggers say that they want to make money from their blogs, but are unhappy with their current blogging income. A simple way to increase the income from your blog is to sell useful digital products that help people in your niche. In some cases, you may already have created these products and don’t realize […]Read More »

Tailwind is notoriously known for its awesome marketing tools for content creators. That’s why it only made sense for them to add a hashtag finder to their Instagram scheduler. Not only can you auto-post your Instagram, but you could also easily find hashtags for your post, saving you a step! This is a huge time saver! […]Read More »

Have you ever seen a blogging income report and thought “There’s no way?” I’m right there with you. I thought exactly the same thing. Believe it or not, it’s true! I keep hearing that you can’t make money blogging these days. Well, I’m here to tell you that you can! In today’s blog post, I’m […]Read More »

If you are reading this, chances are you are ready to start making money from your new blog with affiliate marketing. First off, congratulations on your blog! I know it’s not easy to get started but if you stick with it, you can make a substantial income blogging. In this blog post, I will explain […]Read More »

Do you want to make money with your new blog? Who doesn’t, right? The problem is that you don’t have enough traffic to qualify for most affiliate programs. So, exactly how does a blogger make money with a new blog? In this blog post, I am going to reveal how you can make money with […]Read More »

Growing your Instagram following doesn’t have to be a struggle. The key to Instagram growth lies in finding the right hashtags for your posts and your brand. The right hashtags will skyrocket your Instagram following fast and strong. The good news is that these hashtags aren’t difficult to find and there are tools to help […]Read More »

Instagram can be a traffic and income driving machine for your blog. It only makes sense that you would want to grow your Instagram quickly to be able to reap the rewards of being an influencer. However, if you are like me, you have probably struggled with making Instagram work for you. I am finally […]Read More »

We all know that your pictures on Instagram have to be spot-on. But did you know that your Instagram caption is what encourages your audience to engage with your post? You need to write Instagram captions that draw your audience in and encourage them to participate. In today’s blog post, I am going to explain […]Read More »

Instagram is a fast-growing social media platform that can drive significant traffic to your blog and generate its own income. However, this popular platform only allows you to include a single link to your blog in the bio. So how can you include multiple links to your blog posts? The answer is to create an […]Read More »

Branding is an incredibly important part of running a successful and profitable blog. However, most of us are making simple branding mistakes that could be costing us readers, customers, and money. In this blog post, I am going to reveal 8 simple branding mistakes that you may be making. The good news is that all […]Read More »

Throughout my branding journey, I have discovered some amazing branding blog posts that have inspired me to brand and grow my blogging business. Today, I am going to share my favorite branding blog posts with you to help you do the same. These blog posts tackle nearly every part of the branding process and have allowed […]Read More »

Your blog’s visual identity plays an important role in your brand. It is a visual consistency that immediately tells your reader who wrote the post or pinned the pin. This is specifically important for visual marketing platforms like Pinterest and Instagram. In this post, I will discuss the elements of your brand’s visual identity and how […]Read More »

If you have been blogging for any length of time, you have likely heard the term “brand identity.” It sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? If you are like most bloggers, you probably believe it is the same as branding and is the name of your blog. Unfortunately, this is a common misconception. By the end […]Read More »

Bloggers can gain inspiration and learn from the strangest places. Recently, I viewed a commercial by IHOP, admitting that their “IHOB” campaign was a stunt. This got me to thinking a lot about branding and how it applies to blogging. As a blogger, there are many branding lessons that you can learn from this campaign […]Read More »

Taking a break from blogging is like asking me to not see a child. I have worked hard on this baby of mine and I hate to walk away from it for very long. As many of you know, I have had a long couple of months. The Ison household has been through its share […]Read More »

Pinterest has been through some major changes in 2018 (and barely half the year has passed). These changes, for better or worse, have sent bloggers and Pinterest marketers scrambling to keep up. So, exactly how does a blogger make it on the new Pinterest? Good question. In this blog post, I am going to discuss […]Read More »

Every blogger has to start somewhere. That’s why there is no shame in asking any question when it comes to blogging. Today’s question is one that I don’t often see; How do I get started blogging for profit as a complete novice? I know that this is a topic on many people’s minds, so I […]Read More »

In last Thursday’s blog post, I touched on a topic that is crucial to blogging success; Branding. A strong blog is the foundation of your brand, so it’s no surprise that blog design problems can negatively impact your blogging business. While most issues are relatively minor, others can be catastrophic. In this blog post, I […]Read More »

“How do I drive traffic to my blog?” I have been asked and come across this question quite frequently. New bloggers often feel like they’re doing everything right. They’ve written great content and optimized their content for SEO. However, no one is coming to their blog. The truth is that this is simply not enough for […]Read More »

Have you ever wondered whether you should brand images that you create for your blog and social media? You are not alone. Today’s Thursday Q&A is “Should I brand images that I use on my blog?” In today’s post, I am going to answer this question I will also explain what it means to brand […]Read More »

Most bloggers know that Pinterest is an amazing source of web traffic for your blog. Did you know that Pinterest is also a great source for a blog’s design inspiration? Secret Pinterest boards are an amazing resource for bloggers. They can help you plan your blog’s layout and design with ease. In this post, I […]Read More »

Blogging is one of those jobs that you can do almost anywhere, especially if you have a smartphone and a data signal or WIFI. That’s where blogging apps come into play. Today’s Thursday Q&A is “Which smartphone blogging apps do you use?” It’s a good question. I will discuss which blogging apps I use to […]Read More »

Welcome back Q&A Thursday! If you have been following this blog a while, then you know that I introduced Q&A Thursday a few months ago. I originally believed that those two posts, “Where Should I Focus My Marketing Efforts as a New Blogger?” and “Should I Promote My Blog After Every Blog Post?” didn’t cl8ck […]Read More »

Growing your blog is no easy task, especially if you are a newbie and have no other blog or audience to help boost your new blog. Something that works well for me is performing a monthly blog review and setting SMART goals every month. These are skills that you need to use to grow your […]Read More »

If you want Pinterest to work for your blog, you need to know what’s working and what’s not. Pinterest Analytics is an amazing tool that can help bloggers analyze and improve their Pinterest strategies. Note: If you haven’t started a Pinterest strategy, you can find out how to start one here. To get a better understanding […]Read More »

Every blogger should learn to use HTML and CSS in WordPress. However, the thought of using code terrifies many bloggers. It shouldn’t. It is another valuable tool in your blogging arsenal that you can use to your advantage. I have a confession to make. I’m a bit of a nerd. I actually enjoy using HTML […]Read More »

How bloggers make money blogging is a mystery for many people, including bloggers. I know that you have come across an unbelievable income report on Pinterest. They usually say something on “How I made $100,000 last month with my blog!” or “Last month I made $25,000 while I traveled.” While these reports get you excited […]Read More »

Developing a Pinterest strategy for your blog can be intimidating for bloggers. Pinterest and social media marketing are an important part of your business’s success. It is critical that you use Pinterest and other social media effectively to grow your website and business. This is why you must have a plan; a strategy. In this […]Read More »

Nothing inspires me more than reading blog posts from other bloggers. Their stories and experiences go a long way to encouraging me to continue growing my own business. That’s why Pinterest blog posts are so important to anyone wanting to hone their Pinterest marketing skills. Whether you are a new blogger or have been blogging […]Read More »

To be honest, I wasn’t always a fan of Tailwind. I didn’t believe that it could possibly help me to improve my Pinterest views and blog traffic enough to justify a subscription. Boy, was I wrong! This year, I committed to my blog started using Pinterest a lot more and scheduling all of my new […]Read More »

You could write the most amazing blog post in the history of blogging. However, if you don’t have spectacular Pinterest images, no one will pin it, much less click on your pin. The truth is, Pinterest images are an important part of any good content marketing strategy. As a major source of web traffic for […]Read More »

Nearly every blogger touts Pinterest as their number one source of traffic, but it just doesn’t work for you. You are lucky to get a handful of pageviews from the platform. You are frustrated because you’ve tried everything and you aren’t getting results! What are you doing wrong? The good news is that Pinterest can work […]Read More »

Blogging can be very difficult and stressful if you don’t have resources to help you through. From planning your blog to marketing your blog posts, there is always something for bloggers to learn in order to develop their blogging skills. Learning new things is how you and your blog grow, succeed, and thrive. In today’s post, […]Read More »

Developing an effective social media marketing strategy for your blog is critical to your blog’s success. SEO and organic search results take time. That means that a social media marketing strategy is your most important tool to drive traffic to your blog now. With social media, your traffic is instant. This will allow you to […]Read More »

I started building websites as a teenager but never paid for web hosting until I started my first professional WordPress blog in 2016. When I decided to do this, I did my research. I read up on the most recommended web hosting services for WordPress bloggers out there. Finally, I decided to sign up with […]Read More »

Starting a new blog is overwhelming at times. There are so many things to learn and do. So, where should a new blogger focus their efforts? Marketing your blog should be your main focus at the beginning. This will help you build a following fast so that your blog is successful from day one. In today’s […]Read More »

As bloggers, we frequently recommend trying out new things. Paid or unpaid, that means we are promoting a product or making personal recommendations. However, we rarely ask ourselves, “What happens if someone suffers as a result of our advice or a product we recommend?” That’s why a legal disclaimer is critical for a blog. In this […]Read More »

Would you like to use the free marketing solution that generates 4,000% more paying customers than Facebook and Twitter combined? Would you be surprised to discover that I’m talking about email? It’s true. Email continues to be one of the most successful marketing sources for businesses and bloggers alike. Interestingly, email marketing begins with one […]Read More »

It doesn’t have to be a struggle to drive traffic to your website. You have one of the greatest blog marketing tools right at your fingertips; Pinterest. Pinterest is the perfect way to increase traffic to your blog from day one. Pins on Pinterest also have a significantly longer lifespan than other social media platforms, […]Read More »

Long gone are the days when you had to learn code to build beautiful, professional websites. WordPress plugins can help you do almost anything you can imagine, without learning any HTML, CSS, or Javascript. While I like to tinker around with HTML and CSS, I understand how intimidating it can appear. If you don’t have loads […]Read More »

Hello everyone! Welcome back to another Q&A Thursday. Today’s question is about marketing a new blog and comes from a new blogger who asked: Question: Where should I focus my marketing efforts as a new blogger? The blogger in question was finding it difficult to manage Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest at the same time. […]Read More »

Blogging can be a difficult journey. The good news is that some of the best bloggers out there have decided to share their experience and advice with the rest of us. You don’t have to wing it or try to do it on your own thanks to these bloggers. Today, I’m going to share my […]Read More »

Welcome to Q & A Thursdays! This is something new that I am going to try on Thursdays. I am frequently asked questions about blogging and am often surprised by how little people know about it. In response, I’m going to do a short post on Thursdays where I answer your questions. If you have […]Read More »

One of the things most new bloggers ask me is “How Can I Increase Pageviews?” There are several ways you can do this, but one of the absolute best ways is to improve your blog’s navigation. In this blog post, I’m going to discuss different methods you can try to make it easier for your […]Read More »

Your blog is vulnerable to WordPress malware and cyber attacks. Cyber attacks are a fact of life for this generation. We will all be affected by malware at some point in our lives. The truth is that cybercriminals are getting smarter and savvier from year-to-year. In the past decade, we have seen major data breaches […]Read More »

Blogging can be a lucrative career or a great way to earn a second income. However, most bloggers don’t make money off their blogs, despite their best efforts. Creating a content strategy and using an editorial calendar for your content can change that. Most bloggers simply aren’t consistent with their content. This means that your […]Read More »

When I created my first blog, I remember sitting down and staring blankly at my computer screen. Ok, I have a blog, now what? The truth is that coming up with blog post ideas for beginners is challenging. What can you write that hasn’t been written? Why would someone read your blog posts over others? *This post […]Read More »

WordPress categories and tags help you organize your content for your audience. Understanding what they are and how to use them effectively will increase audience engagement and pageviews for your blog. Imagine that you are reading a blog post on a new blog you just discovered and you love it! After you finish the post, […]Read More »

‘Tis the season for setting resolutions that you won’t keep. We do it every year. However, statistics show that only 9.2% of resolutions are kept. Resolutions simply aren’t effective. On the other hand, setting SMART goals for your business is very effective. Setting SMART goals for your business, writing down your goals, and creating a […]Read More »

Do you have an email list (Not a purchased one. DON’T do that!)? Thousands of followers on social media?  Of course not. If you’re reading this, you’re a new blogger! So, if you don’t have an email list and followers, how do you get more followers and convert readers into those followers? Read on to find […]Read More »

*This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase after clicking on a link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, click here. Is your blog slow to load? Blog speed is more important than you may realize. According to Sherice Jacob of […]Read More »

*This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase after clicking on a link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, click here. Recently, many bloggers woke up to discover their blogs had suddenly dropped in rankings. Was this a mistake? How could […]Read More »

You have a lot to keep in mind when planning your blog posts. Keeping track of all of the necessary components of your blog post is really hard.  I understand your struggle. That’s why I am sharing my blog writing process today to help you plan your blog posts and remember everything important. Planning and […]Read More »

*This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase after clicking on a link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, click here. Why are you blogging? This sounds like a silly question, but you can narrow it down to one reason: A […]Read More »

In this day and age, It is critical that you legally protect your blog from lawsuits and theft. The internet has only complicated copyright laws and freedom of speech. This means that it’s even more important that you cover your rear when it comes to any legal liability. Case in Point In 1992, Stella Liebeck […]Read More »

*This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase after clicking on a link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, click here. In two of my previous posts, How to Start Writing Blog Posts That People Will Actually Read and Marketing Your […]Read More »

Marketing your blog is one of the most important parts of running a successful blog. There are two reasons you want to run a blog: One; You want to earn or increase your income, Two; You want to express yourself. In both of these cases, you want people to read what you write. That means […]Read More »

In the last post, I covered how to write a blog post. Now, it is time to learn how to create blog graphics that make people want to read your post. I promise, this is not difficult and only requires a computer and the internet. And if you are a blogger, you should already have […]Read More »

(Updated on 1/29/2018) This may be hard to hear, but I want you to throw most of what you learned in school about grammar out the window right now! Yes, you read that right. Why? Because are not a robot or writing news articles. You are a human being writing a blog post. Your goal […]Read More »

*This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase after clicking on a link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, click here. Now that you have successfully installed WordPress, using my previous post, How to Install WordPress and Avoid the Stress of Learning […]Read More »

*Update January 22, 2018 *This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase after clicking on a link I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, click here. When people find out I am a blogger, they ask me one of the following three […]Read More »

You want to start your own professional blog for a side income or hobby. The problem is, you don’t understand HTML or CSS coding and you’re afraid to get in over your head. Well, I hear you. The good news is, you can install WordPress to take the guesswork out coding of a website. This […]Read More »