Your credit score determines how trustworthy you are to the lenders eyes so maintaining a healthy score is very important.
Especially if you’re looking to make a big purchase like your first home.
Whether you’re looking to add points or reach an excellent score, here’s how to increase your credit score.
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#1. Be Active
You will need to be active if you want to increase your credit score.
If you’ve just graduated from high school chances are you have 0 credit score.
You’ll need to be active by opening up accounts under your name.
If you’ve had more experience economically but are debt free, you too will need to open accounts in order to increase your credit score.
Reaching an excellent credit score will require that you have quite a history of credit use and will also be earned by a number of factors.
Let’s start with the easiest form of building credit.
#2. Utilize A Credit Card
One of the easiest forms of building credit is to utilize a credit card.
If you’re fresh out of high school, it can be a great way to begin building your credit through small purchases from which you can pay back once your statement has been provided to you.
Do not take up a credit card unless you are working.
A credit card is not free cash.
A credit card is merely a tool for you to prove to lenders you are responsible enough to handle a credit line.
I’ve compiled a list of ways to use a credit card responsibly here.
If you’ve used a credit card in the past but have since then buried them or your credit card expired, you’re going to need to be active once again.
Use a credit card with a low credit line just so you may continue to show lenders a history of active credit use.
Here are a few great ways you can use a credit card in order to show history while staying out of credit card debt:
Do’s
Use it at the gasoline station
Buy small groceries
Purchase a book from it
Treat yourself to lunch/dinner once a month
As you can tell from the list, these are all small ticket items you can pay back without any problem.
The key to using a credit card responsibly is to use it on things you can pay back then and there without using the credit card.
This trick will allow you to begin building your credit score from scratch and to increase it as well.
Here are the don’ts to using a credit card:
Don’ts
Don’t buy luxuries (tv, game consoles, phones, etc.)
In other words, don’t buy anything that will require you to make payments (stay away from creating that debt)
Do not use more than 30% of your initial credit line
Stay away from the quicksand (read more about it here)
Keep using debit for all your bills, never use your credit card for those
Let us know in the comments section below how you’re using your credit card. Have you been using it wisely or do you have credit card horror stories to share with our readers?
What happens if I stop using my credit card?
If you stop using your credit card it will automatically deactivate after 3 months of no use.
Your credit score won’t go down but by deactivating your credit card, your chances to raise your score become slimmer.
This is why it’s important to be active with your accounts.
#3. Use An Auto Loan to Increase Your Credit Score
At some point in life, you’re going to need your own transportation, especially if you’re in the states.
An auto loan is a great way to lock you in a term of non-stop credit achievement.
While staying out of debt will become a goal for you at some point, your first auto loan will also give your credit score a massive boost which will help increase it to excellent.
Auto loans show lenders commitment and responsibility.
Each month you pay your vehicle on time will essentially reflect on your credit score throughout the years of your term.
You do not necessarily have to finance a new car.
Start with a used and reliable vehicle that isn’t so expensive.
This car should only be a tool from which it can transfer you from point A to point B while allowing you to allocate points to your credit score.
Your credit score will spike once you have paid the vehicle off.
Again, the point is to increase your credit score effectively without drowning yourself in debt.
What if I make two payments per month on my car?
Your credit score won’t really be phased by making more than one monthly payment on your car. It will only close the account quicker.
Credit scores evaluate on-time and late payments, not so much the number of payments within a statement.
#4. Pay Your Tuition
This will apply to those who carry a student loan.
If you’ve decided to further your education in order to start a career you’ll understand student loans are no joke.
While it takes most of us a long time to close these tuitions, they certainly play a big role in our credit history and help increase our score throughout the years.
While it’s easy to disregard them once we graduate or even years beyond, it’s important to continue paying your tuition off.
If you continuously paid for your tuition while you were enrolled in school, then you most likely graduated with some credit score to your name.
Tuitions can easily become a hinderance once we’ve begun to take on more from life in general.
Fortunately, tuitions can be put on forbearance.
If you find yourself needing to take some time off from student loans, take the opportunity to gather your finances before continuing to pay off the debt.
This strategy will allow you to safely put your loans on hold without it affecting your credit score.
Once you’re ready, start aiming for that excellent credit score!
What happens if you pay your student loans all at once?
If you were paying your student loans and all of a sudden come across the opportunity to pay off your entire tuition that’s amazing!
As soon as you close your tuition account you will see a huge spike in your credit score.
Every time you close any account, you should get an email regarding one of your accounts has been closed.
If you personally don’t have any student loans but your child does, pay it a few months to increase your credit score before fully paying it off and eliminating that liability.
#5. Pay Your Rent on Time
Though this might seem like a no-brainer, it must be mentioned.
Pay your rent on time in order to increase your credit score.
Whether you’re currently financing a home or renting, timely payments builds trust with lenders and property managers.
The last thing you’d want is to run into a bad rental history when applying for a bigger unit or a new home.
Impress lenders with a great record of paying rent on time.
This will increase your credit score and help you reach an excellent score quicker.
Rent should be one of your biggest priorities.
Utilities Also Help Increase Your Credit Score
Gas, electricity, water, garbage, & internet all help increase your credit score.
All bills have a due date and accumulate towards helping you reach an excellent credit score.
Keep in mind that if your utilities are not under your name (e.g., your spouse) then you will not earn points.
This applies to any bill you might pay but don’t otherwise have your name to.
What If I have A Lot of Debt?
If you’re have a ton of debt, continue paying down your debt.
Never stop paying down the minimum.
Although your debt continues to grow due to interest, you’ll have to keep paying it off so that your credit score is not affected.
We published a post on the best strategy to pay off debt using the snowball effect method.
If you are having difficulty paying off your debt, be sure to read it and begin to start changing your life today.
Should I Open Multiple Credit Cards?
Opening multiple credit cards will result in a higher possibility of falling into credit card debt.
One credit card is enough to boost your credit score even after you’ve managed to pay off large amounts of debt.
Also, the more credit cards you apply for will result in a drop of credit score.
Keep an eye out for it as it will happen even when you apply for your first one.
Do not worry as it is normal and will eventually pick up after a few months of you establishing trust with the lender.
Do not open multiple credit cards and do not spend more as the lender increases your credit line.
It’s how they get ya! Do not fall victim of this quicksand.
What if I have a business and need the credit lines?
If you’re a small business and you need the credit lines to grow, then it should be no problem.
It only becomes a problem if you can’t repay your balance when you receive your statement.
What are the best type of credit cards to use?
Use a credit card that’s going to provide you with more value than just borrowing money in advance.
One of my credit cards give me cash back, or discounts on certain purchases.
This money accumulates over time resulting in money being saved over a long period of time. Another benefit this card has is that it has 0% APR during its first year.
0% APR cards can help you out of a sticky situation.
You can use this card to close the balance of another card that keeps rolling over in interest.
The 0% APR card allows you to pay your balance without the extra fees.
Cards like these can actually help you recover from debt and increase your credit score at the same time!
Will checking my credit score drop it lower?
Despite what someone older than you might have said, no; checking your credit score does not lower it.
What causes credit score to drop?
Late payments
Accounts sent to collections
Hard inquiries on an account
Any sort of temporary credit score check
The only exception on this list is the last bullet. Whenever you’re applying for something that requires a credit score check know that it will drop.
This is only temporary however and you can expect your score to rise after a few weeks to a few months.
How Do I Reach an Excellent Credit Score?
An excellent credit score will require you to reach a 700+ credit score.
In order to reach a 700+ credit score you will need to have a great history of paying on time.
The more accounts you have open will mean the greater chance you have of obtaining an excellent credit score sooner than later.
While balancing a car loan, tuition, rent, and a credit card simultaneously can sound stressful, it’s certainly doable given that you are managing your finances properly.
Most people will buy too much car, or too much house and get themselves into credit card debt. It’s these sort of financial horror stories you do not want to live.
Even if you aren’t simultaneously paying different lenders every month, the important thing is that you’re responsible with the expenses you do have.
Pay on time every month and your credit score will continue to increase no matter how long it takes to reach an excellent credit score.
What’s Your Credit Score?
Let us know what your credit score is below. Do you have an excellent credit score? Share with our readers what you’ve done to increase your score!
Blogging is an amazing way to provide useful information to the world and can feel very rewarding and fulfilling.
It allows us to provide our expertise, opinions, and experience to people all around the world.
Not only that but we get to earn passive income no matter where we are in the world, which is definitely a bonus that comes with writing.
I’m going to touch base on some popular topics and niches people blog about as well as my personal favorite things about blogging.
If you’re thinking of starting your very own blog this is no coincidence my friend.
This post was written specifically for you.
Keep on reading to understand everything there is to know about blogging, or skip the entire guide and simply start here.
Welcome to Franknez.com – the blog where you can digest content on personal finance, entrepreneurship, and trending investing topics. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more informative posts.
Lets get started!
Find Your Niche First
The first thing you’re going to want to lock down before physically starting your blog is finding your niche.
Your niche should be something you’re good at and can write about fairly easily.
You’re usually very knowledgeable in this area and have a passion for it.
Mine for example started out as business and finance but eventually evolved into stock market news.
I love business because of the creating process it takes to turn an idea into a reality.
The challenge of managing finances has also made personal financing one my obsessions.
But overtime, you might find your blog begin to evolve into something else, something greater.
The amazing thing about blogging is you get to provide people with loads of useful information and help.
Do some research to see what sectors dominate the blogging world to gain statistics on your audience.
Here are some blogging ideas:
Travel
Food & Recipe
Entertainment & News
Automotive
Health & Well-being
Mom & dad lifestyle
Gardening
Sewing & knitting
Fashion & Makeup
College life
Technology
Finance & Business
Product Reviews
Paranormal / Metaphysical
People are blogging about just anything. Find your niche and express your thoughts!
It is important to note that whatever topic you choose to blog about, you’ll want to niche down on it.
If you’re into automotive, write about a specific skill set or brand first before branching out.
Make it all about just that one thing at first, believe me when I say it will pay off in the long run.
The idea here is to put your experience online for others to gain knowledge from.
You can do this with anything, I promise.
Reasons why you should start your own blog
I personally believe everyone should start their own blog.
A blog can provide you with a lifestyle like no other while help so many people in an area that’s impactful and important to them.
Here’s a small list of key reasons why more people should start today:
You have some sort of skill or expertise to share with the world
Your knowledge can answer people’s questions and help them grow
A blog has the power to impact and create positive change in communities
You can monetize your blog with ads and get paid passively every month
Blogging allows you to express your thoughts and opinions
Get paid on the move, while you travel, and while you sleep
Why I personally love blogging
One thing my blog allows me to do is to earn passive income no matter what I’m doing at any time of the day. This is primarily thanks running ads on my website. This is certainly a perk to running a blog.
I get a lot of joy from providing value in people’s lives. I genuinely love to serve people. Blogging allows me to be of help people and create a positive impact in my communities.
Writing is my passion. Whether it’s in poetry, music, or blogging, I simply love to write. It’s in my blood what can I say? Words are amazing and powerful.
Blogging provides me with time and financial freedom. There’s nothing else like it; I’m truly grateful.
Starting your very own blog is super easy when you have the right tools.
I’m now going to walk you through and provide you with the knowledge you need to build an awesome blog people can talk about.
Let’s get started!
#1. Use A Reputable Webhost Service to Blog
This key action will determine just how professional, creative, and even successful your blog has a chance of becoming.
Bluehost is one of the largest webhosting companies hosting over 2 million domains worldwide!
It’s also the number 1 recommended webhost service for blogging by WordPress.
And it’s how I started until my website began to attract millions upon millions of readers.
But to start, believe me when I say this is the best webhost for new aspiring bloggers.
What’s great about Bluehost is that it allows you to create an amazing platform no matter your niche.
It’s easy-to-use layout and tools make it a leader in its segment which is something I found to be very helpful when I first started on my blogging journey.
Everything about Bluehost is professional and easy-to-use.
So, what makes Bluehost great for blogging?
Bluehost has many benefits for bloggers.
One, is the ability to preview your posts and pages during editing.
This makes it very convenient to look at your website from an outside perspective before publishing it (super cool and helpful).
Other great benefits include:
Easy-to-use interface
Awesome themes for every niche
Professional layout
Free mailing list for your readers
Tons of helpful plugins
Integrated writing and post suggestions for SEO
Realtime traffic statistics
Super affordable
Amazing reputation
My blog looked nothing like what it looks today.
It’s currently branded and structured to the brand it has evolved to over the years.
But want to know something wild?
It still looked great even as a new blog. That’s what I really liked about Bluehost from the get-go.
It allowed me to start a presentable website even as a beginner.
Bluehost is going to provide you with everything you basically need to make your blog a success.
You’ll just have to be consistent to see the results you set for your blogging goals.
We’ll talk more about that a little later.
#2. Choose a Plan That Fits Your Needs
How to start a blog with Bluehost.
You’ll need to choose a plan from Bluehost before you can officially start your blog. Choose the best plan for your goals then choose your domain (e.g. franknez.com).
Each plan will also have a free SSL Certificate which basically means no matter which plan you go with your website will be secured for your readers!
Now, this is VERY important.
Blogging will require you to have a secured site for your readers.
Which is the best plan?
Plus seems to be a great value considering you get everything Pro gets with the exception of high performance.
Standard performance is adequate for a beginner.
Next is your domain name.
This is what will establish your blog on the internet as a legit website to the world.
Choosing your blog/domain name is a lot of fun.
This is what’s going to differentiate you from everyone else.
Make it personal and mold it to your niche topic. Make it you.
Finish setting up your account information before getting on with some more fun steps!
#3. Get Creative | Pick a Theme for Your Blog
Bluehostprovides an amazing selection of themes for your website!
Your blog is the perfect platform for you to get creative, even if your topic is more conservative.
Get creative with the way you format your posts and with the design of your website.
Stand out from other bloggers writing in the same niche as you.
Create a presence your audience will remember.
Be sure everything about your blog stands out as being genuine.
This is a great way for your blog to connect with your readers.
Bluehost has so many cool themes you can choose from.
They do an outstanding job at being able to filter them according to the type of blog you’ll be publishing.
This is a very fun part of the process.
Can I edit the themes?
Yes! You can edit the themes and move just about anything around to personalize your blog.
You can add menus, change your header image and colors, and add a ton of widgets just about anywhere on your page.
You’ll also be able to change the web address icon image for your website which is super cool.
All the themes are free, however; you can opt out for the premium versions where you can customize your page even more.
This small reinvestment can enhance your blog to the max!
Bluehost has themes for everyone
Bluehost has a variety of themes ranging from:
Singer, songwriters, artists, and DJs
Business
Spas, hotels, travel agents, travel bloggers
Magazine and journalists
Trends + more
#4. Log into WordPress
WordPress recommends using Bluehost webhosting services
Once you’ve set up your account, log into WordPress to begin creating your very first blog post!
It doesn’t take long to familiarize yourself with Bluehost/WordPress home page.
And by the way, signing up with any of my affiliate links will provide you with a discount!
Navigating your admin page is very simple.
Here you’ll be able to view your website stats and traffic along with many other awesome features to help you grow your blog.
Because Bluehost is integrated with WordPress, installing plugins is super easy.
Plugins are applications that can help your blog either run smoother, or more efficiently depending on what you’re aiming to accomplish.
Here’s a list of must-have plugins for all beginners:
Must-have plugins for beginners
Jetpack by WordPress: Bluehost comes with this plugin already installed. Jetpack allows you to see real-time traffic stats. You can view your monthly progress and yearly growth with this plugin!
Social Warfare: This plugin displays social icons on all your blog posts so your readers can share them! You also have the option to display the number of social shares each social icon has received.
Yoast SEO: Also part of Bluehost members, Yoast SEO is a great plugin to amplify your Search Engine Optimization. This plugin will give you suggestions to improve your blog to get the most out of it!
WordPress comments
WordPress allows you to approve, deny, spam, and trash new comments.
This configuration is very helpful because it allows you to choose what type of content can be displayed on your blog.
WordPress comments also let you reply and edit your response quickly without leaving your dashboard.
As a new blogger, aim to receive as many comments as you can.
This is going to tell Google that your blog post is relevant and highly valuable.
A great way to get people to comment on your posts is to join Facebook blog groups and engage with other bloggers.
You can also join Twitter feeds where bloggers get together and engage in each others posts to show support.
These strategies allow bloggers to help one another and gain some traction.
Google Site integration
WordPress gives you an overview to Google Site.
Here you can view your traffic broken down by organic search, direct, social, referral, and other.
These insights are help you understand where your traffic is coming from and allows you to make any assessment towards your blog goals.
You can also hover over to the locations and devices tabs to see those stats as well!
#5. Set Goals for Your Blog
Once you have access to all the tools you need to build your blog, start setting your goals.
Blogging like a champ will require you to set awesome milestones for your baby!
How many times do you plan on posting?
How do you plan on driving traffic?
Write a small business plan to break down your goals.
If one of your goals is to make money, write down how you plan on making money with your blog.
One of the most popular ways to earn money blogging is through the use of ads.
How to become a full time blogger | How to monetize a blog.
Google AdSense is most bloggers favorite choice due to its reputation of having the highest paying ads and overall domination in its sector for beginners.
Once you’ve reached your starter goals, you can begin to set bigger goals for your blog.
Maybe you’re looking to reach your first 1,000 views now and so on.
Never stop setting goals for your blog!
It’s important to note that without providing any value to your audience, your site will not make any money.
Yes, it’s important to have blogging goals and income goals but a successful blog will require you to provide immense value to readers first.
What if you’re rejected by Google AdSense?
Do not feel discouraged if you get rejected by Google AdSense. Let it drive you instead.
Fun fact: Google AdSense rejected my blog about 6 times before I was finally deemed valuable enough to display ads on my site.
The good thing is that Google AdSense will tell you why they rejected your blog from displaying ads.
At least for the most part.
They actually stopped advising why after the fourth rejection.
But you know what?
I kept pushing because I had specific goals for my blog and monetizing it was a big one.
So, after going back and fixing everything I needed to and continuously putting an effort to provide value, I finally got approved.
How long did it take to get approved by Google AdSense?
It personally took me 1 solid month of non-stop grind.
I wanted to monetize my blog as early as I could so that I wouldn’t have to worry about it later one once I began to gain momentum (whenever it would be).
Now, this does not mean it has to take you 1 month as well.
We all work on our blogs at a different pace.
I chose to work on my blog every day after work from 7pm to 12am because of how long I actually worked (7:30am-6pm).
There were times where I would work on my blog past 12am. The weekends were no exception either.
Everyone’s schedule is different.
Whether it’s one week, one month, or one year, find the time to make it happen.
I’m proof that it’s doable no matter how many times you get rejected.
How much does Google AdSense earn a blog?
Blogs only make a decent amount of money based on how much traffic they drive to the site.
Google AdSense pays you two ways:
By the number of viewers your blog obtains
And by the number of clicks your ads receive
Advertisement money is also going to depend on your CTR, CPC, Page CTR, and other metrics.
As your blog gains traffic, your chances of earning more money increases.
See, the thing is that Google AdSense earnings actually snowball.
This means that the more you keep the momentum going, the more you actually earn.
I went from earning gumball machine money to coffee money.
Then to Taco Bell money and eventually to utility bill money.
If you can earn $0.01 online, then you can earn $1.00 and so on.
I didn’t begin earning $100s until a few of my blog posts actually gained traction.
A great way to promote your blog is through the use of social media platforms.
One way I promote my posts is by taking screen shots of a new posts and uploading them onto my snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and even Twitter stories (back when they had stories).
Promoting your blog on social media will allow your website to gain traffic.
This is going to be very important in the beginning because your blog will take time to rank on google on its own.
The goal is to drive a lot of direct and referral traffic in order for the algorithm to start showing your website to organic viewers outside your circle.
Unlike the YouTube algorithm, blogs don’t get recommended to other readers.
This is why it’s going to be extremely important that you dive into business marketing as well as social media marketing.
If all else fails, this will be your number one traffic driver.
Use hashtags to optimize growth
The best social media platforms I’ve found have the best hashtag growth potential are Facebook and Twitter.
When you share a post on Facebook be sure to use tags.
This will spread your post to a variety of groups.
Same with Twitter.
However, it’s important to note that everyone’s niche might be different.
Your niche might perform better on LinkedIn, or Instagram, or Pinterest.
This is something you will learn to identify yourself as you experiment and locate your audience.
How to reach 1,000 followers on social media
One of my long-term goals for FrankNez social media accounts was to reach 1,000 followers.
I set this goal because I knew that at this point, I would have driven a good amount of traffic to my blog, and it really just signified that I stuck to my goals.
After 16 months I finally reached 1,000+ followers on Twitter and 1,000 on Instagram.
Though now that I’ve been blogging for almost four years now, my following has really grown larger.
Social media hacks for blog growth
I want to provide my readers with a ton of value so they too can grow their social media following and optimize growth for their blog.
Here are some hacks that can help you along the way:
Go to relevant hashtags and like a ton of peoples tweets
Do the same on Instagram but over on the ‘Recent’ posts instead of ‘Top’ posts
Comment on Instagram ‘Recent’ posts as well
Go through top Instagram post comments and like ‘heart’ peoples comments
Put your blog link on the bio of all your social media accounts
Create content (posts) that will lead your followers straight to your blog
Retweet relevant and helpful posts
Visit your followers’ followers and like their content
Be consistent when publishing valuable content
Engage with your comment section
If you have no comments, be the first to spark a conversation
A lot of these hacks are meant to build awareness.
The point is to be seen by as many people as possible.
Having your website link on your bio is going to allow curious visitors to want to learn more about you.
This is why it’s important that you engage with related pages and content.
People who like your content will follow you.
At this point it’s up to you to stay active and be consistent.
Failure in doing so will result in losing followers just as quick as you received them.
#7. Revise older posts
There’s going to come a point when your posts begin to age.
My suggestion to you is to revise older posts to make them even better.
At the very beginning of your blogging journey, you’re going to eventually go back to older blog posts and see where you could have added more detail or information.
This is great!
Go through your posts every two months or so and see how you can ‘armor up’ to make them rank higher.
You might even find yourself changing the title of your post.
The point is to keep getting better.
Tip: I will say, shoot for writing long posts.
It will improve your SEO and chance of being found organically on search engines.
Never stop improving champ, you got this.
Should I delete old posts?
I’m going to be honest with you.
I’ve only deleted a few.
What I would do is go back and really take the time to improve a post and make it as detailed as possible.
Go big!
Aim for high word usage so your blog post can rank in its segment.
Take as much as you need to really power up a targeted post.
Once you’re certain your blog post will rank higher move on to the next one.
If the views don’t improve for these revised posts, figure out what you can do to rank and start seeing more organic traffic flow your way.
Chances are if you write a lengthy blog post and aren’t ranking well then it’s more than likely saturated.
Meaning a ton of bloggers have already covered the topic.
If you run into this problem, keep updating and making it better throughout the months.
Find ways to give your blog post character and make it stand out from everything else that’s out there.
Sure it may be hard to rank for certain keywords but at least you have a detailed post that is continuously being updated to provide more value.
In the end, you might just end up ranking out of the blue.
That’s what hard work does.
#8. Be Consistent
Like any business, art, sport, or dream, you must have perseverance if you are to accomplish a set of goals for your blog.
Be consistent by continuously posting and sharing your information throughout your social media and your blog.
Keep tabs on how your website is performing to see what you need to work on and how you can do it better.
If your blog gets approved by Google AdSense, be sure not to slow down your productivity.
On the contrary, this is the time where you want to put in even more effort than what it took to get approved in the first place.
Blogging can become an amazing source of passive income but will require a lot of discipline and dedication.
Put in the amount of work your goals require from you to see them through.
This creative process is a process.
Becoming a great blogger takes time.
If you find yourself for any reason derailing from publishing, go back to your goal list and see why you started in the first place.
Is it for the income? The freedom? Stay focused and make it happen!
What if I start to lose motivation to blog?
Although blogging can be an amazing escape, it can also be a little overwhelming.
Especially when you’re treating it like a business and have big goals for your blog.
Sometimes we tend to lose motivation and steer from publishing fresh content.
Believe me I’ve been there.
What’s helped me along the way is knowing when to take time off and refresh.
You’re going to want to avoid burning out.
When you burn out you don’t perform at your full potential and creativity seems to fly out the window.
Here are some ways you can regain your motivation to blog again:
Revisit your goals and see why you started in the first place. Was it for the freedom to make money and travel? Are you looking to quit your 9-5?
Searching for high income bloggers personally motivated me when I was feeling down about my own progress as a beginner. This showed me what was possible.
If you’re having writers block, take a few days off and do things outside your blog that you truly enjoy. In my case, I would write music to help spark my creativity again. I also did a lot of studying and reading to recollect my thoughts when on the brink of burning out.
Watch/listen to motivational speakers. Some of my favorite motivational speakers include Grant Cardone, Steve Harvey, Tony Robins, and Gary Vaynerchuck.
Spend time with your family. Connect with your loved ones as a means of getting away from constant work. It’s okay to take a little time off blogging.
If you get back on your feet after a burnout, that discipline and willpower is what’s going to manifest your success as a blogger.
I can honestly say that consistency is what allowed me to reach my first 100 views, then 1,000, then 10,000, my first 100K+ views, and now MILLIONS of views. The next target is 10 million and above.
Below are some questions most people tend to ask regarding blogging. If you have other questions, feel free to comment on the blog or personally send me an email!
Is blogging dead?
Absolutely not. In fact, blogging is now more popular than ever before. According to Letter.ly, 7.5 million blog posts are published every day.
When you look something up on Google, chances are you’re more than likely going to stumble on a blog that’s going to answer your question.
Blogs are continuously growing despite people thinking blogging is dead.
Why do blogs fail?
Like any entrepreneurship endeavor, blogs fail due to bloggers quitting. It’s usually people who stop innovating or possibly should have used another niche.
Blogs need to be published by experts or people highly knowledgeable in a specific niche.
Other reasons include:
Not learning every day
Avoiding leaving the comfort zone
Using the wrong webhost provider
Not dedicating any time to update their website
Forgetting about what the audience needs
Lack of creativity
Not having goals to optimize growth
Never posting on social media
Often times the reason for failure is not being committed. As long as you’re committed to your growth then you will succeed!
How often should I blog?
Beginners should publish new posts on a weekly basis to gain some sort of traction.
You will need to have some content on your website in order to provide value to new visitors.
Publish quality content oppose to quantity content.
This will ensure your posts rank on Google’s search engine.
As you become more experienced, you’ll want to go back to your old posts and really work on them to the point where they begin to rank higher.
I’m at the stage where I’m publishing fewer posts but writing longer and more detailed content for my readers.
The goal moving forward is to revisit my older content and give a refresh for the new year.
This is going to help my SEO and rank higher on Google and other search engines.
In the beginning, blog enough to provide a catalog of posts to your readers.
How many posts does Franknez.com publish per month?
I’ve been blogging for 3 years now.
In 2022, I published anywhere between 20-40 articles per month.
Sometimes it’s less, other times it’s more.
How long should my blog posts be?
WordPress and Yoast SEO recommend your blog posts are no less than 300 words.
But let’s be real, you don’t ever want to do the minimum.
Especially if you’re aiming to blog like a champ!
If you’re new to writing this is going to be a little difficult.
Try starting off with a minimum of 500 words.
Shoot for 700 if you have experience writing.
With time you’ll see that you can write more detailed posts as you gain more and more experience throughout your blogging journey.
Eventually set a goal to write on average 1,000 words per post.
As you learn more about ranking and SEO you’ll find out most high ranking posts actually contain over 2,000 words!
If you’re a beginner, don’t feel discouraged.
All this takes practice and time.
What can I do to make my blog posts longer?
Here’s something that I’ve done on my long form blog posts.
Once I’ve published a lengthy article without burning out, I come back to it.
Sometimes it’s the following day, other times it’s in a week or a month.
If I’m covering an important story that requires to be updated frequently then it will be updated consistently.
Blog posts like this one, I’ve tend to come back to include even more value by answering questions you might have.
It’s really a matter of coming back to a published post and adding more value.
Does my blog really need a newsletter?
A newsletter is going to help your blog in so many ways.
You can share new blog posts with your subscribers.
If you have more value to provide such as products or services, you can always let them know too.
A newsletter also helps your SEO.
When you email blog post links to your subscribers, you generate a backlink.
This let’s Google and other search engines know that your link is being shared and actively clicked on from various of locations and emails.
As a blogger, I am committed to my readers.
I love emailing every single one of them regarding posts or news I know will help them in one form or another.
I also get a strong sense of fulfillment knowing I’m in a position to provide tons of value to other goal-oriented individuals in my circle.
Yes. I believe a blog really does need a newsletter.
As a blogger, your readers should be your number one priority and you should always be looking for ways to further provide value to their lives.
Our job is to enhance our readers lives.
Have you joined my newsletter?
Another thing I love about my blog is connecting with likeminded individuals.
There’s something very pleasant about spending the evening sending out emails one on one to my subscribers.
Depending on which blog post you subscribed on, I will send you personally tailored posts that you will find of value.
So if you subscribe here you’ll receive posts on how to monetize your blog and other blogging tips to help you grow!
How does a blog make money?
There are several ways a blog can earn you money.
We’ve talked a little bit of monetizing your blog with ads.
Other opportunities include:
Affiliate marketing
Sponsored posts
Self-promotion
Selling programs via. video or eBook
Affiliate marketing: your blog can promote/recommend products that you use to your readers. You earn a commission for every sale closed.
Sponsored posts: people can pay you to feature them on a particular blog post.
Self promotion: You can promote your tangible business on blog posts that can generate leads.
Selling programs: Sell your eBook on your blog or other courses that can help your readers become more successful.
By the way, my latest eBook walks your though in a much more in-depth way of how to create your personal brand and monetize it.
This is perfect for those who want to create a personal brand instead of a business brand.
Here I show independent artists how to earn passive income through streams.
On this blog post you’ll see my recommended music distributor (affiliate marketing), self promotion (my music), video in sponsored post format, and by ads.
That blog post earns money from ads.
It also has the potential to make money from possible streams, readers signing up using the affiliate link, and requests wanting promotion.
Blog posts like these create value all-around.
Have any questions? Get in contact
If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment below or personally email me.
You can find my contact information at the bottom of my post. Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook!
If you found this post valuable be sure to subscribe to my newsletter!
I Want To Hear From You!
Let me know in the comments section below if you’ve started blogging yet. Our readers would love to hear from your experience. And if so, what is your niche?
Your Clientele Is The Biggest Key To Your Business’s Success
Starting a business takes serious discipline.
There are many factors that drive the companies success.
You will discover that sales is what will keep you business thriving.
Here are some amazing steps to building a clientele from scratch.
#1 – Set Your Target Market
Who will you sell to?
It is very important to identify who will be your target market.
Are you selling directly to a middleman or are you selling directly to the consumer?
Are you selling your services or products to corporations or directly to the consumer market?
Learn to identify your target as this is the foundation to a successful clientele.
#2 – Make Contact
Make contact through the use of emails, phone, or social media
Now that you’ve established who your target market is, you’ll need to begin making contact.
This may be through social media, direct emails, or cold calls. Reach out to the target and let them know what your business is about.
Note: DO NOT get discouraged when someone says no.
They’ve done you a favor by not wasting your time. Turn the page and move on.
You will get no’s and maybes for an answer.
Here’s what to do when someone is interested!
#3 – Make Them Aware of Your Problem-Solving Skills
Stand out from your competition!
It is important not to drag the conversation solely about you or the business.
Let them know just enough about who you are and what your business is about without it being all about you.
The prospect should know how your services or products will benefit them!
Ask them a little bit more about their business, make them feel comfortable and get them engaged.
How will your business be of convenience to them? Remember, convenience sells so if you offer more than one product or service, make sure you’re vocal about these ‘solutions’.
Encourage them to see the value of your business by making them aware of your problem-solving skills.
Get a feel of the conversation, did you sell it?
Congratulations!
If you didn’t, no worries.
This takes time and take this as experience! If they ask you to follow up with them and provide them with more information this is perfect.
Put them in your data base, let’s get one step closer towards closing the sale.
#4 – Follow Up
80% of Prospects Say ‘No’ four times before they say yes Keep following up! How to get clients for your new business.
The sale is in the follow up. It is vital that you are consistently following up with your prospects.
Your first follow up should address the initial contact.
Thank them for their time and remind them why your service/product is an amazing fit for them or their business.
Don’t be discouraged if they do not respond immediately.
Often times, it will take a few follow ups before the prospect requests a quote or buys from you.
Change your strategy each time you follow up, make them remember you.
#5 – Keep Feeding The Pipeline
Feed the sales pipeline! How to get clients for my new business.
Continue to make contact with new consumers/businesses in your target market.
It’s better to keep your pipeline full rather than realizing you have no business because you were so locked on a few prospects that seemed interested that now you have no one to follow up with.
Avoid this mistake by consistently updating your client database and keeping track of who’s interested, who you’re in the talks with already, and who you’ve closed with.
Continuously strive for making new clients, don’t settle.
#6 – Client Retention
Keep Your Partners Happy!
Client retention is the ability to retain clients over a period of time. In order to create a successful clientele you must be able to maintain your clients from using your competitors products or services. This is the part where actions speak louder than words. You managed to sell yourself and your business, now it’s time to prove why your business is the best of the best. Client retention is fundamental to a long-term partnership with your clients and customers.
Here are 7 amazing tips that are sure to keep your customers coming back.
Exceed their expectations by overdelivering.
Present a positive attitude at all times.
Show initiative to want to help.
Be a team player!
Appreciate them for their business.
Build a solid relationship.
Take care of their needs so they take care of yours.
Advertising your business is one of the most fun experiences you will have when investing in your company. These are the most effective ways to advertise your business without the use of pay-per-click ads.
Here’s how to grow organically!
#1 – Social Media
Social media is a great way to advertise your business as a whole.
Connect with people over LinkedIn, create a Facebook page for your business, and engage daily.
Social media is a great way to expose your business to a mass amount of people all around the world and is a sure way to put your business in front of everyone’s eyes.
This strategy elevates awareness of your products and services, it will go hand in hand with having a website (more on that below).
#2 – Decorated Apparel
Find a trustworthy source that can brand your logo on garments such as hats, polos, and bags.
Your business will immediately be noticed anywhere you go.
Remember, you are your brand.
So, market your service or product.
Easy Marketing is a company that provides decorated apparel services for your business and has no minimums.
You can mix and match different items in order to fit your advertising needs.
Email them your logo and request options for your desired item(s).
It’s super easy!
#3 – Tradeshows & Events
Tradeshows give you an opportunity to display your business’s service or product to people in your industry.
Share your experience on social media to boost your presence online.
These events are a great way to establish new relationships and build your network.
You might meet an awesome supplier or encounter potential prospects.
Use this platform to your advantage by showing people your brand.
This person-to-person interaction elevates your companies brand bringing organic growth and awareness.
Many people attend these shows so be sure to advertise your company logo by wearing your decorated apparel.
You will see a lot of people representing their company with their logo on some sort of item or apparel.
#4 – Referrals
Referrals are an amazing way of getting your business advertised through other parties because it’s free promotion and improves credibility.
This form of advertising creates a network for your business and reflects the value of your service or product.
Referrals can be the following:
Person to person recommendation
Shared content on social media
Reviews online
Being featured on blogs
There’s nothing more organic than people talking about your business amongst one another and recommending your services or product to peers.
Tip: If you have a solid relationship with certain customers or clients don’t be afraid to ask for referrals!
Ever heard of the saying “ask and you shall receive”?
#5 – Create A Website
Your business should have a website.
Bluehost allows you to create a professional website for your business while making it super easy to maintain.
Go straight to the source by avoiding the middleman where you’ll spend twice as much for this platform.
A website advertises everything there is to know about your company so get creative and display your business’s services and work.
Having a website allows people to share your services with other people through the use of social media.
It’s also a great way for others to refer your work to other people looking for such services or products.
They get a preview on what you’re able to provide before meeting you which helps build momentum for a potential sale.
#6 – Email Signature
You’d be surprised by the power of an email signature.
Use it to advertise links to your social media, website, and other platforms.
Every email you write will contain this information so use it to your advantage!
Cold emails will now be more effective because of this call-to-action strategy.
Get creative with your signature and really use it as a means of advertising your business.
