Blogging Tips:
5 Ideas to Take Your Blog to the
Next Level!

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Every great blogger knows that you can never have too many blogging tips! We're always looking for creative ways to grow our audience, pour out some extra love on our readers, and possibly even earn an additional income from our passionate hobby of writing on the web! So whether you've been blogging for years, or you just started yesterday, here are 5 ideas to take your blog to the next level!

blogging tips:
#1: be social!

Social Media is an amazing tool that bloggers can use to connect with a global audience. I'm still completely amazed every time I receive an email from someone in India, Australia, or New Zealand! 

So how can you can use social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to promote your blog and connect with readers all over the world?  

-Make sure you promote each new post that you make.

-Go to the page of a popular account that you love, and follow some of the people who are following that page. You never know who might follow you back! I've meet some of my best friends on Twitter!

-Make sure you're sharing more than just your Blog updates. When people follow you, it's because something about what you wrote once upon a time deeply touched them, or simply made them smile, and they are hoping for more of that! So use your platform to uplift,  share encouraging messages, updates from your daily life, and anything that adds value and interest, that you think your readers would totally love! 

BLOGGING TIPS:
#2: network!

(One of these Blogging tips is taken directly from our newest magazine issue! It was so good, we simply had to share!)

"Network with people who have a similar dream! Sadly, a lot of people make the mistake of seeing people with similar goals and aspirations as their "competition." If you're a Christian blogger who dreams of having a ministry, writing books, and doing conferences...don't be intimidated by people who are doing the same thing as you! They are not your competition, but they could be your companions! Remember Ruth? When she arrived in the field of Boaz, she stayed close to the women there. She didn't say, "Oh no! Look at all these beautiful women! I'm never going to get the attention of Boaz if I hang out with them! I’d better go to another field and do my own thing, so that I can stand out more!" That would have been very dangerous, and discouraging for Ruth to venture out all by herself. Sister, you cannot afford to journey through this life on your own. Especially if you are a dreamer! So network with the dreamers.

Connect with them, encourage one another, learn from one another. We are so much more powerful when we are united. Be committed to helping them succeed! If you're an artist who’s been dreaming of getting a breakthrough record deal, but your friend gets it before you do...then rejoice with her! Celebrate the successes of those around you! Remember, this is an upside down Kingdom. Wash someone’s feet. Go low and serve someone else. Humility is royalty."

Here are just a few of some of our favorite people online. If you're looking to network with people who have a similar passion, this is a great list to get started with! Shoot em an email or a Tweet, and say hello! 

Tirzah Magazine 

Becoming Esther 

Girls Living for God 

Godly Girls for God

Blogs by Christian Women (They are always looking for new guest post submissions!) 

Grace in Everything 

God's Girl

Conquer the Norm

Better Than Prince Charming

Greater Gaze

Tiffany Dawn

Every Stepping Stone

Emily Rose

His Ladies in Waiting

Girls 4 Christ 

Christ Centered Girls

Project Inspired (Great place to submit Guest Posts & get involved with a community!) 

Gigi Magazine

Twitter: @AnnaaCroftt     @Abi_Jo18 
@wilsonsisterto7             @Hannah_Heath 
@LaurenDeMoss                 @passion_4purity

BLOGGING TIPS:
#3: start a facebook group 
(not just a fan page!)

You probably already have a Facebook Fan page, right? If not, that's a great place to start!

But if you've already been there and done that, it's time to kick things up a notch by launching your own Facebook "Group." Studies show that you will generation much for traffic if you start a group concerning a topic that your readers are likely to be interested in. Once you decide on what your group is going to be about, invite your Facebook friends and fans, start chatting with them, and make sure your group is a friendly and activity community!

As time goes on, remind the members of your group to reach out and invite new members! You will see a ripple effect as more and more people are connected with, and drawn to your site!

blogging tips:
#4: give away a newsletter freebie

Do you have a freebie, such as an e-book or valuable, "exclusive" content to offer your readers when they sign up for your free email updates?

If you don't, you may be missing out on a lot of sign ups! Out of all of these Blogging tips, this one may be one of the most important! 

When we first launched Crown of Beauty, we decided to write a free e-book to offer to anyone who subscribed to our magazine!

Digital content experts say that you should always have something extra special to give to your readers! The people who read your blog are extraordinary. They are actually taking time out of their crazy busy lives to read what you have to say! Isn't that amazing? Don't you want to bless them, and treat them like the precious VIP's that they are?!

For awhile, our free e-book was, "When Life Feels Like a Taylor Swift Song: A Girls Guide to Boys." Even though it's available for .99 cents on Kindle, we wanted to gift our readers with something of value about a topic that was of huge importance to them. And what girl doesn't want some good, Godly advice when it comes to boys?! 

Right now we're working on our next freebie, with the goal of it being even more amazing than our last. But what about you? What kind of special gift could you offer your email subscribers? Start brainstorming and working on a plan for your next e-giveaway goodie! 

blogging tips:
#5: become an amazon AFFILIATE 

You work hard on your blog, so wouldn't it be nice to earn a little bit of extra money from your efforts?
You could put that money toward the upkeep of your site, your ministry fund, or even a charity such as Buildling an Orpahange in India!

Becoming an Amazon Affiliate is an easy way to do just that! When you place links for products on your website such as books, music, makeup, or anything else that you're likely to talk about in your daily blogging, if those items are clicked on and purchased, then you earn a few extra cents here and there! Now, a few cents may not seem like much, but you'd be surprised how quickly it adds up!

This is an especially great idea if you're selling a book that you've self-published through Amazon's Create Space. When your readers click on the book to purchase it through Amazon, you will earn a few extra cents, in addition to what Amazon is paying you for each book sale. This does not cost your readers anything extra! These little bonuses are simply Amazon's way of saying, "Thank you!" for helping out their business.  

If you decide to use affiliate links on your website, make sure you read through all of the information and Amazon Rules ahead of time. There are some states in which you're not allowed to have affiliate links on your site, so make sure that you're not living in one of them!

Also, you have to be upfront with your readers about your links. If you have links in a post, be kind and let them know what they are, and what will happen if they click on them! Keeping your readers happy. Because them trusting you and loving your content, is so much more important than earning an additional income. So do everything with class and kindness! 

We hope you enjoyed our Top 5 Blogging tips! Now get out there and blog on! <3