After all, I had done it: My monthly web site views increased from 257 to 23,000 in 12 months!

I examined the strategies I’d worked on over the 12 months of monumental organic growth. Now I’m sharing them with you.

Don’t quit: Blogging is a long-term commitment

I’ve been where you might be right now. When I just started To & Fro Fam, I was confident I was creating terrific content. I knew my destination recommendations and travel tips were helpful and actionable. I’m a professional writer and a decent photographer so I knew I offered high quality blog posts. But no one was seeing them.

Do you feel like that, too? Like you pour hours and and oodles of energy into creating terrific blog posts no one reads? Like you’re talking to an empty room?

I sure did—and I stuck with it. I’ve reached the other side, where I have a consistently healthy traffic flow to my travel blog. Now I’m sharing the 8 strategies to increase traffic to your blog—no matter what your niche is. (Mine is a travel blog, of course, but these strategies work well regardless.)

Are you ready to increase traffic to your blog without advertising? Let’s do this. Here are my top 8 strategies to increase traffic to your blog organically—without advertising.

1. Post consistently

When I was building traffic to my blog, I posted twice a week, almost without fail. In the two years since I’ve been writing To & Fro Fam, I’ve I missed posting a handful of times—that’s it.

I have been focusing on other family travel-related projects (big announcement later this spring!!) so have reduced my rhythm to posting once a week, but I’m still consistent.

Wondering why?

Why do I need to post consistently to my blog?

I know you’re busy, and I know life gets in the way. I also know that writing excellent posts, researching SEO (more on that in a sec!), creating pins, adding alt text to images and everything else that goes along with creating content takes a lot of time. You still need to be posting consistently if you want to grow traffic to your blog. Here’s why.

1. Search engine algorithms prefer sites that update regularly. Research from Moz says that web sites that change more frequently—e.g. by adding new posts regularly—get a higher “freshness” score, which is probably factored into Google’s algorithm. That likely influences what the search engine serves up in its results, at least in some kinds of queries.
2. More content = more entry points to your blog. Readers can discover your terrific content more easily if they have lots of options to find you!
3. More content creates an interconnected ecosystem of posts on your blog. The more excellent posts you have, the more you can link back and forth, which helps readers continue to learn from you. Bringing your audience on a journey from one post to the next reduces your bounce rate (the percentage of people who leave after viewing only one page). A site’s and page’s bounce rate likely affects where Google ranks you in search results.
4. When visitors spend more time on your site, that pushes your posts higher in search engine results rankings. Then even more people will find you (and thus more traffic)!

Your action item: Pick a posting cadence that is realistic and commit to it. Every month, decide what new topics each post will cover. Knowing what you’re writing about before you sit down to type will make you more efficient.

2. Research SEO—for reals

You might have heard that you’re supposed to target long-tail keywords in your posts. Targeting something like “street art in La Boca, Buenos Aires” has a lot less competition than a general term like “Buenos Aires.” That means you have a better chance of ranking higher in search results and therefore getting found.

But here’s the thing most people don’t tell you: How to target long-tail keywords people are actually searching for. 

Through some trial and error, I realized the keywords I was randomly inventing in my head weren’t actually the terms typed into the Google search bar. Then I listened to several of Brandon Gaille’s podcast episodes on SEM Rush and was blown away. He shares how to find high volume, low competition search terms so you focus on writing content that a) people are hunting for and b) has a chance of getting found organically.

That’s not all, though.

The other day, I spent a half-day reading up on SEO. I clicked more than a dozen links to dive deeper into topics such as building backlinks, improving domain authority, html list tags and more. I also made a list of things to look into to improve my mobile loading speed.

Depending on how familiar you are with SEO, you might dip your toes in—or you might do a full-on cannonball into the pool of information. What’s important is that you continue to learn. There are always ways you can improve your site’s “findability” and therefore increase traffic to your blog.

What’s more, factors that go into your search results ranking constantly change. You might see other bloggers bemoaning the latest algorithm update—and I don’t blame anyone for being upset when their traffic dips. The reality is that search engines are continually making changes. So smart bloggers need to stay on top of the changes that will likely impact their traffic.

What’s more, it takes time for your SEO work to pay off. Experts estimate that it takes 3 to 6 months for great SEO efforts to show results. So the work you do today will net you more traffic down the line.

Your action item: One of the best ways to do that is set a recurring calendar event. Every month, set aside time to research a new aspect of SEO and then implement what you learn.

3. Build backlinks to increase your domain authority

Domain authority is basically the internet popularity contest. When a lot of people are talking about you, you’re perceived as cooler. The same goes for your web site ranking: When more sites link back to you, you’re perceived as more authoritative. 

As a result, you’ll get more organic traffic—for two reasons.

Firstly, those backlinks increase your page’s authority, which likely influences where you end up in search result rankings. (I say likely because Google is very secretive about its algorithm, of course.)

Secondly, that other site’s audience will likely click on over to your site. That gets you more organic traffic, and you might just convert those folks into your audience, too.

I wrote a whole post about how to increase your domain authority. For more tips, head over there.

Your action item: Commit to contributing to at least one collaboration post in your niche each month. Write at least one guest post per quarter.

4. Share (and reshare) on social media

The average blog post takes 3 hours and 16 minutes to write, according to blogger surveys. But the best blog posts likely take much longer. The same research found that the number of writers who are taking more than 6 hours to write a blog post has doubled recently.

And how much time do you think the average blogger takes to promote that content on social media?

Answer: A lot less.

The thing is, why spend all that time creating stellar content if your audience doesn’t know about it? Yes, you want people to find you from organic search on Google and other search engines. But what about the people who already know, like and trust you? 

Share your latest—and your not so latest—periodically. You’re not boring people with the same-old. Chances are, you’re reaching new followers with every post.

The best way to reshare on social media: Schedule your future posts right when you publish new content. With whatever social media scheduler you use, plan out not only that first post but also the ones to come. Include a tweet, an Instagram photo, a Facebook share—whatever—every few months for your newest post. 

You’ll be happy you thought ahead, and your audience will be glad you resurfaced your content, too. 

Your action item: Go back into your blog archives. What old posts are relevant today? Share some of that gold!

5. Use Pinterest to grow your traffic

It blows my mind when I find great content online that doesn’t have an image optimized for Pinterest. How many times have I gone to save something to a board, only to find that there was no pin? Way too many times.

You may already do this, but ensure you have at least several pinnable images for each post. If some of your old posts don’t have them, go back and create some. You’ll get organic traffic to your blog from Pinterest.

Traffic from Pinterest is likely to become even more important. Consider these Pinterest statistics: The number of active users on the platform increased by more than a quarter in 2019, and there are more than 2 billion searches in Pinterest on an average month, according to research. 

Are you tapping into that opportunity?

From this chart on my Google Analytics, you’ll see the blue—Pinterest referrals—accounted for nearly 60% of my blog traffic at the time of this screenshot. (FYI I captured it over the holidays, when I get more traffic from Pinterest than usual. Typically, my organic search traffic—i.e. referrals from Google and other search engines, the green color—is about equal to traffic from Pinterest.)

So if all your traffic is from Facebook or another source, work on Pinterest to get a healthy boost in your blog traffic.

Your action item: Evaluate how active you are on Pinterest. Are you pinning every day or using a scheduling app to consistently post? If not, schedule 10-15 minutes a day to post to Pinterest, share other blogs’ content or create pins for your site.

6. Update old content—strategically

Remember how the Google algorithm likes updates and fresh content? In addition to posting regularly, you should also refresh old content.

But don’t update old posts willy nilly. Don’t go chronologically, either.

What you should do: Update your high performing posts first to get the biggest payoff in organic traffic. Here’s how to strategically update old content.

A. Identify high performing posts.

A number of free tools will show you what your top posts are, and some tools show you where you rank in Google results for a given keyword.

I use the free version of SEM Rush. (I love the paid version, too, but its nearly $100-a-month price tag is out of my budget right now.) By searching your url, you’ll see your top organic keywords and the blog posts they correlate to.

Below is a screenshot of my own organic traffic to my blog. See how the keyword for “Florence Oregon” was ranking 11th when I took this screenshot, and the search volume for that keyword was 27,100 monthly? That shows me I could see a significant boost in organic traffic from that keyword if I improved the post enough to move up even one spot in the rankings.

(Why? Recent analysis from Backlinko found that less than 1% of searches clicked through to a link on the second page of Google results.) 

See how analyzing your post performance and organic keyword rankings can help prioritize which posts to update?

B. Analyze competing posts

Next, you’ll take a close look at the top 20 posts for the keyword(s) you’re trying to rank for. Look for patterns in these competing high performing posts. Do most of them use a certain keyword in their title? Do they cover an aspect of the topic you left out? Are they all longer than your original post?

With an eye to improve your post to be even better than theirs, outline how you’ll change your own content.

(To be clear, I’m definitely not advocating copying or plagiarism. This strategy is simply reverse-engineering your post to give Google users what they want.)

C. Make significant updates

Google pays attention to substantial changes to your old posts, but not small changes, experts say. So if you have an update and need to add a new paragraph, do so. Then consider tweaking some of the language in other parts of the body text, too. That will show Google your content is “fresher,” which may help your rankings in search results.

Remember, by investing energy and time into updating old content, you’re not aiming to make it a little better. You’re aiming to wow readers. That’s how you increase organic traffic to your blog.

D. Add new pins

As part of your fresh content procedure, add several new pinnable images. Pinterest is prioritizing fresh pins more than ever. That means its algorithm is more likely to show new images to searchers.

To take advantage, update old posts with fresh pins—especially ones that lead to your high performing posts. These are most likely to get an even bigger surge of organic traffic.

A real-life example: One day I was shocked by a sudden spike in organic traffic to my site. I looked a little closer and realized all those clicks were coming from a single new pin I’d made for a post I’d published months before. You never know which new pin is going to pay off in mega traffic, so you gotta continue trying. (For those who are curious, this is the pin that continues to bring me thousands of visitors.)

E. Make updating content routine

If this sounds like a lot of busywork, reconsider. Spending just an hour, or even a half-hour, refreshing an old post can net you major rewards in traffic.

But how do you remember to do it? The trick: You don’t!

Instead, make a recurring event in your calendar. Schedule an hour every single week to refresh old content. When it’s on your calendar, you don’t have to think about this strategy to increase blog traffic. All you have to do is execute.

Your action item: Set a recurring weekly event in your calendar to update old content—and don’t blow it off.

7. Learn every day

Algorithms and user behavior is changing constantly. You want to be aware of any changes so you can either adapt or take advantage of opportunities. 

What’s more, other successful bloggers are paying attention. You can bet they’re tweaking their organic traffic strategies. To keep up, you’d better do the same.

In fact, the other day I (intentionally) fell down the SEO rabbit hole. I read up on SEO tactics for an entire day, making notes on how to improve my site speed, optimize images and other steps to make my site more findable and user-friendly.

Where else do I get fresh traffic tips? I listen to tons of podcasts. My favorite podcast about increasing traffic and other online strategies is Online Marketing Made Easy by Amy Porterfield. (And!!! Guess who got a shoutout in a recent episode on pivoting your business during the COVID-19 crisis? ME!) Her most recent episodes focus on online courses and webinars, but she has seriously great strategies about growing your audience that I can’t believe she gives away for free.

For super tactical, results-driven nitty gritty, I like The Blogging Millionaire by Brandon Gaille. I don’t love some of his style and delivery, and sometimes he gets a bit evangelist, but he’s great on SEO, headline formulas and keyword research. I learned *so much* from him!

For a more complete list of blogger tools I recommend, see my post on free resources for bloggers who want to grow their site.

And don’t stop at podcasts. So many books will help you too! That’s why I put together a list of required reading for ambitious bloggers. Add these to your shelves and read carefully.

No matter where you get your information, stay up to date on the latest ways to drive more traffic to your blog.

Your action item: Put a traffic-related podcast episode at the top of your queue. Order a book on traffic from the library or a bookseller. Google an SEO topic you want to know more about. You don’t have to learn everything all at once; every tidbit of knowledge you pick up can help you grow your blog.

8. Don’t freak out about fluctuations in traffic

Whether you’re reading this post when I wrote it—in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic—or much later, this lesson is important: Traffic fluctuates. 

Like most travel sites, To & Fro Fam is getting much fewer clicks than before we were all talking about #quarantinelife. That makes sense—with shelter in place orders, you’re probably not planning a bunch of vacations.

But I’m not obsessing over my lower traffic numbers. There’s a season to everything, and I know traffic rises and falls. 

You don’t need a global pandemic to witness traffic fluctuations. Many blog topics are at least partly seasonal. So anticipate your traffic won’t always be climbing, and you’ll be much less stressed when your site doesn’t perform as hoped.

Invest in free organic traffic strategies

Here’s the thing: None of the organic traffic strategies I shared here guarantee you overnight success. These tactics are all long-term investments in the future traffic to your blog.

It’s no fun to hear that it’ll take time to drive more visitors to your site. But it’s the truth. 

I’m not going to tell you to not get discouraged when you don’t immediately see results. I’ve been there, and I know that disappointment all too well. But I’ve come out the other end. And I’m here to tell you that with consistent, strategic, research-based action, you will increase traffic to your blog without paying for advertising.

Have you seen other blogging strategies pay off? If I missed any, comment below with your own organic traffic tips! 

The post 100x your blog traffic: How to increase views without advertising appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

In this post, I share 25 ways to do just that. I outline what you should do before a conference, during the conference and after you leave. I cover tips on ways to meet people without feeling awkward, how to prep so you take advantage of networking opportunities, how to be memorable and ways to structure your time so you get the most out of a conference.

You might be heading to a conference for the first time—if so, way to go! It’s not easy putting yourself out there, especially if you don’t know anyone else who’s going. I have tips for you, too.

So whether you’re going to a blogging conference or one related to another industry altogether, I know you’ll make the most of a conference with this advice.

Before the conference begins

1. Go with a goal

If you’re a newbie, you might go into the conference wanting to do all the things. The truth is, though, you don’t have unlimited time and energy. So focus on one or two priorities and really knock those out of the park.

Some ideas to get your goal-setting juices flowing:

• Learn a specific new skill (e.g. turning your newsletter into a lead-generating machine)
• Learn to improve one aspect of your game (e.g. social media or video)
• Network with like-minded peers
• Collaborate with brands or other companies that match your niche
• Gain exposure for your brand/product/service

Just don’t try to do it all. You’ll only overextend yourself—and end up disappointed.

2. Research and follow speakers

Before you attend the conference, look into the keynote speakers and those leading workshops or breakout sessions. This will allow you to do a few things:

• Figure out which sessions and workshops you want to go to
• Live tweet or share what you learn during the workshop
• Connect with the speakers in a more authentic way, since you can mention something you both share or are passionate about

3. Introduce yourself in the conference Facebook group or app

Just about everyone wants to meet people and network at conferences. Why not start the party before the conference even begins?

To do that, introduce yourself in the conference Facebook group, app or other platform. Share what you do along with something unique—and therefore memorable. (For example, on my intro post, I said that I love animal trivia and cheap stovetop ramen. Don’t judge!)

Then say hi to other people’s intros in the comments. Find a way to connect with them, whether that’s because you grew up in the same region or you’re interested in creating the same kind of content.

Finally, follow other conference attendees on social media, LinkedIn or wherever you hang out.

4. Start conversations with other attendees

It’s intimidating to walk into a huge (or even small) conference if you don’t know anyone. So reach out directly to other attendees and begin to make friendships.

Follow someone you have something in common with, then introduce yourself. Ask a question or point out something you share. Keep the conversation going in your direct messages. That way it’s easier to meet up in person at the conference.

5. Brainstorm conversation starters

Probably 99.9% of the other conference attendees will use the same conversation starters, all around the same topics:

What do you do? Where are you from?

Booooooorinnnnnnggggggg.

This approach has a few major problems. If you ask everyone the same question, you’ll forget everyone’s answers. And you’ll blend in with everyone else since everyone is having the same superficial discussion.

Instead, brainstorm conversation starters before you arrive at the conference. It’s best if they’re related to the topic of the conference, since you’re pretty much guaranteed to share that area of interest. So if you’re going to a travel blogging conference (like I do regularly), you might ask:

• Are you planning an upcoming trip?
• What’s the place you’d most love to return to?
• Is there a destination you thought you’d hate but actually loved? Or one you thought you’d love that you actually hated?
• What food from home do you always recommend to visitors?
• What do you miss from home when you’re away?

Here are some conversation starters that work for just about any kind of conference:

• Have you learned anything so far that surprised you?
• What’s the most useful tidbit you’ve heard from a speaker so far?
• I feel like my brain is full from everything thrown at us! Do you have any tips to help internalize new information?
• Has anything today made you rethink what you do or how you do it?
• Do you have any conference pet peeves?

During the conference

6. Hand out business cards

At TravelCon 2018, I didn’t know if people would be handing out business cards—and boy, did they ever! Just about every person I met was eager to meet others and give out business cards.

Sure, you can connect to someone on Instagram when you meet. But I don’t love doing that instead of business cards because that new connection inevitably gets lost in my feed.

I much prefer to give, and receive, business cards so I can go back through the stack and remember who I met. If you’re looking to print business cards, I use and love Moo, especially because I can make these adorable tiny business cards and print a different picture on the back of each one. If you need business cards, I strongly recommend Moo—here’s a referral link to get your own!

Level 10 tip: Keep a fine-tipped Sharpie on you and make a note on each business card you received. When you jot down what you discussed, or any follow-up actions to take, directly on the card, you won’t miss any next steps to continue the relationship.

7. Attend an after-hours meetup

Many conferences plan happy hours, parties and other get-togethers after all the day’s learning is done. Thank goodness, because after hours of sessions, you’ll need to relax!

I’ve found that people tend to be more open at after-hours meetups. They seem to be less focused on putting on a professional front and more apt to just connect, person to person.

Level 10 tip: I keep my drinking moderate at anything conference-related, even if the event takes place at a bar. I’d hate for something embarrassing to happen in a professional context. That said, you might have different plans, and that’s ok: Just decide ahead of time so you don’t realize you’re 3 cocktails in and are worried you’ll say something you’ll later regret!

8. Sit with someone new—every time

This is a really hard tip for anyone who’s introverted or shy (*raises hand*), but I still recommend it. Why? Because you never know who you might meet.

At one conference, I sat down next to a woman who was by herself, and we got to chatting over our plates of crudites. Turned out she was the author of Find Your F*ck Yeah and one of the day’s speakers, and we had a lovely conversation about getting over your fears. We’ve continued to chat on social media, and I would never have met her in person had I not sat next to a stranger.

If going in solo is too intimidating, find a wing man or wing woman. Be buddies and make friends together!

Some conferences will have niche-specific tables at lunch. For example, at the nonprofit and tech conference NTEN that I recently attended, I sat with other folks interested in social media and storytelling. I would never have met those people otherwise, and striking up a conversation was a lot easier since we all knew we had something in common.

9. Ask a question (but please please don’t ramble)

At the end of most sessions and keynotes, speakers leave a few minutes for a Q&A. This is a terrific time to stand up, get a lingering question asked and be more visible in a sea of people.

But please, please, please, do not turn your question into an opportunity to talk about yourself. Yes, you can introduce yourself—in one sentence. But know everyone else (including those of us with actual pressing questions) don’t really want to hear you talk about your super-specific problem for two minutes before you actually get to the point.

So write down your question before the mic is handed to you, say your piece, and leave the speaker time to actually answer.

10. Approach someone else who asked a question

When someone else asks a question, you might realize you have something in common, are struggling with a similar challenge or actually have a solution! So find that brave soul who stood up in front of everyone and introduce yourself.

11. Wear the badge

Sure, the conference lanyard may make you feel dorky. But this low-tech conference hack will let people know who you are, allow people who have forgotten your name a way to graciously talk to you, and signal to strangers outside the conference meeting hall that you’re in town for the same purpose. Wearing a conference badge helps you make authentic connections with strangers that you might not make otherwise.

12. Rely on volunteers

Got a question? The conference volunteers are literally there to help you. When I forgot my jacket in a session at TravelCon last year, a volunteer helped me track it down. (Thank you!!) So if you’re not sure where to go, where the nearest bathroom is located, or where to grab a coffee, volunteers will be able to direct you.

13. Visit booths during off-peak times

If you want to actually have a conversation with someone running a booth, lunchtime is not the time. When booths are busy, the reps won’t have the wherewithal to actually connect with you—and you won’t be able to get the undivided attention you want. So make sure to go to the booths that are most important to you during off-peak times.

14. Play to your strengths

Conferences can be nerve-wracking. I get it: Even the word “networking” makes me begin to sweat a little. That’s why I’ve learned to only put myself in situations where I feel at my best—so I can come off as my most confident self.

What does that look like in real life? It means I either skip or just briefly attend late-night, cocktail-based networking opportunities. I wake up very early and am emotionally empty by the time nighttime falls; what’s more, I have some hearing loss so can’t follow conversations in loud bars. So I might make a quick appearance, say hi and then head back to my hotel so I can rest up—and be at my best in situations where I feel ready to connect.

Similarly, don’t put yourself in places where you’re super-uncomfortable. As much as you might try to fake it til you make it, it’ll show.

15. Sign up for conference bonuses

At TravelCon, attendees can sign up for photo walks or quick writing classes. These limited seating sessions happen during the regular hours of the conference but give bloggers a chance for hands-on practice.

The best part about these sessions is attendees learn from the experts directly—in a smaller setting. For example, I took a photo walk session from Lebawit Lily Girma, a professional photographer and blogger.

So check out what bonus sessions, activities or hands-on workshops your conference offers. And sign up early—these limited spots fill up quickly. You don’t want to miss the opportunity to learn directly from your industry’s experts!

16. Talk to everyone

You might have a niche or a specific goal of going to a conference, but don’t be so single-minded that you are blind to other opportunities. Striking up a conversation with someone you wouldn’t ordinarily speak with could spark an idea or simply make them feel welcome.

And speaking of…

17. Find someone who looks nervous

You have your plate of food, your cocktail or just your conference notebook and pen. Where do you go?

Answer: Find someone who looks like she’s nervous, unsure of what to do or standing by herself. Make your way to her and focus on making her feel more at ease.

You’ll magically forget about your own jitters when you’re focusing on how someone else feels. And that shift in perspective makes you more empathetic and more open: in short, more ready for genuine connection.

What’s more, this move will help others feel more welcome. And honestly, the world—and especially conferences—could use a lot more kindness.

18. Remember names

Hopefully everyone’s wearing badges or name tags, but do your best to remember names anyway. I use a little trick of associating someone’s name with an image because I’m naturally a visual person. So for example, if someone’s name is Bob, I’ll imagine him in a fishing boat bobbing on a lake.

There are a million hacks to remember names out there. Try a bunch out and see which works for you, then use it!

19. Introduce people

When someone sits down next to you or gets in line behind you, do your best to introduce them to someone else (even if you just met the other person!). This is a great tactic to make the most of a conference for a few reasons:

• It gives you a chance to repeat people’s names and what they do or are interested in, cementing them in your memory
• It makes people feel seen and welcome
• You’ll generate a ton of goodwill, since most people hate the awkward reality that they don’t know anyone

20. Go on non-conference adventures

If you’re traveling out of town to a conference, you might as well see some of the city, right? So invite your new conference buddies out on an adventure.

That’s what I did last year at TravelCon 2018. I met Chris, blogger and founder of Explore Now or Never, and we discovered we both love street art. So during a break, instead of zoning out in the hotel or taking a power nap, we walked around Austin.

Chris and I explored parts of the city we wouldn’t have seen if we’d stuck just to conference-affiliated events. And we saw incredible street art!

What to do after a conference

21. Synthesize your notes

On your way home from the conference, your brain will be buzzing with all you learned. Don’t let this jazzed up energy fizzle before you’ve had a chance to process!

Instead, go over your notes and pull out the most valuable nuggets of wisdom. When I’m on the plane home from a conference, I’ll look over my notes and figure out the most valuable insight I took from each session I attended.

Then write up a summary of each point. You can share this with colleagues who weren’t able to attend the conference, tweet the best ones (remembering to tag the source of the wisdom of course) or write a blog post! (That’s what I did in my post on the most valuable lessons from TravelCon 2018.)

22. Follow up on anything you promised

Did you meet someone who asked for an introduction to someone you know? Did you promise to send a link to a blog post that’ll help a new acquaintance? Make sure to do it!

Most people don’t follow up after a conference, so you’ll definitely stand out by making good on your promises.

Level 10 tip: Before you even leave for the conference, block out time in your calendar for follow-up tasks. That way, you don’t get swamped by all the stuff you missed while you were away.

23. Reach out to people you met

Don’t have anything specific to follow up on? That’s ok—just reach out. Say hello. Ask what their favorite part of the conference was. Say it was nice to meet them. Literally anything!

Don’t let all your new connections fade away. Stay present and put in the work to actually cultivate relationships.

24. Thank the speakers, presenters and organizers

Speakers spent a lot of time and energy in crafting a presentation and getting up to share it with the conference. Sadly, many of them never hear much feedback.

So reach out on email or social media and thank them for their efforts. Point to something you learned or one thing their talk made you reconsider.

25. Figure out a way to collaborate

It’s one of my goals at TravelCon 2019 to leave with several collaboration blog posts organized. With so many like-minded folks in the same room, let your brain go wild with the possibilities!

Could you team up to solve a problem? Could you promote someone’s launch? Might you create something new together?

Use the momentum of a conference to collaborate, and make sure to follow up after everyone goes home. What are the next steps to make that magic happen?

Make the most of a conference—no matter what

Now that you’ve read this post, you know how to attend a conference if you’re an introvert, if you’re nervous, if you’re a newbie and if you attend alone. You know what to do before the conference begins, how to maximize your time at a conference during the event, and how to follow up after a conference.

I shared strategies to make genuine relationships at a conference so you’re doing less networking and more connecting. And you learned tips to keep your forward momentum going once you get home.

I most hope you gained the confidence to rock your next conference because, truthfully, just about everyone else is feeling the same awkward, uncertain nerves you are! We’re all in this together, and the more authentically we show up, the better everyone is.

What did I miss? Please share your own tips on how to make the most of a conference below in the comments!

Finally, if you liked this post, you definitely do not want to miss my list of 12 must-bring things to bring to a conference!

The post 25 surefire ways to make the most of a conference—even if you’re alone/nervous/new! appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

Blogging conferences generally run all day, and even the “breaks” like lunch and coffee are primo networking times to connect to other bloggers, meet reps from brands and meet online friends in real life. That means there is little time or opportunity to run back to your hotel room to freshen up or grab something you forgot.

When I attended the travel blogger conference TravelCon, I can’t tell you how much this blogging conference survival kit helped. Even better, this blog post will help you feel confident throughout the entire conference. Food in your teeth? No biggie. Phone battery at 5%? You got it covered. Sweaty breakout rooms? Meh, they don’t phase you.

When you’re not worried about things like sweat stains and wrinkled business cards, you’re free to focus on the goals you’ve set for attending the blogging conference. Network like a boss, collaborate with other go-getters, learn growth strategies from the pros—all while knowing you’re set with everything you need to crush that blogging conference.

Whether you’re a blogging conference veteran or a newbie like me, this list of essentials for a blogging conference survival kit has you covered. Read on to pack all the things to bring to a conference.

This post contains affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, clicking and buying from these links earns me a small amount of income—so I can continue providing free content to you!

The ultimate conference survival kit

Before you leave home, put everything you’ll need for your blogger conference survival kit in your day bag, backpack or purse. You can even keep it all corralled in a zippered pouch so everything inside is just a grab away.

Without further delay, here are all the things to bring to a conference!

Blank notebook

Some people take notes on a laptop or tablet, but a blank notebook is in my blogger conference survival kit for a bunch of good reasons: We remember what we write down, writing longhand allows me to take non-text notes like diagrams, and I can make it pretty!

I wrote a whole post about why you should consider using a notebook for conference notes, which includes tips to organize your thoughts and prime yourself to actually use all the good info you learn.

Pretty pens, washi tape, etc.

Do you need a little motivation to actually use your conference notebook? I carry a few rolls of washi tape to delineate sections in my notes (so I can quickly find my notes from a given workshop, for instance). I also like to use pretty pens like these ones because why not?!

Business cards

Despite loads of people saying that business cards are irrelevant, most people still hand out and collect business cards. I use Moo for my cards because I love having multiple images on the back of my cards. (You can use this Moo.com referral to get 25% off your first order!)

Business card holder

No one wants your crumpled business card. Keep them crisp (and save the ones you get) with a business card holder. I like these glittery ones that stick on the back of your phone. I use a vintage enamel cigarette case I got at an antique store in high school. I like that my business card holder makes me feel a little more polished and professional.

This is my vintage case, which I use as a business card holder, plus my business cards. Click on over to Moo if you want to make some of these mini cards for your own business! (Affiliate link)

Portable charger

Even when you take notes with pen and paper, you’ll be on your phone/tablet/laptop throughout the day. After all, you’ll want to be tweeting, following folks on Instagram and continuing the blogging conference conversation online. All that action sucks your device’s batteries, though, so be prepared to recharge with a portable travel charger. I’m obsessed with this gorgeous luggage tag/charger combo; I currently use one like this.

Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash

Lip balm

Conference centers and hotel event spaces are notoriously dry, with the pumped-in air. Lip balm is essential to keeping your smile comfortable!

Deodorant or deodorant wipes

Carrying deodorant for a quick touch-up mid-blogging conference isn’t just for slightly awkward and introverted bloggers like myself; everyone could benefit for the occasional underarm rescue. I sometimes carry a travel-sized deodorant, and I just got these awesome deodorant wipes that are made with coconut milk and essential oils. (Instead of carrying the whole package, I bring just one at a time in a snack-sized ziplock baggie.)

Dentist-approved gum

Did you eat Caesar salad at lunch and now you’re afraid of breathing on people? Pop a piece of gum in your mouth. It’ll clean your pearly whites and freshen your breath. That way, you’ll focus on what you’re saying—not being worried about your breath.

Floss

If I had a dollar for every time I had a hunk of kale or piece of black bean stuck in my teeth, I could afford to take you and me to the Seychelles. That’s why I carry a sample-size package of floss (like the one I get from the dentist) for awkward lunch-in-your-teeth moments.

Water bottle and to-go mug

Yes, conferences have coffee/tea/water stations set up for breaks, but a) they’re always slammed, and b) you don’t really want to be using a million disposable cups during your conference, do you? Instead, carry a water bottle and/or to-go mug. In fact, I use a mason jar with a handle like this one, complete with a lid that fits a metal reusable straw. I like and use that combo because it’s great for hot and cold drinks, and it doesn’t spill.

Plus, you’ll want to make extra-sure you’re drinking lots of water throughout the day, not just at break times. You definitely don’t want a dehydration headache right when happy hour starts!

A hearty snack

I have the metabolism of a hummingbird, which pretty much means I eat nonstop. Whether you’re like me or not, you’ll definitely want to carry a few snacks in your conference survival kit. I like something that contains protein and fat to keep my blood sugar on even keel, like this yummy KIND bar I ate at the recent Upper Left Summit in Portland. The stretches between breakfast, lunch and dinner can be long at conferences, so never be caught with a growling tummy.

Hand sanitizer

You’re going to be shaking a lot of hands. (And definitely don’t skip this step! One of my favorite business books, Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People, explains how the touch of a simple handshake makes you more memorable and likable. In fact, I reread this book before every big conference I go to!)

So bring hand sanitizer to keep you germ-free between handshakes. The last thing you want is to catch a cold or get sick when you get home from a conference—right when you want to put everything you learned into action!

Level 10 travel tip: If you do a pit-check and realize your underarms are a bit smelly, wipe a bit of hand sanitizer on your armpits. It kills the bacteria that actually cause BO, and you’ll instantly smell better!

The essential things to bring to a conference

I’m betting that after reading about this conference survival kit strategy, you’re feeling more confident to attend that upcoming conference. Whether it’ll be your first or your fiftieth, being prepared is the key to showing up and reaching your goals.

When you’re ready for everything a conference throws at you, you’re ready to collaborate, learn, share and make the important connections that will lift you up and support your entire community.

I can’t wait for my next travel blogging conference. Stay tuned as I share all the important takeaways I learn!

Are there any must-carry things to bring to a conference that I missed? What’s in your blogger conference survival kit?? Share your ideas in the comments. I can’t wait to learn from your wisdom, too!

PS – You may want to read my post on the biggest takeaways from TravelCon 2018. If you weren’t able to go yourself and you want to hear my biggest aha! moments from some of the most rad leaders in the travel blogging world, definitely click on over!

The post Your essential blogging conference survival kit appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

Well, if you’re a travel blogger, I’m 99.99% sure you’ve had that same question. Sure, you likely have a backlog of write-ups from past trips. But when those dry up and you’re still tied to your home base, what travel blog topics can you write about?

Travel blogger friends, I have your back. Below, I put together a list of 61 travel blog post ideas for when you’re not traveling. And I went one step further: I created a handy pdf of all these questions that you can download for free! (Scroll on down to get your free printable of blog post ideas!)

So read on to get a bunch of travel blog post ideas circulating in that beautiful brain of yours. Then download the freebie printable of travel topics to write about. Keep it on hand for when you need post inspiration.

Happy writing and happy travels!

Travel blog post ideas when you’re not traveling

Contrary to popular belief, most travel bloggers aren’t on the road 100% of the time (or even close to it). Keep the content cranking with these travel blog post ideas.

Travel blog post ideas about tips & hacks

1. How to organize your trip
2. Packing tips to make travel easier
3. How to stay healthy when you travel
4. Your packing list(s)
5. Tips for airline travel
6. Tips for road trips
7. What you won’t leave home without
8. Pre-trip prep
9. Your favorite travel apps
10. Your favorite travel snacks
11. What to do when reservations go wrong
12. How to travel with pets
13. How to travel to a place when you don’t know the language
14. How to plan a trip with a big group
15. The travel items you don’t actually need
16. How to stay safe while traveling
17. How to stay comfortable on long travel days
18. How to not get bored on long travel days
19. How to take better photos

Travel blog topics about money and budgets

1. How to stretch your travel budget
2. Brilliant hacks for cheaper travel
3. How to save money on hotels/hostels/home rentals
4. Exactly what you spent when you traveled to _______
5. Budget ____: Is it worth it? (e.g. budget bus, airlines, suitcases, etc.)

Travel topics to write about lessons learned

1. 10 mistakes you made (and what you do now)
2. What you wish you’d known when ______
3. Places you’d never go again
4. What happened when you forgot ____ at home
5. What have you learned about yourself through travel?

Blog post ideas about you as a travel blogger

1. How often does a travel blogger really travel?
2. How does a travel blogger pay for all those trips?
3. Your favorite hashtags
4. Your Instagram strategy
5. How does a travel blogger decide where to go?
6. How you satisfy your wanderlust when you’re at home
7. How travel bloggers make friends on the road
8. Do you have a routine while traveling?
9. What do you do when you’re homesick?
10. What travel bloggers really want for a present this year (gift guide)

Blog posts about travel inspiration

1. Why you travel
2. Your top 10 favorite trips
3. Why you bring your kids when you travel
4. Future travel wish list / Bucket list destinations
5. Exploring your hometown
6. Your favorite books about travel
7. What you miss from home when you travel
8. What inspires you about travel
9. Favorite travel quotes
10. Where do you go to get ideas on what to do, where to go and where to stay?

Travel blog topics that get personal

1. What was your first trip like? When did you start traveling?
2. Your favorite travel splurges
3. Your favorite childhood trips / first memory of vacations
4. A truly lonely time traveling
5. The moment when you realized travel changed your life
6. The time you fell in love while traveling

Roundup blog posts

1. Your favorite foods from around the world
2. Your all-time favorite hotels
3. Your favorite foods from home
4. The weirdest things you’ve eaten while traveling
5. The weirdest things you’ve done while traveling
6. The most underrated beaches/destinations/cities/etc.
7. Best destinations for couples

Never run out of travel blog ideas again!

Now that you have this list—and a handy dandy free printable of travel blog post ideas—you’ll never hit writer’s block. Whenever you’re stuck at home when you would rather be jetting across the globe, pick one of these travel blog topics and get typing. You’ll feel more inspired, and your audience will love that you never run out of ideas.

Do you want this entire list designed in a printer-friendly layout so you can refer back to it whenever writer’s block strikes? Sign up below:

Do you have any go-to blog post ideas? Can you add to the list of travel topics to write about when you’re not traveling? Please share in the comments below!

The post 61 travel blog post ideas for when you’re stuck at home appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

These are the best books about blogging but not only that. After all, I work to keep my reading lists diverse, since creativity comes from everywhere. So I’ve also included titles in this required reading for bloggers list that are about productivity, remote work, creativity and much more.

Because here’s the deal: You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. You don’t have to figure out how to grow your blog or get more done or write a stunning headline all by yourself. Stand on the shoulders of giants. You’ll save time while figuring out how to write a better blog. That means blogging will be more fulfilling for you—and your readers will benefit, too.

So don’t wait any longer. Scroll down to check out my and other writers’ recommendations of required reading for bloggers. Then request these best books for bloggers from the library, download them on Audible or put them in your Amazon cart. Finally, get reading. A better blog is closer than you ever thought possible.

This post contains affiliate links. By clicking and buying, I earn a small income at no extra cost to you.

12 best books for bloggers to read now

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles

Biggest takeaway: To win the war and beat Resistance, sit down every day and just create.

The first thing Steven Pressfield does in this incredible 165-page book is rename procrastination. He calls it Resistance. He asserts it’s every writer’s job to show up daily, do the work, and overcome Resistance. It’s what separates the pros from amateurs. He readily admits that it’s the hardest thing to sit down and do it, thanks to Resistance.

What grabbed me and woke me up is his description of your unlived life. All that keeps you from using your divine-given talent and living that life is Resistance. The first part of the book is spent going over all the ways Resistance can and does show up in our lives. How we use it, and how it uses us. You will recognize yourself there.

In the second half of The War of Art, he gets down to combating Resistance. It’s becoming and acting like a professional. The show must go on. So you show up, no excuses, and do the work. Don’t look at the outcome or weigh the results as you’re working. No over thinking, over planning, or questioning. So that’s how I blog, now. I act like a professional and do the work.

You can easily download this book (for free using this link to an Audible trial) and listen to it while you’re on the move!

-Cindi Conley is a suitcase-checking traveler and storyteller who creates the blog Traveling Later, every day.

The 4-Hour Workweek

Biggest takeaway: The 4-Hour Workweek taught me that the most important step toward location independence is taking action today.

Among self-help readers, The 4-Hour Workweek is practically considered a cult classic. The author, Tim Ferriss, details how he reduced his work hours and attained location independence through a wide range of techniques. 

Some of the biggest lessons I learned that was relevant to my blog pertaining to location. Ferriss describes how he lived in places with cheaper costs of living, including South America, Germany, and Asia, to stretch his income and reduce his working hours. 

When I read this book that’s great for bloggers, I was months deep in research about moving abroad. I was reading way too much and not taking enough action. This book helped me truly internalize the fact that I could live abroad and make not just a good living but an excellent one. It helped me actually book a plane ticket and get moving. 

Ferriss mentioned so many interesting ideas I hadn’t thought of like automation, product testing, and hiring virtual assistants. Even if you aren’t ready to use these techniques yet, they open your mind about what’s possible in your business.

Though it was written in 2006, digital nomads and bloggers will benefit significantly from reading the 4-Hour Workweek—especially by learning how to reduce their hours and work from anywhere. 

-Carly Matthew is a travel blogger, digital worker, and English teacher working in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. You can read about her adventures on her travel blog, CarlyMatthew.com.

Blog, Inc.: Blogging for Passion, Profit, and to Create Community

Biggest takeaway: While there is a basic blueprint for blogging, it takes a lot of hard work and ingenuity to make blogging work as a business. But, it can be done!

One of the first blogging books I read, one in which the tips have stayed with me over the years, was Blog, Inc.: Blogging for Passion, Profit, and to Create Community by Joy Deangdeelert Cho and Meg Mateo Ilasco. I picked up the book because I was already obsessed with the work of the blogger behind Oh, Joy!. Joy Cho had created an empire in her passion and it so closely related to my own passion that I was eager to get any and all tips on how she did it.

The book for bloggers covers some of the very basics of starting a blog, which is helpful for beginners. Topics such as picking out a blog name, the anatomy of a blog, and blogging platforms are all covered covered. It then transitions into taking those basics up a notch and monetizing the system and using your blogging skills in other avenues of profitability.

My favorite part of the book was reading the stories of other successful bloggers. It made it easier to picture myself as someday being among the elite storytellers who could turn their passion into a decent paycheck.

You can download this in an audiobook format for free with my link to an Audible trial!

-Jenni Bost is a lifestyle and entertaining blogger over at A Well Crafted Party where she shares tips for celebrating this crazy thing called life. In addition, she offers a free blog planner printable and blogging tips over on her site, A Well Crafted Blog.

SEO the Easy Way: The Complete SEO Strategy for Bloggers

Biggest takeaway: If my post isn’t on page 1 of search engines, then it might as well not exist.  But it can be on page 1, and this book shows you how.

In my 10 years of blogging (and 2 years of taking it more seriously), one book stands out as pivotal to my blogging education.  SEO the Easy Way – The Complete SEO Strategy for Bloggers, by Laura Lynch, has finally managed to teach me the SEO skills I’ve pretended I didn’t need to learn.  Every time I would consider learning more about SEO, I was immediately overwhelmed and would retreat from the idea, thinking if I just used alt-tags, then all would be well.  

SEO the Easy Way is so highly recommended by other bloggers, and so often, that I broke down and bought it.  Lynch’s writing style is very personable and down-to-earth, and most of all, it’s easy to understand.  The book is 129 pages, and you can download it to read online, or print it out as I did.

I finished the book a month ago.  I’m tracking stats in Google Analytics and Search Console, and in that month, my search engine traffic has doubled.  Eight of my blog posts are now on the first page of Google, for a combined 21 keywords. I do write a narrow niche blog, so ranking is easier for me than for others, but even I’m astonished by the statistics.  SEO the Easy Way has forever changed the way I approach blogging.

-Heather Hicks writes about outdoor adventure travel with kids in Oregon at Oregon Outdoor Family.     

The 12 Week Year

The 12 Week Year by Brian Morgan is an excellent book for anyone who gets overwhelmed when it comes to planning for the year…like me! While it’s not specific to blogging, the system taught in this book is applicable to blogging and as well as other aspects of life.

The 12 Week Year teaches us to create goals that we work toward for 12 weeks. Of course, these goals relate to our overall vision for our blog. Then we act as if each 12 weeks is a year. This eliminates procrastination and creates momentum as the actions we take today have a much more immediate effect on the 12 week goal.

We can see much more quickly which actions are getting us closer to our goal and which ones are not moving the needle as we anticipated. This allows us to course correct right away as opposed to waiting to see what happens at the end of the year.

I also enjoy this book for bloggers because it’s not a complicated method. It simplifies blogging and creates a focus for 12 weeks that can then shift the next 12 weeks.

I highly recommend reading it to help with creating a vision and plan for your blog. Or, if you’d prefer to listen while you’re taking your morning walk, you can download it for free using my link for an Audible trial!

-Katie Minahan blogs at Just Chasing Sunsets about solo female travel.

Building a Story Brand

Biggest takeaway: It’s crucial to use stories to connect with our customers and readers.

If you’re struggling to write compelling emails, clickable website copy or double tap worthy Instagram captions Donald Miller’s Building a Story Brand will set you on the right track using his seven step framework. Inside he teaches you to think of your customer as the protagonist in your brand’s story. When the customer encounters a problem, a guide (you) will show up to give them a plan and call them to action.

By positioning your customers as the hero in the story and your brand as the guide (think Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi) you will allow them to gain confidence and succeed. Miller uses classic Hollywood storytelling methods to create story gaps or mini cliffhangers. Your customers will stay in touch and keep coming back for more because of the basic human desire to find resolution in the story.

As an added bonus he also has an online program to walk you through the seven steps and start creating compelling stories of your own. If you’re eager to start injecting more story in your copy I highly encourage you to check out Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller.

-Kristi Westberg is the creator of Indoorsy Camper, a blog devoted to finding balance and happiness by cultivating creativity and connecting with the outdoors.

Take Your Life Back: Finding Freedom through Location Independence

Biggest takeaway: I need to utilize the skills I do have and not wallow on the ones I don’t have… yet.

I found the book, Take Your Life Back: Finding Freedom Through Location Independence, by Leah Davis, at a time when I needed it most. I had recently left the career I’d been building for a decade to sprint off to New Zealand for three months, and I knew I wouldn’t return to it when I came home. I needed something that was flexible, in my control and capitalized on my natural skills. I had been blogging in my spare time for four years at this point but didn’t know where, or even IF, I belonged in the blogging world. I felt like a failure since I had managed very little traffic and zero profit in that time span.

After reading Take Your Life Back, I realized that many of my skills could benefit other bloggers and entrepreneurs. I’m organized, creative, have great attention to detail, love creating systems, and enjoy project management. So, I decided to become a freelance virtual assistant. This role has positioned me to learn from successful bloggers and entrepreneurs and apply that knowledge to my own pursuits with great success.

-Brittany Quaglieri, a freelance virtual assistant and founder of She Goes With Purpose, where she shares destination information and health + wellness tips for travelers.

The Million Dollar Blog

Biggest takeaway: Pick two social media channels to focus on instead of worrying about mastering all of them.

I read The Million Dollar Blog by Natasha Courtenay-Smith when I first launched my blog Destination>Differentville. It was a point when I was excited, enthusiastic, utterly clueless and massively overwhelmed. 

The book uses advice and interviews from top bloggers like Seth Godin and Vicky Psarlas (HonestMum.com) to explain how to find your niche, boost page views and make money—giving heaps of practical tips for beginners along the way.

However, as inspiring as it all was I didn’t know how I was going to do all these things while holding down a demanding full-time job.

Then, in the chapter on social media one paragraph jumped out at me and I’ve used it to keep me focused ever since. It’s the idea of ‘Main and Maintain’ and Courtney-Smith suggests choosing two social networks that are your main focus and you throw your heart and soul into growing and feeding—and two where you have a presence, posting say once a week to just keep things ticking over.

It also gives you a four-step process to help you find out which yours should be. I haven’t panicked about fitting it all in ever since.

-Helen Foster blogs at Destination > Differentville, where she shares unusual and off-the-beaten-track suggestions for things to eat, see and do.

Get Rich, Lucky Bitch

Biggest takeaway: Everything that I want is possible, there is enough in the world, and I am enough.

Money blocks come in all shapes and sizes and the book Get Rich, Lucky Bitch, by Denise Duffield-Thomas, has been really helpful in acknowledging and getting rid of them and for general mindset work. In relation to blogging it might be the belief that only others will get success or that it’s too hard to make the big amounts of money or maybe not even possible.  It could even be as simple as feeling worthy of success.  

The book gives ideas on how to combat all these kinds of blocks, which I’ve found really helpful for my blogging journey and also in lots of other areas of life. It also taught me not to get bogged down with others beliefs around money, success and business and gave me new insights on it all. All in all it’s a really interesting book that has changed my business and really my life!

-Kirsty Bartholomew is a travel blogger obsessed with history at Lost In Landmarks.

Better than Before

Biggest takeaway: I learned how to trigger habits like sitting down to write by pairing that task with my morning cup of tea.

Better than Before by Gretchen Rubin has been a transformative read. This book extensively covers habit formation and creating long-lasting routines around your personality type. I loved Rubin’s matter-of-fact style yet soft touch when discussing hard to change areas of our lives. She’s incredibly personal.

I’ve literally told every one of my friends to read this book – especially if they have any sort of habit they would like to shift.

Better than Before helped me develop meaningful engagement with my own blog, Closed-Loop Cooking, by illustrating how I could reinforce sustainable habits around daily writing and content development. I was feeling overwhelmed with the number of items in my to-do list but having the structure of a habitual routine really made it easier to approach. It definitely helps to know your personality type out of the four she references, Upholder, Obliger, Questioner, and Rebel (you can find out which one you are in the back of the book.)

This book encouraged focus and definitely helped me to grow my blog. Can’t recommend Gretchen Rubin enough!

-Hawnuh Lee writes about creating a sustainable kitchen at her blog, Closed-Loop Cooking.

Meditations

Biggest takeaway: Whenever blogging seems challenging, or the blog’s readership seems low, I recall Marcus Aurelius’s words, “Neither worse than not better is a thing made by being praised.”

I have been reading Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius, for a few months now, and this book—which is known as the greatest work of Greek and philosophical literature—has helped me immensely in my blogging journey.

If my articles don’t get the appreciation I think they deserve, I move onto the next writing piece I am working on. For I have started believing that neither would praise nor would critique increase or reduce the inherent beauty in a piece of art that I have honestly created. 

Writing is my art. I started blogging for my passion for writing, not for being the number one blogger. Though I feel happy when readers comment that they loved my poem or could relate to my essay, I do not depend on their admiration. 

My indifference to whether the blog went viral or is just sitting in a corner existing helps me write without worrying about the results. I wake up every day with a smile on my face and with a pen in my fingers, and I write and blog. 

-Priyanka Gupta is an itinerant blogger from India who has left her investment banking career to travel the world and write about it at On My Canvas.

Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People

Biggest takeaway: Don’t go to every single networking event because you “should.” Figure out where you thrive and take advantage of those opportunities. You’ll show up better and make more genuine connections.

This brilliant, science-based book by Vanessa Van Edwards has been a game-changer for me. As an awkward introvert who only appears to be confident and outgoing, Van Edwards’s tips on how to authentically connect with others—and make a lasting impression—has been so helpful!

In Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People, she walks through the science of first impressions, the myths we tell ourselves about networking, and how to actually feel comfortable with networking (which, let’s admit it, nearly all of us hate).

Later in this book for bloggers, she dives deeper. Van Edwards outlines how to move acquaintances to friends and then trusted go-tos. Her practical guide for being your genuine self and still expanding your professional network is a must-read for bloggers.

I enjoyed listening to this book when I was on the go, and you can too (for free) using this link.

-Catherine Ryan Gregory—that’s me, of course!

Your reading list for bloggers

Now that you’ve read about other bloggers’ book recommendations, I know you’ll be clicking over to Amazon or requesting books at the library. Or better yet, get a free audiobook by using this link to Audible!

Reading is one must-do step to build a better blog. You don’t have to come up with all the brilliant ideas to network more authentically, write better blog posts, build community and master SEO on your own. Why not read the best tips, guidance and advice from the experts?

I know you’ll find plenty of inspiration in this reading list for bloggers. Do you have suggestions, too? Share them in the comments—I’m always looking for books to help my blog!

PS – If you’re looking for podcasts and other resources to improve your blog, check out my post on the best free blogging resources you should be using right now.

The post Required reading: Best books for bloggers building a kick-a blog appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

I’m pretty sure you agree that when you attend a blogging conference, you are inspired and excited: You learn so much, and you’re brimming with ideas to improve your blog. But without a way to organize all those thoughts, you won’t make any progress once the conference is over.

Not a great investment of your time, energy, or the cost of attending a blogging conference.

That’s why it’s so crucial to organize your blogging conference notebook. Keeping your ideas, takeaways and action items organized ensures you’ll be able to find all those nuggets of wisdom later—and that you’ll have a clear path forward once you get home.

Don’t risk losing track of all that goodness. Before you head to your next conference or retreat, read this post about how to organize your blogging conference notebook. You’ll finish the conference with a clear path forward—and be ready to turn that action into results!

Turn blogging conference wisdom into action

I’m excited to dive into the ways to organize your blogging conference notebook—but first, we need to cover our bases.

Why go old-school with a paper notebook?

Before TravelCon, folks discussed in the Facebook group whether to take notes on a laptop/tablet or in a notebook. I was surprised that so many of us remain old-school: TK% of people said they’d be writing in a blogging conference notebook instead of electronically.

There are plenty of reasons to keep track of your takeaways in a blogging conference notebook:

1. You’ll remember more. The act of writing something down cements the information in your memory, according to science: Since you write more slowly than you can type, you have to think harder about what’s most important and only write down those points. The mental work it takes to figure out what’s most important to you is like putting a sticky note in your brain to flag what you should remember.
2. It’s easy to format. The way I take notes is slightly more visual than just page after page of text. By starring items, circling notes and using underlines, I can organize notes at a session more easily than on a computer. This helps me quickly find what I need later when I reread my notes.
3. It’s light. Carrying a laptop or even a tablet gets heavy. You guys know I have a neck and shoulder injury (which is why I wear a fanny pack, not a purse), so carrying a few extra pounds all day was out of the question. Even if you don’t have an injury, electronics get heavy!
4. It’s easy to organize. Below, I explain just how I organize my blogging conference notebook to make it easy to put the conference takeaways into action. I’m sure others have a computer-based system that works for them, but the idea of having a million open tabs and documents for each kind of note makes my head spin.
5. Express yourself visually. I’m a visual person, so I often find myself sketching, drawing diagrams or making charts in my notes. I haven’t found a way to quickly do this on a computer, but it’s easy to do in a notebook.

Of course, choosing to take blogging conference notes in a notebook or on a laptop is 100% a personal choice. If you’re more of a tactile person like me, and you choose the paper notebook route, here’s how you can organize your blogging conference notes.

9 ways to organize your blogging conference notebook

1. Record your contact info

First things first: Write your name, blog and contact information inside the front cover of your notebook. If you lose it, whoever finds it can get it back to you.

2. Block out your schedule

Over a spread in your blogging conference notebook, write down your schedule. Include not only the keynotes and breakout sessions, but also meetings, social gatherings, meals and other must-remember notes.

The blogging conference you attend may have an app or a paper copy of the conference schedule, but it won’t include everything. At TravelCon, for example, I had to take a few calls for work, which I recorded in my schedule.

When you have your blogging conference schedule organized in your notebook, you’ll be able to tell at a glance where you need to be and what’s coming next. That way, you don’t miss out on anything!

3. Create a to-do column

As you’re listening and learning at a blogging conference, you’ll come up with dozens of ideas on how to apply those brilliant nuggets to your own blog. But without a way to organize your blogging conference notes, you risk losing track of all those ideas.

So draw a vertical line down the right-hand page, about a third of the width of the page. This is your special to-do list column. Jot down every action item here so you can easily find it when you get home (and you’re ready to grow your blog with all the conference takeaways).

I make a to-do column every few spreads so they’re easy to flip to as I’m taking notes.

4. List blog post ideas

Throughout the blogging conference, you’ll definitely come up with ideas for new blog posts. Don’t let these get lost in all your notes!

Dedicate a page in your blogging conference notebook for blog post ideas. (In fact, I thought up the idea for this post during one of the TravelCon sessions, since I thought it’d help other bloggers to get the most out of a blogging conference.)

This way, you have an easy-to-find list of blog post ideas to write when you finish the conference (or even on the plane home!).

5. Include social media handles

You’ll want to take notes as you listen to keynotes and breakout sessions so you remember all the wisdom from these blogging experts. Most people intuitively organize your blogging conference notebook by session.

That’s a great start but not enough. For each session, you’ll also want to include the speaker’s social media handle. Having it written down right next to your notes from their session makes it easy to make the most out of a blogging conference in three ways:

1. You can DM the speaker after their session to say thank you. Be specific in what you thought was most helpful.
2. You can live tweet the session. I tweeted throughout TravelCon, sharing quotes from each speaker and tagging them in my posts. Having their social media handles at hand saved me time in tweeting so I could focus on what they were saying, not searching for them in a sea of social media.
3. You can reach out with questions. Tag the speaker on social media and ask a question after their session. This is a great way to continue the conversation (especially if you’re too shy to ask it during the Q&A). Bonus: The folks who follow the speaker will see your post and their response, and you may gain new followers who appreciate your thoughtful question.

6. Research hashtags

You’ll want a list of hashtags specific and relevant to the blogging conference you attend. Organize your blogging conference notebook even before you arrive by dedicating a page to hashtags.

By researching and listing these hashtags ahead of time, you’ll have hashtags at your fingertips that will help your social media posts get noticed. Some ideas of hashtags to include:

• The blogging conference hashtag
• Hashtags relevant to the location of the conference
• Niche-specific hashtags
• Hashtags related to learning and blogging tips

7. Brainstorm conversation starters

I’m an introvert whom most people think of as an extrovert. I like talking to people, but sometimes I get super anxious and awkward in my head. What if I have nothing to say? What if I say something dumb?

I’ve read Captivate by Vanessa Van Edwards several times, and she talks about conversation sparkers—questions that prompt memorable and interesting conversations. It’s a great book to listen to when you’re on the go and will ensure that you’re well prepared for your conference. You can download the audio version for free using my link to an Audible trial.

It’s easy to fall into a rut of asking the same questions at a blogging conference (what’s your blog about? Where are you from? Is this your first conference?). The trouble with these questions is that everyone else is asking them too, so you end up having the same conversations repeatedly—and you won’t remember them. (Worse, people won’t remember you.)

So to organize your blogging conference notebook, brainstorm a handful of conversation sparkers. They should be relevant to the conference so they feel natural.

When I attended TravelCon, I flipped to this page before mixers and coffee breaks. That way, I never had a need to worry over what I’d talk about—and the questions sparked some great conversations.

8. Star, circle and outline your biggest takeaways

Emphasizing things in your notes helps you twofold: You’ll remember that bit of information more, since you’re signaling your brain that it’s important as you’re writing.

Secondly, it’ll help you after the blogging conference. When you’re at home flipping through your notes, these takeaways will jump out to you and save you time hunting through a sea of grey text.

9. Go beyond the written word

When you write in a notebook vs type on a computer or tablet, your brain is actually working harder to understand the content as you go. So you’re interpreting the information rather than just trying to record it verbatim.

One benefit to doing this in a notebook instead of a computer is you aren’t limited to words. You might draw a diagram, make a chart, sketch a picture—anything! Turns out this ability has benefits to internalizing and learning new information.

“The very nature of handwriting means you have to write and organize as you are thinking, and that kind of organization affects how you are interpreting the information,” explains Dr. Helen Macpherson, who studies how handwriting impacts memory. “It’s the way the hand writing forces you to organize your thoughts that leads to deeper processing.”

So doodle, underline, draw arrows, sketch a herd of unicorns—anything that helps you take notes by hand will help you retain all that juicy new knowledge!

These tips to organize your blogging conference notebook helped me stay on top of everything before, during and after a blogging conference. I felt prepared to soak in all the wisdom during the conference. And afterward, I arrived home with an action plan to actually put those takeaways into practice.

Nothing’s worse than wrapping up an inspiring event with a feeling of overwhelm, right? You don’t want to be adrift; you want to be empowered. That’s why I think you’ll love these tips to organize your blogging conference notebook when you use them next.

Do you have any tips for note-taking or attending blogging conferences? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.

Also, if you happen to be going to TravelCon 2019 in Boston this June, let me know! I’ll be there too!

The post Organize your blogging conference notebook to fast-track results appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

I know these free blogging resources will help you grow your blog, too. That’s why I put together this list of blogging tools. Below, you’ll find recommendations for the best SEO tools for bloggers, resources to think of new post ideas, writing tools to improve your craft, stock photo sites and design resources—all free!

I’ve used every single one of these, and they’re all free, so I have zero incentive to get you to use them. That means that you can trust I genuinely believe in these free blogging resources. I know you’ll love them, too.

So don’t waste any more time! Read on to find your new favorite (and free!) blogging resources.

Free SEO tools for bloggers

Search engine optimization (SEO) is both a crucial way to help readers find your blog and a sometimes intimidating new skillset, especially for beginning bloggers. That’s why free SEO tools for bloggers are so helpful.

In a nutshell, SEO is a way to write your blog posts and fill the back end of your blog with the information that google and other search engines need to direct traffic to your content. Every SEO expert will tell you good SEO starts with good content, but free tools to help with keywords, metadata and the like don’t hurt, either!

Here are some of the free SEO tools for bloggers I use and recommend.

Yoast

Yoast is the gold standard free SEO tool for bloggers and other entrepreneurs. It’s an easy, reliable plug-in for WordPress you can install in one or two clicks. It’s also one of the first, most important blogging tools for beginners.

Once you have it installed, scroll down to the bottom of the page as you’re creating a page or a post. You can fill in your target keyword, which will help you analyze how well you’re using that keyword for SEO. (It flags you if it doesn’t find that keyword often enough in your text, or if it’s not in a headline or in your title.)

What’s more, you can—and should—edit your page or post’s metadata with Yoast. Click “edit snippet” and write a short summary of your post, containing your target keywords, in the meta description field (look for the arrow below). This is the text that will show when you end up on a Google results page.

Google

Wait, Google? Yes, Google.

There are two places on this search engine that can be phenomenal resources to improve your SEO keywords. First, type a keyword you’re considering writing about into the search bar. Notice below the search bar, Google tries to predict what you’re looking for. These are long-tail keywords other people commonly look for—and they’re a great place to generate ideas for long-tail keywords.

Secondly, scroll to the bottom of the search results page. You’ll find related searches that can help you get more specific in your own keywords. You can also use this free resource to come up with new blog post ideas. Just remember to cross-link the related blog posts within your site to teach Google what’s related—and to help readers delve deeper into a topic they care about.

Keywords Everywhere

If you want to get even more information out of your Google searches, add the Keywords Everywhere Chrome extension to your browser. After signing up and verifying your account, which takes less than 5 minutes, you see this whenever you search something on Google:

This free blogging resource shows you the search volume, which is important for researching which keywords you want to target in your blog posts.

The search volume for your original keyword is listed directly below the search bar; related searches are to the right of results.

Free tools to generate blog post ideas

Ubersuggest

This free resource for bloggers from online marketing expert Neil Patel lets you plug in an unlimited number of keywords for keyword research. The summary shows the number of monthly searches and the estimated competition for SEO ranking.

Scroll farther down in Ubersuggest to see suggested long-tail keywords as well as the ranking results for the keyword you entered.

Here’s how to use the list of ranking pages: Notice what they have in common, then beat them at their game. For example, when I entered “Portland restaurants,” the ranking pages listed numbers of the best restaurants in PDX—38, 40, 10 and 10. So to begin to build SEO clout, I’d increase the number in my own Portland restaurant post to at least 50. This section also lists the ranking pages’ domain authority (DA) so you can see what kind of competition you’re up against. 

(To learn how to increase your DA, read my post on boosting your domain authority without paying a dime.) 

Quora

To be a helpful resource, you need to inform, amuse or inspire. And if you’re looking to help readers solve a problem—a goal nearly all of us bloggers have—then you need to know what those problems are!

Enter Quora, where anyone can submit a question that other users can answer. You can use this free resource for bloggers in two ways:

1. Research audience challenges. Subscribe to the categories in your blog niche (for example travel) and then keep tabs on what people are asking. Use those questions as inspiration for future blog posts.
2. Answer questions in your niche. Take 10 minutes and respond to a question where you have authority and insight. Then at the bottom of your answer, post a link to one of your blog posts that relates or goes even more in-depth. You may get traffic back from your answer, and you’ll gain authority and credibility. 

Answer the Public

Plug a keyword into Answer the Public and a fraction of a second later you’ll get dozens of blog post ideas. This free blogging resource creates a web organized by question type (how, why, what, etc.) all about your keyword.

These questions are all searches actual people have typed into Google or another search engine. That means there are people just waiting to read your post on this topic.

Your readers are likely searching for these questions. Help them find you—and show up in search results—by answering their questions directly!

Title Generator

If you’re still fishing for not only blog ideas but catchy post titles, click over to the Title Generator from Tweak Your Biz. You enter a keyword, and lists of blog post titles pop up in different categories, from questions to lists to snark. Not all the blog post titles make sense (though the silly ones are hilarious!), but there are gems in there that are guaranteed to help you generate blog post ideas.

Friends and family

When I started To & Fro Fam, I sent my blog and links to my favorite posts to friends and family with kids of their own. In my email, I asked them to share with me the challenges they face with family travel. Here’s what I wrote:

Here’s where my request for help comes in. I’d love for you to take a look at the blog and then write me with a problem, challenge or question you have about family travel.

People I trust and care about responded with questions—topics I’ve since turned into blog posts. You can do the same to come up with new blog post ideas.

Free blog writing tools

Headline analyzer from CoSchedule

CoSchedule’s free headline analysis tool can help you pinpoint if your blog post title is ready to go live—or if you need to keep at it. Even better, it makes suggestions on how to make your blog post headline more powerful and ultimately more clickable.

Power words printable from CoSchedule

While you’re over on CoSchedule’s site, download the free power words printable. It lists dozens of high-emotion words, which can make a headline stick out to readers.

I keep this saved in a Blogger Resources file on my computer. Then, if I’m having trouble writing a compelling headline, I open up the printable and scan it for ideas to pump up my headline.

Test your email subject lines

Writing a subject line is a lot like writing a headline—you need people to open an email just like you need them to click to read a post. CoSchedule makes a free email subject line testing tool where you can see how your subject lines measure up.

Of course, the tool also suggests ways to improve. With a little work, you should be able to improve your subject lines for email marketing—and therefore increase engagement with your followers.

Free stock photos for bloggers

Roughly 99% of the photography on To & Fro Fam is original and taken by me. That said, I occasionally need a more generic photo.

Free stock photos for bloggers are a fantastic supplement to your own photography. These sites provide images you can use for personal (not commercial) use free of charge. It’s good form to credit the original photographer and even link to her or his site.

A word of caution: Relying too much on free stock photos is a trap. You’ll lose a consistent visual brand (since photos are taken by so many people in varying styles), and you run the danger of using the same photo as dozens of other blogs. So use free stock photos sparingly and work on your own photography skills!

That said, here are my favorite free stock photo sites for bloggers.

Unsplash

Unsplash is my favorite source of free stock photos for bloggers. This stock photography site has the deepest library of images for free that I’ve found, and I’ve had great luck searching via keywords.

I also like that when you download an image, photography attribution information pops up, which makes it easy to give credit to the photographer.

IvoryMix

You need to sign up on IvoryMix, which is free. Then you’ll get log-in access to download these beautifully styled shots. They tend to be feminine flat lays that stick to a monthly theme, with bonuses for seasonal or holiday topics.

If you’re looking for pretty, free stock photos for your blog, IvoryMix is your go-to resource.

StockSnap

I’ve found that StockSnap offers many of the same images as Unsplash, though I prefer Unsplash’s user interface. That said, if I don’t find what I need in the other free stock photography sites, I’ll visit StockSnap to see if they have something different.

Exposure

Exposure is a new tool that aggregates free stock images from other sites. What I like about Exposure is that it surfaces photographs I hadn’t found in other sites. It’s easy to use and includes a variety of photo styles.

Free design resources for bloggers

Canva

Canva is my go-to resource for designing pins and the occasional Instagram post. It makes my list of free resources for bloggers not only because just about everyone uses it, but because for basic design, it’s super easy to use. Canva is also one of the most critical beginner blogging tools you need to use now (if you don’t already).

Yes, if you are a professional designer, you’ll want to invest in the Adobe Creative Cloud. But for bloggers who just need to create pins and images for Facebook, Canva does the job.

Font Squirrel

Want to use a font that the rest of the world isn’t using? Then scroll through the options at Font Squirrel, yet another one of my free resources for bloggers. Just double-check they can be used free for commercial use, if you plan on making any money with something you design with the font.

Click on categories like Script, Hand-drawn, Geometric or a whole slew of other tags to find what you want without scrolling through a zillion fonts.

Coolors

Need ideas for new color schemes? You can scroll through Pinterest for an hour, or you can zip over to Coolors. The free site builds a palette of five colors that go together beautifully.

How to grow your blog with free tools & resources

So what do you think: Will you give any of these free blogging resources a try? Do you use any already? And finally, do you have recommendations for free blogging tools I should give a go? Please comment below!

I’m excited to hear how these free blogging resources help you reach your audience, design gorgeous graphics, master SEO and more. Let me know when you see changes!

PS – If you want your blog posts to rank higher in search results, don’t miss my deep-dive into how to increase your domain authority for free. The strategies will help you climb SEO rankings!

The post 18 free blogging resources + tools you need to use right now appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

I started this family travel blog in spring 2018, and just like every brand-new blog, my DA was in the dumps. (New sites automatically start at a domain authority of 0.) Over time and as you write more blog posts, your domain authority will gradually rise—but without intentionally trying to raise your domain authority, your growth will be slow.

So I went about figuring out how to increase your domain authority faster. And I found these effective, free, low-effort hacks to increase your domain authority.

Now the most important thing you can control that will increase your domain authority is to produce really good content. That means regularly writing new posts that help your readers and being consistent in your posting schedule. I’m writing this post from the assumption that you’re already blogging regularly and are working to make those posts thorough, well written and informative.

In this blog post, I’ll share exactly how I built online credibility and increased my DA from 3 to 21 in less than 6 months. And I share each strategy here so you can raise your domain authority, too!

How to increase your domain authority steadily and efficiently

So you’re wondering how to increase your domain authority—welcome to the club! Before we dive into my strategies to increase your domain authority steadily, we need to cover some basics.

First, what the heck is domain authority?

Domain authority is the internet’s way of measuring how often your blog is referred to, or name-checked, via links. If it feels icky like a high school popularity race, that’s because it is… kind of.

But with all else that Google and other search engines do, it’s in the interest of the customer—the person who is searching for the information they need.

Domain authority is a measurement between 0 – 100, and it takes into account many factors, including how many inbound links your blog has. The more sites and pages that link to your blog, the more credibility your blog has, and the higher your domain authority will be. The higher your domain authority, the more likely search engines are to refer readers to your blog.

But not all links are created equal. A linkback from a site with a high DA counts more than a site with a low DA. And a linkback from a page or site that’s in your niche is more valuable than one from an unrelated topic.

Extremely well respected sites—think Wikipedia or the Washington Post—will have extremely high DAs. Your blog will surely have a lower domain authority—but that’s not necessarily a deal-breaker!

After all, you just want to have a high domain authority in relation to other similar blogs. So since this is a family travel blog, I want to increase my domain authority in comparison with similar blogs if I want to outrank them in search results.

Generally, it’s easier to increase your domain authority the lower it is. So it’s easier to go from a 5 to a 10 than from a 45 to a 50.

What is my domain authority?

To start with, you want to check your domain authority. You can google “check your domain authority” and a bunch of free sites will pop up.

I use this domain authority checker.

Write down your domain authority so you can track how it changes depending on what DA hacks you use, how many posts you publish, and how long your site has been live.

I set a reminder in my calendar to check my domain authority and other statistics on the last day of every month. That way I can track improvements in my blog’s presence online.

Strategy 1 to raise your DA: Be an expert

Now that you understand the fundamentals of DA, let’s work on how to raise your domain authority.

The folks who designed DA intentionally made it difficult to directly affect it. After all, you can’t increase your popularity by talking about how cool you are; your popularity depends on what other people think of you.

Same with DA. You need to increase the number—and quality—of linkbacks to your blog to increase your domain authority.

The absolute best strategy I’ve found in getting high-quality linkbacks to my blog has been HARO.

What is HARO, and how does it help increase your domain authority?

Help A Reporter Out (HARO) is a platform for journalists, bloggers and sources to get information from experts. That can be bona fide experts (like a biomedical researcher) or simply people who have a first-person story to share.

To use HARO, you sign up as either a reporter or a source (or both). For the purposes of increasing your domain authority, we’ll talk about using HARO as a source.

You then click the boxes you have an expertise in. This blog is focused on family travel, so I just clicked travel. Then, three times a weekday, you’ll receive an email with “queries”—requests for information or help from people writing about a topic where you’re an expert. The emails will look something like this:

Many of these queries aren’t right for me as an expert on family travel, but sometimes they’re spot on. The trick is to find the ones you’re uniquely qualified to answer—that way your response is more likely to get picked up, and you won’t waste time on responding to queries that relate to your niche only peripherally.

You answer a reporter’s question using the email form, which goes through HARO so you don’t actually correspond directly with the writer. The reporter may or may not use your information, but if they do, they’ll link back to your blog. You can see which of your responses has been accepted on your HARO dashboard. And—bingo!—you just got a high-quality linkback. You’re on your way to increase your domain authority!

Strategy 2 to raise your DA: Collaborate with other bloggers

No matter how often you check and respond to queries on HARO, though, you shouldn’t stop there. After all, if you’re reading this post on how to increase your domain authority, you’re dedicated to growing your DA steadily—so you don’t want to sit back with just one strategy.

That’s where my second domain authority hack comes in: collaborating with other bloggers.

Who should I collaborate with?

There are several factors you want to consider when looking for bloggers to collaborate with.

1. You want to collaborate with bloggers in your niche who have a similar target audience. That way, when these people who have never come across your blog read your brilliant insights, they’ll click over—and start following you, too.
2. You want to collaborate with bloggers who publish high quality content. Take a look at their previous posts—are they thorough, helpful, well written? You want to associate your blog with other strong blogs.
3. You want to collaborate with bloggers who have a strong DA. (Look up their domain authority with a DA checker.) Remember how linkbacks from sites with high DAs count more? This criteria will help grow your domain authority faster.
   That said, don’t discount working with bloggers with low DAs, especially at the beginning. When you’re just starting out, links from most places will help—and they definitely won’t hurt!

Where do you find bloggers to collaborate with?

Fellow bloggers frequently ask me where to find like-minded people to collaborate with. Here’s where you can find them:

1. Facebook groups. Join blogging groups on Facebook that have a collaboration component. There are a zillion blogging groups and it can be hard to find ones that work for you—much of this is by word of mouth recommendations or trial and error. My best practice advice is to find a blogging group directly related to your niche—that way you weed out a lot of collaboration requests that simply don’t make sense for your blog.
   For my family travel blog, the Female Travel Bloggers Facebook group run by Female Travel Bloggers has been the best source of collaboration opportunities. (You have to request to join it.)There is a collab post each month where members post collaboration opportunities that I often respond to.
2. Pinterest. Join group boards to find other bloggers writing about similar topics. Reach out to them with a collaboration idea. Maybe you can write two posts together by each contributing tips—then cross-promote the posts on your social media.
3. Your blogging circles. Blogging is a super friendly community, and you surely have other blogger friends. Start a group thread to brainstorm a post topic where you can all contribute a few tips, recommendations or ideas—then write it together, linking to each other.

How to use collaboration to boost your DA—without investing hours + hours

Some threads you see on these Facebook groups are requesting guest posts—that’s not what I’m talking about here with collaborating with other bloggers. (More on that below.) So what exactly do I mean by collaborating with bloggers?

The most efficient way to gain strong linkbacks and increase your domain authority is to contribute a small amount of original content to a post that collects a bunch of tips, recommendations or ideas from a group of bloggers.

Take, for example, the post 13 Midwest Hot Spots by Katherine at Bright Lights of America. She did a round-up of the best destinations in this often overlooked area of the US. But she didn’t write all the content; instead, she got recommendations from a bunch of bloggers (including me).

This kind of post, which includes usually 100-200 words from a number of bloggers, is a great way to collaborate and increase backlinks. For Katherine’s post, I spent probably 5 minutes writing about Detroit murals in Eastern Market and formatting a photo she could use. In return, I got a quality backlink and introduced my blog to her readers and followers. I, of course, also promoted the story on all of my social media channels, so it’s a win for everyone!

By regularly collaborating with bloggers, you’ll increase backlinks—and increase your domain authority.

Strategy 3 to raise your DA: Guest Post

I left this domain authority hack for last because it’s the most controversial of the three. Guest posting is when you write an original post (or rewrite/repurpose old content) along with images for someone else’s blog. The guest post contains one or more links back to your blog and social media accounts.

Why is guest posting controversial? Let’s look at the pros and cons, especially related to how to increase your domain authority.

The pros of guest posting

1. Expand your reach. When you write a guest post, you reach new readers. If you guest post on a related blog, chances are their readers are interested in what you have to share, too. If they like your guest post, they may click over to follow you, too.
2. Leverage social media networks. When you write a guest post, the host blogger will promote the content on their social media—bringing you to an even deeper pool of potential fans.
3. Build clickable backlinks. Most guest posts will allow for multiple links back to your blog, providing even more quality backlinks to your blog. In addition, if a reader commits to reading your whole guest post, they may be more likely to click to your blog, which tells search engines you’re super-relevant. That will help increase your domain authority.
4. Reuse content. Guest posts need to be original (after all, search engines may penalize your site if the text shows up verbatim elsewhere). But you can still talk about the topics you’ve written about on your blog. Consider covering a familiar topic specific to the host blog’s audience, cobbling together tips from several posts, or getting either broader or deeper on a topic you’ve already written about.

The cons of guest posting

1. It’s time-intensive. Guest posting takes quite a bit of time. Consider how long it takes you to write an original post, and if the benefits are worth that time.
2. It takes up your content. Would the topic of your guest post be better suited to your own blog? Why put your best content on someone else’s site?
3. You don’t have control. When I write or accept guest posts, I always make sure I’m clear about how much either person has the ability to edit/change things. But when your words are on someone else’s site, truth is you don’t have power over those words anymore.

When should you guest post?

I rarely guest post—I find my time is usually best spent developing my own blog and content, and that collaborating with other bloggers by writing short tips gets me the most bang for my buck (aka time and effort). That said, it’s sometimes worthwhile to guest post to increase your domain authority.

Here’s when I would consider guest posting:

1. The blog has a high DA. If the host blog’s domain authority is high, the quality of the backlinks may be worth the time and effort you’ll spend.
2. The blog has a big, engaged audience. You may gain new readers and expand your audience by guest posting.
3. The guest post ask is easy. Maybe you can write about a topic in your sleep, or there’s a template a host blog asks you to follow. If it doesn’t ask that much of you, go ahead and guest post.

Recapping strategies to increase your domain authority

In this post, we’ve covered how to increase your domain authority with three straightforward strategies. You also learned what domain authority actually is and how to influence your DA.

From becoming an expert source to collaborating with bloggers and guest posting, you’ve learned solid strategies to increase quality backlinks to your blog. I think you’ll agree these strategies are doable, even with your busy blogging schedule.

Increasing your domain authority is well worth the effort. After all, with quality backlinks to your blog, search engines will consider your blog a better resource for searchers. And that, my blogging friends, will help more people reach your blog—and read the amazing resources you create!

Do you have questions? Please, comment below!

The post How to increase your domain authority: I brought my DA from 3 to 21 with this hack appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

I’m super old-school and took frantic notes in a notebook for all the sessions and keynotes I attended. In fact, it was often hard to choose which session to attend because so many of them could help me grow my blog, improve my photography and master marketing.

Even though I couldn’t be everywhere at once, I did soak in some serious wisdom from the travel experts who led breakout sessions and spoke on stage.

Although it’s hard to pick the best travel blogging advice from so much great wisdom, I did—for you! Without further ado, here are my biggest TravelCon blogging conference takeaways.

This post contains affiliate links, which earn me a small income at no extra cost to you.

TravelCon blogging conference takeaways for travel bloggers

How to create a lasting, sustainable business

Ryan Holiday, author of The Obstacle Is the Way, spoke in his keynote about making something—a business, a blog, a creative project—that stays relevant even as time passes. Although we’re often enchanted by quick wins, it’s actually the slow burn of steady growth that leads to long-term success.

(Isn’t that what you want for your travel blog? I know I do.)

Ryan’s book makes for a great read, but if you’d prefer the audio version, you can download it for free using this link to an Audible trial!

Ryan had many tips for making something that lasts, but the most striking was that we should be creating something that is a verb, not just a noun.

Let me explain.

Ryan pointed out that a successful travel blog needs to fill in this statement:

This is a ______ that does ______ for _______.

The middle part of that sentence is often missing from new ventures, but it’s key because successful travel blogs should be performing some service—inspiring, educating, helping, persuading. In other words, it’s a verb.

So what does your travel blog do?

Answer that question and you’ll be on your way to building a successful travel blog that lasts.

How to monetize your travel blog with tours

Derek Baron, who runs the international tour company and brand Wandering Earl, ran a session about expanding your travel blog business to include tours. This is something I want to test out in 2019 (holler if you’re interested, and tell me where you want to go/what you want to do in the comments or via email!!). But honestly, I felt a little lost about the how.

Derek shared the process of how he went from one tour in India (that, he admits, was severely underpriced) to running a tour company that runs trips in Romania, India, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco and beyond.

My biggest takeaway was that you don’t need a gigantic audience to branch out into running a tour. As he repeated several times, all you need is 10 people to sign up (or the number of people to make your targeted profit).

To diversify your revenue streams and expand into travel tours, you don’t have to be the next Intrepid Tours; you can offer something different that your audience wants. You don’t need to get the entire world to sign on to your tour; you can start with 10.

Crush email marketing to expand your travel blog’s reach

Ask any blogging expert these days about the most important (but underused) resource to grow your blog, and they’ll probably have the same answer: Your email list. Yet most of us don’t dedicate the same amount of energy into building, cultivating and using our email list for blogging success. (I know I’m guilty.)

That’s why the session on email marketing led by AWeber’s Chris Vasquez was so helpful: He took an intimidating topic and made it feel doable.

My biggest TravelCon blogging conference takeaway from this session was that you have to actually do something with those emails you’ve collected. The first step in the process of monetizing your email list is a welcome campaign.

By creating a sequence of automated emails that go out when someone new signs up, you make them feel, well, welcome. You also begin to build a relationship with someone, which keeps them coming back to your travel blog. Just as important, it gives them a way to connect with you—to ask you a question or give you feedback, for example.

“You’re not trying to build a list of emails. You’re trying to grow relationships with people.” -Chris Vasquez

Bravery isn’t about being an adventure travel blogger

A few years back, writer and editor Helen Russell left her job in London to move with her husband to Denmark, where she knew no one and didn’t speak the language. Her curiosity about why Denmark is consistently ranked the happiest country in the world led her to write The Year of Living Danishly, a New York Times bestseller. You can download this in an audiobook format for free with this link.

Helen focused her keynote speech on finding your story—the unique way you connect with others with your personal narrative.

My big TravelCon blogging conference takeaway was that as a travel blogger and a storyteller, you have to be braver thank you think you can be.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you need to intentionally poison yourself with Amazonian frogs. It does mean that you have to challenge yourself, be vulnerable and put yourself out there—in spite of the possibility of failure and rejection.

Taking a leap into travel blogging is scary. Anytime you pursue your passion on an unconventional path, people won’t understand, and you might not reach your goals. But you have to push past that fear to create something meaningful.

“[Writing] should be terrifying. If you’re not being honest and bold, it should give you butterflies. If you’re not being bold and brave, and telling your very own story, then really what’s the point?” -Helen Russell

You don’t have to have a super-specific blogging niche

Niche: It’s a buzzword among bloggers, and common knowledge says you have to have an extremely focused niche to grow a successful blog.

Kiersten Rich, aka The Blonde Abroad, straight-up refuted that assumption.

In her session about building a six-figure brand, I wrote down this takeaway because it really spoke to me.

To & Fro Fam is a family travel blog, where I aim to help parents spend quality time with their kids by making travel easier. But just take a look at To & Fro Fam’s navigation tab (or even this blog post) and you’ll see I write about more than only family travel.

That’s because I recognize that my audience—primarily moms, as well as other travel bloggers—are three-dimensional people with more than one role and more than one interest. Sure, they might be moms, but they’re also friends, wives, and curious, independent women. It makes total sense, then, that I write about couples travel and kid-free travel as well as travel blogging tips.

Kiersten’s refusal to exclude from her brand what interested her just because it wasn’t “niche-y” enough totally freed me.

It works for her—she makes a solid six-figure income every year. And it can work for me—and you—too.

“I owned the fact that I wasn’t just a niche traveler. A lot of people travel in that way.” -Kiersten Rich

Speak your voice

Oneika Raymond, travel blogger and journalist, told a story at TravelCon about a video she made that went viral—and actually got her death threats.

Her video about the Dutch tradition of Black Pete called out the racism of dressing up someone in blackface and having him parade around like a simple-minded lackey. Lots of people didn’t agree. Hateful comments and threats against her safety rained down, but she says she never regretted creating the video.

People don’t come to travel blogs for only travel tips and advice; they come, in part, because of you. Your audience can get dry travel facts just about anywhere, but only you can provide something wholly unique: your authentic self.

My TravelCon travel blogging conference takeaway from Oneika’s keynote was this: Take a stand, have a perspective and speak your piece. Not everyone will appreciate it. But honesty comes from integrity, and that will ultimately keep you happy with yourself (as well as earn the loyalty of long-term fans).

“Sometimes staying true to your voice will make you an enemy to some. But you’ll also be a hero to others because you’ll amplify what they want to say.” -Oneika Raymond

Sell your travel photos

This one session, How to Sell Your Photos led by travel photographer and writer Lola Akinmade Akerstrom, was one of the biggest factors in why I decided to attend TravelCon. It proved that the travel blogging conference was committed to providing practical, in-depth information that would challenge us—and provide a road map to growing our brand.

I wasn’t disappointed.

This session on how to sell your travel photos got very nitty gritty on the process of beginning to develop this revenue stream. But my biggest takeaway was more of a mindset shift.

In this hour-long session, in a room with about 100 people, Lola instilled in me the belief that I can sell my photos. She showed me I can be a travel photographer. No, she showed me I already am a travel photographer.

This is another blogging goal for 2019: I want to jump-start my services as a travel photographer.

“The moment you start treating yourself as a professional is the moment you become a professional photographer.” -Lola Akinmade Akerstrom

Build a giveaway/Facebook ads combo to exponentially grow your email list

Facebook marketing is intimidating for bloggers in part because you have to keep up on a constantly changing algorithm. It’s no wonder that many of us aren’t taking full advantage of Facebook ads—or that we’re wasting money by not approaching ads in the right way.

Jack Paxton of Paxton Projects led a session at TravelCon about Facebook marketing. Some of it was over my head—I’m a total newbie when it comes to Facebook ads—but I didn’t need to be an expert to come away with this blogging conference takeaway:

The fastest way to grow your email list is by combining a giveaway with Facebook ads.

By offering something your audience wants and will get excited about, you incentivize them from giving you their much-protected information—their name and email. And as Chris Vasquez pointed out, getting their email is one great way to begin to build a relationship with readers that goes beyond your blog.

Jack walked us through exactly how to do this, step-by-step. He even showed us exactly how he recently ran a giveaway/Facebook ad combination, even going into the cost-per-click and other granular detail.

I left Jack’s Facebook marketing session with a clear plan of running several giveaways for my blog and other marketing clients. Even better, he provided an outline that taught me exactly how to execute that plan.

Turning blogging conference lessons into action

One last takeaway, this time for the travel blogging conference as a whole: Attending a blogging conference and soaking up all the information is a great first step. But you have to put that conference learning into action to actually affect your blog.

So you can bet I’ll be spending the coming months working on growing my blog. This isn’t only a self-promotional, selfish aim; I want to make it better to serve the parents, families and travel bloggers who come here for practical advice and inspiration. I also want to reach more of them.

That sounds like a solid goal to me.

What was the most helpful takeaway in here for you and your travel blog? Are you adding anything as a blogging goal or to-do list task after reading this post?

The post 9 must-read blogging conference takeaways from TravelCon appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

As bloggers, we sometimes get stuck in the cycle of go go go, do do do. (Doesn’t that sound like a song? Well, an exhausting song, but still.) There’s always more we can be doing—social media! commenting pods! Facebook ads! freebies! webinars!—so we always feel behind.

But when we’re just treading water, doing things as we always have and feeling this close to drowning, it’s hard to realize that sometimes—sometimes—there might be a better way. A blogging life preserver, if you will.

That’s where these back to school for bloggers resources come in. I’ve selected the best podcasts for bloggers and the books that have made a huge difference in my own life, whether that’s giving this introverted/slightly awkward business owner actionable tips for authentic networking, or getting over my perfectionist tendencies to get more done.

These books and podcasts have taught me so much that I’ve applied in my own life, career and blogs, and I know they’ll help school you, too. You ready? Let’s do this.

Grow your blog with back to school for bloggers resources

We bloggers, entrepreneurs and bosses don’t have a lot of extra time on our hands. That’s why I’ve selected this brilliant resources from entrepreneurs, online marketing experts, psychologists and other smarty pants folks. We can always learn from those who are even more expert than we are (or who maybe just light a fire under you to do something different).

Don’t let your kids have all the fun. This back to school for bloggers post has what you need to learn—then put in to action—what you should do to grow your blog.

Back to school for bloggers: Podcasts

I’m a gigantic fan of podcasts. I listen to between one and three a day on my commute into my coworking space in Portland, Oregon, and I love how they tackle one topic and give you the Cliff Notes version of what you need to know.

Chances are, you’re like me: You listen to podcasts when you’re driving, cleaning, gardening or whatever because you want to maximize your valuable time. Well, I’ve helped even a bit more by narrowing down the podcasts you should be listening to and even selecting some of the gems you should put on your podcast queue today.

Get ready for back to school for bloggers just by listening!

Podcast review: 100% relatable, 100% helpful

When I found Amy Porterfield’s Online Marketing Made Easy podcast, I was overjoyed: Here was a podcaster who was like me, whom I actually identified with! I seriously did a happy dance while driving down I-5. (Don’t worry, I was totally safe!)

You see, I love her and her podcast because she brings heart to online marketing and entrepreneurship. It’s not all about squeezing the last dollar out of customers or clawing your way to the top of google rankings at any cost. Instead, she and her interview guests have integrity and emphasize the bigger picture behind wanting to grow your blog and online business: You’re making a difference and helping real people.

Amy Porterfield is also genius at narrowing down on a topic and distilling exactly what you need to know, but she doesn’t stop there. She makes sure to always go the extra step to show how you can actually put that know-how into practice. For example, most podcast episodes contain awesome, downloadable freebies so you can continue to integrate what you’ve learned (when you’re not driving 65 miles an hour down the highway, of course).

Finally, she’s totally relatable. She doesn’t pretend to have all the answers, and she doesn’t pretend to be perfect. She’s delightfully authentic and transparent. Her real talk (and showing how she has made mistakes and continues to learn) makes me think that I can grow my blog to be bigger, better and more helpful, too.

So for your first back to school for bloggers assignment, listen to a few of the Online Marketing Made Easy podcasts. I’m certain you’ll want to subscribe, just as I have. Start with this phenomenal podcast episode for bloggers:

Listen to this: B- is good enough

Why You Aren’t Taking Action, with Brooke Castillo (episode 217) was like a huge wake-up call for me and my blog. The entire episode is gold, but the real treasure for me was the portion on accomplishing things, not just working. In this episode, Amy’s guest told her (and the rest of us) that we should be striving for B- work. As a perfectionist, that totally blew my mind. Brooke Castillo explained that your blog posts or other content don’t have to be shiny A+ quality to help someone and make a difference in their life.

Since then, I’ve pushed back on some of my perfectionist blogger tendencies. For example, I recently wrote a post for my other blog on motherhood and didn’t proofread it a million times, like I typically do. So writing and publishing the post took a lot less time, freeing me up to do more to grow my blog.

Podcast review: Tips and strategies, straight-up

What I most like about The Blogging Millionaire podcast is that the host gives you super-useful blogging tips and growth hacks in an insanely digestible way. Brandon Gaille is expert at step-by-step instructions and just enough repetition that the lessons sink in (but not so much that you get annoyed).

That said, his style is very scripted—there’s not a lot of spontaneity, so the podcast’s tone isn’t very conversational. I later learned from one of his episodes, though, that his style is actually partly from how he manages a chronic health issue. Just goes to show we shouldn’t be so quick to judge!

Finally, I love that these podcast episodes are short. Most clock in around 15-20 minutes, which is always enough time for Brandon to break down a very specific topic and offer advice that you can start using that very day. There is pretty much zero fluff to this podcast—so it’s an excellent back to school for bloggers resource for those of us who are strapped for time.

Listen to this: Craft awesome blog post headlines

There are oodles of super-helpful, to-the-point podcast episodes, but I recommend you start with Pillar Two of the 4 Pillars of Blogging Success. This podcast episode was the one that got me hooked: It changed how I wrote headlines (and, later, subheadings). Another thing I appreciate about The Blogging Millionaire podcast is how Brandon backs up his advice with deep, thorough research. He brings out statistics, like characteristics of the best-performing headlines across the internet, to glean insights he turns into advice you can put into practice immediately.

Podcast review: Up-level your blog (and enjoy an Australian accent!)

Darren Rowse, host of the ProBlogger podcast, is friendly, straightforward and above all helpful. He makes listeners feel like he’s talking to them one-on-one. He delivers terrific content and ideas on how to improve your blog in his unscripted, conversational style. Plus, he has decades of experience to draw from.

Listen to this: Collaborate to drive traffic—together

My favorite ProBlogger episode is the one all about collaboration, called How Collaborations Can Accelerate Your Blog’s Growth (#237). In it, Darren shared how he has used collaboration to build courses, posts and more, and how doing so not only helps you create content faster; it also improves the quality of what you deliver.

What I absolutely loved about this post was it provided a fresh idea of how I can put this new approach into action—immediately. At the end of the episode he encouraged listeners to take the first step on collaborating with other bloggers, and I did! I reached out to others for an upcoming post that I’ll share soon, and I’m so excited to not only offer you readers something new—but to build relationships with other bloggers, too.

Back to School for Bloggers: Books

Whether you read or listen, buy or borrow, skim or underline, books can be a phenomenal back to school for bloggers resource. Books allow you to really dive deep into a given topic. If you know you want to learn more than you could in just an article or even a podcast, books are the way to go.

Here are a few of my recent favorite books for bloggers.

Overcome perfectionism

Anyone else here a perfectionist? I know I am. I like to always be on my a-game, to showcase my best work, to avoid mistakes—but life, unfortunately, gets in my way. Start Right Where You Are by Sam Bennett aims to help us become recovering perfectionists. If you’re too busy to give this book a read, download the free audiobook here!

One of my favorite things about this book for bloggers (and others!) was that each chapter is short—like a few pages. Slogging through a ton of text isn’t a huge task that I have to add to my already overburdened to-do list. And each chapter ends with something you can do right now to put that lesson into practice, and they’re all totally doable.

Her guiding philosophy is that by changing just a tiny bit, you can move your whole life by opening yourself up to new perspectives and opportunities. I highly recommend Start Right Where You Are for anyone who is turned off by the grand, sweeping narratives of most self-help books and just wants a little straight talk—and concrete ideas on how to execute small changes.

I found myself constantly taking photos of sections of the book so I can refer to them later. Finally, I would copy quotes from this book for bloggers into my planner, onto sticky notes, and everywhere that would remind me of her badass wisdom.

Embrace your inner introvert—and still network like a boss

I have to admit that I felt kind of goofy with this book on my bedside table, as it seemed a little manipulative to try to “hack” my body language and conversation sparkers so I could get along better with others. But I am awkward, at least in my head. I get major social anxiety around groups of people, especially those I don’t know well. Yet my professional and blogging success depends on making good first impressions, building relationships, collaborating, networking and more.

Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People by Vanessa Van Edwards is a book for bloggers and everyone else who sometimes finds themselves in a room of acquaintances, colleagues or strangers. First-off, I was so relieved her advice wasn’t to just fake it til I make it—she actually gives the recommendation to not dive into big networking events if those give you hives. Secondly, she gives science-based tips on body language, conversation starters, how to follow up with people and even where to stand at a party so you catch people when they’re ready to connect with you (not when they’ve just popped a meatball in their mouth—awkward!).

I’m actually going to reread this one. I don’t buy books often, but this book is perfect for my back to school for bloggers project—and beyond. There are sections I want to reread so I can practice and hone the skills she outlines. They’ve already helped me get over myself a bit, reach out to people I wouldn’t have met otherwise, and feel prepared when I strike up a conversation with someone new.

Constant learning to improve your blog in the long run

Whether you have kids going back to school or you’re just inspired by all the cute school supplies, taking a back to school for bloggers mindset can help you expand your blog’s reach, attract new readers and take your blog to the next level.

I’m curious—and always wanting to learn more!—so please share your favorite books, podcasts, articles or experts below. I can’t wait for you to school me!

The post Back to school for bloggers: Resources to next-level your blog appeared first on To & Fro Fam.

A writer’s retreat staycation to level up your blog

Being a travel blogger as a side hustle isn’t always easy. I love nothing more than exploring a family-friendly destination with my kids (or a kid-free getaway!), but then I have to actually find the time to write about my adventures. I love writing blog posts, too, but while juggling my full-time job and motherhood, my to-write list is always long—and daunting. That’s why I recently reserved an entire day for a writer’s retreat staycation—and here’s why you should, too.

Setting aside a whole day to do nothing but work on my blog made me more productive. It helped me bank a reserve of travel blog posts to draw from during busy weeks. It allowed me to focus on creating great content my fans love to read. And it cut out distractions—even the cutest distractions in the world, aka my kids.

What allowed me to spend a whole day focused on travel writing instead of laundry and fixing snacks and pretending not to see the stack of unopened mail on the counter? Building the writer’s retreat staycation around a brilliant concept I just learned about: Hotels By Day. The startup, which you may remember from its appearance on Shark Tank, partners with hotels around the world to open up rooms during the day. So if you have a day-long layover en route to a far-flung destination, or you want a place to clean up for a wedding and use the pool after a day of hiking, you can reserve a room with Hotels By Day. Or, of course, you can do a “daycation” writer’s retreat like my blogging bestie Jenni from A Well Crafted Party and I did.

7 steps to write a library of blog posts in one day

Pretty sure it’s safe to say all of us bloggers want to create better content more quickly—right? Batching blog post writing—in the right environment and with the right productivity hacks—helps you write more (and more engaging!) posts. Here’s how to plan the ultimate blogging writer’s retreat staycation.

1. Post up in a place without distractions

Jenni and I got into our room at Portland’s The Jupiter and it was clean, uncluttered and definitely free of My Little Ponies all over the floor. In other words, it was the serene opposite of my house.

Booking a daycation with Hotels By Day for our local writer’s retreat gave me the space to concentrate on writing great blog posts. Because my attention wasn’t being constantly pulled this way and that, I was able to get more done in these hours than I could ever dream of at home.

2. Pack your writer’s essentials

When we went on our writer’s retreat staycation, I packed the notebook I use for brainstorming posts, my bullet journal with my hashtag lists, post-it notes—and a pack of La Croix. You see, we all have quirky routines that put us in the writing mindset, and mine just happens to be sparkling pamplemousse. #dontjudge

3. Articulate your writing goals

To have a successful writer’s retreat staycation, you first need to figure out what you aim to accomplish—and be specific. For me, I wanted to write a bank of travel blog posts that I could have ready to publish during the busy weeks when I don’t have the time to write a post from scratch. You may want to spend your time researching long-tail keywords and brainstorming post ideas, or rebranding your web site, or go my route and just write. But regardless of what you do, pick—and stick with—one theme, at least for a chunk of time.

This productivity hack is called batching, and research shows it’s much more effective than our usual way of working. When we multitask—e.g. begin to write a blog post but then remember that you need to create a pin for it so you go through your images and then remember another point you want to add to your post—your productivity dips 40%.

So be clear about your goal for your writer’s retreat staycation. You can write it on a post-it note to steer you back to your task when you’re tempted to peek at reddit, or you can share it with your writing partner like I did with Jenni. Just make sure you know what you’re doing—and what you’re not doing.

4. Fuel your creativity

If you’ve rented a room for the day, you may be tempted to hole up and not leave—but don’t forget to eat! Jenni and I ate breakfast at Moberi and lunch at Prasad East, where we indulged in 100% healthy and delicious food that wouldn’t make us feel sluggish afterward. Make sure to take food breaks! A hungry brain is not creative.

5. Channel encouragement and inspiration

Sometimes it’s hard to get in the blog writing zone—whatever you type doesn’t seem right. In these moments, I like to draw inspiration from other writers.

That’s why I made a set of cards with quotes on writing. (I even made them pretty, because glitter washi tape makes everything better!) When I’m feeling stuck, I pull out a card at random and use the advice from the quote on writing to push me out of my rut.

And hey, you can too! Download my free quotes on writing printable for a little inspiration. And if you’re like me and want to go just a tad bit extra, gussy them up with washi tape. #teamglitter

6. Get a change of scenery

Just because we booked a Hotels By Day room didn’t mean we had to stay behind that closed door (although have you seen the doors at The Jupiter? They’re chalkboards! Yes, we took advantage).

So no matter where you’re doing your writer’s retreat staycation, move every so often. Getting out of your chair wakes you up and increases blood flow (and therefore nutrient-rich, creativity-boosting blood to your brain). A change of scenery may help spark new ideas, too.

At The Jupiter, we hung out for a bit in the hotel lobby, which was filled with the attention-grabbing photo composites of Portland icons created by Beth Kerschen. Oh, and the lobby had coffee and tea, too. #caffeine!

Plan your next writer’s retreat staycation

Jenni and I vowed to do another writer’s retreat staycation—or daycation, or destination—soon. I was blown away by how much more productive I was writing blog posts when I wasn’t doing anything else. (I know, shocking!)

We don’t have another writer’s retreat on the books yet (because life), but this one won’t be our last. Whether we book our writer’s retreat spot again through Hotels By Day, or rent a house together on the beach, or simply take over a local cafe, we’ll be rocking the writer’s retreat staycation before long. If you want your choice made easy, though, book through Hotels By Day because a day-long hotel stay is a savvy way to plan a writer’s retreat.

Want to join me? Reach out via my contact page. Whenever you’re in Portland I’d love to connect with fellow travel bloggers or travel-loving parents!

The post 7 steps to write a library of posts in a day—with a writer’s retreat staycation appeared first on To & Fro Fam.