1. Know the audience and niche of the blogger for which you’re writing

To really rock a guest post, you want to be familiar with the primary audience of the blogger for which you’re writing. If it is high school homeschooling, then obviously the sensory bin you just did with your preschooler last week would probably not be the best fit. If you’ve been following the blog for a while you may already know the primary audience. If you’re unsure, read a few posts. Look at the giveaways offered.

Still unsure? Simply ask the blogger. You want your material to resonate with the audience.

You also want to know the bloggers’ niche. What is her main topic? What does she seem passionate about? It will be best if you think creatively and fit your post within that niche.

2. Be true to your niche

Now that you know the blogger’s audience and niche, you want to find a topic that also resonates with your audience and niche. Here’s why. Let’s say you write a killer post about parenting. I mean, you really rock it. The audience is going to naturally want to hear more of what you have to say about parenting. So they click on your link, ready to find all the nuggets of wisdom you have to offer. But what they find is that your blog has nothing to do with parenting. It’s not too likely that you’ll find many people wanting to follow along if you don’t have much more to offer them in that department.

Now, am I saying you can never venture out of your own niche? Absolutely not. But I have found that I gain more readers when I stick to this “rule”. {For example, in my last guest post, I gained over 50 new Facebook followers alone in a couple of hours.}

3. Provide specific links to your blog

When your audience and niche line up, links to your blog will come naturally in your writing. Most bloggers want you to do this {and you do, too}. These links help improve your SEO, which is a coveted thing in the world of blogging. Now, you most certainly don’t want to overdo this one, but if you have example posts that would better explain what you’re trying to say; by all means, do it!

4. Provide a pinnable image

I recently had a veteran blogger tell me last week that Pinterest has changed everything. Everything about blogging. The blogger hosting you will want to pin your post. Take advantage of some extra traffic by creating a pinnable image to go with your post. And you can do this free with Picmonkey. {Trust me. If I can do it, you can too!}

5. Put a face with the name

Provide a short bio with a headshot for the bottom of your guest post. Include your favorite social media links right there. For the most part, readers are “lazy” {I’m right there along with them}. The less work you make them do, the more likely they are to find you.

6. Write up a teaser on your own blog

Write up a quick blurb on your blog with a “To Read More” link where your readers can click over to your guest post. BUT DON’T STOP THERE! It is also helpful to have a “New to My Blog?” section on your teaser post as well. List some of your resources that would appeal to the other blogger’s readers {popular posts, free printables, etc.}. When those readers come over, they can easily see that you have much to offer as well. Oh, and don’t forget to include your social media links again on that teaser post…for those “lazy” readers.

By doing these things, your guest post should really ROCK!

What are some other tips you have for rocking a guest post?  

—

Becky Spence is a homeschooling mama to four little blessings. She is passionate about teaching, specifically literacy. She is the author of This Reading Mama, where she shares reading and writing activities as well as free literacy curricula and printables. You can connect with her on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

The post How to Rock a Guest Post appeared first on Homeschool Blogging.

[Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. *A]

From balancing your blog and family and setting boundaries for your online presence to monetizing your blog, writing an ebook of your own and using Pinterest to grow your brand, this bundle of eBooks is packed full of resources for bloggers.

And it’s available for 70% off this week only!

Blogger Behave by Laura Booz
At the end of the day, your blog is just one part of your life, and Laura shares the secrets that have helped her blog well and live well. Learn to develop a vision statement for your blog, strategize blog content that benefits your life, blog authentically without regrets, gain control over blogging time and much more!

Pinteresting by Tabitha Philen
Pinteresting: Pinterest Strategies for Brands and Bloggers is a step-by-step guide for understanding Pinterest from Tabitha, a professional blogger and Pinterest expert. You’ll learn how to create a show-stopping Pinterest profile page, keep your account fresh and inviting, build a solid community of followers who are actively engaged, develop solid strategies for your Pinterest account, optimize your website by making it more Pinterest-friendly and find the tools to help you manage your Pinterest campaigns.

Blog at Home Mom by Christin Slade
Christin offers both practical and encouraging tips to help moms balance their life at home with their blog or online business in Blog at Home Mom. You will find ideas for organizing and prioritizing your blog and writing time, as well as setting goals and keeping balance with your home and children.

25 Simple Steps to Make Money Blogging by Tara Ziegmont
It is possible to make money from your blog, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy! In 25 Simple Steps to Make Money Blogging, Tara shows you how to monetize your blog through increased readership, ads (including the pros and cons of various different types of ads) and paid writing opportunities. She even shares what works (and what doesn’t work) on her blog.

30 Days to Make and Sell a Fabulous Ebook by Angela England
In 30 Days to Make and Sell a Fabulous Ebook, Angela draws from her own ebook publishing experience (earning five figures a year!) to speed you on your way toward producing, marketing and selling an ebook. You’ll find 30 bite-sized daily lessons, daily challenges, additional resources and quotes from experts to help you create and publish a successful ebook!

The Blogging eBook Bundle is only available through 8am EST on Monday, 5/13.

The post 5 eBooks to Help You Grow as a Homeschool Blogger appeared first on Homeschool Blogging.

[Disclosure: TTD provided the content for this post as part of Homeschool Blogging’s brand sponsored posts opportunity. HSB is being compensated for sharing this post.]

Meet Teach Them Diligently

Teach Them Diligently Homeschool Convention is a Christian Homeschool Convention with a focus on celebrating home education — that is, the discipleship of children to glorify God. More than simply a convention about home education, we purposefully develop the themes of missions, discipleship, and Christian parenting in addition to the traditional academic “how-to’s.”

As parents, we reproduce who we are in our children, and consequently, homeschool families have a constant need for renewal and encouragement in Christ. This is the reason for Christian homeschool conventions; at least, this is the reason for the Teach Them Diligently Convention. Because of this focus, you’ll find the convention to be a waterfall of enrichment and encouragement in Christ, and a re-focus toward discipleship.

Discipleship, encouragement and equipping does not end with our families, though. It reaches beyond our homes and into the homes of others.

Working with Homeschool Bloggers

Over the past year and a half, we have been blessed to grow relationships with many of you – Homeschool Bloggers. You work tirelessly to help your family by growing a business as a Proverbs 31 Woman, while teaching your children and encouraging your readers with truth and helpful ways to run their homes and educating their children.

Through these relationships, we have gained insight to the hearts of many families, had opportunities to pray and assist financially many of you through our Affiliate program and Marketing Team. While we have witnessed many struggles and successes, the Lord has grown us and given us the ability to reach more families, not just in the US, but also abroad, as we also implement ministries that fulfill the great commission. You see, Teach Them Diligently is not just about our own homes, but truly walking in the steps of our Savior.

Conventions, Marketplaces, and Beyond

As we embark upon the summer months, we will be celebrating and encouraging everyone at our 3 Regional Conventions and our 9 Marketplace locations.

Our year does not end with the last of the Marketplace functions, though. It’s only beginning as we look forward to the amazing plans we already have in the works for 2014 – (such as a huge event in DC to make an impact on our nation). It’s been amazing to watch God grow us – to go for Him. We would love to have you join us.

Affiliate Opportunity

Our Affiliate and Marketing Program are open to all!

You can join our Affiliate program here.

And if you want to join our amazing Marketing Team – providing opportunities to grow relationships and grow your own platform, while also having the ability to earn additional money for your family through paid reviews and sponsored posts – please email Rebecca.

We look forward to seeing you at any of our events and watching God – push all of us to grow and go!

The post Teach Them Diligently Conventions and Marketplaces – an affiliate opportunity appeared first on Homeschool Blogging.

10 Ways To Make Time For Blogging When You Are A Homeschooler

1.Take The Time To Block Out The Hours In Your Day

Moms tend to take on more projects than hours in the day. I recently took the time to create a day by day hour by hour calendar of my week and it was very eye opening. I thought I was doing well in leaving myself plenty of time to tackle my priorities in life. Turns out I needed an 8 or 9 day week to finish what I planned each week.

Sit down and map out your days, don’t forget time to sleep, eat, relax, do chores, exercise, prepare meals, take children to their activities, teach children school, oh and don’t forget time to blog.

2.Set weekly Maximum and Minimum Hours Goals

Once I had a daily schedule of all the events that make up my family life, I realized just how much time I had available to blogging. For me with older children who are now more independent it worked out to a maximum of 20 hours.

I also set a minimum of 15 hours for blogging. The reason I make a maximum and a minimum is so that I have a goal to reach that neither discourages me nor lets me become lazy depending on how busy or empty my week is.

3. Beat The Kids Out Of Bed

I am an early bird so getting up a few hours before my children are up is the best time for me to write. I go to bed early to avoid being a cranky mom when the kids are up.

4. Write After They Are Asleep For The Night

If you are a night owl ,nighttime might be a better time to enjoy some uninterrupted writing time. Just make sure you allow yourself enough hours of sleep before the children wake you up so you are not a cranky mom.

5.Encourage An Independent Learning Session

Since our first year as homeschoolers I have always had a set time each day where the children work on school work by themselves, freeing me up to work on my daily to do’s beyond schooling.

6.Encourage A Daily Quiet Hour

When my children were really little, I encouraged a daily quiet hour where I would get out napping mats and put on an educational show for one hour while I got things done.

7.Have A Set Mommy’s Morning, Afternoon, Evening out

Could Dad put the kids to bed one night on his own while you slip off to write at the local coffee shop? Is grandma close by and wanting time to spoil the grand kids, allowing you to enjoy some writing at home?

8.Swap Subjects With Another Homeschooler

I once met 2 mothers who had formed a rotating school schedule. One taught a day of history at her house while the other taught a day of science. This gave each mom a full day off to work.

9.Remember No Is The Word That Makes Time For Dreams

If your desire is to build your blog you need to make it a priority and to do that you must say no to things that don’t suit your families priorities.

10.Delegate What You Can

Study up on age appropriate chores for your children so they can help you keep the house in order. Make use of your crock pot and freezer to lessen your daily cooking load.

Do you know of any other ways to make more time in your day to blog?

Please share them in the comments.

We’ve linked up with Top Ten Tuesday on Many Little Blessings.

—

Victoria is a homeschooling mom of 3 who writes at Snail Pace Transformations where her mission is to help moms find the time and money they need to pursue their passions while still maintaining harmony in their home.

The post 10 Ways To Make Time For Blogging When You Are A Homeschooler appeared first on Homeschool Blogging.

It seems like we are always looking to grow our audiences, and many of us (I’m speaking generically of all genres of bloggers) will try all the tricks and formulas in the book to do so, only to end up disappointed when our readership doesn’t grow.

One of the biggest “tricks” in the book for growing readership is to stand on our social media soapbox and shout to the world about how awesome our blog is, trying to convince them that they are missing out if they’re not reading our posts.

STOP.

Stop trying to “get more readers” and start bettering your blog.

Stop shouting your own praises on social media (or spamming hashtags on Twitter) and focus on creating great content that others will want to share.

In other words – stop focusing your efforts telling everyone how great your blog is and start making your blog great. When your blog is truly great, you won’t have to tell others how great it is – they’ll tell you!

Great Content Speaks for Itself

[This post contains affiliate links. *A]

“You don’t become an expert by just telling people you’re an expert – people tell you and then tell others. When you are great at what you do, other people will say it for you. So focus on positioning yourself with the knowledge you’ve obtained and set out to help other people unconditionally with it.” [quote from UnMarketing by Scott Stratten]

I love that quote from UnMarketing – it’s a great reminder to me that it really is about great content, not about who has the loudest voice.

Let’s stop striving to be the loudest or the brightest and start focusing on putting out great content.

Great content never stays hidden for long.

The post Stop Shouting – Great Content Speaks for Itself appeared first on Homeschool Blogging.

5 Tips to More Personal Feedburner Feeds

Add a Personal Subscription Message

When guests choose to subscribe via RSS feed their first impression of your feed is the subscription message found on the subscription page. You want to make this message personal yet inviting so as to encourage your readers to continue to subscribe. To take advantage of this little piece of real estate, select the Optimize tab in Feedburner and click Browser Friendly in the left menu. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and in the Content Options section write the message you want your subscribers to see when they sign up for your feed in the text box next to Personal Message.

Make it fun! Make it personal! Once you are finished, be sure to check the box next to enabled and select save at the bottom of the screen to add that personal touch.

Add Some FeedFlare

FeedFlare provides your RSS readers options to interact socially through links at the bottom of your feed. While it is advised to keep your choices to no more than 3 to 5 options, there are several choices to choose from. My FeedFlare favorites include Email This, Share on Facebook, and Stumble It!

To add some FeedFlare, select the Optimize tab, and FeedFlare in the left menu.

Activate your FeedFlare choices by checking the selection boxes next to your choices in the Feed column and clicking save at the bottom of the page.

Add a Custom Image to Your RSS Feeds

What distinguishes the look of your RSS feed from that of any other blog your readers’ subscribe too? Your logo! If you have already created a blog button, adding it to your RSS feed can be completed in a matter of seconds. Keep in mind that the maximum height and width of the image must be less than 144 pixels but its addition can make a huge difference in the professional look of your feed.

To add a custom image to your feed subscription select the Optimize tab, and Feed Image Burner in the left menu.

In the Image Source menu select Specify Custom Image URL. Where it says Specify custom image URL type in the URL of your image. For the Image Title type in your blog name. For the Link provide your blog URL. Click save to activate.

Personalize Your Subscription Confirmation Email

This is the first thing your email subscribers will see from you. You want to make it stand out from the crowd so that they will confirm their subscription. To customize your subscription confirmation email select the Publicize tab and from the left menu Email Subscriptions and Communication Preferences.

Type your personal message in the Confirmation Email Body and select save. Be sure the email still includes ${confirmlink} somewhere in the body. As an example, here’s my confirmation email:

Wow! You are amazing! I’m so happy you requested an email subscription to Cornerstone Confessions. I can’t wait to connect with you via email and send my blog posts directly to your inbox. All you have to do to confirm your subscription is click this link then boosh, you’ll be connected!

${confirmlink}

(If the link above does not appear clickable or does not open a browser window when you click it, copy it and paste it into your web browser’s Location bar).

Once confirmed, be sure to look for your subscriber freebies at the bottom of your next post e-mail. Of course, you can unsubscribe at any time but my hope is that we will become longtime friends. If you have any issues, please don’t hesitate to email me at kathy@cornerstoneconfessions.com. Thanks again for subscribing to Cornerstone Confections. I look forward to connecting with you more and more each week.

Kathy

Brand Your Emails

Add your own email title, logo image, and/or customize the font colors to match your blog.

While you can leave your email titles to be the title of your blog or the title of your posts, you may desire to name it something more creative or eye catching for your readers so that when they scan their inbox, they are immediately drawn to your post. For instance, my emails come with the title “Your Cornerstone Confessions Connection” in an effort to carry my connection promise to my readers. I’ve also added my blog logo and slightly altered the font colors so they better match my blog’s color scheme.

To personalize or brand your email feeds, select the Publicize tab, click Email Subscriptions and then Email Branding in the left menu.

Create a custom email title that will catch readers’ eyes when they scan their inbox, add your blog button URL, and/or customize your font colors/styles to match your blog as you desire. Click save when you are finished to activate.

While this isn’t an all inclusive list, these 5 tips can have a significant impact in the effectiveness and personal influence of your Feedburner feeds.

Found any of these useful? I’d love to hear about it. Have any more tips you’d share on making Feedburner Feeds more personal? Leave a comment to spread the word. Either way, I look forward to connecting with you!

—

Kathy Gossen is a developing domestic diva drawing on the divine who writes about her domestic adventures on Cornerstone Confessions.  She’s a child of God, a wife, a homeschool mom of two, a daughter, a friend, a sister, an undercover organizer, a musician and an aspiring techie who is learning what it means to apply God’s Word in the everyday.  She prays her life song sings of her love for her Lord and hopes to encourage others along the way. You can connect with her on Pinterest and Twitter.

The post 5 Tips to More Personal Feedburner Feeds appeared first on Homeschool Blogging.

Give them a “like” on Facebook and let them know Homeschool Blogging sent you!!

• A Charming Welcome, https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Charming-Welcome/477206672331233
• Apologia, http://www.facebook.com/apologiaworld
• Bright Ideas Press, http://www.facebook.com/BrightIdeasPress
• Classical Conversations, http://www.facebook.com/classicalconversations
• Compass Classroom, http://www.facebook.com/CompassClassroom
• Doorposts Publishing, https://www.facebook.com/doorposts
• eMeals, http://www.facebook.com/emealz
• Founders Academy, https://www.facebook.com/FoundersAcademy
• Grapevine Studies, http://www.facebook.com/GrapevineStudies
• Heidi St. John, http://www.facebook.com/busyhomeschoolmom
• Home Educating Family, http://www.facebook.com/heduaonline
• HSLDA, http://www.facebook.com/hslda
• Lexercise, http://www.facebook.com/LexerciseNews
• Math U See, http://www.facebook.com/mathusee
• Red Letter Words, http://www.facebook.com/redletterwords
• Revell, https://www.facebook.com/RevellBooks
• Samaritans Purse, http://www.facebook.com/SamaritansPurse
• Samson’s Classroom, http://www.facebook.com/samsonsclassroom
• Shatterpoint Entertainment, https://www.facebook.com/jerichotpf
• Take Back Your Temple, http://www.facebook.com/takebackyourtemple
• Teach Them Diligently, http://www.facebook.com/teachthemdiligently
• The Happy Housewife, https://www.facebook.com/TheHappyHousewife
• Yancy Not Nancy, http://www.facebook.com/yancynotnancy
• Your Story Hour, http://www.facebook.com/yourstoryhour

We’re looking forward to meeting many of you at the 2:1 Conference this weekend!!

P.S. If you’re unable to attend, be sure to follow our Twitter stream this weekend for lots of great tweets from the conference. (A Twitter account is NOT necessary to be able to read our tweets.)

The post Look Who’s Sponsoring the 2:1 Conference!! appeared first on Homeschool Blogging.

Vlogging with Kids: Why?

Earlier this year, I had a review scheduled for a product that was targeted at my kids. Instead of simply taking pictures of my kids interacting with the product (which I also did), I decided to let them share their thoughts about the product with my readers via a vlog.

For my readers, it’s a fun way to change things up on my blog, giving them a chance to “interact” with my kids.

For my kids, it’s not only fun to see themselves on the computer, but it’s a great lesson in evaluating and communicating their thoughts on a topic.

Vlogging with Kids: Tips

Teach Your Kids HOW to Vlog

Let them watch you vlog. Show your kids how to talk directly into the camera, give an introduction, etc. Have them watch other vlogs that have been done well. Expose them to quality vlogs in order to learn how to vlog well.

Kids learn a lot just through observing, and teaching your kids how to vlog is no different.

Set the Stage

When you’re ready to record your kids for a vlog, create the setting – find a non-distracting background, a place for them to stand/sit, and (if possible) use a tripod or somehow otherwise set your video camera on a solid surface.

Create Buffer Space for Editing

Start recording a few seconds before you’re actually ready for your kids to start vlogging. This will give you a better chance at getting a “clean start” to your vlog in the editing process.

Try to Make “Take One” Work

Unlike adults, kids are usually only good for one “take” when recording a vlog. Rather than stopping and starting multiple times, allow the camera to keep rolling. You can always cut/paste later to clean it up.

Are you ready to start vlogging with your kids?

The post Vlogging with Kids appeared first on Homeschool Blogging.

Your Readers Want to Hear Your Voice

Sure, that topic you’re preparing a blog post on has already been addressed. It’s probably already been addressed by someone in your blogging community.

But your readers? They want to hear what you have to say about it. They are your readers because they want to hear your voice.

So what if that question your readers are asking you that has already been answered by blogger “x” (and probably “y” and “z”)?

Go ahead and answer it on your blog in your voice, sharing your unique perspective on it.

Your readers want to know what you think!

The post Your Readers Want to Hear Your Voice appeared first on Homeschool Blogging.

While at the BEECH Retreat this past January, Jolanthe from Homeschool Creations shared a few time management tips for bloggers, and I thought I’d share my notes from her session with you all.

10 Time Management Tips for Bloggers

#1 – Make a List

Each day, write down everything you want/need to accomplish. Identify your top 3-5 priorities, and focus on these must do tasks first.

#2 – Find Your “Mojo” Time

What time of day are you the most alert, mentally clear, and/or productive? Identify this time as your “mojo” time, and seek to make it your scheduled “work time” each day.

#3 – Plan Ahead

Know what your highest [blog] traffic days are and schedule your top content to post accordingly.

#4 – Go OFFline

Shut down all the distractions of social media, email, and the internet, and just WRITE!!

Example: I hand-wrote this post while unplugged one weekend, and I actually typed it up using LiveWriter while riding in the car.

If you’re a PC user, I recommend using LiveWriter to do your actual blog post writing. MarsEdit has been recommended for Mac users.

#5 – Use a Timer

Give yourself “x” number of minutes to complete each task on your to-do list. Race the clock and see how much more you’re able to accomplish when you’re singularly focused.

#6 – Limit Interruptions

Find a time during the week when you can work without distractions (i.e. children, spouse, etc.). It might be during your kids’ nap/quiet time (this is my prime work time), or maybe you are able to get out of the house alone for a few house each week, or perhaps it’s after the rest of your family has gone to bed or before they wake up.

#7 – Create “quick responses” for FAQs

Readers often email questions that are similar in nature, and it can become very time-consuming to answer each email. Whether you create an FAQ page on your blog to send such inquiries to or you have canned responses to FAQs setup in your Gmail account, don’t recreate the wheel every time you’re asked that same question again!

#8 – Use a Desktop Email Client

Instead of being “online” to read and respond to email, use a desktop email client (like Thunderbird or Outlook) to eliminate online distractions.

#9 – Break Up Projects

When starting a large project, break it up into smaller manageable pieces and focus on completing one piece at a time.

#10 – Don’t Multi-task!!

When you’re multi-tasking, your brain is constantly having to shift focus. Group like tasks together and stay focused!

Your Turn

Which of these time management tips for bloggers do you use? Do you have any tips to share with us that I missed?

The post 10 Time Management Tips for Bloggers appeared first on Homeschool Blogging.