Looking to upskill your blogging this year? There are so many different ways you can improve your blogging skills. Here are some underrated ones I’d recommend!
In case you haven’t already heard, blogging is making a comeback. Last year it was all about the influencers; the Instagram models or the viral stars from Facebook who became famous overnight, often just by chance. With the disaster that is Fyre Festival – and fake followers being called out – people are choosing to invest their time back into real, genuine blogging content in 2019.
Luckily some of us have been here the whole time! But with the focus heading back towards actual blogs, it’s time to make sure your content is standing out again. Sharp photos and thoughtful content are still always going to be at the heart of blogging. But with #GirlBoss trends showing no signs of stopping, bloggers still have to invest that little extra to stand out.
Here are five ways you can grow your blogging skills this year that will not only benefit your blog (obvs) but also give you career skills.
Take a Google Analytics Course
Google Analytics is one of the most used and most reliable digital analytics systems. Google Analytics was a must-have when many blogs started out on Blogger (remember those days?) and so it makes sense to take the time to understand not only what your results are telling you but why this is so important. The Google Analytics Academy is entirely free and comprehensive. It can be done online at your own leisure and even offers you a certificate when you complete the course! It really is a must for any blogger and anyone wanting to get into marketing too.
Attend an Event or Conference
Not all events or conferences are super expensive. Nor are they always a day spent sitting down for hours on end listening to people drone on and on about subjects that don’t interest you! Events like Stylist Live cover the main things you need to know about marketing – and more. with talks often ranging from how to break into freelance travel journalism to how to dress for the job you want. Plus, events offer tons of marketing opportunities and also the basis for blogging content for weeks to come. My favourite conference is definitely Traverse. Though it’s aimed at travel bloggers (and actually inspired me to move into travel blogging!), the skills covered there are relevant to any type of blogger.
Watch a Movie
Okay, hear me out. It doesn’t sound like it would work but many movies are based around successful females in marketing roles or touch on the industry in general. Syrup addresses issues regarding advertising (and how far advertising agencies will go), whereas The Devil Wears Prada offers advice on how to deal with the boss (or client..) from hell. There’s a lot you can learn from movies that can be applied to your everyday business (or side hustle) and if not? Hopefully, it’ll provide some inspiration for a blog post (or a movie review).
…Or Read a Book
There’s always an opportunity to learn something new. Even if you think you’re an expert who has been blogging for years (I’ve been blogging for nearly ten years now and I still learn something new every day)! A blogging for dummies book may seem pointles. But chances are there will be something you might not have considered or blogging skills you may have forgotten about. After all, we’re a generation of go-getters: no one taught us how to blog – we all had to learn ourselves through trial and error. Taking on board someone else’s tips or advice certainly wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Have a Blogging Session
I always find a blogging session with a friend helps to get over writer’s block. It also allows you to bounce ideas off each other. Taking yourself out of your usual blogging surroundings can make a huge difference. I find blogging at home lounging about is great for writing content. But sitting up properly at a desk with someone to vibe off will get me going on the more admin tasks or complicated tasks of blogging such as planning my marketing or practising my SEO. Just talking to someone in the same boat as you can make a huge difference. Especially if they do things a different way that you do or use a different process. You might swear by SEO whereas they might focus more on Pinterest…you never know!
Of course, it’s important to remember that the only way you’re going to get ahead by blogging is by genuinely loving what you do. All these tips and courses are very helpful but they shouldn’t be the one reason you blog. They should be used as of when as in addition to the content you love to write. Blogging should never feel like a chore!
What do you think? What other ways can you suggest to SWOT up on your blogging skills? Let me know!
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