January 1, 2019 - CHILLREPTILE

@media (min-width: 300px){}It's January 1st, 2019 and I'm thinking about ways to grow my business and blog in 2019, and I bet you are, too.It's only natural, something about the new year compels us to reflect and to want to get better at everything we do, it's an amazing time, and so this post is about trying to capture that enthusiasm and make it specific to bloggers and the unique issues that we face with our businesses.Here's 7 big goals and resolutions for me with the ChillReptile blog and brand:Launch multiple free + paid courses for my blogGrow my email list by 100XAutomate my sales funnels so they earn more with less workCreate at least 3 new eBooksDiversify my income streamsBecome a ClickFunnels dream car winnerFind more ways to outsource non-core tasks to my VAsI've organized this post into two sections: Resolutions for New and Aspiring Bloggers and Resolutions for Advanced Bloggers, so pick your poison after the quick break!Help me spread the love on this post?I heard you never get anything if you can't ask, so here I am asking: do you mind pinning the image to the left if you found this post helpful? I'd love to get this post in as many bloggers hands as possible 🙂Pin This0Without further interuption, here's 23 New Years Resolutions for Bloggers in 2019. New Years Resolutions for New and Aspiring Bloggersf you're just starting out as a new blogger, or gearing up to launch your first blog, these new years resolutions will help you create a plan for your blog and focus on key aspects of your business. If you're already past the beginning stages of your blog, skip to the next section 🙂So, bloggers, let's resolve to...#1 - Start Your Blog (If you haven't already). Now's the time. If you're brand new and have no idea how to get started, this beginners guide will help you start your blog fast even if you have no coding or web design experience. You'll learn what blogging platform is used by the pros, how to set up your domain and site hosting, and how to get the basics of your site up and live. Get a free domain, free SSL, and one-click WordPress install tools with my Bluehost discount.#2 - Focus on One Blogging Niche. Choosing a niche to focus your efforts in the early days of your blog is a critical factor in your success. We suggest really focusing on one main topic (example: sewing) that you're passionate and experienced in and that also has many options for monetization. #3 - Make Money From Your Blog. Monetizing your blog early on can be a big boost to your self esteem and help you justify your new project. The confidence it will give you will be a much needed injection of energy to help push you along. One of the top ways to make money from your blog is through affiliate marketing, check out Affiliate Boot Camp (free course) here.#4 - Treat Your Blog Like a Business. Your blog can be a hobby or business. If you treat it like a hobby, can you really expect to start earning money from it? Businesses create systems for monetization and focus on solving problems for their customers in scalable ways. This single resolution might be the key to turning your side-project blog into an income producing business. @media (min-width: 300px){:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-167dd3297bb"] { margin-top: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-16b4296b012"] { font-size: 14px !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-16b4d05bdb0"] { color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-16f01ae8b7c"] { font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold) !important; }.thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-1708a20a3d0"] { background-image: linear-gradient(rgb(42, 42, 42), rgb(42, 42, 42)) !important; border: 1px dashed rgba(66, 66, 66, 0.68) !important; background-size: auto !important; background-position: 50% 50% !important; background-attachment: scroll !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-1708a20a3d0"] { background-image: linear-gradient(rgb(255, 255, 255), rgb(255, 255, 255)) !important; background-size: auto !important; background-position: 50% 50% !important; background-attachment: scroll !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; border: 1px solid rgba(66, 66, 66, 0.68) !important; }.thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-1708a21c45c"] { float: none; width: 100%; margin: 15px auto 1px !important; background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5), rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5)) !important; background-size: auto !important; background-position: 50% 50% !important; background-attachment: scroll !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; }}@media (max-width: 767px){:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-16b4296b012"] { font-size: 16px !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-1708a21c45c"] { padding-right: 5px !important; padding-left: 5px !important; }}# 5 - Create Your Blogging Strategy. A strategy is key to any business including a blog. Who do you want to reach? Where will you focus your efforts? What problems can you solve for your target market? What products will you sell? Do you have a blogging editorial calendar? Even on a small scale this exercise can focus your mind in the right direction and have a lasting impact on everything you do in the year to come.#6 - Create Content Your Audience Needs and Wants. Stop! If you're thinking to yourself right now, cool I'm a blogger and I'm going to start making tons of cash just by posting all my thoughts and feelings, then take a step back. If your goal is to create business from your blog, then your new blog isn't really about you. It's about your audience. Find out what content they want and serve that to them.# 7 - Focus on Your Blog and Avoid Shiny Object Syndrome. If you find yourself constantly chasing new business opportunities than your blog may be in danger of abandonment. If this is something you're serious in, then resolve to focus on your new project and stop chasing every new opportunity that pops up in your Pinterest feed. # 8 - Be Realistic About Your Goals and Success. If you think you're going to earn $10,000 in the first month of your blogs existence and you're going to quit your job and start working from a beach somewhere in Thailand with all the other Digital Nomads, take a seat bud. Here's the harsh truth: it may take you years to see that kind of success. Blogs aren't get rich quick schemes, they're hard work and content-driven businesses that need constant love and attention. So do yourself a favor and create realistic goals around earning, subscribers, fans, etc.@media (min-width: 300px){:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-167dd3297bb"] { margin-top: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-16b4296b012"] { font-size: 14px !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-16b4d05bdb0"] { color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-16f01ae8b7c"] { font-weight: var(--g-bold-weight, bold) !important; }.thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-1708a20a3d0"] { background-image: linear-gradient(rgb(42, 42, 42), rgb(42, 42, 42)) !important; border: 1px dashed rgba(66, 66, 66, 0.68) !important; background-size: auto !important; background-position: 50% 50% !important; background-attachment: scroll !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-1708a20a3d0"] { background-image: linear-gradient(rgb(255, 255, 255), rgb(255, 255, 255)) !important; background-size: auto !important; background-position: 50% 50% !important; background-attachment: scroll !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; border: 1px solid rgba(66, 66, 66, 0.68) !important; }.thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-1708a21c45c"] { float: none; width: 100%; margin: 15px auto 1px !important; background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5), rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5)) !important; background-size: auto !important; background-position: 50% 50% !important; background-attachment: scroll !important; background-repeat: no-repeat !important; }}@media (max-width: 767px){:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-16b4296b012"] { font-size: 16px !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_3469 [data-css="tve-u-1708a21c45c"] { padding-right: 5px !important; padding-left: 5px !important; }}# 9 - Build Your Blogs Email List. Your email list will be your single greatest asset. Probably the ONLY promotion channel and asset that you actually own. Instagram or Pinterest or Facebook can shut you down anytime or change their TOS. Google can banish you to backwaters of SERP pages and your posts may never see the light of search traffic again. Ah, but your email list. You can take that with you to any email platform and make money from it indefinitely. Start on that this year. # 10 - Become an Expert in One Blogging Traffic Source. Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, PPC, SEO, it goes on and on. This relates to Shiny Object Syndrome. Chasing all these great options will get you minimal results. Become an expert in ONE channel before stacking new traffic sources for your blog. The big results come from compounding gains and momentum when you're crushing it in one traffic source.# 11 - Be Consistent. The key to this business and any business is consistency. Do you think if you stopped showing up to make coffee for your customers at your coffee shop that they would keep coming back? Nope! A blog is the same. Consistency is about serving your audience (customers), it's about showing up, it's about compounded results. More reading on the subjects above for new bloggers: 7 Huge Reasons Why New Bloggers Fail (And How To Avoid The Blogger Graveyard) New Years Blog Resolutions For Intermediate and Advanced BloggersOk, the last section was mostly for the newbies. This section is for you bloggers out there that are already well past the beginner and set up stages for your blog and need some inspiration to level up to the next stage in your business. So let's resolve to... # 13 - Create Your First Blog Sales Funnel. Sales funnels are strategically designed steps that are designed to bring customers into your sales process. They can look like anything. Doesn't matter, what matters is that it solves a key pain point for your audience and turns visitors into leads and sales. There's webinar funnels, eBook funnels, Courses, Newsletter funnels, Free + Shipping funnels, Bootcamp Funnels, Seminar Funnels, and the list goes on into infinity.ClickFunnels is the top sales funnel builder on the planet, if you're new to funnels, here's a great place to start.# 14 - Create New Income Sources. Maybe currently your blog is only earning money from adsense or affiliate links. Time find new ways to make money from your blog. Stacking new revenue sources helps future-proof your blog from sudden death if you lose your main income source.# 15 - Launch a Free or Paid Course. Everyone's creating online courses right now because it's one of the highest perceived value sales funnels around. They range from free 3 day intensive trainings or "how to" type courses to multiple-module courses spanning weeks or even months. The key is to provide a transformational experience for your course subscribers.I currently use Thrive Themes + Thrive Apprentice (A WordPress marketing powerhouse tool) for my online courses. # 16 - Fix Old, Outdated, or Broken Links on Your Blog. If your blog is starting to feel cluttered and there's dead links, start cleaning it up. Google will reward you. It's good for SEO to improve the user experience and navigability of your site. There's tools out there like Broken Link Checker and Screaming Frog that can help you uncover dead links. Old posts can be revived by updating them with new information. # 17 - Start Outsourcing To Scale Your Efforts. It's no secret that outsourcing to VAs can make you more productive, but it's often hard to get started. The first step is to list everything that you do to make your blog run from content creation to promotion, uncover which of these items can be easily outsourced, which of these tasks you hate and love to do, and find a trustworthy VA to start unloading the tasks that slow you down. If you need a VA recommendation, go to my contact page and send me an email and I'll send you a recommendation for VAs that I have come to trust after 5 years of working with them. # 18 - Identify and Learn From Your Competitors. Blogging doesn't have to be reinventing the wheel every time you sit down to write. Sometimes taking inspiration from things that are already working from your competitors can be a breakthrough moment. I'm not suggesting plagiarizing, merely "idea gathering." You can use tools like Buzzsumo to see what's working for other bloggers in specific topics, and tools like SimilarWeb to see how other sites are getting traffic. # 19 - Become a Google Analytics Ninja. The secret to helping you scale your blog may already be buried somewhere deep in your analytics. Resolve now to become an analytics ninja and the data will start to tell a unique story: which posts perform the best, which affiliate links get clicked the most, what is and isn't working, etc. When it comes to improving, knowing is half the battle.# 20 - Learn Email Marketing and Copywriting. So you've got your blog and you've built your email list, but does it help you get sales and make money? It's not enough for bloggers to simply create a newsletter anymore, no one cares. If you want to really start using your email list as a revenue generating asset, learning how to create email sales funnels and how to write marketing copy that converts will be a game changer for you. Tip: get on the email list of top bloggers you respect and learn from their sequences and copywriting. Take notes on what they sell, how they sell it, and how you can incorporate similar ideas into your own email marketing.# 21 - Create a Community of Peers and Mentors. Going it alone in any business is tough, but surrounding yourself with the right people can help you breakthrough to the next level. Find bloggers and other influencers in your niche and start creating friendships. Eventually you can create a Meetup, Mastermind or Discord channel, or private FB group to ignite ideas amongst your new peers and network your way to success. # 22 - Add a New Content Channel. So many options. Podcasts, Live Streaming, YouTube, eBooks. The list goes on, but adding new ways to get your voice out there is key to serving a diverse audience. Some people may be hungry for your views, but they might only have time to digest them over a podcast on the way to work, so it's time to start meeting your audience wherever they may be. Start a Podcast with Pat Flynn or become a YouTube star. You may find the new medium breathes new life into your business.# 23 - Do a Past Year in Review, Tim Ferris Style. This isn't really a resolution, but a task. Check out Tim's post here to get a full understanding of why this is so important to your blog or business. The goal is to go through every week of the last year and list out positive/negative events and activities that hindered or fueled your success to help you plan better for the year ahead. ConclusionIt's a new year and there's new blogging vistas to explore and new heights to be scaled. Blogging isn't going anywhere, but there's lots of new ways to reach people including video, podcasts, and live streaming.That means you're competing more and more for everyone's attention. As with anything I believe the key comes down to planning, consistency, and adding value to your audience, so I'll leave you with this one last thought: Instead of making these resolutions that you focus on one day out of the year and then forget about, turn them into "Every Day Resolutions," to power your business and content goals into future and get the most out of them. That's it for Blogger New Years Resolutions for 2019, folks 🙂 Did any of these resonate with you? What's your resolutions for the new year? Tell me in the comments! P.S.: Are you a new blogger or just launching your new side project or podcast? Take the quiz below to see if you're ready! @media (min-width: 300px){:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-16452f3dbac"] { color: rgb(242, 239, 62) !important; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f4339f"] { color: rgb(43, 54, 73) !important; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f43388"] { max-width: 1040px; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f43394"] { margin-top: -15px !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f43396"] { font-size: 14px !important; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f43392"] { margin-top: -15px !important; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f43391"] { float: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 181px; z-index: 3; position: relative; margin-top: 20px !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f4338d"] { color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; font-size: 14px !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f4338b"] { color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; font-size: 27px !important; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f43387"] { border: 0px none rgb(66, 66, 66); border-radius: 0px; background-image: none; background-repeat: repeat; background-size: auto; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 0%; box-shadow: none; background-color: rgb(65, 116, 220) !important; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f433a2"] { float: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 325px; z-index: 3; position: relative; margin-top: 20px !important; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f4339a"] { float: left; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 325px; z-index: 3; position: relative; margin-top: 20px !important; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f43385"] { padding-top: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-left: 20px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); min-height: 0px; margin-left: -20px; margin-right: -20px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 20px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f476cd"] { font-size: 14px !important; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f4ae87"] { font-size: 14px !important; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-1670e9677fa"] { font-size: 18px !important; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f43391"] { width: 120px; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f4339a"] { width: 120px; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f433a2"] { width: 120px; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-16e5c981146"] { float: left; z-index: 3; position: relative; margin-top: -15px !important; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-16e5c986ffb"] { margin-top: -15px !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-16e5c9887de"] { color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-16e5c98d18e"] { color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-16f63b43039"]::after { clear: both; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-16f63b5071b"]::after { clear: both; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-16f63b57ea6"]::after { clear: both; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-16f63b58bc1"]::after { clear: both; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-170287e000d"] { padding-left: 5px !important; padding-right: 5px !important; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-170287e1407"] { padding-left: 5px !important; padding-right: 5px !important; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-170287e2fda"] { padding-right: 5px !important; padding-left: 5px !important; }}@media (max-width: 1023px){:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f4338d"] { font-size: 12px !important; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f43391"] { width: 206px; top: auto; left: auto; right: auto; bottom: auto; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f433a2"] { width: 206px; top: auto; left: auto; right: auto; bottom: auto; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f4339a"] { width: 206px; top: auto; left: auto; right: auto; bottom: auto; }}@media (max-width: 767px){.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f43387"] { background-color: rgb(65, 116, 220) !important; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f43391"] { width: 218px; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f4339a"] { width: 218px; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f433a2"] { width: 218px; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f4338b"] { font-size: 24px !important; }.thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f4338c"] { float: none; margin-left: auto !important; margin-right: auto !important; }:not(#tve) .thrv_symbol_2346 [data-css="tve-u-163a7f4338d"] { font-size: 14px !important; }} My Most Trusted ResourcesI've negotiated special discounts and trials using my links to the right. Every tool or app recommended has my full trust and has been personally tested by me. I consider these three resources to be FOUNDATIONAL to any online business. Bluehost#1 for Hosting Websites & Blogs. Get a free domain and discount here.ClickFunnels#1 for Landing Pages & Sales Funnels. Get a 2 week free trial here.ActiveCampaign#1 for Email Marketing and automated email follow-ups. Free Trial here.

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23 New Years Resolutions For Bloggers in 2019