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What Could You Create in an Extra 15 Minutes Per Day? - DailyBlogTips

What Could You Create in an Extra 15 Minutes Per Day? - DailyBlogTips

What Could You Create in an Extra 15 Minutes Per Day?

Posted: 28 Apr 2014 06:11 AM PDT

Most bloggers wish they had more time.

If you’ve been thinking about launching your first product, creating a newsletter, starting a podcast, or any other big project for your blog, you might be putting it off until you’ve got more time.

Often, though, you need to make the time … life has a way of being busy.

One method I really like is the one Darren Rowse used to create his first product (an ebook for his site Digital Photography School). In How to Make Your Blogging Dreams Come True, he writes:

As I was time poor, I decided to get up 15 minutes earlier every day to create the eBook. I would have rather been able to set aside a week or two to work solidly on it but I had blogs to run and a newborn baby at home. I had some major sleep deprivation already so figured 15 minutes less sleep a day wouldn't hurt! It wasn't the ideal way to write – but it allowed me to start.

15 minutes might not seem like much … but if you focus 100% on your project during that time, you might be surprised what you accomplish.

You could try one (or more!) of these:

  • Getting up 15 minutes early, like Darren did.
  • Using 15 minutes of your lunch break at work.
  • Working for 15 minutes straight after coming home, or before dinner.
  • Spending the first 15 minutes of your day on your project at weekends.

I know how tempting it is to wait for a free weekend or several hours to really crack on with your project … but the “little and often” approach often means you actually get faster results, as your project doesn’t get put off month after month.

What could you (and what will you) accomplish in 15 minutes a day? Let us know in the comments…

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ProBlogger: 5 Ways to Nail Social Media Branding

ProBlogger: 5 Ways to Nail Social Media Branding

Link to @ProBlogger

5 Ways to Nail Social Media Branding

Posted: 27 Apr 2014 09:12 AM PDT

This is a guest contribution from Miranda Burford of Swiftly.

Social media marketing is one of the best ways to attract visitors to your blog. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube are among the hottest components in the modern marketer's toolkit. But how do you make sure the branding you've built on your blog translates to all these other platforms? Here are five tips you can action right now to ensure you’re consistent across the board.

1. Develop a unique look and feel 

You always want to ensure that your social profiles are instantly recognizable as your own. Bring the logo, fonts, styles and imagery that define your brand (and your blog) to all of your communication outlets. Your profile pics and background images should be eye-catching and refreshed regularly — there's really no option for staying stale on social media! If you're not a designer, seek out some help. At Swiftly, for example, bloggers can quickly get a custom profile pic or background image for just $15.

2. Post fresh content regularly

Keep cranking out unique, engaging content on all of your social media channels by creating a varied publishing schedule and sticking to it. Posting regularly at peak times is extremely important (there are apps that can help pinpoint your audience’s best times), especially on Facebook and Twitter. Along with sharing your latest blog posts, try posting relevant news, photos, links and interviews you see around the web.

3. Be human to connect with your audience  

Blogs and social media outlets are not always the place for a hard sell. Be natural and have some fun. Create a consistent and well-defined voice that accurately reflects the tone on your blog. Don't be afraid to poke fun at yourself! You'll build a network by continually showing your personality to the world.

4. Engage with your community

Always focus on ways to develop an active online community. Encourage participation by fueling discussions, showcasing stories, sharing thoughts and running competitions. Remember to invite comments, questions, and suggestions from your audience, and be sure to reply to criticism right away. Being transparent will win over your audience.

5. Embrace your pro status

Be a top influencer in your industry by continuously sharing awesome content. It doesn't all have to be original. Repurpose content whenever you can. Create partnerships with relevant businesses or other bloggers and work on a content sharing strategy together. Keep blogging and curating content to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry.

Miranda Burford is the Marketing Manager for Swiftly. Swiftly, a new service by 99designs, can get your small design jobs done in under an hour for just $19.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger
Build a Better Blog in 31 Days

5 Ways to Nail Social Media Branding
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