It a new year filled with new ideas and new goals, my favorite time of year! What are your plans for this year? Maybe your goal is to finally start that blog you have been dreaming about. Or maybe you are ready to kick your current blog into gear and get more eyes and engagement on it. Whatever your blogging goals are, I have brought in my favorite ladies to share their thoughts on blogging in 2017.
I asked them all this question: “What do you think bloggers should be focusing on in 2017?”
The talent, expertise, and wisdom in this post is incredible and I am so grateful for their time! Grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, sit down, and dig into all the amazing advice in this post. When you are done, don’t forget to pin it to read again later!
Email is Key
1. Sue Dunlevie, Successful Blogging
In 2017, as well as every year, the most important thing you should focus on is building a targeted email list. Have optin boxes all over your blog (3 to 7 of them!) and collect email addresses. Once you have their email address, nurture those subscribers with several emails before starting to send them your blog posts.
This is THE best way to put offers in front of your audience – thru email.
2. Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, Making Sense of Cents
The number one thing bloggers should focus on in 2017 is their email list. With changing algorithms on social media websites such as Pinterest and Facebook, taking control of your email list is more important than ever. Your email list is all yours and you don’t have to worry about something changing and your readers not getting your emails.
3. Suzi Whitford, Start A Mom Blog
The number one thing bloggers should focus on in 2017 is building an engaged email list. As a full time blogger I spend a large portion of my time growing and nurturing my email list, setting up funnels and providing value to my list. These actions help drive over half of my blog income, gives me content and product ideas, and enable me to build very strong relationships with my readers.
I believe the #1 thing bloggers should focus on is building their email list. Even if you don’t have any product or service to offer, you can still have a highly engaged and loyal following.
4. Elna Cain, Twins Mommy
A big challenge for bloggers is trying to get subscribers to their list. One thing that you should have is a marketing strategy for your blog. This can entail strategies to grow your traffic, which will make growing your email list easier – if you have a great freebie that answers your audience’s problems, though!
5. Monica Froese, Redefining Mom
The number one thing bloggers should focus on in 2017 is email marketing. We’ve all heard that an email list is a must because you own your list versus a social media platform where you have no control. I’m going to take it a step further and say that it’s not only important to have an email list but it’s also important to have an email strategy. How are you collecting email addresses? Are you promising something that you over deliver on? Are you regularly communicating with your email list? Are you providing exceptional value and selling to your email list? The most important thing you can do in 2017 is have an email marketing strategy!
Do you need help creating the perfect freebie opt-in offer or help figuring out what to send after the opt-in offer?
Exceptional Content & Branding
6. Meera Kothand, MeeraKothand.com
Bloggers should focus on branding themselves and their content in 2017. The question they need to think about is: How different are they from the thousands of blogs in their niche and what do they want to be known for? Beyond the visual elements, what about their content and brand experience is different? This is a question that’s more important now than ever because it will set the tone for the types of posts they write, the emails they send and the relationship they cultivate with their readers and email list. Being intentional about their ‘brand footprint’ will help bloggers make a meaningful impact with their audience and create a lasting impression in the online space.
7. Tonia Kendrick, Solopreneur Diaries
The number one thing bloggers should focus on in 2017 is content. We’ve all heard the phrase “content is king,” and it still holds true. But not just any content. High-quality content that helps your readers will keep them coming back for more. Stellar content will also be shared more often, resulting in increased traffic and new readers. How do you create this high-quality content? By focusing on your audience. Think about what would be valuable to them. What do you know that you can share? How can you help them? Also aim to educate, engage, or inspire your audience with each post.
8. Renee Shupe, Chief Redhead & Resident Geek at ReneeShupe.com
My Tip: Be You
It’s taken me years to really come to terms with the idea that the best way for me to market and share my knowledge is staying true to who I am.
It makes my marketing easier, I am able to focus on doing things I truly love and connect with some amazing women bloggers who are doing some pretty awesome things.
Our imperfection and vulnerability is what makes our blogs and our businesses uniquely us, all the while helping our ideal audience find and connect with us because of it.
Social Media
9. McKinzie Beans, Moms Make Cents
You may have heard that blogging is 20% content creation and 80% promotion and it is absolutely true! You of course need to create valuable content for your readers, but if you don’t promote it no one will ever know it is there. I have found the most effective way to promote my posts is through Pinterest. Start by creating two pins per blog post, writing keyword filled pin descriptions and pinning to group boards.
10. Becky Burgess, Splash Owl Media
In 2017, Bloggers should focus on using Facebook and Instagram to grow their following. Facebook still remains the largest social media platform, now ringing in over 2 billion active users per month. While Instagram is second on this list. Thanks to a lot of Facebook changes coming available in 2017, we can expect to be able to connect more with our audiences. Remember to participate in groups, share with people, help and offer encouragement, and be genuine. Having a good social media strategy can help you achieve your goals in 2017.
Build Your Tribe
11. Lena Presley Gott, What Mommy Does
“COMMUNITY – I think sometimes as bloggers, it’s easy to think because we’re working behind a computer screen that we can be off-hands with our audience. The longer I blog, the more I realize it’s all about community. Giving your audience a place to connect on the topic you write about, whether it’s in a private Facebook group or in the comment threads of your Instagram post. Just being there for them when they need help and openly inviting dialogue can do wonders for your business. Your readers will tell you what they want if you give them the chance.”
12. Candis Hidalgo, Smart Mom Blogger
There are so many important components to growing a successful blog: selecting the right niche, getting readers, getting subscribers, making money, writing consistently, marketing, social media, graphics, tech… aaahhh! It’s enough to make your head spin! And honestly? It’s all a waste of time and effort if you’re not doing this one thing:
Helping ONE person.
We overwhelm ourselves with trying to do all.the.things and reach all.the.people, but that’s too much for any one person to take on! In 2017, the number one thing bloggers should focus on – with every piece of content – is deeply helping ONE person solve a problem or reach a goal. Because if you can deeply help one person, then you really can help many. And if you can do that, then I’m willing to bet you’ll see your blog grow leaps and bounds this year.
13. Chantel Arnett, Blogging with a Smile
The number one thing that bloggers should focus on in 2017 is engagement. It’s not enough to have great content. It’s not even enough to have great content and promote it effectively. To be a successful blogger, you must engage with your audience, with influencers in your niche and even with your competition.
14. Kristie McCollum, CEOMom
Now that there’s such a plethora of blogs, the most important thing to focus on is getting visible and building your audience. You can’t just promote your content anymore and expect to build your audience. Building authentic, genuine relationships is going to be the best investment you can make! Connect, collaborate, promote others, create an accountability group, comment on posts- because you want to- and give more than you receive.
15. Darci Lopez, Life Unplanned
Absolutely and without a doubt, the thing for bloggers to focus on in 2017 is relationship building, both with your peers and with your tribe. A great way to do this is to start a Facebook group and an email list that feed off of each other. Be present in both. Be authentic in your interactions and genuine in your intentions.
Blog with Purpose
Do you need help finding your people online and building your tribe?
Blog with Purpose
16. Jill Stanton, ScrewTheNineToFive.com
The biggest thing I think bloggers need to be focusing on for 2017 is to start blogging with a purpose.
What I mean is, you need to get clear on the major interest areas for your audience, start creating content around them and use each post to lead to a specific (and relevant) offer!
Whether that is a quick course, a downloadable, an ebook, a call with you, hell, even a freebie! The key is to use your content to fuel your business!
After all, blogging for the sake of blogging is sooooo 2016.
Wow! I told you these 16 ladies would be sharing awesome advice! My hope is that 2017 is an incredible year for you and for your blog. I hope that the wisdom these ladies shared helps you get focused and positioned to grow your blog like crazy this year!
What piece of information stuck out for you? Would you add anything to this list? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments below! Thank you for taking the time to comment!
What a great post, Jen! Content, email growth and marketing are the key activities all of us experts recommended here because they really work.
Thanks for including me with these impressive women.
Sue
They absolutely are Sue! You are more than welcome and thank you for all that you bring to the blogging community! Your expert advice is so appreciated!
Wow! I love all these wonderful ladies!
I see a lot of common themes for sure: email is the key and knowing your audience as well. But marketing is also important. Great suggestions Jen!
Elna | TwinsMommy recently posted…How 11 Freelancers Make Money Online With Their Blog
Hi Elna, I love your blog. Keep doing what you’re doing!
Natasha recently posted…How to Lose Weight: Green Smoothie Cleanse
This was an excellent post to read and full of so many great tips. I am glad to see that most recommend building your email list, that is my main focus right now along with better engagement. The more I engage with my readers the more I realize just how much I love what I do.
Here’s to a fabulous and successful year!
Thank you, Tracy! Building an email list is key and combined with engagement is key. It’s so true that the more engagement the more fun it is doing what we do! Thank you for commenting!
Thanks for this! Jill Stanton’s message was really relevant to me in that I’m focusing on blogging with intention whereas before that was shaky on my end. Every woman on this list is phenomenal and I’m looking forward to implementing their focus points.
In the beginning, it can feel a bit uncertain. However, blogging with intention can give you a better focus for what your audience is wanting and/or needing. Glad you found this post helpful and don’t hesitate to contact me if there’s something I can help you with!
Oh la la….what a well rounded selection of tips…from email list building, creating and engaging with your community, branding and using social media. Easy for us to take our pick and make it our own. Thanks for gathering these top bloggers into one place.
Thank you, Ntathu! The “Oh la la…” made me smile. I’m glad you found the post a helpful resource! Thank you for commenting 🙂
What an awesome round up. So many things to think about for the coming year. Thanks so much!
You are so welcome, Jen!
Thank you, Jen! There sure are a lot of things to think about and please let me know if there’s anything I can help you with!
Thank you Jen for such an amazing post. Candis’s comment really resonated with me: “In 2017, the number one thing bloggers should focus on – with every piece of content – is deeply helping ONE person solve a problem or reach a goal. Because if you can deeply help one person, then you really can help many.” Sometimes I feel like I am stretching myself in so many directions trying to make lots of people happy instead of writing just for my specific audience. I think you told our Society group once that we should describe in detail who we are writing to (actually give this person a name and personality) and keep picturing this person in our head every time we write a new post. I am going to start doing that again. Thank you!
Thank you SO much, Bernadette! Trying to make everyone happy often leads us feeling like we are spinning our wheels, but helping one person enables us to focus on the needs of that person and others like them. Giving them a name and a face makes it all the more personable and through content tailored toward them, helps to facilitate trust and a connection. Thank you for commenting and looking forward to hearing how that has helped you!
These are amazing tips! All so valuable. The one that really resonated with me the most is to make sure I’m always trying to help at least 1 person with my content. So true…a great guiding star for my content creation.
Now, back to list building, and tribe building and audience nurturing…
🙂
Thanks for this fantastic post ladies!
Thank you, Jenny! I appreciate the feedback and glad that you found the post helpful!
It’s so great to read all of this wonderful advice from women I admire and respect. It’s going to be an exciting and busy year for sure, but it’s amazing to have the opportunity to do what we do and this is all GREAT advice!
Chantel recently posted…Affiliate Marketers Spotlight: Episode 1
Thank you, Chantel! Yes, it is definitely going to be a busy year and agree that we are incredibly lucky to do what we do!
Thanks ladies for your trusted advice. I value the experience you all have and that you are willing to share your tips. Sounds like Getting those emails are going to be the way to go!
Thank you, Patty! Helping others to grow their blog/business is a passion and glad that you found the advice helpful! I look forward to hearing how your list building grows and don’t hesitate to contact me if there’s anything I can help you with!
Okay. If bloggers just come to this post, read the advice shared here by all these smart ladies, and then DO the work consistently, they’ll BE SET for major growth & impact with their blogs this year! Seriously so much wisdom here.
Email list building is always at the top of these lists – and for good reason! But I love all of the insight about building your brand, effectively promoting your content, building real relationships with your readers and blogging with PURPOSE. Can’t forget that!
Thanks for including my thoughts, Jen. Such a powerful post to start the new year off right… sharing all over!
You are SO welcome, Candis, and thank you for your kind words! It’s true that there can be tremendous growth and impact by following the advice consistently. Each component is important to work on as one moves forward with their blog and business. Thank you for sharing!
Great way to start 2017. Big takeaways for me are list building and content which are my two focuses as well.
Thanks for the powerhouse post.to get the year started off right.
Thank you, Adrien! Yes, list building and content are the big takeaways. I’m so glad you found the post helpful and thank you for commenting!
Wow, I think it’s pretty clear that building an email list is super important! 🙂 Not too long ago, it was all about how many social media followers you had. Not nearly as many people cared about having an email list as they do today. I started building my email list a little late, but better late than ever for sure. If I have one regret, it would be that I didn’t build my email list from the start. Especially as a business owner. These women have shared some great advice, and I 100% agree with all of these tips.
Tiffany Griffin recently posted…5 Secrets That Successful Bloggers Don’t Share
Thank you, Tiffany! I appreciate your kind words and glad you are working on building your email list. Better late than never is so true!
If only I had this amazing advice when I first started, who knows where I would be! Such valuable advice from some amazing women. Thank you Jen for including me next to these inspiring leaders!
Thank you, Kristie! I am so glad you found the post helpful and have to agree that it would have been wonderful to know all this information from the onset. There’s always a learning curve, but now you can use these helpful tips to build from. Thank you for commenting!
Well, it took a lot of work to pull this together, but what a convincing article it makes! Thanks so much for posting this for us! I’m sure I don’t even realize what a difference it will make in my life, yet, but I’m sure going to find out! 😉
(Will probably need boatloads of help, though!) 😉
Katharine recently posted…Poison-Apple Pie
Thank you, Katherine, for your kind words! I’m glad you found the post resourceful and let me know if you have any questions as you forge ahead!
Wow, that’s an awesome post Jen. It is true that relationship building the most important part of a successful blogging journey. I agree that focusing on social media and sharing opinions about the amazing blog posts through comments works as the wonder for any blog.
Although, almost 2 months of 2017 have already been passed and I got late to see this post. But it is still very helpful for me. It’s never late 😉
Anyway, thanks a lot Jen for sharing this amazing post. It is very useful for the bloggers.
Cheers,
Shubhanshi
Shubhanshi recently posted…On-Page SEO Factors: You Need To Rank On The First Page
I’m so glad to hear this post was a great resource for you, Shubhanshi! Relationship building is key and I’ve gotten to know so many wonderful bloggers in the process. You’re right, it’s never too late. Thank you for commenting, Shubhanshi!
One of the biggest things that stood out to me in this article is building an email list. And one that engages with my followers and giving them value in the emails with a strategy. This is definitely something I’m going to have to give attention to and also the most daunting. Already, I feel nervous about my blog posts and it feels like I’m going to need to create two the blog post and the emails. I definitely was encouraged to think of my email marketing as strategy because this helps me not feel so intimidated. Thanks ladies! ♥
An email list is so important just as keeping them engaged is. Yes, it can be daunting, but having a strategy will help! Please let me know if you have any questions. You got this, Erin!
Thank you for this post. It is true that we must focus on growing our list and having a strategy to do so. Thanks again.
Thank you, Pamela, for your sweet words! I’m so glad you found this post helpful. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. 🙂