This is the final week of our four-week blogging challenge and we are focusing on marketing blog posts. We took the information we covered in our workshop at the TpT Conference and turned it into a challenge. The goal is to help you set up a blogging plan that you can stick to. No big deal if you missed the conference workshop! This challenge will work for any TpTer. Join our mastermind group for blogging accountability as we work through the challenge: www.growwithusmastermind.com.
In Week 4 we are going to focus on putting together everything we learned in the first week and start marketing our blog posts. In order to complete the tasks this week, you’re going to need to work through the first 3 weeks.
So, if you’re just joining us, go back and check out what you missed:
- Plan Your Year: Week 1 – Learn how to set up a blogging plan for the year that’s easy to follow.
- Blog Optimization & Prep: Week 2 – Focus on optimizing your website so you’ll be ready when you start getting blog readers.
- Craft an Intentional Post: Week 3 – Learn why you need to be intentional with the posts that you write and what steps to follow.
Let’s talk about marketing blog posts
So, you have a beautifully crafted and intentional blog post completed and published. Now what? Do you just wait for the readers to come?
No way! Now is the time to focus on marketing. You want to make it easy for your audience to find your blog post.
Resources to help with marketing blog posts
The first thing I want you to do, if you haven’t already, is go download the Challenge Organizer on our Resources page here. In this guide is a checklist that you can use when marketing your blog post.
This is something that you can refer back to with every blog post that you write.
Creating images for marketing
Here’s the thing you need to keep in mind when creating images for your blog posts and marketing—keep it easy. There are a few tips that can help you do this.
Canva
There are many different ways you can create images for your blog and marketing. Angie and I both use Canva so that’s what we will be discussing here. There is a free version that is still incredibly useful, but we both use the paid version. It allows you to have access to a huge image library and has another incredible tool that I’ll share in a minute.
Use templates
Angie and I both use templates for creating our social media and blog post images. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel every time you need a new image.
Simply create a design that you like. It should have your branding on it. Then, with every new blog post, all you need to do is create a copy, update the title, and swap out images. The layout is already there and waiting for you, so you can save a lot of time.
If you struggle with design, you can buy templates to use the same way.
Create multiple images at once
Angie is great at this. When she writes a blog post she has five different templates that she uses. This makes it easy for her to create images for Pinterest, Instagram, and anywhere else that she wants to share an image.
If you are doing a shoot with a new resource that you have, take TONS of pictures. Make sure to get them from different angles and sizes so you have options to work with later.
Having many photos to choose from and different image templates will allow you to market and share your blog post over and over without having to use the same image. This allows it not to appear so repetitive.
In the paid version of Canva, you can create one image and then resize it for the different platform dimensions. You may need to do a little bit of tweaking, but it completes so much of the work for you.
Ways to use images for marketing blog posts
When Angie creates her images she shared that she might make one that directs people right to her blog. Then, she might have another that highlights the freebie that she shares in the blog post. Or, she may create one directly for a resource that’s discussed in the blog post.
Again, having multiple images allows you to share repeatedly without it getting old. And, this is exactly what you need especially for seasonal topics. You only have a short period of time to get your blog posts and resources out there.
If you have the swipe up feature on Instagram, use it! I’m getting close and can’t wait to take advantage of that feature. I like to create several Instagram Stories for every blog post that I write. It’s a great way to draw attention to it.
Sharing your blog post
Make sure you are getting your blog posts out on social media. If you have a blog post that’s seasonal you will want to schedule it out multiple times during this seasonal time period. If it’s evergreen, then schedule it out every few weeks or so.
I use Tailwinds loops to make it easy. Angie also uses it along with SmarterQueue. Doing this allows us to take the hassle out of posting and reposting our content.
If you have an email list (which you should really work on building if you don’t have one), make sure you email them to let them know you have a new blog post. If your blog post is evergreen and something you want to keep eyes on, you can consider adding it to your email sequence.
When you’re short on time, which we all are, learning how to repurpose content is key. Look for ways to reuse what you already have. When you write an intentional blog posts look for multiple ways to benefit from it by marketing it on social media, email marketing, and even advertising.
Advertising
If you have something, like a higher-paid resource, that you’re talking about in your blog, you might want to run ads to the post. Or, if you’re using your blog post to build your email list, it can help to get extra eyes on it. The main thing is remembering what the goal of your blog post is.
I like to put up my pins and then wait a few days to see which ones are performing the best. Then, I promote the pin for 72 hours at $10 a day. Occasionally I will run Facebook ads for my new blog posts.
Sometimes I get new people that opt-in for my email list, but my main goal is to warm up my audience. This way they start to know who I am. Then, later I retarget the people that have visited my site with other ads.
Getting started
Angie and I know that marketing blog posts can feel overwhelming. We shared quite a few different things that you can do here. But, we don’t want you to try to do it all.
Choose three things that you want to focus on.
Look for the things that we discussed that would be the easiest for you to do. If you’re always on Instagram then focus your efforts there. Or, if you have a huge email list, let them know about your new blog post.
Once you’ve chosen your three and created your marketing plan, go to accountability thread and share it with us. Then, as you move on throughout the year you can work on adding to your plan little by little.
Thanks for joining us in this 4-week blogging challenge! And, stay tuned for our next episode of the Grow With Us podcast.
