b, Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk. Ask other bloggers which books they swear by – in fact here’s a from the Boost Blog Traffic team. Serious Hobbyist: Blog Audits, Trainings, and Conferences If you’re serious about improving your blog, even as a hobby, you’ve got to improve your craft. This doesn’t mean you need to pour money into education, but you should budget for a blog audit, a few trainings, or maybe even a conference. With a blog audit, someone comes to your blog with fresheyes and gives you a point-by-point analysis of the things you’re doing right and the things you’re doing wrong. It can be pretty brutal to hear the criticisms, but by taking them to heart and fixing them, you can significantly improve your following. You might have a trusted friend or fellow blogger who could perform an audit for free, but professional services are available for about $50 to $100. In addition to a blog audit, seriously consider signing-up for trainings or conferences. Not only can you improve your craft, but you have the chance to network with other bloggers and pick their brains for tips and resources. I’ve learned more from other successful bloggers by asking questions and networking than I ever have from searching the Internet. Conferences and trainings can add up, especially if you have to travel to the event. Look for options in your area, or find online schools and summits you can attend. For instance, the offers her Blog School every year. It’s a 100% onlinecourse that helps you develop the skills necessary to improve and manage your own blog. Blogpreneur: Coaching and Mentorship Lebron James has a coach. Tiger Woods has a coach. John Lee Dumas, of Entrepreneur on Fire, has a coach. The fact that these types of people enlist coaches to make them better should tell you something. The value of an outside source giving you feedback on how you’re doing and advising how to improve your craft is immeasurable. If you’re serious about getting better, making more money, and serving your followers to the best of your ability, at some point you’ll need to ask for help. Coaching and mentorship can come in a variety of forms. You can join a mastermind group, pay for a business coach, or seek out mentorship from a blogger you admire and trust. You actually might be able to find a mentor for free – the can connect you with someone in your area – but don’t be surprised if you have to pay for coaching from an expert in your field. Mainstream businessmentors may be able to or set up a better payment system, but they probably won’t be able to help you navigate the fickle nature of an online audience. You’re going to need an expert blogger to help you improve your craft, and expert bloggers tend to be busy serving their own audiences. When it comes time to hire a coach, set aside an hourly rate on par with that of other professionals – $50 or more per hour is a reasonable amount to budget for initially. Download the Blog Budget Calculator We’ve looked at the typical costs you’re likely to incur, as a Bare-Bones Blogger, a Serious Hobbyist and a Blogpreneur. And while one of those descriptions will fit your situation better than the others, in practice every blogger is different. The only way to get an accurate picture of your blog’s running costs is to create your own personalized budget. So download our and discover the true cost of your blog – and work out what you need to spend in future. How to Use the Blog Budget CalculatorClick on the link then use “File > Download as” to download a copy in your favorite format. Alternatively, if you’re logged into your Google account, you can select “Make a copy” to create an editable copy in your Google Drive. Take Control of Your Blogging Costs Growing a blog is tough work, especially when you consider the millions of other bloggers you’re competing with. But you don’t have to reinvent the wheel or spend hundreds of frustrated hours learning everything there is to know about web design and development. Rather, you need to be smart about how you spend your money, as well as how you spend your time. Whether you’re a newbie blogger with almost zero budget, or a professional blogger who wants to make more profit, if your goal is to reach more people and share your story, making the right investments in your blog is crucial. So why not download our and get started! P.S. Let me know in the comments about any costs that are missing and we’ll update the spreadsheet so itbecomes the definitive budgeting resource for bloggers on the web! About the Author: Laura Williams, M.S.Ed., is the founder of , the host of , and the author of . The Shocking Cost of Running a Blog (and How to Create a Realistic Budget) by Laura Williams
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