To help us achieve this goal, we’d love to find out a little more about you and your blogging and have put together a short ‘census’ survey to do just that.

Please take the survey here.

Note: information gathered in this survey cannot be tied to individuals and will be used solely for the purposes of improving this blog and serving you better. We may report on some of the statistical information we gather about blogging platforms etc., but nothing you share will be used for any other purposes, and your anonymity is assured (unless you include personal details in one of your answers).

Thanks for taking the time to participate—I’m looking forward to a great 2012!

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

Help Us Help You Improve Your Blog: ProBlogger Census 2012

A number of readers of both ProBlogger and dPS have asked whether we are going to run a similar promotion on ProBlogger – hoping to pick up some ProBlogger eBooks at a discount.

We were not planning on it but who am I to say no!?!

Starting today we’re running a 50% discount for 3 days on any (or all) of 3 ProBlogger eBooks.

Lets call it the Three-For-Three-At-A-Half Sale (cheesey I know but this is spur of the moment).

Here’s what we’re offering:

For three days you can save 50% on any of these three great blogging eBooks, and there’s something for everyone…

If you’re just getting started …

First Week Of Blogging – just $9.99 and it’s yours!

Making great early choices is vital to the long-term success of your blog. This ebook guides you, day by day, through your first week of blogging so you can make the most of those critical first few days.

It will ensure you’re blog is build on a rock solid foundation — a Probloggerdation.

Pick up a copy now

If your plans are to turn your blog into a page view power house next year …

31 Days To Build A Better Blog (2012 edition) just $14.99!

New and updated for 2012, 31 Days to Build a Better Blog is a downloadable ebook designed to help you revitalize your blog.

One step at a time, it will transform your blog into the page view powerhouse you’ve always dreamed of — because we all love seven digit numbers on google analytics!

This is our best selling eBook ever – so join with many others and get involved.

Pick up a copy now

If your plans are to start earning real money from your blog in 2012 …

The Bloggers Guide To Online Marketing (normally $99.99) now $49.99.

A comprehensive, 31 chapter blueprint for your blog’s ongoing profitability – right from the ground up (AKA more cash!).

Backed by an extensive library of practical templates, printable worksheets, and in-practice example documents, this kit delivers all you need to make your blog turn a profit now, and over the long term.

Pick up a copy now

Three 3 deals are good for 3 days only, so make sure you don’t miss your chance to pick up a last minute Christmas bargain.

Grab one or Grab All Three – But Don’t Delay

I’ve chosen these 3 eBooks because they represent the 3 biggest needs among our readers – starting out, giving things a kick start when they’re slow and making money. So whatever your blogging goals are in 2012 I believe we’ve got you covered.

This sale ends in 3 days time on Friday 23 December at midnight US Eastern time) so don’t delay – they’ll all be full price again from 24th and into the new year.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

No Matter What Your Blogging Goals for 2012 Are… We’ve got a 50% Off Deal For You

• Does your blog need a boost?
• Are you looking for inspiration to kick start it again after some time off?
• Do you need a little inspiration to help you get things rolling again?

If so – you’re not alone. Most bloggers go through periods where they either lack motivation, get distracted or suffer from blogger disillusionment.

This is why I created 31 Days to Build a Better Blog – and why today we’re launching the 2nd edition version of it – freshly updated and revised for 2012!

What is 31DBBB?

Since starting ProBlogger in 2004 this eBook is the most significant way I’ve seen ProBlogger readers improve their blogs.

Why is that?

The answer is simple – most teaching about blogging centres on theory. Theory is good but but by itself it is useless.

This eBook is designed to not only teach but propel you to DO.

31 Days to Build a Better blog is a 31 day challenge where you’re given a daily piece of teaching and an achievable activity to go away and implement – all of which is designed to rejuvenate your blog.

You can take the challenge at your own pace – some do it daily over a month, others tackle it in a more intense way over a week or others dip into it over a number of months – the key is to learn the key strategies for successful blogging and more importantly to DO something with what you learn.

By the end of the 31 steps you’ll have:

• published a variety of different types and styles of posts
• learned techniques for coming up with new post ideas
• promoted your blog in a variety of ways and found new readers
• deepened reader engagement with current readers
• reached out to and developed working relationships with other bloggers
• developed an editorial calendar for your blog going forward
• discovered ways to be more connected to your niche/topic
• designed a plan for the next month of your blogging

… and much more.

Check out full details of what it includes here

Updated for 2012

Many thousands of ProBlogger readers have invested in edition 1 of 31DBBB but as it was written back in 2009 I felt it was time for an update. So much has changed since then both here on ProBlogger and in the blogosphere that I wanted to create something that built upon and enhanced version 1.

In this freshly designed and layed out 2nd edition you’ll get

• all 31 tasks that were in the first edition – but they’ve all been updated and refreshed for 2012.
• 7 brand new days (so now you’re really getting 38 days – we’re including 7 in a new bonus week PDF)
• Case studies of blogs, big and small, who are doing it right. Get insights into blogs you may not have heard of, and learn from their expertise
• Every task includes links to further information, reading and intelligence on the topic
• integration with social media – each day has its own hashtag so you can connect with others doing the challenge to learn from and support one another

This 140 page workbook is all about action – follow the daily tasks and we guarantee you’ll see your blog improve. Quite literally we’re happy to give your money back if you go through it and don’t notice the changes!

25% Launch Discount

For the next two weeks we’re offering 25% off the 2nd edition of this best selling eBook. Instead of the normal $29.99 USD you can secure your copy today for just $22.49. That’s around 73 cents per day for a month full of teaching and activities.

Learn more about 31 Days to Build a Better Blog here or purchase your copy by hitting the ‘download it now’ button below.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

Get Your 2nd Edition Copy of 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Today (for 25% Off)

31DBBB—the story so far…

• Back on 30 July 2005, I had a crazy idea: what if I ran a series of posts over the month of August that year that would give ProBlogger readers a little bit of teaching each day and a homework activity to go away and do, each one focused on helping them build a better blog?
• On the spur of the moment I decided to give it a go, and off the top of my head decided to call it
  “31 Days to Build a Better Blog.”
• That year, several thousand readers joined the challenge.
• The experience was so great that I ran it again in 2007, this time with around 5,000 participants.
• In 2009 we repeated it again with another series of posts. This time, 13,000 readers signed up and at the end of the month readers asked me if I could compile the teaching and exercises into an ebook.
• The 31 Days to Build a Better Blog ebook was released shortly after, and since that time, around 13,000 copies have sold.

31DBBB Second Edition

It’s been two years since the first edition was released, and while I still get daily feedback that its helping bloggers improve their blogs, I’ve been wanting to give it a refresh with some new tasks, a redesign. and some updating of a little information in the ebook that isn’t quite as relevant today in 2011.

I’m really pleased with this new edition. While there are quite a few days that are based upon those found in the first edition, we’ve included some completely new information this time around and added to what owners of the original have already got.

I’ll fill you in with full details of what’s new next week, and will email owners of the first edition with a discounted offer for those wanting to upgrade.

31DBBB First Edition now unavailable

As a result of the impending release of the second edition, today I’ve taken the first edition of 31 Days to Build a Better Blog off the market. Those of you who have your copy already now officially own a collector’s edition!

Again, I’ll release full details of the second edition, its price, upgrade options, and so on in the coming week, but I wanted to let you know what was going on.

Get notified of the release of the second edition

Want to be notified of when the second edition launches? Simply leave your email and name below and you’ll be notified the moment it becomes available.

Get Notified of when the 2nd Edition is Released

Name:

Email:

We respect your email privacy

 

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

2nd Edition of 31 Days to Build a Better Blog – Coming Next Week

The kit is essentially based around three things:

1. a comprehensive ebook
2. a library of 21 templates, documents and examples to help you develop your own blogging business model
3. a 70-minute bonus recording of a Q&A webinar that the Ninja, Chris Garrett, and myself did last week for buyers of the kit.

The kit is really about helping bloggers who want to get serious about turning their blog into a business to do just that. You can read the full details of what’s included and who it’s for here.

We launched the Blogger’s Guide to Online Marketing Kit with a limited-time 50% discount (down from $99.99 to $49.99).

The kit has had some really positive reviews and feedback so we’ve left the discount open a little longer than we’d anticipated, but that discount ends in around 36 hours time (this Friday, US time).

So if you’re looking for some teaching from an experienced online marketer on how to make your blog profitable, grab your copy of the kit today.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

50% Discount Ends in 36 Hours on the Blogger’s Guide to Online Marketing Kit

It is a Kit that is all about helping you create an income that sustains your blog.

Created by the Web Marketing Ninja – a guy who has helped me with my own blogging business – it is his own blueprint for online profitability and it will give you an insight into the way that I now make money from my blogs.

The Ninja helped me make my first million dollars selling my own blog products here at ProBlogger, so you know you can trust his expert advice.

It’s all you need to make your blog turn a profit now, and over the long term.

This essential guide retails for $99.99 USD, but for a limited time, you can secure your copy for just $49.99—that’s 50% off!

Update: this discount ends this coming Friday 23rd September. Don’t miss out!

The Strategies I Now Use to Monetize My Blogs

The Blogger’s Guide to Online Marketing—31 Steps to Profitable Blogging has two parts:

1. The 31 Chapter eBook

This clear, practical ebook includes 31 chapters focused on practical profit-creation strategies:

• Conduct a brand audit
• Create customer personas
• Conduct the “three-second” test
• Create a framework for measuring success
• Get set to A/B test
• Master the campaign
• Manage a launch
• Price products
• Define your sales funnel
• Understand the long tail
• Know when to stop marketing
• …and plenty more. See the full chapter list here

2. The Comprehensive Resource Library

Your downloadable, practical resource library contains more than 21 templates and worksheets to help you put the Ninja’s advice into practice immediately:

• Sample sales pages
• Measurement framework
• Campaign planning proforma
• Affiliate performance measurement tool
• Customer life-cycle analysis example
• Joint venture email template
• …and many more.

My 60-day money-back guarantee applies, as always, so there’s no risk to you. If this product isn’t what you expected, you can get a full refund.

Download your blueprint for blog profitability today. For more information on The Blogger’s Guide to Online Marketing—31 Steps to Profitable Blogging, visit this information page or get your copy by clicking the button below.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

The Blogger’s Guide to Online Marketing – 31 Steps to a Profitable Blog

Tickets have just been released in the last hour for the event, and they’re selling fast (as I write this over a third of them have sold).

The day will build upon the momentum created by the last event back in 2009, where 150 bloggers gathered for a great day of inspiration and networking.

This time around, we’re flying in Chris Garrett (co-author of the ProBlogger book) and Sonia Simone (from CopyBlogger), and will feature a number of Aussie bloggers including Nicole Avery (Planning with Kids) and Phoebe Montague (LadyMelbourne). We’re locking in a range of other speakers in the coming week and will also have the team behind ProBlogger sharing too.

Get full details on the ProBlogger Events site or book your tickets directly on Eventbrite.

Update: we sold out 150 tickets to this in about 30 hours. I’ve just added 50 more tickets so if you’re thinking of coming – make sure you act quickly to avoid disappointment.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

Melbourne ProBlogger Training Event – Tickets On Sale Now

In July 2010, and very much on the spur of the moment, I came up with the hare-brained idea to run a small conference in Melbourne.

Within a couple of days I’d booked an international speaker (Chris Garrett), had convinced four local bloggers to speak, booked a venue, and had announced to the world it was happening. We released 100 tickets (I thought I was ambitious, given there were only three weeks until the event) and I stood back to watch what would happen.

The event sold out quickly and we ended up upgrading our venue room to accommodate another 50 people. The day was amazing—it brought together 150 great bloggers from across Australia (and one from New Zealand), and some amazing speakers. There was a real buzz in the room (and around the Web as it trended on Twitter). You can read about the day here. The overwhelming response was that people wanted another event (although they wanted more notice and a bigger venue, as it was squashy).

The details so far

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been working on the next Melbourne ProBlogger Training day. Here are some advanced details (although as we’re a few months out there is still a bit to be filled in):

• Date: Friday 21 October 2011
• Time: all day (9am-5pm for the conference)
• Networking Event: we’re looking at adding an evening networking drinks after the conference part of the day free for attendees
• Cost: TBA but we’re aiming to keep it affordable again
• Venue: we’re still finalizing this, but it looks like being in the CBD of Melbourne. The venue is larger than last year in terms of capacity, but also will allow us to spread out a little more.
• Speakers: the only person I’m able to talk about at this point is myself … but I’ve already had confirmation from two overseas speakers and am talking to a number of local bloggers.
• Schedule: last time we had everyone in the same room for the whole day; this time we’re booking a venue where we can have multiple topics running at once. You can set your own schedule depending on your needs. I’ll update you more on this as it gets closer.

Interested in attending?

We’re currently putting together a site with all the information about the conference, and anticipate launching it and starting to sell tickets in August. However, in the meantime, if you’re interested in attending please add your email address below and you’ll be the first to be emailed about it (this advanced email list bought the bulk of the tickets last time, so you’ll have every chance to attend).

Note: if you can’t see the email field above you may need to disable ad blockers, as some are a little too aggressive and block this form.

Calling sponsors

Do you have a company or product that you’d like to get in front of 200 or so Australian bloggers? If so, we have a limited number of opportunities for sponsorship on this event. Last year’s attendees numbered 150, but they were an influential bunch. We tallied up their combined readership and it totaled millions of readers, so this is an opportunity to get in front of key influencers.

These sponsorship opportunities are limited to a handful of companies, though, so please don’t delay in contacting us via the contact form here on ProBlogger. We’ll get you information on these opportunities a.s.a.p.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

Announcing ProBlogger Melbourne Training Day – Register Your Interest Today

By promoting our ebooks, you can earn a 40% commission on the sale price for each ebook sold to your own readers. So on our latest ebook—ProBlogger’s Guide to Blogging for Your Business—you’ll earn a $20 commission for each ebook you sell. Recommend it, and sell ten copies, and you’ve earned yourself $200. Sell 100, and you’re $2000 better off.

Better still, when you refer someone to one of our ebooks and they then go on to buy more than one within the next six months, you’ll earn 40% on those extra sales, too.

If you’re interested in promoting ProBlogger ebooks, we have a page set up with information on how to sign up and where you can get resources for your promotions here.

How to get the affiliate code to promote our ebooks

We use E-Junkie to serve our products, but a number of readers have found navigating their affiliate system a little tricky. So today I want to walk you through the process for getting the affiliate code you need to use to make sure you get the commissions you deserve.

1. Go to http://www.problogger.net/affiliates/
.

2. Click on the link to sign  up at E-Junkie.

3. Once you’re signed up and logged into E-Junkie, look for the “Affiliates” tab at the top of the page and click it.

4. Then click the “Affiliate admin” link in the navigation menu.

5. Next, click the “Get affiliate code” link.

6. Select “ProBlogger” from the drop-down menu, and click the “Get affiliate link” button.

7. On the next page, you can get your link in one of two ways:

a. The common affiliate hop link: Use the code provided there, and you’ll send all the people who click it to a general page on ProBlogger which lists all of our products. This is a good option if you want to highlight the full range of our ebooks so they can decide which is right for them. However I don’t find it converts as well as the second option—promoting ebooks specifically.

b. Get product-specific affiliate links: This drop-down menu will let you choose which ebook you want to promote. Choose the one you want, then click “Get affiliate code,” and it’ll take you to a page that displays that code.

This second option generally converts best, because you’re able to promote a specific ebook that’s relevant to your audience’s particular needs.

Whichever option you choose, E-Junkie gives you some HTML code that you can copy and paste into the blog post in which you’re promoting a product. The code isn’t perfect for every situation, as the call to action is “Click here for further details,” but you could change that to something else to suit your post.

The URL part of the code that is given can also be used to link our banner images (or it can be tweeted, shared on Facebook, or emailed).

If you want to use one of our banners to promote an ebook in a sidebar, go our affiliates page and select the one you want.

Do keep in mind that our best-converting affiliates don’t just use banner ads in their sidebars—the best conversions come from a more specific promotion, either through writing a blog post about the product (a review), through tweets, or through emailing a list with a recommendation or review. These more personal recommendations of specific products convert a lot better.

Further reading on affiliate marketing

For some more general tips on how to convert most successfully with affiliate promotions check out:

• 10 Tips for Using Affiliate Programs on Your Blog
• 6 More Tips for Affiliate Marketing on Blogs

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

How to Get Affiliate Code from E-Junkie to Promote our Ebooks

The idea for this resource came from regular emails that I receive from business owners and employees within businesses who want to start blogs to assist them in achieving their business goals.

Their problem, though, is that they don’t know where to begin.

Business owners don’t have the time to take the trial-and-error approach, and often need help from someone who’s done it all before and can show them how to build a successful blog for your business, right from the start.

As a result, I got in touch with Mark Hayward—a blogger who I’ve known for a few years now. Mark not only coaches businesses in blogging strategy: he’s a bricks-and-mortar business owner who’s used blogging and social media to build his business.

Mark has put together an A-Z of blogging for your business. His ebook is going to help a lot of people move from being convinced that a blog is a good idea, to actually have one up and running with a great strategy moving forward.

Step-by-Step advice to save hours of time and endless frustration

By the time you’re finished this ebook, it will have helped you:

• Set up a WordPress blog… without any technical know-how.
• Conduct targeted keyword research… even if you’ve never done it before.
• Understand your online competition… whether they’re next door, or on the next continent.
• Build a strong social media footprint… even if you don’t know the first thing about finding “followers.”
• Set a successful business blogging strategy… no matter what your product or market.

This ebook is over 140 pages in length and full of practical advice with exercises to complete at the end of each of its 12 chapters. So you’ll not only learn the theory—you’ll immediately have opportunity to put it into action and move towards building a fully functioning blog for your business.

For more information on what’s covered in this great new ebook, check out the ProBlogger’s Guide to Blogging for Your Business information page. Or order your own copy for just $49.99 USD by clicking the “Download it Now” button.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

ProBlogger’s Guide to Blogging for Your Business

Okay, time for a little light-hearted fun. Caption Contest!

This morning on Twitter (follow me @Problogger) we were sharing our most embarrassing moments as bloggers and I shared the above picture which appeared in newspapers across Australia.

When the article came out five years ago, it was one of my first. I was excited about the mainstream media mention and looked forward to showing family and friends to legitimize this crazy blogging business I was running. But the photo became the focus of the piece, and generated quite a few laughs.

When I shared it earlier today on Twitter the captions for it started coming in thick and fast, so I thought perhaps it’d be fun to open it up. What would you caption that picture?

I’ll choose my favorite submitted caption in 48 hours’ time, and send the winner a copy of the three existing ProBlogger ebooks, plus a copy of our new one, which will be released next week.

Enter up to five times to increase your chances of winning! To enter simply leave your caption in comments below.

PS: There was another version of the article with a different picture, featuring the same chair here.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

Caption Contest: Win the ProBlogger Library of eBooks!

It’s been a little over a week since we launched ProBlogger’s Guide to Your First Week of Blogging and its been fantastic to see so many positive reactions from readers come in.

Even in the last day I’ve had two emails from readers:

• one from a new blogger who has worked through it to launch their first blog
• another from a blogger who has taken the seven-day challenge to relaunch an older blog that had grown stagnant

Others still tell me that they’re using the ebook to launch their second, third and fourth blogs—projects that they’d had in the “one day” basket, but are now putting into action.

Whether you’re thinking about starting a blog or relaunching an old one, today is your last day to save 50% on this brand new ebook.

The price is just $9.99 USD, but it will double at midnight on 24th May, Eastern US time.

Also, remember that if you buy it before the deadline, you’ll also be put in the draw to win a WordPress theme package from Studio Press worth over $850—the perfect way to kick-start your new blog! Download Your Copy of ProBlogger’s Guide to Your First Week of Blogging today.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

Less Than 24 Hours to Go to Save 50% off the New ProBlogger eBook

• Who’s going to read this?
• How will they find it?
• What will their reaction be?
• What do I do now?

In the hours that followed hitting Publish, I quickly realized that writing my first post was only a small part of what I really needed to do if I wanted my blog to be successful—but knowing that left me feeling quite confused.

Over the coming weeks and months I gradually worked out some of what to do, stumbling upon ways of growing my audience, developing content ideas, and thinking more strategically about growing my blog.

Since that time I’ve launched around 30 blogs, and each time I’ve faced that “What do I do now?” question with a little more confidence as I’ve learned more and more strategies for starting a blog.

ProBlogger’s Guide to Your First Week of Blogging

Today I’m pleased to announce a brand new resource for those starting a blog. A resource that’s designed to guide you through a variety of activities to kick-start your new blog. It’s an ebook called ProBlogger’s Guide to Your First Week of Blogging.

You can read more about the ebook here and learn about our launch week special and bonus. But, in short, it’s written for bloggers who are either starting their first-ever blog, or bloggers wanting to start their second, third, or even fourth blogs with a solid foundation.

Broken down into seven chapters (one for each day—but you can do it over a few weeks if you want to space it out more), it provides daily activities that will help you to:

• Learn foundational brainstorming techniques.
• Create a content plan—and content, of course!
• Build a social media presence.
• Create practical quality assurance tools.
• Set up a publishing process.
• Master the components of a blog post.
• Develop your blog’s ongoing strategy.

Not Just Theory but a Practical Guide with Simple Steps to Take

The book has 7 chapters/days but is further broken down into 32 achievable activities to DO to get your blog started on the right foot. This eBook is high on practical suggestions – it’s all really about taking action which is the number 1 thing you’ll need to do to get your blog moving forward.

Each day has its own focus, but by the end, you’ll have not only written some great posts (and come up with ideas for many more), you’ll have also begun to promote your blog and think about its long term strategy.

Launch Week Special (and the Chance to Win $850 Worth of WordPress Themes)

To celebrate the launch of this brand new ebook, we’re releasing it this week at the special discount price of just $9.99 USD. It’ll normally sell for $19.99 USD, but I wanted to make sure it was as accessible as possible at launch. I don’t intend to repeat this price.

I’ve also approached the team at Studio Press, who make some amazing WordPress blog themes (like the one I use here at ProBlogger), and they’ve agreed to give us two of their Pro Plus Packages to give away to two people who buy this ebook.

That package gives you access to every single WordPress theme that StudioPress has developed (all 37 of them), free of charge. The package of themes sells for $249 but by themselves the themes are worth over $850. To be in the running to win one of these packages, you simply need to pick up this ebook before 17 May, when we’ll draw a winner.

So if you’re thinking of starting your first blog, or you’re planning to start another one, grab your copy of ProBlogger’s Guide to Your First Week of Blogging today, here or check out more information on what’s included here.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

ProBlogger’s Guide to Your First Week of Blogging [50% Off This Week]

Since launching the eBook the price has always been $19.95 USD but on 10th May on the continued feedback of those who’ve take the challenge I’ll be raising the price to $29.99 to be inline with the other ProBlogger eBook – the Copywriting Scorecard for Bloggers.

The reason for the price rise is simple – the feedback I get from those who take the 31 day challenge is blunt – for a 31 day program the advice is worth a lot more than $19.95. At the present price of 64 cents per day it is almost laughable how cheap its been.

So today I want to give current readers notice that on Tuesday 10th May the price will rise. So if you’ve been meaning to pick up a copy this next few days is your last chance at the current price.

At just under $30 the eBook will still be affordable at under $1 a day – but this is your last chance to get it at the reduced price.

This isn’t a scarcity play – I simply wanted to let readers know of the imminent price rise to give everyone a fair chance at the savings.

If you’re not sure if the eBook is for you check out the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog page for further details of what it’s all about.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

31 Days to Build a Better Blog – Price Rise Imminent

I reflected to a friend this morning that the trip changed me on many levels – both personally but also as I reflect upon how blogging and social media can be used to make the world a better place.

Aussies: You Could be on the Next Trip!

I’m really excited today to be able to announce that together CBM Australia (the organization I traveled to Tanzania with), Telstra and ProBlogger are running a competition to identify another Australian Blogger to go on a similar trip in 2012.

If you’re an Aussie and blog (or want to start a blog in the next few months) you can be a part of this journey to identify the next blogger.

Terms and conditions are being finalized at the moment but the prize for the blogger selected will include:

• a week long trip with CBM to a country in Africa (to be determined)
• training from CBM for the trip (this was invaluable for me)
• return economy airfare, accommodation, meals etc on the trip
• we’ll also get to meet in the lead up to the trip as at the least I’ll be involved in your training/preparation (I’m trying to be able to come on it with you too)

In the lead up to the trip we’ll also be running some ‘blog for good’ coaching sessions (both in person and online) so that bloggers preparing their blogs to enter can have them in tip top shape before judging commences later in the year.

Free Melbourne Coaching Event Next Tuesday

The first of these coaching sessions is on in Melbourne next week on 29 March (next Tuesday). It’s a free event for all Melbourne bloggers – you can get details and reserve your spot here. For those of you not in Melbourne – there will be online events coming soon.

At this event on Tuesday we’ll be sharing more about the competition as well as reporting on the trip we just did. I’ll also be presenting a few tips on how to build a more successful blog – whether you’re going to enter the competition or not – and there will be plenty of time to interact with other Melbourne bloggers so should be a lot of fun.

What Next?

If you’re interested in entering the ‘Blog for Good’ competition the best thing you can do right now is start working on your blog.

We’ll release judging criteria as the year progresses but we’ll be looking for bloggers who have the ability to communicate, who are building engaged audiences and who have a heart for using blogging and social media for social good.

Entries will open for those who want to enter on December 1 2011 so you have plenty of time to get your blog firing. The winner will be announced in January 2012 and the trip will take place in Feb/March 2012.

We’ll publish more details as the year progresses but I wanted to get this out there today so that everyone knows what’s happening – particularly about the event in Melbourne next Tuesday night!

Also: Check out Telstra’s announcement of Blog for Good here.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

Aussies: Win a Trip to Africa to Blog for Good

Over almost nine years, it’s been a daily blessing in more ways that I can count:

• new friends
• new skills
• new knowledge
• the opportunity to travel
• the ability to pay off a mortgage
• business partnerships
• the chance to do what I love (communicate and build communities) all day, every day—and get paid for it!

Blogging has been very good to me.

Can blogging be used to help others?

However I’ve always wanted blogging to be more than just good to me. I want it to benefit others, too.

The most obvious people I want it to benefit are those who read the blogs I publish. This is why pretty much everything I do has a “how to” or “advice” spin on it.

One of the most exciting things that happens to me each day is being thanked for achieving that goal—helping people improve in some area of their life.

However, I’ve always wanted blogging to be even more than that. Over the last few years, I’ve often found myself wondering how it could be used to make the world a better place in some bigger way.

With the opportunity to communicate to over 4 million people a month, surely I can find a way to do that.

The Tanzanian experiment

Next Thursday I’m going to experiment with doing just that—and I’d love you to join me.

On 25 February, I’m jumping on a plane (well, a series of them) for Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, East Africa.

I’ll be in the country for one week, to spend time observing—and reporting back to my social network on—an amazing project called Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT). It’s a project of CBM, an international disability and development organization.

The trip is being organized by CBM Australia (you can read more about it here) with the goal of raising awareness of the issues that are faced every day by people with disabilities in developing countries.

The work that they do is amazing.

Last year alone, they performed over 10,530 surgeries and helped improve the lives of around 120,000 people with disabilities and their carers.

Their work focuses upon many areas, including working with sight-related disabilities, club foot, cleft lip/palate, and maternal health (among others).

Having spent time visiting a number of other projects in developing countries over the years, I know that this trip will be confronting. But I’m excited by the opportunity at hand to both be personally impacted by what I see, and to share the journey with you.

Throughout the week in Tanzania, I’ll be sharing what I see via blog posts, videos, and Tweets. We’ll be focusing mainly upon some the hospital’s work with maternal health issues (mainly fistula) and tracking some of the stories of the people that we meet.

This trip is not a money grab. The intent isn’t to create daily calls for you to donate. I’m sure CBM wouldn’t say no to donations (in fact, they’d go a long way to change lives), but my intent with this trip is to share stories, highlight needs, and show what an amazing organization and its people are doing to meet the needs around them.

My hope is that we’ll all come away from the experience with a better awareness of the issues, and the motivation to do something to make the world a better place (whether that be by supporting the work of CBM, or supporting another need you know of).

How can you join this trip?

The bulk of the blogging that I’ll be doing while away will be on CBM’s blog (there isn’t much there yet, but we’ll be adding to it and redoing to the template significantly in the coming days). I’ll be adding posts, videos, and images during the week that I’m on the ground, and in the weeks that follow.

I’ll probably do an update or two here on ProBlogger also, but I’m aware that this blog is about blogging and not Tanzania or issues facing Developing Countries, so we’ll keep it largely on CBM’s blog.

If you’d like to get those updates please subscribe to their blog here.

You can also follow the journey on Twitter by following CBM’s Twitter account. I’ll be making updates on that and also, from time to time, on the ProBlogger Twitter account.

Lastly – you can support this project by sharing news of it and the content we produce while in Tanzania. Please consider passing on the links to stories we share and helping word spread further about what we’re up to. Thanks!

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

Come with Me to Tanzania

Are you looking for more traffic for your blog?

If you answer yes – you’re not alone. In fact you’re in the vast majority of bloggers. I ran a survey of a segment of ProBlogger readers recently and a ‘lack of traffic’ was identified as the #1 challenge that bloggers face.

Kicking off on Monday 24 January Chris Garrett and I are running a short course to tackle this problem. Over 5 modules we’ll walk you through our philosophies for building traffic to blogs.

The course is just $29.95 USD – or $99 if you do it with our other 4 courses in the Pillars of ProBlogging series. It is the 2nd of these courses that we’ve created (the first had some great reviews) and we’d love for you to join us!

In the course we’ll cover 5 Modules:

Module 1: Where to Start

• Starting with the visitors you have
• Build Loyalty
• Engagement
• Subscriptions

Module 2: Get Off Your Blog

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Forums
• LinkedIn
• Blogs

Module 3: Get More Google Traffic

• Keywords and key phrases
• Keyword research
• Landing pages
• Links
• Other ranking influences

Module 4: Advertising and Syndication

• Adwords
• Facebook
• RSS, Aggregators and Syndication
• Repurposing
• Guest-Posting

Module 5: Live Webinar

• Live chat with Chris and Myself (in fact we do two live webinars to accomodate different time zones). These will be recorded for those who can’t make the live webinars.

Each of the modules is made up of multiple videos (a total of over 20 videos) which you’ll have access to for a year – so you don’t have to complete it all in the five days that we release them.

So if you’re looking to boost traffic to your blog in 2011 and you need a little inspiration and instruction to get you going – sign up today for this course.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

Boost Your Blog Traffic: A Guide For Bloggers Who Want More Traffic in 2011

Thanks to everyone for a wonderful year in 2010. Wishing you peace and happiness in this holiday season and looking forward to connecting with you in the new year!

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

Christmas Greetings

Normally retailing for $24.99 today they have it at 44% off – just $14.04. They often have had it at 30% off so this is the lowest I’ve seen it go.

I’ve no idea how long it’ll last at this price – so whether it’s for you to help you ramp up your blog in the new year or whether it’s a stocking stuffer or Kris Kringle gift for a friend or family member – grab your copy today.

PS: this is the 2nd edition of this book and it’s also available for Kindle as well as as an Audio version.

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

ProBlogger the Book: 44% Off Today at Amazon

It’s going to be an exciting week. Chris Garrett and I have put together some great content and are looking forward to interacting with students.

This five-module course will walk you through the five key aspects of creating a blog with the type of content that will:

• engage the readers you have
• draw in new readers
• build your profile and credibility
• help you to better monetize your blog.

If those things are of interest, this is the course for you.

What is it?

The course is presented with videos and articles over five modules (in five days) by myself and Chris Garrett (co-author of the ProBlogger book) and covers these topics:

1. Planning your content: coming up with ideas, finding your voice, types of posts to try
2. Structuring your content: writing your content in a way that works
3. Polishing your content: taking good content and making it great
4. Killer multimedia content: podcasts, interviews, slide shows, and video
5. Live webinars: two Q&A calls with myself and Chris at the end of the week

The live calls will be held on Friday at different times of the day to make them accessible to as many people as possible in different time zones—but we’ll also record them for you.

You have access to all of the content for 12 months after the course runs, plus you’ll gain access to a Q&A tool to engage with other participants and Chris and myself during the coming week.

Join the Fun and Learning Today

Best of all, this five-module course costs just $29.95 (cheaper if you buy the four-course bundle we’re offering). Check out all the details and sign up today here.

Five days of learning for under $30? You won’t find courses like this for less!

Doors open about seven hours from now, but sign up now to get access when they do.

It’s going to be a fun week and I look forward to connecting with you personally during the course!

Originally at: Blog Tips at ProBlogger

A 5-Day Course to Help You Create Killer Content for Under $30!