14 Ways to Better Your Blog in 2014: Part 1
The start of a new year means time for change, especially when it comes to your blog. What better time to tweak, adjust, and make improvements. I have 14 ways that you can Better Your Blog in 2014!
14 Ways to Better Your Blog in 2014: Part 1
1. Try Something New. I swore I would never add one of those “Like Me on Facebook” pop ups when you visit my site. But curiousity has gotten the better of me. So I am trying it for a month. Let’s see if this thing really does work. I’ll report back at the end of the month and let you know my thoughts. But the point is, try something new. Maybe it’s a new social media platform. Maybe it’s blogging less. Pick something and just try!
2. Create Landing Pages. I wish I could take credit for this one but I can’t. Barb of A Life in Balance shared this tip on our Better Your Blog Facebook Group {Wanna join? Check us out!} So what exactly is a landing page? If you are writing about one topic over and over again, it’s a good idea to create a landing page for all of those posts. I put together one for my Elf on the Shelf Ideas. Simply create a new page, add a few sentences describing your category and add your links. You can use InLinkz like I did for the Elf on the Shelf Page or use images and /or links like I did for my Photography landing page.
3. Track Your Stats. You are probably already checking your pageviews and traffic but are you really analyzing them. This past year, I created a Blog Statbook where I tracked a ton of information each month. I track the following:
- Social Media Growth
- Pageviews and Visitors on Both Statcounter and Google Analytics
- Traffic Sources
- Popular Pages
- Google & Alexa Rankings
- Keywords
View an example of my Blog Statbook.
4. Get organized. Whether that means cleaning off of your desk, your desktop, or filling in your editorial calendar. When you get yourself better organized, the writing will happen.
5. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Pick one thing a month you want to work on. If you want to grow your Facebook numbers, focus on engaging more for a whole month. You can’t master everything all at once. By breaking it down piece by piece, it will all come together like a puzzle.
6. Rewrite your About Me Page. The beginning of the new year is a great time to take a look at your About Me page. Update the ages of your children or put the year they were born instead {less updating}, add any new achievements or awards, and make sure all of your links are properly working. I like to take a look at my About Me page every quarter and make little changes.
7. SEO it! If you want Google to find you, you must learn how to SEO {Search Engine Optimization} your posts. It’s ok if you don’t quite get what SEO is or how to SEO a post. It’s something that some people just get and others struggle with. There are many free {and cheap} resources out there that can help you get a better handle on how to SEO your blog. Check out some of my favorite SEO resources to help you along the way!
- SEO Blog Tricks
- Easy SEO for Bloggers {on sale now for only $5!}
- SEO Tips for Bloggers Using the YOAST Plugin
Thank you! Very helpful! I know one of my goals is to learn more about SEO…. thanks for the links!
Thanks for the tips! I don’t understand SEO at all. I will be spending nap time looking through your links.
Great tips! This is the first year I plan to track my monthly stats, excited about that. And I am planning to focus on FB more this month, we’ll see what happens.
Great tips! SEO is always changing so I’d love to learn more about the new changes and *try* to stay ahead of the game!
Oh gosh – I will try at least 5, 6, and 7! Thanks for the tips!
Thank you for these ideas!
#5 is one of the best tips – I’m awesome at overwhelming myself, repeatedly, lol…
I haven’t heard of statcounter before.. How does it compare to Google Analytics?
Great ideas… we’ve made progress in some of these areas, but 2014 is the time to step up our game. Thanks for the helpful advice.
Good information…I’m trying to access as much new information as possible to make my blog better for 2014.
I’ll be staying tuned for parts 2-4 for sure, and I requested to join the Facebook group. Seems fantastic!
Great ideas. I want to concentrate on Pinterest this year. The traffic is huge and I’m not working it that much, so it can only get better. I like your “Recommended Pinner” popup. Have you seen your # of followers grow with it?
My husband keeps telling me to try video. That would be something new for me, but it scares me !