Guest blogging is when brands or individuals contribute content to a blog hosted by another brand or individual.  The aim is to develop stronger relations with potential partners in your industry or complementary sectors. And in return, you can benefit from the backlinks to your site, boosting in SEO, and increasing traffic.

Here are the seven key benefits of guest blogging.

1. Building High-Value Backlinks

Link-building is one of the hardest parts of SEO for brands, since you have little to no control over who links to your content. You might find that brands you don’t want to be associated with will mention and link to your website, while those that you do want to connect with mention you, but fail to include valuable links. Writing guest blogs for others increases your chances of securing backlinks from relevant websites. In turn, your “domain authority,” or reputation within search engines will improve. 

2. Increasing Organic Traffic

As your domain authority improves, so will your site’s SEO ranking for target keywords. And the higher up your blog is in search engine results, the more organic traffic it will receive. 

The guest post itself can also result in referral traffic heading back to your blog. If you produce content that helps someone else’s audience, they’ll be more inclined to click on your backlink to see what else you do.

“High-quality” traffic doesn’t just mean generating clicks from popular blogs. Guest blogging for a smaller site with themes or readers similar to yours is just as, if not more, valuable in terms of attracting a relevant audience. Focus on guest blogging opportunities with brands that share a similar (although not competitive) target audience to attract potential new readers to your blog.

3. Improving Your Industry Authority

It’s tempting to treat guest blogging as a chance to promote your product or services. However, customers are pretty advert-savvy nowadays. Studies have found that 96% of customers don’t trust advertisements, and they’re pretty good at detecting sales pitches baked in blogs. To inspire trust, your content must help your audience solve their problem first—before you mention your brand.

If you succeed in capturing the interest of your target audience, you’ll grow your personal authority as a credible source of expertise in your area. Readers will be more likely to appreciate your insights and remember your name when they need similar information in the future.

When you write guest posts, make sure your content is valuable to the reader and doesn’t just sell your product or brand. Instead, focus on sharing your knowledge and supporting claims with facts and stats. Aligning yourself with reputable websites will increase trust in your brand.

4. Boosting Brand Mentions on Social Media

Another great aspect of guest blogging is that it allows you to reach new people through social media. When your article is shared by the blog you’ve written for, it will be seen by their followers, who may be discovering you and your brand for the first time.

To increase the chance of your post being shared on their social media, maintain a good relationship with the other blog’s owner, and reciprocate the favor by sharing the content yourself. It can help to negotiate social sharing agreements during the early stages of discussion about your guest post.

5. Raising Awareness of Your Brand

Guest posting is a great way to raise awareness of your brand and reach new audiences. By writing a post for another website, you get the chance to reach an entirely different audience than people who regularly visit your blog. 

If your content resonates with this audience, it can help increase visitors to your site or at least increase the visibility of you and your content. 

6. Establishing Thought Leadership‍

Establishing yourself as a thought leader requires creating insightful and expert content on important topics in your industry. Neil Patel compares guest blogging to opening acts for headliner bands—you’re leveraging an established platform to build your name in front of an audience that should like what you do.

Sometimes, the same re-hashed content might not be as helpful as providing your own take on the state of your industry. Focus on sharing unique content based on your knowledge, and highlight your previous work. As you establish yourself as a thought leader in your field, business opportunities will start to trickle in as your opinions are sought out.

Image source: Animalz

7. Expanding Your Portfolio

Another advantage of guest blogging is that it increases the range of your portfolio. Potential collaborators will want evidence of the quality of your content before they accept your guest post, and the more examples you have, the better. That’s also why you should write new content as opposed to recycling work that’s already been published. 

Brands want to feel like the insights they’re sharing with their audience are fresh, unique, and valuable – not something that they could already find elsewhere or may have read before. It’s not just bad for their brand, but it’s bad for your brand too. Instead, consider sharing case studies based on exclusive data your brand has access to or specific experiences from your career. 

Getting Started with Guest Blogging

Guest blogging is a valuable tool that can expand your brand’s reach and increase your website’s organic traffic. By delivering unique and insightful content that positions you as a thought leader for other sites, you can increase your chances of expanding your own audience as well.

The Benefits of Working with a Blogging Coach

Hiring a coach is common for entrepreneurs who want to break deadlocks in their progress. In fact, 92% of small business owners have said that coaching has positively impacted on their business.

So, what exactly can a blogging coach help you with? There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to blogging, and it depends on your current experience.

Blogging newbies can benefit from learning how to develop a content strategy, increase traffic, and begin to monetize your blog.

If you’re more experienced, you might need someone with skin in the game to teach you how to break writer’s block or get a second pair of eyes on your content strategy.

The key is finding the right blogging coach who can work with you to save time and money. When you procrastinate or don’t know where to begin, you’re wasting energy and resources and can often end up not starting at all. A blogging coach can help you understand which tasks need more time and how to prioritize them.

But before you hire a coach, let’s talk about whether you’re ready for one.

5 Signs You’re Ready to Hire a Blogging Coach

A blogging coach can be a valuable investment, but you might be unsure if you really need one. If these situations seem familiar, there’s a good chance that it’s time to hire a blogging coach.

1. You’ve set goals but aren’t sure how to achieve them.

It’s great having goals like starting a blog and getting 50,000 monthly views, but knowing how to get there is a different story. 

When you work with a coach, you can learn from their experience of what works and discover how to emulate those practices to achieve success for your business. 

2. Having trouble with a consistent publishing schedule.

Writing is difficult, and it might not come naturally to you. Whether it’s because of a lack of inspiration or writer’s block, one of the biggest signs that you’re struggling to write is inconsistency or large gaps between published articles.

Sticking to a regular publishing schedule is crucial to achieving the goals related to your blog. A coach can help you develop a system to publish content habitually, from finding topics to scheduling article publication dates.

If you consistently meet roadblocks, a coach will show you how to overcome them and stick to your publishing schedule.

3. You want to learn how to improve.

When developing any skill, it’s common to plateau or hit a wall in your progress. If you recognize you’re stagnating, you can work with a coach to reach the next level of your blogging journey.

How they can help depends on what you want to learn. The right coach can teach you new skills to add to your blogging arsenal or refine your abilities in certain areas.

4. You’re not getting the expected results.

Seeing very few views and impressions after you publish articles can be seriously demoralizing. This happens to many bloggers, and 90.63% of all pages on the internet get zero views.

Without experienced help, it’s hard to know how to improve when you think you’ve tried everything. If you’re losing confidence due to low views, this could be a sign that you should speak with a blogging coach.

5. You’re unsure where to begin.

When you’re just starting out, you might have a million ideas about what you should write. A common problem that rears its ugly head is uncertainty about which, to begin with, and feeling overwhelmed, meaning your blog never gets off the ground.

This is often because new bloggers don’t have a system in place to find valuable ideas that matter to their audience and don’t create consistent content schedules. A coach can help at any stage of your blogging journey, from getting you going to keeping you on track. 

How to Find the Right Coach for You

The right blogging coach brings invaluable experience to the table. They can help you launch your blog from the ground up or teach you new skills to help you grow as a writer.

However, pairing with the wrong coach who isn’t a good fit for your experience level or doesn’t deliver what they promise will leave you with sub-optimal results.

To set yourself up for success, you should know what to look for in a blogging coach who will help you achieve your goals.

They’re clear in what they offer

Run for the hills if you ever meet a blogging coach that promises you the world.

A good blogging coach should be upfront with what they’re offering and what you’ll get when working with them. A couple of red flags to look for include vague information on the type of coaching they provide and a lack of interest in your situation and what you hope to get from coaching.

For some people, being bombarded with many questions during the prospecting phase can be off-putting, but we’d argue that it’s a great way to start. A good blogging coach will want to know about your goals in as much detail as possible so they can create a bespoke plan.

A coach has proven success in their method

Talk is cheap, as they say. While anyone can call themselves a blogging coach who has taken zeroes to heroes overnight, it’s concerning if they can’t show anything to back that up. An experienced blogging coach will have a portfolio they can share of who they’ve worked with.

Along with a portfolio, they should be able to describe their process and how they achieved success with former clients. This will give you an idea of their approach and how it might align with your goals.

Look out for testimonials, which will give you an idea of what it’s like to work with a coach, as well as the types of clients they take on.

Their fundamentals are solid

If you’re still unsure after checking a blogging coach’s portfolio and speaking with them, you can check their writing samples.

While everyone expresses their creativity through writing differently, it’s concerning if the blogging coach claims one thing but shows they don’t have the basics down. For example, you might spot consistent grammar mistakes, or their content could leave you confused, even after reading it a few times.

Looking through a coach’s writing portfolio gives you an idea of how well they write but also gives you a chance to see if they practice what they preach.

Final thoughts

Whether you’re just beginning your blogging journey or have been doing it for a while, you could benefit enormously from hiring a blogging coach.

To ensure you benefit from their experience and external point of view, it’s worth checking that you’re ready to hire a coach. It can be time intensive, not to mention the expense, and you might not get the most out of it if the situation isn’t right for you.

With the right person, if you need to break a plateau or improve your blogging progress, hiring a blogging coach could be the best investment you make in yourself this year.

You probably hear it all the time…SEO. To some those letters may mean nothing other than a typo for CEO, but almost every blogger knows what they stand for. Search Engine Optimization is a familiar concept—whether they like it or not.

Not all bloggers care about SEO or Google rankings equally. To businesses or people blogging as part of a career, these measures matter greatly; to the teenager blogging about their college application process, they may not matter at all. Whether you are blogging as a hobby or professionally, and whether or not you’re regularly monitoring SEO, it feels good to be acknowledged. And we’re here to tell you that regardless of your niche, you can rank on the first page in your area of expertise.

This article will highlight some of our bloggers who have found success ranking on the top page for certain keywords. We will take a peek at their blogs, see how they’ve found SEO success, and learn what we can take away from their experience.

SEO Without the Gluten

Blog: The Sightseeing Coeliac, Eating Gluten-Free Around the World 

Top Ranking Keyword: “Gluten-free Dublin”

This blog is the ultimate resource for gluten-free eating around the world. Rachel takes her readers around the world, sharing how a Coeliac diagnosis doesn’t have to be the end of eating out and adventuring.

Rachel didn’t want her medical need for a gluten-free diet to hinder her love of travel and eating, and her blog is a way to share how this is possible. Now, not only is she helping others who have a gluten-free diet, she is ranking on the top page of Google for the keyword “Gluten-free Dublin.”

What we can learn:

If we haven’t heard it enough already, a clearly defined niche is key to SEO success. This blog is not simply dedicated to travel or food, it specializes in the intersection of a specific diet and international travel. The more specific and detailed your niche, the greater the chances of ranking.

Suited for SEO

Blog: https://davidjones.blog/

Top Ranking Keyword: Suit ideas

David Jones is an in-person and online department store that shares a wide range of guidance through their blog. It’s an excellent reminder of why all businesses need a blog and demonstrates how good SEO understanding can increase sales and revenue.

By ranking on the top page of Google for “suit ideas,” David Jones can gain new customers who are searching for fashion advice and then stumble upon their brand. 

What we can learn:

Blogging and business go hand in hand. Good SEO practices, like strategic keyword use, can get your brand in the eyes of a larger audience. By providing useful content and focusing on well-searched keywords, businesses can bring new customers to their brand.

Sweet Sweet SEO

Blog: https://thissweetlife.blog/

Top Ranking Keyword: Palm Springs Bedroom

This lifestyle blog directed at moms is the equivalent of a virtual hug from your best friend. Blogger Natalie created This Sweet Life to provide entertainment, support, and advice for mothers. On her journey to create an online motherhood community and a place to discuss travel, style, and decorating, she hit the SEO sweet spot by ranking for “Palm Springs Bedroom.”

Even though her blog is not dedicated specifically to Palm Springs or even interior design, using a longer, more specific keyword resulted in her top-page ranking, which will help new readers find her blog.

What we can learn:

Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific keywords that are searched less often but have a higher conversion rate. By targeting these, a blog can rank higher because there is less competition. Using long-tail keywords can be especially helpful for bloggers in very saturated niches.

The Mother of All SEO

Blog: https://www.theorganisedmum.blog/

Top Ranking Keyword: The Organized Mum Method

Developed by a mom who was looking to organize her own home and life, the Organised Mum Method (TOMM) teaches moms how to keep their homes clean without spending all their time and energy doing it. Creator Gemma took her personal plan, made it public, and became a best-selling author and businesswoman in the process.

TOMM is featured on multiple sites and social media platforms. Because the same phrase, “The Organized Mum Method,” appears on so many sites, the blog easily ranks highly for the keyword that describes her top-selling method.

What we can learn:

Building a personal brand can help streamline your blog and lead to business success. Using the same terms on multiple channels increases the odds of your blog being discovered in a search. When building your brand, in addition to focusing on cohesive visual themes, utilize the same language to help SEO ranking.

SEO Success

SEO success isn’t just for a select few. Any blog in any niche can achieve it. The good news is that one niche isn’t better than another, so you can write about what you love and know and still achieve a top-page ranking. As always, the key to success is knowing your audience, being educated on SEO, sticking to your niche, and getting your social media and blog working together.

Remember, even for the most highly-ranked blogs, SEO success doesn’t happen overnight. Consistency, dedication, and persistence are a blogger’s best friends. Keep writing and trust that your hard work will pay off.

Believe it or not, the end of 2022 is upon us and we are about to enter another new year. Looking at blogs of today, who would have predicted this blogging trajectory back in the 90s? We are grateful for how far they’ve come and that we get to play a role in the blogging journey of so many.

While we can never predict the future, we can look back and learn from the past and make educated guesses about where we are going, and that’s what this article is all about. Join us as we journey through 2022 and take a look ahead to 2023.

A Review of 2022

2022 was another exciting year for bloggers. Here are the lessons this year taught us:

Content marketing leads the way

Content marketing is here and here to stay. Blogs provide the perfect home for articles, videos and ebooks, and both readers and bloggers benefit from this content. Readers appreciate free gifts in exchange for signing up for email newsletters, and for bloggers, content marketing draws audiences to their site, converts sales, and helps build trust.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is always changing

Just in the last few months, we’ve seen evidence that SEO is constantly changing–read about Google’s most recent update here if you haven’t already. Google is constantly trying to improve its user experience and, as a result, bloggers have been asked to prioritize the reader and to further hone in on a specific niche.

Video content gets more popular

2022 has seen a continued rise in video content production and demand. Many consumers even report that they prefer video content to written content. YouTube and TikTok are huge and bloggers who regularly embed videos into their blogs [link to article on fantastic hip-hop blog] are successfully appealing to this modern-day audience.

Build your brand

Unlike in the early days of blogging, having a stand-alone blog is no longer the goal for most bloggers. Rather, a blog is one part of a greater brand. Bloggers must know their niche and their brand, being intentional about pairing their blog, social media, and other marketing into a cohesive brand image.

Getting Excited for 2023

2023 will continue to build upon the trends and lessons of this year; here are themes we predict will make their mark in the new year:

Quality over quantity

While regular posting is always worthwhile and desirable, especially in niches with quickly changing news, blogs will see an increased emphasis on quality over quantity. Prioritizing the reader means giving clear, detailed, informative, and interesting posts. Writing such thoughtful posts takes more time which may mean fewer total posts. Well-researched posts published once a month are better than shallow daily posts–unless, of course, the mission of your blog relies on daily posting.

Unique content wins

Blogging is no longer in its infancy. Most of what can be blogged about probably has been blogged about. But that doesn’t mean there is no room for more; it just means that blogs need to add something new and valuable. Remember that not all blogs have to look the same. Take a look at some of our featured dotbloggers to see how many amazing and creative blogs already exist. Emphasize what makes you unique and remember to take advantage of adding video content to your site.

Cater to shortened attention spans

Whether we think it is a good or bad thing that attention spans are decreasing, as bloggers, we must keep this fact in mind. When formatting your posts, remember that your readers are used to receiving information quickly. Make it easy for them by utilizing headers, having engaging visual content, and providing summaries. Lists are also a user-friendly way to share information with your readers.

Remember the world outside the Internet

Even though bloggers live online, there is a whole other outside world that is easy to forget. As the peak of Covid continues to become more of a memory than a day-to-day reality, many are eager to meet in person again. Actively look at networking opportunities so that you can connect with and learn from others in person in addition to virtually. Remember that just because your job is online, you too can benefit from the community.

We’re Here Through the Years

The end of the year is always an exciting time to review how you and your blog have grown. It is also a good time to take note of blogging trends that rose or decreased in popularity throughout the past year. In addition to reflecting, we love looking ahead to another year. It’s a time for bloggers to build anticipation and excitement about the new year, set goals and plan for another year of blogging. As we ring in 2023 together, we will continue to be here to support you and are grateful to experience another year of blogging together.

Subject matter experts (SMEs) are people with high levels of experience and a deep understanding in a specific area. SMEs aren’t always bloggers, but knowing what you are blogging about and positioning yourself as an expert in your field is key to having success as a blogger. Often, businesses will bring on SMEs to increase the authority of their blogs.

Maybe you’re an SME with your own blog, or maybe you’ve been asked to guest post. Either way, this article will give tips on successfully blogging as an SME.

Write from an outline

When you are knowledgeable and passionate about a subject, it’s sometimes hard to discuss it concisely. An outline can help you organize your thoughts and keep you on track. 

Before you begin writing, make a note of all the ideas you want to address. Write down the points you plan to cover, then expand upon them. You can write them in simple bullet points or break them up into headers with additional information under each one. Writing from an outline ensures you cover everything you set out to address and makes your writing process more organized and streamlined.

Read other articles

Experienced bloggers know how important it is to learn from other bloggers within their niche. The same goes for SMEs. Reading content in your field can inform you of what readers want to learn about.

When you read other blogs, pay attention to the tone of voice, common themes, and popular content. These markers will guide you as you formulate your own posts. Remember that the questions that fellow SMEs in your field discuss are not always the same questions that the general population is curious about. The more research you do ahead of writing, the more impactful your article will be.

Speak to your audience

When writing as an SME, it is important to remember that you are the expert, and your audience probably isn’t. Strive to give your knowledge in an accessible way. Use language that makes your article more approachable and easy to read. When using acronyms, even ones commonly used in your field, be sure to spell them out first so your knowledge can be understood across all levels of expertise.

Stay up to date

If you’re running your own blog, regularly updating your posts can help keep your site relevant. Over time, information changes and even small tweaks to potentially outdated posts help keep your blog up to date. Ensuring the continuing accuracy of your blog also positions it as a trustworthy source.

Even if you are guest posting, you can ask the host blogger if they would like edits on your past articles. Most importantly, it is essential to stay well-researched and educated to maintain your status as an SME.

Be yourself

No matter how long you have been an SME, you might feel pressure to prove your expert status. Try to remember that you have earned your position, and be authentic—this is how you earn credibility.

You have specific knowledge, experience, and skills. Trust your authority and don’t shy away from your uniqueness. Just like your background, your uniqueness is a strength, and your personal journey within your field of expertise contributes something valuable and is worthy of sharing.

From SME to Blogging Expert

Knowing your field and finding success as a SME doesn’t always translate to successful blogging. Blogging is a craft that takes experience and thought. Whether you are a regular blogger or an SME who has never blogged before, following these simple tips will help you find success and feel confident sharing your knowledge on any blog.

We’re so excited that we’re celebrating our sixth anniversary this week! We know we wouldn’t be here without you, so we want to recognize you and bring attention to your accomplishments.

Do you know your blog’s anniversary? Is it coming up? Do you celebrate it? No matter how you answer these questions, we want to share why your anniversary is worth celebrating and give you some ideas on how to do it.

Why it’s Worth Celebrating

Having a blog is a commitment that takes care, attention, and love. If you’re in a relationship, your partner probably wouldn’t appreciate you forgetting your anniversary or letting it go by without any acknowledgment. Your blog deserves to be celebrated too!

Having a blog that lasts multiple years is an accomplishment in and of itself. Are you in that group? If so, pause and give yourself a pat on the back. Not there yet? That’s okay, you will be soon. Celebrating even mini milestones helps to recognize your hard work. Imagine your blog as your baby and celebrate each month of its life. You and your blog are both growing constantly, and you should be proud of all the hard work it took to get here.

Celebrating your blogging anniversary can also inspire you and give you momentum. Any job can get monotonous after a while. Taking time to mark your milestones can bring some excitement back to your blogging journey and remind you of why you got started in the first place.

Just as many of us create a list of goals or resolutions in the New Year, your blog’s anniversary can serve as an opportunity to reflect on your growth and reset your goals. None of us stay the same year after year. Growth can mean many different things or be any size achievement. Did you learn a new skill set? Did you achieve one of last year’s goals? Did your blog hit a certain number of readers? Use this annual event as a time to note where you’ve come from, acknowledge your accomplishments, and look forward to the future with a renewed plan and direction.

How to Celebrate

1. Host a Giveaway

Who doesn’t love free things? Hosting a giveaway is a fun way to mark your blog’s anniversary, and there are many different ways to do it:

• Create branded swag and give it away to your followers. 
• Create a gift basket, auction it off, and then give the proceeds to a charity that aligns with your blog. 
• Make a big gift package and choose one random reader to win it at random.
• Encourage readers to share your blog with others. Incentivize sharing by having a drawing for a prize package, where each share equals one entry.

2. Have a Party

Aren’t parties synonymous with celebrations? Having a party is a fun way to mark your blogging anniversary, and it doesn’t have to be huge to count. Certainly, you can throw an elaborate event and invite important bloggers in your niche, but you can also keep it simple and celebrate the occasion with a few of your closest friends.

Think of this day as your blog’s birthday and celebrate with a birthday party. Not into parties? Buy yourself a cake to celebrate on your own!

3. Create a Special Anniversary Post

This is a blog anniversary, after all, so celebrating with a special anniversary post makes sense. You can even make it an annual tradition. Every year, make a list of your most popular posts alongside your favorite posts.

On your five-year anniversary, you can list your five most popular posts plus your five favorite posts of all time, remembering to link to them. Or maybe ask people to share their favorite moments from your blog. You can also ask people to vote on a topic beforehand and then release the winning post on your blog’s anniversary. 

4. Host an Online Event

Your blog’s celebration doesn’t have to be in person. Use the occasion as an opportunity to connect with your followers through a virtual celebration. You can host a virtual party, share a free webinar, or offer a Q&A. Your readers are the ones who keep your blog alive, and getting people involved increases engagement and builds community. It also gives you the chance to learn from your readers directly: What do they like? What do they want to see more of? What keeps them coming back again and again?

5. Make an Announcement

What better time to make a special announcement? Use your anniversary to share a project that you’ve been working on. Are you launching a new book, adding a storefront to your site, or starting a new series? Build excitement about what the next year of your blog will hold.

6. Give your Blog a Makeover

Have you been thinking about changing your coloring or format? Is there something new you have been thinking about bringing to your blog but haven’t found the right time yet? Let your anniversary be the day you launch or announce this change. As you evolve, your blog can too. Remember that your blog doesn’t have to stay stuck in the year it was built; it can get better with age.

Cheers to Another Year

Each year, as we celebrate our own anniversary, we are reminded of our growth and progress. We are here for you and because of you, and for that, we offer our sincerest thank you! We look forward to celebrating our future anniversaries with you, and we can’t wait to see and host all of yours.

Google recently rolled out a “helpful content update,” which aims to prioritize “people-first” content and rank it ahead of content written directly for search engine optimization (SEO). This article covers how this impacts the blogging community and provides tips to ensure your content meets the new requirements so your blog can continue to succeed and grow. 

“People-First” Content – What? Why? How?

Google is constantly trying to improve its ranking system so consumers get the information they are searching for. According to a statement on Twitter, “[they’re] improving Search so you’re less likely to find content made for search engines, and more likely to find helpful, authentic information — particularly for education, entertainment, shopping and tech content.” 

Bloggers want to write people-first content but also feel pressure to rank in order to be seen. We’re hopeful this new algorithm will help prioritize the content you write and share.

To help ensure your content is flagged as “people-first,” here are some tips based on Google’s guidance:

1. Have a niche

Google wants users to know what to expect from a specific site. If your blog is a travel blog, make sure you have a lot of travel-related topics. The more specific focused your site is, the more likely it provides value for the target audience and meets the new criteria.

Although it can be tempting to combine multiple interests into one blog–we are people with multiple passions, after all – the best way to avoid being flagged as “unhelpful” is to write to a target audience on a singular topic. If you have more than one theme you want to blog about, you can always create multiple sites to cover them especially if they are unrelated.

2. Demonstrate expertise

Having “people-first” content means that it is vital to add value rather than simply repeating what others have already said. Remember, you are your blog’s most valuable resource. Readers come to your blog because you offer something unique and different–your voice, your experience, and your expertise.

When thinking about starting a blog, choose a topic that you are knowledgeable about. Ask yourself what new expertise you have to offer to the blogosphere. When posting, include personal experiences, pictures, research, unique insights, and opinions. Help your readers, and Google, build trust in the information you share.

3. Give helpful and complete information

One of the most important components of a “people-first” site is that your posts answer the questions they are written for. If google searches find your blog article and have to go back to google after reviewing it, that’s a bad sign and likely penalized in Google’s search ranking algorithm. Also avoid click bait titles and articles, like promising to announce a movie’s release date when one hasn’t yet been set. Google is cracking down on this type of misdirection.

For years, bloggers have been advised to write long-form posts that capture as many keywords as possible. However, long articles aren’t always what readers are looking for. A post that is long simply to have a lot of keywords without adding value is counter to the “helpful content” guidelines and runs the risk of being tagged “unhelpful.”  Readers should feel like their query has been sufficiently answered without having to go to an additional source.

4. Provide a user-friendly experience

Google wants users to have a positive online experience. To create this, think about how readers feel when visiting your site. Ask yourself: is my site easy to navigate? Is it visually appealing? Can readers quickly and easily find what they are searching for? 

Blogging for The People

Algorithm changes happen all the time, and, as bloggers, we must learn to adapt and find ways to serve our audience and our blog. Google’s new update changes the way pages are ranked, prioritizing articles that provide a “people-first” experience. To ensure your blog continues to thrive under this new system, follow the tips above to benefit your readers and earn a “helpful” Google ranking.

The internet has come a long way since its first official inception in 1983. Many people don’t pause to think about its current state or evolution, but the internet is an integral part of our daily lives. Those who rely on the web, like bloggers and entrepreneurs, must consider where it’s going. In this article, we’ll give you a brief overview of the internet’s history and evolution, then discuss what Web 3.0 is and why it’s essential for blogging.

Web 1.0

Web 1.0 (1990–2004) is the earliest version of the internet. Web 1.0 emerged from the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET). This project aimed to build a network to expedite access to the USA’s supercomputers. ARPANET became the first global network for digital communications.

At this time, the internet was nothing like what we see today. It was composed of static web pages joined by hyperlinks and lacked the additional details, design, ease of use, controls, and forms of today’s websites. Content sharing was limited, which is why Web 1.0 is often referred to as the “read-only web.” However, Web 1.0 allowed the world to read and share information through blogs, forums, and email communication: the fundamental building blocks of social sharing. 

Blogging 1.0

Most Web 1.0 internet users were consumers. There were few content creators, so content availability was limited. Blogging wasn’t popular because it required technical skills to run and maintain that wasn’t accessible to most users. The early web blogs were simple, updated components of standard and common websites. Most experts believe that links.net was the first blog website.

During the popularity of dial-up internet connection (Web 1.0 era), webpages with long lists of comments took ages to load. Needing an efficient way to allow users to comment without slowing down their website, hosts found that a guestbook feature was the solution. It was an efficient way to allow users to post comments without slowing down the website’s performance. 

Web 2.0 – The Present

Web 2.0 (2004–now), or the “read-write internet,” is the current era that facilitates interaction between users and websites. Every user is free to become a content producer and can easily connect to their consumers or audience.

Smartphone evolution directly influenced the development of Web 2.0, the “social web.” In 2007, Macworld revealed the first iPhone device, the first mobile phone that offered quality internet browsing in the palm of your hand. As technology improved and became more accessible, social sharing did too, and web 2.0 developed the inevitable power of social media. 

User experience developed rapidly. Information flowed seamlessly through evaluation algorithms and online comments. Content became more dynamic and responsive. All of this created rapid, yet volatile, growth for the tech industry.”

Blogging 2.0

The speedy development of tools and applications made blogging accessible to every internet user. As a result, blogging blew up and gave rise to some of the internet’s largest and most-read blogs like The Huffington Post, Techcrunch, and Mashable. Demand for traditional media declined as more and more people consumed news online. Publishers adapted by creating blogs and encouraging journalists to adjust to the online medium. 

Web 3.0 – The Future

So, what’s next for the internet? 

What you may not know is, Web 3.0 (aka Web3) is already here.  It takes Web 2.0 and adds a layer of decentralization and transparency for users through various technologies like blockchain. That means it operates on a technical infrastructure that lets people go online without needing big tech players like Google, Facebook, or the Apple of the world. Instead, individual users can own, manage, and govern parts of the internet themselves.

Web 3.0 is also a possible version of the internet that can use artificial intelligence (AI) and semantic search to improve user experience. With AI and machine learning, computers could interpret information like humans and help us understand and process information.

AI can recognize places, people, events, and products. If AI integration succeeds at the mainstream level, computers will help us intelligently produce and distribute helpful content tailored to individual users. This is why Web 3.0 is often referred to as the “read-write-execute” internet.

Blogging 3.0 — What’s next?

Web 3.0 seeks to bring power back to the user by giving them complete control over their content. In this new decentralized environment, bloggers and consumers own their personal data and control who profits from it. Bloggers won’t need to surrender to large technology companies or closed systems (Facebook, Google, etc.) because they’ll have complete control over their digital real estate, content, and how it’s consumed and shared. 

Right now, anyone can become a blogger by publishing content on open source content management systems (CMS) like WordPress. This ability to have complete ownership of your content and transfer it to where you want and how you want it published will be a key attribute to bloggers in Web 3.0.    

Bloggers will have enhanced secure data storage and own their subscriber lists. If something happens to the Web 3.0 platform, you won’t lose your subscriber list, and if you want to change platforms, you can take your content with you. 

These benefits could in theory increase the earning potential of every blogger producing good content. In this era, there is no cookie-cutter way of profiting from online content. Web 3.0 is an internet that offers better business practices and challenges traditional ways of conducting business, bringing creativity and earning potential to everyone. 

The Future is Ours

Over the past 30 years, the internet has changed tremendously, and its growth is not stopping anytime soon. The Web 3.0 era claims to bring autonomy back to the individual to create a free marketplace. Bloggers and content creators will have access to an untapped version of the internet containing endless opportunities. However, bloggers must get creative with their content strategy and vision. To do that, it’s vital to appreciate the development of the online world and understand where it’s going next.

.blog offers domains and services for all types of bloggers and users, from individual bloggers like Tim Ferris to big businesses, like Amazon. Many of these users often choose to purchase premium domains for their online digital identity. Premium domain names use highly recognizable keywords for better branding and marketability, are shorter in length, and stand out above others in the growing list of domain names. 

Why a Premium Domain?

First and foremost, premium domain names are shorter and much more memorable. These high-quality domains offer opportunities for brand building [link], are easier to market and are typically composed of target words which can result in better search engine optimization (SEO).

Who Buys Premium Domains

Digital Asset Investor

The digital asset investor gravitates toward premium domains because they are interested in well-priced, low renewal cost domains. This buyer is seeking opportunities to flip the domain for a quick and easy profit. Typically, these investors are interested in domains with large market opportunities, such as those with keywords and phrases relevant to the domain extension and search engines. Examples of the domains this type of buyer is interested in are insurance.blog, health.blog, travel.blog, bobs.blog.

Recent decreases in carrying costs combined with extremely high and untapped premium word inventory paves the way for savvy investors to purchase and hold these valuable domain names. Since domains first appeared, investors have been taking advantage of this valuable investment and there is no end in sight.

Single End User

Unlike an investor, this buyer is typically making a one-off purchase rather than buying multiple domain names. Their premium domain purchase is often tied to an emotional or sentimental meaning behind a name, such as our.blog or `family name`.blog.

This buyer is looking to carve a space for themselves online and wants a name that perfectly reflects them and their blog. The premium domains they choose speak directly to their online personality and presence. They are relevant and easy to remember and share.

Corporate End User

For the corporate end user, the purchase of premium domains is generally based on possible return on investment (ROI). Many high-end companies (e.g., Nike, Amazon, Calvin Klein, Chevrolet, Oracle, Microsoft, Apple, Visa, etc.) also purchase these domain names to protect their brand and prevent others from obtaining domains using their brand name. Unlike the buyer who is guided by emotions, these purchasers choose a domain based on facts, like search volume, relevance to their brand or product, possible SEO values, and overall marketability.

Corporate end users typically have large budgets, longer sales cycles, and there is more red tape involved. Through their purchase of these top-tier .blog domains, they help their customers and anyone involved in their brand stays better connected to their base. In addition to securing their brand name, they may choose to capitalize on generic keywords (e.g., health, travel, cooking, sex) in a reputable extension that is not clogged with overexposure and spam.

Premium Domains, Premium Experience

There are many reasons one might want to invest in a premium domain for their business or brand. From a savvy investment to an emotional connection to a name to a well-planned business decision, a wide range of people benefit from premium domains. Learn more about available premium domains and how you can purchase a premium .blog domain to advance your goals.

Blogs are everywhere. People turn to them for news, inspiration, travel guides, cookbooks, and anything else you can imagine. Even though there are millions of blogs, there’s always room for new bloggers. Everyone has a unique experience, expertise, and energy, and every new blogger adds positively to the blogosphere. 

No matter what stage you’re at as a blogger, we’re here to support you along the way, and .blog has the resources you need. Have you been thinking about starting a blog but waiting for a sign? If so, this is your sign, and this article is for you!

Before You Start

Just thinking about starting a blog? You’re in the right place. Part of building a successful blog is planning ahead. These articles can help answer some of your questions and guide your planning process:

6 Questions Every New Blogger Asks

How do I start a blog? What should I write about? What tools do I need to be a blogger? All beginning bloggers have questions, and this article answers 6 of the most common ones.

How to Choose the Best Blogging Platform for Your Needs

Before you can even start writing, you need a blogging platform. Choosing one can be intimidating, but this article walks you through questions that will help you choose the best place for your blog.

5 Tips for Selecting the Best Domain Name for your Blog

Do you already have a dream domain name in mind? If so, great–read this article to get confirmation that you’ve chosen the right one. If not, no worries–this article will give you the tips and confidence you need to select the best domain name for your blog.

Building Your Blog

Now that you’ve taken the leap into the blogging world, you’re probably working through the details of building a successful blog. These articles guide you through some of the logistical steps of getting going:

How to Start a Blog in 5 Simple Steps

You’re ready to dive in–fantastic! But what next? This article helps you get started in 5 simple steps. You’ll be blogging in no time.

5 Tips to be a Successful Blogger

Who doesn’t want success? Even if you aren’t looking to make a living with your blog, this article will teach you everything you need to know to get the best start.

7 Secrets to Building a Successful Blog

The last article had 5 tips; this one has 7 secrets–shh! This information is for dotbloggers only. We kid, but check out this article to learn the keys to blogging success.

How to Start a Photo Blog: A Quick Guide for Beginners

This article is dedicated to beginning a photo blog, but it can be tailored to any niche. If you have a photo blog, you can’t miss this one, but even if you don’t, the tips are still relevant.

Looking for More Inspiration

We get it: sometimes you need a reminder of why you started in the first place or evidence of why you should. These articles detail why building a blog is worth it:

Why It’s Worth Starting a Blog in 2022

We obviously think blogging is worth it, but don’t just take it from us. This article gives all the evidence you need to jump in.

6 Reasons Why You Should Start Blogging This Year

Answering the question, “should I start a blog?” This article outlines six reasons why blogging can positively add to your life.

You Are A Blogger

Blogging is for everyone. Whether you’re looking to make a career of it, building a blog to support your business, or are simply blogging as a hobby, you can learn how to build a successful blog at .blog. Our commitment to bloggers is ongoing, and we’re always adding new articles to support your success. We can’t wait to see where your blogging journey leads.