e h t g n i t t e s l S a : t 1 n e e l u m a d d n Mo u F g o l B t h g i R

My Blogging Story

Started PE (Personal Excellence) in Dec 2008

Called Embrace Living then (http: embraceliving!net) "agline: #Living your best possible life and achieving your highest potential

My Blogging Story: Rebranding

$n %&ne 200'( a)ter * months o) starting the blog(

+enamed to #"he Personal Excellence ,log"agline became: #Be your best self, Live your best lifeChanged domain to http: celestinech&a!com

+eason:
.! Changed name beca&se!!!
a) /elt that the name #Embrace Living- 0as dra0ing a di))erent 1ind o) cro0d b) Did not represent m2 vision )or the site 3 )or people to achieve excellence in li)e

2! 4ld tagline 0as 5&ite a mo&th)&l 6! Domain: Didn7t 1no0 0hat domain to go )or( so 0ent )or personal branding

My Blogging Story: Changing Visual Look

8id90a2( made 5&ite a n&mber o) la2o&t changes and t0ea1s

My Blogging Story: Changing Visual Look

$n 20.0( changed to maroon loo1 0hich became a mainsta2

My Blogging Story: Another Rebranding

$n 20..( dropped #"he- and #,log- )rom the name to become #Personal Excellence"agline became: #For people passionate about achieving excellence in lifeS0itched domain to http: personalexcellence!co +eason:
.! :ame change: ;anted to b&ild PE as a plat)orm )or ever2thing on sel)9 help (e!g!( boo1s( coaching( podcasts)( < :4" =&st a #blog2! "PE, 0as 5&ite a mo&th)&l )or a name 6! "agline: ;anted to move be2ond targeting individ&als and start b&ilding PE as comm&nit2 >! Domain change: "o brea1 o&t o) personal branding and b&ild the blog as an entit2 independent o) sel) (to concentrate on message o) #Personal Excellence-)

PE oday

ra!!i" E#olution

.st 0ee1 o) la&nch (.> Dec 708): .?0@?00 pagevie0s da2 .st 2ear (Dec 70'): .(8'6 pagevie0s da2 (average) 2nd 2ear (Dec 7.0): ..(..* pagevie0s da2 (average)

ra!!i" E#olution

$n 4ct 20..( a)ter r&nning PE )or A 6 2ears (and 0hile traveling in London)( hit . million pagevie0s month milestoneB

Sna$shot sin"e %e" &''( )* years+

$ntervie0ed and )eat&red over ?0 times in media( incl&ding C::( Channel :e0s Csia( Csia 4ne( etc! .00D )&ll9time career and b&siness (since start) .00D mobilit2 d&e to b&siness being an online plat)orm (since 2r 6) +even&e )rom blog )&ll2 )inances m2 needs and enables me to live ver2 com)ortabl2 (since 2r .) $7m here to teach 2o& ho0 2o& can do the same too

Course ,utline

E9;ee1 Co&rse on ho0 to b&ild a million9pagevie0 blog (based on m2 personal experience doing so) 8&ch hard 0or1 needed F :ot an eas2 =o&rne2 Ct the end o) the co&rse( 2o& sho&ld 1no0 0hat it ta1es to b&ild a top blog and to drive and s&stain 2o&r tra))ic ;hat $ 0ill not cover: "echnical #ho09to7s- (e!g!( ho0 to set &p a blog( 0ordpress installation( ho0 to install pl&gins)( monetiGation( and an2thing else

Course ,utline

8od&le .: Setting the +ight ,log /&ndamentals 8od&le 2: "he Crt o) Creating Po0er)&l Content 8od&le 6: Ho0 "o Iet :e0 Jisitors "o Ko&r ,log 8od&le >: Ho0 "o +etain Existing Jisitors 8od&le ?: Ho0 "o Create +aving /ans (Le2 to Sel)9/&eling "ra))ic) 8od&le E: +evie0 and ;rap Mp

Starting -our Blog... /etting -oursel! Set 0$

Re"ommended 1osting

Hostgator 3 ,est shared hosting compan2 Co&pon code to get &23 o!! any $a"kage: pe2?percento))

$ncl&des domain registration as 0ell

%omain Registrar

Iodadd2 3 Iood to &se separate domain registrar

C))iliate lin1 lets 2o& register ne0 !com domains N O?!'' each: http: x!co 518t

Blogging Plat!orm

Hosted b2 0ordpress

i!e! http: 2o&rname!0ordpress!com Jisit: http: 0ordpress!com

Hosted on 2o&r o0n server

i!e! http: 2o&rdomainname!com Jisit: http: 0ordpress!org

4ord$ress hemes

Elegant "hemes (a)) lin1) 3 ,ea&ti)&l ;ordpress themes *' themes )or O6'( 0ith ne0 themes added ever2 month

1el$!ul Links

:ote that this is a content9driven program on ho0 to s&cceed in blogging /or technical 5&estions li1e ho0 to &se ;ordPress( ho0 to set &p 2o&r blog( etc!( re)er to:

1o5 to install 4ord$ress: http: codex!0ordpress!org $nstallingP;ordPress 1o5 to use 4ord$ress: http: 000!sitegro&nd!com t&torials 0ordpress 0ordpressPstart!htm 1o5 to install a theme )4P+: http: codex!0ordpress!org MsingP"hemes 1o5 to install a $lugin )4P+: http: codex!0ordpress!org 8anagingPPl&ginsQ$nstallingPPl&gins

Module 1: Setting the +ight ,log /&ndamentals

Criti6ue this blog: 4hat do you think about it7

Color 3 Poor contrastR can7t read La2o&t 3 :o navigation )or eas2 bro0sing Lac1 o) a core theme 3 Covers too man2 areas and seems #scattered- in the end

La2o&t 3 Does not sho0case the best o) the blog right a0a2

Domain 3 $) 2o& 0ant to reall2 b&ild a problog( a domain 0ill be essential

http: slaptheb&tcher!0ordpress!com

Blogging Fundamentals: 6 /o&ndations to Ever2 Ireat ,log

1. Clear 8dentity:
Do 2o& have a clear identit2 )or 2o&r blogS

6 /o&ndations o) a Ireat ,log

a+ heme: ;hat is 2o&r blog abo&tS

Problogger

"heme: ,logging

http: problogger!net

e"h Crun"h

"heme: "ech :e0s

http: techcr&nch!com

9ia:ue

"heme: Tiax&e (Personal ,log)

!!!extending to bea&t2( )ashion( li)e( c&rrent a))airs

http: xiax&e!blogspot!com

a+ heme: 4hat is your blog about7

Ko&r theme is the anchor that holds 2o&r blog together ;itho&t a clear theme( 2o&r blog becomes ver2 )ragmented Ko&r theme sho&ld be!!!

,road eno&gh so that it attracts a siGable cro0d

E!g!( #Health2 living- vs! #+a0 /oods in CntarcticaE!g!( #Csian c&isine- or #Jegetarian /ood- vs! =&st #/ood-

Ket speci)ic eno&gh to have a meaning)&l )oc&s

Ever2thing )rom 2o&r blog articles( categories( site sections( target a&dience( etc! 0ill be lin1ed to this blog theme

Cssess:

Blog Re#ie5

.) ;hat do 2o& thin1 is the themeS 2) Do 2o& thin1 the theme is clearl2 conve2ed )rom the blogS 6) Do 2o& thin1 theme is o1a2S "oo broadS "oo speci)icS

b+ arget audien"e: ;ho are 2o& spea1ing toS

b+ arget audien"e: 4ho are you s$eaking to7

Ko&r "C sho&ld be a siGable gro&p! +ecommend to de)ine 2o&r a&dience b2 ps2chographics and needs( rather than simpl2 demographics (age( occ&pation( etc!)

E!g!( People 0ho 0ant to learn blogging tips (Problogger) 8ore timeless 0a2 to de)ine 2o&r a&dience

Ko&r "C 0ill s&bse5&entl2 de)ine 2o&r content and mar1eting strategies

Personal E:"ellen"e

"arget: People 0ho are passionate abo&t achieving excellence in li)e

http: personalexcellence!co

"+ Mission Statement: ;hat is 2o&r blog missionS

"+ Mission Statement: 4hat is your blog mission7

i!e! ;h2 sho&ld people read itS De)ines 0hat 2o& 0ant to achieve thro&gh 2o&r blog "his is the val&e 2o& are going to bring to others and the reason 0h2 people sho&ld read 2o&r blog (above others) Example:

Personal Excellence: U"o to&ch othersV lives( help them achieve their highest potential and live their best livesU Photograph2 ,log: U"o e5&ip them 0ith the best photograph2 tips and 1no0ledge,logging ,log: #"o help bloggers b&ild the top blogsHealth2 ,log: U"o s&pport 2o& in achieving the pinnacle o) healthU Parenting ,log: U"o inspire and enable parents to achieve their dreamsU

;ui"k E:er"ise )< min+

.! ;hat is 2o&r blog themeS 2! ;ho is 2o&r blog target a&dienceS 6! ;hat is 2o&r blog mission statementS "hin1 over them and 0rite do0n the ans0ers! Share 2o&r ans0ersB

.! Clear $dentit2
(Theme, Target Audience, Mission Statement)

6 /o&ndations o) a Ireat ,log

2! Clear ,randing

&+ Clear Branding

a) ,log "itle

Does 2o&r blog title conve2 0hat 2o&r blog is abo&t right a ayS $s it immediatel2 &nderstandable or does it need thin1ingS

b) "agline 3 Elaborates on 0hat 2o&r site is abo&t

i! Does 2o&r tagline conve2 the bene)it o) 2o&r site (i!e! 0hat it can do )or 2o&r readers)S ii! $s it catch2 eno&ghS

c) Jis&al identit2 (Colors( logo( etc!)

i! Does 2o&r vis&al identit2 appeal to 2o&r a&dienceS ii! Does it set 2o& apart )rom 2o&r competitorsS

So"ial Media E:aminer

.) Does the name conve2 the theme right a0a2S

6) Does it have an appealing vis&al loo1S

2) Does the tagline capt&re the bene)it o) the siteS

http: socialmediaexaminer!com

=ee"hane:tra
2) Does the tagline capt&re the bene)it o) the siteS .) Does the name conve2 the theme right a0a2S

6) Does it have an appealing vis&al loo1S

http: =eechanextra!0ordpress!com

Pointers on >aming -our Blog

a) 6 Criteria
i. Clear 3 Conve2 2o&r theme at )irst glance ii. Con"ise 3 $deall2 6 0ords and belo0 iii. 0ni6ue 3 +e)er to pop&lar blogs in 2o&r niche! Does 2o&r blog title stand against those titlesS

b) Di))erent t2pes o) blog names

i. 8n!ormati#e names

Social Media !xaminer 3 Social media blog Thin" Simple #o 9 Personal development blog on simplicit2 $umb Little Man 9 Personal development blog on practical tips )or li)e

Pointers on >aming -our Blog

b) Di))erent t2pes o) blog names
ii. 0ni6ue ? Sel!@"reated names

%roblogger W Pro)essional X ,logger &opyblogger W Cop20riting X ,logger! Cop2blogger is a blog created )or bloggers to improve their 0riting s1ills! "he o0ner pop&lariGed the name( hence creating a &ni5&e niche and comm&nit2! Shoemone2 3 C site 0ith tips on ma1ing mone2 online! "he o0ner is someone called %erem2 Schoema1er! His title is a p&n on his name( UShoeU( combined 0ith the 0ord U8one2U! E!g!( %ohnCho0!com( StevePavlina!com Do0nsides: (a) Doesn7t conve2 0hat 2o&r blog is abo&t at )irst glance (b) ,log becomes )ixated on 2o&r identit2 $t 0ill be tric12 to introd&ce m&ltiple a&thors and to sell trans)er 2o&r blog Ko&r blog 0ill also rapidl2 lose its p&rpose and val&e a)ter 2o& pass on

iii. Personal names

i#. Com$any names )!or businesses+

Pointers on Creating -our agline

a) 2 Criteria
i. Bene!it 9 Does it artic&late the bene)it 2o&r blog has to o))erS ii. Con"ise 9 $t sho&ld be 0ithin 8 0ords! Cn2thing longer than 8 0ords is 0a2 too long!

b) Di))erent t2pes o) taglines

i. Combination o! bene!it 5ords

"hin1 Simple :o0 (old tagline) 3 U&reativity, &larity ' (appinessU (highlights the essence o) the blog be2ond personal development) Yenhabits 9 USmile, Breath, )o Slo lyU (brings o&t the minimalist message) Personal Excellence (old tagline) 3 #Be your best self, Live your best lifeShoemone2 9 US"ills to pay the billsU

ii. Cat"hy taglines

Pointers on Creating -our agline

b) Di))erent t2pes o) taglines
iii. Bene!it statement 3Simple statement that describes the exact p&rpose o) 2o&r blog! E!g!(

Problogger 9 #Blogs Tips To (elp *ou Ma"e Money Blogging Cop2blogger 9 #&opy riting tips for online mar"eting success D&mb Little 8an 9 +Tips for Life Li)ehac1 9 +*our daily digest on productivity and life improvements

Pointers on Visual 8dentity

a) Pic1 one( maxim&m t0o( color 2o& 0ant to #o0n

"he colors sho&ld be consistent 0ith 2o&r niche! E!g!(

,lac1 0o&ld be an a010ard color )or a sel)9help site

b) "r2 to pic1 colors not #o0ned- b2 top blogs in 2o&r niche 2et c) "he colors sho&ld be applied thro&gho&t the site

Co$yblogger

Jis&al $dentit2: ,lac1 < +ed

http: cop2blogger!com

%umb Little Man

Jis&al $dentit2: ,l&e < Ireen

http: d&mblittleman!com

/et Ri"h Slo5ly

Jis&al $dentit2: ;hite < Ireen

http: getrichslo0l2!com

Cssess:

Blog Re#ie5

.) ;hat do 2o& thin1 o) the blog titleS 2) Ho0 abo&t the taglineS 6) Ho0 abo&t the vis&al identit2S

http: 2o&rdra0inglessons!com

.! Clear $dentit2
(Theme, Target Audience, Mission Statement)

6 /o&ndations o) a Ireat ,log

2! Clear ,randing
(:ame( tagline( vis&al identit2)

6! E))ective La2o&t

Assess the Layout: Problogger

g
.!Clear navigation bar( 0ell contrasted against the other parts o) the site 2! Clearl2 segmented sections )or s&r)ing

Colors segment the di))erent parts o) the site 0ell (Header( bod2( sidebar( etc!)

Assess the Layout: Mo#e Mountains

.! $ns&))icient sections to give readers an idea o) 0hat the site has to o))er 2! ;ill be hard to 1eep the readers reading s&r)ing at the site

Assess the Layout: Coa"hing 5? Christina

Consider )&rther disting&ishing navigation )r! site )or more int&itive s&r)ing

Simple and clean la2o&t( eas2 to navigate

4hat makes a great layout7

.! Captivates the s&r)er7s attention

Ireat &se o) colors and design elements to ma1e the s&r)er 0ant to stic1 aro&nd

2! Mser9)riendl2

;ell9disting&ished navigation header )rom other parts o) the site (thro&gh colors( design( etc!)

6! Eas2 )or s&r)ers to access 2o&r best content

Sidebar sho&ld have 2o&r most val&able content displa2ed &p )ront! E!g!( #8ost Pop&lar Crticles-( #/ree E9boo1-( #Categories-( etc!

>! Simple

Cn2thing more than *98 sections in 2o&r navigation can be an over1ill

Personal E:"ellen"e

Personal E:"ellen"e

Cssess:

Blog Re#ie5

.) Does it captivate the s&r)erS 2) $s it &ser9)riendl2S 6) Does it sho0case the best content &p )rontS >) $s it simple non9cl&tteredS

4hat makes a great layout7

Simple s&ggestions )or all blogs

a) Have a #Start here- section )or ne0comers b) Sho0case 2o&r top )e0 sections in 2o&r header navigation( and arrange them in order o) priorit2 (most important section on the le)t) c) Same )or 2o&r sidebar navigation sections d) Have a #,est o)- section in the sidebar 0hich lists 2o&r best articles! "his helps sho0case 2o&r best content e) +emove &nnecessar2 sections on 2o&r site 0hich no one visits (case9b29 case basis) )) $nvest mone2 (Elegant themes cost onl2 O6' )or &nlimited themes) in a bea&ti)&l 2et simple theme )or 2o&r blog

Blog Criti6ue: A$$lying odayAs Lesson

Blog Criti6ue

+evie0 the )ollo0ing blogs( then ans0er the )ollo0ing 5&estions:

.! Can 2o& tell 0hat this blog is abo&t right a0a2S 2! Does this blog ma1e 2o& 0ant to stic1 aro&ndS 6! Ho0 0o&ld 2o& recommend the o0ner to improve the blogS

Personal Em$o5erment San"tuary

Eu$hori" Roots

Bey Lessons: 4hat ha#e 5e learned7

6 /o&ndations to ,&ilding Ireat ,logs

a) Clear $dentit2 (the so&l o) 2o&r blog) b) Clear ,rand (that conve2s that identit2) c) E))ective La2o&t (that ma1es people stic1 aro&nd)

.! Clear $dentit2
a) "heme 3 ;hat is 2o&r blog abo&tS 8a1e it broad( 2et speci)ic eno&gh! b) "arget a&dience 3 ;ho are 2o& targetingS $t sho&ld be a siGable a&dience! De)ine based on ps2chographics over demographics! c) Jis&al identit2 3 Do 2o&r logos( colors( etc! capt&re 2o&r a&dienceS Do the2 give a consistent loo1S

Bey Lessons: 4hat ha#e 5e learned7

2! Clear ,randing
a) ,log "itle 3 Clear (Conve2s topic right a0a2)( Concise (296 0ords)( and Mni5&e (Stands o&t against other competitors) b) "agline 3 Conve2s bene)it( Concise (8 0ords or less) c) Jis&al identit2 3 .92 colors( :ot o0ned b2 competitors( Cpplied thro&gho&t the site

6! E))ective La2o&t
a) Captivates the a&dience b) Mser9)riendl2 c) Eas2 to access best content d) Simple (don7t cl&tter the site)

See -ou >e:t Session :+ 8od&le 2: "he Crt o) Po0er)&l Content