Good morning, my friends! I hope your day is off to a good start!
My alarm went off nice and early today since I wanted to make it to the 6 a.m. Pure Barre class. I had a post-class coffee date on the agenda, so my motivation to wake up early increased a bit!
Today’s class was a good one and incorporated pulsing lunges off the barre. Oooh baby, they were intense!
Breakfast
Following my workout, I headed to a local Starbucks for a morning coffee date with Allison, a blog reader who has been reading PBF since before Ryan and I were engaged! We’ve been emailing back and forth since then and it was great to finally meet her in person since she’s in town for a few days for work.
I talked Allison into ordering my favorite cinnamon dolce cappuccino and we sipped our drinks while chatting away. After Allison took off a little before 8 a.m., I got a coffee refill and ordered myself a spinach feta wrap to eat for breakfast while I took advantage of the free wifi and busted out some work on my computer.
Moving right along…
Build Up Your Blog with The Fitnessista
One of my best blogging buddies, Gina from The Fitnessista, published her very first eBook yesterday! Build Up Your Blog is all about creating a successful blog and turning it into a business.
I had the chance to read it yesterday and am so impressed! The 70-page eBook is full of tips and tricks Gina has used to make her blog a successful business. Since questions about blogging and turning my blog into my job are among the most common questions I receive from readers, I figured this resource would likely interest a bunch of you! It’s only $9 right now (it will increase to $12 soon), so it’s incredibly affordable.
To check it out and purchase a copy, click the link below and then click the PayPal link:
According to Gina, this eBook is for…
- Those who have been blogging consistently for a while, but find themselves at a crossroads for the “next step” with their blog.
- Those who want to figure out how to share their unique voice, story and knowledge (in any field!) to help others.
- Those who are interested in monetizing their blog, networking, and creating partnerships.
And this eBook is NOT for…
- Those who don’t have a blog and have no interest in starting one.
- Those who enjoy blogging occasionally for fun, and want to keep the professional aspect out of blogging (which is totally cool).
Sending big high fives your way, Gina!
More Blogging Tips
Since we’re chatting about blogging tips, for those interested, below you will find a series of blog posts I previously published with my personal blogging tips and tricks:
- How to Start a Blog, Blog Focus, Self Hosting and More
- Blogger Safety
- Company Outreach: Receiving Free Products, Hosting Giveaways, Posting Product Reviews and More
- Connecting with Other Bloggers
- Rising Above Negativity
- Balancing Blogging and Real Life
- How to Increase Blog Readership
- Freelance Writing 101
- Blog Pictures, Organization and Photo Editing
- Blogging Tips for Beginners
- My Number One Tip for Bloggers
- Brainstorming Blog Topics
- Tips for Non-Blog Savvy Folks
- Everyday Blogging Tools
- My Decision to Quit My Job to Blog and Write Full-Time
Questions of the Morning
- Blogging friends: When did you start blogging and what is the primary focus of your blog? What made you want to start blogging?
- Non-bloggers: If you were to ever write a blog, what would you want to write about?
I started blogging in September 2009 (I definitely missed blogging about my four and five year blogging anniversaries…) and started blogging as an outlet to write about things I wanted to write about since my full-time job at the time had me writing about pharmaceuticals and medication side effects. Five years later, here we are!
If I were to start another blog, I’d love to write a travel blog.
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I started blogging about a year and half ago because I was bored at my job at the time and wanted a creative outlet to talk about all of the running I was doing! I really enjoy the working with brands aspect, and sharing new products! I would love to one day be able to turn my blog into a business, but until then, learning all I can and perfecting my “voice” is a-ok with me! I try hard not to get too wound up in blog stuff, and to not make it a bigger priority than the hubs or spending time with friends!
Sounds like a book I could use! haha I began writing because I needed a creative outlet that my desk job at the time wasn’t giving me. I stuck with it because I enjoyed connecting with so many other bloggers.
I feel you on this one!! That’s a big part of why I started, too, and I totally agree about the benefits of connecting w/ other bloggers. I have met some women through blogging who have become absolutely wonderful friends of mine.
I started a blog about a year and a half ago. I love the variety, creativity, and enjoyment blogging allows. I still have SO much to learn, and really haven’t explored all that blogging has to offer. I also love learning new things, and it definitely requires lots of learning! 🙂 I finally bought my own domain name, so I’m sure the learning is just beginning!
Wow, I don’t think I could use the word learning anymore times. Hhahah oops. Also, Congrats to Gina!
I’ve been blogging for two and a half years about all things healthy living – I love everything about it!!!
I started blogging a few months ago for the same reason you did!
I have a degree in Photography/Advertising/Public Relations, but have somehow ended up as an admin in a Optical Equipment company…
I started my blog, among other reasons, to give myself something of a creative outlet.
Especially since after having my daughter 18 months ago and working full time, I was left without the time to do things I used to for a creative release, like sew, craft, etc. It has really helped me not feel so stifled!
I started blogging because I love to write, and I wanted to share my take on health and fitness. I used to think a “balanced” lifestyle meant trying to do “all the things” (i.e. having a beautifully decorated clean home, healthy home-cooked meals, exercising daily, etc) all of the time. I quickly learned that life is messy, and it’s ok to not have it all together all the time – so Living Unbalanced was born! The blogging community is pretty darn awesome, too.
Gina is marvelous, aNd thank you for all the ressources to check out later! I started off on tumblr before I wanted to go big and get my own domain, but now im thinking of blogging less and youtubing a little more. thoughts?
I love having post-workout coffee dates. It definitely ups my motivation!!
I started blogging about a year and a half ago as a partnership with Food $ense- an Extension Program at Utah State University. I blog about healthy cooking on a budget and offer lots of fun cooking and nutrition tips and trick. I love it!
I started blogging in January 2013. My New Years Resolution was to run 1000 miles in 2013 so I started it in order to share my journey and keep track of the miles. Now that I finished and completed it, I’ve started blogging about smaller/monthly goals I’m attempting in 2014 (such as Insanity, Vegetarian, Paleo, No sweets, etc…). I never considered myself a writer, or very creative, so I’m learning a lot more about myself as I go 🙂
Your blog was the first one I came across in 2011-2012ish and really inspired me to start mine.
That’s a great price for her book. I love blogging because it’s an outlet for writing and I love being able to go back and look at previous posts. Another thing (probably my top one) is the blogger friends I have made!
Definitely going to bookmark this page to come back and read the links later today. Being relatively new to the blogging world, I love reading tips about all things blogs 🙂 thank you for the post!
My blog started as more of a general lifestyle blog but quickly became very travel-focused as I moved to different places around the country and world for my education and work. I love travel and writing about it, but I struggle with keeping it consistent as I’m not a full-time travel blogger so sometimes I have a ton of material one month and then much less the next. It does challenge me to be more creative with my writing though. Thanks for all your blogging tips – I always enjoy reading them as I still feel like a relative amateur! x
Sounds like a great book and I love her blog! I have two blogs one is about my bakery business but, I don’t blog there very often and the other one is about my life and mostly about running. I try to blog Mon-Fri as long as I have the time. I love blogging and connecting with people.
I started blogging about healthy eating and fitness because I love both those things! I also love the blogging community and sharing information with others who have the same interests!
Thanks for this post! I work in social media, and honestly the job is perfect for me since I have a very conversational style in writing. (Who knew social media would be more customer service than advertising!?!) My friends and family have long said I should start blogging, but I go to start and feel like nobody would be interested in what I have to say on a daily basis. I love your blog, and love that I am kept interested in what you have to say. But a lot of bloggers out there try too hard to be funny, quirky, and entertaining. You have that natural gift of engaging people without trying too hard. Again, I’d like to attempt, but I’m just not sure what I’d talk about every day. My friend and I have “the REALLY card” – which is a photo shared when something weird is witnessed (ie: a bicycle in a tree….), we did a LOT of DIY to our house (but that has now slowed), we travel a few times a year…..so I feel like it would be a hodgepodge of “things that run through my brain”…. Plus, I get stuck on the title. If you can’t come up with a title, you can’t set up a blog. haha!
Brainstorming the name of a blog is the hardest part!! And I always say to just write a blog YOU would want to read. I talk about ridiculous things all the time and write the way I would if I emailed a friend (very different from “professional writing”). I’d love to read a blog like “the REALLY card” — it sounds very entertaining! 🙂
I feel the SAME EXACT WAY! I have wanted to start my blog for quite a while now, and I am so hung up on choosing a name! So in the meantime, I am doing all the research I can on how to start a blog…the links you included Julie, are perfect.
I am also conflicted about what to write- it’s not for a lack of content or ideas. I just have SO many interests…I want to write about it all. My husband (who has an MBA in Marketing) says I need to choose a focus. Do I? There are so many blogs out there, I don’t want to get lost in the mix.
It just gets all too overwhelming, and I wind up not doing anything.
Any tips would be so helpful!
I published my first post on September 11, 2011. I have no idea why I picked that day, but I wrote a blog post about banana bread. haha
My blog is finally taking the direction I want it to go. I get to blog about my life, food, fitness, travel, and fun fashion and beauty stuff. It took me a long time to find my groove but I’m finally falling into it and love it!
What an awesome book, I’ll have to check it out! I started blogging about a year and a half ago to document my son’s milestones but quickly realized I wanted to chat more about my running journey and love of health and fitness. I decided to make it public about a year ago and haven’t looked back!
🙂
I started blogging a little over a year ago with 5 of my best friends! We grew up together but now live miles apart so our blog is a great way for us to keep in touch.
I snagged her book this morning! I started blogging at the end of last year and have loved the creative outlet it has provided. At the start of this year I left my full time job to blog and build my Health Coaching and Consulting business.
thank you so much, brynn! hope you love it 🙂
You are the best. Thanks for all the blog tips!
I started blogging as a way to make more friends in the running community and to challenge myself. Now with an ultra, a number of marathons, a triathlon and Boston and IRONMAN in the future – I have found an incredible community and an amazing hobby!
IRONMAN!? You are a rockstar!!
This sounds awesome! Way to go, Gina! <3
I just started blogging a couple months ago so it’s all new to me! My blog primarily follows my transition and experience of veterinary school in the Caribbean! I love just writing about my life and finding inspiration in other bloggers – you’re a big inspiration of mine, Julie!
How cool!!!!! Love to hear from other big-time animal lovers. <3
I keep thinking my blog lacks focus. I’m an author so it *should* be an author blog, but I have more interests than just writing, so I also write up my workouts (when they happen), or awesome recipes, great movies I’ve just seen, or just my thoughts in general (I got a little deep last week, and while it was a relief to get stuff off my mind, it definitely wasn’t what I want my blog known for). I definitely lack focus. I’m still not sure if it’s a good thing or a bad thing.
Good for Gina! I am definitely going to get a copy.
I started blogging as a way to share my passion for living a healthy life style. It is a wonderful creative outlet for me.
I bought it last night & read it already. Gina has great tips & advice! I will definitely be giving Gina a shout out in post the next few days.
thank you so much, lovely! happy to hear you enjoyed it!
I need to read this book! I have been blogging since 2011 I think, sometimes consistently, sometimes not to much, and all because I just really, truly love reading. My readership has grown a lot (I can tell via the web stats), but for some reason I rareeeely get comments on posts. I recently starting playing around w SEO so I’m hoping that helps me grow my blog as well.
..that was supposed to be that I truly love WRITING. But I mean, I love reading too. 🙂
In my opinion, the way people communicate with bloggers has changed and is changing. I feel like people are almost more likely to use social media to communicate with each other (I know I comment on Instagram more than anywhere else)!
I started blogging July 2013, it’s mainly a baking blog with life posts in between! I debated for a long time about starting one since I was only 16 when I started! I even emailed you a couple years back asking for advice and was glad I decided to wait a while like you recommended, until I found a main focus. Now I couldn’t imagine not having my blog and I love writing as my “me” time and having to bake lots of things is an added bonus as well 😉
thank you so much for the love, friend! i appreciate it so much <3 excited to see you SOON 🙂
xoxo
Woohoo!!! The countdown is on! 🙂
Awesome! You were my inspiration to start blogging believe it or not. I started last December. Since my parents and most of my family do not have any social media profiles, I decided to start a blog so that they could keep up with my fiancé and I’s DIY projects and weekend activities. I don’t post everyday, but I try to at least post once a week. I’m not really interested in it becoming my full-time job since I actually love my full-time job, but I’m so happy that all of my family and friends seem to love My Cajun Trinity as much as I do.
Thanks for being my inspiration!
Thank you so much for reading! So glad you started blogging!
Love this! I’ve been following both you and Gina since you gals started blogging, and I’ve loved every part of your journeys that you’ve shared with us!
I just began blogging this month, with a focus on fitness, desserts, and every day life. I’m currently in the middle of a career change (formerly a finance professional, and med school student – gah!), but I truly missed writing so much. I wanted a creative outlet just to journal my thoughts down, and connect with others while I figure out this thing they call life. 🙂
Woohoo for a new blog!! And good for you for already buying your own domain and designing such a CUTE blog (love the clean look and the romantic colors). You’re a billion steps ahead of where I was when I started, that’s for sure!
I started blogging this summer after being inspired by your PBF! I never really knew the blog world even existed (which I know is weird in this day and age) and since starting I LOOOVE it! 🙂 I’m still in the honeymoon stage of fitness and health blogging so I can’t see myself blogging about anything else right now. ha! 🙂
So happy you started blogging and are loving it!!! And thanks so much for reading! <3
That’s a pretty inexpensive book, I may need to check it out because I am definitely at that “cross roads” point with my blog. Do I take it up a notch and make it more professional and more “my own” (self hosted, etc) or do I just keep it going the same way.
Thanks for the tips!
P.S. I still have yet to try the cinnamon dolce cappuccino but it sounds amazing. I tend to stick to my soy americano misto.
Ha! It really is so, so good. If you decide to give it a try, I hope you love it!
I’ve been reading your blog for about a year and a half now and awhile after I started reading yours, I started my own because your updates are so fun, I figured it’d be a great way for friends and family to keep up with me.
Well…..I wrote about 10 posts then quit because writing them stressed me out so much LOL. I started to look at it as just another obligation or “homework.” I was proud of the finished product each time I post but definitely did not find an outlet in the writing itself! Now I just stick to reading them. 🙂 Props to you for being able to churn out multiple posts a day!
Thanks Rachel! 🙂 Writing a blog is definitely not for everyone but I really, really appreciate you reading my blog!
I started blogging in April of this year. I had thought about it before and my husband had talked about it but when I was in a follow-up visit for surgery to fix my septum, my doctor was asking about my races and said, “wow, that’s so cool. You should start a blog, I’d read about that!” And that’s how it all began. My focus is on running and how it relates to other aspects of my life. I’ve been a runner for so long that it is my “normal” but I recognize that other people don’t get it. It’s been fun, talking to and meeting new people has been awesome as well!
I had clients constantly asking me health questions and workout tips etc so I started my blogging journey last summer to share my health and fitness knowledge with everyone 🙂
I would love to expand my blog thanks for sharing Gina’s ebook!
love these tips! I started blogging a little over a year ago after reading yours and Gina’s blogs for a few years. I can’t wait to take the next steps!
I started blogging about 2.5 years ago now. Seems crazy I’ve been at it for that long! I didn’t start blogging with much of a purpose, but after a couple months I realized I wanted to blog mainly health and fitness! I still have some more personal posts here and there, though 🙂
I love Gina’s blog! I’ll definitely have to check out her e-book 🙂 I can always use new blogging tips!
I really appreciate your posts about blogging! I am still deciding if I want to turn my blog into a business or just keep it for fun and as an outlet … I go back and forth. I still don’t even know if I should purchase a domain or stay WordPress.com ha!
Random: when you refilled your cup do they charge you the same or less because you already have the cup?! I feel like I should know this by now 🙂
Oh and mine is fitness and travel focused!
If you have a Starbucks Card or mobile app, you get brewed and iced coffee and brewed tea refills for free!
Thanks so much for this blog post!!! I started blogging a few months ago and have had so many questions!!! Your blog was one of the blogs that inspired me to start writing. I read your blog daily and realized that it was crazy that I have so much to say and yet don’t write as well.
Julie, you and Gina are my two fave bloggers!! No matter how busy I am I always make sure to check in with your blogs…you both inspire me to live a better life and have more fun every day!! Thank you so much for that 🙂
That is so nice of you to say! Thank you!! 🙂
thank you so much, aneeta!! <3 xo
So cool! CAn’t wait to check her book out! I’ve been blogging since 2011, and originally it was just “for me” and now it’s just so fun to have such an awesome community! I think my “dream” would be to blog for a living, but it is definitely tough to balance putting a lot of time and effort into blogging and juggle a full time job! It’s tough, but the relationships that have come from it have been SO worth it! 🙂
Link clicked- purchase imminent! Thanks so much for sharing that! I love the Fitnessista’s blog and I am definitely looking to build my blog up as much as possible so I can’t wait to dive right into all of her advice.
I started blogging because I felt like there was a lack of information about women’s running out there, specifically geared towards women. I have been running forever, and I have studied nutrition and medicine so I thought it would be a perfect fit. I have also always loved writing, and I am really enjoying having a creative outlet (since my work doesn’t allow for much creativity, just a lot of science!). I have been blogging for 6 months now and I can’t imagine stopping now. I have had so much fun and it has become such a wonderful part of my life that I want to do whatever I can to make it sustainable.
I’m going to go back and read some of your posts, too. I have already read most of yours on blogging tips, but I’m going to scan through the list again to make sure I didn’t miss anything. You have certainly done a wonderful job with PB Fingers, and I enjoy coming by to read your posts every day.
Have a great afternoon!
I’ve been blogging daily for about six months, but started my blog right when I moved from Florida to California as more of a way to keep in touch with friends and family. Now it’s a full-fledged healthy living blog, where I write about personal training, group fitness and all my adventures in San Francisco. I love being in the blogging community and wish I had started sooner!
Awesome!! So happy to hear this. Hope you are loving CA!
So exciting! I love Gina’s blog 🙂 Can’t wait to check out the book!
I started blogging a few months ago, but this is my second attempt. I have a passion for teaching history, but I also have this completely separate passion for good food and fitness. Creating a blog where I could talk about health and fitness has allowed me to devote time to both of my passions.
I’ve been reading a lot about building a blog business, and right now I’m focusing on ways to increase readership! I can’t wait to read Gina’s book 🙂
I started my blog recently back in May and it mainly centers around exercise, nutrition and healthy living.
I started it because I’m passionate about these topics and love hearing what others think of them too.
Oh man I want that ebook! Gina’s blog is so inspirational!
I’ve been technically blogging 4 years, but this is the first year I’ve actively tried to make money..boy it’s challenging! I like to think it’s one of those things that takes a TON of initial work but it will pay off in the end…what do you think? (please agree with me!! 😉 )
gina’s blog will always hold a special place in my heart because it is the very first blog i ever read in 2011. i found you through her. you made a comment on one of her posts or she mentioned you and i have been reading both of your blogs on a daily basis ever since. i’ve been toying with the idea of blogging for quite some time. many friends have told me i should as well. i don’t know what i would write about or if any one even cares to read what i write. i am an elementary school counselor and i am very cautious about what i say and do in everything. i don’t do FB and only recently got on instagram because i upgraded to a samsung phone (i follow you!). due to many factors, i have been increasingly unhappy at work. i love my coworkers and consider many of them close friends and i love my job, it’s just many of the duties that are being delegated to me. having a blog would give me somewhere to promote the many positive aspects of my life: my love for fitness, health, fashion, the students i work with, my husband and the traveling that we do.
Thank you so much for reading! <3 <3
Also, I really hope things improve for you at work. So sorry to hear you’ve become less happy with your job recently. 🙁
Thank you so much! I desperately need help beefing up my blog D: