How do I become a successful blogger in 2019

Well first of all you need to set up your blog in the RIGHT way. I will run through the 5 steps you need to take to do this.
Before these steps you need to decide on your topic. So grab a brew and get your notepad and pen out….
Make a list of
  • 3 things you are good at
  • 3 things you are interested in or enjoy
  • 3 things you want to learn about
Here’s mine…
Now you have a list of topics to choose from! The reason for this exercise is that it is mega important to have a topic that you are both knowledgeable and passionate about so you will have plenty to write about and a desire to continue learning about your topic.
Right now lets get the blog set up.
1. Choose the right blogging platform for your new blog.
Use WordPress! Why?
  • It’s free
  • It’s easy to use
  • It is simple to customise
  • It is designed with bloggers in mind.
2. Choose a domain name. Try and include the topic in your name and then check it’s available.
If you want to use the form mentioned above then pop to my blog post
3. Setup your blog & web hosting in just 1 click.
​The hosting company I recommend for beginners is ​iPage because-
  • Free custom domain - They include a 100% free custom domain name.
  • 1 Click WordPress installation - Installing WordPress takes less than 30 seconds.
  • 24/7 support - No matter what happens, they are available to help.
  • $200 free advertising - You also get $​200 worth of free ad coupons to kick start your blog.
  • ​Budget friendly- ​It costs just $1.99 per month!
​4. Choose a theme.
The theme is the body language that could massively contribute to your blogs success.
Go for...
  • Simple & clutter free - The simpler it is to read and navigate your site, the better!
  • Mobile responsive - Your blog needs to look great on mobile as well, this is non-negotiable.
  • Optimized for speed - Your blog needs to load quickly to keep visitors engaged
  • SEO ready - It should be built with search engine optimisation in mind
  • Easy to customize - Ideally you can change the layout or colours in a couple of clicks
  • Built in shortcodes - This makes it easy to style your blog posts and give them some "pop"
5. Write your very first blog post.
To be a blogger you don’t necessarily have to be a writer. But what you have to be able to do is communicate clearly, with correct spelling and good grammar and show a bit of personality and flare.
I stick to these rules
  • Tell it like it is – straight & to the point
  • No fake business etiquette
  • Like I’m talking to a friend in the pub
  • No more than 3 sentences in a paragraph
  • Short & punchy
  • Keep it simple
Awesome, so that’s your blog set up, have a look at my blog post if you want a more detailed guide.
Now let’s have a look at some tips to follow whilst you are finding your feet.
1. What posts should you write to get traffic...
  • Find where your audience spends their time
  • Find out the best way to connect with them
  • Create content that answers their questions
  • Share it with them
2.Post length. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a minimum 1,500 words and then adjust for your audience
3. Use Social Media but don’t try to spread yourself too thin at the beginning. Many new bloggers sign up to every social media platform they can find but this is a mistake. You should focus your time on one channel where your audience spends most of their time, get good at it. Once you’ve figured it out, move over to another platform and repeat.
4. The best free plugins for your blog-
  • SumoMe - This plugin makes it easy to add email capture forms and social sharing buttons.
  • Yoast SEO - This plugin will improve the SEO of your blog.
  • WP Super Cache - This plugin will make your blog load quicker.
  • WP Smush - Automatically compresses images so they load faster.
  • Drip - Take advantage of the free account to add email marketing to your blog without spending a penny.
5. BACK UP BACK UP BACK UP. Backing up your blog is something I highly recommend you do independently of your host.
My 2 favorite free backup plugins
6. Forget the money for now! I see it all the time, people learn how to start a blog and make money and after a couple of months when there is no money – they give up. So whatever your reasons for starting your blog, forget about the money and focus on helping other people and sharing your passion.
7. Always have a thought out plan of attack and keep it simple. As the saying goes, if you fail to plan you are planning to fail (yes I went there)
8. Make good relevant contacts! These are the people that are going to make your life a lot easier when you launch your post, as their shares and links will get you traffic. Don’t forget to do the same for them, it works both ways and when you write your content do it with these people in mind.
9. Golden Rule! There is a time and a place for sales pitching but your content or your outreach emails are not one of them. DO NOT SALES PITCH. That is the quickest way you'll lose your audience. My advice is to...
  • Be straight & get to the point
  • No fake business etiquette
  • Like I’m talking to a friend in the pub
  • Short & punchy
  • Keep it simple