Courtney Speaks

Can you believe we are only 20 days away from 2010?  This past year has just flown by.  The other day I was reading a guest post over at ProBlogger titled 10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started and it got me thinking.  What do I wish I knew when I first start blogging?  So here are 10 things I wish I knew about when I started blogging in no particular order.

1. Blogging is hard work. – When I first started blogging, I thought it would be easy.  Boy was I wrong.  It is hard work and time consuming.  Brainstorm topic ideas, blog maintenance, finding images to go with posts, writing the posts, using social media to get people to actually read your blog, etc.  It is all hard work but totally worth it.
2. Support is a must. – A couple months ago I found an accountability partner.  I wish I would have done that when I first started.  It has made such a huge impact on my blogging and online businesses.
3. Wordpress is the only way to go - I wasted a couple months on Blogger when I first started out.  I honestly do not understand why people use Blogger, especially if they are wanting to make money online.  I just don’t get it.
4. Find Mentors – It took me almost a year before I finally took the plunge and signed up at Mom Masterminds and then eventually over at Lynn Terry’s Elite group.  If I had to start over again, I would sign up for these places immediately.  Kelly and Lynn are great mentors and the support found in the groups are amazing.
5. You have to put God first – I’m almost embarrassed to admit this, but when I first blogging God was the farthest thing from my mind.  It took me almost a year before I finally realized my problem and why I floundering – I wasn’t putting God first.  Once I did that everything started falling in place.  Amazing how that works!
6. Article Marketing Rocks – Article marketing is a great way to drive traffic to your site and to establish yourself as an expert.  I wish I would have started this immediately.  I would have been way ahead of the game by now.
7. Work with others – Your relationship with other bloggers play a big role in your blogging experience.  From cross promotion, to helping out when sick, to guest posting.  Other bloggers can be very influential to your blog.
8. Blogging is addicting – Oh goodness, blogging and all the things associated with it can be very addicting to the point that it takes overs your life.  When I first started blogging, I had no idea it would turn out to be such an important part of my life.  I have had to start controlling the amount of time I spend on the computer.  If I don’t I end up on the computer working on sites all day, which isn’t good for me or my kids.
9. Keyword Research – I just now feel like I have a grasp on the whole keyword and SEO thing.  I wish I would have taken the time in the beginning to learn about keyword research and how it can benefit your blog.  Now that I am paying attention to it, I am seeing the benefits in traffic and sales.
10. One project at a time – It’s exciting to start a new project, but I have had to learn the hard way that is important to work on one project at time.  If you get to caught in multiple projects it hard to acutally bring any of those projects to completion and profit.  I love Lynn Terry’s motto – Start to Profit.  Start on one project at a time and work on it until your are making a profit before starting on another project.

What are some things you wish you had known when you first start blogging?

I am not the only Christian blogger that has trouble coming up with post ideas am I?  Today is one of  those days.  I just cannot come up with an real ideas about what to write about.  My mind has just gone blank.  This is where a list of possible blog topics would come in handy if I had actually made that list.

So today it is my goal to come up with a list of possible blog topics all about “combining faith, family, and business”, since that is the topic of my blog after all.  But how do I come up with that list.  It’s not as easy as it sounds.  Below is how I plan on accomplishing this goal:

1. Twitter – I am going to ask my Twitter friends what they would like to read about.  I follow a large number of Christian bloggers, surely they would have some ideas.  I’ll also check out the trending topics at Twitter and see if any of them would be a good fit for my blog.
2. Forums – I am going to visit some of my favorite forums and see what they are talking about.  Maybe one of the topics will be something I can expand on in a blog post.  Some of my favorite forums are Mom Masterminds, Self Starter Weekly Tips, CSAHM, Twitter Moms, and Moms United In Business.
3. Look in my Archives – I am going to see what I have blogged about in the past and see if there is anything I can update, put a new perspective on, or just revisit.
4. Visit other Christian blogs – What better way to get some blog post ideas then to see what others are blogging about.
5. Pray – This is probably the most important part of this plan.  But I am going to ask for God’s guidance.

So hopefully in the next day or two I will have a lengthy list of blog post ideas and won’t get stuck again!

What do you do when you don’t know what to blog about?

I seem to mention Mom Masterminds a lot in my posts and there is a reason for it. It is a great group to learn all about blogging, Internet marketing, affiliate marketing, and just how to make money online. It is a site ran by Kelly McCausey with an awesome group of ladies who help along the way including, Lynette Chandler.

Below is a list of my favorite features found at Mom Masterminds. Keep in mind these are just a few of all the awesome features Mom Masterminds has to offer.

1. Professional Support & Help – The professional help is incredible. There are women who are making money online and have successful online businesses and they are great at answering all kind of questions, leaving feedback, and offering suggestions. It is a great way to learn from those who are already have successful online businesses.
2. Prayer Requests – Mom Masterminds is not a Christian based group. However there are a number of Christian members, including myself. When my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer last month I posted a request for prayers. A great number of women responded saying they were praying for my mother and my family. That alone tells me something about the integrity and type of character you can find in a member of Mom Masterminds.
3. Learning Center – Mom Masterminds has an extensive learning center chalk full of great information and it just keeps growing. I was going to purchase an e-book once but luckily before I actually made the purchase, I discovered it in the learning center! You never know what you will find in the learning center.
4. Breakthrough Sessions – Every Monday morning Mom Masterminds hosts a Morning Breakthrough Session in Kelly’s conference room. Anyone can attend the Breakthrough Sessions, you don’t have to be a member. However, only members are given access to the recordings. I am not always able to attend the Breakthrough Sessions because of the time, but I do listen to all of the recordings. It is good stuff. A great way to get motivated for the week ahead.
5. Contacts & Networking – I can not even begin to list all of the great people I have met and contacted with through Mom Masterminds. I even met my accountability partner at the forums.

Of course there are many more features of Mom Masterminds, such as joint venture opportunities, and Special Mom Masterminds Only offers, but the above are the features that benefit me the most. I know the cost can be a little off putting, but remember that after 12 months you become a lifetime member! If Mom Masterminds if something you have ever though about joining but just are not sure yet, I encourage you to attend on the free Monday Breakthrough Sessions, take the free 9 day e-course, or even better sign up for a free 7 day trial.

P.S.  If you have questions about membership at Mom Masterminds, I would be glad to answer them.  Just leave your questions in the comments.

photo credit: piermario One of the challenges I face daily as a work at home mom is staying focused.  I don’t want to say that kids are a distraction because I don’t like the way that sounds but they do contribute to my lack of focus at times.  Another big distraction for me is Twitter and online communities.

My biggest distraction is myself.  There are times I just can not shut down my brain.  I come up with new ideas and what to start work on those before I finish the project I am currently working on.  I buy domain names like a child eats chocolate – I can never have enough domain names.   They are my addiction.

Thankfully I have found some ways to help stay focused.

1. An Accountability Partner – As I mentioned in an earlier post I found an accountability partner through Mom Masterminds.  This has been the best move I ever made.  The few weeks since I started this accountability have been my most productive in a while.  She even pushed me to do something out of my comfort zone but that needed to be done.  Its great to have her as some one I can go to for help, brainstorming issues, and a kick in the rear when needed.  If you don’t have an accountability partner, I highly recommend it.
2. Have a To-Do List - Having a detailed to-do list has helped tremendously.  I write my to-do list the night before and I write down specific items.  For example instead of putting down to write 3 blog posts I actually write down 3 ideas for blog posts.  I also keep my daily to-do list short.  It is frustrating when I am not able to cross everything off my list at the end of the day.  I have learned the average number of tasks I can get done in a normal day and I only write down that number of tasks for each day.  If I know a day is going to be particularly busy, I will write down less tasks.   This allows me to cross everything off my to-do list and helps me not to get discouraged.
3. Set up some quiet work time – I have a busy morning schedule.  I get up at 6:30am for Bible study, meet with my accountability partner at 7:00am, work from 7:15am to 8:00am, and then get the kids up and ready for the day.  At 8:00am my quite time ends.  While I may try to get some work done while the kids are playing quietly, I’m not as productive as I am in my quiet time in the mornings because I always have one ear open listening for the kids.  My work does not have my total attention.  Of course, I can always try to get some work done during the evenings after kids go to bed, but I am usually too tried to stay up much longer.  So my advice would be to find some quiet time to work, weather it 15 minutes or 1 hour.  You will be surprised at how much you will get accomplished.

One you get in a routine it really gets easier.  Of course there are always bumps in the road, such as your web hosting account getting hacked (that’s a story for another day), but don’t get discouraged.  Keep going and remember your goal.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

P.S.  If you would like more information and advice in staying focused on your online business/blog, then I would recommend you take a look at Kelly McCausey’s The Power of a Focused Business.

Do you let your kids help you blog?  Is blogging a family affair for you?  I personally like to include my children when blogging if I can.  It’s not always easy to do.

I started blogging because I wanted something that was mine.  I had just quite my job to become a stay at home mom and I needed something that did was just mine and blogging filled that void.  Overtime however that need changed.

Now I want to include my children and family if possible.  I want them to see what I do and how important it is to me.

On my mommy blog, it is quite easy to include the kids.  They help me review products and we record some of them on video as well, which they absolutely love.  They also help me pick out pictures to use for Wordless Wednesday.  And of course they are the source of a lot of posts that you will find there.

On my other sites it can be hard to find where my family and children help.  While they may not have a direct effect on content or such, they are now firm supporters of my online businesses.  My husband helps to watch the kids while I work on blog designs.  If I’m visiting my parents, they take some time to watch the kids and allow me to write PLR articles for Christian Mom PLR.

The point is that my family and children have an impact on my blogs and websites even if their efforts are not outwardly apparent.

Does your children and family have an impact on your blogging?

P.S.  If you want to take a lot at all the projects I am working on, visit CourtneyChowning.com.

photo credit: David MastersOne of my favorite Bible verses is Philippians 4:8,

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.”

This verse has gotten me out of a countless number of troubles.  When my mind starts to delve into the darkness of this world I recite Philippians 4:8.  I then fill my heart and my mind with things that honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, of virtue, and praise.  It is not always an easy task to do.  Sometimes the pleasures the world offers are hard to ignore.  But I know I can overcome them with the Lord’s help.  And Philippians 4:8 is the Lord’s way of helping me to keep my mind out of the gutter.

So, why can’t we apply the same principle to blogging.  There always seems to be so much hype, drama, and just plain sinful in the blogging world.  It doesn’t seem like you can get away from it.  I would like to think that if we would just blog about things that are honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, of virtue, of praise, that bloggers would much more successful.  I know I would be more likely to read blogs like that then the ones filled with hype, drama, gossip, etc.

photo credit: notashamedShould you combine your faith with your blog?  What  if your blog is not religious, faith based,  or personal in nature?  Combining your faith with your blog does not necessary mean you should start writing about your faith.  There are a lot of way to combine your faith and blog without posting about your religious views.  But should you?

I think you should.  Your faith is a part of who you are.  By not mixing your  faith with your blog you are denying not only yourself but your blog as well.  In my opinion, in order to have a successful blog you must put yourself into it 100%.  Your blog is a reflection of who you are and people are going to notice if you are not putting yourself into your posts.

Again, I’m not saying you have to start writings about your faith.  If you have a blog about cars, you don’t want to lose readers by getting off topic.  There are other ways to incorporate your faith in your blog.  Here are four ways:

1. Pray for your blog
2. Don’t post anything you would be embarrassed for God to see (ie: foul language, indecent images, etc.)
3. Apply Biblical principals to your blog plan
4. Treat others as you would like to be treated (ie. Don’t get sucked into blog drama and jealously)

Of couse there are more ways to incoporate your faith into your blog then just these.  How do yo combine your faith with your blog?

photo credit: carfAre you afraid to show your faith on your blog?  I think it a very common thing.  People are afraid of being ridiculed or scaring people off.  A lot of religious blogger are afraid that people will think less of them if they blog about their faith.  I think that is ridiculous!

How are we suppose to engage readers and gain their trust if we are hiding something from them?  Now your readers probably don’t even realize you are hiding something but if you are afraid of sharing your faith, then you are hiding.

Now I’m not saying that you have to only blog about your faith but I am saying don’t hide it.  If you have prayed diligently for something and it finally came to fruition and you tell you blog readers about this great thing that happen, do you give God the credit and glory He deserves for answering your prayer or do you take all the credit?

One of our main purposes in life is to bring God glory.  If we are not giving God the credit and praise for the good thing that happen in our life, then we are not glorifing  Him.  Secondly, we are to tell others about Christ.  We are told in Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” You never know who is reading your blog and by sharing a nugget about your faith you could be opening the door for that reader to come to know the Lord.

As a Christian I cannot fully express the importance of prayer in every aspect of your life.  If you blog, that is just an additional aspect of your life you need to be praying for.

When I began thinking about selling Mom Giveaways I started by praying about it.  I asked the Lord if it was the right thing to do, to show me who I should sell it to, and how much to ask for it.  After praying about it for about 2 weeks, I finally felt at peace about selling the blog.  Within 2 days I had a buyer who I knew who take good care of the site and got my asking price.  I know if I had not been praying about it then the sell would not have gone as smooth.

So what are somethings you can pray for in regards to your blog:

1. Your content
   The content you post on your blog is a reflection of you.  I pray about almost every post I make here.  I just say a quick prayer before I start writing asking for the Lord’s guidance in writing.  I want every word I write to glorify God in some form or fashion.
2. Your advertisers & sponsors
   If you sell advertising space on your blog, pray about your advertisers. By accepting their advertisement on your site you are referring your reader to them.  Make sure any advertiser you agree to sell ad space to holds the same values as you do.  I personally don’t offer advertising on this site.  I would much rather refer people to products/services I have personally tried.  Before I put anything on my sidebar or site in an advertising fashion I pray that the product or service will be a help to my readers and not a deterrent.
3. Your readers
   Not only do I pray for more readers, but I pray daily that the readers I do have will find my posts helpful.  Readers are one of the main reasons we blog.  We want to be able to communicate with the world and blogging is one way of doing that.  Without the readers where would blogging be?  So I think it is very important to pray for our readers.
4. Blog Friends
   Pray for the success of your blog friends.  Your blog friends are probably also your blog readers.  We should do our best uplift others in prayer.  I firmly believe in the saying, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
5. Ebooks, products, services
   Pray about any product or service you plan to offer to others. In the past I have started projects without praying and it was such a struggle to get everything going. The projects I have prayed about and felt the Lord leading me to do have been much more successful. I pray every step on the way from conception of the idea, to implementation, to any writings I must to do, to asking price, and marketing efforts.

Do you pray for your blog?

The blogging world is very diverse.  There are all kinds of blogs and all kinds of people behind those blogs.  It is easy to get caught up in the blogging world and forgot what your purpose in blogging is.  As a Christian my purpose is to put God first in everything I do.  To bring Glory to God.  That includes putting God first in my blogging.  Here are  tips to help you put God first in your blogging:

1. Pray before you do anything and I mean every little thing.  It doesn’t matter how small or insignificant you may think it is, pray about it.  From writing posts to creating a joint venture with another blogger, pray over everything.
2. Remember Luke 6:31, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” (KJV)  Treat others bloggers as you would like to be treated.
3. Don’t hide your faith.  It is part of who you are.  People like to know the person behind the screen.  Be yourself.
4. Network with other Christian business owners, bloggers, internet marketers.  There is so much you can learn from each other.
5. WWJD – If you are unsure about something, ask yourself – What Would Jesus Do?