Hiii everyone and TGIF! While I was sick AF a few weeks ago, I found myself worrying a lot about my blog, because I was not well enough to take care of daily maintenance. But, upon returning back to a healthy state of being, I found that I didn’t have anything to worry about, because I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Daily blog maintenance is so important, even when you can’t do it daily. How is that possible? I’m going to show you how:
Prewrite, Please:
You might notice on lifewithlilred that all of my posts are published at midnight every night. That’s compliments of prewriting. At one time, I normally have three to four posts scheduled so that I don’t have to worry about three to four days of writing. That’s why, when I was sick, I could breathe a sigh of relief because I had articles on backstock being published every day. This is the perfect solution for those who don’t have the time to write daily, but might have a free evening to knock out several posts in one sitting.
But, where do you get ideas for multiple posts at once? So glad you asked, because this leads me to my next tip:
Take Notes:
This sounds so basic, I know. But, damnit, if it isn’t the most valuable tip on here. How do I get so many things to prewrite about? Because I take notes on anything and everything for inspiration for future posts. Even if I just need a reminder to write about something the following day, I make note of it, because god knows how easy it is to forget an important memo in one days’ time. My notes range from writing about a new pair of shoes that I just bought to taking pictures next time I go on a hike in one of Ohio’s amazing Metro Parks. Reviewing my notes gives me ample inspo to create daily posts, which is something that is important to me for lifewithlilred.
Create Goals:
This ties into the last sentence of Taking Notes. Creating goals for yourself and things that are important to you for your page definitely can help keep you on track. What’s important to you for your page might be different than anyone else, but that’s part of what makes your blog unique. My goals for my page are to maintain daily posts and to log on at least once per day to interact with my readers in the comments. Once you identify what is important to you when it comes to blogging, every thing else just falls into place.
What are some of your goals for your page? What are some of your tips and tricks when it comes to blogging? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
These days, blogging has become a lucrative career, so there is no wonder that many hobby bloggers are now turning their sights to making a bit of money from their blog. There are various ways that you can monetize your site, from offering advertising space to companies to running sponsored posts for them. You might even want to sign up to an affiliate program, such as the one offered by Amazon, which will earn you a commission for every reader that you send over to their site.
Of course, you will need to put in a bit of effort and hard work before you can start to make some money from your blog. Ready to start blogging better so you can cash in on it all? Here are some tips that can help you make a success out of your blog:
Figure Out Your Niche:
If you don’t already have a niche for your blog, it’s time to figure one out. This can help you bag a lot more readers and followers. The bigger your readership, the more you will be able to charge for advertising space and sponsored posts, so it’s always necessary to try to get more clicks onto your site. Even though your niche will mean that you need to narrow down what you write about, it will bring you a lot more dedicated fans. So, what sort of niche should you take? If you are a beauty blogger, you might want to start blogging about niche products that can help soothe certain skin conditions. Food bloggers can cater to different dietary requirements. For example, you might want to turn your food blog into one that focuses on gluten-free recipes.
Next, it’s essential to think about your whole editorial approach. This will include things like the topics you will cover in future posts and when you will be covering them. Ideally, you should create an editorial plan to keep you on track. One useful tip is to write a lot of posts at once but then schedule their publication. That way, you will also have a bank of posts that you can fall back on if you ever go through a slow patch with your writing.
Take Your Own Pictures:
If you are currently using stock photos to brighten up your posts, you might want to think about starting to take your own pictures. Sure, there is nothing wrong with stock photos, especially since they are free to use. But, your own images will help to add a personal touch to your blog. Thankfully, the cameras on smartphones are so good these days, that you won’t have to invest heavily in professional camera equipment to be able to make your blog photos look incredible. It’s amazing what you can do with a smartphone and some filters!
Don’t forget that you need to make sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes in any of your posts, either. If there are, then your blog might not look as professional as you would like, and this could ruin your chances of building some solid relationships with other brands and companies. Brands will want to find a blog and blogger that can help them reflect the quality of their products and services, and making these kinds of silly little mistakes could really put them off of working with you. If you know that spelling and grammar is something that you struggle with, you might want to hire some ServiceScape proofreaders to take a look at your posts before you publish them. You can then be happy knowing that all of your blog posts are free from any kinds of errors!
Use Mixed Media:
Photos might not be enough to make your blog posts look engaging and interesting to readers. Lots of bloggers are now using a variety of mixed media in their posts and throughout their website so that it all looks super appealing. If you go onto YouTube, you will find that there are thousands of videos that you might want to embed into your posts, for instance. In fact, you might want to even start making your own videos and try your hand at becoming a YouTuber. You can also earn money by posting videos onto YouTube. The more clicks you get, then the more money you can make. If you add advertisements to the start of each video, you even stand to make a lot more! So, using mixed media can not only help to improve your blog, but it can even help you make a bit of extra cash along the way!
Do you already add a lot of links to previous posts in your new blog posts? If not, then this is something that you need to start doing right away. This encourages readers to click to your other posts, which will keep them on your website for longer, and will bring down the average bounce rate. A low bounce rate is something that you need if you want to attract big-name brands to collaborate with you.
Integrate Social Platforms:
It’s also necessary to integrate social platforms into your blog, as well. This means that you need social media buttons on your website to encourage readers to share the posts on their own profiles. The wider your posts get shared, then the bigger your audience will grow. It’s also a good idea to automate sharing to your own profiles whenever a post is published. This can be easily done by connecting your blog hosting account to your Facebook and Twitter accounts. Then, when a post is published on your blog, a link will be posted on your social media.
It may take some time before your blog can be monetized, but making use of all of the tips in this post will set you off in the right direction. Good luck with it all in the future!
Hi everyone and welcome to a guest post brought to you by my friend, Christina, over at Stiina Marie! As a reader of my page, Christina knows that I have a fondness for learning new languages and, today, she is going to teach all of us about the Norwegian term called “koselig”. Read on to find out more!
The Magic Of Koselig
Warm light from candles, a cold breeze, and rustling leaves as you scoop up some stew your friend just made. You take a sip of some beer and talk with your friends about everything and anything. A fire is lit and you hang out well into the night. You get drunk, forgetting that the weather is not so great – or is it? This is Norwegian Koselig.
The more popular sister to Koselig is Hygge from Denmark.“While there’s no one English word to describe hygge, several can be used interchangeably to describe the idea of hygge such as coziness, charm, happiness, contentedness, security, familiarity, comfort, reassurance, kinship, and simpleness” says hyggehouse.com. Let’s describe it better in pictures:
Thank you lifewithlilred for allowing me to post about my beloved Norway! Learn more about me and my new life in Norway by following my blog: Stiina Marie. Next time we will learn Koselig words in Norwegian! Any questions? Comment below!
Is there a word or phrase in your country similar to koselig? What is fall like in your country? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Maybe you’ve always wanted a place to take the kids during the summer. Maybe you’re just trying to get away from it all. Whatever your reasons for considering the purchase of a lake house, here are four tips for making a smart decision about lakeside real estate:
1. Make a List
How big does it need to be? What features are you hoping to find? What amenities would get you excited? This doesn’t have to be a hard-and-fast list that you can’t deviate from; it can be a flexible collection of ideas that will get you thinking about what you desire in your future lake house.
2. Consider the Location
Location is one of the most important aspects of buying a lake house, especially if you’ll be responsible for maintaining the land around it. You might wind up needing something like weed control for lakes to keep nature from taking over. You’ll also want to think about climate, soil, shade, and the view from your windows.
Don’t be afraid to shop around for the location that is “just right” for you. Whether it be close to where you lived previously or in an entirely different state, you want your lake house property to be relaxing, safe, and family friendly. If waterfront property in your area is lacking, there are 55+ communities in Tennessee that boast lakeside views as well as communities along the different Great Lakes. Road trip, anyone?
3. Look Into the Owner
Once you’ve found a potential lake house, make sure that you do your research about its owner. They should have a clean, non-criminal record, and the house shouldn’t have any weird leasing issues or documentation mishaps. If you ever suspect that your lake house deal isn’t legitimate, don’t be afraid to cut your losses and walk away. A little firmness now can save you a world of trouble tomorrow.
4. Think About Year-Round Upkeep
If you’ll only be vacationing in the lake house once or twice a year, what will happen to it when you’re not there? Will you rent it out? Will you hire someone to maintain it? How much will it cost? Think about these things before committing to a particular land or cabin purchase. The little details could end up being a big deal.
These are just a few tips for finding, selecting, and evaluating a potential lake house. They can be a great investment for the future, but you’ll need to know what you’re doing before you sign on the dotted line. Good luck!
Baby showers are a traditional way to celebrate pregnancy and the introduction of a new life into the family. Family members and friends gather to shower the expecting mother with a variety of cards, gifts, supplies, advice, love, and support. There are usually fun games to be played and delicious refreshments to be served, as well. Below are some tips if you are attending or planning a baby shower soon:
Purchasing the Gift:
At a typical baby shower, the most common gifts include newborn clothing, newborn sized diapers, blankets, and bathing supplies. This is especially true when the gender is kept a secret, because all of these items are gender neutral baby gifts. It’s always a great idea to purchase useful items that other people may not think of, such as larger diaper sizes (2’s or 3’s), diaper pail liners, unique gift baskets, high quality cloth diapers, wipe warmers, matching clothes hampers, car window shades, or adorable “emergency” kits for the new mother’s diaper bag. Check out Kaiby Prime for baby hampers that make great gifts too.
While the mother to be probably has a registry, you might want to go with more unique but equally thoughtful options from stores that people haven’t thought of. Shop around with Nuna, Premium Car Seats, Pushchairs, and Baby Gear AU for all of the things that the soon to be mommy can be gifted with.
Cards & Gift Cards:
When selecting a card, be sure to leave a message for the mother and a message for the baby. This card may be handed down to the child when he or she is older, making these little notes very special. If a gift card is to be inserted into the card, be sure to choose a very popular retail chain where the mother could purchase baby supplies; she might decide to stock up on diapers before the baby arrives.
Be Ready for Games and Food:
Most baby showers feature fun games for the guests. These games may involve guessing the number of candies in a jar for a prize, blindfolded drawing contests, baby food identification, or bingo. It is important to dress comfortably, especially if the shower is held outside during the warmer months. Since most showers also offer food, it is recommended to eat a light snack before attending. Guests are always encouraged to take full advantage of the food, if it is provided!
Baby showers are fun, care-free, and casual parties that are meant to bring friends and family together in a joyous celebration of a new life. When attending one’s first shower as a guest, it is relieving to find that they are quite easy to prepare for!
Hiii everyone and happy weekend! You might have noticed that I haven’t been very active on my page this past week, even though I had posts publishing, cause pre-writing. And, that is because I came down with a really nasty bout of the flu. It. Was. Awful. What started out as an earache on Tuesday morning led to full blown incapacity by the early afternoon and I was completely down for the count.
We’re talking a fever that reached to 103 at its peak, a sore throat, an earache, chills, sweats, soreness all over, and not a snowball chance in hell of being able to eat anything. I would sweat so badly at night, that I’d wake up and see red all over my sheets because it made my hair color bleed! I am writing this post on Friday afternoon and am just now feeling semi-normal, even though the morning was really rough.
Because of my mom’s ongoing health struggles, I had to be quarantined to my bedroom for three days. This sucked on ice, because my room doesn’t have a TV! But, I was honestly so out of it that it didn’t even matter. Everything that I tried to do from taking a sip of water to swallowing much needed medicine caused me so much pain that there were points when I just started crying. It was totally and completely miserable.
But, after what felt like an eternity, I am finally back on the blogosphere and all I gotta say is thank gawd for pre-writing! I was so pleased when I discovered that all of my days away were covered because I had totally forgot! And, of course, I am so glad to be feeling better and back with all of you here on lifewithlilred. ❤
Hello!! I just wanted to send out a friendly reminder that guest bloggers for my All Autumn Everything series are still welcome to participate! If you want to be featured on my page for the day with a fall themed post, do email me at sarah.mush6794@gmail.com with some ideas. It will be a fall fiesta and a lot of fun so don’t be afraid to reach out! 🙂
Hello everyone and happy weekend! With the fall season fast approaching, it seems like the perfect time to make a call for action for lifewithlilred’s All Autumn Everything Guest Bloggers Series! All are welcome to participate in this autumn extravaganza and if you are interested in being featured on my page, then please contact me at sarah.mush6794@gmail.com with your information and your topic ideas for a post.
These guest posts can range from fall fashion and favorite cold weather recipes to DIY crafts and autumn inspired eye makeup. I am not picky, so feel free to bring me any and all ideas and I can’t wait to hear from all of you soon! Much love. -Sarah
In late 2017, Americans had an all-time high outstanding debt total of $13.1 trillion. Experts also estimate that “student loan balances soared by 146%” in the last 10 years, and that roughly 80% of Americans are in debt. If you are one of the millions of people who find themselves under a mountain of student loan, credit card, or personal loan debt, you’re not alone. As a result of the level of debt that most individuals carry, many are delaying the process of making big life purchases (e.g. homes, cars). However, there are many instances in which big purchases are not completely avoidable.
Need to make a big purchase while in debt? Explore three expert strategies to make your goals a reality:
Figure out where your money is going:
Having a large amount of debt doesn’t mean that you can’t make big purchases. Although you have to be more strategic in your approach, there is almost always a way to find the funds you need. The first (and most crucial) step that you should take, is to find out where your money is going. In other words, it’s time to create a budget (if you haven’t done so already). One study recently revealed that “only 41% of Americans use a budget.” While many people see a budget as something that is restrictive, it will actually show you how much money you have leftover after paying your bills. This enables you to know how much money you have to put aside toward your big purchase.
Make a savings plan (if possible):
The best strategy for making a big purchase while in debt is to not add more of it. Rather than applying for another credit card or loan right away, see what you can do to save up for the item that you need. Since you’ve already made a budget, you should know exactly how much you can set aside each week. If your finances and timing allow, create a savings goal and an estimated date for when you plan to reasonably reach that milestone. Depending on the urgency of the big purchase you’ll be making, see how long you can go without in order to avoid further debt.
Quickly clean up your credit if you will need financing:
Need to make a big purchase right away? Whether you have to find a replacement car or appliance, you may not be able to pay off all of your existing debt before going into more debt. What should you do if this is the case? Prior to making the purchase, do whatever you can to quickly clean up your credit. Experts recommend paying down your revolving credit balances as much as possible, looking for and disputing any errors on your credit report, and continuing to make all payments on time. Any boost to your credit score (and reduction of your current debt) will give you the best chance of getting approved for a new loan, and for receiving a low interest rate.
Although it can seem daunting, making a big purchase while in debt is possible. Utilizing the tips listed above will help you reduce the impact to your current financial situation, and assist you in achieving your goal.
Giving your home a makeover can be incredibly expensive and, if you don’t have the cash in the bank, you might have to make do with it as it is. But, making improvements to your home is an investment, because it increases the value of the house and you’ll get that money back if you eventually decide to sell it. That’s why it’s not a bad idea to borrow money to make those changes around the house. However, you’ve got to be careful, because if you don’t borrow sensibly, you could end up in serious financial trouble. If you want to invest in your home and make some improvements, here’s how to safely borrow the money to do it:
Sort Your Credit:
Your credit score tells lenders how sensible you are with your money and they’ll use it to decide on the interest rate that they’re willing to offer you on a loan, if they’re willing to give you one at all. If you’ve got a poor credit score, you’re going to be paying a lot more to borrow money. That’s why you need to sort out your credit score before you try to find a loan to make home improvements.
Request a credit report and look over it carefully. Often, there are mistakes on there and you’ll be unfairly penalized. If you think that might be the case, you can dispute credit report mistakes and have them changed. Once you’ve got an accurate credit score, you can start taking steps to change it. Cut back on your spending and clear any debts that you’ve got. Then, you need to get a credit card and start making purchases, while making sure to pay it off immediately. This will show that you’re trustworthy and help you to start building your credit score again.
Personal Loans:
Getting a personal loan is one avenue for borrowing money. You can go to the bank and borrow the money from them. The amount that you’ll get and the interest rate will depend on your credit score so the first step is important. You’re not likely to get as much as if you borrow through other avenues, so you’ll have to make those improvements on a budget. Before you sign anything, shop around a bit and find the best deals. You should also be careful about the amount that you’re borrowing. Only agree to borrow an amount that you can comfortably pay back so that you don’t get into financial trouble.
Should you need money for emergency repairs like plumbing, structural, or electrical, you might not have time to explore the avenue mentioned above. If this is the case, looking into Same day loans could get you the money you need for the repair quickly. This is an excellent option if you are in a bind as the safety of you and your family in your home is the most important thing. And, should you let these issues fester, they will only become more expensive to repair.
Borrow Against The House:
Personal loans are fine, but you might be better off borrowing money against the house itself. The benefit of doing it that way, is that you’ll probably get more money and, because you’ve put the house up as collateral, the interest rate isn’t going to be as high as a personal loan. However, there is an element of risk involved. If you’re increasing your mortgage, then you’re more likely to default on the payments and risk losing your house. Just like with personal loans, make sure that you’re only borrowing what you can afford.
Follow these rules and you’ll be able to borrow the money to get all of the home improvements that you need done!
lifewithlilred 