Step 1: Determine the Value of Your Domain

Before listing your domain for sale, it’s essential to understand its worth. Several factors influence a domain’s value:

• Brandability: Domain names that are short, memorable, and easy to spell are often more desirable.
• Keyword Relevance: Domains containing popular keywords can drive organic traffic and are valuable for SEO purposes.
• Extension: The top-level domain (TLD), such as .com, .net, or .org, affects desirability. Generally, .com domains are the most sought-after.
• Market Trends: Current trends in the market can also affect a domain’s value. Keeping an eye on domain sales within your industry can offer insight into what’s currently in demand.

To accurately assess your domain’s value, consider using appraisal services or tools available online, many of which analyze these factors to provide a market-based valuation.

Step 2: Decide Where to Sell

Once you’ve estimated your domain’s value, the next step is choosing the right platform to list it for sale. There are several options available:

• Domain Auction Sites: Websites like GoDaddy Auctions or Sedo allow you to list your domain in an auction format, attracting buyers looking for specific domain names.
• Marketplace Listings: Platforms such as Flippa provide a space to list your domain for sale at a fixed price or through negotiations.
• Broker Services: Professional domain brokers can help sell your domain, especially if it’s valued at a high price. Brokers have networks of potential buyers and can negotiate deals on your behalf.

Step 3: Prepare Your Domain for Sale

Preparing your domain for sale involves several steps, ensuring a smooth transaction process:

• Transfer Lock: Ensure your domain is not locked to prevent transfers. This can usually be managed through your domain registrar.
• Update WHOIS Information: The WHOIS database should have your current contact information to facilitate communication with potential buyers.
• Create a Landing Page: Consider setting up a simple landing page on your domain stating it’s for sale. This can attract direct buyer inquiries.

Step 4: Marketing Your Domain

Effective marketing is key to finding the right buyer:

• Utilize Social Media: Share your domain listing on relevant social media platforms to increase visibility.
• Niche Forums: Participating in forums related to your domain’s niche can help find interested buyers.
• Networking: Leveraging your personal and professional network can uncover potential buyers who may be interested in your domain.

Step 5: Negotiating the Sale

When you receive offers on your domain, negotiation plays a crucial role:

• Be Open to Negotiate: Having a clear idea of your domain’s worth allows you to enter negotiations confidently, but be open to reasonable offers.
• Communication: Prompt and professional communication can make the negotiation process smoother and build trust with potential buyers.

Step 6: Transfer the Domain

After agreeing to a sale, transferring the domain securely is crucial:

• Payment: Use a trusted payment method or escrow service to secure the transaction. Escrow services ensure that the domain and funds are exchanged simultaneously, protecting both buyer and seller.
• Transfer Process: The exact process varies depending on the registrar but involves transferring the domain to the buyer’s registrar account. Ensure you follow the specific instructions from both registrars involved to complete the transfer successfully.

Conclusion

Selling a domain name can be a profitable venture if approached with the right knowledge and strategies. By understanding your domain’s value, choosing the appropriate platform to sell, preparing your domain for sale, effectively marketing it, skillfully negotiating, and securely transferring the domain, you can capitalize on your digital assets. Remember, patience and persistence are key—finding the perfect buyer for your domain may take time, but the rewards can be well worth the effort.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of 50 low-competition niches perfect for bloggers looking to make their mark. These niches are not only less crowded but also brimming with potential readers seeking fresh and authoritative voices.

1. Urban Gardening

Urban gardening is more than just a trend; it’s a lifestyle shift. It appeals to city dwellers looking to grow their own food in limited spaces. Blogs can cover vertical gardening, apartment balcony gardens, and sustainable urban agriculture techniques.

2. Heirloom Crops Cultivation

Heirloom crops offer a unique window into the past. Blog about growing these ancient varieties, their histories, and their importance in biodiversity.

3. Mindful Traveling

Focus on traveling that emphasizes mindfulness, sustainability, and cultural appreciation rather than consumerism.

4. Traditional Crafts Revival

Share knowledge on reviving traditional crafts, such as weaving, pottery, or wood-carving, targeting enthusiasts looking to learn and preserve these skills.

5. Space-Saving DIY Projects

Target homeowners interested in maximizing small living spaces with creative DIY storage solutions and décor.

6. Rare Book Collecting

Guide collectors on finding, evaluating, and preserving rare books, a niche hobby with a passionate following.

7. Vintage Electronics Restoration

There is a community interested in restoring and collecting vintage electronics. Share restoration tips, sourcing parts, and the history of vintage electronics.

8. Artisanal Bread Making

With a rise in home baking, focus on artisanal techniques, sourdough cultures, and historical bread types.

9. Ethical Fashion

Create content around sustainable brands, DIY upcycling projects, and promoting an ethical approach to fashion consumption.

10. Sensory Play Activities for Children

Parents are looking for ways to engage their children’s senses in play. Offer activities that promote sensory development.

11. Homemade Pet Food Recipes

More pet owners are looking to create homemade, nutritious meals for their pets. Share recipes, nutritional advice, and storage tips.

12. Tea Culture and Appreciation

Explore the vast world of tea, from traditional ceremonies to reviews of rare blends.

13. Philosophy for Beginners

Demystify philosophical theories and thinkers for novices, offering an accessible entry point into philosophy.

14. Indoor Air Quality Improvement

Provide tips on plants, purifiers, and practices to maintain or improve indoor air quality.

15. Silent Film History and Reviews

Focus on the golden era of silent films, reviewing classics and uncovering forgotten gems.

16. Aquascaping

Guide readers through the creation and maintenance of underwater landscapes in aquariums.

17. Sustainable Living for Renters

Offer tips on how renters can reduce their carbon footprint, grow food, and minimize waste.

18. Adaptive Fashion for Disabilities

Cover fashion and design improvements catering to individuals with disabilities, focusing on innovation and accessibility.

19. Underexplored Historical Events

Shed light on lesser-known historical events or figures that shaped the world.

20. Introversion and Lifestyle

Provide lifestyle tips, work advice, and social strategies for introverts.

21. Organic Skincare Formulations

Teach readers to create their skincare using organic and natural ingredients.

22. Virtual Reality Gaming

With VR on the rise, review games, discuss trends, and predict the future of virtual reality entertainment.

23. Small Space Homesteading

Even those with small yards can engage in homesteading. Share tips on micro-livestock, container gardening, and homemaking skills.

24. Paleo Diet for Athletes

Focus on nutrition strategies and recipes for athletes following a Paleo diet.

25. Rare Plant Cultivation

Discuss the cultivation and care of rare or exotic plants, appealing to botany enthusiasts.

26. Wilderness Survival Skills

Educate on survival techniques, gear reviews, and personal safety in the wilderness.

27. Digital Detox Strategies

Offer advice on achieving a balanced life in an increasingly digital world.

28. Niche Board Games

Review and introduce board games that fall outside the mainstream, targeting collectors and enthusiasts.

29. Experimental Filmmaking Techniques

Cover the world of experimental cinema, from filming techniques to reviews of avant-garde works.

30. Ephemera Collecting

Guide newcomers on collecting vintage ephemera, emphasizing its historical and aesthetic value.

31. Minimalist Lifestyle for Families

Provide insight into adopting a minimalist lifestyle in a family context, from decluttering to mindful living.

32. Home Fermentation Projects

Share recipes and tips for fermenting foods at home, from sauerkraut to kombucha.

33. Niche Perfumery

Explore the art of niche perfumes, reviewing unique fragrances and profiling creators.

34. Urban Wildlife Photography

Capture the beauty of wildlife within urban settings, offering tips on photography and ethical considerations.

35. Ancient Grains Cooking

Highlight the benefits and culinary uses of ancient grains like amaranth, quinoa, and spelt.

36. Eco-Friendly Event Planning

Offer advice on planning events and celebrations with a reduced environmental impact.

37. Medical History Mysteries

Uncover and discuss mysterious or lesser-known diseases and medical conditions throughout history.

38. Restoration of Vintage Appliances

Teach the art and science behind restoring vintage appliances to their former glory.

39. Sustainable Fishing Practices

Educate on eco-friendly fishing techniques, species conservation, and ethical seafood consumption.

40. Specialty Coffee Culture

Dive deep into the world of specialty coffee, from bean to cup, including brewing methods and café reviews.

41. Zero Waste Cooking

Offer tips and recipes for minimizing food waste, focusing on meal planning and creative re-use of leftovers.

42. Learning Languages Through Music

Explore how music can facilitate language learning, offering song recommendations and linguistic insights.

43. Neurodiversity in the Workplace

Provide resources and advice for both employers and employees on fostering an inclusive environment for neurodiverse individuals.

44. Modular Synthesizers

Craft content for enthusiasts of modular synthesizers, from beginners’ guides to advanced patching techniques.

45. Literary Analysis of Graphic Novels

Offer literary insights into popular and lesser-known graphic novels, elevating the discussion around visual storytelling.

46. Traditional and Digital Hybrid Art Techniques

Explore how artists can blend traditional art methods with digital tools for unique artistic expressions.

47. In-depth Analyses of Single Album

Each post provides a deep analysis of a single album, discussing themes, instrumentation, and impact on culture.

48. Geopolitical Strategy Games

Review and strategize over geopolitical strategy games, offering guides and tips for enthusiasts.

49. DIY Upcycled Fashion

Inspire readers with tutorials and showcases of upcycled fashion, emphasizing creativity and sustainability.

50. Beekeeping in Urban Environments

Educate on the basics of urban beekeeping, focusing on sustainable practices and community benefits.

Exploring these niches offers new bloggers an opportunity to carve out their own space in the blogging world. Whichever niche you choose, remember to bring passion and authenticity to your writing. This is not only key to captivating your audience but also to building a successful blog that stands out amid the digital noise.

Here’s a rundown of ten effective types of blog posts that can help you attract more visitors and convert them into loyal followers or customers.

1. How-To Guides

How-to guides are invaluable resources that provide step-by-step instructions to help readers achieve specific tasks or solve problems. These posts are not only educational but also highly sought after by users seeking practical advice. By breaking down complex tasks into manageable steps, you make information accessible to beginners and experts alike.

2. Listicles

Listicles, or list-based articles, offer information in an easily digestible format that appeals to readers looking for quick, actionable insights. They can range from ‘Top 10’ lists to ‘5 Best’ recommendations, providing curated content that saves readers time and decision-making effort.

3. Case Studies

Case studies are in-depth analyses of specific instances, such as a company’s success story, the effectiveness of a particular strategy, or a project’s results. These posts not only highlight your successes or lessons learned but also establish your brand’s authority and reliability in your field.

4. Infographics

Infographics combine visual elements with data to present information compellingly and succinctly. They are particularly effective for summarizing research findings, trends, or complex data, making your content more engaging and shareable.

5. Interviews

Interview posts feature conversations with industry experts, influencers, or thought leaders. These provide unique insights and perspectives, adding significant value to your content while enhancing its credibility.

6. Ultimate Guides

Ultimate guides are comprehensive posts that cover all aspects of a particular topic. These long-form articles position your blog as a go-to resource, helping improve SEO through increased time spent on page and higher keyword relevance.

7. Opinion Pieces

Opinion pieces allow you to express your views on industry trends, news, or controversies. These posts can spark discussions and encourage reader engagement by inviting comments and diverse viewpoints.

8. Guest Posts

Inviting experts or influencers to contribute guest posts to your blog can introduce new perspectives and expertise, attracting their followers to your website and enhancing content diversity.

9. Comparisons and Reviews

Comparison and review posts help readers make informed decisions by evaluating products, services, or strategies against each other. These posts are highly valued by readers actively seeking solutions and can significantly influence purchasing decisions.

10. Success Stories

Sharing success stories, whether your own or those of your clients/customers, can be incredibly motivating and inspiring. These posts highlight real-world applications of your products or services and demonstrate their value.

Implementing These Types into Your Strategy

When incorporating these blog post types into your content strategy, consider your audience’s preferences and needs. Experiment with different formats to see what resonates best with your readers and drives the desired outcomes, whether it’s increased traffic, higher engagement, or more leads.

Remember, the key to successful blogging lies in providing value. By diversifying your content and offering a mix of educational, insightful, and compelling posts, you’ll not only attract a wider audience but also foster a loyal community around your brand.

If you’re looking to enhance your content marketing efforts, exploring these ten blog post types is an excellent starting point. By strategically leveraging each format’s strengths, you can significantly boost your blog’s performance, driving more traffic and generating valuable leads in the process.

Step 1: Understand Your Audience

The foundation of effective content lies in a deep understanding of your audience. Start by building personas that reflect your target readers. Consider their demographics, interests, pain points, and search intent. Tools like Google Analytics and social media insights can provide valuable data to help create these personas. Knowing your audience enables you to tailor your content’s tone, style, and substance, making it more engaging and relevant.

Step 2: Conduct Keyword Research

Keyword research is the compass that guides your content strategy. It reveals what your audience is searching for and the language they use. Utilize tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Google Keyword Planner to identify high-value keywords related to your topic. Look for a mix of head terms and long-tail keywords, as they will help you balance broad appeal with specific search intents.

Step 3: Create a Structured Outline

Organize your thoughts and research findings into a clear, logical structure before you begin writing. An outline serves as a roadmap, ensuring your content flows smoothly and covers all necessary points. It should include an introduction that hooks readers, body sections that offer substantial information, and a conclusion that summarizes key takeaways.

Step 4: Write Compelling Headlines and Titles

Your headline is the first impression readers—and search engines—have of your content. Make it count by creating titles that are both informative and enticing. Incorporate primary keywords while sparking curiosity or offering value. Helpful tools like CoSchedule’s Headline Analyzer can assess the effectiveness of your titles.

Step 5: Prioritize Readability

User-friendly content is readable content. Break down complex ideas into digestible chunks. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and subheadings to organize information. Incorporating multimedia, such as images and videos, can also enhance readability, making your content more appealing to both users and search engines.

Step 6: Optimize for SEO Without Overstuffing

While keywords are crucial for SEO, natural inclusion is key. Keyword stuffing can harm readability and penalize your rankings. Instead, strategically place your primary keyword in the title, headings, and throughout the text in a way that feels natural. Also, don’t forget to optimize your meta descriptions, URLs, and alt tags with relevant keywords.

Step 7: Provide Value Through Rich Content

Quality content addresses users’ questions and provides valuable insights. Go beyond the surface level by offering in-depth explanations, examples, and case studies. Using reputable sources to back your claims not only strengthens your content’s credibility but also its appeal to search engines that prioritize authoritative and informative content.

Step 8: Encourage Engagement

Engagement signals, like comments and shares, are positive indicators to search engines. End your posts with a call-to-action (CTA) encouraging readers to engage, share their thoughts, or explore related content. Interactive elements, such as polls or quizzes, can also boost engagement.

Step 9: Leverage Internal Linking

Internal linking keeps users on your site longer, reducing bounce rates and improving your site’s SEO performance. Link to relevant articles or pages within your site to provide readers with additional value and encourage deeper exploration of your content.

Step 10: Continuously Update Your Content

The digital landscape is always evolving, and so should your content. Regularly review and update your posts to ensure they remain accurate, relevant, and optimized for the latest search engine algorithms. This practice can help maintain or improve your content’s search rankings over time.

Final Thoughts

Writing for both users and search engines is a balancing act that requires strategy, creativity, and ongoing optimization. By following these 10 steps, you can create content that not only ranks well but also genuinely resonates with your readers. Remember, at the core of successful content is the value it provides—to both your audience and search engines.

In crafting your strategy, always keep the user experience at the forefront. Engaging, valuable, and accessible content will naturally perform better in search rankings, as search engines continually refine their algorithms to prioritize the user’s needs. Stay informed about the latest SEO trends and updates, but remember, quality content that serves your audience’s interests and needs is timeless.

By adopting these practices, you’ll not only improve your content’s performance in search results but also build trust and authority with your audience, laying the foundation for long-term digital marketing success.

A well-crafted content creator schedule is indispensable for anyone looking to make their mark in the bustling world of online content.

Whether you’re a budding blogger, a passionate YouTuber, or an aspiring social media influencer, understanding how to structure your work can significantly increase your productivity and influence.

Why is a Schedule Important for Content Creators?

Creating content might seem like a free-flowing process, but without a solid framework, it’s easy to lose sight of your goals. A schedule helps you:

• Maintain Consistency: Regular uploads or posts build audience trust and engagement.
• Enhance Productivity: Knowing what to work on and when saves time and reduces stress.
• Track Progress: Scheduled benchmarks help you see your achievements and areas needing improvement.

Creating Your Content Creator Schedule

1. Understand Your Creative Peaks

Recognizing when you’re most creative is vital. Are you an early bird who thrives in the quiet of the morning, or are you a night owl, inspired by the tranquility of the evening? Aligning your content creation with these times can significantly boost your efficiency and creativity.

2. Set Realistic Goals

Begin by setting achievable goals that reflect your long-term aspirations. These could range from increasing your follower count to collaborating with brands. Once defined, break these down into monthly, weekly, and daily objectives. Remember, the goal is progression, not perfection.

3. Allocate Time Wisely

Divide your schedule into content creation, editing, research, and audience interaction. Balancing these aspects ensures your content is well-thought-out, polished, and engaging. It’s also essential to factor in breaks to prevent burnout.

4. Leverage Tools for Organization

Digital tools and apps are invaluable for keeping your schedule on track. Platforms like Trello, Google Calendar, or Asana can help you visualize your tasks and deadlines, making it easier to manage your workload. Additionally, using social media management tools for scheduling posts can save you a considerable amount of time.

5. Plan Content in Advance

Planning your content allows you to maintain consistency even during slumps. It also opens up space for spontaneity. If an unexpected event or trend emerges, you can adapt without disrupting your schedule.

6. Monitor and Adapt

Your schedule should be a living document. Regularly review your progress and adjust your plan accordingly. What works one month might not work the next. Stay flexible and open to change.

7. Account for Learning and Growth

Allocate time to learn new skills or platforms that could enhance your content. The digital landscape is ever-evolving, and staying updated on trends and technologies can give you an edge.

The Takeaway

A methodical and flexible approach to scheduling can significantly impact your success as a content creator. It’s not just about organizing your time but about structuring your growth and development in the realm of content creation. By applying these strategies, you’re not just creating a schedule; you’re crafting a pathway to achieve your vision and goals.

Every content creator’s schedule will look different, reflecting their unique creative process, goals, and lifestyle. The key lies in finding a balance that works for you, allowing you to produce your best work while also nurturing your well-being and personal growth.

In closing, remember that the world of content creation is dynamic and competitive. However, with a well-planned schedule, you can ensure your work stands out, reaching and resonating with your intended audience. Begin today, and watch as your content—and your influence—flourishes.

Why Do I Need WooCommerce?

WooCommerce is a free, open-source plugin for WordPress that transforms your website into a fully functional eCommerce platform. With WooCommerce, you can effortlessly set up and manage an online store, handle product listings, accept payments, and track orders and inventory. Its flexibility, scalability, and extensive library of plugins make it the preferred choice for many eCommerce businesses.

What to Consider When Choosing the Best WooCommerce Plugins?

Before diving into the top plugins blogs, it’s essential to understand your specific needs. Consider factors such as your target audience, the products you sell, and your business goals. Each plugin should serve a purpose aligned with these factors to maximize your store’s efficiency and performance.

Best Plugins to Improve Your E-commerce Store

1. CoDesigner

CoDesigner is a powerful add-on for customizing the appearance of your WooCommerce store. It allows you to design and personalize product pages, checkout pages, and more. You can easily use this add-on with Elementor to enhance the visual appeal of your store and create a unique shopping experience for your customers.

Features

• Access the extensive Template Library to enhance your store’s appearance effortlessly.
• Choose from 14 unique Shop widgets to customize your online shop.
• Utilize Related Products Widgets to boost sales and offer personalized product recommendations.
• Craft a unique and visually appealing checkout experience with Checkout Designer.
• Tailor your Thank You Page to leave a lasting impression on your customers.
• Enjoy the benefits of Premium Support for all your inquiries and assistance needs.
• Simplify your workflow with Cross-domain Copy-Paste functionality.
• Design eye-catching emails with intuitive Email Designer widgets.

Pricing

CoDesigner has both free and pro versions. The Pro version starts at only  $49.99

2. UpdraftPlus

Regular backups are crucial for any online business. UpdraftPlus simplifies this process by automating backups of your WooCommerce store. It ensures that your data is safe and can be quickly restored in case of any unexpected issues.

Features

• Efficiently backs up, migrates, and restores your data.
• Provides an extensive array of remote storage options.
• Enables you to effortlessly schedule backups for a ‘set and forget’ approach.
• Offers a user-friendly and comprehensive experience.

Pricing

UpdraftPlus also provides Free and Premium plans with their plugin. Their single-site license plan costs $70 per year.

3. Advanced Coupons

Increase customer engagement and sales with Advanced Coupons. This plugin offers various coupon features like BOGO (Buy One Get One), loyalty programs, and dynamic pricing. Reward your loyal customers and attract new ones with targeted promotions.

Features

• Unlock WooCommerce BOGO Coupon Deals
• Safeguard Your Earnings with Cart Conditions
• Implement WooCommerce Store Credit
• Define Coupon Rules and Cart Conditions
• Organize Smart Coupons by Categories
• Control WooCommerce Coupons Based on User Roles
• Display WooCommerce Coupons in Order Preview Popup

Pricing

Advanced Coupons Pricing starts at $39.50/year.

4. WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips

Streamline your order fulfillment process with this plugin. It generates professional PDF invoices and packing slips that can be automatically attached to order confirmation emails, saving you time and providing a seamless customer experience.

Features

• Seamlessly Attach Invoice PDFs to Selected WooCommerce Emails
• Easily Access and Download Order Invoice PDFs from the Admin Panel
• Generate Multiple PDF Invoices and Packing Slips in Bulk
• Customize Invoice Templates with HTML/CSS to Suit Your Brand
• Conveniently Download Invoices from Your User Account
• Implement Sequential Invoice Numbering with Custom Formats

Pricing

WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips pricing starts at €79.00

5. Loco Translate

For a global audience, language localization is essential. Loco Translate makes it easy to translate your WooCommerce store into multiple languages, ensuring your products are accessible to a wider customer base.

Features

• In-Built Translation Editor Integrated into the WordPress Admin
• Seamlessly Connects with Translation APIs, such as DeepL, Google, Microsoft, and Lecto AI
• Easily Generate and Maintain Language Files Directly Within Your Theme or Plugin
• Automatically Detects and Extracts Translatable Strings from Your Source Code
• Effortless Compilation of Native MO Files, Eliminating the Need for Gettext on Your System
• Comprehensive Support for PO File Features, Including Comments, References, and Plural Forms

Pricing

It’s free 

6. WP Rocket

Website speed is the most important part of user experience and SEO. WP Rocket is a caching plugin that optimizes your WooCommerce store’s performance, making it load faster. People’s choice list is always on the faster websites which tend to have higher conversion rates.

Features

• Enhanced Page Caching
• Efficient GZIP Compression
• Automated Cache Preloading
• Optimization for eCommerce Performance
• Improved Browser Caching

Pricing

WP Rocket Pricing starts at $59/year

7. MonsterInsights

Understanding your customers’ behavior is key to making informed decisions. MonsterInsights provides detailed analytics and insights on your WooCommerce store’s performance, helping you make data-driven improvements.

Features

• Robust Google Analytics Integration
• Comprehensive eCommerce Performance Tracking
• Compliance with European Union (EU) Regulations
• Advanced Affiliate Link Monitoring
• Effective Tracking of File Downloads

Pricing

This plugin pricing starts at $99.50

8. WC Affiliate

Boost your sales by setting up an affiliate marketing program. WC Affiliate enables you to create and manage affiliates who can promote your products and earn commissions on sales they drive.

Features

• Referral Monitoring
• No Limits on Affiliate Count
• Comprehensive Reporting Tools
• Flexible Fixed or Percentage Commissions
• Customizable Email Communication
• Seamless Payment Method Integration
• Effortless Banner Creation
• Efficient Shortlink Generation
• Multi-tiered Commission Structures

Pricing

WC Affiliates has a free version too and the pro version pricing starts at $79.99

9. Order Delivery Date for WooCommerce

Give your customers the flexibility to choose their delivery date and time. This plugin simplifies the order delivery process, making it more convenient for both you and your customers.

Features

• Versatile Delivery Date Selection Choices
• Effortless Management of Delivery Preferences
• Conditional Delivery Date Selection Flexibility
• User-Friendly Administrative Controls

Pricing

$149 / Year Single Store

10. Payment Plugins for Stripe WooCommerce

Offering a variety of payment options is essential for customer satisfaction. Stripe WooCommerce plugins allow you to accept payments securely, providing your customers with a seamless and trustworthy shopping experience.

Features

• Effortlessly process payments through Stripe
• Seamlessly integrate with WooCommerce for a smooth user experience
• Ensure secure and dependable payment processing
• Compatible with WooCommerce Subscriptions for recurring payments

Pricing

It’s free to use.

11. Woocommerce Product Feed Plugin

The WooCommerce Product Feed plugin lets you generate product feeds for multiple eCommerce sales channels. It supports feeds for various Google Shopping programs, such as Google Local Product Inventory, Google Local ads, Google Merchant Promotions, and Google Product Reviews. The plugin also provides a catalog sync option to sync WooCommerce products with the Facebook/Instagram catalog.

Features

• Supports multiple sales channels: Google Shops, Facebook Shops, TikTok Ads, Pinterest, Snapchat, Idealo & more.
• Supports Google Shopping platforms.
• Set up advanced conditions for generating product feed.
• Set up automated updates for feed using Sever Cron.

Pricing

The WooCommerce Product Feed has both free and pro versions. The pricing for the pro version starts at $89 for a single site license.

Conclusion

In the competitive world of eCommerce, staying ahead requires continuous improvement and optimization. The top 11 WooCommerce plugins listed here are powerful tools that can help you enhance your online store’s functionality, user experience, and overall performance. By carefully selecting and implementing these plugins based on your specific needs, you can take your eCommerce business to new heights, increase sales, and build lasting customer relationships.

Don’t wait any longer; start optimizing your online store with these essential WooCommerce plugins today!

About the Author

Mustakim helps people with WordPress, business, SEO, and developments in his writings. Currently, he is developing a business for Pluggable. Developers and Web Designers can easily sell or purchase from this WordPress plugin marketplace.

Of course, it’s horrible. It happens when you don’t take proper steps to protect your website.

There are some common mistakes site owners usually make.  If you’re running any website on WordPress CMS then you have to keep an eye on these mistakes to protect your site from potential threats.

So in this blog, I am going to share some of these mistakes they do and how to  aware of them.

1. Using “admin” as a username

I have been using WordPress for so long. It’s since 2018 almost 4 years. The most common mistake new user site owners make is using the default. Earlier versions of WordPress had a default admin user. Unless you don’t delete it, it will remain on the site.

This can cause problems with WordPress security. It can make it simple for someone to log into your website. If a hacker wants they can try a lot of different passwords using this admin username. They could even try this using a computer to try hundreds of passwords every minute.

This was the scenario of the past days. WordPress is now even more smart. They allow users to create their primary password. If you have not changed your site’s older username, it’s time to remove it.

Way to delete the older user

It’s very simple to delete the older user. To delete the user-

• Navigate to Add New from your site dashboard User tab. Now create a new user and set the role to administrator.

• After that, get back to the User page and delete the old user

WordPress system will ask you if you want to delete or re-assign all the assigned blogs and posts from the old user. Choose the second option otherwise, you’ll lose all the contents and posts.

There is also an alternative to this. You can simply use a plugin Easy Username Updater to change your admin user. To achieve this you have to-

• Install Easy Username Updater on your site. Go to Plugins >> Add New and search for that plugin.
• When the plugin is installed, go to the User tab again and click on the Username Updater

• On the updater page, set a new username and click on the Update button

2. Using a poor password on WordPress website

Poor password is a kind of threat. If you’re using a very weak password like “112233” you’re providing your access to hackers.

Usually, a nine-character password takes five days to break for a hacker and ten-character words take four months to break. 

I recommend using a 16-character password for any website. This is the only way to keep your site safe and secure.

Steps to update the existing password

It’s very easy to update the existing password. You can update the password by

• Navigating towards the Users page. Click on the Edit button of the user you want to update the password. After that, scroll down and click on the Set New Password button. When you see the new password showing click on the Update User button.

Now your new strong password is set for your site. If you’re thinking of providing your name or email as your own password please keep these on your head.

• Never use your username on the password
• Do not use the Website name
• Avoid using dictionary words

When you’re providing any password on a WordPress site make sure it is only for that site. Do not use the same password for multiple sites. Use a mixture when you’re creating any passwords.

3. Not using a WordPress security plugin

If you did all the security steps to protect your site still this could happen. For this, you have a solution for your WordPress website. You can use any security plugin to protect your website from hackers.

Some popular plugins for website security

There are some popular WordPress plugins available for websites. Here are  some of them –

1. Wordfence
2. Succuri
3. All-in-one WP Security
4. Anti-malware Security

Wordfence: Wordfence is known as the most popular WordPress security plugin. It’s free to use for malware detection, exploit detection, and threat assessment features. This plugin also has a built-in WordPress firewall.

Succuri: Succuri is also known for its popularity. It also comes up with multiple features like security activity auditing, file integrity monitoring, security notification, and some other features.

All-in-one WP Security: All-in-one WP Security is also a top-rated security plugin with more than 1Million+ users across the globe. This plugin provides features like Web application security, web content security, Robot verification, and many more useful features.

Anti-malware Security: Anti-malware security is also a popular firewall security plugin for WordPress. You can easily scan your WordPress site using this plugin. With this plugin, you can completely remove known threats, malware, and database injections from your site.

You can use any of these plugins but remember installing the plugins will not work for your site. You have to take proper measures for everything. You need to keep an eye on the updates and notices shared by the security plugin.

4. Outdated plugin

Plugins are the root of any website after hosting any site to WordPress. Plugins help you to build your site from scratch and it can ruin your site within seconds. So, it is important to know how a plugin can crush your site or how plugins on your site can be maintained.

How outdated WordPress plugin causes issues on the site

Outdated plugins can ruin your entire business if they are not taken care of properly. The most common issues that occur by outdated plugins are-

Security Vulnerabilities: Outdated plugins are more likely to have security issues. Hackers or spammers can take the chance to get unauthorized access to your WordPress website and inject malicious code.

Compatibility Issues: As a web content management system (CMS) like WordPress, outdated plugins may not be compatible with the WordPress latest version. It can lead to device display issues, broken features, or even site crushes.

Bugs & errors: Outdated plugins may contain bugs or critical errors that have been fixed on the latest version. These bugs can lead to issues like broken links, malfunctioning forms, or any other unexpected errors on your website.

Incompatibility with other plugins: An outdated plugin may cause different problems. This can cause conflict with other plugins, causing unexpected behavior and site instability.

What to do with a WordPress Outdated plugin

As a website owner, you have to keep all the plugins up-to-date. So the question is how you can check the outdated plugin. It’s very simple to check the outdated plugin. If you’re new then follow the steps below-

• First, navigate to your site dashboard plugin page. On the plugin page, you’ll find the Update notice

• You can also check it from the update bar on your site dashboard. You can easily make these plugins up-to-date. By clicking on the update button your plugin will be updated.

One thing, before updating any plugin you have to take a backup of your site. If the plugin is older by several years then you should look for an alternative to it.

Some Additional Tips for the WordPress Website Owners

Before finishing, I want to add some more tips that can help the site from being hacked or if anything goes wrong with your website.

• Make sure your WordPress site is properly protected. For this, you can use SSL for your site. You can also set Cloudflare. This is a popular web application firewall that protects any website from being a harmful attack.
• Perform daily backups. You can tell your site hosting provider to take regular or weekly backups to your website. Otherwise, you can use free backup plugins that are available on the WordPress repository.
• Use popular themes and plugins on your website. There are many popular themes that are maintained regularly. It’d be a good choice if you choose one of them when building your website.
• Never share credentials with anyone. Instead, use a plugin that provides a temporary login to someone to log in to your site.

Final words

Website owners have to face a lot of issues while running a website. These are like giving huge tension to them. If you’re a website owner then you must follow the above solution for your website. This will at least give you relief from the uncertain issues.

For better website performance, there are no alternatives to this. So, you have to take regular backups, use up-to-date plugins on your website, do regular updates to them and the most important thing is set protection. So, any spammer or hackers won’t be able to do any harm to your website.

About the Author

Mustakim is a Support Engineer and a Business Developer. He loves sharing his knowledge to help the people. He is actively involved in developing a business for Pluggable.

Do not make the mistake of choosing web-hosting services that offer the best deals in terms of disk space or price. Although these things are essential, they are not the only things to consider.

In this article, you will learn how to find a hosting web service for WordPress.

1. Research

The first thing you do when searching for hosting services is thorough research. You can start by searching for the Reddit WordPress web hosting list on Google.

You will get a detailed guide where you can learn about how to choose a reliable hosting service. You will also get a list of the best hosting companies that you can try out.

2. Understand Your Speed Needs

A small business website with less than 1,000 visitors does not require the same speed as a media site that publishes new videos and content with a million visitors. Therefore, it is vital to evaluate your site’s speed needs before you start looking for specific plans.

You can start by determining the following:

• The number of web pages.
• Do you intend to publish lots of videos and audio?
• Do you want to have e-commerce functionality?
• How often do you intend to be publishing new content?

3. Know Server Tech

When choosing a hosting service for your WordPress website, learning about server technology is important. This is because the quality of server hardware plays a major role in your website’s performance.

Therefore, it is important to go for a reputable web-hosting company that invests in up-to-date, high-quality web server technology.

From the web hosting control panel to the operating system, you should learn about the server tech that is offered by different hosting companies. This will help you determine which company offers the best technology for your website’s needs.

4. Infrastructure

Most providers who offer shared hosting services use traditional web server racks. In most cases, they use older and slower mechanical drives.

So choose a WordPress hosting service provider who has invested in solid-state disks (SSDs). These disks boost the loading speed of a page since it is faster to read and write data than mechanical drives.

5. Security

Security is critical, like any other criteria, given that hackers can do anything to get sensitive information. You may have heard how many companies have lost millions of dollars and acquired bad reputations due to cyber security attacks.

A reliable hosting service provider should have DDoS protection, encryption, and firewall in place to keep the hackers away.

6. Know The Server Load

Unless you intend to host your WordPress website on a dedicated server, you will share a server with other websites. So, ask your host provider how many websites are on each server.

A cheap web-hosting plan has more websites on a single server to keep the costs down. On the other hand, a bit expensive shared hosting has few websites on a server. The number of websites in a single server affects how fast your web pages will load since they share resources.

Finding the right hosting service provider for your WordPress website is critical as it affects the performance of your website. Therefore, consider the above things while finding a reputable WordPress hosting company.

Because in this post I’m going to show you exactly how to create a post that:

• Taps into the subscriber lists of people with massive followings
• Quickly build relationships with key influencers in your niche
• Positions you as an expert through the power of association
• Promotes itself and has the potential to go viral

What kind of post am I talking about?

It’s called a ‘roundup’ and it’s very simple.

You just find some experts in your niche and ask them a question, the shorter the better.

Roundups have the potential to generate huge traffic to your website and massive social media sharing.

But the real magic of roundups is the relationships that you form with key Influencers in your niche. And it’s relationships with key players in your niche that will take your blog to the next level.

There are six key steps in creating a successful roundup post and I’ll take you through them step-by-step:

• Deciding on the Question
• Finding the Experts
• Finding Email Addresses
• Doing the Outreach
• Writing the Article
• Promoting the Article

1. Deciding on the Question

The question you ask your experts is the most important aspect of a roundup post – it will literally make or break your roundup.

Why is that?

Firstly, the question you ask must be one that your experts want to answer. Influencers and experts are busy people. If they can’t answer your question in about 5 to 10 minutes, they’ll simply pass – they don’t have the time.

Also, if you ask a question they’ve already been asked in half a dozen previous roundups, they may not bother to respond.

Secondly, the question you ask your experts must be one that your target audience wants answered.

So when you write a roundup post you actually have two audiences – experts and target audience – and they both need to be motivated by your question.

1.1 Use Your Own Learning Process

If you are a blogger and you have a following, it’s more than likely that you are teaching people how to do things. You may be only one or two steps ahead of your readers (you only need to be one step ahead of someone else in order to help them).

This means that your problems are very likely their problems. So keep a detailed diary of the challenges and problems that you face and overcome as you build your blog.

You can use those challenges and problems as the basis for roundup questions. For example: “What’s you number one list-building technique?” or “What’s your single most important source of traffic?” or “What are the three digital marketing tools you couldn’t do without?”

1.2 Use BuzzSumo to find trending topics

Let’s say your broad topic is ‘email marketing’ but you want to narrow it down to a sub-topic. Go to BuzzSumo and type in ‘email marketing’.

In the left panel, set the filter to ‘last 6 months’ to ensure relevancy:

In the top 10 results I can see that ‘email etiquette’ is the trending topic within ‘email marketing’:

I cast my eye over the titles of these articles and bingo! I’ve got the question for my roundup post: “What’s the single most important aspect of email etiquette for a web marketer?”

You can use this method with any upper level topic you can think of:

• auto responder sequences
• collaborative content
• content marketing
• content promotion
• copywriting
• creating graphics for blog posts
• creating infographics
• creating online courses
• creating optin bribes
• finding topics for blog posts
• finding your niche
• finding your tribe
• forum commenting
• guest posting
• influencer marketing
• link building
• list building
• monetizing blogs
• opt-in popups
• podcasting
• sales funnels
• seo
• social media espionage
• wordpress plugins
• writing blog post titles
• writing blog posts

1.3 Be Very Specific

Ask ONE thing only. The more specific your question, the more likely your Influencers and experts will respond.

Avoid vague questions like “what’s your view on guest posting?” Instead ask: “What’s the most valuable guest posting tip you could offer to a novice blogger?”

One way to make a question more specific is to add a date. Instead of asking: “What are the best blog promotion techniques”, ask: “What are the best blog promotion techniques in 2021?”

1.4 Always Indicate the Target Audience

Your experts will find it much easier to respond to your question if you clearly indicate the target audience. It goes back to the previous point – being as specific as you can.

For example, this question is okay, but it doesn’t indicate the target audience: “What’s your single most valuable piece of blogging advice?”

This is the same question, but with the target audience specified: “What’s the single most valuable piece of advice you would give to a first-year blogger?”

The second version is much more likely to get a response from an expert, because it’s more specific.

Not only that, once the article is published it’s more likely to be shared and go viral because it has a very specific audience: first year bloggers.

Here’s another example.

Instead of asking: “What are your best list building techniques?” ask: “What key tip would you give to a first year blogger trying to get their first 1000 subscribers?”

This is an easier question to answer because (a) you’re asking for just one tip, and (b) it’s a tip for first year bloggers who don’t yet have 1000 subscribers.

Remember: the more specific your question, the easier it is to answer, and the more likely it is you’ll get a response.

1.5 Place the Influencer in the Role of Expert

In a recent roundup post I asked: “What’s the single most valuable piece of advice you ever received about succeeding as a blogger?”

But I noticed I wasn’t getting much response.

So I changed the question to: “What’s the single most valuable piece of advice you would give to a first year blogger?”

Immediately I started getting more responses.

The reason? My second question placed the Influencer in the role of an expert helping people with less experience. It works because (a) people want to help others and (b) they want to be seen as experts.

1.6 Avoid questions that will produce similar responses

If you ask: “What is your #1 list building technique?” you can be fairly sure that over half your respondents are going to say a ‘free eBook’ or something to that effect.

That’s not going to result in a very interesting article.

One way to avoid getting similar responses is to ask personal questions such as:

• “What was the biggest mistake you made in your first year of blogging?”
• “How did you get your first 500 subscribers?”
• “How did you make your first $1000 dollars online?”

These kinds of questions are all going to produce unique results because they draw on individual experience.

1.7 Use a Negative Perspective

If you find that your topic has already been done to death, you can always put a twist on it.

Let’s say you want to do a roundup on ‘blog post promotion’ but a quick search on Google shows that it’s been overdone.

You can put a twist on that topic by turning it into a negative and still have a question that sounds original:

• What Are the Most Common Mistakes People make when Promoting Blog Posts?
• What are the Three Most Common Mistakes People make when Promoting Blog Posts
• Why do People Fail with Blog Post Promotion

1.8 Formulas for Asking Questions

Take the topic of your choice and then apply these formulas for coming up with a question for your roundup post:

• If you had only 3 months to ____ what would you focus on?
• What will be the biggest change in ___ over the next 12 months?
• What is the biggest lesson in ¬¬¬___ you ever learned?
• What is the biggest mistake you ever made in ____?
• What’s your best tip for ___?
• What are your 3 favorite tools for ____?
• What is the most creative example of ____ you have ever seen?
• What are the top traits of highly successful ____?
• If you had to start again in ____ what would you do differently?

1.9 Go for a Three-Word Response

The response rate in your outreach process can be quite low, sometimes as low as 20% to 30%.

If you want to increase the response rate, ask an extremely simple question that can literally be answered in three words.

For example:

• Q: What are your three most useful blogging tools?
• A: BuzzSumo, Skitch, Evernote.

It’s so short, you could even use Twitter for the outreach!

1.10 Email Your List

Send out an email to your list asking them: “What’s the one thing frustrating you most in _____”.

Find a topic that your readers are struggling with and you’ve got a winner!

2. Finding the Experts

Finding experts or Influencers in your niche is not difficult. Here are three techniques that work well.

2.1 Use BuzzSumo

Go to BuzzSumo, type in the keyword for your niche, and then click on the ‘Influencer’ tab. In the example below I searched for Influencers in the ‘Content Marketing’ niche.

In the left-side panel check ‘Bloggers’ and ‘Influencers’ and leave the other three boxes unchecked.

In the filter box on the top right of the screen, make sure you have ‘relevancy’ selected:

The free version of BuzzSumo will only give you 10 results. However, if you sign up for the free trial, you’ll get access to a fully functioning version for 14 days.

2.2 Use Followerwonk

Followerwonk is a product of Moz and is a paid service. But the free version allows you to find Influencers in your niche.

Just go to Followerwonk and click on the ‘Search Bios’ tab (top left).

Then type in the keyword for your niche and click ‘Do It’:

Followerwonk returns over 32,000 results:

Use the columns on the right side of the screen to filter the results by various criteria, including ‘Tweets’, ‘Followers’, and ‘Social Authority’:

The only catch with the free account is you won’t be able to download the results.

But it’s still a great way to identify Influencers in your niche.

2.3 Look for Previous Roundups

A quick and easy way to find Influencers is to simply look for previously published roundups on your topic.

The advantage of this method is you not only find experts in your niche, you find experts in your niche who like participating in roundups.

Just go to Google and type in any of the following strings:

• experts reveal “keyword”
• experts top tips “keyword”
• experts best tips “keyword”
• experts offer “keyword”
• experts predictions “keyword”

Click on the search results one by one and build up a database of experts who have participated in previous roundups in your niche.

3. Finding email addresses

Although most people now have contact forms on their websites you’d be surprised how often you can find someone’s email address on their contact page, usually disguised by replacing @ with [at].

3.1 Use an Email Finding Service

But if you can’t find their email address anywhere, there are various email finding services, such as:

• AnyMailFinder
• ClearBit (Chrome Extension)
• LeadGibbon
• Hunter.io

The service I’ve had best results with is Hunter, which gives you 150 free searches a month. That’s enough to do a couple of roundups a month!

Just type the domain name into Hunter and it will usually give you at least a couple of verified email addresses:

3.2 Sign up to their Newsletter

If that fails you can always sign up to their newsletter. Most bloggers use their personal email address in the header of the confirmation email (i.e. name@domain.com).

It’s a good practice, in any case, to sign up to the expert’s Newsletter, as that’s another way of getting on their radar.

In the welcome email, Influencers often reach out to new subscribers, asking them what issues they are struggling with. That’s a great opportunity to drop them an email and introduce yourself.

4. Doing the Outreach

Outreach is where you’ll do the bulk of the work involved in putting together a roundup.

4.1 Use an Online Form

An online form makes it really easy for your experts to respond. It also makes it very clear-cut what is required. An online form will make you appear business-like and show that you know what you’re doing.

There are four bits of information you want to collect in the online form:

1. The expert’s response to the question
2. The expert’s Bio
3. The expert’s URL
4. The expert’s portrait pic (also called a headshot)

I use Jotform as it’s the only free online form that allows the user to upload a photo (Google Forms used to allow uploads, but no longer).

Sign up to Jotform.com and create your form. Once your form is ready, click on ‘Publish’:

On the next screen, click on ‘Embed’:

Then select the ‘Embed’ option and copy the code:

I create my forms on a WordPress page rather than a post because it gives me more control over the appearance.

Specifically, I want to:

• Put the form on a blank page without a right-hand sidebar
• Remove the Page Title from the top of the page

If your WP theme doesn’t allow you to create a totally blank page, download the Blank Slate plugin.

Create a new page and in the ‘Edit’ screen choose ‘Blank Slate’ (in the right sidebar):

Then check the box next to ‘Hide Title’:

And that’s it! Your form will look something like this:

4.2 Make it Personal

Always begin your email with the expert’s name. Nothing will get your outreach email discarded quicker than a message that starts: “Hey there!”

4.3 Use the Principle of Reciprocity

It’s a basic law of human behaviour that people will give back or reciprocate a favour. In other words, do a favour for your expert and they’ll do one for you (i.e. contribute to your roundup post).

The way I do this is I look for a blog post of theirs that I really like, and then I tweet it to my followers. You can mention the tweet in your outreach email.

4.4 Template for the initial Outreach

As with the other templates in this article, please don’t copy it word for word. Find your own words and make it your own!

Key Points in the Initial Outreach:

• Name of the Expert
• Introduce yourself
• You know their website
• You’ve read at least one of their blog posts
• You liked it because…
• You tweeted it to your followers
• The Roundup Question plus link to the online form
• The deadline (people put things off without a deadline)
• A two-line bio with a link back to their website
• 50 to 100 words would be great
• You have invited other experts to contribute
• You’ll be promoting it once it is published
• If they don’t have time or the question doesn’t fit with their focus, it’s totally fine.

4.5 Include Contributing Experts in your Outreach Email

Once you have responses from 5 experts, include their names and websites in your outreach email.

The psychology of this is that your prospects are more likely to want to participate if they see names they recognize. People don’t want to be left out:

4.6 Specify a Deadline

Specify a deadline of no more than 7 days away. You want people to take action now. If you don’t give a deadline, or if you give them too long, it will go on the backburner and they’ll forget about it.

4.7 Thank Responders within 24 hours

Thank the experts who respond with a simple email, within 24 hours:

4.8 Keep Track of your Outreach

Use a spreadsheet to keep track of who you emailed and who responded. You’ll need this to:

• Avoid emailing the same expert twice
• Send a ‘thank you email’ to all the experts who responded
• Send an email once the article is live, asking the expert to share

In my spreadsheet I include a column containing the link to the expert’s article that I tweeted to my followers, as this is information I will need while composing the outreach email.

4.9 Get Noticed by the Expert

When you’re starting out and are completely unknown, it can be hard to get experts to respond. You need to do everything you can to get on their radar.

One way to do this is to follow them on Twitter and another way is to sign up to their Newsletter.

In either case, they may or may not see your name and take note. But either way, it increases your chances of getting a response to your outreach.

5. Writing the Article

5.1 Analyse and Summarize the Responses

You might think that the main advantage of roundup posts is that you get your article written for you. That’s certainly true. But you still need to do your own analysis and summary of what the experts have said.

A roundup post that just presents the responses of the experts and nothing more is very weak.

One of the reasons you need to analyse and summarize what the experts have said is that your readers may not have time to read the whole article – they just want to get the key takeaways in a nutshell.

So at the end of your roundup post, always include your analysis and summary of what the experts have said.

If your roundup asked a ‘top three’ question (e.g. What are your top three Productivity tools?), the analysis is very simple. You just add up the responses and create a ‘top 10’ leader board. Here’s an example from Robbie Richard’s article, 60 Experts Reveal Top 3 Tools To Grow Your Email List:

If the roundup question is not a list-type but asks for an opinion, then the analysis will be bit more involved. But nothing scary!

Just go through the responses and see what the main points are.

Often there will be overlap in the responses. For example, you might have 19 experts who made 11 points.

Create a sub-heading for each point and summarize the point in no more than 3 or 4 sentences. That’s all you need to do!

5.2 Provide a Summary at the Beginning

At the beginning of your roundup post include a brief summary of the key takeaways. This is for readers who are just skimming and want to see the nutshell version.

5.3 Table of Hyperlinked Names

At the start of the your roundup, insert a table of hyperlinked expert names so that readers can quickly navigate to individual responses:

5.4 Include a TL;DR button

Most people who read blog posts are in a rush. They just want to get the gist of it quickly. For these readers it’s very helpful to provide a button near the top of the article that takes them straight to the analysis and summary:

5.5 Include Portrait Pics

Images are vital in any post, as a way of breaking up the text. A portrait pic of your expert is too good an opportunity to miss. Always include a headshot next to the name of your expert:

5.6 Affiliate Links

Roundup posts that ask experts for their ‘top three tools’ for doing something can become evergreen content that will deliver a steady stream of traffic from organic search.

Include some affiliate links and your roundup could bring you a handy stream of passive income for years to come.

5.7 Create a Photo Collage

Images make any blog post more engaging and more shareable and what better image to use in a roundup post than a photo collage of the contributing experts?

There are various online services you can use to create a photo collage, some free (e.g. canva.com) and some paid (e.g. picmonkey.com).

But the easiest way to create a photo collage for a roundup post is Picasa. Although Google has officially retired Picasa you can still download it at: http://picasa.en.downloadastro.com/download/

Open Picasa and use the left side panel to navigate to the folder where your portrait pics are located.

The following portrait pics are from my most recent roundup post, 19 Experts Reveal Their Top Tips For First Year Bloggers.

Select all the images in your folder and then click on the ‘Make Collage’ button (second from left):

Then, in the left side pane, use the ‘Grid Spacing Slider’ to adjust the margins between the photos. Then click ‘Create Collage’:

On the next window, click the ‘Export’ button at the bottom of the screen:

On the next screen, make sure the resize slider is set to 800 pixels, and then click ‘Export’:

With some of the online collage making services you’re either limited to a set number of photos per collage or you’ll be left with a grid containing empty spaces. What I like about the Picasa Collage Maker is that it fits the photos to the available space:

5.8 Include an Infographic

Including an Infographic in your Roundup post is one of the factors that will make your post go viral.

To prove my point, let me give you a little case study.

I published two roundup posts. Roundup ‘A’ had 27 contributors, while Roundup ‘B’ had 19 contributors.

Which one do you think got more shares?

You probably guessed Roundup ‘A’ – with 27 experts sharing it with their followers, it had a far greater audience reach than the first.

But it was the other way around.

Roundup ‘A’ received a total of 87 social media shares, while Roundup ‘B’ got 314 shares.

Not only that, but Roundup ‘B’ has gone viral: it’s been weeks since it received any active promotion from either me or the contributors, but every week it gets 10 to 20 new shares:

What made the difference? An Infographic!

The above Infographic was created using a vector graphics app called SketchApp, but there are plenty of online drag-and-drop Infographic makers:

• https://www.canva.com/create/infographics/
• https://piktochart.com/
• https://venngage.com/
• https://www.easel.ly/create
• https://www.visme.co/
• https://infogr.am/

Here’s a good tutorial on how to create an Infographic using Canva:

5.9 Thank the Experts

Somewhere in your roundup you should thank the experts for their time.

I usually do it at the end of the post, just before the summary. Here’s an example:

5.10 Include the Number of Experts in the Title

It’s been proven over and over again that numbers in the title get more clicks, so always include the number of experts in your title: “27 Experts Reveal Their Top Tips For First Year Bloggers”.

For some reason odd numbers attract more attention than even numbers so if you end up with an even number of experts, try and get just one more expert!

6. Promoting the Article

It’s true that roundup articles are self-promoting: the experts who contributed to the article share it out to their followers on social media. That’s one of reasons roundups are so powerful.

But there are some things you can do to make it easier for your contributors to spread the word:

6.1 Template for the Promotion Email

As soon as the roundup is live, send out an email asking the contributors to share it to their followers:

6.2 Just Hit Reply

With your promotion email, no need to create a new subject line. Just go back to the email where the expert gave their response, and hit ‘reply’.

The reason for this?

When the expert sees that your email is a reply to their email, they are much more likely to open it.

6.3 Sprinkle ‘Ready-to-Tweet’ quotes

Sprinkle the completed article with ‘ready-to-tweet’ excerpts or quotes. This makes it easier for your experts to Tweet the post to their followers.

Ideally, include a ‘ready-to-Tweet’ quote for each expert.

I use the Social Warfare app for this, but there are many other options such as ClickToTweet (which is free).

6.4 Floating Social Media Buttons

Floating social media buttons are the panel of buttons that follow you as you move down a web page.

They’ve been shown to dramatically increase the number of shares on social media, so make sure you have this installed before your article goes live.

You want to do everything you can to help your experts share out the article to their followers.

I use the Social Warfare plugin but there are several other options:

• Monarch
• SumoShare

7. Start Writing!

A roundup post is one of the most powerful blogging techniques available.

If you’re in your first year of blogging, or if you’ve been blogging for longer but haven’t been able to get any traction, roundup posts can take you to the next level.

Here’s a little known secret about successful blogging – it’s as much about connections as it is about content. And roundups are a brilliant way to make those connections.

My first, second, and third guest post opportunities were all direct results of a roundup post.

Do three or four roundups and you’ll have a perfect platform to launch yourself into guest posting. But roundups do require some solid work, mainly in the outreach stage.

Here again are the 6 key steps in producing a successful roundup:

• Deciding on the Question
• Finding the Experts
• Finding Email Addresses
• Doing the Outreach
• Writing the Article
• Promoting the Article

And remember, the more experts you have on your panel, the more audience reach you’ll have. Get enough experts involved and you may well have a roundup that goes viral!

Let me know how you go in the comments below.

I’d love to hear your experiences with roundup posts!

You will need to build it up to a point where other people can help you manage the work and generate passive income. To help you manage a profitable website, we have covered important best practices to follow. These steps will allow you to manage a site brings in more money than it costs.

Know Your Audience

Image Pixabay

A successful and profitable website begins with its audience. Whatever your target market, the audience has to be engaged and willing to spend. Otherwise, you will have a hard time generating a profit.

Just as you would research a market for a physical product, you need to have a strong idea of a profitable audience. For example, a fashion blog could cater to women who spend on clothing, accessories or jewelry. There are many niches out there for various audiences. By getting to know your audience, you can make decisions about your website and content to meet their demands.

Investing In High Performance Hosting

Once you have a specific audience, you need a reliable infrastructure for your website. The most profitable websites receive hundreds of thousands of visitors per month. If you are not technical savvy, you can have a hosting provider manage your entire platform. They can also ensure that your WordPress website is optimized for faster load times.

When you have a fast loading, high performance website, you will receive more page views. This will help increase the value of your site and income levels overall. A reliable infrastructure like the one offered by HostPapa is critical to managing a profitable wordpress website.

Monetizing Your Website

With a reliable platform in place, you need to monetize your wordpress website. You have many options of how to make money from a website. You can use PPC ads, affiliate programs, native advertising or your own products and services. Again, the type of website monetization you choose should depend on your audience. It needs to be relevant to their wants and needs.

Moreover, you should find a high converting product or service to sell. Whether the monetization is high or low priced comes secondary. Since you are online, the conversion rate can make the biggest difference to having a profitable website. As you grow your traffic, your site monetization can scale with your efforts to increase profits consistently.

Drive More Traffic

After finding the right monetization strategy for your website, focus on driving as much traffic as you can to the website. There are many ways to drive more traffic on a daily basis. You can attract organic, referral and direct traffic to increase your income.

However, this traffic should be relevant to your audience. This way, you will still experience high conversion rates and increasing sales with high quality content. In order to keep your site making money, your traffic levels should continue to rise. If you invest carefully in traffic generation, your website will continue to make money net income.

Build A Team

As you solidify your online business model, you will need to recruit a team that can grow your website. Even if you don’t want to grow your website too large, the site still needs to be maintained to keep up your existing traffic levels.

More so, a qualified team can take your website to new heights, generating more income and profits. This step requires you to make the shift from doing the work to managing others. When you successfully build a team, they will unlock time freedom you and sustainable profitability for your website.

As we mentioned, it can be very difficult to create a profitable website. It can take some time to identify a profitable audience and get known in the industry. Then, you have to make sure that your website can handle all the traffic as you grow.

After getting the infrastructure in place, you will need to test offers to see what the best way is to monetize your sites. This is where you find how profitable a wordpress website can really be. Once you have a profitable website model, scale it by driving more traffic and investing in a high-quality team. By following these steps, you can manage a successful, profitable website.