Editor’s Notes
Kate McKibbin I was killing some time in my friendly local second had book store the other day. And do you know what I saw? I saw a really "old" looking book (you know the ones that kind of smell like dust, and the pages are all yellow?). And it was about a blogger! Let me say that again. I saw a really OLD book... about blogging. Sorry, I am still in shock. Because it seemed like only yesterday that blogging was being described as a bit of a "crazy new fad!” A fad that I have actually been spending most of my waking (and sleeping) hours dedicated to for the last.. hang on... oh shit... 10 years. Oh god, I need a drink… And while I am off doing that (it might be a while), feel free to read all about some of the new cool things for this not-so-new blogging thing. There is some amazing advice in the following pages (most of which I wish someone could have told me all the way back in... oh dear...
Carly Jacobs Well hello there gorgeous #sbbmag readers! I do hope you’re feeling refreshed and invigorated after the holidays. The lead up to Christmas is always so hectic and by comparison the few days around the New Year are so deliciously slow. The perfect antidote to a busy year. Kate and I went nuts on this issue - It’s the What’s New In Blogging edition. We wanted to put something together to inspire and excite everyone for the 2017 blogging year - which is going to be huge AF by the way. My advice? Don’t waste January. January is the deadest month of the year and is the perfect time to plan, batch content and prepare launches. Trust me - no one is booking advertising or hiring freelancers in January so use this time to get ahead in your blogging. You’ll thank me in April when everyone starts hounding you all at once! Having said that, do take a break. Post some fun content, read other blogs and relax a little on your daily content grind. Sometimes a little break can be the best thing for you. Also don’t forget to check in with your favourite blogs in the New Year - comment and let them know you’re still reading. They will love it, I promise! Have a fabulous start to the year - let’s kick 2017’s butt!
1
CONTENTS
40
FIRE AND FLOW
3 GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER
Our new favourite blog and g-damn genius idea for a blogging biz.
A few things to think about this January/February..
4 BLOG SNIPPET My nine biggest lessons from nine years of blogging - by Kate McKibbin.
WE LOVE Planner, planner, po-pana, banana-fana, fo-mana, mi-mi-momana… PLANNER! We really like planners.
9 RIP
PRO BLOGGER Want to be one? Read this interview with the original Problogger, Darren Rowse
43
Things That Used To Be A Thing That Are No Longer A Thing.
10 28 BRAIN PICKINGS
18 THEN AND NOW Vintage VS Modern blogging or How To Blog Without Facebook. I know right?
20 SQUIRREL! Do you have trouble concentrating? Read this.
23 URGH! SEO! Oi! Quit your whinging. SEO is very necessary and we have SEO genius Rand Fishkin in the mag this month to help you rock at it.
We chat to Christina and Madeleine from the Blog Squad about what’s working for them in blogging right now.
30 SERIOUSLY SOCIAL We talk with Donna Moritz about how to get socially sorted in 2017.
37 MAKE SERIOUS BANK How to ACTUALLY make money with blogging online courses. For real. With Teachable.
45 DON’T BE A DOOFUS Get into a batching. You are SERIOUSLY wasting your time if you don’t.
2
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
jan + feb
FEBRUARY 13 GRAMMY AWARDS FEBRUARY 26 ACADEMY AWARDS
DECEMBER 31 NEW YEARS EVE 2017
FEBRUARY 14 VALENTINE’S DAY
JANUARY 1 NEW YEARS DAY JANUARY 20-23 ALT DESIGN SUMMIT, USA JANUARY 26 AUSTRALIA DAY JANUARY 28 CHINESE NEW YEAR FEBRUARY 2 GROUND HOG DAY
3