The post Mastering Engaging Opening Lines: 11 Creative Strategies to Hook Your Readers appeared first on ProBlogger. My wife’s first words to me were… ‘Hi Michael, it’s nice to meet you’ …which was both funny and memorable since my name is DARREN, not Michael!   Ever wondered how some posts keep you hooked while others don’t catch your eye? It’s all in the opener. The first words you utter or write can set the tone for any relationship or conversation… Just like in real life, the opening lines of your blog post can make or break your reader’s engagement.   In my last post in this ‘h ..read more

The post 8 Secrets to Crafting Blog Post Titles That Will Set the Internet Ablaze appeared first on ProBlogger. Titles change the destiny of your posts. Those few words at the beginning of your blog post can be the difference between the post being read and spread like a virus through the web like a wild fire and it languishing in your archives, barely noticed. This month we’ve been talking about how to ‘craft’ blog posts and are looking at key moments in the writing of blog posts that it is important to pause and put a little extra effort into. While there will usually only be a handful of w ..read more

The post How to Choose a Topic for Your Next Blog Post appeared first on ProBlogger. Choosing the right topic to write about on your blog is vital if you want to write a post that engages your reader. Rushing the choice of topic can set you off in the wrong direction and end up wasting both your time and that of your reader. While sometimes the idea for a post hits you and needs little adaption – I find that many (if not most) times the first idea that comes to me for a post needs a little molding (or marinating) before it’s just right. I will often come up with a post idea and end up evolvin ..read more

The post 8 Steps to Become a More Confident Writer appeared first on ProBlogger. Whatever you want to achieve by blogging – money, a fully-fledged business, recognition in your field, a creative outlet, or sharing your message with the world – you need to write. There’s no way around it. Blogging is writing. Your platform, your means of communication, involves putting words onto a screen for people to read. And that can be terrifying. Lots of would-be bloggers get stopped in their tracks because putting their words out into the world feels so daunting. These fears are so normal … so if you’re ..read more

The post What Can Bloggers Learn from Pickleball? appeared first on ProBlogger. I may be late to the party but I’ve just discovered Pickleball! And after playing almost daily since my first hit, I have to admit I’m a little bit addicted… Pickleball, a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, is not just a pastime with a quirky name—it’s a phenomenon sweeping across communities with its unique blend of accessibility and fun for people of all ages and abilities. But beyond its entertaining gameplay, pickleball holds surprising lessons for bloggers. Here’s how you can ap ..read more

The post 5 Ways I Use Habits to Stay Creative and Productive When Working From Home appeared first on ProBlogger. Folks, you’ll know today’s guest contributor author Gretchen Rubin from her bestselling books on happiness, habits, and human nature, her inspiring talks, and her popular daily blog GretchenRubin.com. Gretchen also shares practical, manageable advice on her podcast Happier With Gretchen Rubin. We are thrilled to have Gretchen on ProBlogger today, giving us her best tips on how good habits can help you stay sane and on track when your workplace is also your home.  If ..read more

The post 5 Ways to Write Faster appeared first on ProBlogger. Running a business is a time suck of epic proportion. Planning, administration, product development, sales, delivery, email, bookkeeping, social media, marketing. It takes time. Throw in a family and you flit from demand to crisis without a moment to reheat that cup of tea you made three hours ago. Your blog post – that important but not urgent task – is often the victim of the go-go-go life. You know it’s important for but there it is, languishing at the bottom of the ‘to do’ list day after day a ..read more

The post How to Personalize Your Blog Like These 10 Top Bloggers appeared first on ProBlogger. Lots of bloggers seem to do everything right, yet they don’t see much success. They write well-structured posts, they pay attention to SEO, they know the ins and outs of their blogging software … but something’s lacking. That missing “something” can often be personality. It’s the difference between a blog that readers come across and instantly forget … and a blog that makes a connection and an impact. Does your blog need a bit of extra personalisation? Here’s how ten top bloggers make their blogs st ..read more

The post Mastering Blog Post Creation: 10 Essential Steps to Enhance Your Writing Process appeared first on ProBlogger. It hits you like a TON of BRICKS! It’s an idea for that KILLER blog post that is just bound to bring you all the traffic that you’ve ever dreamed of. With the idea fresh in your mind you sit down at your keyboard and BANG it out – desperate to hit publish as quickly as you can for fear that someone else will beat you to the PUNCH! As SMOKE rises from your keyboard you complete your post, quickly add a title to it and proudly hit PUBLISH! Visions of an avalanche of visitors ..read more

The post Can You REALLY Make Money Blogging? 7 Things I Know About Making Money from Blogging appeared first on ProBlogger. Ever wondered if tapping away at your keyboard can really pay the bills? Is it really possible to make a living from blogging? Is it just a small number of people making money from blogging? Is it only really possible to make money blogging if you write about the topic of making money blogging? If it is really possible to make money blogging, how likely is it that you’ll succeed? Let’s cut through the noise. With a swirl of myths and a sprinkle of truth, the blogging w ..read more