Resources For Bloggers from Bloggers: What advice can you give to other bloggers?

This section is for all you bloggers out there. You’ll find helpful hints and ways to share information to make your job easier. We help our readers save time and money, now let’s help each other do the same. It’s silly to reinvent the wheel. Let’s share our knowledge so everyone benefits.
Find sections with tips on organizing your blog, connecting with your readers, gathering information, and making money.
Linkies – Bloggers post linkies as ways to help other bloggers share their posts. Linkies tend to have a specific topic and bloggers are encouraged to link up to their posts of relevant information. These are great ways to generate traffic to your site. If you host a linky on your site, let me know and I’ll add you to the list.
Wow! Thank you to all of you that have already taken the survey. Here are some of the results so far. I have not included all of the “favorite sites”. There were too many to list. I have included the ones that were most frequently mentioned.

What advice can you give to other bloggers?

Balancing time between the blog and home life

“I work 2 hrs in the morning before my kids get up and post the deals that came in from overnight from email and my favorite sites. I set up times to check my site during the day — or it becomes all too encompassing. I work at night to set up posts for the next morning so that I have deals that post all day long — but I don’t have to be at my computer.” – Tracie, Kansas City Penny Pinchin’ Mama

“I try to balance my blog and family life by only blogging during work and school hours or after the children are in bed. Family is extremely important and running a blog can take a lot out of family life you have to balance or you get lost in the deals.” – Angie, Short on Cents

“I schedule time in my day where I can be kid-free (or when my oldest is playing independently) to work on my blog. I hide my laptop away at other times when I want to be focused on my kids.” – Nicole, My Real Review

“Try to remember it is just a BLOG. Your family and life come first. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in blogging that more important things get pushed to the side. I have tried to reserve certain times of the day especially for blogging ie. late at night, early morning or during rest time when my kids are laying down. This way during the day I am putting my focus where it is most important, my family but I am also not depriving myself of something I truly enjoy! Just try and have that happy balance!” – Sara, Learning the Frugal Life

“Scheduling posts is very helpful and can get you time away from your blog.” – Kristi, Spend Less and Save More

“My biggest struggle is balancing my blog and home life. I have found the best way to do this is to have a plan on what you want to accomplish each day on your blog. After I finish that in the morning I walk away and get other things around the house done. I will only then go back to work more on my blog after I have done what needs to be done around the house and spend time with my family.” – Jennifer, Money Saving Secrets Blog

“ We are two friends who have started this blog together, so it helps to work together. With our families and their schedules it helps to have someone to split the responsibilities with. Divide and conquer is our theory.” – Margaret, CheaptasticMoms

Staying connected to readers

“I answer ALL my reader’s emails every day. If you feel you MUST auto-respond, semi-customize that auto-response. I also take the time to respond to my readers that post on the blog (and now Facebook). IMO interaction is a great way to know your readers.” – Ann, Coupons Deals and More

“It’s important to make your blog personal and try to connect. Don’t be afraid to share yourself (just don’t share TOO much information!)” – Sherry, Hounding with ThriftyPuppy

“I take the time to connect and talk to EVERYONE through Facebook. I don’t care what the comment is – I reply. Same with comments on my blog. People want interaction and feel more connected to me because I take the time to talk to them. I talk about stuff other than my blog…post about my life on FB and Twitter…shows them I’m a real person and a mom.” – Tracie, Kansas City Penny Pinchin’ Mama

“I think readers love connecting with you on Facebook because it’s in real-time, so take a little time out of the day to connect with them. I highly recommend a Facebook fan page, that is where 50% off my traffic comes from.” – Christy, Coupon Gal

“Post local deals too, people love to see what’s going on in their next of the woods, especially if there is a “manager special” at a store close to them that they know has been confirmed. So many times you go to the store and end up not getting the great deals listed.” – Kacey, KacysCouponCorner

“Talk about things people can relate to. Show a little of yourself in your blog so they seem more personal and people can relate; like let them know what you cook for dinner, how your family liked it, etc.” – Lori, NW Coupon Lady

“Keep it real. Admit your shortcomings, let your personality shine. But whatever you do, do NOT apologize! Don’t apologize for being new, for not writing well, for not writing in a couple days…you lose your credibility.” – Angela, The Coupon Project

Getting Info

“I’ve also been blessed to network with a group of bloggers in my area. We meet every few months in person to share ideas and brainstorm – and the collaboration has led us to link to each other more often, building up all of our blogs.” Jolyn, Macomb Money Savers

“Being part of a blogging community will not only give you ideas, but is a great place to share deals so you are not having to search for them all of the time.” – Kristi, Spend Less and Save More

Organizing

“I carry my PDA to jot down post ideas, send information to my blog email address when I find it, etc so it’s at my fingertips when I need it” – Sherry, Hounding with ThriftyPuppy

“Pick a few key areas to blog about, add in the hot deals, and don’t sweat it if you miss some deals here and there.” – Sara, Sara The Savvy Shopper

“I use Mac Stickies to keep track of my current giveaways, to be reviewed, potential topic, etc. All easily accessible on my desktop.” – Jessica, The B Keeps Us Honest

Others

“Trade deal posts with other deal bloggers, but when you post their info on your blog, only post 3-4 choice items. Sharing is good SEO, recopying of entire posts is bad SEO.” Ann, Coupons Deals and More

“I try to post some fun information on frugal shopping, crafts, etc. besides just coupons and deals. Like a little bench I picked up at Goodwill to refinish, or a denim purse I made from a thrift store skirt! I think this breaks up the “coupon/deal” shopping and helps us remember to do some fun things too.” – LouAnn, Bargains and Blessings

“if you’re just getting started, I recommend that you start out slow. Just do a blog and not worry about Facebook, Twitter, etc. Get your bearings and see if you like it. Watch and learn from some of the other bloggers.” – Sherry, Hounding with ThriftyPuppy

“Don’t get discouraged and…network, network, network…make friends and have fun!!” – Jamie, Champagne Wisdom

“Blog what you love. I really don’t love grocery shopping/deals. I do them b/c I have to and want to save money on groceries, but I don’t find grocery deals all that interesting or blog-worthy. On the other hand, saving $$ on kids’ clothing/toys/household goods and playing the drugstore game is very interesting and fun for me, so that is what I blog about.” – Sara, Sara The Savvy Shopper

“Join social groups such as SITS, Mom Bloggers Club & Everyday Moms” – Marcy, The Frugal Kennedys

“Another great way I make money is through newspaper subscriptions. I actually get paid for each new subscription that I refer. We have two newspaper agencies where I live, and I contacted the circulation and advertising managers, and spoke to them about my blog and how I really encourage my readers to get subscriptions to the Sunday paper. I now have a contract through each of them for each new subscription, and I also charge them $xx.xx amount each month to put their logo on my sidebar.” – Kacey, KacysCouponCorner

“If you want to do reviews, don’t just rely on review networks, contact companies directly.” – Christine, Sticky Fingerprints

“I think being yourself, honesty and blogging about things you personally enjoy makes for a great blog.” – Michelle, Flying Giggles and Lollypops

“GIVEAWAYS!!!!! A lot…. I just posted my first giveaway and I am totally surprised with the overwhelming response!!! NEVER did I have a comment until the giveaway!” – Myrah, Coupon Mamacita

“never look at blogging as a task. The moment you feel it’s a struggle, take a blogging break, refresh yourself and come back to enjoy the experience all over again.” – Marina, Energizer Bunny’s Mommy Reports

“I also think it’s important to learn the unwritten etiquette early on. Email your deals to high trafficking bloggers, but do not send them ALL of your deals. Pick and choose!” – Angela, The Coupon Project

“Make it about helping people, not money. If you do it for the money, you’ll quit.” – Lisa, Drugstore Divas

What sources do you use to get your information?

Emails from the actual companies/businesses 

89.7%Google (or other search engine) searches for coupons, deals, etc. 

75.9%The Company’s Website 

82.8%Other blogs 

81.0%Coupon sites (like retailmenot) 

62.1%Media (commercials, etc.) 

70.7%Word of Mouth 

69.0%

How much time do you typically spend a day working on your blog?

30 minutes or less 

12.3%1-2 hours 

40.4%3-4 hours 

26.3%5+ hours 

21.1%

How do you make money through your blog?

Affiliate sites (make money when people purchase items through your links) 

77.6%

Offers/Campaigns 

34.7%

Ad Space – chosen by another company (example – Google AdSense) 

63.3%

Ad Space – chosen by you (either you found the business/site yourself or they contacted your directly) 

28.6%

Product Reviews 

34.7%

Successful Ways to Make Money

1. Affiliate Sites 2. Ad Space 3. Offers/Campaigns

Successful Social Media

1. Facebook

2. Twitter

Are you new to blogging? Are you thinking about starting your own blog about saving money? Angela, at The Coupon Project, has some great tips. I created a survey. This will benefit all of us and the results will be published on Cha Ching Queen. Feel free to answer as much or as little as you want. Each question is optional, though the more you fill out the better. 

If you would like to leave your blog info I will provide a link back to all of those that provided helpful information.