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The Foundation's Leadership Guides
Empowering lessons that teach rising leaders about the 10 spiritual laws of Conscious Conservatism and how to use them in the social, political, and economic spheres
Since 2011, I've worked with leaders to help them create online businesses, virtual ministries, and political platforms based on their God-given mission. Over the years, I also served as a writing coach and book-publishing specialist. But in 2016, my platform skyrocketed in the virtual space as I began sharing the message God called me to deliver. Since that time, my voice and platform have reached the heights within conservative politics. My political Movement (the Conscious Conservative Movement) and its books became household names among Republicans and Conservatives. I accomplished this feat by simply bringing the Kingdom message to people who had not heard it before. And I used my hard story as a catalyst to bring an empowering message to millions online each year. But I did not reach these heights by luck or happenstance. I implemented best business practices for the online market, using these strategies to help me launch a dynamic virtual ministry. And through this work, I teach leaders like you core lessons to get you started on your journey. In this lesson, I want to teach you the values of starting a blog for your leadership platform. There are millions of articles that will deliver similar content. But with this training, I want to show you how to make your blog a national powerhouse. While new leaders often see blogging as an extension of their writing hobbies, I want you to take a different mindset. Your blog must be viewed as a business tool. It is your online real estate, and you are responsible for adding value to it by producing empowering, educational content that blesses your readers. By thinking of it from this perspective, readers will see you as an authority figure in the online space. And if you have a solid product (like a book) or a service (like a coaching program), your readers will buy from you because they trust you. In this lesson, you will learn about:
Now, let's get into this lesson! Understand What Blogging Truly Is: A Content Marketing MachineLet's begin this lesson by understanding the science of blogging. When you read about successful entrepreneurs or bloggers who generate wealth from their blog, understand this process happens because they have learned to use this medium as a content marketing machine. Content marketing is the process of developing educational, entertaining, compelling, and news-worthy content that helps promote an organization's brand to its targeted audience. Through these content materials, audiences develop an online relationship with the brand organically. As the company continues empowering, educating, or entertaining this audience, an organization will sell products or services within the content, which will meet their market's needs and desires. And because the audience feels a personal connection to the brand, the people willingly purchase without hesitation. - Coach Felecia Killings, Author of Dominating Thought Leadership Blogging is one of the most time-consuming, yet most profitable forms of content creation for a business or virtual ministry. According to Ruth Soukup, author of How to Blog for Profit Without Selling Your Soul, blogging is "to produce and publish any form of content online for the sake of establishing credibility, building rapport, and expanding your customer base; also sometimes called content marketing. It can include written blog posts, videos, podcasts, social media, and email" (How to Blog for Profit Without Selling Your Soul, p.12). Blogging requires a significant investment of a new blogger's time in the beginning. But once a blogger has a hefty "blog bank" (a blog containing numerous articles), less time is required to publish fresh, valuable content each day. When working with my leader-clients, I teach them how to use blogging as a tool to help sell their current and future books, online classes, and coaching program. Most new leaders fail to understand the benefits of blogging, because they believe their completed book or other products should be enough to sell. Often times, you will see these authors promote their book's cover in a Facebook group. Other times, you will see them spam their social media following with "New Author Alert: Buy Book Now!" And yet, 9 times out of 10, no one wants to purchase their book because those leaders have not invested enough time into developing a solid content marketing strategy that helps build their audience. The money is in the people; and people will only exchange their dollars for a product when they experience the value before purchasing the product. For this reason, blogging becomes a powerful vehicle to onboard new audiences to your platform and brand. And as you continue empowering your reader by delivering useful content, your audience will have no problem purchasing from your brand. 2024 Blog Stats You Must Know Before You Launch Your BlogWhen blogging for profit -- or for the benefit of expanding your leadership platform -- it's important to closely examine the current statistics involved. Knowing such data enables you to plan your blog's content according to what's working in the market. For example, ten years ago, new bloggers could easily construct 500-word articles to gain new attention and traction for their blogs. Today, not so much. To be most competitive, new bloggers must create long-form articles that provide immense value within each post. (Some exceptions are made for journalist blogs or political articles that do not require much depth.) So, in this next section, I want to share important 2024 stats to give you perspective regarding this industry and how you can use each data point to inform your blog plan.
There are certainly other statistics for you to study, but the ones listed above are crucial for your learning before launching a blog. As you make plans to become a national powerhouse, you need to know what current bloggers (business people and virtual ministry leaders) are doing to make their online ventures a success. Identifying Your Blog's Core MessageEvery blog has a unique purpose and message it will convey to its targeted audience. And while some blogs will discuss multiple topics, the core message will resonate through each content piece. For example, The Foundation's guides provide an overall message of empowerment. We focus on helping leaders build social, political, and economic empires by establishing powerful thought leadership in the virtual space. Therefore, with each post, I bring a new lesson that teaches leaders like you how to prosper online. In like manner, as you plan your blog's launch, consider the core message you will convey to your audience. Begin by asking yourself the following questions:
As you construct effective blog posts based on that core message, thousands of readers will resonate with that word because it provides the healing, deliverance, or empowerment they need to move forward. Identifying Your Blog's Target Market & Pain PointsEvery successful business prides itself in addressing a specific market. While some companies can appeal to a wider range of consumers, as a new blogger, I encourage you to focus on a segment in the population you want to empower. Back in 2016, when I first launched my original blog, LiyahAmore Publishing, I targeted new Christian Authors specifically. I saw a gap in this market, particularly those affiliated with the self-publishing industry. And I wanted to help them thrive as new authors. To provide the best experience, I wrote blog posts and conducted video presentations that addressed certain pain points for this market. For example, self-publishing Christian Authors struggle greatly with marketing their books. To address this, I created empowering content that taught them how to engage an audience around their book's core messages. My posts addressed other pain points like building an author's platform, growing an audience, and writing compelling books. The value I delivered freely established rapport with my ideal audience, who eventually hired my coaching services. When putting together the plans for your blog, pay attention to whom your ideal readers are. Be descriptive in your understanding. For example, if you want a blog for women, be specific in the type of woman you want affiliated with your brand. Describe her age, her educational background, her ethnicity and socio-economic status. Describe her relationship status, parenthood status, and more. Being detailed in these descriptions then allows you to identify that woman's specific pain points. And through your blog's content, deliver immediate solutions to her problems, ones that she can apply to her situation. This is essentially how you build an audience who will become brand loyal to your leadership platfrom. They will eventually be your brand ambassadors or online evangelists. The more you empower them with insight, the more they will share your materials. And as a result -- if you remain committed -- your content will eventually reach national levels. Identifying Your Personal Story That Will Empower Your Blog ReadersStorytelling is the most powerful tool for captivating an audience. As a coach, I teach my clients the power of effective storytelling, one that allows them to connect with readers on an emotional (and often spiritual) level. Storytelling is the art of collating unique experiences that broaden a reader's perspective and validates the principles, lessons, and practical strategies a blogger conveys in her works. And with that story, you can draw in readers who have gone through similar situations, only to find your blog delivering results they so desperately need. Identifying Your Blog's Monetization MethodsSuccessful blogs generate wealth. Let me repeat that again. Successful blogs generate wealth. If your blog is not monetized, it is not a business and therefore you cannot expect to make this venture a new full-time career. There are several methods for monetizing your blog's platform. Among them are:
The most effective way to determine the best monetization methods is to discover what your ideal audience wants and how they want it packaged. For example, because The Foundation is an educational platform, selling books fits well within our brand. Our audience comes to expect new books published on our site each year. In addition, we host leadership conventions each year in Atlanta, GA and provide a monthly online experience for our leader-clients inside our premium membership network. In like manner, consider what is the best way to package your premium knowledge or expertise. Will your audience want direct interaction with you? If so, consider creating a coaching package for premium buyers. Will your audience want easily-digestible material? If so, create an e-book with a workbook, and publish multiple books to diversify your income. For audience members who purchase once, they are more likely to make repeat purchases. Not only that, but they will often share their experiences with others. So, invest wisely in the people who buy your products and services, and their finances will help sustain your blogging business for a lifetime. Identifying the Types of Blog Posts You Will Create & the Ideal FormatEarlier in this post, I shared why creating long-form content is best as a new blogger. But there are other types of formats your posts can take to engage your ideal readers. Depending on the nature of your blog (or its niche), you can diversify your content deliverables. Here are some examples.
There are dozens more ways to format your blog posts, and I encourage you to read "73 Awesome Types of Blog Posts You Can Write Today." Over time, you will discover how to monetize your platform in a way that will be more receptive by your audience. And as your audience continues to grow, be bold enough to add multiple blog types to your main one for maximum engagement. Identifying the Best Social Media Platforms to Promote Your Blog's ContentOnce your blog ideas take shape, and you begin constructing your content, it's important to select the best social media sites for active engagement. Please note: Not all social media platforms are created equally. The way people socialize on Facebook, for example, is not the same way they engage on Tik Tok. The way folks engage on Twitter is not the same way people engage on Instagram. If your blog content is more professional in its empowerment, perhaps LinkedIn will serve you well. According research, blogging with LinkedIn can boost your credibility dramatically. If you're hosting a vlog, consider using YouTube or Vimeo for more promotion. And for maximum results, use Pinterest for all your blog content. Back in January 2021, I made the leap to master Pinterest. For years, I read about new bloggers using this platform to generate more traffic to their website, which resulted in more subscribers and buyers. Pinterest functions primarily as a search engine platform; but recently, they have incorporated elements that allow Pinners (or users) to engage with Pinterest influencers. There are several ways to perform well on this platform. But I highly recommend studying their paid advertisement services. While it's possible for one of your posts to go viral on Pinterest, a phenomenal article plus a highly-targeted ad will yield profound results. For example, I once paid for one Pinterest ad to go viral. My blog post, "Teaching Women the 17 Most Profitable Virtual Career Options They Can Start Now" had reached 45,000+ Pinterest users within 30 days. I generated 623 clicks directly to my website. And as a bonus, 167 women saved this pin to their boards. My monthly ad-spend budget was just $100. And for $0.14 per click, I generated massive attention for my expertise while garnering about 50 new email subscribers. Before constructing my blog post, I researched Pinterest to discover what women needed the most at the time. And according to that data, women were searching for ways to increase their income online. Because of the recent lock downs and massive layoffs, women wanted new ideas for economic empowerment. So, I put together a detailed article (about 5,000 words), which gave them new ideas on how women were using the virtual space. I discussed topics hardly any coach addresses, like building a virtual ministry and a motivational platform. As you work on your blog's content, and you identify your audience's pain points, use paid advertisements on Pinterest to push your brand to the forefront. Don't wait around to go viral. Pay for instant virality! Then continue adding new content to your blog so your new subscribers remain empowered and brand loyal. This is how you bring your blog to the national forefront that will eventually empower millions each year. Identifying the Most Effective Content Creation Schedule for Your BlogBecause you're developing a leadership platform that requires a content-creation machine, you'll need to construct a schedule that details when you will publish materials. In the beginning, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the assignments that go into build a nationally-recognized platform. There are so many tasks to master, but nothing is more important than delivering content on a consistent basis. When starting your blog, consider producing high-quality content every day. If you can publish a 2,000-word blog post every day, schedule it. If you can publish a new video each day, do it. Be consistent in your empowerment. Over time, as your content bank fills, you won't need to produce fresh material each day (unless you want). Re-purposing old material will work, especially if your content is evergreen and empowering. But in the early stages, consider a schedule that works best for you right now. If you currently work a traditional job, schedule content creation for the evenings. Let your seed audience know when to expect your work, and deliver consistently so your platform grows. Networking Your Blog Content Among Key Influencers in Your NicheOne of the last strategies for elevating your leadership platform using your blog involves networking with key influencers in your niche. One of the reasons The Foundation's content organically generates millions of views and impressions each year is because influencers in our Black Conservative space share my tweets, leading to independent and mainstream media features. This organic exposure resulted in a massive boost to my online audience; and it opened doors of opportunity for me to launch different programs via the conservative space. My presence online also brought my name before leaders in Washington D.C. And in 2020, my strategies for effective Black Outreach were tested by the Trump Administration, which did see an increase in Black voter support for conservative politics. These results only happened because I partnered with fellow influencers, and together, our voices pushed a movement to the national forefront. As you begin developing content, Beloved, be bold in sharing your materials in the same space as other influencers. Don't be shy. Be audacious and empowering! Over time, your content will catch the attention of key influencers in your space. But before this happens, make sure your blog's system of operations is in tact.
Once key influencers catch wind of your content, they will send a flood of followers your way. You will need to know ahead of time what to do with the people, because they will be ready to engage based on your call-to-action. Putting Your Blog Together and Launching It in 2024Finally, Beloved, now that you have the foundation for your new blog laid, it's time to put the pieces together. To get you started, I'll share these empowering videos by Adam Enfroy. He's a wildly successful blogger who has generated millions of dollars through his blog by implementing online courses and affiliate marketing into his business model. His YouTube masterclasses are highly engaging and actionable. And with his support, you can start your blog in just days.
In Conclusion ...The most powerful weapons in a leader's arsenal are his words. The Scriptures teach us, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). Leaders who are intimately acquainted with the Spirit understand our words have the power to create our worlds. For this reason, we take special care to use our words as instruments that bless and empower the people whom God brings our way; in addition, our words will battle godless ideas that cripple the people. Writing is a key element in all this. It's a skill set that every leader should master, because it allows others to see our visions, to embrace our mission, and to connect with our movements in the social, political, and economic spheres. Writing perfects our speaking abilities. When done effectively, our ideas become sharper, our messages clearer, and our influence more impactful. Simply stated: Leadership writing is the ability to construct powerfully persuasive content that moves readers from complainers to builders. This writing can take shape through blog posts, social media content, and more. But no medium is more effective for a leader than book publishing. Beloved, in this new era, I want to teach you how to tap into your God-given abilities so you thrive as one of His leaders in the earth. Whether your vision focuses on the social, political, or economic spheres, you can fulfill God's calling on your life when you have the right spiritual and practical training to make it a reality. Today, I invite you to join our growing rank of leaders who are learning to do things God's way so we get His results. Your training is crucial to this development, and at The Felecia Killings Foundation, we've crafted a dynamic leadership program and event just for you. Register for Our Bi-Annual CCM Leadership Convention | Build Your Thought Leadership in the Social, Political, or Economic Sphere Join Coach Felecia Killings and her guest speakers for our annual 3-day event hosted in Atlanta, GA.
Sponsored by The Felecia Killings Foundation, The CCM Leadership Convention will help rising leaders like you establish powerful thought leadership in the social, political, and economic spheres. During our intensive training, you will learn key principles that will help you bring your ideas to the national forefront. Event topics include:
Don't miss this exciting time to receive our in-person training. Our Convention Schedule Day 1 — Establishing Powerful Thought Leadership in the Social, Political, or Economic Spheres
Day 2 — Packaging Your Thought Leadership in Books
Day 3 — Packaging Your Thought Leadership in Online Courses and Coaching Programs
Register Today!
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AuthorFelecia Killings is the Founder and CEO of The Felecia Killings Foundation, a Conscious Conservative think tank and leadership organization that trains rising leaders for full activation in the social, political, and economic spheres. Through her training hosted on her website, her podcast, her leadership network, her social media platforms, her books, and her annual leadership convention, she equips leaders with spiritual and practical tools that help them bring revival and reformation to the communities they serve. Categories |