My Beloved Women 10 | Teaching Women How to Instantly Start a Successful Blog That Becomes a National Powerhouse in 2021

Greetings Beloved,

Welcome to the 10th lesson in the My Beloved Women Blog Series.

I am Felecia Killings, Founder and CEO of The Felecia Killings Foundation. Our mission is to help women like you build social, political, and economic empires based on Kingdom principles. In addition, my purpose is to encourage you to use your gifts to build national platforms that will impact millions.

You, Beloved, have something to offer the world; and with my training, I will teach you how to manifest your greatness in this new decade.

Every week, I provide women like you empowering lessons that will change the way you engage in the virtual space. Within The Foundation, we want women to see themselves as integral parts within the social, political, and economic spheres. And over the last couple of weeks, our focus has been on teaching women how to generate wealth using the online space.

In today's lesson, I want to continue that theme by teaching you the values of starting a blog in 2021. 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 in this coming year and new decade.

While newbie bloggers often see blogging as an extension of their writing hobbies, I want you to take a different mindset. Your blog -- at least from our perspective at The Foundation -- 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 future 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 freelance work), your readers will buy from you because they trust you. (I'll dive more into this element within the lesson.)

Today's teaching will be quite extensive. More specifically, you will learn about: 

1. Understanding What Blogging Truly Is: A Content Marketing Machine
2. 2021 Blog Stats You Must Know Before You Launch Your Blog
3. Identifying Your Blog's Core Message
4. Identifying Your Blog's Target Market and Its Pain Points
5. Identifying Your Personal Story That Will Empower Your Blog Readers
6. Identifying Your Blog's Monetization Methods
7. Identifying the Types of Blog Posts You Will Create
8. Identifying the Best Social Media Sites to Promote Your Blog's Content
9. Identifying the Most Effective Writing Schedule for Your Blog
10. Networking Your Blog Content Among Key Influencers in Your Niche
11. Putting Your Blog Together and Launching It in 2021

Just a quick heads-up: You will need about 25 minutes of uninterrupted time to dive into the lesson. And once you have completed it, I encourage you to bookmark this page to reference again in the near future.

​Now, let's get into this lesson!

Understand What Blogging Truly Is: A Content Marketing Machine

Let's begin this lesson by understanding the science behind 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.

Within LiyahAmore University, we define content marketing as follows:

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 withing 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.

Blogging is one of the most time-consuming, yet most profitably forms of content creation for a business or virtual ministry.

According to Ruth Soukup, blogging means "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. 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 our female authors, we teach them to use blogging as a tool to help sell their current and future books. (For authors who want to expand their venture, they can use blogging to sell other services and products.)

Most new authors fail to understand the benefits of blogging, because they believe their completed book 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 that author has not invested enough time into developing a solid content marketing strategy that helps build her 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 onto one's platform and brand.

And as that blogger continues empowering the reader by delivering useful content, her audience will have no problem purchasing from her brand.

2021 Blog Stats You Must Know Before You Launch Your Blog

When blogging for profit -- or for the benefit of expanding your online business or virtual ministry -- 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 some important 2021 stats with you to give you perspective regarding this industry.
​

1. Today, the average time a serious blogger commits to a single blog post is 3.5 hours (Source). As I mentioned prior, time will be your greatest investment when you prepare to launch your blog. If you're writing content in a saturated market (like finance, food, blogging, making money, etc.), readers expect the highest quality article before ever signing up for a mailing list, let alone purchasing a product. When thinking about launching your blog, ask yourself if you have the time to commit to this venture. If so, intentionally schedule your planner to conduct adequate research for your blog's topic while preparing to construct a powerful article that astounds your ideal reader.
2. Bloggers who construct 2,000+ words per post see the greatest results, including blog shares, email sign-ups, and product purchases (Source). When I first launched my educational blog for author, I put this statistic to work. I composed entire blog posts that provided extensive lessons no other authors coach delivered. While other trainers in the field told audiences what they could do as an expert, I demonstrated my expertise in a post and provided an immediate solution to my reader in case they wanted to implement the strategy for themselves. If an author discovered she needed more help completing a task -- like writing assistance for her manuscript -- she could hire my services. And this is what enabled my platform to generate clients quickly, because my blog posts astounded them.
3. Businesses that incorporate blogging into their venture see 97% more clicks to their websites (Source). Static websites -- the ones that never change or provide ongoing value to readers -- gain hardly any traction. But when readers expect a website to produce new, empowering content on a consistent basis, they willingly become a part of that brand. Blogging consistently enables one to accomplish this; and businesses that have a blog and share content on social media see far more clicks to their websites than businesses without one.
4. Blogging has grown by 12% since 2015, and there are currently over 500 million blogs today (Source). The number of blogs added to the Internet directly correlate with folks' understanding that blogging can, in fact, be profitable. Although the number of blogs have increased, very few know how to leverage this tool to make sales. According to other research, only about 9% generate $1,000/month. If you want blogging to be a full-time venture, you must focus on building your audience, delivering value, and selling a product or service they absolutely need or desire. So, while there are millions of blogs today, your blog can be the one that astounds the rest.
5. 43% of consumers want video content (Source). New bloggers to the field should strongly consider adding videos to their blogs, especially to their long-form content. And if you truly want to give a holistic experience to your new audience, add an audio of the post (like a podcast). Video marketing and podcasting have provided a MAJOR boost to The Foundation's online brand. And this is another strategy we teach our author and blogger clients to employ. While bloggers are focused on producing more written content, consumers want to learn more about the person behind the brand; and sometimes, a great video can make the content more personal.
6. Bloggers who invest significant time (about 4 hours) on their blog posts see profound results (Source). If you intend to generate income through your blog, invest the time to create what your audience truly needs. Don't hold back on providing value. Give FREELY, and over time, your audience will increase. 
7. Bloggers who publish daily do see strong results (Source). Today, it is much more challenging to produce high-quality content on a daily basis. But if you're just starting, and you want to compete with the more established blogs immediately, then go full force with your efforts to write 2,000-word blog posts each day. Over time, because you have such a strong blog bank, you can simply refurbish your old content, updating it so you don't have to create new content from scratch.
8. The most effective blog content are e-books, guides, original research, and infographics (Source). Finally, content that generates the most traction are the ones packaged in formats the public find most compelling. E-books, for example, go into more depth related to a topic. You can construct a 10K-word e-book, publish it on your blog, and have a link for readers to download the product for FREE. This is an excellent way to build up your email list, which will house contact information from folks who WANT you to market to them. Other types of engaging content include guides and infographics. The public wants to be informed about best research that helps transform their lives.

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 in 2021, you need to know what current bloggers (business people and virtual ministry leaders included) are doing to make their online ventures a success.

Identifying Your Blog's Core Message

Every 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, My Beloved Women's Blog fits within The Foundation's overall message of empowerment. We focus on helping women build social, political, and economic empires in this new decade. Therefore, with each post, I bring a new lesson that teaches women like you how to prosper online.

This blog's core message resonates well with women who are in transition, those who are looking for new economic opportunities, and women who want to bring their stories to the public.

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:
​

1. What is the message my ideal reader needs right now?
2. What is the message God wants to me deliver through my blog?
3. How can I convey this message so my readers are empowered?

What you will discover is this: 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 Points

Every 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, you 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 blog. 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 a national status.

Identifying Your Personal Story That Will Empower Your Blog Readers

Storytelling 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.

To define storytelling, I will refer you to the Master Ghostwriter, Dennis Ross, who works with high-profile leaders, helping them craft stories that bridge the gap between their brand and readers.

Both clips below will give you insight into why your personal story (or that of your brand) is instrumental to your success. While there are millions of bloggers today, only you have your story and experience.

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 Methods

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:

• Publishing and selling digital products (e-books, workbooks, e-courses, printables, etc.)
• Selling freelance services (ghostwriting, editing, bookkeeping, etc.)
• Selling merchandise (t-shirts, books, mugs, etc.)
• Generating sponsorships
• Gathering donations
• Creating a paid membership site

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 offer publishing services to new authors who want to launch their books on our national platform.

Selecting the right monetization method was crucial to our financial stability. At one point, I wanted to sell e-courses to my audience. But the Beloveds did not have a desire to move through a 12-week course on their own. My platform thrives on interaction. So, whenever a Beloved purchases a book, she can join Twitter Class or our Networks to discuss some of the work's topics. 

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 develop 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 Format

Earlier 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.

1. News Reports and Current Events: If you take a look at our "News" page on The Foundation's website, you'll see that we include a blog that grants our audience weekly updates. This content allows our Beloved Tribe to stay connected to our work while keeping abreast to any special news. I incorporated this element within the online business because I want our audience to follow along our journey. And you can create a similar blog that grants behind-the-scenes look at something you're working on. Your blog can also tackle current events happening within the social, political, or economic spaces. Both formats are effective and engagement will vary depending on the content you publish.
2. Listicles: Blog content presented in list format is an effective method for conveying immediate information to your ideal readers. Audiences appreciate seeing numbers in headlines, because it gives them tangible results they can work with.
3. Case Studies: If you're a detailed researcher and have a knack for storytelling, constructing case studies is an excellent way to engage blog readers. These posts are especially useful when you're selling a product or service to your audience, and you need to prove how your offering transformed a life. If you take a look at our LiyahAmore University page, notice how we added case studies to our content. You can also look at our newest page, The Author's Journey, to see our vlogging case studies. These videos capture our clients' interactions with my coaching session, which shows you how the author's transformation takes place.
4. Reviews: When consumers search for new products or services to use, they often turn to bloggers' reviews to get first-hand testimonials. At The Foundation, we've incorporated another blog that provides this type of content. Each week, we review new books from today's newest authors. Because our audience is focused on empowerment, they welcome new authors to their homes. And if you have a product or service you wish to promote, consider creating a blog that grants the virtual public a place to receive accurate testimonials.
5. Video Blogs or Vlogs: By now, you know how vital video content is to an audience. If you are comfortable behind the camera and can captivate an audience with your motivational words, then consider creating a vlog. Bring your audience on a journey as you empower them to accomplish a goal. You can also use your vlog to share empowering stories from other people. 

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 Content

Once 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. They 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 fair 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.

Look below and take a look at the stats I have for one Pinterest ad that I paid to go viral. My blog post, "Teaching Women the 11 Most Profitable Virtual Career Options They Can Start in 2021" has reached 44K+ 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 right now. 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 Empowering Post (about 4,000 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.

And this is why women are subscribing to The Foundation more quickly, because they want new ideas and perspectives.

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 Blog

Because you're developing a content-creation business, 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 ever-green 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 Niche

One of the last strategies involved in getting your blog on a national platform involves networking with key influencers in your niche.

Now, one of the reasons The Foundation's content organically generated millions of views and impressions between 2019-2020 happened because influencers in our Black Conservative space shared my tweets. Accounts that had 40K - 250K followers shared my materials with their audiences. Soon, I was invited to speak on their podcasts, join their radio shows, and be featured on their conservative blogs. 

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 folks 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.
​

• Be clear about your message.
• Be clear about your vision.
• Know your ideal audience.
• Construct high-engaging content consistently.
• Have a sales funnel in place.
• And determine your monetization strategy once engagement peaks.

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 2021

Finally, 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 this empowering video. 

In Conclusion ...

Beloved, as you prepare to launch your new blog, consider the strategies you learned from this Empowering Post. 

You don't have to wait to get started. Begin right now, and do what's necessary to manifest your vision this year.

​If you would like to connect with me and other women who are building social, political, and economic empires in this new decade, I encourage you to join our newest virtual work, My Beloved Women's Ministry.

It's FREE to join, thanks to our Beloved Sponsors.

And each year, I host a powerful virtual and in-person conference where you can receive more advanced training for your vision.

When you are ready to take your ideas to the next level, enroll in LiyahAmore University, our 6- and 12-month training program for new authors and bloggers. At The Felecia Killings Foundation, we work specifically with our women members, clients, and scholars to help them launch an online business or virtual ministry using their authorship. 

As new clients enter our award-winning, book-publishing program and blogger's school, we bring their stories to the public on our national platform. 

If you desire to write and publish a book, visit our school today or download our FREE Welcome Packet. Read more case studies and testimonials from our past clients. Gain insight and direction for your own work.

Then schedule your FREE 30-minute consultation with me so we can discuss your vision. From there, you will learn more about tuition costs, time commitment, and more. And within 72-hours, we will get you booked for the 2021 calendar. 

Beloved, by the end of your training, you will become a published author within 6-12 months. You will also have your book featured on our website for life. We will bring your voice and message to our national platform, which reaches millions each year via Twitter and other social sites. And you will be empowered for a new career that focuses on your God-given calling.

I pray this lesson empowered you, Beloved. You can read more FREE lessons right here and here.

And as always, let's grow together!

​- Felecia