So you have an awesome audience. But you want to make some money out of your blog? Here are the top ways to monetize your blog – you can use all, one, or a combination.  Find what suits you, your audience, and your business model.   #1 Have an opt-in With the way social media is going, we can’t guarantee we can get in front of our audience members all the time, even though they’ve followed or liked our social media accounts.  The best way to do this is to get into their inbox to convert them, whether converting to buy your products/services or to get affiliate links in front of them. Use a freebie as an incentive to get audience members on to your email opt-in list.  Use a program, such as MailChimp, to auto deliver this free product. A freebie can be something simple as a printable, compilation...Continue Reading

This Model Release for Bloggers allows a photograph subject to easily and legally give permission for use of their photographic images for use on the blog.  Releases blogger of any claims by subject for compensation. These contract forms are not state specific as they are drafted on general contract principles and experience as a photography business owner.  They come in .doc format to readily tailor to your business-specific policies.   Protect your blog here.  Continue Reading

You have been asked to speak. Your topic is approved. Business cards and marketing materials are all ordered and on pretty shiny paper. The keynote presentation has awesome animations and information for the attendees.  But how can you make the engagement even more of a success?    Sign a speaker agreement Every time you are hired to do something, whether to guest blog or to speak, paid or not paid, there needs to be a contract in place between you and the host. See: How to Hire a Guest Blogger and Top Contractual Things to Look For When Booking a Speaking Engagement   Explain who you are Always, always, always begin the presentation with an introduction for who you are, what you do, and what you can provide to the audience.  Operate under the assumption the audience has never heard of you or from you before, because in the world of conferences...Continue Reading

When you are running your own affiliate program, meaning having others be affiliates to promote your site, it is important to have program terms outlined and published for reference.  These terms will set the expectations of all affiliate activity and conduct, as well as reduce the probability of miscommunications. Suggested provisions include: Description of program Enrollment Links on Affiliate Site Program Requirements Responsibility of affiliates Ordering processing Advertising fees Fee payment Policies Identifying self as affiliate Limited license Reservation of rights Term and termination Compliance with laws These terms should be provided at the applicable step of the process and be readily available to affiliates during the duration of their affiliate-ship with your site.  If you are using a structured affiliate program (such as iDev) they provide a section to place the Terms for easy reference in the affiliate’s dashboard.  If you are on a more laid-back structure you may need to...Continue Reading

Having an online presence is critical to the success of your business, but like most everything else, requires some legal oversight to ensure you’re walking on the right side of the law. We’re going to go over terms of use and privacy policy template structures to either use as a checklist against your current one or to take with you to an attorney to draft new documents.   Terms of Use The terms of use (TOU) for a site govern the relationship between the site user and the site owner.  Having a TOU is a legal requirement according to certain laws, as we will see through the provisions.  Here is an overall list of provisions to include in the site TOU.   Warranties The first, and maybe most important, element of a TOU should advise the site user that there are no express or implied warranties made to any services...Continue Reading

This lawyer-created, entrepreneur-approved bundle includes a Privacy Policy Template, Terms of Use. This bundle is to help get your website set up and running legally!   Privacy Policy Template This document is a template Privacy Policy to be used by any business owner having an online website.  This policy is a legal document on privacy law that discloses the way you gather data, use and manage data of your website visitors and customers. This is SUPER important to have if running any business online ESPECIALLY if you are an online only business with a shop, etc. It addresses privacy law topics such as: What information is collected ( internet traffic data, cookies) Customer/visitor personal information Testimonials on site Information collection, use and sharing Access to information Security Registration Orders Survey and Contests and more!   Terms of Use This document is a template Terms of Use/Service to be used by any business...Continue Reading

There’s so much to think about legally when running a blogging business.  Getting legit, forms needed, disclosures, affiliate programs, etc.  Right of privacy is a big legal issue and should be adhered to and understood as much as possible by business owners, especially those using digital images in their blog usage. It is imperative that bloggers understand how a model release works and why it is needed.   What is a model release? A model release is signed by subject (or in the case of a minor, the parent or legal guardian) giving the photographer or blog owner permission to publish the photograph as defined by the release.  Releases typically include use for marketing purposes, accompanying online blog posts, portfolio, and other commercial uses.  This also releases, if it has the appropriate language, any claims the model may have to future compensation for use of images.   Model release basics Stipulations and restrictions...Continue Reading

Having an awesome opt-in to collect reader information on your blog is only one of the first steps – you want them to come back.  One of the best ways is engaging content by email. Another way is to get in their path where they are – on social media. Particularly Facebook, which is holding fast as one of the most popular social media platforms today. The reason I share this is because it is so important to leverage the existing list you have and build with your social media connections. My current foundational marketing plan for my blog, TheLawTog, is affiliate marketing, email blasts, and Facebook advertisements with the email blasts and ads bringing people back to convert steadily and consistently. This article is going to guide you on how to successfully use Facebook ads for opt-ins and sales.   Using the Audiences You Have First, we need to...Continue Reading

This Independent Contractor Contract Template allows for peace of mind between the primary and secondary individuals in a business contractual relationship such as for assistants, graphic designers, etc. Best for graphic designers, assistants, etc.   Includes provisions such as: payment insurance liability indemnification assignment duties confidentiality non-compete and more!   Snag it here!  Continue Reading

Every single time someone hits your blog you have limited time to grab attention, engage and convert them to a long time reader.  Majority of people are one-hit-wonders – they come, read and leave.  The goal is to get them looking around your blog but only with relevant and related content.   #1  Always set categories This one is a pretty novice idea for bloggers but actually implementing and being consistent is the hard part.  Use categories and tags, then have a search form and/or category area to make this easy to find the related content.   #2 Use a Plugin My favorite WordPress plugin is the Related Posts plugin (not an aff link, just sharing!) because it allows me to hand-select the posts I want to drive my reader’s attention to.  It automatically pulls related posts by category for you, but you can also search and identify key posts.  This...Continue Reading

Besides the potential for exposure and sales of your product and/or services, committing to a signed speaking engagement (paid or not) should always be accompanied with a contract – for multiple reasons.   Contracts work to hold each other contractually responsible, identify roles, reduce miscommunication and ensure parties have a platform to refer to in order to clear any potential or existing issues.   Note: Provisions will vary depending on the specifics of the speaking event – this is baseline guidance.     Speaker Fee This outlines if there will be a speaker fee and how much it will be, as well as how this will be remitted to the speaker. Often this section is paired or refers to the services/products section outlining what the speaker will provide for the hosting event. It is important to note that lack of speaker fee does not negate the need for a contract....Continue Reading

As business owners we can never tire of continually learning more outside of our experience.  As bloggers we can find ourselves just testing, testing and testing some more.  We can forget that there are techniques and ideas to be borrowed from other industries and small business owners who have gone before us, whether you’re blogging for fun or seeking to monetize (i.e. affiliate marketing, advertising, e-commerce or a mixture).  In all my years of blogging, I have read some really awesome hard-hitting books. Here is my top list of must-read books for blog owners! Disclosure: All links in this post are affiliate links.   Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Dr. Robin Cialdini This book revolutionized my thinking of psychology and why people say “yes” – whether simply saying yes to being engaged with my blog or saying yes to the products/services I market to them.  Dr. Robert Cialdini presents...Continue Reading

Protect your blog and outline expectations with guest bloggers with this Guest Blogger Contract bundle!   This guest blogger bundle includes the following: Guest blogger information sheet Article preparation guidelines Independent Contractor Contract The Guest Blogger Contract allows for peace of mind between the primary and secondary individuals in a business contractual relationship. Includes provisions such as: payment, insurance, liability indemnification, assignment duties, confidentiality, etc.     Snag it here!  All contract templates come in a .doc format and are readily editable for your own business policies.Continue Reading

You have a killer blog post to publish…but you need some images to go with it.  You flip over to Google, search some keywords, find some great images, download, upload to your site, done.  Wrong. This is completely wrong. Photographs are protected by copyright at time of publication and typically use by anyone else is not allowed, especially for commercial use, unless it falls under the Fair Use Doctrine.  Understanding the doctrine of Fair Use and how to use images will keep your blog out of hot water and smooth the legal sailing of the blog.   What is fair use? The Fair Use Doctrine is found in Section 107 of the Copyright Law with a list of various purposes for which use of image by a non-copyright owner (that would be you, unless you took the photograph or were given the copyright ownership) may be considered fair. Some of...Continue Reading

You have your blog. You’re rocking and rolling. But maybe you want another voice or two. Or are moving. Or just plain need a break/help! Hiring guest bloggers are fabulous ways to help ease some of the burden of blogging consistently.  However, there are some business and legal implications that are important to note when seeking to have guest bloggers on your blog.     Why? Well, you want your blog to be legit right?  Outlining expectations in a guide and contract with your guest bloggers is the best way to filter out those who consistently recycle content and to set the standard you’ve worked hard for.   What do I need to do? Here are a few processes you should put into place before even putting the kibble-n-bits out there to snag some guest bloggers.  Having these drawn up ahead of time (and amending as you learn) will save...Continue Reading

Setting up business is so super important! We need to make sure you’re on the right path!   Biz 101 Checklist Here is a superficial business checklist to get you on the path to getting your business set up properly! Choose a name – Make sure you’re not violating any Federal or State trademarks, as well as ensuring your name is available.  Don’t want to get kicked out of business for a mere issue with name. (See Business Bites episode 62: Choosing a biz name, trademarks and more.) Choose a structure (Sole Proprietor, LLC, Corp) – You can choose from Sole Proprietor, LLC, C Corp, S corp and Partnership structures.  Choose the one that fits your plan – not just what everyone else is doing! (See Business Bites episode 31: Business Entities 101 for Entrepreneurs.) Make the appropriate tax elections with the IRS (if applicable) – You could be saving more money on your Income Taxes...Continue Reading

This past year I had the honor of being asked to speak on CreativeLIVE (an AWESOME online source for free information) to give a two-day recorded course of balancing family and business as a supplement to my book The Laundry List: A Mom’s Guide to Successfully Balancing Business and Home.   Here is a snippet of the course about creating a calendar for the life you want.  If you want to get the entire course, you can head over to CreativeLIVE here.       Continue Reading

This past year I had the honor of being asked to speak on CreativeLIVE (an AWESOME online source for free information) to give a two-day recorded course of balancing family and business as a supplement to my book The Laundry List: A Mom’s Guide to Successfully Balancing Business and Home.   Here is a snippet of the course about getting more business referrals.  If you want to get the entire course, you can head over to CreativeLIVE here.   Continue Reading

Here are some recommended resources to help you get started on your blogging journey.   Stock Photography Photodune (aff) iStock Placeit.net (aff)   E-commerce Set Up WordPress Plugin WooCommerce   External Setup Etsy – yes you can sell digital files and services on Etsy!   Social Media Automation Tailwindapp – Pinterest OnlyPult – Instagram IFTTT – makes recipes to connect social media platforms for automation   E-zine PDF Templates GraphicRiver   Automation Tools (publication to social media) Bufferapp Hootsuite MeetEdgar   Landing Pages Visual Composer Pro Plugin (alternative to Optimize Press) LeadPages   Opt-In Plugins Optin Monster   Online Course Plugins WooCommerce Membership WordPress Plugin $ Wishlist Member WordPress Plugin  $$ Ontraport Pilot Press  $$$   Promo Video Templates Apple Motion or After Effects Files  + Elancer to set it up for you Audio clips    Website Templates Photocrati Creative Motion Design Theme Forest ProPhoto Blogs   Hosting & Domains Bluehost Site5 LiquidWeb <~~ my...Continue Reading