No matter what your situation is in life or what you are passionate about, there is often a blog out there from which you can gain insights, information, and inspiration. Are you hoping to stay up-to-date on marketing news and trends? There’s a blog for that. Are you a new parent who wants to hear parenting advice or funny parenting stories? There’s a blog for that. Are you going through a new health challenge and need information or support? There’s a blog for that.

Even though the blogging market seems to be fully saturated, there is always room for new voices on an existing topic. With such a crowded marketplace, how do bloggers set themselves apart and get noticed? How do they keep themselves motivated when it feels like their posts are going unseen?

Bloggers often double as digital marketers in order to get the word out about their blog and attract lasting readers. There are many wonderful local bloggers in the Bay Area so we turned to them to learn their blogging and marketing tactics.

Meet the Bay Area Bloggers

	Sheila Smires She Smiles All Day Beauty, Fashion, Food, Lifestyle, Dating & Relationships
	Whitney Whit Wanders Fashion, Travel, Fitness, Lifestyle Shop features direct links to purchase featured items.
	Sandi Gaertner Fearless Dining Tips, Recipes, Restaurant Recommendations & Reviews for the Gluten Intolerant
	Susie Wyshak FoodStarter Strategies, Stories, and Information for specialty food entrepreneurs
	Kelly Egan Hulibregste A Side of Sweet Recipes, DIY Projects, Travel, Style, Weddings, Blogging & Photography Tutorials and Advice
	Hannah Kaminsky BitterSweet Knitting, Crocheting, Beading, Sewing, Baking, Cooking Shop features various cookbooks and one giant crocheted doughnut!
	Sunny C. Mui Destroy the Comics Reviews of Comic Books, Movies, Television Shows and Games; Comic Con Guides

1) Write about your passions

Whether they include helping people, writing without censorship, or sharing what you like: fashion, recipes, or relationship advice. Write about what you love. It will keep you going.

If you don’t love it, if you’re not motivated to keep creating just because you want to, it will never be worth all the time and effort it requires. -Hannah Kaminsky

2) Take the leap of faith and launch your website.

1. 1. Sit down and get organized: write out a plan for your content.
   2. Perform competitive research and differentiate yourself.
   3. Stay focused.
   4. Keep your expectations in check. You’re not going to start with 1000 readers. Be patient.
   5. Keep creating quality content.

Just do it. Don’t get wrapped up in making your website design ‘perfect’ or getting more followers on Instagram or becoming obsessed with what everyone else is doing. Just focus on you and hitting that publish button.  -Sheila Smires

Figure out how you will be different from the rest! Really figure out a content plan for the year. Don’t expect instant success or brands ready to work with you. An audience and community take time to build. -Whitney

3) Market your blog. Make it known!

1. 1. Create quality content optimized for search.
   2. Do not rely solely on social media.
   3. Know your audience and write with them in mind.
   4. Be authentic and consistent.
   5. Do cross-promotions with other bloggers complementary to your blog.
   6. Write guest posts for other blogs to start backlinking.
   7. Create a mailing list and entice them with exclusive content or promotional offers.

Consistency is the key to finding success in your marketing efforts. -Sheila Smires

Don’t rely on social media for your traffic. Algorithms change all of the time. It is best to focus on quality content that is optimized for good SEO. -Sandi Gaertner

The most success I’ve had is by focusing on using good SEO practices for my content. -Kelly Egan Hulibregtse

SEO and quality content creation is our first priority. The most important thing in marketing our blog is knowing our audience and writing very high-quality articles that speak to that audience. -Sunny C. Mui

I’ve found the most success in collaborating with other well-known bloggers and brands to take advantage of their unique pool of followers. – Hannah Kaminsky

Collaborations with your fellow bloggers in a similar niche help build both of your audiences. Social media has really helped provide a direct line to brand. By tagging and working with brands on social media, I am able to expand my reach and attract attention to my blog. -Whitney

I get the highest conversion through my email list. To entice them to join, I create valuable VIP content in my newsletter. -Sheila Smires

Write on other platforms to drive traffic to your blog. –Susie Wyshak

4) Stick it out even when the going gets tough.

1. 1. Keep creating quality content that you are proud of.
   2. Increase your marketing efforts to gain more readership.
   3. Be curious, every setback is a learning opportunity.
   4. Be kind to yourself.

Keep writing. In my personal experience, you’ll write 10 articles and 1 of them will eclipse the others in terms of traffic. Most of the time, you won’t know which one of those articles will be your golden goose. -Sunny Mui.

It can be frustrating when you start out because it feels like no one is reading and you’re not really growing. The most important thing is to create consistent, high-quality content so when those big breaks and features happen you are ready for the influx of new readers and able to keep them coming back! -Kelly Egan Huibregtse

Learn not to be hard on yourself. Instead ask yourself, “Why didn’t this work? What can I learn from this?” -Sheila Smires

Blogging provides a platform for you to impart your wisdom and let your creative juices flow. No matter why you choose to blog, you are opening yourself up to the world and allowing others to look through your eyes with the stories you tell and the photos or videos you share. Not only does that take courage, but it takes a solid knowledge of yourself: your brand, your beliefs, your specialty. Consistency and candor are key to gaining and maintaining readership. If you are paying attention to what your audience wants to read, consistently creating engaging and authentic content and marketing your blog, they will be back for more. Be true to yourself and keep perfecting your craft!