Workbook Final

BRAINSTORM NICHE IDEAS Use this page and next to brainstorm your ideas using the question prompts 1. What topic are you passionate about?

BRAINSTORM IDEAS HERE

2. What topic do you have some sort of experience with (work, internships, college, school)

3. What topic do you have a keen interest in learning or knowing more about?

4. What ideas do you have to monetize your passion?

5. What group of people do you identify with or want to help? Why? 

*It’s ok, to not have all the answers to these questions THE BLOG STARTUP WORKBOOK - ©MEERA

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BLANK SPACE TO BRAINSTORM IDEAS

THE BLOG STARTUP WORKBOOK - ©MEERA

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NICHE FINDER Pick one from each column and niche down. The categories and topics listed here are not exhaustive.

FOR WHO 1. Beginners 2. 3. 4. 5.

Technophobes Tech Enthusiasts Design Challenged First Time Moms

6. Kids With Special Needs 7. Millenials 8. Single Moms 9. Stay At Home Moms 10.Coaches 11.Freelancers 12.20-Somethings 13. Men 14.Large Families 15.Homeschooling Families 16.Work at Home Mums 17.Working Parents 18. Small Businesses 19.Solopreneurs 20. Designers 21. Divorced 22. Students 23. Adventure seekers


TOPIC 1. Education 2. Yoga 3. Crafts 4. Minimalism 5. Writing 6. Empowerment 7. Websites 8. Design 9. Branding 10.Video 11.Sports 12.Fitness 13.Crafts 14.Speaking 15.Weddings 16.Money 17.Marketing 18.Humor 19.Beauty 20.DIY 21.Software 22.Cooking 23.Diet 24.Green Living 25.Health + Wellness 26.Decor 27.Organization

NICHE DOWN

E.g. Money Saving Hacks for HomeSchooling Families Who are on a Budget E.g. Entrepreneur and business tips for single moms who want to start a home based print business E.g. Paleo Diet for Working moms with 3 or more children

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FOR WHO


TOPIC

28.Money Saving + Finance 29.Relationships 30.Personal Development 31.Social Media 32.Travel 33.Outdoor + Survival Skills 34.Grooming 35.Parenting 36.Pets 37.Religion 38.Spirituality 39. Vintage 40. Fashion 41. Lifestyle

NICHE DOWN 

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Shortlist 3 core ideas from your initial list and write the core purpose of your blog using one of these statements. I educate/inspire/entertain/teach/help __________ who want to __________ I show __________ how __________

Core purpose 1

Core purpose 2

Core purpose 3 


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WINNING NICHE 10-POINT CHECKLIST Run your 3 shortlisted ideas against this checklist. Pick one that fares the best

Your chosen niche helps people become better versions of themselves This better version does not have to be about making more money. It could be in any one of the following areas: ̣ Personal development ̣ Fitness ̣ Food ̣ Budgeting or Personal finance ̣ Fashion/Beauty ̣ Lifestyle ◦ Home decor ◦ Organization ◦ Travel ◦ Outdoor/Survival Each of those topics can take on a whole different angle. Be it inspirational, educational or entertaining. And they can encompass a wide range of sub-niches. You want to be associated with this topic/niche in the next 3-5 years

It’s something that you can see yourself writing or researching about for the next 3-5 years There are other blogs in this niche with an audience Do they have an audience of any sort? The size of the audience doesn’t matter.


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There are other blogs in this niche who have successfully monetized their sites through one of these ways: ̣ Sponsored posts ̣ Ads ̣ Digital Products ̣ Affiliate Marketing ̣ Services Your chosen niche solves a problem for people All businesses are formed to help solves problems or present solutions to people. Think of your blog as a business. Are people looking for solutions in this niche? Will you be able to solve their problems? Talking/writing about this niche is fulfilling to you You can add to the body of literature/content already present in this niche You can add a different perspective or bring your story to the table. You can inject your personality to and visible elements that will allow your blog to stand out in this niche. You are eager to learn more about this topic/niche You see others willing to pay for the services/products being offered by businesses in this niche


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MY WINNING NICHE IS - WRITE IT DOWN HERE


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SAMPLE TARGET AUDIENCE DESCRIPTORS USE THESE DESCRIPTOR PROMPTS TO FILL IN THE NEXT SECTION

WHAT DESCRIBES HER Beginner Advanced Intermediate Tech enthusiast DIY Lover Fitness Buff SHE/HE IS Demographic Profession Age SHE IS NOT Athletic Design Savvy Tech Savvy Fashionista Adventure seeker Include Age, Demographics, profession INTERESTS They like to _______ They like to hang out at _____ They enjoy _______ What do they watch on TV?


MOTIVATIONS & ASPIRATIONS How does she define success? She wants to be _____ so that she can _______ What makes her happy? She cares about _____ What does she do during her free time? What is her take or attitude regarding ______ FRUSTRATIONS She struggles with _______ She is stressed by _____ She's doesn’t like to ___________ WHAT WORDS DOES SHE IDENTIFY WITH Lady boss Girl boss Entrepreneur Mom boss Mompreneur Home-maker WAHM Coach

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Infopreneur

Example:

ASPIRATIONS Wants to earn some side-income to help with the household expenses Hopes to have her own VA business some day with a team of VAs FRUSTRATIONS Struggles with juggling, home, kids and her business Wishes she could have 3 hours a day to work on her business Thinks she isn't an expert and doubts if she can truly add value Mom-guilt when she gives the kids more screen time than necessary to do her work


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TARGET AUDIENCE PERSONA

USE THE DESCRIPTOR PROMPTS ON PAGES 6-7 TO FILL IN THIS SECTION WHAT HE/SHE IS NOT

Name: Age: Gender: Marital Status: Occupation: #No Children:

INTERESTS


ASPIRATIONS

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WHAT WORDS DOES SHE IDENTIFY WITH

WHAT MOTIVATES HIM/HER?

WHAT ARE HIS/HER FRUSTRATIONS?


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BRAND ATTRIBUTE WORDS USE THESE WORD PROMPTS TO FILL IN THE NEXT SECTION

Analytical

Daring

Humorous

Smart

Artistic

Dangerous

Honest

Spiritual

Authentic

Detailed

Intense

Strong

Authoritative

Daring

Inspiring

Stylish

Bold

Dynamic

Informal

Simple

Bright

Delightful

Kind

Sophisticated

Caring

Elegant

Knowledgable

Silly

Candid

Edgy

Motivating

Strong

Charming

Energetic

Outspoken

Trustworthy

Clear

Exciting

Out of the box

Thoughtful

Calm

Fun

Over-deliver

Quirky

Colorful

Frank

Optimistic

Upbeat

Cheerful

Feminine

Professional

Unique

Chic

Flirty

Powerful

Whimsical

Compassionat e

Girly

Playful

Warm

Genuine

Rebellious

Witty 


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I want my target audience persona to feel that I’m ________ when they read my posts and watch/listen to my content (example motivating, approachable). Pick 4 attribute words.

Most people would describe me as _________ (example professional, confident, knowledgeable, fun). Pick 4 attribute words.

My blog business believes in? If I was a blogging personality, I would you be?


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I would never want to be seen as ____________. Pick 4 attribute words.

I would never want my content to be ___________. Pick 2 attribute words.

What feelings do I want my brand to evoke?


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BRAND STYLE GUIDE WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR STYLE GUIDE, YOU WANT TO HAVE A CLEAR PICTURE OF HOW YOUR BRAND ELEMENTS COME TOGETHER

Image Style Paste in the image styles for each of the following: Main Blog Post Images for Each Category (Will you use collages, low-opacity text overlays etc.?) Secondary Post Images Pinterest (What will your different types of pins look like?) Featured blog post images


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BLANK PAGE TO PASTE PICTURES


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Font #1

Font #2

Font

FONT: SIZE: STYLE:

FONT: SIZE: STYLE:

FONT: SIZE: STYLE:

Blog Post Titles

Regular Text

Accent Text

FONT: SIZE: STYLE:

FONT: SIZE: STYLE:

FONT: SIZE: STYLE:

Color #1

Color #2

Color #3

HEX: RGB: CMYK:

HEX: RGB: CMYK:

HEX: RGB: CMYK:

Decide on a consistent tone (playful, serious, sarcastic, authoritative, etc.) for your website, blog posts, and social media based on your word attributes. Include a list of words and phrases, and style attributes that should and should not be used. (Example: Emojis, LOL, LMAO, All caps for emphasis)


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DETERMINE YOUR CONTENT CATEGORIES What do you intend to talk about in your blog? What subjects would you like to cover and what do you know about? Think about the content your target persona wants from you? Do a brain dump. BLANK SPACE

BLOG WITH A PLAN WORKBOOK - ©MEERA KOTHAND

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What categories fit into the purpose of your blog? Cross out any that don’t fit in with your purpose. Pick out the top 10.

Then ask yourself, if you wanted to be known for three topics, what would those be? Add those below to your core categories.


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ABOUT PAGE TEMPLATE USE THIS TEMPLATE TO TYPE OUT YOUR ABOUT PAGE Welcome and introduce yourself State your value proposition Plug in your statement from here:

I am a _______ (entrepreneur/writer/blogger/freelancer). This blog/website is for________ (your target audience)   or I help _________ (parents/small business owners/women/ photographers) to ___________ (explain the benefit they’ll get through your website) Introduce their pain points/aspirations/dreams Remember to use YOU to state paint points/aspirations/ dreams <> Example:  If you have ever had these thoughts, then you are in the right place.  If this resonates with you, you’re in the right place <> Example: I know what it feels to… I know how frustrating it can be to... I used to work 70 hour weeks and....


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Establish a connection with THE story Tell your story. Your story should state your ‘WHY’ of starting your blog or business. It should also introduce your audience to the core message that ties your blog or products together. Establish credibility What can they expect Take a sentence or two to tell them what they can expect if they subscribe or purchase from you. State your Call to action Should they sign-up for a freebie? Check out your services page?


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BLOG POST TEMPLATE USE THIS TEMPLATE TO WRITE YOUR FIRST AND SUBSEQUENT POSTS

Introduction Drive the pain point Introduce the solution or idea of the post and what the post promises to do Add a Pinterest Image 735 X 1102 ; 800 X 1200 ; Any other vertical combination Add Affiliate disclosure Add Content Upgrade sign-up box Sub-head for point 1 Sub-head for point 2 Sub-head for point 3 (Add Click to tweet for each sub-point) . . . . Conclusion 


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EMAIL LISTS OPTIMIZE YOUR SITE AND INVEST IN TOOLS TO GROW YOUR LIST You have opt-in forms in the following places on your site: Footer Exit Intent Pop-up Top bar Side bar Header Below the header About page Resources/tools page Middle and below every blog post You have done the following pre-work to optimize your site: You have disabled pop-ups on mobile You have decided on a tool to set-up opt-in forms. If you still haven’t, what other information do you need to research on? What are your concerns. Scribble them in here so you know what to research and find out about. You have decided on an email service provider. If you still haven’t, what other information do you need to research on? What are your concerns. Scribble them in here so you know what to research and find out about.


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OPT-IN FREEBIE CHECKLIST USE THIS CHECKLIST TO CREATE YOUR FIRST OPT-IN FREEBIE

Is it easily consumable? Your readers are already suffocating with information. They don’t want a long 30 page ebook with paragraphs of content. Or a long email course. You don’t want to give them something that they are going to chuck into their hard drive ‘for ‘later’. Does it talk about 1 idea only? Just like your blog post or landing page, your lead magnet should have 1 idea or goal as opposed to several ideas. Does it lead them through a change? Every offer and content on your website should bring your audience from A (their current state) to B (the desired state). Likewise, your lead magnet should sell an outcome or change. E.g. 10 kg in 30 days, more freelance clients, more subscribers etc.


Are they aware they have this problem? Is your lead magnet idea specific enough that they know this is something they need help with? Or are you selling an idea of a problem you think they should know about? Is it unique? You do not need another ‘how to build a profitable’ blog email course. You don’t want to create what everyone else has created. Pick an opt-in freebie idea that is fairly unique in the market. I say fairly unique because it’s going to be impossible to find something that no one has ever done. Can you understand the value from the name of the opt-in freebie itself? Name it as you would a blog post. Use Coschedule headline analyzer to analyze your headline. Some words that have higher impact: ‘done for you’, ‘swipe file’ and ‘templates’ 

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Now that you’ve run your opt-in freebie ideas through this checklist, pick one to start with. The Opt-in Freebie you will be creating is called: Prompt: Is it easily understandable what the opt-in freebie is from the name?

What format will you be using for your opt-in freebie? Swipe file

cheatsheet

email course

slides

template

video

ebook

webinar

checklist

spreadsheet 


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PINTEREST 101 CHECKLIST

You have set-up/converted you Pinterest personal account to a business account You have set-up rich pins You have validated your site You have validated your pins You have installed the pin-it button You have picked a Pinterest scheduler You have keywords in your Pinterest profile You have set-up one board to contain all your blog content pins You have set-up other boards to reflect your niche as well as content your target audience will search for You have sent your first group board requests 


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VISIBILITY CHECKLIST 

You have a gravatar image. You have written your bio

You talk about yourself in first person on your about page.

Your social media profiles are

Does your about page answer this

consistent

question: What problem do you solve for your readers?

They have the same header image You're using the same profile picture in all of them. You're using the same brand colors You have a favicon

What they want to know is: What’s in it for me? Your about page includes a photo of yourself You have a link to your disclosure

You have share links within your post

and privacy policy

It's clear from your site how people can contact you.

If you’re an Amazon affiliate, you’ve clearly written the Amazon required statement 


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Workbook Final

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