J Trogstad, fashion creator on her blog Bless Her Heart Y’all, has teamed up with Susan Geoghegan, marketing professional and creative behind the lifestyle blog 2 cats & chloe, to deliver a fun podcast for bloggers of all blogging niches. With the intent of simply discussing current blogging topics, J and Suz have created a podcast that is a tool for bloggers, that can be taken with you beyond your computer screen. Grab a glass of wine and hang out with the girls while they gab over life, fashion, food and all things related to growing your blog, brand and online presence.
Episode 001: Blogging Goals for 2015 (live on 12/29/14)
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0:00 Intro // 6:16 Topics Overview: Blogging goals, How to break down big goals into smaller goals to make them more manageable // 7:15 Are you a New Years resolution person? // 8:16 Breaking down your blogging goals // 9:00 Suz’s goals // 10:05 J’s goals (Canon T3i camera) // 10:59 How to break down goals // 15:41 Blogging pageviews and followers - breaking down numerical goals // 16:50 Blogging is work. How much time does it take to keep a blog running? // 19:38 Editorial Calendars // 21:42 Yearly blogging goals picture frame / vision boards // 24:14 #2CatsWhole30: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1409679692623565/ // 25:16 Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCByHosCd8ngxwPxRrB_PBhQ // 26:50 Wrap-up and ways to reach Suz and J with the new Celebrate Southern accounts
Episode 002: Making Blog Life Easier (live on 1/12/15)
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0:00 Intros // 2:45 Chit Chat/ Life Stories // 6:39 Serial podcast // 8:28 Broad Topics Covered (Making Blog Life Easier: niche blogs, online apps, life calendar and editorial calendar, organizing your desk) // 10:10 Mobile apps (including Tags For Likes, Afterlight, PicStitch, A Beautiful Mess, Blog home page made into iPhone icon*) // 18:27 Online programs (ViralWoot/Ahalogy/ViralTags and HooteSuite) // 24:34 Editorial calendars // 27:07 Time blocking // 29:51 Work spaces // 36:06 What’s coming up next (Whole30, 50% off ad space on www.2catsandchloe.com with promo code, // 39:14 Ways to get in touch: Join the Celebrate Southern Facebook Group, Instagram, Twitter, the weekly #CelebrateSouthern link up, and email us at CelebrateSouthern@gmail.com. You can find Suz at www.2catsandchloe.com and J at www.BlessHerHeartYall.com .
*How to make an iPhone icon for your blog’s home page: On your iPhone, open up a new browsing window in Safari and head over to your blog’s homepage from there. At the very bottom of the browsing window, there will be 5 icons (like the forward and back buttons). Press the middle icon (a box with an arrow coming out of it). From that screen, you will be prompted by more choices which includes a dark gray square with a plus sign in the middle of it which says “Add to home screen”. Press that button, and tada! You now have your blog’s home page as an icon on your iphone!
Episode 003: Editorial Calendars for Bloggers (live on 1/26/15)
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0:00 Intros // 1:41 Chit Chat (weather, head-colds and Switzerland for $52) // 5:13 Broad Topic Overview (Editorial Calendars: how we use them, how to make them, how to stick with them) // 6:31 How we use Editorial Calendars - Life Calendar vs. Editorial Calendar (they need to line up!) // 8:31 Keeping it organized with to-do lists my Erin Condron Planner (http://www.erincondren.com/referral/invite/susangeoghegan0611 <-if you buy through there, I will get a $10 credit towards a new calendar!) and ical // 10:55 Writing it down helps with idea // 11:50 How far in advance to you form your calendar? Planning ahead helps! // 13:20 Thinking about your posts, making notes, where do you get inspiration? // 15:15 Begin using a calendar asap (J started with a calendar from the beginning) // 16:45 Schedule your post-creation during your day // 17:20 Google Calendar and Paper Calendar // 18:00 Nina from Flowers in Her Hair - Her post on editorial calendar is BRILLIANT - use label sized post it notes and color code // 20:19 gCal synced with iCal - sync both with your paper calendar and colors - how to set up gCal as your editorial calendar // 23:25 gCal task bar for planning and master to-do list // 25:30 How to stick with your calendar // 27: 35 Stay consistent and structured // 30:00 Be realistic when scheduling // 34:20 Evergreene posts and Recaps // 37:02 Necessary for all niches, even those blogging for their business // 38:56 Use your calendar for Linkups and Blog Events // 40:45 What’s next? (Episode 004 = Media Kits! Bless Her Heart Y’all = collaboration with Spanx Denim and braid tutorials. 2 cats & chloe = Paleo Valentines and What Women Really Want.) // 43:49 Ways to get in touch: Join the Celebrate Southern Facebook Group, Instagram, Twitter, the weekly #CelebrateSouthern link up, and email us at CelebrateSouthern@gmail.com. You can find Suz at www.2catsandchloe.com and J at www.BlessHerHeartYall.com .
Nina’s post at Flowers in My Hair: http://bit.ly/1C1Z5Ef
How to sync gCal and iCal: http://bit.ly/1EjWrdH
Episode 004: Media Kits for Bloggers (live on 2/9/15)
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00:00 Intro // 01:50 Catching up: MN & Whole60 // 04:25 This Episode 004 = Media Kits: What? Why? How? // 05:10 Why do bloggers need a Media Kit? // 06:45 Show brands that you’re serious! // 07:50 Who do you sent it to? // 09:23 Be upfront about your rates // 10:00 How J breaks down her Media Kit // 11:30 Highlight Big Brands + Name Recognition // 12:20 Resemble your blog // 12:45 BlogClarity.com + Media Kit Designs // 14:23 Share big things: Linkups, Collabs, Events, etc // 16:00 Current Stats + Demographics // 18:30 How many pages should a media kit have? // 20:20 Online Media Kit vs. PDF? // 22:00 Services, Rates, Personal Information + Disclosures // 24:30 What should new bloggers put in their media kits? // 26:30 Get Creative and Stay True to YOU! // 27:53 How do you use your Media Kit? // 29:50 Events, Rates + Negotiations // 33:00 Proof Read!! // 34:30 Badass Resume for Everyone! // 35:20 Up on our Blogs: BHHY = Valentine’s Posts and a Valentine’s Youtube Video. 2cats = Valentine’s Dinner and “What Women Want” // 38:00 CS 005 (next podcast episode) = Working With Brands! // 38:35 Contact us! Join the Celebrate Southern Facebook Group, Instagram, Twitter, the weekly #CelebrateSouthern link up, and email us at CelebrateSouthern@gmail.com. You can find Suz at www.2catsandchloe.com and J at www.BlessHerHeartYall.com .
Episode 005: Spring Break for Bloggers! How to handle your blog when you’re on vacation! (live on 2/23/15)
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0:00 Intros & Vacation Plans (Mexico and Switzerland) // 3:55 Spring Break for Bloggers! Podcast breakdown & Topic preview // 4:46 Consistency = Key, even when you’re out of town // 6:00 Evergreen or Instagram updates // 6:30 Do you tell readers you’re out of town? // 7:50 Guest posters while you’re gone? Who? What? // 9:58 What to do with your social media while you are gone - FB, IG, etc. Is it okay to share more while you are on vacay? // 11:49 How much do you schedule? // 13:40 Keeping up with comments // 15:18 Outgoing Message? Yay or Nay? // 16:34 Back from Vacay… now what? // 18:18 Homeward Bound! Catching up on the way home? // 21:00 Roadtrip! Save date, use notes, talk to text. // 22:58 What should we do while on vacay? // 23:13 Coming up on our blogs: 2 cats & chloe: Vacation + Whole60 Wrapup // Bless Her Heart Y’all: Spring Outfit Posts // 24:27 How to find us: Join the Celebrate Southern Facebook Group, Instagram, Twitter, the weekly #CelebrateSouthern link up, and email us at CelebrateSouthern@gmail.com. You can find Suz at www.2catsandchloe.com and J at www.BlessHerHeartYall.com .
Episode 006: How to work with Brands! Tips, Tricks and What we do when working with brands as bloggers! (live on 3/9/15)
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00:00 Intros // 00:48 This week = Working with brands // 1:30 Our Celebrate Southern Podcast about Media Kits is a good one to listen to before this episode // 1:58 Catching up = Cold weather conversation! // 3:20 This week = What to do when brands come to you, When you go to the brands, and dealing with negativity when working with brands // 3:49 When brands come to you! // 5:13 Who do you respond to? // 6:40 Sponsorships vs. Product Reviews + What to say to brands who want free press // 10:50 What do you do when you reach out to brands? // 14:08 Who to contact + It must be a good fit! // 15:03 Don’t take negativity personally! // 15:55 Tips to conversing with brands = Proofreading, Timeliness and Professional! // 17:40 I’m done with my post, now what? // 18:25 Some brands want to see the post before it goes live + Following brand standards // 21:30 Turning down brands to stay true to YOUR brand // 22:41 All over Blogland? // 25:15 Thank you notes // 27:30 Be professional + Show your strengths to earn future business // 29:10 Coming up on our blogs → Bless Her Heart Y’all = Spring outfits and braids; 2 cats & chloe = Swiss Vacation posts and paleo baking! // 30:48 Find us here: Join the Celebrate Southern Facebook Group, Instagram, Twitter, (@celebratesouthern) the weekly #CelebrateSouthern link up, and email us at CelebrateSouthern@gmail.com. You can find Suz at www.2catsandchloe.com and J at www.BlessHerHeartYall.com .
Episode 007: Blog Layout and Design Must-Haves (live on 3/23/15)
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00:00 Intros of Suz and J - What’s New? // 01:44 Today’s Episode is about Must-Haves for your blog layout and website // 02:12 The header: What we like, color vs. white space // 04:40 This is the first thing people see! Use a tag or subheader? Do you put “author name on top?” // 06:30 The Navigation Bar: What should be on the bar? // 10:00 The About & Contact Pages are important! // 11:10 Dropdowns & Creative Landing Pages: Make things easy to find and in view! // 14:00 Social Media Navigation: Where do you put it? // 14:50 Landing Page: How many sidebars and which side? // 17:10 Top of the Sidebar: Pic of the blogger is a must! // 20:00 In the Sidebar: What do you have here? // 21:30 “Search this Site” = Must have! // 24:00 Disclaimer: Put it on your homepage! // 24:51 What’s in the footer? // 26:25 Suz brings up white space again, and then things that annoy her. // 30:10 What’s coming up on our blogs? J = outfit posts and hair tutorials Suz = Recipes, Weekly Travel? and Sunday Morning Scripture Series // 32:06 Where can you find us? Join the Celebrate Southern Facebook Group, Instagram, Twitter, (@celebratesouthern) the weekly #CelebrateSouthern link up, and email us at CelebrateSouthern@gmail.com. You can find Suz at www.2catsandchloe.com and J at www.BlessHerHeartYall.com // 33:45: We will be on iTunes Soon!
Episode 008: Having a Full Time Job + Blogging! And how (we try) to rock at both! (live on 4/6/15)
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00:00 Intros // 01:15 Today’s Topic: Keeping a Full Time Job and Blogging at the Same time! Key topics: Strategy, Scheduling and Lists! // 03:05 Strategy - What did you think about blogging before you started? // 05:30 Strategize and Schedule posts and social media ahead of time? // 09:48 When do you schedule? // 11:37 Do you write posts ahead of time? // 15:00 How do you get anything done when you are on the road (or in an office) all day long? Tips we use… // 19:13 Different levels and types of blogging - but across the board, consistency is key. You must find a balance between life, work and blogging. // 23:06 Blogging as part of your full time job! // 25:30 How to reach us: Join the Celebrate Southern Facebook Group, Instagram, Twitter, (@celebratesouthern) the weekly #CelebrateSouthern link up, and email us at CelebrateSouthern@gmail.com. You can find Suz at www.2catsandchloe.com and J at www.BlessHerHeartYall.com .
Link mentioned: Sweet Potato Fries: http://bit.ly/1GQuMih