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Tis the season! It’s Christmas, and it’s my blog anniversary!!
I’m so happy to let you know that I’m celebrating my 5th blogiversary this year. Five years is a long time in the blogosphere, and I’m glad to still be around. 🙂
This proves that I’ve definitely been productive and my blogging strategies have worked for me.
Or maybe, starting my blog on Christmas has been a good omen for me. Since 2010, my blogging career has been filled with many a-ha moments.
If you want to know them, you can find them all in the form of my mentions and interviews. You’ll find more information on this blog’s about page.
But what’s more important to me is my relationship with you.
I’m grateful to you for visiting this blog, reading my posts, sharing your views, supporting me, which makes all the difference to me.
Yes, Aha!NOW would not be here if you were not with me. I look forward to a continued association and another season of sharing information and views.
On the occasion of my 5th blogiversary, I want to share some blogging tips that I feel every blogger should know, to be successful.
5 Simple But Essential Blogging Tips
The tips that I’m going to mention are very simple, and you might be already aware of them.
However, I’m presenting them to you as my understanding of how to make your blog successful, taking lessons from my own blogging career.
I’m sure taking these blogging tips would be productive for you.
Last year, on my 4th blogiversary, I wrote about the 9 lessons on blogging and I suggest that every new blogger should read that post.
I’ve also written about the blogging mistakes that bloggers make, and the realities of blogging. These posts should help all bloggers.
In my endeavor to contribute to blogging and encourage the new bloggers to go for a successful blogging career, here are few thoughts on taking the essential steps to make blogging better.
1. Blog Niche
The first step you take to start blogging is to define or select you blog niche.
The reason I’m advocating to take this step is because I was not aware of it when I started blogging.
Though I was successful in creating a multi-niche blog, it isn’t easy anymore.
It’s wise to first know your interests and expertise and then choose a niche to blog, and help people with your knowledge and experience.
The domain name of your blog matters, but not as much as your selection of the right blogging niche.
2. Blog Branding
Behind every blog, there is a personality, and your blog should have a unique personality too. Your blog needs blog branding.
Give your blog a logo, tagline, a unique color scheme, design or layout – to make it distinct and special.
Let the objective of your blog clearly stand out, so you attract the right audience and reinforce your claim on being an authority or expert.
It’s better to be the king of one trade than to be the jack of all. Having said that, I remain the queen in spite of having a multi-niche blog! 😉
3. Blog Monetization
Yes, if you want to survive as a blogger in the blogosphere and make a career in blogging, you need to think of money and revenue – think of monetizing your blog.
There are five basic ways of doing it. You could rely on advertisement services like Google Adsense, display ad banners, promote affiliates, publish sponsored posts and reviews, or sell your own products and services.
It will help you if you make a blog plan before even launching your blog.
Chalk out the steps you would take to earn revenue from your blog. Remember, being an authority and branding your blog will make things easier for you.
However, do not blog for money or yourself only, or try to make quick money from your blog! Most new bloggers are in a rush to earn, and when they cannot, they give up.
Blog genuinely to help people, and solve their problems. Let your blog mature, fame and money will follow, just like the happiness butterfly that sits on your shoulder after you stop going after it.
4. Blog Content
Did I refer to you as the king? I’m sorry; it’s your quality content that is the undisputed king! 🙂
Stop wasting your time in link building!
It helps, but that would be a futile exercise if your blog has mediocre content. Create quality content and then think of anything else.
When you write a blog post, make sure it delivers value and provides a helpful takeaway.
Check if your content is original; if not, then make it unique by adding your own personal knowledge and experience to it.
Your quality content will make you climb the ladder of popularity in your niche, become a brand in itself, and earn you money directly or indirectly.
5. Blog Promotion
The above-mentioned four tips to successful blogging are not going to work if your blog lives in obscurity.
To get the best results, give a shout out to the whole world. Try various ways of blog promotion, like posts, videos, SlideShare, podcasts, and others. (I haven’t personally tried them all, but it’s good if you do.)
You need to promote your blog posts on social media, develop relationships with your audience, bloggers, and experts in your niche.
Comment on other blogs, reply to comments on your blog, guest post for exposure and outreach, and join blogging communities.
Everybody talks of the Pareto principle, and that’s so true. Devote 20% of your time creating compelling and useful content and spend 80% of your time promoting it.
Niche, branding, monetization, content, and promotion – these are the Hi5 or the five basic elements of blogging that will rock your blog.
The Success Story Of Aha!NOW
I just revealed all my blogging secrets to you! Here’s a bit more about Aha!NOW, if you’re new to the blog and don’t know it already.
It was on December 25, 2010, I co-founded this blog inspired by my father and supported by my husband, Vinay.
We made two blogging mistakes even before we started blogging – did not make a blogging plan, and chose a domain name that had little relevance to the blog niche.
In fact, the blog niche that we targeted was ‘family & parenting’, and the aim of blogging was to create a portfolio of my writing.
Honestly, the first few months of blogging were very frustrating and disappointing.
We didn’t clearly know what to do, we weren’t getting much traffic, and there were no comments on the blog!
I had seen many blogs with lots of comments and interaction on them, but I longed for a single comment on my blog posts.
It dawned on me naturally to make friends and develop the relationship with fellow bloggers. That clicked and worked!
People loved the content so I kept writing more, added related content categories, and began expanding the blog.
I hooked onto to social media and made good use of the social networks like Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and even Pinterest.
I developed a penchant for commenting, and it resulted in the blogging fraternity calling me a ‘Commenting Queen’.
So, in short, it’s my quality content, building relationships, blog commenting, and social media promotion that helped me get where I’m today.
Now, I’m in a position to monetize my blog.
We recently started with sponsored post and reviews on Aha!NOW and the response is good.
As I mentioned in my previous post on managing blogging and life, Aha!NOW is now a multi-author blog and if you want your post published on the blog, you can submit your story here.
Do you have any problems getting started, or doubts that stop you from progressing as a blogger? Please feel free to reach out to me.
Thank You
Thank you again for making me a part of your life, and my blog Aha!NOW as one of your favorite online destinations.
I wish you have a great time with your family and friends this holiday season. Family bonding and personal time for recreation are so important for increasing your productivity.
For a change, we are not taking a winter break from blogging this year. In fact, we’ll continue to publish guest posts, sponsored posts, and posts from Vinay and myself.
We are all charged up and determined to get things done, and give shape to our projects. 🙂
I can’t thank you enough because I feel so blessed to have you all in my life. You are priceless. Thank YOU for being a valued reader!
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 🙂
Over To You –
What are your essential blogging tips for newbie bloggers? What are your plans to be more productive in the coming year? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Disclaimer: This post contains my affiliate links. I might earn if you click on them and make any purchase.
This blog is very true. We should not focus only on having a great blog but on producing a blog that is great for our readers. Our focus should be on our reader’s interest. It is great to integrate these ideas with my SEO campaign that is running.
Hi Harleena Ma’am,
Landed on your blog for the first time. And very congrats on the 5th Anniversity! 🙂
Wow! Your blog has completed the 5 years long time, I wish you best of luck for future, Ma’am.
Glad to connect with you and your blog.
Your new friend,
~ Ahmad
Hey Harleena,
Very Inspiring post and Congrats for completing 5 years in the blogging industry !!!
Hey Harleena,
Congrats for completing 5 years 🙂
I came to know about your blog from a friend. He mentioned your blog in one of his posts.
Your blog is really awesome. Keep Up The Good Work. 🙂
Your blog completed 5 years. And I am just starting out 😀
I blog at bloggingnerd.com. Please take time to read it when you are free and let me know how it is 🙂
Once again, Congrats. May your blog complete 50 more years of success.
Thanks,
Mohit Gangrade
Hi Harleena,
By the way happy blogiversery, let’s move on to your 6th year in blogosphere, I wish you the best for all your future endeavours in blogosphere. I have been started a website on last April but I got tired by writing contents, finally I stopped writing on my blog. How would you keep things together after 5 years of your writing career? Your tips seems resourceful and useful. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Welcome to the blog, Abhilash 🙂
Thank you for your kind wishes, and yes, we are all geared to take up this New Year with full force! I can understand how tiring it can get at times, but as bloggers, especially if you are new to blogging, you must be patient and persistent in writing. Good things come to those who wait.
If I could do it for five years, I am sure you can as well. So, I’d advice you to keep writing, even if you do it once a week, and slowly pick up pace to write twice a week and stay there. I know this way has worked for me, and would surely work for you as well.
Thanks for stopping by, and if there is anything I can help you with, do let me know. 🙂
Hi Harleena,
Congrats on your blogiversary.
You’ve done a great job with your blog, and that’s because you’ve given focused attention to the 5 key areas you mentioned here.
I agree, too that so many bloggers quit because they get disappointed that they don’t start making money with their blog right away.
Yea, it takes time, but it also takes serious planning. So many bloggers work hard to get people to see their great content, but never develop a monetization strategy. Then they wonder why they’re not making money with their blog.
If someone doesn’t know how to make all these things work in unison to create a great business, I always suggest that you hire a real good coach to get you moving in the right direction. Otherwise, you could spend tons of time, money and wasted effort.
Have a great 2016, and I look forward to seeing the new directions your blog will take. Exciting isn’t it? Love your blog and I’m sure it’s going to get only better.
-Donna
Hi Donna,
Thanks so much for your wishes 🙂
Absolutely! I wanted to share a lot more, but as I mentioned in my earlier comments, a little at a time, as these tips are all based on my personal blogging experience.
Yes, and I wish such bloggers would understand that blogging is all about being patient and persistent, more than anything else. Good things come to those who wait, isn’t it?
I agree with you there, and I know you and David are doing so well with your plans and I’m sure the goals and strategies you laid out for this year, would be well achieved. That’s true, such things need attention, and if any blogger is really serious about monetizing their blogs or wishes to earn money, they certainly need help.
Thanks once again for your lovely wishes, Donna. We wish you every success and happiness in this year as well. 🙂
Hey Harleena,
Love this post for so many reasons. When I think of your tips, I think instantly of that CRUX post so well written with a wealth of information. Not taking anything away from this – you know I am a big fan of your work ethic, writing and know how.
To answer your questions. The one thing I came to blogging with was patience (unusual for me). One step at a time. While I have been frustrated at many things, my determination to post once a week has never wavered. Regardless of what I got right or wrong throughout the week one post had to go out.
2016 I want to learn one new thing about a social platform a week. Reach out more and use my time better. But outside of those things, continue as I was. I have loved my routine from day dot, so I always feel grateful that finally I found something that will challenge me with me.
I want to say congratulations on five years. An impressive number of years blogging. I am always getting ideas off you and Vinay so its eyes and ears on AHA. Looking forward to a wonderful 2016 with your guys.
Great post.
Rachel.
Hi Rachel,
Thanks so much, and glad you liked this post as well. 🙂
Let me tell you that you are doing extremely well as a new blogger, and yes, patience is the key here! Take it slow and enjoy the blogging process, the journey, as you learn along. Just my two cents or takeaway for you.
I like that determination, and it reminds me of my time, when I was posting once a week on this blog, and once a week on my other blog (writing one). It was later when I started posting twice a week on this one, and I put a hold on the other blog, till I did this one up nicely. So, at the end of the day, it’s all about the choices we make, depending on what fits in well with our schedule – once a week is a great choice.
Yes, learning about the various social platforms is essential, though be more on the ones that give you the returns. Being bloggers, we have to reach out and connect with others, no way out.
Thanks so much for being a part of the ABC and our journey, a pleasure to have wonderful people like you in our lives. Wishing you a very Happy & Productive New Year as well. 🙂
Hi Harleena
I read it earlier, enjoyed a lot and don’t know why I could not have commented on it; most probably the post might have mesmerized me; but finally I arrived again via Adrienne’s blog and this time enjoyed reading the comments of several wonderful bloggers.
Though a little late but a very warm and loving Happy Birthday to Aha-Now the blog which I have been regularly following since I started my blogging journey
The basic tips you mentioned here help build the strong foundation of a blog and to take it to the height of success. Just patience is required that is nowadays getting a little uncommon in our world.
Many thanks for sharing and you do have a very Happy New Year
Hi Mi Muba,
Good to have you back, and it doesn’t matter how you landed here, as long as you did 🙂
Thanks so much for your kind wishes, and yes, it’s been so good to be associated with you as well. Glad you liked the blogging tips mentioned, which are just a few based on my experiences that I shared here. Absolutely agree with you about patience and persistence too, I’d add. I hope people realize that without both of these traits, it’s tough to make it in the blogosphere.
Thanks for stopping by, and we wish you and yours a very Happy & Prosperous New Year as well. 🙂
Hi Harleena,
Happy belated birthday and I’m sorry I haven’t been by here sooner. As you know, I also took two weeks off and although I thought I would be more active online, my theme took the majority of my time. That’s done and behind me now so I’m excited to see what this year will bring.
I can’t believe your blog is already five years old. Wow, seems like yesterday that we first met. Neither of us were very well known, not yet anyway so I love what you shared about the action steps you took to get you to where you are today.
I think a lot of blogging is trial and error. Your five tips though are spot on and I would hope that anyone eager to get where you are now will follow those to a tea.
Sounds like AhaNow continues to grow and implement new things. I’m sure that it will continue to have great success in this new year and I’m excited to see the changes that are coming. Anyone would be honored to write a post for this blog.
I hope your holiday was wonderful, your week started off great and Happy New Year!
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne,
Thank you for your kind wishes, and not to worry – you are never late on this blog 🙂
Yes, I know about your well-deserved break and the wonderful theme you came up with once you returned! I like the clean look of your blog, and I am sure you’d tweak it to make it better over time.
Absolutely! Seems just like yesterday I started – can still remember the day so clearly. Been so wonderful knowing you and our other common blogging friend’s. More so, it’s the journey we’ve been through that’s strengthened our bonds further, isn’t it?
When we started, we didn’t know so many things as compared to the new bloggers of today. But what we learnt over time has mostly been a slow but sure process, as it was self-learnt in our case I think, so that’s bound to stay forever with us.
True! We have some plans for the blog, though would be taking one step at a time to complete them over time. I’m just so glad we are going from one step to the other, and we have all our wonderful readers and dear friend’s like yourself to thank for accepting the changes here.
Thanks for stopping by, and we wish you and yours a very Happy & Prosperous New Year as well 🙂
Hey Harleena,
Great job on the 5 years of Aha-now. 5 years is a long time and many blogs don’t make it to that point. Kudos for you for that.
You made the same “mistake” I did with not choosing a name related to the niche you were aiming for. But in your case, your persistence and hard work made your blog one of the premium locations for advice on self help and blogging.
If I can make my site half as successful as yours I’d consider that a win for me.
Congrats once again and looking forward to 5 more years.
– Andrew
Hi Andrew,
Good to have you back, and thanks so much for your wishes 🙂
Yes indeed, five years and still going strong! Actually, we never aimed for anything when we started blogging, so the name was just chosen based on what we felt nice about as it would cover a lot of things, making people go Aha! about it. With time, patience and persistence, things worked and led from one thing to another.
You have a wonderful blog as well, Andrew, and we wish you reach greater heights with it in this year as well.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with us 🙂
Hello Harleena,
I have been enjoying my holidays the whole December, and when I came back there were so much to do. I have seen this post, and I guess I have congratulated you in some FB status or comment. Today, I got a chance to come by here on this post to say congratulations for completing 5 awesome years.
I wish you good luck for the coming years.
Hi Atish,
Good to have you back, and so glad you had a good break as you certainly needed one. 🙂
Yes, you did that and nice of you to have stopped by here today. Thanks so much for your kind wishes. Wishing you and yours a happy & prosperous year ahead as well 🙂
Hi Harleena,
Congratulations on your 5th “Blogiversary”! What a great way to celebrate by providing 5 stellar blogging tips.
Thank you for sharing your inspirational story. I haven’t had the opportunity to read, Ways to instantly boost your productivity, and look forward to it. Also, love the quotes by Brian Clark and Zig Ziglar!
I hope that you and your family had a wonderful holiday. All the best in 2016, my friend!
Hi Robin,
Thanks so much for your lovely wishes 🙂
So glad you liked these blogging tips and my little journey so far. Yes, that post has a lot of information, and you know I love quotes, so most of my posts are full of them.
Thanks for stopping by, and we wish you a very happy & prosperous new year as well 🙂
Hello Harleena,
Congratulations on your blogiversary! This is an excellent blog post. I really enjoyed reading your blogging journey. It is very helpful and inspiring. I didn’t know Vinay was your husband. 🙂 You are one of my favorite bloggers and you always write great content. The tips you shared are priceless.
I want to grow my Google+ community on my blog. Also, I would like to write more content along with working on getting more traffic. Blogging is definitely a lot of hard work. My advice to newbies would be just stick with it and learn as you go. Not to get frustrated. Read other bloggers blogs and learn from them. That’s what I still do myself.
I really wish you the best and may you have many successful blogging years to come!
Hi Maketta,
Thank you for your heartfelt wishes 🙂
So glad you liked these blogging tips and my journey so far, and yes, he sure is my better half!
You are doing wonderfully already, and I am sure your G+ community would grow with time. Yes, blogging IS a lot of hard work, and as you mentioned, being bloggers we need to be consistent and determined right through, if we wish to stick on in the blogosphere. Just learn to enjoy the journey as you learn along and grow as a blogger, isn’t it?
Thanks for stopping by, and we wish you a very happy & prosperous new year as well. 🙂
Hello Harleena,
First let me say Happy Christmas to you and hope you’re enjoying the festive period… 🙂
What an awesome post to celebrate the Aha-now community anniversary…
you have said it all. new bloggers will definitely love to read this.
Making money do play a good role in blogging because it is what keeps us focus but still, thinking only about making money as a newbie blogger is dangerous for your blogging health.
Happy anniversary and hope to see your blog higher that what it already is.
have a kind week ahead
Hi Babanature,
Thank you for your wishes, and I hope your holidays were good too. 🙂
Yes, I’ve shared a few of my experiences through these blogging tips with the hope to help other bloggers.
True, making money helps and we all need money, but that shouldn’t be the only focus or reason we start blogging, which some newbies tend to think about. It’s something that comes through gradually, so we need to be patient about it.
Thanks for stopping by, and we wish you a very happy and prosperous new year as well. 🙂
Hi Harleena and Vinay,
Congratulations!!
Since I’m a newbie in the blogosphere, I don’t have much to share, but being diligent, being curious about what other bloggers do and what the audience want, and having absolute faith in myself helped me tremendously to build my own blog site and wrote several posts in last few months.
Harleena, thank you so much for sharing great tips. I will definitely implement them in my blogging.
In love & gratitude,
Keiko
Hi Keiko,
Thank you for your kind wishes 🙂
Even though you are new to blogging, you sure are on the right path. Being consistent, curious, determined, and believing in yourself always help become better as a blogger, and one can make out you’d soon reach there! Just keep going, and if there is anything I can help you with anytime, all you need to do is ask.
Thanks for stopping by, and we wish you every success and happiness in this new year as well. 🙂
Hello Harleena,
Happy Blogiversary! Thank you for sharing your story with us. It’s definitely a motivator and proves that blogging takes time to develop and build a community, but it’s so worth it. You’ve had a great year and I know 2016 is going to be an even better one for you my dear :).
I love Brian Clark’s quote about blogging…that is so true. Thank you for sharing these valuable tips. Each point you’ve shared is equally important. I’ve learned a lot from you over the last years we’ve known each other, you always share great advice. 🙂
I hope you had a lovely holiday with your family. Have a great week ahead my friend!
Cori
Hi Cori,
Thanks so much for your kind wishes. 🙂
Absolutely! Blogging is a process, a journey that we need to enjoy as we carry on with it. Yes, we hope to be a lot more productive this year and start with a few new things too.
Love that quote as well, and so glad you liked these blogging tips, though there are so many to share, which I’d be sharing over time. I’d say the same for you my friend, and that’s what makes the blogosphere such a wonderful place to be in, as we learn and inspire each other, isn’t it?
Thanks for stopping by, and we wish you a very happy & prosperous new year as well 🙂
Hi Harleena
Happy Belated Anniversary and I congratulate you and Vinay for a wonderful community that you have begot to the world.
I must say that your tips are so awesome and they reveal some golden nuggets about being successful in the blogosphere.
Being in the blogosphere shows that you are making a difference and you have changed our lives with AHA Now. I do remember when I first stumbled on the blog and I was amazed by the quality content and genuine relationship with your readers.
This propelled me to join the community and till today I have been blessed by knowing you, Vinay and all the awesome members.
Thanks for sharing this post. Aha-now rocks. Looking forward to an awesome time in Aha now in 2016. Thanks and happy holidays to you and your family.
Hi Ikechi,
Thank you for your heartfelt wishes 🙂
So glad you liked the blogging tips shared, though these are just a limited few. More, over time!
It gives us immense pleasure to know if we’ve made a little difference in the lives of people, what more could we ask for! Yes, and we are so fortunate to have such wonderful friend’s and true ABC members as yourself, Ikechi. As I always say, the blog and ABC wouldn’t be what it is today, had it not been for you all, so thanks to you and everyone who is a part of the blog!
Thanks once again for being a part of our journey. Wishing you a very Happy & Prosperous year ahead 🙂
Hi Harleena!
Congratulations! I know we’ve only met fairly recently but the work you’ve accomplished in such a relatively short period of time is astonishing. No doubt I have a lot to learn from you heading into the future.
You mentioned that the first few months were disappointing. I know many new bloggers experience the same exact thing, and unfortunately, a good chunk of them quit and then go on to say making money blogging is a scam. I think it’s fair to say we are all so glad that you’ve stuck with it and your business has truly grown into something amazing.
Looking forward to seeing both you and your businesses grow in the NEXT 5 years!
– James McAllister
Hi James,
Thank you for your wishes. 🙂
Yes indeed, and it’s always nice to connect with fellow bloggers and be inspired. I’d say the same about you, and the lot you’ve accomplished at your age is commendable indeed!
Absolutely! Similar to any new blogger, my initial months were disappointing. More so, I came from a freelance writing niche, so had no idea about what is a blog or who are bloggers! But one learns over time, and I’m glad the self-learning curve has taught me such a lot. Yes, most new bloggers quit because their main aim to venture into blogging is to make quick money, and when they cannot, they are just too disheartened and quit.
We have more plans for this year, though are taking them one at a time, slowly does it, isn’t it?
Thanks for stopping by, and wishing you a very happy & prosperous year as well 🙂
Congratulations Harleena! I am so very excited for you! You and your site have grown so much during these five years and I’ve enjoyed watching the growth.
You really have set the standard in everything you don’t, from content to commenting to social media. You do it all so wel.
Best wishes for many more years of success!
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you so much for your kind wishes. 🙂
Yes indeed, the blog has grown and so have we, as bloggers! But all of this hadn’t been possible had it not been for the support of wonderful friend’s like you, and our readers – so we need to thank all of you for being a part of our journey too!
Thanks once again for your heartfelt wishes. Wishing you and yours a very Happy & Prosperous New Year 🙂
Hi Harleena,
Congrats on your blog anniversary, to you and Vinay both! I had no idea that you start on Christmas. I’m so glad to see that you have made it for so long. You surely deserve it! I’ve been reading this blog for the longest (and that’s pretty big for me to say lol) and it definitely covers everything.
Thanks for sharing your blogging tips. You have built quite the model and have many good things to contribute to the community.
I appreciate you being transparent about the struggles you had in the beginning. Not everyone in your position is willing to reflect back on their specific issues. But many will grow and learn from your honesty.
My plans for the coming year is to be more productive with my writing schedule. Previously I’ve struggled with producing more posts and letting other things get in the way of that. I’m determined to make a schedule and stick to it.
Happy Holidays!!
~Lea
Hi Lea,
Good to have you back, and thanks so much for your kind wishes 🙂
Yes indeed, it was on Christmas that we started Aha!NOW, and it’s been 5 years now – still going strong! So glad to know you enjoy reading the various topics and we might just be adding some more very soon.
These are just a few of the blogging tips based on my experiences, and there’d be more coming up over time, as there is so much to share with everyone.
We’ve always believed in being honest and transparent, Lea, as we know people will benefit and learn from our experiences. Anything to help others has always been our aim and the aim of this blog.
Being productive is our theme also for this year, so good to know we are on the same lines there! I am sure once you’ve set a routine, you’d get down to following it to the tea!
Thanks for stopping by, and wishing you a very happy & productive year ahead 🙂
Hello Harleena,
My hearty congratulations to you and Vinay. Isn’t it amazing when people close to you support you in doing what you love?
Your blogging journey has inspired many lives and you have definitely had a tremendous positive effect on me and the way I blog.
Thank you for the great tips.
I never thought of making money out of my blog until recently. Placed adsense but I personally didn’t like the fact that it made my blog look less professional. So removed it and made up mind to invest on myself which is part of my monetization plan.
I would like to offer my services/sell my products but not until I finish my course in positive psychology I am currently undergoing.
Although I have been successful in helping many people cultivate a positive mindset and I know I am good at it, I still wouldn’t charge a dime until I get my certification and become an authority.
I intend to go deeper in my niche, learn as much as I can to be able to better guide others.
Congratulations once again. You are a great source of inspiration to me and so are all our wonderful friends from the ABC community.
Wish you a lot more success in the coming year 🙂
Hi Hema,
Thank you so much for your kind wishes. 🙂
Absolutely! Without each others support, I don’t think we’d have come this far. Not to mention, our loving readers and community members, who are the icing on the cake!
So glad you liked the blogging tips mentioned, and it’s always good to know if my journey has helped you or anyone else in some way, nothing could be better and pleasing to my eyes. 🙂
I can understand what you mean, and like you, when I’d started off also, adsense was what we’d used, but that was long back and with very few advts. Over time, we placed a few more and they remain as you see them on the blog. However, a lot depends on the traffic that comes to your blog, especially if you wish to make the Adsense really work.
I agree with you there, take one thing at a time, so that you remain focused on it. You’re doing very well, as you recently revamped your blog and are also blogging, alongside pursuing your course. Once that’s over, you could start with your services and products, and sky is the limit to what more you would like doing!
True indeed, and in fact, a lot like me there! I guess you’d have got your positive psychology certificate by then, so could give it a try or further take up another certification course if you wish to. You’ve just started your journey, Hema, so there’s a lot to explore and I am sure you’d go places really soon!
Thanks for stopping by and your heartfelt wishes. Wishing you a very Happy & Prosperous New Year as well. 🙂
Hi Harleena, congratulations on your 5 years! Wow, amazing how much too your blogging has changed over the years. I didn’t realize your father had a play in it too, nice. (or that Vinay is your husband)! Have you found the multi author change a big improvement?
Thanks for sharing your 5 tips. I need to get back into focusing on my niche for the upcoming year. Enjoy your weekend!
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for your lovely wishes. 🙂
Yes indeed, change is inevitable as they say, and any change made for the better is always good, isn’t it?
I guess both the men in my life had their roles to give me a push and get me started, and there’s been no looking back! It’s good to have more authors join the blog, as it adds more variety and different perspectives, something that our readers like, instead of just both of us blogging. More so, this is no longer my personal blog, so if I can help others showcase their work through this platform, why not?
Thanks for stopping by, and wishing you and yours a very Happy & Prosperous New Year as well. 🙂
Hi Harleena,
Wow. 5 years in blogging is no joke.
Congratulations. Good to also know Vinay is your husband. It’s great to see a couple have a unified vision in blogging.
I really resonate with your tips and Secrets of a great blog.
After my first guest post, someone came to me and told me I needed to put in a mechanism for monetization. My reply was that I needed to build myself first as an authority in the field and then would create products in that line.
When we truly focus on providing value or helping someone out, it won’t be difficult to earn later, but having money as a motivation for blogging doesn’t always yield results.
I’m happy I joined up as an ABC member. Thanks for persevering in your journey.
Happy anniversary.
Hi Ruth,
Absolutely! 5 years, and still going strong, is no joke indeed. 🙂
Yes, he joined the blog two years back, though has always been the backbone of the blog right through.
So glad you liked the blogging tips mentioned and could resonate with them. I agree with you there, as making money through our blogs comes in much later. It’s the content that we need to concentrate on, and make it such that it helps our readers and makes them keep coming back for more. Once we do that and connect with others, we slowly become an authority if we remain consistent and focused on our niche.
Money comes in as a result of the hard work we put in initially, but it should never be the reason to start blogging, which for some bloggers it is, and that’s when they get disheartened and tend to give up too soon.
Thanks for stopping by, and it’s a pleasure to have you over as part of the ABC too. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead 🙂
Hi Harleena,
Congratulations! I’m glad you shared the struggles you had in the beginning. Often people see the success and wants it for themselves but isn’t willing to put in the work to get it.
I remember when I first started blogging. I was excited to be able to shared my experience to help others. Although learning how to blog is frustrating at the end of the day you know you have served and helped someone else.
We need blogs post like this to let us know that with perseverance it can be done.
Also when it comes blogging don’t forget why you started in the first place and stay true to that. Because money or popularity can divert you from your purpose and then it won’t be fun and fulfilling any longer.
I’m so happy to be a part of this wonderful blog!
I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas.
Hi Vernon,
Good to have you back, and thanks for your wishes as well. 🙂
I agree with you there, and let me add that behind the eventual success people tend to see, there lies a lot of hard work and struggle. We’ve had our share too and just shared a little of it through this post, though there’s such a lot more to add, which we’d be doing gradually, through more posts later.
True, and the end result is what really matters, which is to help others, isn’t it? And look at how far you’ve come now with the new look of your blog, which is an achievement in itself!
Absolutely! The true essence and purpose of why we started blogging should never be forgotten. Money one makes either ways, but that is not the start and end of it all – there is so much more to life and blogging, isn’t it?
Thanks for stopping by, and it’s a pleasure to have you as part of the blog and the ABC too, Vernon. Wishing you the best in this year as well. 🙂
Hi Harleena,
I saw Philip shared your post and it is your Anniversary
and I thought it is a good event to visit your blog.
Congratulations to your 5th Blogging Anniversary.
I always hear good things about you and the Aha Now Community
and I see you give valuable, honest advice and share your experience.
Thank you for this,keep up the good work and encouraging the
young bloggers.
Happy Holidays and all the best for 2016
Erika
Welcome to the blog, Erika 🙂
Good to have you over, and yes, anytime is a good time to reach out and connect with others. Thank you for your lovely wishes.
Yes, Philip is a ABC member, and so are a few other wonderful bloggers, and perhaps you’ve heard about it all from them. It’s always a pleasure to share our experiences with others if it can help them in some ways, and that’s just what our aim has been through this blog, whether it’s personal or professional.
Thanks for stopping by, and we wish you a very Happy & Prosperous New Year as well. 🙂
Congratulations on 5 fabulous years of blogging inspiration, Harleena! I look forward to see what goodness your bring in 2016!
B
Hi Bren,
Thank you so much for your kind wishes 🙂
Yes indeed, we have a lot in store for this year, but are taking it one step at a time, so stay tuned my friend, as we tread this new year together!
Thanks for stopping by, and wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year 🙂
Good post… I’ve been trying to blog for nearly three years now, and I’m just now starting to reach out to other bloggers for help and inspiration.
Welcome to the blog, Clyde 🙂
Glad you liked the post. It’s never too late to reach out and connect with others, as that’s the way you build relationships with them. More so, each blog you visit, always teaches you something in return, isn’t it?
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
BTW – Do add a Gravatar or profile picture so that we can all see who we are talking to, just a friendly suggestion.
Hi Harleena,
Here comes a BIG CONGRATS to you and your Blog!
So glad to wish you on this Happy occasion!
I am overwhelmed to say that I could be a part if this Blog and the Community you created!
Indeed it’s a great joy to be part of your blog and could receive some accolades too on the way. I am so proud to say that your wonderful guidance and share made many bloggers to achieve many laurels only by the association of your blog and community, I am sure many can testify this.
Thank you for the kind mention in the “My Mentions” page.
We Wish you and Vinay a great journey ahead with lot more Aha-moments!
Keep up the tempo of sharing and caring, 🙂
Best Regards
~Philip Ariel
Hi Phil,
Thanks for your kind wishes 🙂
Yes indeed, it’s been a pleasure to have you as part of the ABC and the blog, along with all the other wonderful ‘Ahaian’s’.
It is because of wonderful friend’s like you that the blog and community have reached where they are today, so we need to thank all of you for being a part of the blog and our journey- and the mentions are just proof of that!
Thanks once again for your wishes, and we wish you and yours a very Happy & Prosperous Year ahead as well 🙂
Hi Harleena and Vinay,
Congratulations and celebrations! 5years is a big milestone…time flies but I can see how well Aha-now has grown and slowly but surely climbing up the ladder of success that you must have envisioned. The slow climb is always stable as it rests on the pillars of hard work, dedication and determination, which can never be shaken. I have always admired your focus and the support of Vinay…two of you have proved 1+1 can be 11.
Those blogging tips that you have shared are awesome as they come from the experience of stumbling and learning and therefore the most effective. I have learnt a lot from your tips that you keep sharing. It is a marvel that you have managed to be so active and so regular at the social networks!
Thank you for being a wonderful blogger, a trendsetter and an awesome friend. I wish you more success and many more blogiversies. Stay blessed! Have a wonderful end of the year. 🙂
Hi Balroop,
Thank you so much for your kind wishes, and yes, time really flies 🙂
I agree with you about the slow climb, and we feel the same way as it’s the journey and process that we’ve enjoyed immensely, which has been such a learning experience for us. True indeed, I wouldn’t have made it so far perhaps, had it not been for Vinay’s support.
So glad you liked the blogging tips mentioned, as they are based on my experiences so I know they do work and hope would help others too. I guess over time I’ve learnt to manage my time, though there are still so many areas that I feel need my attention, but for those, I need to reduce my time on some places now.
Thanks so much for heartfelt wishes, and we wish you every success and happiness in this new year as well. 🙂
Hi Harleena,
Fool me I taught you had your blog for 10 years. Thanks for the warm welcome and to be able to join AH! NOW community. I was laughing as I read your history starting your blog felt like no one was listening, frustrations and many mistakes you made along the way sounds familiar. I was on the verge of giving up. You gave me hope. A newcomer to blogging world monetizing is far out of my reach at this time, still working on content and what I am passionate for teenage depression. Congratulations 5 year success of AH!NOW
Hi Patrice,
Is that so?! It just seems like yesterday to me, though I can understand what you mean 🙂
You are most welcome, and a pleasure to have you over. Always good to connect with each other on various platforms, isn’t it? Oh yes…I was just like any other new blogger, who hardly gets any comments, shares, interaction, and the mistakes they make. But it’s over time that you overcome the hurdles.
You’re certainly not alone to have the thoughts to give up or call it quits – such feelings happen to the best of us, but we just need to hold on and carry on! So glad we could help in some way. I can understand about the monetization part, but that would also come with time – and you write on very interesting and useful topic, so just carry on doing the good work. If there’s anything I can ever help you with, just let me know.
Thanks so much for your kind wishes. Merry Christmas to you and yours 🙂
Congratulations madam!
It’s been just 5 years? It seems to me like if it has completed a decade. Aha-Now has got that maturity in such a short time. On this auspicious day of Christmas and ABC anniverasry, I would like to thank Harleena madam for allowing me to share, interact and build a network of professional bloggers. Thank you for giving me a push.
I wish you celebrate many more anniversaries of ABC with new innovating ideas every year and keep this blog an awesome+ time to time.
Congratulations once again!
Hi Sasidhar,
Thank you so much! Yes, it has been 5 years, though seems just like yesterday that we started our journey…time flies, doesn’t it? 🙂
So glad you feel that way, and it’s nice to know that the community has helped you to build your own network of bloggers, who gradually have now become good friend’s too, isn’t it? However, all of this wouldn’t be possible if you didn’t make the efforts to reach out and connect with them, so give a pat on the back to yourself too!
Thank you for your kind wishes, and wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as well 🙂
Hi Harleena mam,
Happy to hear that Aha-now is celebrating the fifth year. Glad to be part of this wonderful community.
Through this community, I was able to meet good people and we became good friends too and we help each other in need. This blog has played an important role in combining all good hearts together.
Though I was busy with the new projects, I never miss any posts and I have enjoyed reading those.
Happy Christmas and advance New year wishes !!
~ Umapathy
Hi Umapathy,
Good to have you back after long, and yes, we celebrate 5 years today 🙂
So glad to have you as part of the ABC as well. It’s always good to hear that the community was able to help you in more ways than one, especially connect you with other bloggers, who have now become such good friend’s.
Kind of you to remain updated with the new posts, even though you were busy. We appreciate all our readers for taking out the time to go through the posts, which gives us immense pleasure.
Thanks for stopping by, and Merry Christmas & Happy New Year as well 🙂
Hello Harleena maam and Vinay sir,
I am thrilled to congratulate you for this awesome achievement. Achievement, not in terms of having a blog for 5 years, that is something anyone can do; but achievement in terms of touching and changing the lives of your readers for good, for all this five years!
Being there with you all these years, I know your blog has only grown to help the bloggers and the common men alike. May that be forming a community that thrives on the principle of helping selflessly or may that be in terms of content that motivates and teaches us to live life more.
So many events for Aha!NOW this year, may it be opening the gates of guest blogging for one and all or the launch of your personal blog committed to help bloggers, we’ve seen Aha!NOW grow.
I wish you all the best and lots more good wishes sent your way till the next blogiversary.
Of course, wish you and your family a merry Christmas!
-Swadhin
Hi Swadhin,
Thank you for your heartfelt comment, which means a lot to me 🙂
Just to know that this blog has helped change people’s lives for the better is an achievement in itself – so you made my day!
Yes, our sole purpose of running this blog all these years has always been to help others, bloggers and non-bloggers alike. It’s only now that we move ahead and think of monetization, though again, by sharing helpful posts.
True, there have a lot of changes that have taken place on this blog, as we believe change for the better is always good. We started the guest posts as we felt this was more of a blog for our readers, and it’s always good to showcase our guests with their work, which would help them reach greater heights – another way of helping them in their journey. The rest of the projects, including my personal blog are being worked on, but gradually.
Thank you for your kind wishes, and for always being such a supportive friend, Swadhin. We appreciate you, and wishing you and your family every happiness in the coming year as well. Merry Christmas 🙂
Hi Harleena,
Congratulations my dear friend.
It’s Christmas and I’m having fun at home with family and a friend who came visiting. I just dashed online to check if there are some mails that need my attention and luckily, I found yours announcing this post.
Happy Birth Day to aha-now and congrats to the three corner stones – you, your dad and husband. Though it was cloudy at the beginning, you have succeeded in defining the path and today, you know the way to go.
Thanks for providing these tips. Sometimes, we think we know but by reading from others, we discover there are still empty spaces to fill in life.
I have been blogging for 3 years now and during this time, I have learned a lot from people like you, I have met so many awesome bloggers and have made good money from my blogs.
You in my community have done a huge part in what I am today and I’m happy to shout it loud. 2016 is just a few days ahead and I know with a huge dose of certainty that better days are ahead.
Merry Christmas!
Hi Enstine,
Thank you so much for your kind wishes, and what a delight to have you back after long 🙂
I’m so glad you’re taking it off for a while to be with your loved ones for Christmas, which is SO important. Sorry to have pulled you away, but it’s always nice to hear from you.
Absolutely! The three pillars, with the fourth being the readers – this blog has just grown over the years. Yes, most new bloggers start on a cloudy platform, but with time, they start seeing the silver lining, isn’t it?
You’re right about that, so learning never really stops. We think we know it all, but we actually don’t!
You’ve been blogging for just three years, and look at the amount you’ve achieved in this short time span, which speaks volumes about your success. We learn from each other, my friend, and that’s what makes the blogosphere such a knowledge bank.
Thank you for your kind words of appreciation, though it’s all been your efforts I’d say. Wishing you and yours a very happy and prosperous New Year. Enjoy your Christmas too 🙂
Congratulations Harleena Singh.
Your points are very true except monetization. All the bigger publishers with armies of authors have invaded blogosphere leaving nothing to independent bloggers.
I have been blogging for 8 years and though I have single niche (Google products) and the readership is good, the monetization is poor.
I rely on only Google adsense, and sponsored post/review is something I believe my users wouldn’t like.
Please let me know how your monetization strategy is working out?
Welcome to the blog Abhishek 🙂
I can understand your viewpoint and I guess we need to look at it from a different perspective. I’d like to take up my personal case. I’m an independent blogger, but I was successful in developing a community, a brand, and a place where people like to publish their posts.
You don’t have to be a big publisher with big money to do this. I believe there is room enough in the blogosphere for people like you and me to flourish and make money too.
Monetization strategies may differ from niche to niche, and you’d best know what works for your blog audience. If one thing doesn’t work, try another. I guess the best for you could be to offer services and focus on that. Now, you’re blogging for so long, so probably you’ve weighed each and every option.
My blog monetization options are what I’ve mentioned in the post. I believe in using all monetization strategies, see what’s working and what’s not, and collect the bits from the different monetization options to makeup the bulk byte of revenue.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your views with us 🙂
Hi Harleena Didi ,
What a wonderful journey of your blog . it’s very rare to see huge engagement in this type blog .
Every potential blogger share their thoughts , ideas or plan on this blog and has been built a good community . You have worked in heart and soul for this blog and you succeed to make brand this blog . You also help other newbie bloggers to share your tips . I am so blessed to get you as a friend .
Wishing your great journey through your blog . Have a fun and happy Christmas eve . 🙂
Reagards
Partho
Hi Partho,
Thank you for your kind words, and I’m glad my blogging journey could inspire you in some way. 🙂
Yes indeed, it’s always nice to see bloggers from various niches share their views and thoughts with us on this blog, which speaks for the wonderful community we have at Aha!NOW. It’s not my work alone, but thanks to all the readers and commenters of this blog, due to which it’s reached where it is today. You know I’m always there to help new bloggers in whatever way possible, and yes, it’s a pleasure to have you as a friend, Partho.
Thank you for stopping by, and always being there to share my posts, so appreciate it. Merry Christmas to you as well 🙂