Are you wondering how to create a successful blog?
Elaine Rau (a.k.a. Lady Boss) can tell you.
She’s the quadruple threat: She excels at blog monetization, social media tips, blogging tips, and SEO tips.
She’s here to share her hacks so you can experience success in these four areas as well.
No one knows how to create a successful blog better than Elaine Rau.
In just one year, she was able to generate a following of 20,000. Today, she has over 70,000 readers worldwide.
I had the opportunity to interview Elaine. I’ve divided her responses into four areas.
How to Make Money Blogging
Why do you charge people for guest posts and interviews?
Blogging is hard and when it’s your full-time job, you expect to be paid, just like anything else. Showcasing people is my expertise, so is garnering a following. If people would like to be a part of it, it’s like any membership, you pay to play.
Is it the same fee?
Yes, it’s currently $100 to be featured on LadyBossBlogger.com. But if you’re reading this, you get a special 20% off if you email ladybossblogger@gmail.com and mention that you heard about us from Janice!
Here is how to get interviewed: https://ladybossblogger.com/how-to-get-featured.
Here is how to guest post: https://ladybossblogger.com/guest-post.
Do you have any advice for bloggers wanting to boost their monetization potential?
Read this: https://ladybossblogger.com/transform-blog-passive-income.
Do you monetize in other ways besides a sponsored interview or guest post? If so, how?
I am about to start an e-commerce store that will sell female entrepreneurial goods! Stay tuned for that will be coming soon!
How to Create a Successful Blog with Social Media
Facebook Tips
You have a Facebook group. Why did you start one?
The direction has changed several times honestly, it was most recently a place where female entrepreneurs could network, but I just changed the name to “Female Entrepreneur Resources” so that it can become a place where we share entrepreneurial resources. Here is the link to join: https://facebook.com/groups/ladybossblogger.
Do you recommend bloggers start their own Facebook groups? If so, why?
Yes, it’s a great way to build community and learn about your followers’ needs and desires.
Instagram Tips
How did you generate 13,000 Instagram followers?
Here is how: https://ladybossblogger.com/how-to-grow-your-followers.
You are followed by three times as many people on Instagram as you follow. How do you decide who to follow?
I like to follow people who post inspirational quotes.
(I first met Elaine on Instagram.) Why do you find value in Instagram?
People constantly find me on Instagram and reach out to me via email because I have a call to action in my bio. People like my branding, what I stand for, and because I ask them to reach out to learn how to become a part of my community, they do and then I convert them into fans or clients.
Why does Elaine use a checkerboard look on her Instagram wall?
It’s easy! I don’t have to figure out what looks good, as long as I post one pink and one black and white one after another, my feed will continue having the same look and feel to it.
Why does Elaine use the same two templates?
It’s easy and I like consistency. Also, when people know what to expect, they look out for it.
Blogging Tips: How You Can Be a Better Blogger
Elaine received the honor of being featured on the HUFFINGTON POST.
How did the editors find you? Did the feature change your life? Did your readership explode afterward?
No, it didn’t change my life, unfortunately, but it was a complete honor! Honestly, it happened just through connections, I featured a publicist who loved what I stood for, she reached out to her friend at the HUFFINGTON POST to help me out and BOOM! I was featured!
My next question asked Elaine how other bloggers can be featured on the HUFFINGTON POST. However, in January of this year, the HUFFINGTON POST announced it will no longer accept unpaid blog post contributions out of concern for “fake news,” according to Variety Magazine.
Regardless, Elaine’s response can apply to any publication for which you’d like to contribute:
What advice do you have for bloggers dreaming of being interviewed on big blogs like the HUFFINGTON POST?
Befriend publicists.
[Note: I was also featured in the HUFFINGTON POST. I befriended Ryan Biddulph, HUFFINGTON POST contributing writer, who featured me. You get out of blogging (and life?) what you put in. If you are generous to others, the good fortune (karma?) comes back to you like a boomerang. You don’t know when or in what form, but in my experience, and clearly Elaine’s, it does.]
Elaine’s blog’s tagline is “Content BY Female Entrepreneurs FOR Female Entrepreneurs.”
Why do you only want to empower women?
Because I am a woman. My desire is to fill the media with stories about powerful everyday women and change women’s mindsets about themselves. The media plays a powerful part in how we see ourselves, what we think we can achieve, and what limitations we put on ourselves. The more women are properly portrayed, the more women will rise up in leadership and push past their self-limiting beliefs. That is the goal behind #LadyBossBlogger.
Why do you call yourself Lady Boss? Is there an advantage to writing from an alias?
I named it LadyBossBlogger because I wanted to become a Lady Boss and I also wanted to become a Blogger and then I wanted to blog about Lady Bosses so it seemed like a good fit!
How to Create a Successful Blog with Search Engine Optimization
Elaine is knowledgeable in the area of SEO. Her Domain Authority score is 31, a solid score. I asked Elaine how she achieved this. A high score could get her financial opportunities. I explained in my post 18 Ways to Have One of the Most Popular Blogs, this is how I am able to monetize. People offer me financial compensation for giving them a link from a Domain Authority site over 40.
How did you get such a high score?
The secret is in guest posting, the more you have on other people’s blogs that link back to you, the more credible you are.
Wrapping Up
Elaine’s background contains episodes of abuse by a male employer. Elaine went through a horrific time trying to extricate herself from his clutches as he bullied and ultimately threatened her. Does Elaine have advice for others in abusive situations?
Get help as soon as you can and get out. It’s easier said than done, but it must be done.
Any last words for my readers?
I’m currently hiring interns, here are the details: https://ladybossblogger.com/career
As can be seen, Elaine Rau is on top of her game. She definitely knows how to create a successful blog. Now that she’s shared her blogging hacks, now you can too.
Readers, please share so other new bloggers know how to create a successful blog in the areas of monetization, social media, blogging, and SEO.
I look forward to your views in the comments section. Do you have any tips on how to create a successful blog?
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Hey Janice and Elaine!
Wonderful interview!
Elaine is lady boss all the way. I like her blog and the value she brings not only to women but to the blogging community as well.
It takes time and effort to build a popular blog in any niche. There is a learning curve, so, investing in the right blogging and internet marketing education is a must.
One of the most important pieces of advice I have gotten, when it comes to successful blogging, is to network with other bloggers in your niche, and leverage the power of teamwork.
Guest blogging is definitely the best way to do this and also blog commenting, I’d say.
Thank you for sharing this!
Best regards! 😀
Freddy G. Cabrera recently posted…6 Ways To Keep Your Readers Reading Throughout Your Whole Blog Post
Hi Freddy,
I’ve been perusing your Facebook strategy. Thanks for the tips. I have been called a “spammer” by Facebook. Not fun.
Regarding your comments here: I hope you’re still planning to guest post, yes? Was it about Rank Brain?
I definitely network. Do you feel that helps you in our niche, blogging tips?
I feel many blogging tips bloggers already know all there is to know.
Thanks for writing and your detailed comments. Fun chatting.
Janice
Hey Janice!
I would recommend you to time yourself between posting. Don’t do it too fast, otherwise, that will happen. You want to be very strategic with Facebook marketing.
Yes, I have been working on this guest post for your audience all week. I have finally finished it. It was quite some work but I always have fun creating such helpful content. It’s almost 2,000 words long. I’m going to send you the draft soon so you can read it and give me your feedback (i’d appreciate that).
And networking and being all over the place is the way to grow your blog – in any niche. That is proven and highly recommended. The more you do it, the more and faster you can grow.
I look forward to your feedback on this new helpful guest post I have been cooking.
Thank you so much for the opportunity, Janice!
Have a wonderful week!
Talk soon. 😀
Freddy G. Cabrera recently posted…This Is What You Need To Know If You Want To Become A Pro Blogger!
Hi Freddy,
Number one: how many hours a day do you spend networking? I realize these are proven, effective Tips. They are time-consuming nonetheless and I work outside the home.
Thank you for the tips about Facebook.
I am looking forward to your guest post. Thank you for working so hard on it. I look forward to learning from it along with my readers.
Janice
Besides blogging, I also do web design and app development. So, I have time to work on my blogging almost full time. Since I can work on both online. You are right, it is time-consuming to network and do the blog marketing. This is why I work a lot on my self-discipline and keep a work schedule. I work on this like with any other regular job. I get busy from 9 to 5 Monday thru Friday. And sometimes I put some extra work really late at night and weekends (like I’m doing right now).
I would organize my daily tasks and give each a certain amount of time. I would spend about 2 hours networking online each day. It also depends on what else I got to get done during that day if I have extra time I’d do more of what I know is working well for me at the moment.
I
just sent you an email with the guest post draft. I’m about to hit the sheets, so I’d get back to you tomorrow if you reply tonight.
I look forward to your feedback!
Talk to ya later.
Freddy G. Cabrera recently posted…37 Free Stock Photos Sites Where You Can Find Beautiful Images for Your Blog!
Very interesting interview and good tips too!
Hi Jerry,
Great to see you! Thanks for commenting on my interview. I’m glad you felt LadyBoss gave valuable tips. I thought so too.
Janice
Interesting!!!
Jerry Peri recently posted…BEING CELEBRATED!
Really wonderful because she has over 70.000 readers worldwide. Hopefully I can be like her.
Thank you
Hi Smart Blogger,
Thanks for writing. You and me both! I’d like to have 70,000 readers worldwide too. Maybe one day!
Janice
Thank you for giving spirit to me
Hi Janice and Elaine,
It is indeed a joy to read this informative interview.
Good to know more about this amazing and successful blogger.
I fully agree with her in relation to sponsored guest posts.
yes, as she said blogging is a tedious job when it comes to a full-time job the site owner is eligible for payment since the post is, in any case, something like an advertisement or to get back some links or some traffic to their pages thru the content they share.
It is no doubt a fee or charge for giving our space to publish their resources. For this, I am sure the person who approaches will have no hesitation to pay for space. Here the guest author is benefited by placing their posts with their site links on a reputed site. When one is getting benefited by it why he or she should hesitate to pay!
Will surely have a look at her page, yes I just visited and noted, she had a wonderful site with a lot of resources.
Hey, Janice but I found a typo in the statement about Elaine’s Domain Authority score as you mentioned it is not 49 instead it’s showing PA is 35 and DA is 31 please get fix it.
With best regards to both of you
Sincerely
~ Philip
Philip Verghese Ariel recently posted…How correctly to combine interesting content and SEO?
Hi Phillip,
Thanks for commenting on my interview. When people offer to pay me for sponsored guest posts, I definitely say yes. However, my experience asking guest authors for money has been mixed. Many don’t have budgets to pay me. I hate to turn down otherwise good articles. Do you charge your guest authors?
Thanks for the help with Elaine’s DA score. I’ve fixed it.
Janice
Thanks Janice for the quick response. I can very well relate to you in this regard. Yes, I do charge a nominal fee from my guest post/sponsored posts. Yes, as you said if its a well worth reading post sometimes I do accept it for free as you mentioned. It all depends on the author’s page status/ DA and other criteria.
Thanks for checking the DA.
Keep writing
Keep sharing.
Best Regards.
~ Philip
P V Ariel recently posted…Top 10 Winning SEO Trends To Focus For Better Business Ranking in 2018
Thanks Janice for the quick response. I can very well relate to you in this regard. Yes, I do charge a nominal fee from my guest post/sponsored posts. Yes, as you said if its a well worth reading post sometimes I do accept it for free as you mentioned. It all depends on the author’s page status/ DA and other criteria.
Thanks for checking the DA.
Keep writing
Keep sharing.
Best Regards.
~ Philip
Philip Verghese Ariel recently posted…Top 10 Winning SEO Trends To Focus For Better Business Ranking in 2018
Hi Philip,
Thanks for answering my question. I do if they offer me compensation.
Janice
amazing questions and answers in the interview…this will really help new bloggers to improve their blogging skills…thanks for sharing this such useful interview Janice..!!
Arvind
Hi Arvind,
Thanks for coming by this week to comment on my interview about how to create a successful blog. I’m glad you felt I asked good questions and that you feel my interview will help others. I agree Elaine offered valuable answers as well. It was my pleasure to share. Thanks for writing.
Janice
Hi Janice & Elaine,
You girls have successfully provided readers with amazing ways to create a successful blog in a saturated field. I love the fact that befriending others such as publicist can help you get on top publications like Huff Post. Even though they’re not accepting unpaid writers at the moment, one can still strive to be featured in other top publications like Forbes.
I took special note of using sponsored posts to monetize your blog, and the need to guest post on other blog frequently. Guest Post Elaine mentioned will get you more backlinks to your site, leading to high search ranking score.
Thanks Janice& Elaine for this remarkable interview!
Hi Moss,
I agree with what you wrote, but to further your point– guest posting for blogs with a higher DA than yours or a blog with a DoFollow link will help an enormous amount! Thanks for writing. I’m glad you liked my interview.
Janice
Wonderful interview.