Sherryl Wilson presented on strategies for taking blogs beyond basic blogging. She discussed topics such as monetizing blogs through affiliate links and ads, creating content in different formats like videos and PDFs, and connecting with audiences through social media and email lists. She also provided tips for defining a blog's message and purpose, and recommended popular plugins and tools to help blogs succeed.

1. Beyond Basic Blogging
Sherryl Wilson

2. WordCamp Dayton 2015
March 20-21, 2015
#WCDayton
@SimplySherryl sherrylwilson.com

3. Beyond Basic Blogging
Sherryl Wilson ~ @SimplySherryl
Simply Sherryl is an online resource for families, purposed savings and shopping plans. Homeschooling,
homemaking and some of the best food recipes to be found.
The Homeschool Village is the place that you come to for all of your organization needs. I’m a
homeschool mom like you and I know what it’s like to try and teach when the pencils and crayons are
decorating the entire house. Here you will find ideas for organizing supplies, rooms, lesson plans,
curriculum and more.
Natural Organic Network is a community learning to live a green, healthy and organic lifestyle. Learning
that it is more than the products you buy or the lingo you use; It’s about the day to day choices we
make. Buying from a company that has our family’s health at the core of their being or choosing to
recycle. Simply taking a moment to pick trash off the ground or buying used are small steps that make a
huge difference.
The Virtual Helper – Web Design & Social Media Management
Writer for Vacation Maybe & Family Vacations
@SimplySherryl sherrylwilson.com

4. Topics
• You created your blog – now what
• You’ve been blogging and now want to earn an income
• You want to add a blog to your business or service site
• What are the general guidelines for Google
• How to grow your email/client list
• What are the differences in dofollow vs nofollow links
• Using Adsense and other sources to monetize your site
• Affiliate links, ads and sponsored posts
@SimplySherryl sherrylwilson.com

5. Favorite Plugins
• JetPack
• Akismet
• A Very Simple Captcha
• Click To Tweet
• Evergreen Post Tweeter
• TablePress // Gravity Forms
• Backup Buddy
• WordPress SEO by Yoast
• CoSchedule
• SEOQuake (Chrome)
• HootSuite
@SimplySherryl sherrylwilson.com

6. Strategies
• Your Message & Your Blog
• Creating Your Content
• Connecting With Your Audience
• The Business of Blogging
@SimplySherryl sherrylwilson.com

7. Your Message & Your Blog
• Define your message and your blog's purpose
• Identify your ideal audience
• Get your blog up and running
• Create and maintain a stat page to track your
history and development
• Learn ways to improve your blog's design and
functionality
@SimplySherryl sherrylwilson.com

8. Creating Your Content
• Create great content your audience will love
• Get started with audio and video
• Repurposing existing content
• Creating printable PDF files for your readers
• Tips for taking better photos
@SimplySherryl sherrylwilson.com

9. Connecting With Your Audience
• Building a community of fans & followers
• How to create and maintain a mailing list
• Make it easy for your audience to find you
• Using social media to your advantage
• Use your blog to engage with your customers
• Focus on ways to build your blog's traffic
@SimplySherryl sherrylwilson.com

10. The Business of Blogging
• How to make money for and from your blog
• Learn the difference between the two, and
how to get started
• Creating awesome product reviews +
sponsored posts
• Using your blog to help sell your books,
products and services
@SimplySherryl sherrylwilson.com

11. Review Site Listing
• Amazon Simple http://www.amazon-simple.com/expert-reviewers.html
• UberZon Club http://www.uberzonclub.com/
• Claim Your Free Products http://claimyourfreeproducts.com/
• Shop with Reviews http://shopwithreviews.com/
• Elite Deal Club http://elitedealclub.com/?invcode=JTurwVO
• No Kidding Coupons http://nokiddingcoupons.com/dap/a/?a=12429
• Review Loop http://www.reviewloop.com/
• Amazing Group Deals http://amazingdealsgroup.com/
• Product Elf http://productelf.com/
• Amazon Review Team http://www.reviewapplication.com/
• Tomoson http://www.tomoson.com
Above links may contain affiliate or referral codes
@SimplySherryl sherrylwilson.com

12. Ways to Monetize
• Affiliate Linking
• Selling Ad Space
• Sponsored & Review Posts
• Travel Posts
• Creating eBooks or Courses
• Selling Products
@SimplySherryl sherrylwilson.com

13. Social Media
• BlogLovin - https://www.bloglovin.com/simplysherryl
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/SimplySherrylVideos
• Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/simplysherrylblog
• Linked In - http://www.linkedin.com/pub/sherryl-wilson/15/31a/74b
• Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/simplysherryl/
• Sverve - http://www.sverve.com/profile/Sherryl-Wilson-Mzc3Nw
• Google+ https://plus.google.com/106267686799828576978/posts
• Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/SimplySherryl
• FB Fan Page -
http://www.facebook.com/pages/SimplySherryl/281837225176368
• Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/simplysherryl
• Tumblr - http://simplysherryl.tumblr.com/
• Klout - http://www.klout.com/#/SimplySherryl/topics
• Stumbled - http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/simplysherryl
@SimplySherryl sherrylwilson.com

14. If I Had Only Known
• Differences in free vs self hosted
• The difference in a page vs post
• Using generic URL’s
• The value in building your email list
• Just do it – basic link coding (plugins and tools
fail)
• Maintain a complete site backup off server
• It’s ok to say No (money, time, beliefs, audience)
@SimplySherryl sherrylwilson.com

15. Sherryl Wilson
Email: sherryl@simplysherryl.com
Twitter: @SimplySherryl
SimplySherryl (sherrylwilson.com)
TheHomeschoolVillage (thehomeschoolvillage.com)
NaturalOrganicNetwork (naturalorganicnetwork.com)
@SimplySherryl sherrylwilson.com