5 Bloggers That Rock DIY Tutorials

By: Melanie Blodgett. Photo by: Oh Happy Day.

I have to admit when I was approached about teaching the new DIY Blogging 101 class, I was a bit intimidated. I mean, so many other bloggers have the DIY process down a lot better than I do. But of course they flattered me into doing it and as I prepare for the class, I’ve been so inspired to step my game up. I hope you don’t mind I’m learning along side you!

Here are just five (of the many) blogs that I admire for their tutorial game:

Oh Happy Day

I’m sure you’re already familiar with Jordan’s blog (if not already officially obsessed) but I could not not mention her. Jordan’s tutorials are a step above the rest because not only does she have a genius creative brain (that I’m sure we’d all like to pick), she has a talented team that helps execute her vision flawlessly.

A Beautiful Mess

I guess teamwork is a theme. A Beautiful Mess is run by the creative duo, Elsie and Emma. They’re constantly cranking out fresh ideas shared with well styled and well taken photos that make everything very pin-worthy.

Creature Comforts

Ez is a jack of all trades and it’s always a good day when she posts one of her tutorials. Consistent style, a variety of ideas and excellent photos make her the blogger to seek inspiration from.

Penelope & Pip

The fact that Rachael is a talented designer and illustrator shows. I think she can add photographer to her resume too because all her photos are crisp and clean, making her colorful and happy projects stand out.

The House That Lars Built

Brittany definitely has it. She’s the girl we all want to be friends with for her impeccable taste and the creative ideas she’s constantly coming up with and churning out. Plus she’s pretty darn nice too.

What is Your Unique Selling Proposition?

By: Monica Lee

I believe that your unique selling proposition is, in fact, YOU. Nobody else was made like you, thinks like you, sees what you see, you are a complete original. Read that last sentence again. Let it sink in.

What you really need to do is learn how to express your originality. Get comfortable with it. Learn how to get your originality down on paper or in many cases, onto the web.

I meet dynamic people all the time at Smart Creative Women. A consistent trait they posses is a unique aesthetic that comes from their individual perspective. I call it their “creative style.” They have it nailed down, they don’t waste days wondering if this opportunity or that motif or color will fit with their branding.  They have complete confidence in their creative style.

They don’t worry if they fit in with the next trend or if they have replicated someone else’s idea.  They know who they are which frees mental space allowing them to move forward in their lives and businesses.

So how do you gain confidence with your own creative style?

Click to read more ...

Grow Your Blog Audience

By: Kelly Beall. Image: K.C. Alfred / San Diego Union Tribune.

You've chosen your blog's awesomely catchy name, you have a cool design you love, you've been posting for a few months and now what? Growing your audience of course! Now brace yourself for what I have to say next, there's no one right way to build your readership. It can be a tough pill to swallow, but there's no magic formula because each site's readership varies in every possible way. What works for Design Crush might not work for your site, but I prefer to liken this side of blogging to a science experiment – a little of this, a little of that, record the results. And if the outcome isn't awesome enough back to the drawing board! No harm, no foul.

Social media is definitely a big part of the formula you should be using to achieve success. I love this article full of Social Media Dos and Don'ts by some of your favorite bloggers. (Psst... if you don't have a Twitter account or Facebook page dedicated to your site I suggest you set one up. Now.)

Install Google Analytics and pay attention to what it's telling you. Here are the Top 7 Google Metrics to Monitor.

Write about topics that are already hot. They're popular for a reason and consulting Google Trends is a fantastic place to start.

Your post's title is the first thing a potential reader sees, learn how to write Magnetic Headlines to pull people in from the get-go.

Get to Know Your Readers! Finding out what they want will only contribute to your success.

Plan ahead using something like this free printable blog planner. It will help you stay true to both your site and your ultimate plan (mwahahaha).

Want more? Be sure to sign up for Kelly's class, Expanding Your Audience, on Alt Channel later this month!

Win an iPad!

By: Melanie Blodgett

Okay Alt community, your instagram obsession might just come in handy today. Alt has teamed up with FamilySearch to offer one lucky person an iPad! This is all you have to do to be eligible: 

1. Post a picture related to Father's Day on instagram before June 17th at midnight, PST. Make sure to include the hashtags #altsummit and #familysearch_fathers so we can keep track of the entries. 

2. Cross your touch screen loving fingers. 

The winner will be chosen randomly and notified by an Alt team member on Tuesday, June 18th. And we will be showcasing our favorites on the altsummit instagram stream. 

Good luck!

Link Love: Creating Great Content

By: Melanie Blodgett. Photo by: Tokketok

Hit a wall for content? Check out these great links to get you back on track:

- Megan discusses taking the mantra,create without fear, to heart

- 50 Post Ideas for the Rough Days

- Victoria shares ways to create original content (without having to bust out a tutorial)

- Avoiding getting trapped in the rabbit hole of inspiration

- In a nutshell: be yourself. That’s what the blogosphere really needs.

- Consistency. Plan. Research. Content is Key.

Don't forget to check out Melanie's class, Content is King, later this month for more tips about creating awesome content.