The 30 Day List Building & Blogging Challenge Starts Today
The aim is to produce 30 days of fantastic blog posts that are of interest to your audience.
The result should be that people will be tripping over themselves to join your list so that they can keep up to date with whatever topic you write about.
Find out more about this challenge by visiting Tiffany’s Blog Post about the dos and don’ts. Anyone can join at anytime.
Day One – The First Blog Post
In my first blog for the challenge, I want to answer the three following questions, questions that most people have in their head when they visit a new website:
- Who Are You?
- What is Your Blog About?
- What Do You Want People To Gain from Your Blog?
Who Are You?
When I started working online, I didn’t use my name. I hid behind a user name – Tiptopcat and an avatar of a cat. Cute but this meant that people didn’t really get the opportunity to know the real me.
I have now stepped out from behind the username and have published my picture for all to see. Find out more about me on my About Me Page. I still have one step to go and that is to place a photo of myself on the homepage header or sidebar. This is a scary step, but it will happen soon.
What About You?
Are you using your real name on the internet? Do you have a photo out there loud and proud? Is there an About Me page on your blog?
What is My Blog About?
I have had this blog for quite some time and I have never had any real direction with it. I have so many interests and at one point I tried to encompass everything right here in one place.
After reading lots of helpful information from other bloggers, I realised that this was a major mistake. If you are trying to cover too many topics on one blog, you confuse the people who land on a particular post. They will read that post and then expect that the rest of your blog is about the same theme and topic that they are interested in. If it is not, then they click away, dazed and confused.
Some people know exactly what they want to share with others, while others, like me, have found it hard to figure out what I have to offer to others. It has taken some time for me to work out what I have to share that could be of help to others and I think I am on my way.
So What Is My Blog About?
This is still a work in progress but I believe that I am one step closer to determining the focus of this blog. My Daily Cuppa is about the following things:
- How to make money with a PLR Business
- How to make money writing Kindle Books
- How to make money as an Amazon Affiliate
- How to get things done and stop procrastinating
What About You?
What is your blog about? Is it clear for new visitors to your website? Does your blog have a central theme?
What Do You Want People To Gain from Your Blog?
When people discover my corner of the webosphere, I hope that they are presented with an example of how an ordinary person is attempting to acheive that work – life balance by making money online, while working a real world job.
I hope that they will gain some new insights into making money in the areas that I cover as well as work out how to set up systems that will decrease your procrastination.
I hope that people feel motivated to give online marketing and writing a go because they see that it is something that almost anyone can try.
I also hope that people will feel free to ask questions about the stuff that I am doing, especially if they are stuck or confused on some issue.
Feel free to leave a comment or to get in touch via the Contact Me Page. I can not promise that I will have the definitive answer or solution but maybe another point of view could be helpful.
What About You?
What would you like me to gain from visiting your blog? Can I leave comments on a blog post? Can I get in touch with you?
To Wrap Up
I hope that I have been able to answer those three questions above and also given you food for thought about whether you answer them on your own website. I look forward to keeping these questions in mind whenever I write my future posts. Wish me luck.
So that’s my first blog post for this challenge done and dusted. Hip Hip Hooray! 
Have Your Say: Do you have a blog? Do you think it is clear what it is about? Leave your comments below.
Awesome blog! I am SO glad you came out from behind that username and avatar
I feel much more connected to you now!
Tiffany Dow recently posted..6 Ways You Can Be a Better Blogger
Thanks Tiff – the internet can be a scary place for a newbie but it is so much easier once you find a friendly community.
Victoria @ My Daily Cuppa recently posted..What Does My Blog Have To Offer You?
You have a great perspective and personalization of your site is the best way to show others.
Look forward to following you in the challenge.
Barney McKamy recently posted..Building a New Blog Day 1 Week 1
Hi Barney,
Thank you for your comment. I really hope that others can gain a little something from my own experiences.
This is gonna be a great challenge
Wow…great blog post today, Victoria! I look forward to taking part in this challenge with you and keeping each other motivated
Stacy recently posted..Join Me in a Challenge!
Hi Stacy,
Thanks for popping over. I will do my best in keeping us all motivated. Happy blogging
Hi Victoria!
I agree with Tiff, it’s nice to see the face behind the message. It wasn’t that long ago that no one showed their face, but IM brought all of that out in the open.
Now, for your questions: Yes, I use my real name and have been for years because I was doing a lot of freelance writing, much of it with another last name. My last name changed almost five years ago, and I moved as much as possible to my new last name.
Pictures? Oh yeah, there’s images of me all over the place. Anyone who Googles my name can find out just about anything they want. So, even though I’m not a big success story, I have been putting myself out there for many years.
I haven’t had any real direction with my blog either. It started in 09 (anniversary coming up in March) about writing and freelance. In fact, the main keyword I’m still discovered under is “types of paragraphs.” I can’t seem to get rid of that, but it’s okay–the types haven’t changed so the post is still relevant.
I have mixed feelings on covering too many topics, but that is based on your niche I guess. We see Tiff cover a lot of things, mostly all business related. Nicole Dean also covers a lot of areas, all business related…and it works for them. I’ve struggled with my blog because all the “pro” bloggers tell you to have laser focus on your topics, and I just can’t seem to do that. Having too many topics may not work. I’ll find out, but since my main blog is my name sake, maybe I can get away with it as opposed to a blog on strictly affiliate marketing or something.
I would also like people to gain the same from my blog as you’ve stated here—a get to know me type of thing along with it. I don’t have a real world job, but I still have just as many struggles, time issues and that procrastination thing.
Awesome post! Thank you so much for sharing YOU! Best of luck to you in the blog challenge.
Patti Stafford recently posted..Free Business & Make Money Kindle Books – February 25, 2013
Thank you Patti.
Sometimes I think of my blog like a conversation, where you can not help but go off on tangents.
However, I am trying to rein it in a bit. We shall see how that goes.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience of working in the online world. It would be a dream come true if I could make this my only job.
I’m glad you decided to come out from behind the avatar. When I first read your real name, I wasn’t sure I remembered you from the Warrior Forum, but now I do!
As for my blog, I do feel that it is clearly defined by the header, content, and my About Me page. I hope that people learn more about blogging, SEO, and social media from visiting my site!
Kecia recently posted..How to Write an Effective About Me Page
Kecia – I love your blog post about the About Me page. I have a couple of tweaks to do to mine then it should be good.
And I need all the help I can get with social media. I get it but I don’t do it. Another thing that I procrastinate about.
I love the idea that you’re not behind the cat picture anymore. I remember seeing that and I thought, who is this cat lady? ROFL
You’ve got a wonderful smile and personality. I say flaunt it baby!
Bonnie Gean recently posted..How to Create a Podcast Show, Part 1
The funny this is, I’m not even a cat person. lol
Victoria @ My Daily Cuppa recently posted..What Does My Blog Have To Offer You?
Hi Victoria
Good start to the challenge
My goal is to assist people to live a balanced life, following their passions, obtain inspirational results doing what they love! My primary focus is on getting finances in order, but I don’t believe that you can just look at one area in isolation, it has to be done holistically.
Tamsin recently posted..Debt – The Burden of Life
Hi Tamsin – that sounds like a fantastic idea for a blog, focussing on the money side of things. This is where a lot of people struggle.
Victoria @ My Daily Cuppa recently posted..What Does My Blog Have To Offer You?
Victoria what a lovely post. You’ve certainly come a long way. Don’t worry about hiding behind the cat, I’m known in some circles as the cat lady. In fact my other major site is all about them.
Be proud of yourself. Bonnie is right. You have such a beautiful smile.
Kathy Robinson recently posted..Freaking Fantastic Blog and List Building Challenge Day 1
Ahh thank you Kathy. I am now smiling as I respond to this comment.
(let’s hope the next one doesn’t get stuck in my spam folder – what’s going on eh?)
Great post Victoria. I’m looking forward to following your journey. I love your tagline. It’s so fun and full of personality. Procrastination is a huge challenge for me so I’m looking forward to learning from your insight.
Malia recently posted..How to Provide Value that Builds Customer Loyalty
Hellow Malia and welcome to my corner of the webosphere.
I know my faults and I am happy to acknowledge them. However I am on a mission to banish procrastination forever – well – sort of….. lol.
My main blog is all about learning to make a living online doing and enjoying yourself along the way. I picked the name “Adventures in Online Marketing” because online marketing SHOULD be an adventure full of exploration and discovery.
Amanda Thomas recently posted..I’m Unprofessional – Sorry About That Guys
Amanda – I definitely can confirm that online marketing is a real adventure with its highs and its lows.
I love visiting your blog and picking up snippets of helpful info.
Thank you for sharing your online experiences with us
I love this post! I also love the fact that I’m not the only one who has issues with using my name, photos, videos etc. We’ve got nothing to hide, but it’s just hard for our personalities I guess. But slowly and surely I am doing the same. I am also planning to put more pics on my site, will do it soon!
As for the message of my blog, it’s something I’ve struggled with since the beginning! I always thought I had to pick a really tight niche and stay focused, but I just can’t!
Now I’m looking at more of a theme. For example, your overall theme from the list above would be making money writing online. At the moment, my theme is to work smarter. This can include loads of stuff, like enjoying life more, outsourcing, working on business essentials rather than fads etc. We’ll see if this works!
Ruth P recently posted..15 Freebie Ideas To Send To Your List
The one thing I see with names is that people will call you what you tell them to call you, but online we definitely want to feel like we’re connecting with a person.
Even if you’d had TipTopCat and your picture, I probably would have thought your name started with “Cat…”.
I know my first few years online it took me a while to put up a picture where you could see my face clearly.
Now I’ve got my smiling mug all over the place. It takes time for some people. Yet there are others who do well and we have no idea what they look like.
As far as message – yeah I can relate. Mindset is my overarching message or theme.
That’s not likely to change, yet I never say never.
Minna Bryant recently posted..Friday Follow Through Follow-up: Profit Without Money