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How To Start A Blog In 7 Steps

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If you’re looking to get into the world of blogging, then this is for you. I’m going to give you an overview of how to start a blog in 7 steps. Blogging is a great way to connect with people, express yourself, and even make money. Getting started might seem overwhelming, but with an organized plan you’ll be ready in no time. From choosing a platform and topic to setting up hosting and creating content, each step can be completed quickly with minimal effort. By taking these simple measures today, your brand new blog could be live within minutes!

Benefits of Blogging

Blogging can be awesome when done right. Some of the upsides of blogging include:

  • Greater visibility: People will find you easier if you post content often. Plus, they’re more likely to spread it around if they enjoy it.
  • Branding: Writing about things you’re passionate about or highly knowledgeable about can make you a specialist in your niche and help you reach out to those who share them.
  • Connections: You can chat with people who could turn into customers or followers by leaving comments on topics related to your area.
  • Income: You can make money with a blog – advertise products, suggest affiliate products, or promote services. Just manage it properly and you’ll have a steady revenue stream.

Steps To Getting Started with Blogging

So now let’s get into the basics of what you need to get started with blogging.

1. Identify Your Niche 

When starting a blog, it is important to identify your niche. This will help you focus on topics that are relevant to your readers and create content that resonates with them. Consider what topics you are most passionate about and have extensive knowledge in. This will make creating content easier. Think of the type of audience you want to reach with your blog and consider how you can best serve them.

2. Choose a Hosting Platform for Your Blog

Choosing the right platform for your blog is essential. It determines where all of your files will be stored online and how quickly people can access them when they visit the website.WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr, and Squarespace are some popular options. These platforms allow for easy customization so that you can create a unique look for your website without needing any coding experience. Choose a host with SSL encryption, quality customer service, and unlimited resource storage. Hostinger, one of the top hosting sites, is an inexpensive and quality option.

No matter your budget or experience, you can find a suitable platform! Do some research before deciding which one is right for you based on factors such as price, storage space offered, etc.

3. Select A Domain Name

When choosing a domain for your site, think short, catchy, and memorable. Use keywords when possible. Domains ending in .com are usually preferred over .net or .org. You can purchase a domain for cheap at Namecheap.

4. Design Your Blog

Make it visually appealing! Once you have the technical side of your blog sorted, start to think about its design. Your design should show the blog’s purpose and personality. Whether you’re blogging to help people learn more about a topic or to make money, having a consistent style makes it easier for readers to explore the site.

Pick a theme that fits the content and purpose. WordPress has many options from developers and experts. Use one of these to build the look and feel of your site without starting from scratch. You can choose from pre-made themes or customize one yourself using HTML/CSS code if desired. After selecting the perfect theme, add features such as contact forms, social media buttons, search bars, etc., which will make navigating through the site easier for visitors. Additionally, you can add widgets to your blog page for displaying content from other websites such as Instagram or Facebook.

Use colors, fonts, and images that match the blog’s theme. Layout, colors, and fonts should be consistent across the website. This allows readers to spot what they have seen before and helps with navigation. It may also increase conversions.

Consider plug-ins to improve functionality, performance, and security. Code snippets and visual widgets make content easier to read. This can help keep readers on the page longer and make it more visible in search engine rankings. This can also lead to more views and more opportunities to make money.

Finally, make sure to optimize the loading speed of your website by compressing images and using caching plugins. This will ensure that visitors have a smooth experience when browsing through your blog.

5. Create A Content Strategy For Your Blog

Creating a content strategy prior to writing any posts ensures consistency throughout all posts published on the blog while also helping attract new readers over time due to its relevancy towards certain topics discussed within each post written afterward; this includes things like setting up editorial calendars outlining specific dates when new posts should go live or researching keywords related to particular niches that could potentially draw more attention towards your posts once published online later down the line.

6. Write Engaging Content

Content is key for your blog. Videos, photos, and writings are all part of the content. Before you begin, think of topics that your readers will find interesting and use language they can understand. Make a list of topics and research them. Use reliable sources like Google Scholar and NASA Technical Reports for more complex topics. This will help you express concepts in a way that readers can understand.

7. Write And Publish Your First Post

After creating a strategy, it’s time to start writing and publishing. Start by brainstorming ideas around certain topics related to your niche followed by actually writing out each post. Take into account things like formatting and structure. Add images, videos, and links wherever necessary. Then, publish each post onto respective websites making sure everything looks good before hitting the ‘publish’ button. Engage readers by asking questions and giving your opinion. This encourages readership and thought-provoking discussions. Once your blog post is published you can sit back and watch readers roll after seeing your first post live online!

If there are multiple authors, set guidelines for deadlines and meetings. This way, everyone can stay up-to-date on progress and feedback on each other’s posts.

Promoting Your Blog On Social Media And Generating Traffic

Once the post goes live, you can promote and share it on social media channels. If you have channels on major platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn use them to get maximum exposure for your blog post. Utilize these networks to drive traffic back to your website by linking directly from each post or creating targeted ad campaigns. Additionally, you can use SEO tactics such as keyword research & link building in order to improve search engine rankings for specific posts and draw more organic web traffic over time too! Finally don’t forget about email marketing – create an email list with contacts related to a said niche then send out regular newsletters informing them whenever new posts go live online; this helps keep readers engaged & interested while also helping spread the word about newly published content around respective communities at the same time!

Promoting your blog on social media is key to generating traffic to it! Create accounts on popular social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; these are great platforms for engaging with potential readers who may be interested in what you have to say about certain topics related to your niche. Post regularly on these platforms using hashtags related to those topics. That will help you get more visibility among users who may not already follow you. If they see something interesting enough within their feed they just might become readers of your blog! Additionally, use other methods such as SEO optimization techniques or paid advertising campaigns if desired in order to increase traffic even further!

Monetizing Your Blog

Once you’re a blogger, start thinking of ways to make money from it. You can sell digital products, such as eBooks and online courses. Or get sponsorship from brands and companies.

Think about what products and services you want to offer. There are ways to make money from your blog, like affiliate marketing or ads. Be sure to follow ethical practices when setting up ads.

Other income sources include sponsored posts, banner ads, and coaching services. Research laws around collecting payments. Make sure both parties know what commitments they’re making. And pick the right monetization strategy for the content you post. This way, visitors know why their browsing experience is interrupted.

Final Thoughts

Starting a blog is an incredibly rewarding endeavor. It requires hard work and dedication to build an audience that will appreciate the content you create. Following these steps can help you reach out more effectively to an audience who is interested in what your blog has to offer. With time and effort invested into this project, you can make your dreams come true by bringing value not only to yourself but also to everyone else involved along the way!

black woman searching country on globe

Online ESL Companies Not Based In China

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With new regulations limiting the ESL industry in China, more and more companies are looking for teachers from other countries to fill positions remotely. If you’re interested in finding a job teaching English as a second language online, this guide will provide you with options of online ESL companies not based in China.

With the new Chinese regulations on online tutoring, many online teachers have been left scrambling to find new online jobs. At the moment, it’s pretty risky to apply to another China-based company, so what are the alternatives? I’m going to give you a list of some online ESL companies not based in China. Some of the companies offer courses in more than just English, so there’s potential to teach multiple subjects if you have the qualifications.

Not all Chinese Companies were taken out by the new changes. VIPKID is still in operation and has set up a global platform with students from around the world.

Online ESL Companies and brief requirements descriptions

I know a lot of teachers are in a scramble to find new positions, so I’m just going to give some brief descriptions. The companies’ websites will provide any other information you need.

1. No certification or teaching experience required, teach various subjects, set your own prices Preply
2. No degree, certifications, or experience required Cambly
3. No formal teaching credentials needed, teach various subjects, create your own lessons, set your own prices Outschool
4. Professional teachers and community tutors, set your own prices italki
5. Degree or ESL Certification, teach various subjects Latinhire
6. Degree and ESL certification required Skylearn-Skytod
7. Currently not taking applications Verbling
8. Native English speakers, Degree or equivalent experience, ESL certification advantageous Live English
9. Submit the teacher inquiry form to be contacted by a recruiter English4.today
10. No specific requirements, teach any language Justlearn
11. Ability to speak English at an intermediate level Native Camp
12. See individual job postings for requirements The Really Great English Teacher Company
13. US Citizen, BA in any subject or substitute teaching certification or four years of experience Englishunt
14. Must have a bachelor’s degree in related field, or government issued teaching license, or specialized instructor qualification Skooli

If you found this list of online ESL companies not based in China helpful or you applied and got the job, let me know in the comments or send me a message.

closed hanged on door

China Regulations: Online TEFL Companies Shutdown, Downsize

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China Regulations Surprise

The announcement came as a shock to myself and other teachers. It happened without warning. I was preparing for the next day’s lessons at about 11:00 pm on August 4th when I saw a popup on my screen. I leaned in to read the message. It said that the GOGOKID curriculum offered to Chinese students was being suspended as of August 5th. How nice. I rushed back home from my mom’s house to prepare for my classes and get to bed only to be laid off. See, things like this are why you should never put all your eggs in one basket. I’m thankful that I have other means of generating income, but my heart goes out to my fellow teachers whose sole income source was any of the companies affected by the new China regulations.

Online ESL Companies Not Based In China

What are the “China Regulations”?

In a sweeping overhaul of its education technology sector, China took down its booming online TEFL industry. The country cracked down on all online companies offering for-profit tutoring of subjects taught in the public school curriculum. The Chinese government said that education technology companies had been hijacked by capital and that they should start operating like non-profits. The new regulations have brought the Chinese online TEFL industry to a screeching halt. The growth of the ed-tech sector is no longer being encouraged.

Teach English to students from over 100 countries.

What to expect

Well, a lot of damage has already been done. In an effort to restructure, Magic Ears and Palfish downsized their staff and at the moment, are allowing students to complete the lessons that they purchased. Palfish also reduced teachers’ pay from an hourly base pay of 50 RMB (approx. $15.50), not including bonuses, to 40 RMB (approx. $12.40). Other companies like GOGOKID have completely shut down. It’s expected that the remaining education companies will follow suit unless they can exploit some kind of loophole. We can only wait and hope those companies give students and teachers a heads up should they decide to close shop. In the meantime, teachers with no other income streams should start searching for companies that are not based in China, such as Cambly or Outschool.

What about the children?

I’m sure many of the children are overjoyed at not having to learn English. However, there are many that are absolutely devastated. Videos of some GOGOKID students crying uncontrollably circulated within TEFL teacher groups. The sudden cancellation of all classes and the inability to log into their accounts came as a surprise to them, too. We were not given the opportunity to say “Goodbye” to our kiddos. Now, teachers and students are trying to search for each other on WeChat. Some teachers and students have successfully reunited. Others are still working on it.

Maybe the online TEFL industry will be resurrected in the future. Only time will tell.

GoGoKid Logo

GOGOKID – The Best Company For Teaching English Online

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This post contains referral links. Clicking on them costs you nothing. In fact, clicking on a link may actually change your financial situation for the better! You can thank me later 🙂

This company has shut down due to the new China Regulations on online education.

My Experience With GOGOKID

GOGOKID is a great company. I’ve been teaching with this company since August of 2018. I’ve been making a great, steady income and I have fun teaching my GOGO kiddies while I travel. The company offers some irresistible incentives that you don’t want to miss. Not only that, but the lessons are simple, fun, and feature songs that will have you jamming like nobody’s business. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this company, too.

Do You Qualify To Be A GOGOKID Teacher?

Check out the infographic below to see if you’re a qualified candidate. If so, keep reading to find out more details and how to apply. If you sign up using my referral link, let me know and I’ll arrange a time to help you prepare for the interview and answer any questions you have via Zoom or Skype.

GOGOKID teaching requirements infographic

What benefits does GOGOKID offer its teachers?

GOGOKID is one of the highest paying online ESL companies out there and offers some great incentives and benefits. Find out more here.

How does GOGOKID pay?

Teacher’s pay rates are based on a Base Pay + Credit Score Incentive structure aimed at enticing teachers to teach more classes. Base pay rates range from $7 per 30-minute lesson to $10 per 30-minute lesson. Your base pay will be determined during the interview.

*The following may be confusing. If you find your self getting dizzy, just scroll down or click here to view the official video explanation.

GOGOKID pay chart

What Is The Pay Structure?

Credit Score Incentive ($0-2.5) + Base Pay ($7-10) = Earnings ($7-12.5) per class

The Credit Score Incentive is determined by multiplying your Incentive Base by your Incentive Percentage

Credit Score Incentive = Incentive Base ($0-$2) * Incentive % (0%-125%)

The Incentive Percentage is determined by your Credit Score. New teachers will start out at Level 1. Being on time, teaching more lessons, avoiding cancellations, and other positive behaviors will help you increase your credit score. Reach higher levels to increase your base pay.

Credit ScoreIncentive Percentage
Level 1: (0 – 59)0
Level 2: (60 – 69)0
Level 3: (70 – 79)100%
Level 4: (80 – 94)110%
Level 5: (95 – 100)125%

The Incentive Base is determined on a daily basis. If you teach 2-3 classes on Monday, you’ll receive an additional $1.50 per lesson. If you teach 5 classes on Tuesday, you’ll receive an additional $1.70 per lesson, and so on.

Number of Classes Completed Per DayIncentive Base Per Completed Class
2-3$1.50
4-5$1.70
6-8$1.80
9 or more$2.50
The more classes you teach, the higher your Incentive Base will be.

Examples Of How You’ll Be Paid

Okay, so let’s look at a couple of examples. You start at Level 1 with a Base Pay of $8.50. Since the Incentive Percentage for Level 1 is 0%, you do not receive any extra incentive pay besides the Incentive Base per class. Let’s say you taught 5 classes today. Today’s per lesson earnings will be :

$8.50 +$1.70 = $10.20/lesson ($20.40 per hour)

Now let’s say your Base Pay is $8.50, but your Credit Score is at Level 4. At Levels 3 and 4, you can take advantage of an additional pay incentive determined by multiplying your Base Pay by the Incentive Percentage.

$8.50 * 110% = $9.35

Now let’s add the Incentive Base for those 5 lessons you taught today:

$9.35 + 1.70 = 11.05/lesson ($22.10) per hour

I hope that makes sense to you. If not, please let me know. Check out the video below for an explanation with visuals.

How the GOGOKID pay structure works (Video)

Okay, so there you have it!

October is almost over, so don’t miss out on an easy $25 to get started!

Apply Now

My referral code: 4E9ZWUPA

Best Benefits of Teaching English Online

The Best Benefits of Teaching English Online

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Online English teachers are in high demand, especially nowadays. China has the greatest demand and their online institutions are willing to pay well. Online teaching is fun and rewarding. Here a some of the best benefits of teaching English online.

1. The top benefit of teaching English online: Freedom

Scheduling freedom

Freedom peaks the list of top benefits of teaching English online. Teaching English online is a great way to get out of the mundane 9-to-5 lifestyle. In this industry, you are your own boss. When and where you work is up to you to decide. You can choose to work full-time hours one week and part-time the next. If you only want to work a couple of hours in the mornings or a half-hour in the evening, you can. If you choose to take a week or a month off, just do it. It’s easy to burn out when you teach a lot of classes, so the ability to take long breaks or days off without asking for permission is a good thing.

Location independence

Besides the scheduling flexibility, there’s the freedom to work from anywhere. If you have a stable, reliable internet connection, whether it be a portable WiFi device, a phone that you can use as a hotspot, or a wired connection, you can work.

Choose who you work with

Choosing who you teach is a perk to teaching online. You can work with children or adults, or both. With the fun and games with the kids or the great conversations and laughs with the adults, you won’t feel like you’re working.

No work visa required

Another great thing about this freedom is that you don’t have to worry about getting a work visa. It’s illegal to work in a foreign country without one. However, since you’re working online, you don’t have to worry about getting a work visa.

Make a difference in other’s lives

As an online English teacher, you will meet people from all over the world. Most will be learning English because they have dreams of working or attending universities in English-speaking countries. You will be helping them reach their dreams. Other students may just need someone to talk to. You may occasionally find yourself being a sort of counselor or mentor.

2. No dressing up or uniforms

When you’re teaching online, unless your entire body needs to be visible, there’s no need to dress up. If only the top half of your body will be visible, you can easily put on a nice shirt or blouse while being in your pajamas from the waist down. Be sure that you are presentable and professional-looking.

Comfortable work attire at its finest!

3. Great Pay

Teaching English online can be lucrative. Teachers working with an online company usually make anywhere from $15-26 USD per hour. The pay can be substantially higher for teachers who teach private online lessons. China-based companies tend to pay higher salaries than most other online English companies. Some of the top China-based platforms are PalFish, Magic Ears, and Vipkid. With the contests, referral bonuses and other incentives offered by these companies, making $4,000 or more is possible.

4. Easy to start

Getting started with online English teaching is really easy. The application process typically involves submitting a video intro, attending online orientations or training, performing a mock lesson, and setting up your payment method. The process and timeline are different for each company.

Conclusion: Benefits of teaching English online

Teaching English online isn’t just a way to make money. It allows you to take control of your life and decide what’s best for you. There are people around the world who can benefit from your knowledge of English or, sometimes, just from your presence.

Do you teach English online? What are some other benefits of teaching English online?

palfishlogoforpage

How to Teach English Online with Palfish

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(Update) I do not recommend applying for this job due to recent events in the online industry.

What is PalFish?

PalFish is an online English platform, based in Beijing, China, that gives teachers the opportunity to work from anywhere in the world using a smart device. It makes for a great side hustle or full-time job.

When registering to work with PalFish, you’ll need to use your smartphone. Since the platform is app-based, you’ll have to download the mobile app. Use my link to sign up and I’ll contact you directly through the app’s messaging feature once I receive notice of your signup. Once you’ve registered, you can download the app to your other iOS or Android devices to have them ready as backup devices. You can simply sign in using your phone number and password when you’re ready to use them. In cases of emergency, you can use your laptop or PC with a webcam to teach lessons, but be prepared to experience decreased functionality and funky glitches. Ideally, you’ll want to teach from your phone or tablet because PalFish is optimized to work from a mobile device.

Palfish invite landing page
That’s me up top inviting you to join me on the PalFish platform.
Enter phone number prompt
Add your country code and phone number and hit ‘Apply Now” to get started.

What can I do with PalFish?

The PalFish platform is set up like a social media site. You can follow and be followed by other teachers and students. To promote yourself to students, gain followers, or just share some information, you can post moments just like on Facebook.

One of my favorite things about working with PalFish is that it offers different ways to generate income. Freetalk lessons, official courses, live streams, and dubbing children’s books are some ways that you can make money. As a PalFish teacher, you can work as either a regular teacher, an Official Kids Course (OKC) teacher, or both. When you register and are accepted on the platform, you are automatically a regular teacher and can begin teaching adult students right away. If you qualify as an OKC teacher and are accepted, you will be considered an Official Kids Course teacher, but you can still teach adults.

What are the requirements?

Teacher requirements

To qualify for teaching adults, you will

  • be a fluent English speaker
  • have some English teaching experience
  • hold an English teaching certificate (TEFL/TESOL/CELTA)
  • be an excellent communicator
  • be fun, creative, and have excellent interpersonal skills
  • NO DEGREE REQUIRED

To qualify as an Official Kids Course (OKC) teacher you will

  • be a Native English speaker with a neutral accent
  • be from the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Ireland
  • have experience in teaching children
  • be a licensed teacher or hold a teaching certificate (TEFL/TESOL/CELTA)
  • have at least 10 hours per week of availability between 6-9 p.m. Beijing Time
  • be fun, creative, high energy
  • have a passion for working with children

Minimum hours requirements

As a PalFish teacher, you have the luxury of setting your own schedule. You can work as little or as much as you’d like. There’s no set time requirement for Official Kids Course teachers, but it is recommended that you have at least 10 hours of availability.

PalFish offers teachers the ability to take random calls during their free time with just the touch of a button. If a student purchases a lesson package from you, you can coordinate the date and time (in Beijing Time) with your student, or you can open time slots for students to book. If you plan to teach adults and kids, there’s an option to reserve time slots for kids only. However, there is no option to reserve for adults only. So, once you open your slots, any time slots you have available for your adult students may be taken. To avoid this, coordinate with your adult students through the chat feature and only open them once they’re ready to book.

Technical requirements

Computer equipment

To effectively use the PalFish platform, you will need a compatible smartphone or tablet (Android version 7.0 or higher / iOS version 9.0 or higher). If your device is not compatible, the application will let you know once you’ve signed in.

Internet

There isn’t a set internet speed requirement, but a fast, stable WiFi connection is important. Having an internet connection of at least 30 Mbps for upload and download is sufficient. If you’re unsure of your internet speed, you can check it here.

Lighting

Lighting is very important. You will want to have bright lighting so that you are clearly visible to the camera. Shadows are frowned upon, so try to reduce them as much as possible. I use a set of lamps when I’m at home and two small portable LED lamps (bought in Korea) and selfie ring lights when I travel.

Audio equipment

A headset with a noise-canceling microphone will help to reduce background noise during your lessons and make it easier for your students to hear your pronunciations clearly. The headphones set that may have come with your smart device can be used, but may cause audio issues for your student when the microphone brushes against your shirt. A Bluetooth headset may work well. I haven’t tried any, but I’ve heard from other teachers that they work fine (I’ll get hip one of these days 😀 ).

Downloads

Palfish is an app-based platform, so you’ll need to download the PalFish Teacher app for iOS or Android, and sign up or sign in if you already have an account. There’s also a student app, so make sure you choose the one that says ‘teacher’.

How much does Palfish pay?

As I mentioned before, there are multiple ways to earn with PalFish. Besides the previously mentioned ways of earning, there are bonuses for inviting teachers and students.

You’re an independent contractor

This is your own home-based business, so for tax purposes, you’ll be considered an independent contractor. With a little creativity and drive, you can make a great income. As a regular teacher, you set your own rates for calls and lesson packages. As an OKC teacher, you can expect to earn between $15 and $22 per hour for official lessons. The actual amount you receive varies depending on the conversion rate of CNY to your country’s currency.

Pay structure

PalFish pays using a tiered structure determined by a monthly credit score. The more classes you teach, the more money you’ll make per hour during the following month. As a new teacher, you will receive a new teacher’s bonus of approximately $15 USD. If a trial student purchases the Official Kids Course after having a trial lesson with you, you’ll earn a bonus of about $15 USD.

Payment methods

PalFish pays through Payoneer and Chinese bank transfers. Open your new account using this Payoneer link and receive $25 once you’ve earned $1000. Payment is held in your PalFish account until the 1st of the month when it is automatically withdrawn to your Payoneer account. The payment should reach your account by the 7th of the month.

You can find more information on the PalFish guidelines page and in the FAQs within the app. If you have any questions once you’re signed up, just shoot me a message through the PalFish app. I’ll be happy to help!

So… Are you ready to join PalFish?

By clicking the apply button below, you agree to be contacted and assisted by me via the PalFish app. If you’re not viewing this site from your phone or tablet, you can download the app to your smart device and enter my referral code: t08lXu (after 8, the letter is lowercase “L”). If you submit the wrong code, you’ll be assigned to someone else and I won’t know you signed up 🙁

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