Affiliate Blogging Interview with Maria Galca at LifeToolkit.net

What could a young life management coach teach you about blogging that others can’t? Read the answer in today’s interview with fellow Romanian entrepreneur, Maria Galca

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I am an Effectiveness Coach, a trainer and an HR person, an artist, a part time blogger and a corporate ladder-climber.

When, how and why did you get started with blogging @ LifeToolkit.net ?

I started my formal apprenticeship in Coaching about 9 months ago, and started blogging immediately afterwards. After a few months, I realized that WordPress.com blogs are quite limiting, I wanted my own site. And that’s how I started LifeToolkit.net, in December 2010.

How long did it take you to get you to where you are now, and what would you say to our readers who are already tired and frustrated of not seeing any results from their blogging?

I read voraciously about blogging and online copywriting. The results I see now are also part of my efforts while at effectivenesscoach.wordpress.com (my previous blog). It doesn’t take long to see results, but you have to be very focused on what you want to get, to set realistic expectations and to devote a lot of time to promoting your blog.

What are the TOP areas I should concentrate on when blogging?

This is valid for any type of blog. You should have an easy readable home page. Before you get any subscribers, people will visit your website, and they should be able to find their way around it. Then, concentrate on your writing, of course! Make your posts stories. Include what is representative from your life in them.

What attracts is authenticity. There’s millions of blogs out there. What will stand out is your unique personality.

Do you have a formula for attracting traffic to LifeToolkit.net ?

Yes, blogging very regularly. I set my threshold to two blog posts per week, one on Saturdays/Sundays, and one Tuesdays/Wednesdays. I would recommend even more.
Posting my blog updates on all social networks where I’m present also helps.

What would you say is the one most important thing you’ve learned about blogging?

That not always what you consider “killer blog posts” are the ones that are going to catch with the readers. I’ve had posts written in 10 minutes that have proved to be spikes up my traffic.

What’s the biggest mistake you made getting started in blogging?

I don’t think I made any major mistakes yet. Perhaps, not to post as often as I would have to, in order to improve traffic. But this is a choice.

So how do you make money online with your blog?

I don’t technically make money online, because I chose not to include any ads – yet. However, I use it as a tool for promoting my coaching services, and most of my coaching clients come to me after reading my blog.

Also, I’m asked to use and promote other services, such as the Setster online appointment app (on the right of my page), which is a great tool.

How does coaching work for you and your blog audience? What’s the received feedback so far?

Coaching is very powerful, but I dare say it’s one of those tools where you have to experience it in order to be able to say it. One thing that I learned through my coaching is that you get the clients you deserve. Since I blog about how to be more effective, in personal life and business, I have clients who want my help in achieving their goals, when they’re not sure how to manage so many tasks.

Mainly, what you get on my blog are tips. You might like one or two of them, and say “hey I could do that!” Here’s where a coach can help, by walking with you to the point where the tip becomes part of your daily life.

What I do with my clients is to try out several “life management” tools. I’ve experimented a lot, and I know by now there is no “perfect recipe”. And the feedback is very good – I’m dealing with smart, focused people, who know they want to improve.

What are your blogging plans for the near future? And what do you expect others do once they finish reading your interview?

I want to focus more on blogging practically. I’d like to do a series of easy-to-apply tips such as “how to find your career goal” or “how to set your life vision” using life management tools and coaching questions. This way, I want my readers to gain as much as they can out of my website. And if they want me to guide them through with their productivity improvement plan, if they want to get more out of their lives, I expect them to contact me.

Thank you for sharing your blogging advice with us.

P.S. If you have any questions or suggestions on today’s interview, comment below [I want to hear from you]…

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