Learn How to Create a Professional Blog and Build Your Personal Brand Online to Promote Your Business or Advance Your Career

Are you tired of writing a blog that no one reads or cares about? Have you been struggling to maintain the focus and consistency it takes to see RESULTS in reaching your professional blogging goals for your career or business? Is 2012 the year you FINALLY decide to take blogging seriously and commit to building your personal brand online?

If you answered “YES” to any of the above, I’m here to help you!

Hi, I’m Rosetta Thurman and I’m the creator of The Blogging School. I started blogging in April 2007 and could never have imagined the benefits I would reap as a young nonprofit professional-turned entrepreneur.  Five years ago, I was a NOBODY in my industry. No one knew who I was and I had virtually NO personal brand. But in 2007, I made the decision to start a blog and EVERYTHING changed. People began to invite me to their events for speaking engagements, hire me for consulting gigs and ask me to write for professional publications. I was even offered an adjunct faculty position at a local university.

The opportunities were coming at me so fast that I started using my vacation time to meet with clients around the country, earning extra income every year on top of my 9 to 5 salary. In 2010, I quit my job to work for myself full-time and haven’t looked back.

Since I started blogging, I’ve been awarded significant recognition not only in my industry, but in other arenas as well. I’ve been featured in numerous media outlets including JET Magazine, The Washington Post, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Fox 5 News and The Network Journal. I’ve been named a “Top 25 Urban Entrepreneur to Follow,” ”Top 100 Most Desirable Mentor,” ”Top 25 Online Influencer in Leadership,” a ”Top 25 Most Influential Nonprofit Tweeter,” and a “New Leader in Philanthropy.” Last year, one of my blogs was also nominated for a Black Weblog Award that showcases the best African American bloggers in over 30 categories. I’ve also had the opportunity to publish my own book!

“BUT why does any of this matter . . . ?”

Because blogging was a HUGE factor in helping me to advance my career. And in this uncertain economy, no one’s job or business is secure, so you must always be marketing yourself and showing your value to your industry. And I want to show YOU exactly how to do that for yourself!

The Blogging School will show you how to create your professional blog, build your personal brand online and become known as a leader in your industry. In this 4-week course, you will learn how to align your blog with your personal brand and use your blog to advance your career or promote your business.

Here’s What Blogging School Students Have to Say:

“This course has been a great experience on a lot of levels. Practically speaking, it was really “doable” in terms of the fee, work load, and pacing. In terms of quality, it was great value for the money, and I was really impressed with the level of detail with which you were able to address everyone’s questions, as well as with the authenticity, openness, and friendliness you bring to what you presented and how you presented it . . . and it just made them that much more enjoyable and real.”  - Melissa M., lapiana.org/about/la-piana-blog
“Before I took The Blogging School course, I was just blogging without a real vision for what I wanted to do. The biggest thing I learned in The Blogging School was the importance of creating your brand and using your brand to get yourself out there. Now my career is taking off as people are contacting me for speaking engagements, consultation and general information on how to effectively interpret the enslaved experience at historic sites and museums. My blog is not perfect but it constantly gets better with the information I gained from The Blogging School!” – Nicole M., interpretingslavelife.com
“This class has been exactly what I needed to take my blogging to the next level. Blogging is hard work, but I’m getting the hang of it and starting to see how useful it is. Before this, it all seemed pretty daunting, but now it’s broken down into smaller pieces I know that I can do it.” – Naeema C., naeemacampbell.com
“I hate that this is our last module, as they have been very benefical. Thank you for this course. I feel 10 steps closer to accomplishing my goals for Afrochicmommy.com.” - Nicole T., afrochicmommy.com
The Blogging School Contains a Total of Four Training Modules, Including:
[Module #1] Blogging for Branding: Define Your Personal Brand, Share Your Expertise and Become Known as a Thought Leader in Your Industry

In this module, you will discover:

  • exactly how you can build a strong online reputation through blogging
  • how to refine your blog’s focus to attract the most interested readers in your niche (and find out the #1 reason why no one reads your blog)
  • a formula for writing an amazing bio and “about page” for your blog
  • what information you should put on your blog as “social proof” to position yourself as a leader in your industry
[Module #2] Creating Juicy Content: How to Write Blog Posts That Everyone Will Want to Read and Share

In this module, you will discover:

  • the fastest, easiest way to instantly connect with your blog readers and earn their trust and attention
  • the 3 most popular blog post types you need to master if you want to keep your readers coming back for more
  • how to come up with eye-catching blog headlines that make people click
  • a blog post template “cheat sheet” that you can use over and over again to maintain a stream of juicy content for your site
  • my no-fail method for never running out of blog post ideas, plus two tools to keep them organized
[Module #3] Instant Blog Traffic: How to Get More Comments, Pageviews and Shares

In this module, you will discover:

  • free analytics tools that you can use to measure traffic on your site
  • how social media really works and how to use it effectively (and efficiently…goodbye time suck!) to grow a loyal community of diehard readers and fans
  • my time-tested, proven strategies to get more comments on your posts
  • why you need a Facebook page for your blog and what to do with it
  • the little-known Twitter strategy that’s guaranteed to skyrocket your followers overnight (and how to get them to read your blog!)
  • two simple plans for getting your first 100 blog subscribers within 30 days!
  • the trick to using YouTube to attract new blog readers
  • how to put Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn on autopilot to drive free traffic to your blog
[Module #4] Blogging for Profit: Four Ways to Make Money With Your blog

In this module, you will discover:

  • the  essential items you need to have before you can start earning money from your blog online legally and efficiently
  • the big difference between advertising income and affiliate marketing and how to get started with each (and which one is best suited for your particular blog)
  • how to start selling products and services through your blog (and what it means to make money while you sleep)
  • one powerful tweak you can make to your blog right now to make “selling” easier and more effective (this tip will turn every visitor to your blog into a potential fan, client or customer!)
  • case studies of how bloggers earn income online (including how I earned $1,600 in one month with a brand new blog)

How The Blogging School Works

The Blogging School is an online homestudy course, with all of the content delivered in video and audio format with PDF files within a private, password-protected forum. As your instructor, I am available to answer any questions you have about your blog along the way. Upon registration, you will receive a welcome email with a link to create a profile and receive immediate access to the private forum where you can start downloading course materials and connecting with your fellow bloggers.

How Much The Blogging School Costs

I am offering this training for only $97 to make it accessible for as many people as possible. Considering that just one hour of blog coaching with me is $100, this 4-week virtual course is a STEAL at both levels with several hours of teaching and content (not to mention the opportunities to ask me specific questions and get feedback on your blog!).

BONUS: Two Free Workshops

As a member of The Blogging School, your one-time payment also includes access to bonus content! These two trainings were the MOST popular webinars I gave in 2011, so I know that the information will be relevant and useful to your blogging journey. Inside the members area you will see the following additional workshops to enhance the material in the course.

Personal Branding 101: How to Use Social Media to Accelerate Your Career

Think of this workshop as the foundation for the main Blogging School course. In this 90-minute training, I explain the origins of personal branding, explore ways to “audit” your current personal brand and inspire you to leverage social media for your career. You will also find out how you can grow your professional network and become known as the “go-to” person in your field using four of the most effective online tools available today: blogging, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

 

How to Turn Your Blog Into a Happy Hour: 6 Ways to Attract, Engage and Grow Your Readership

In this 60-minute training, you will learn:
  • The 6 elements you need to master in order to have a popular blog
  • Why first impressions matter online and how to use this to your advantage
  • My #1, no-fail strategy for producing juicy content
  • A simple tool to help you turn first-time readers into subscribers and fans

I’ve designed this program to be useful to those who are just starting their blogs as well as folks who have been blogging for a while, but want to professionalize their current blog presence.

“I have found your tips on setting up a blog and focusing on one thing you are passionate about very helpful. My blog had already been in existence for 4 years, but I used your tips to change its name, restructure it and focus more on the arts and culture reporting, rather than including random photos of places and cute pets etc. Within weeks of restructuring, I was contacted by the producer of a tv travel show who had come across my blog in her research of arts events in Las Vegas. As a result, a film crew are here this week to interview me, film my artwork, and i will escort them to some cultural events and galleries. Thank you so much! - J. Russ, jorussfotodiary.blogspot.com

The Blogging School Is Right For You If:

  • You are a professional who wants to build your online reputation in your field
  • You already have a blog but it’s not currently helping you achieve your career or business goals
  • You are a consultant, speaker, author or coach who needs more exposure for your products and services
  • You want to transition from having a “hobby” blog to a professional one that positions you as an authority in your industry
  • You want to learn how to make your blog work for you in your career or business
  • You’re ready to take ACTION on improving your blog right now (not later)

This Program Is NOT For You If:

  • You’re still on the fence about starting a blog and you want someone to convince you
  • You aren’t willing to devote the time to improve your blog
  • You’re not ready to invest in your blog’s success

What’s Inside the Blogging School Homestudy:

Blogging School Homestudy

With your Blogging School Homestudy Membership, you get:

4 Blog Training Modules (valued at more than $400)

  • All of the training modules are pre-recorded and designed to help you take immediate action. Each of the main modules contain 30-60 minutes of video training, accompanied by a specific homework assignment.
  • You will also get resources, templates and worksheets to help you put the information into practice right away. This is so you don’t procrastinate!

2 Bonus Workshops (valued at $100)

As a member of The Blogging School, your one-time payment also includes access to bonus content! Inside the members area are two additional workshops to enhance the material in the course: Personal Branding 101 (a 90-minute foundational training) and How to Turn Your Blog into a Happy Hour (a 60-minute strategy training).

Access to Private Forum (valued at $50)

For the duration of the course, you will have access to a private forum where you can ask me questions directly, connect with other bloggers in the course and get feedback from your classmates. You are encouraged to network with and support other bloggers in the forum!

Plus:

  • A copy of my popular 37-page ebook, The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Blog
  • Actionable, specific homework assignments at the end of each module so you can put the concepts into practice to improve your blog immediately
  • A blog post template “cheat sheet” that you can use over and over again to structure and streamline your blogging and stay consistent
  • A handy list of 25 blog post topics guaranteed to build your personal brand online (great for when you hit the dreaded “blogger’s block!”)
  • Lifetime access to the training material that you can download to your computer and go on learning long after the Blogging School is over

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I don’t have a Paypal account? Can I still purchase the course? Yep! Just look for the button in the screenshot below that will be located on the right side of the payment page. You will then be able to use your credit or debit card to complete your purchase.

What will I need before I can take the course? You definitely need a blog! If you don’t have a site up yet, you will required to set up one up before the course begins. You can start with a blog on WordPress.com or Blogger, but it’s best if you have a self-hosted WordPress blog to take full advantage of all the course material, tools and resources. If you don’t have one yet, I recommend Bluehost web hosting and domain registration (affiliate link; this is the company I use to host all my websites). If you get stuck, watch my free 11-minute video tutorial I made to help you get up and running with Bluehost!

What if I already have a website? Great! The purpose of The Blogging School is to show you how to improve your current site and make your online presence work for you.

How much time will the course take to complete? To get the most benefit from this training, I recommend setting aside about 2 hours a week to complete the course and take action on the material. The main training modules are 30-60 minutes in length. The homework assignments will take 30 minutes to 2 hours each week to complete the work required to improve your blog.

What if I change my mind about taking the course? Can I get a refund? Please be sure that you are ready to take full advantage of The Blogging School before you sign up to work with me. Because this is a digital course that’s delivered all at once, your registration fee is nonrefundable.

Any questions not addressed here? Email me at rosetta @ rosettathurman (dot) com!