Since humans started cooking, we’ve been using cookware to prepare our food. It wasn’t until recently when people became aware of the dangers in using certain cookware materials such as aluminum and Teflon that non-toxic, eco-friendly alternatives have begun to surface.
You may be wondering why it’s so important to begin using non-toxic cookware. Nontoxic cookware can help ensure that you’re not putting harmful toxins in your body. For example, some less expensive pots are made of aluminum which has been connected with neurological disorders including memory loss, slurred speech, numbness in hands and feet, dementia…the list goes on. Teflon pans release a highly toxic gas when heated at high temperatures which leads to adhesions in the lungs & contributes to cardiovascular disease. The best options are stainless steel, ceramic coated, ceramic cookware, cast iron, and glass. These pans are non-allergenic, easily cleaned, and preserve the taste of food.
Non Toxic Cooking Pots And Pans
1. Stainless Steel Cookware
Great set of Stainless Steel pots and pans! Click to check out
Stainless steel is a metal alloy made with chromium and nickel which ensures that it does not rust or corrode after long-term use. In addition, stainless steel is known for being easy to clean. This makes it an ideal cooking pot since the toxicity of other metals present in less expensive pots leach out over time causing dangerous health conditions such as cancer to develop. The most common colors for stainless steel cookware are silver and brushed steel. Some stainless steel pots and pans come with a copper or aluminum core. These two elements make the stainless steel more durable and help distribute the heat evenly throughout the pot and pan.
2. Teflon Cookware
Teflon is a nonstick coating made of metal fluoropolymers that keep food from sticking to cooking equipment during normal kitchen use, such as frying, grilling, roasting, and baking. This makes it very easy for you to cook without needing to use extra oil or butter which means fewer calories! Teflon releases toxic fumes at 400°F so it’s not safe to use on high heat on your stovetop making them only suitable for low-temperature cooking.
3. Cast Iron Cookware
Cast iron is a form of formed metal that has been used for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Moreover, cast iron cookware is very durable and tends to be made in one piece as opposed to other types. Such as stainless steel cookware which may use multiple pieces welded together. It’s normal for cast iron pans to have a rough surface which requires extra care and maintenance cleaning to ensure no food bits get stuck and eventually rust over time. If you notice rust on your set, just clean it properly and be sure to re-season it before putting it into use. Enameled cast iron can be found at most kitchen stores and online outlets like Amazon.
4. Ceramic Cookware
These types of pots & pans not only look great but also offer a sleek design that is easy to clean. Ceramic falls
Complete set of Ceramic Nonstick pots and pans. Click to shop
into two categories; felsic and mafic. Felsic ceramic is made of light elements, magnesium, or sodium while mafic ceramic contains heavy elements such as iron or titanium. Ceramic cookware is usually made with felsic materials like borosilicate glass. This makes it resistant to high-temperature shocks. This also allows you to put your glass pot, or pan in the oven without cracking the material.
Pure ceramic has amazing properties that make it a great material to use in everyday life. Pure ceramic can be heated from -30°C (-22°F) to +450° C (842° F). It does not bar any flavors or toxins which makes it healthy for your body. Pure ceramic is also dishwasher safe, non-leaching, and contains no PTFE or PFOA.
The high-quality ceramic coating emits a high amount of heat which is evenly distributed, making them an excellent choice when cooking steaks and other similar foods with high-fat contents since the high-quality surface will make it easy to release food easily while adding crispiness. Another advantage of high-quality ceramic coated cookware is that they provide scratch resistance due to their thicker surface. Which resists scratches by knives and metal utensils. This makes them a great option for busy families who need something durable but also dishwasher safe!
Glass cookware has become increasingly popular because of its ability to be used on all cooking surfaces (electric, induction stovetops, halogen burners, gas ranges) making it the most versatile type of pot & pan you can find! It comes in various shapes, sizes, and colors. They can be used on high heat but shouldn’t be exposed to high temperatures for a long period. Since high heat can cause high-quality glass cookware to break. They’re oven-safe so you can use them for a range of different cooking tasks. Oftentimes, you can find glass cookware set to have different options and sizes.
6. Earthenware Cookware
These types of high-quality pots & pans are made from a high-temperature resistant earthenware clay. Which makes them a good choice for cooking with medium to low heat. Some people recommend that you preheat your set before use. But this isn’t necessary since they’re oven safe and can be used in the oven.
7. Nonstick Cookware
A pan that does it all! The Our Place pan.
Nonstick pans are typically made of aluminum or copper with a nonstick coating to prevent food from sticking to the cooking surface during normal stovetop use. They’re also oven safe. So you can easily place them in your toaster oven, regular oven, broiler, and even a grill. If the temperature goes above 450°F, these pots will release harmful toxins into your home making them unsafe for daily use.
The best way to ensure you’re using high-quality materials is to buy well-known brands that have built up their reputation over time through customer satisfaction. If you have a high-quality set that is PTFE or PFOA-free, be sure to follow the manufacturers’ instructions regarding cooking on high heat and high temperatures. For example, Le Creuset has been manufacturing enamel-coated cast iron cookware since 1925! Le Creuset is well known for its dutch oven products and easy cleaning. Other recommended brands include Calphalon, Anolon, Cuisinart & Emeril.
8. Induction Cookware
Induction stovetops are very popular because they heat up quickly and distribute heat evenly throughout the pot or pan while providing steady control over the heating process allowing you to delicate sauces like béchamel. This high-quality cookware is high heat resistant. And won’t release toxic fumes when exposed to high temperatures which makes them a high-quality choice for cooking with high heat on an induction cooker. They’re made from high-grade stainless steel or cast iron. Both of which are high-quality materials that will last you a lifetime.
9. Outdoor Pots & Pans
When you want to enjoy the great outdoors with your family, you must use safe materials when grilling on your grill. If you tend to buy cheaper brands like Walmart, Harbor Freight, or Target, they may not be made of high-quality materials which can cause toxins to seep into your home while cooking; especially if the heat is too high! Other indoor cooking appliances like ovens also emit toxic fumes at higher temperatures. So it’s necessary for you to research the materials used in the pots and pans before buying them.
10. Other Heat Resistant Utensils
Other heat-resistant utensils that can resist high heat include silicone, and copper. They come in various shapes, sizes, and colors allowing you to find those that best suit your cooking needs.
If you’re unsure about whether the pans are oven or dishwasher safe then always better off doing some research before purchasing! Just remember that being able to resist heat is not the only criterion since putting hot pans in water can also cause warping making them unsafe for storage.
When you’re cooking in high heat, pay attention to the smoke. If it’s starting to produce a chemical smell or smells like burning plastic, this means you should lower the temperature or get out of the kitchen until the fumes have cleared up. Never leave high heat cooking unattended. Because toxic fumes can cause fatigue, headache, nausea, and even unconsciousness! Lastly, never use high heat when using nonstick pots & pans. Since this will significantly increase your risk of being exposed to harmful toxins.
Universal Kitchen Cookware Items
For items that are used for more than one cookware type, it’s best to buy universal kitchen items that are compatible with other types of pots and pans. For example, stainless steel tongs can be used on all cooking surfaces. This makes them a great accessory while you’re cooking in any pot or pan!
Wooden Cooking Utensils
Because you don’t want your wooden utensils to absorb heat making them difficult to handle, wood should only be used when cooking over low heat sources like simmering sauces, slow cooker dishes, or soups/broths which are allowed to come up to temperature slowly. Never use wooden utensils in high heat settings. Since this will increase the likelihood that harmful toxins will be leached from the wooden material.
Refurbishing Pots and Pans
If you’ve got high-quality pots & pans that are made with high-grade materials then some refinishing can make them look great while increasing their safety. You can do this by polishing and re-seasoning high-quality nonstick pots & pans which have been accidentally scratched.
Although high heat is often the culprit when it comes to irreparably damaging high-grade materials, there are some things you can do to fix them up including using a high-temperature lubricant if the pan has become dry or bits of food has burnt onto its surface while making sure to choose high-quality ones that will not cause damage over time.
High-quality refurbishing products
With cast iron pots & pans, high-quality refurbishing products include Lodge’s stovetop cleaner and Seasoning Spray. You can also use a self-cleaning option. Since a lot of people find that their high-quality cast iron skillets develop flavors from cooking with each subsequent use. We tend to wipe ours down with a cloth to get the liquid out. And then let the rest sit until the next use.
Seasoning high-quality nonstick pans can be done through the use of high heat oils while keeping in mind that high temp options like flaxseed oil, grapeseed oil, and coconut oil are safer since they emit a high amount of smoke before reaching their flash point making them a better choice than low-quality cooking oils. Also, avoid using high heat canola or sunflower oil. These release toxic chemicals when exposed to high temperatures. Canola, Rapeseed, vegetable, and sunflower oils are generally bad for your health. So it’s best to stay away from them when possible.
It’s increasingly important to have cookware that doesn’t contribute to health problems, and we have outlined some of the best above.
If you are looking for new cookware or this article helped you realize you may need to upgrade, remember to do so within reason. If you can only afford one nice pan at a time, then do that. You don’t need a whole kitchen full of pots and pans. You only need one and then when you can, get another one or a set.
If you still have less quality pots and pans, be sure to use lower heat. Toxic fumes have been known to result from overheating some types of pots & pans so you need to choose safe ones. This includes using nonstick pot & pans on a lower heat setting or safer materials like stainless steel, ceramic coated, or cast iron cookware when going above 450°F since they don’t emit toxic fumes at higher temperatures making them a better choice than low-quality nonstick pots & pans.
If you have any favorite brands I didn’t mention here, feel free to leave a comment and let us know!
You hear the term “blogger” and instantly think writing your thoughts and reviewing things, right?
That’s what I thought would happen when I decided to be a full time blogger in 2015, because I wanted or actually needed, to get my thoughts out of my mind and into something more, something that was mine. Blogging is way different than I mentioned above, and also way different than I thought it was going to be. Blogging and content writing can oftentimes be categorized in the same sentence. But they are a bit different in my opinion. A blogger is someone who writes regularly, sometimes daily, to keep a commentary, or describe events to the reader. A content writer is someone who writes specific things for specific reasons, and sometimes sporadically. Meanwhile, a blogger can also be a content creator, especially when they work with brands on specific projects.
There are always good and bad sides to everything, including being a blogger. In order to maintain a blog, you have to be consistent with your posts. I sometimes struggle with coming up with the time to devote to a post, which is usually longer and more thought out than a social media post. Sometimes, a blog post requires a specific photo or video, which takes additional time to create. If we are working with brands for sponsored content, the approval process of the content can take more time. There are positives to blogging though — I own my domain and site, so no matter what social media does, I always have my own content and little slice of the internet. And hopefully someday when my girls are older, they can look back and find comfort in my words.
What Is It Like To Be A Blogger
Benefits of Blogging
1. Sharing Your Thoughts
Every time you post something online, you have a choice. You can either make it something that adds to the happiness levels in the world – or you can make it something that takes away. ~Zoe Sugg Blogging is a fantastic method to communicate your ideas to your friends, family, and followers. Everyone has their own story to tell, and your blog is no exception. Real-life occurrences are more popular in blogs. Blogging is a never-ending daily cycle of creating content, advertising, SEO, and posting. You can start blogging in WordPress or other free blogging websites. There are a lot of essential elements when it comes to managing a successful blog. And these are the following:
Researching
Writing
Editing
Content Optimization
Marketing
Management of Social Media
Branding
Collaboration with Brands and Companies
Assisting Affiliate Managers
Nonstop Learning for the Latest Trends and Technologies
2. Being Able To Make A Difference
Blogging is good for your career. A well-executed blog sets you apart as an expert in your field. ~Penelope Trunk Through blogging, people can learn a lot of topics that are often simplified so that everyone can understand. For fashion, there are fashion bloggers. For tech, there are tech bloggers. And for food and drinks, there are food bloggers. And the list goes on. Some even specialize in the daily aspects of life such as parenting and motherhood. Young moms and 1st-time moms can definitely get help or valuable information from mommy bloggers.
3. Sharing Your Knowledge
Blogging is a great way to show your talents and interests to prospective employers while adding an edge to your resume. If you blog consistently it shows your dedication, passions, and creativity – all of which are key attributes employers look for in job candidates. ~Lauren Conrad Blogs give you the ability to create and manage your digital presence. People looking for your name can find your blogs, in addition to social media accounts. People will be able to learn more about you by reading your blogs once it’s accessible to them.
4. Refining Your Writing Skills
“Successful blogging is not about one-time hits. It’s about building a loyal following over time.”
~David Aston Writing on your blog on a regular basis will greatly enhance your writing skills – both as a result of feedback and as a result of learning how to construct effective sentences and choose excellent topics. You can look back at your previous blogs to check and evaluate your progress.
Creating your own blog can help you stand out in the employment, affiliate, and brand partnership market. You may quickly prove your writing skills by posting valuable and informative topics that interest you thus creating a specialization that can help you become distinct from the other bloggers.
5. Getting More Clients To Your Existing Business
“When you brand yourself properly, the competition becomes irrelevant.”
~Dan Schawbel Blogging may help your brand, business, and company to gain more clients because it not only attracts more clicks and visitors to your website but also attracts prospective customers who are interested in your services or products. You can boost your website traffic by sharing your blog entries on social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, etc.) and with your email newsletter (email list). Blogging is an important component of any online marketing plan. It increases website traffic, provides leads and new customers, assists you in nurturing those leads and prospective customers, and provides you more insight into your potential customers and existing consumer base. Blog articles are a great way for businesses to get more traffic from search engines. Customers can use the information in the posts to better their choices when it comes to selecting their preferred products, services, or brands.
6. Building A Network
“It should feel genuinely good to earn income from your blog – you should be driven by a healthy ambition to succeed. If your blog provides genuine value, you fully deserve to earn income from it.”
~Steve Pavlina More prospects for collaborations, promotional assignments, and even sponsored posts result from a larger network. In an ethical and responsible way, you would have a few bloggers whose contents or topics are quite similar to yours. Consider what valuable information in their blogs would be useful to your reader and reach out to the author. Then offer credits by hyperlinking. This would attract your readers to visit their site and vice versa.
Guest post/guest blog is another way to network. You can invite a fellow blogger to blog on your site or it can also be the other way around. This will allow you to exchange audiences and grow both of your readers/followers.
7. Establishing Yourself As An Expert
“It can be pretty rough out there for bloggers who think small. You’ve got to think – and play – big if you want to make a larger footprint these days.”
~David Risley
Learn how to write outstanding blog articles by studying the format and structure of the text. Determine your target audience and generate material that appeals to them. For suggestions to improve your blogging skills, follow top industry professionals. Create a research strategy that works for you and allows you to consistently produce relevant articles for your target audience. When your material isn’t understandable or beneficial, the readers’ attention spans are expected to be brief only.
Keep in mind that blogging is a long-term commitment, and your desire to keep consistency will be absolutely crucial to your success. You must build techniques for promoting your blog if you wish to attract more readers or followers. Content marketing and social media management work well together. Use this combo to establish yourself as an expert in your chosen niche or specialization. To reach as many people as possible, make sure your blog is optimized for search engines. And as much as possible avoid duplicating what others have already done before you and instead develop your own unique style.
BONUS:
It’s easy to become overwhelmed when it comes to monetizing your blog. But, in my opinion, it’s best to start early. Consider using affiliate marketing or affiliate links on sites you already use and trust, such as Amazon. Experiment with display ads. Sponsored posts are a great way to drive more income. Always consider your blog to be a business. What are the areas where you may get the most bang for your buck? What are the aspects that need improvement? When you want to make your blog your full-time job, having a marketing plan will be quite beneficial on your part. When I’m feeling a touch slack with my own content times, I find that reflecting on why I started blogging in the first place is the greatest thing I can do. I do not even do it for the likes or comments; I do this because I enjoy spending my time generating material and sharing it with my readers or followers to make me a more responsible human; it’s just a part of who I am. This is my passion. Blogging is my safe haven, my space, all that I think about is shared through blogging.
Minimalism has been a life-changing concept not only because it limits our possessions, but there are other aspects about it that develop newer and sagacious perspectives amongst people. However, some people tend to only focus on the decluttering aspect of it and neglect the others, and that’s why they end up giving up because it becomes difficult for them to declutter.
I can understand,decluttering is not for everyone. All the more, it’s easier to do it individually, but when you are living in a family that cannot declutter or limit their possessions, the decluttering aspect of minimalism can terribly fail.
But don’t you worry, as said before; there is more than what meets the eye. There is still a lot you can borrow from minimalism. In other words, you can embrace minimalism without being a minimalist.
You can embrace minimalism, introduce it to your lifestyle, borrow principles, and you’ll do just fine.
Wondering how? Just sit back and read along.
How to embrace minimalism without being a minimalist
1.Simplify life
Life is never easy, it’s complicated. However, most of the time it’s not, in fact, we make it more complicated by stressing about it unnecessarily. We worry about things before they even happen, and spend too much time thinking than doing anything about our problems.
One way in which minimalism can benefit everyone is that it can make our lives much simplified and easy. It starts from developing habits and routines that promote action and organize every complexity in our life.
For instance, if you happen to live a busy life, and have too many things to do, too many aspects to focus on, you can make it all easier for you by creating yourself a plan and schedule. You can go on living the day, do all that you have to do in an organized manner with the help of plans and schedules. And at the end of the day, it would be a sheer relief to know that you followed your schedule, went as planned, and reached your target. It is all worth it in the end.
On a contradictory note, some people would find planning and scheduling as something that complicates things further. However, it’s not so. Those who find it complicated are the ones who dread doing things they have to do. Planning and scheduling would not provide them a chance to procrastinate, and that’s what concerns them the most, and that’s why they find the approach, “too systematic”. Although if the concern is flexibility, then plans and schedules can be flexible, they must be followed, and targets should be met. You have to push yourself towards it.
2.Become a mindful spender
One of the most pragmatic benefits of minimalism is that it facilitates savings. As minimalism is about being satisfied with what you have, and not buying everything that you want to buy or like, it promotes mindful and sagacious purchasing instincts. Consequently, you spend less, save more, and diversify your investment portfolio by making better use of the saved money.
You can borrow the same approach. Every time you find yourself wanting something, think multiple times and enter into a debate with yourself. Ask yourself, what value does this product bring in your life? Can you do without this product? Do you want it or need it? How do you think it will affect your budget in the short and long run?
Ask all these questions, and then make a decision accordingly. Whatever you do, don’t become a spontaneous buyer. Ask yourself questions, and do your research before you swipe your card.
3.Live in the moment
Sadly, we are creatures who are never in the present, but somewhere in the past and future. We regret our decisions, and choices we made, wishing if we could have done things differently; at the same time, we worry about the future, as to what it will bring us if we are going to succeed or fail in life. In short, we never live in the moment, we never concentrate on the experience we are having as of now.
But with minimalism it’s possible. One of the principles of minimalism is to appreciate what we have, and the moment we are living in. Thus, what we can do from time to time is, stop for a while, look around our surroundings, and take a moment to be grateful for all that we presently have.
4.Stay more connected with people
Connection is not a problem for many, but it is for some who are so occupied with the goings of their day, their past and present. So, they fail to recognize the people they have currently in their life, the people who value them.
At the same time, many are so engrossed in the materials they own that they forget they have a few relationships that need to be cherished, and people with whom they need to stay in touch. Well, an ideal example is the people who spend all their time on their phones, oblivious that there is someone over coffee with them.
Now that you realize it, you can embrace minimalism by staying connected with the people who matter. Have a nice conversation with them, take them out for coffee, and breakfast dates, just cherish the bond you have.
5.Focus on your health and growth
While minimalism emphasizes the value of moments and experiences, it also values YOU. That being said, minimalism allows you time to focus on yourself. It includes your physical health, mental health, and personality development.
So even if you are not a minimalist, you can borrow this aspect of minimalism where you worship your body and mind. You treat it like a whole different person, a person who deserves better things, who deserves better care, attention, and love.
You can do all that by exercising, consuming healthy and nutritious meals, and last but not least by staying away from unnecessary stress, and toxicity of life. In nutshell, it involves doing things that are good for you and eventually makes you a better person in life.
6.Realize what’s important and what’s temporary
Sadly, we live in a world that finds happiness, not in people, but in things. I mean, ask yourself, how often has it happened that a brand-new jacket, or perhaps a new phone has made you happy? You were so adamant about buying those things that you ended up ruining your relationships, fought with people you cared about, or did not focus on your relationships because you were too busy swooning over things.
But just so you know, happiness does not lie in things but in people and memories. If you think it does, that’s just temporary happiness. You can buy a home, but when you don’t have people to share it with, it would stop making you happy. In short, you might get bored with things, but you don’t get bored with people you love. Instead, staying with them makes you happier, and that happiness lasts, my friend.
Minimalism does just that. It makes you value people, not things.
Well, that’s it. You can still embrace minimalism without being minimalist. Now that you know how not to miss yielding benefits., It changes lives, and you have to see it for yourself.
What are your thoughts on the same? Feel free to share your ideas and experiences with us in the comment section.
With the joys of motherhood, come the challenges. You have to run around the house chasing your toddlers and on top of it the usual chores of the house. Even if you have an older kid, it does not get entirely easier either. The work does get a bit lighter, but not much to make you feel absolutely relieved. So, in a nutshell, motherhood is challenging and time-consuming. There are a million chores and not enough time to get them over with.
But just as there’s a dark side to everything, there’s a brighter side as well. By the brighter side, I mean the tricks and hacks that can make motherhood manageable and convenient at the same time.
What I have for you my friend, is the time-blocking trick. To start with the basics, the objective of the time-blocking trick is to schedule and structure your day. It is to divide your day into intervals or sections wherein you focus on one task or multiple tasks of similar nature.
Having said that, the Time blocking technique (Let’s call it TBT for a while) is packed with benefits. I am going to talk in length about these benefits to give you all the many reasons to use the technique.
So, let’s begin!
Why all work-at-home moms should use time blocking technique
1.It keeps you focused
It’s a fact that when you have ample tasks on your to-do list, your attention is bound to be divided. You will do one thing, and once you are headed towards another one, you would have to wire your brain again to develop different thoughts concerning the new task. Consequently, your focus would get affected, and it may also reveal itself in your output.
However, when you use TBT and schedule all tasks of similar nature in one slot, you would not have to rewire your brain and thought process. In other words, there will be no break in the chain, and you will continue to perform your best with one chain of thought.
2.You have your priorities straight
Be it in your life, or work, you need to set your priorities straight. As a mother, you have hundreds of things to do in a day. But let’s be honest, you are just a human who can do just enough. In other words, you cannot do everything and anything. You have to decide what is more important to you, and take them up in a manner in which time allows. The approach makes it easier to know what you need to do first, before doing anything else or doing everything at once.
You can start by evaluating the importance of a task. Ask yourself, can you go by skipping this task for the day, and take it up for the following day? Is it that important? Would the earth come crashing down if you don’t do it for a few days?
Accordingly, set priorities, in fact, make a chart wherein you number the task based on their importance and deadlines. Now what you would have, is the order. (Do not forget that you have to regroup them as well on the nature of their similarity.)
3.You know when to say no
The world’s most uncomfortable two-letter word is NO. No one likes to hear it, and it is probably why as mothers, or as individuals, we are afraid to say it. But just so you know, by saying yes all the time, you are just adding up to your burden. Moreover, you are giving an impression to people that you are gullible and easy, which can make them take you for granted later.
Just remember that your goal must not be to make everyone happy. You cannot; you have to say no and that might hurt the person, but your desires are as important as theirs, and you cannot always undermine them for the sake of others.
However, even after this motivation, if you find it hard to say no to people, TBT can help you in this very light. It’s simple, when you have grouped your tasks in intervals and sections, and have a schedule ready accordingly; you cannot pick tasks that would ruin the pattern. In this case, there’s no choice but to say NO.
4.Fewer distractions
We could have been our most productive selves only if we had it in ourselves to toughen up against distractions. But being vulnerable, lazy, and unfocused, we submit to the distractions and that’s how everything gets sabotaged.
Well, not anymore. Thanks to TBT because it limits our propensity to get distracted by keeping our line of thoughts aligned. Consequently, we focus and concentrate on what we are doing for a longer time. In addition to that, when we have our priorities straight and know that we have a limited time to get done with the task, we don’t stretch our hand to reach our phone, or whatever it is that distracts us.
5.More motivation
When you follow TBT, you have a plan and system, and there’s some kind of satisfaction to work according to our will. This means you are automatically motivated to get done with your goals.
You’re full of enthusiasm, you have that fire to tick–off all the tasks from your To-Do list, you don’t go easy, you don’t feel sluggish; in short, you get done with your tasks without any procrastination.
6.You no longer try to become a perfectionist
As they say, perfection is a myth. But even if it’s a reality, it’s not at all sustainable. In other words, you can only do things perfectly just for a while. You are bound to get exhausted and lose stamina sooner or later.
However, when you are using TBT, your approach is not to be a perfectionist. You know you cannot go on doing all the tasks at once. You are a realist, and hence you continue doing your tasks according to your priorities.
In a nutshell, your target is not to do everything perfectly, but to do everything you have planned realistically.
7.You push yourself
When you follow TBT, you don’t settle for less. You push yourself to meet your daily targets. Even if it gets hard for a moment, you say to yourself, “No, I have time blocks already set, and I cannot go astray. I have to give all I got.”
Consequently, it helps you everywhere in life. You learn to control your mind and emotions and do not let your thoughts dictate you. You know what you want, and you are firm with it. And you don’t let anything, anyone, or your own brain pull you down. Moreover, it helps you see the bigger picture. When you envision yourself meeting your goals, and eventually do it, you realize it was all worth it because it got you results.
We have now reached the end, but before I ask your leave, dear moms here’s a tip – Don’t be hard on yourself, be flexible. If you did not manage to do everything on a certain time block, it is okay! Move to the next set, and come back to the unfinished one later.
Feel free to share your experiences with everyone in the comment section. I’d love to read them!
When it comes to marketing your blog, social media is the most powerful tool at your disposal.
The power and reach of social media are endless. In 2005, only 5% of the population made use of social media. Today, almost everyone uses one or another platform. Feel the difference? Social media went from being something recreational to a central aspect of our lives.
7 social media marketing tips every blogger need to know
As the popularity of social media continues to grow by leaps and bounds, businesses, big and small have taken notice of the huge potential of social media.
As a blogger, social media is simply an indispensable tool for growing your audience, and I will tell you why.
Social media helps in:
1. Better lead generation
2. Growing your audience
3. Connecting better with your audience
4. Building a strong brand
5. Making money
If you are still unconvinced about the power of social media, just take a look at these remarkable stats.
Facebook garners an estimate of 4.4 billion+ visitors every month.
Pinterest houses over 300 million users.
Instagram has 500 million+ accounts active on the platform daily.
The reports are mind-boggling but true. There is no marketing strategy without social media anymore. However, the stats are also scary. How are you supposed to swim in this vast ocean with a billion other small fishes like you, and get heard and seen?
If the thought overwhelms you and thus keeps you away from social media, fear not, for you have landed in the right place.
Below, we dive deep into 7 crucial social media marketing techniques that every blogger needs to acquaint them with. Read on, and grow your blog.
1. Set your goals and understand your target audience
Firstly, you need to set your goals about what you want to really get out of social media. Ask yourself why you need social media to market your blog, and write down your goals.
Next, understand your target audience. Learning about your target audience is one of the most crucial tips to execute your social media marketing. Learn about your target demographic, their likes and dislikes, which social media platforms they populate the most, and what kinds of things they are looking for.
If you have a blog about writing, for instance, figure out the most common problems your target audience faces when it comes to writing. Then, market yourself as an expert who has an easy answer to all their problems through your blog.
2. Quality, not quantity
Some bloggers have the misconception that they have to be present on every social media platform available, from Linkedin to Snapchat, in order to market their blog effectively to a larger audience.
Let me give you some tough love and say, NO. This is not the case. Always choose quality over quantity. You don’t have to be present on every social media platform known to humans to be visible to your target audience.
You only need to post high-quality content on select few channels that are frequented the most by your targeted demographic.
For example, everyone knows Instagram isn’t much of a help to blogs with a smaller following. Instead, Pinterest is huge for bloggers and a go-to site for your audience as well. So, research well before you choose which social media channels you want to spend your time and resources on.
3. Content is King
Now that you know what the ideal social platforms for you are, it’s time to attract your target audience by creating content.
And mind you, this is not some sub par content I am talking about. When you are creating content for your social media, it should be top-notch, able to attract your potential readers almost immediately.
When it comes to social media marketing, content is king. Without quality content, your entire strategy falls apart. Spend time creating visual, catchy content and optimize them with links to your blog and/or products.
4. Focus on videos and images
Statistics show that visual content like images and videos perform much better on social media platforms than simply text.
Hence, it’s important for you to make videos and images a part of your content strategy. You can use tools like Canva and PicMonkey to easily design graphics that look professional and alluring.
And if you don’t want to do the hard work, you can always outsource. Trust me when I say this, it is money well spent. Unsplash is the best place to grab royalty free images others have taken, and you can use for your blog. All the photos in this post came from Unsplash.
Eye-catching graphics immediately draw your audience in and make them more likely to click through on the link you post along with it.
5. Pinterest
Pinterest is a visual search engine, often mistaken by people as a social media platform. If you are a blogger, and you aren’t on Pinterest, then what are you even doing?
Pinterest establishes your credibility and authority as an expert in your niche and also drives huge traffic to your website or blog.
For Pinterest, set up a business account, enable rich pins, and create a keyword-rich profile.
Grow your following on Pinterest and see the traffic to your website increase.
6. Engage with your audience
The biggest mistake newbie bloggers make while using social media is not interacting and connecting with their potential customers.
Social media is called social media for a reason; it is for SOCIALIZATION! And especially when you are trying to market something, be it your blogs and products, you need to engage and build authentic relationships with your audience.
This leads to trust forming between you and the audience and increases your chances of sales and lead generation. Reply to comments on Facebook pages, retweet on Twitter, and engage in Facebook groups.
Forming trust and genuine connections with the audience increases the chances of them turning into customers.
7. Be strategic
Promoting your blog on social media does not mean you go the hard-selling way and push your products into the face of your audience with a “buy, buy, buy” mantra. No, it doesn’t work that way.
Social media marketing is extremely strategic. You have to promote your content in such a subtle and clever way that you don’t shove your products in their faces all the time, yet you remind them of your products through a call-to-action (CTA).
Another way to be strategic on social media is to use social media management tools like Buffer and Hootsuite to automate your posts, analyze the performance of those posts, and basically make your job easier for you.
There are many other tools, but Buffer and Hootsuite are among the top ones. Pre-schedule your content for a week, get analytics, and get more time to focus on other aspects of marketing, including planning your content.
Lastly,
Remember this; building up a strong base on social media is a slow and hard process. You have to be consistent and you have to keep at it. Over time, you are bound to see results. Keep the conversations going, and they will lead to sales conversions.
With a solid content and marketing strategy, every blogger can grow their blog to a huge extent. All you need to do is plan carefully, and then execute it with patience.
Follow these 7 tips for social media marketing to see drastic changes in your blog traffic. Happy blogging!
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