If you have read any posts advising how to get traffic to your blog you should be under no doubt that SEO is really important. It is the best way to reliably get traffic to your site which can ultimately translates into providing an income. Absolutely key to SEO though is choosing the right topics to blog about and that can be a challenge. Fortunately there are lots of apps and tools out there to help. They can help you choose keywords for posts and even plan the content, but are the paid for tools really worth it? Not always. So before you splash the cash find out how to decide if you should invest based on your current blog size and growth strategy.

Will a paid SEO keyword tool make your search traffic grow?

I absolutely love blogging and the flexibility it has given me over the last few years to earn a living, but what advice would I give to someone considering giving up their full time job to blog? “Don't do it!" Or at least not until you have thought very carefully. 

I have been blogging for over 10 years and in that time I have seen many people leave jobs to work on their blog full time, with mixed success. I have also seen many people who have decided that the right thing for them is to go back to work. A blog can earn the same amount or more than a traditional job, but the self employed life isn’t for everyone and it might be an idea not to give up your day job before you are absolutely sure you are ready.

Is giving up your job to blog full time the right choice for you?

Argh I can’t believe I just turned that down. Did I do the right thing? If you find yourself asking these questions then let me reassure you: the answer is probably yes. Everybody loves to be offered money and exciting opportunities and the more you need the money the harder it is to turn down. Add in the social expectation of saying "yes" and many of us feel that we shouldn't turn offers down. But often saying no is the best thing to do. When you get offered opportunities you need to think about whether they are right for you and your business.  If you want to grow a successful business you should only say yes if it's right for you.

Saying "no" to new work opportunities can be the best thing for your business

With a history of working in IT departments and jobs where the majority of my colleagues are male walking into the Women in Business and Tech Expo was an exciting experience. I’ve been to a number of IT conferences in my time and at every one the majority of delegates (and speakers) have been men. That wasn’t the case at Karren Brady’s 4th Women In Business & Tech event.

IN my 20s I went to events from large sales conferences to invite only Gartner management events. I was rarely approached by people wanting to talk to me. Networking sessions? I had to make the first step. What would a young female have that these older men might possibly be interested in (of a work nature). I was dismissed quickly based on my appearance. 

Working in IT it’s not just the events which have an over representation of men. In most meetings at most companies I worked the meetings were male dominated. It wasn’t unusual for me to be the only woman in the room. 

A crowded keynote session listening to Karren Brady OBE