You started a blog. You want to make some extra money, or maybe turn it into a full-time gig. So, you chug along, build your wordpress site, write some amazing content, learn how to create images….and nothing happens. No one finds your little corner of the internet, and none of your blog posts get any views. Maybe it’s time to join a blogging mastermind group.
What is a Blogging Mastermind Group?
Mastermind groups are like a close-knit friend group. They offer support, ideas, suggestions, and advice to help you achieve your goals. A blogging mastermind group is like any other mastermind group, but specifically designed to help you you grow your blog. These groups help answer SEO questions, share your blog across their networks, help you find affiliate and sponsorship opportunities, help you increase your readership, and so much more.
Not all mastermind groups are created equal. Some may just offer moral support and others may only offer SEO help. Some claim to do all of the things, but as soon as you join you realize it’s not very active and the members aren’t helpful. And some are on the down-low link-building groups, which Google can sometimes frown upon.
Where Can you Find Blogging Mastermind Groups?
Blogging mastermind groups are all over the internet, but it’s hard to find a good one. The most prolific place for them is Facebook. There are probably thousands of Facebook groups, all professing that they can help you build and grow your blog.
I’m a member of about 20 different Facebook blogging groups -some specific to Pinterest, some about growing your network, others about building a blog. Unfortunately, these groups often get too big and turn into a ton of people just trying to spam their own links without ever trying to help others in the group out.
One decent way to find mastermind groups is to ask your friends in specific niches if they know of any. Twitter is a great place to reach out to people for this type of information. Some may have never heard of one, but you never know. You may have a bunch of Twitter friends who are already in mastermind groups!
A final way to find them is to just search the internet. It’s hard to put the right terms in to get what you are looking for, but a few posts should pop up about it if you search for Blogging Mastermind Group (Hopefully this will be one of them!)
How Much do Mastermind Groups Cost?
The price of mastermind groups varies widely. Many of the Facebook groups are free, and some are free after you buy whatever product the group leader is selling. Those ones aren’t actually that bad – I got into a Facebook group about Pinterest because I bought the Pinterest Ninja course, and I think it’s been valuable so far. The ones that come with a cost generally have more value, because the group owners want to convince other people to buy the course. No one will pay to join if they don’t get value from it.
Some groups are more expensive, but remember, you generally get what you pay for. The Money Mix Insiders seems expensive at $185 per month, but it includes so many blogging tools (like access to unlimited MOZ searches – a $99 value all on its own!) that it’s incredibly worthwhile to anyone who wants to take blogging seriously.
Do I Need a Mastermind Group?
Not all bloggers need a blogging group. Some people just want to blog as a hobby, and that’s perfectly fine. There’s no reason to spend precious time or money on a group when you don’t have any plans to monetize.
You also might not need a group if you already have a go-to blogging system with proven results. If you’re already making bank on your blog and don’t think you need the extra help, joining a group may not be beneficial.
However, let’s be real – no one knows everything. Even if you’re doing an amazing job, there may be things that you haven’t even considered. It doesn’t hurt to check one out if you want your blog to be a full-time business.
Which Group Should I Join?
I’m so glad you asked! I’m a member of the best (in my opinion) blogging mastermind group on the internet. It’s called the Money Mix Insiders , and although it started with mostly finance bloggers, it has expanded into a variety of niches. The Insiders have a robust group of travel bloggers and lifestyle bloggers and is looking to expand to include gaming and entertainment bloggers as well. Every niche is welcome!
How Much do The Insiders Cost?
The Insiders SEO Hustle mastermind group is $185 a month after your trial is up, but it’s well worth it. The creators of the group are three experienced bloggers who, between them, have a plethora of experience in both the technical side of blogging and the marketing/promoting side of blogging. They also have a vast array of experience in monetizing blogs.
Since I joined on with them, my blog has skyrocketed. I was sitting at about 1000 pageviews a month before joining, and now I’m consistently seeing 30 thousand page views per month. My domain authority skyrocketed from 27 to 59, and I’ve been featured on a ton of huge websites, all with the help of this group. The blog is also finally starting to make real profits!
This brings me to the best part of the Insiders. They offer a 3-month trial for only $1 per month. This plan gives you access to the mastermind group along with the opportunity to syndicate content across the network. Content syndication is what all the big sites do (think MSN, HuffPo, etc) to get amazing content for their viewers. It helps build backlinks and gives your audience even more great information that they wouldn’t otherwise see. I got sucked in with the trial, and the group has been so incredibly valuable that I decided to stick around with the full SEO Hustle membership. And I’m so glad I did.
What Do the Insiders Offer?
The Insiders are the best Mastermind group because they offer so much value. Trial members get access to guest posting opportunities, a network of knowledgeable bloggers, and a huge library of content syndication. They also get a free one on one coaching sessions with successful bloggers.
Full members get an even better deal. We get help with site speed and access to invaluable content optimization tools. We have syndication contracts across the network and with third-party websites. And we even get access to MOZ, the best keyword exploration tool out there (Okay but if you’re an AHREFS fan, you can choose to get access to AHREFS instead of MOZ – that’s how cool the group is!).
Since being with the group, I’ve been on webinars about site speed, affiliate marketing, and digital marketing/SEO. I’ve learned how to write better headlines, find better themes, and get my content in front of more people. It’s been a godsend!
A Word on Syndication
Some folks aren’t uncomfortable with content syndication – and I get it – no one wants to offend the Google gods! Now I’m no SEO expert and I don’t work for Google. Their rules are constantly changing and unless it’s your career, it’s nearly impossible to keep up.
However, I do know that the big networks do it. And the big networks are still ranking at the top of Google, there’s probably not any type of punishment for syndication. After all, what are the features on these goliaths if not some type of syndication? And we all want features, right?
But, I get being uncomfortable with it, and if after talking with us about your membership you don’t want to syndicate, that’s fine. There is no obligation to become a part of the syndication network when you join the group, it’s just a value add for members who want to participate.
Should I Start a Blog?
I know that not all of my readers are bloggers. Everyone, blogger, gamer, artist traveler, fire seeker, etc. can find something useful on Partners in Fire. But if you aren’t a blogger, and this post has made you consider starting a blog, there are a few things you should know.
First, you’re not going to make money blogging anytime soon. If you’re looking for a quick way to make money, blogging isn’t it. Sell some stuff on Ebay, cut back on groceries, and use cashback apps to help you get that money you need fast. Blogging is a long-haul game.
And second – Blogging is awesome! I love it. It’s been a passion project for me for nearly three years now (and I’m just now starting to make money), and I don’t regret it for one second. I’ve learned so much about writing, web development, social media, SEO, and networking through my blog work that it was worth it to do it as a hobby. Now that I really want to take it seriously and drive traffic, the mastermind group has been my number one blogging tool.
How to Start a Blog
If you want to start a blog, you can do it for super cheap with Bluehost. Although I’m not with them anymore they are one of the best hosting providers for beginners. They have plans as low as four bucks a month! That’s a reasonably priced hobby, isn’t it? Once you get the hosting set up, all you need to do is pick your domain name, install WordPress, pick a theme, and get to blogging!
Also, be sure to read through my Blog Strategies series before you get started. Not only will it help you with what not to do, but it will give you a good idea of how long it takes for a complete blogging newbie with a full-time job to start gaining traction.
It’s realistic because I had absolutely no blogging, social media, content marketing, email marketing, or any other blog-related experience prior to starting. Sometimes people who come from some of those disciplines will give you unrealistic expectations – it’s the reality for them because they have the experience, but it’s not the reality for those of us starting from scratch.
Once you’ve gotten your feet wet, you can decide whether you like it enough to stick with it. I recommend giving it about six months. Start a Twitter account and a Pinterest account, start posting 1-2 times per week, and see how it feels. If after six months you still want to do it, join the Insiders and switch to BigScoots for hosting.
The Insiders will help you grow your blog way faster than you could ever do on your own, and you will want top-tier hosting to go along with it. But be realistic – it still takes google up to 18 months to start ranking your content.
The Benefits of Joining a Mastermind Group
I hope I outlined how much the right mastermind group can help you on your blogging journey. They offer blog tips, help with search engine optimization, and helpful advice for writing great content and improving your readership. If you’re ready to take your blogging business to the next level, the Insiders are definitely the group to check out. Join Now!
Melanie Allen is an American journalist and happiness expert. She has bylines on MSN, the AP News Wire, Wealth of Geeks, Media Decision, and numerous media outlets across the nation. She covers a wide range of topics centered around self-actualization and the quest for a fulfilling life.
I love my mastermind group. Sometimes your friends just don’t get what goes on in the blogging world. My mastermind totally gets it. They are also there to help with ideas and to keep me motivated when I’m down.