Category: Blogging and Writing
In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Blogger, I get real about the struggles of motivation and consistency in blogging and digital product creation. While I’ve been making progress on redesigning my blogs and increasing traffic, one area I’ve been falling short in is finishing my digital products for my online store. I have projects that are … Read More “Overcoming Motivation Roadblocks in Blogging and Content Creation” »
In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Blogger, we tackle a question that many content creators are asking: Is blogging dead? While the landscape has changed dramatically over the past 15-20 years, blogging remains a powerful and relevant tool—if done intentionally. I share my personal journey of revitalizing my blog, the real results I’ve seen from a … Read More “Is Blogging Dead?” »
In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Blogger, Stephen Bedard shares his journey of realizing that his content had become stagnant, despite consistent output. He explores how refocusing on audience interests—by engaging with trending topics and answering real questions—helped him regain traction. Learn key lessons on balancing quality with quantity and how to create content … Read More “From Coasting to Captivating: How to Reignite Engagement With Your Blog and YouTube Channel” »
In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Blogger, we explore the five key elements that make a blog post effective—beyond just the content. While it might be tempting to focus solely on the writing, attention to these other components can significantly enhance both your audience’s experience and your blog’s search engine optimization (SEO). Titles Matter: … Read More “5 Elements of an Effective Blog Post” »
In this brief but impactful episode of Confessions of a Christian Blogger, Stephen Bedard shares insights on a counterintuitive yet vital principle of social media marketing: promoting other people’s content. While it might feel unnatural for bloggers—Christian or not—to share content that doesn’t directly lead to their own platforms, Stephen explains how this approach builds trust … Read More “Why Promoting Other People’s Content Matters (And How It Builds Trust)” »
In this heartfelt and brief episode of Confessions of a Christian Blogger, the host shares a personal update about navigating a sudden family health crisis and reflects on the importance of prioritizing what truly matters. Acknowledging the emotional and physical toll of unexpected events, the episode emphasizes the value of self-care, adjusting to life’s challenges, and … Read More “When Life Happens: Prioritizing What Matters in the Midst of Crisis” »
In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Blogger, we dive into one of the most critical strategies for growing a successful blog: building your email list. Starting with the four essential words every digital marketer knows — Grow Your Email List — we explore why this is so important and how to get started, even if you’re new … Read More “Building Your Email List: The Key to Growing Your Christian Blog Audience” »
In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Blogger, the host explores a key question: Should Christian bloggers make money from their work? Reflecting on biblical teachings about greed and personal experiences, the host addresses the tension between faith-based blogging and monetization. They explain that while creating content to bless others is admirable, blogging also incurs costs—such as … Read More “Monetizing a Christian Blog (Is It Right?)” »
In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Blogger, I take a trip down memory lane to share how I got started in blogging and podcasting. From my first blog on Blogger to managing multiple niche sites on apologetics, leadership, disability ministry, and Christian history, I reflect on the successes, missteps, and lessons learned. Hear how … Read More “A Beautiful Mess – My Journey Through Blogging, Podcasts, and Finding Focus” »
In this episode, Stephen Bedard shares his journey as a faith-based blogger navigating the challenges of a rapidly changing blogging landscape. He reflects on his struggles with declining views, limited resources, and the difficulty of monetization, while committing to revitalizing his blog and sharing his experiences in real-time. This podcast offers an honest, Christian perspective … Read More “Faithful Blogging: My Journey to Revitalize and Inspire” »
I have been blogging since 2006 and have had a number of websites since then. I have been very active in creating content: blog posts, podcasts, and videos. Plus I have written a few books. But why? Why do I spend so much time doing all of this? What is the point of it? This … Read More “Why I Do What I Do” »
Here in Nova Scotia, we have had nothing but cloudy days and rain for some time. We only have had short glimpses of the blue sky over the past number of days. But that is not what I mean by Bluesky. One of the things I like to do is to interact with people on … Read More “Good News: Enjoying the Bluesky” »
There is currently an exodus of people leaving X, formerly known as Twitter. To a certain extent this has been happening since Elon Musk took over Twitter. This has increased recently, most likely related to the election of Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s close connection to him. Some people want to distance themselves from Musk. … Read More “Why I Am Not Planning on Leaving X/Twitter” »
Last weekend I found myself in a low mood. I made the decision to take a break from blogging and from social media. Now you will notice that this is less than a week later. That short of time is probably the regular space for many bloggers and people on social media. There is nothing … Read More “Reflections on a (Brief) Break” »
Every once in a while I have a reason to do a search for a particular congregation. There is generally three results: a good website, a bad website, or no website. I must confess that I am confused by the final two results. Why do churches have bad websites or no website at all? Many … Read More “Churches Need Good Websites” »
This post is not about which social media you should focus on or the strategy that you should take with social media. Things are changing so quickly that the moment I hit “Publish” my advice will already be out of date. But is social media still relevant for bloggers? Each of the major social media … Read More “Promoting a Blog With Social Media” »
Perhaps you have thought about starting a blog. And then you thought to yourself, “Is blogging still a thing? Isn’t that so 2006?” Is it too late for you to start a blog? Has that ship already sailed? There are basically two reasons to start a blog: Regarding the first one, it really doesn’t matter … Read More “So Can You Still Start Blogging?” »
I enjoy creating YouTube videos that complement what I am blogging about. I tend toward shorter videos, usually 10-20 minutes. Some prefer longer videos but this fits more my style. I recently have started producing YouTube shorts. These are very short videos, with 15 seconds or a minute. This seems to be YouTube’s version of … Read More “Consider Using YouTube Shorts” »
You have a blog or website. You have a Twitter account. You want to drive traffic to your website with Twitter. How do you make it happen? Well, it is not as easy as just posting links to your site on your Twitter feed and hope people will notice. The first step is to actually … Read More “How to Use Twitter to Grow Your Platform” »
Twitter is probably my favourite social media platform at the present time. I use it to share my content, think out loud about issues I’m wrestling with, and connecting with old and new friends. While Twitter can be a useful and edifying place, it can also be toxic at times. It is not Twitter itself … Read More “Christians on Twitter/X” »
The digital content landscape has grown rapidly over the past decade and blogging has had to make room for podcasts, video channels, and other types of content. But blogging is still a thing. Perhaps you have thought about starting to blog or to return to blogging. Should you do that? That’s a good question. I … Read More “Should You Start Blogging?” »
Podcasting is fun but it does have some costs. Plus so does the rest of life. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could make some money from your podcasting? I recently monetized two of my podcasts and I’m really impressed with it. I use something called Podgo. Once accepted into the program, they give you … Read More “Monetizing Your Podcast” »
We are not exactly post-pandemic yet, but it is time for us to reflect on what blogging will look like post-pandemic vs pre-pandemic. The basic principles will remain the same. There is a need for quality content that is relevant to those searching and written by people who have some knowledge in the area. Here … Read More “Blogging in a Post-COVID World” »
How do you become a successful blogger? The easy answer is to blog consistently. Of course this is assuming a level of quality in the blog posts. It is not enough to just hit the hit keys and publish it. But at the same time, not every post has to go viral. It is likely … Read More “The Importance of Consistent Blogging” »
What kind of skills do you need to be active in blogging and social media? Some basic writing and technical would certainly be helpful. But there is another important skill that not everyone has and many do not talk about. If you want to have a lasting career or hobby of blogging or social media, … Read More “One of the Most Important Skills for Blogging and Social Media” »
I recently took a break on creating content for my blogs, podcasts and YouTube channel. It was not because of burnout. Rather I was taking time to focus on my schoolwork. I thought I would share some random observations. It was refreshing to take a break. The overall traffic to my website has gone down … Read More “Reflections on a Content Break” »
You have started a blog and you are getting some regular views of your post. Now you have begun to think about monetizing your blog. There is nothing wrong with monetizing a blog. Our economy is based on being paid for the skills we have and the products we produce. It is perfectly acceptable to … Read More “5 Ways to Monetize Your Blog” »
I see my YouTube channel as be a key element in my online program. But I have just rebooted it and so I’m still in the early stages. Still, I have already learned some things. I’m experimenting with various kinds of content. Some of it is just videos on topics related to the kind of … Read More “Reflections on Restarting my YouTube Channel” »
You want to start a blog and so what do you do? This is assuming have already wrestled whether this is the right thing and the right timing. You are ready for the commitment and you are confident you are read (or as ready as you will ever be). What are your first steps? Choose … Read More “The First Three Steps in Starting a Blog” »
I have been blogging one way or another since around 2006. I have started a number of blogs since then, each time learning something new. This post is on my main website. I have a lot of content here, most of it divided up into sub-blogs. This is still my main focus. But I still … Read More “The Excitement of Starting a New Website” »
I’m writing this during the Coronavirus pandemic but what I’m going to talk about is relevant during any major crisis. As I have spent time on social media, mostly Facebook and Twitter, during this past week, I have noticed something. Almost everything that was shared was either very discouraging or very encouraging. Not much in … Read More “Social Media and Blogging During a Crisis” »
I remember when Facebook was the thing for churches to use. I still hear older people commenting on the importance of Facebook for reaching young people. The problem is that most young people are not on Facebook. You can read about the trends here. While I enjoy Facebook, my children have zero interest in it. … Read More “Should Churches Still Use Facebook?” »
One of the first things you do when you start a blog is to choose a name for your blog. But this is actually two different decisions, one more important than the other. The first and most important decision is choosing your domain name. While it is helpful for SEO reasons to have this the … Read More “Choosing a Name For Your Blog” »
Should your blog focus on just one topic or is it okay to blog on numerous topics? A related question is: If you have more than one interest, should you have multiple blogs or should you write on all the topics on one blog? The short answer is: It is your blog and you can … Read More “Can You Blog on More Than One Topic?” »
It is a common question concerning the frequency of blogging. How often should you blog? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? It depends. That’s not to say that there are no objective principles. The frequency of your blogging can be affected by: Your topic. If you have a general topic that gives you plenty of material to blog … Read More “How Often Should You Blog?” »
I have been involved in blogging and social media for a long time. There are many lessons that I have learned but there is one that has stood out. I don’t have to respond to every comment. Of course if a person has a sincere question or a helpful comment, I will respond. But there … Read More “An Important Lesson For Blogging and Social Media” »
There is a website that I have visited a number of times. I won’t tell you which one, but it has content that I’m interested in. I don’t like visiting that website. Why? Each piece of content includes a video on automatic play. It takes a long time for each video to load. Even though … Read More “Don’t Make This Mistake With Your Website” »
I have been blogging a long time. I have noticed that some of my most popular blog posts have something in common. And this is their titles are in the form of a question. As I write this post, these are my top four posts: What is the Difference Between Samuel/Kings and Chronicles? What is … Read More “What Kind of Blog Post Titles Get Read Most?” »
Have you ever considered starting a blog? You don’t have to be the perfect writer or technology expert to start blogging. Here are some questions to ask: Is there a topic that you are passionate about? Is it something that other people are interested in? Are you willing to share your thoughts? Here is the … Read More “Is It Time to Start Blogging?” »
I have a number of podcasts and have hosted them in a variety of ways. This has included paid hosting sites. However, I don’t make (much) money from them so it costs me to go in that direction. I have tried a few “free” sites but usually they limited the number of episodes you could … Read More “Free Podcast Hosting” »
I recently did a survey concerning my various online activities. Certain things were simply confirmed but there were a few surprises. Here are some of the things that I learned. The people who listen to my podcast are not the same people who read my blog. I had expected much more overlap. I run a … Read More “What I Learned From a Readers’ Survey” »
As I write this, it is nearing the end of the year. It is a time when people are considering resolutions for the new year. Whatever you think about new year’s resolutions, it is always a good time to be thinking about setting goals. Goals should not be vague as “becoming a better blogger” or … Read More “Set Some Goals For Your Blogging” »
As I approach fifty years old, I have been doing a number of top five lists. One area of my life that has taken a significant amount of time is blogging. I have been blogging in one form or another for over ten years. During that time, I have learned a number of things about … Read More “Top Five Things I Have Learned About Blogging” »
I have played around a lot with WordPress plugins. Some of them are more useful than others. We have to be careful with how many plugins we use as they can slow down our site. We must choose wisely. One of my favourite is Revive Old Posts. I used to use it but for some … Read More “One of My Favourite WordPress Plugins” »
There is a very clear answer to this question. The answer is: Not all of them. There are all sorts of social media platforms out there, some that have proven to be long lasting and some that have been a fad. You don’t have to use all of them. You shouldn’t use all of them. … Read More “What Social Media Should You Focus On?” »
I recently blogged about 7 Steps to Become a Really Bad Apologist. I thought I would so something similar for blogging. Remember this is all tongue in cheek so be careful with how you apply what I say here. So here is how you can become a really bad blogger (if that’s what you really want … Read More “7 Steps to Become a Really Bad Blogger” »
Blogging can be a lot of fun. But it can also be draining, not just time-wise, but emotionally as well. If you are a blogger, you need to be proactive in keeping yourself healthy and not burning out. I thought about some ways in which you can avoid burnout at a blogger. Here are some … Read More “How to Not Get Burned Out as a Blogger” »
One of the most useful online tools for pastors is YouTube. Anyone can make a video, upload it and make it available to millions of viewers. With YouTube owned by Google, it is very easy for people to find your content. But how can pastors use YouTube? They can be used for announcing events or … Read More “How Pastors Can Use YouTube” »
I have been blogging for over ten years. I have had a few breaks of a couple months in there but have stuck with it fairly consistently. The truth is that I enjoy blogging. I thought I would share a few things that I love about blogging. What do you love about blogging? Interested in … Read More “5 Things I Love About Blogging” »
It is very important to have a church website. Many of the new people who come to our church, find us through an internet search. There are many options that you can have on a church website. Churches offer everything from a blog by their pastor to live streaming of their services. But what do … Read More “What Do You Need on a Church Website?” »
There is nothing worse for a blogger than to sit down, knowing that it is time to write a blog post, and staring at a blank screen with no ideas. But it doesn’t have to be this way. One way to overcome this is to come up with an editorial calendar. Here is a screen … Read More “Create an Editorial Calendar” »
Should pastors be on social media. I know of pastors who take it as an item of pride that they have avoided the pressure to be one social media. While that is fine, I also think it is a missed opportunity. So many people are on social media and we have the ability to communicate … Read More “Pastors and Social Media” »
While many people think of LinkedIn as social media, it is also possible to use LinkedIn as a blogging platform. People blogging on subjects related to technology and business have had some success with LinkedIn. But should you use this as your main blogging platform. The problem with LinkedIn is that your content is under … Read More “Should You Blog on LinkedIn?” »
Many bloggers wish that their blog was doing much better than it is. Well, I want to tell you that having a successful blog is as easy as ABC. Here are the ABCs of building a better blog. A. Author You can’t have a successful blog without content. And you can’t have content unless someone … Read More “The ABCs of Building a Better Blog” »
I recently blogged on what to include in an email newsletter. While some of that is applicable to a church newsletter, I thought I would share some ideas about what to include for this specific kind of newsletter. First, why should you have a church newsletter? As a pastor a of a local church, one … Read More “What to Include in a Church Email Newsletter” »
I have previously blogged on why bloggers should start compiling an email list right away. But an email list should be gathered for a reason and not just to have another task to complete. One of the things that you can do with an email list is to start an email newsletter. The frequency of … Read More “What to Include in an Email Newsletter” »
In addition to your personal Facebook profile, you have the option to set up specialized pages or groups. What’s the difference between them and which one should you use? The basic difference concerns who can post. Only certain people who are assigned roles post content on pages, while everyone who belongs to a group can … Read More “Should You Use Facebook Pages or Groups?” »
There are many things that Christian bloggers need to know but there is one thing that I have learned that has really made the difference. Ironically, what I learned is not about what to do, but what not to do. One of the most important things that Christian bloggers need to know is that you … Read More “One of the Most Important Things For Christian Bloggers to Know” »
While you are free to blog on any and every topic that comes to mind, you may want to reconsider if your are seeking to be a successful blogger. Those who thrive at blogging usually have a specific niche in which they blog. But how do you choose a niche? First, you need to choose … Read More “How to Pick a Niche For Your Blog” »
It is always the right time to be setting goals for your online activity, including blogging. The key is to set SMART goals. What are SMART goals? Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Timely Anything less than this is really a waste of time. Rather than telling you about SMART goals, it may be more helpful if … Read More “Setting Blogging Goals” »
As I evaluate and rank a variety of apologetics blogs, Lenny Esposito’s Come Reason is always near the top of the list. Lenny dos a great job of presenting Christianity in a reasonable way, both on his blog and his podcast. I appreciate that Lenny took the time to answer my questions. We can all … Read More “Blogger Interview: Lenny Esposito” »
If you are intending to take your blogging activity seriously, I recommend that begin building your email list now. I mean, right now. The sooner the better. You might think there is no point yet. You don’t have an eBook to promote. You don’t have an online course to offer. You just don’t have any … Read More “Why Bloggers Should Start Their Email List Right Away” »
The first thing you need to know is that there is a difference between a Facebook page and a Facebook group. The basic difference is that on a page, only the admin can post but everyone can post in a group. More on this in a future post. Some people also see it as being … Read More “5 Things You Can Do With a Church Facebook Page” »
What is SEO? SEO is search engine optimization and it is about taking steps to help search engines find your content. While it is nice that people click on your links when you share on social media, ultimately you want the search engines to be doing the work of getting people to you. This doesn’t … Read More “Three Easy Steps to Improving the SEO of Your Blog” »
I’m so thankful for the opportunity to talk to Parker J. Cole. Parker is a writer and podcaster. While many people limit their online activity to blogging, there are plenty of other area to stretch out into. In this interview, Parker gives some great advice on a number of topics, especially on how to do … Read More “Interview with Parker J. Cole” »
So you have decided that it’s time to create a Christian blog (Is a Christian Blogging Even a Thing?) But where do you start? What steps do you take to set yourself up for success? That is what this blog post is all about. Here are the five steps that you need to take to … Read More “5 Steps to Starting Your Christian Blog” »
I have recently begun to offer blog coaching services to fellow Christian bloggers. I put together an audit offering an evaluation and practical suggestions. Since different people use different blogging platforms, I have set up a few new blogs on other platforms. This allows me to play around inside those platforms and give more specific … Read More “What Blogging Platform Should You Use?” »
This is the final part of our Christian blogging challenge. I hope that you have found the suggestions helpful. I would love to hear your feedback. Our final challenge is to reach out to another blogger. This can happen in a number of ways. One way is to invite someone to do a guest post … Read More “5 Day Christian Blogging Challenge: Day 5” »
The ultimate situation for your blog should be to receive the majority of its traffic from search engines. One of the most rewarding experiences is when you have come back from a vacation and have not been actively sharing your content and you see that search engines have been driving readers to your blog without … Read More “5 Day Christian Blogging Challenge: Day 4” »
If you are like me, you have an idea of how often you want to post on your blog and then hope some idea will pop in your head for a topic. You might think today is a good day to post something and you look around the room for some inspiration. But it doesn’t … Read More “5 Day Christian Blogging Challenge: Day 3” »
Yesterday we looked at the importance of determining your audience. Today we are going to look at another important step that is often overlooked. It is important to set goals for your blog. When I say goals, I don’t mean just any goals. I’m talking about SMART goals. SMART goals are: Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant … Read More “5 Day Christian Blogging Challenge: Day 2” »
All this week, I’m going to be sharing one tip to help you improve your blogging. Although the focus is on Christian blogging, many of the principles will be relevant to blogging in general. Define your audience We are told not to label people or put people in boxes. That’s good for interpersonal relationships but … Read More “5 Day Christian Blogging Challenge: Day 1” »
A blog coach is someone who helps and guides bloggers to be more effective in their blogging. But why bother with a blog coach? Isn’t enough to write an interesting post and just hit publish? I can think of a number of reasons to use a blog coach: The point of blogging is not just … Read More “Why Should You Consider Using a Blog Coach?” »
I have encountered a number of churches that still don’t have a website, despite all the data that indicates it is an important element for connecting with visitors. Some of the reasons that churches have not pursued this are based on mistaken ideas about church websites. I would like to clear things up be exposing … Read More “5 Myths About Church Websites” »
Much of my blogging has been in the area of apologetics. That makes me very interested in the other apologetics resources that are available on the internet. One of the best resources that I have encountered is a website called The Poached Egg. The Poached Egg is a blog that gathers the best apologetics content … Read More “Blogger Interview: Greg West” »
With the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing the 95 Theses on the Wittenberg door, I recently read Roland Bainton’s Here I Stand. I was struck by something as I read the story of the birth and success of the Reformation. Aside from Martin Luther’s theological and leadership abilities, much of his success was related … Read More “Martin Luther and Blogging” »
I have a desire to help people in their Christian blogging. But before doing that, we better decide if such a thing exists. I’m reminded of a conversation with a friend about “Christian music.” He hated that term, not because of the quality of the music, but because there was no such thing. People can … Read More “Is Christian Blogging Even a Thing?” »
Twitter can be a great way to promote your blog. While I have not found the same numbers as I do when it comes to Facebook, Twitter should be an important contribution to promoting your blog. The advantage of Twitter over Facebook is that Twitter audiences have patience for more content posting than Facebook. There … Read More “How to Make the Most of Twitter” »
Bloggers can have the best intentions and still find that their sought after audience eludes them. It is not enough to publish a few good pieces of content. There are some basic mistakes that are frequently made. Here are five of them: Using a confusing title. We might come up with something clever and that … Read More “5 Mistakes Bloggers Often Make” »
I really enjoy blogging and have been doing so for around ten years. My point was never about just getting the numbers, although I’m glad that people do read it. I recently was listed in the top 50 faith blogs for the Feedspot site. There are lots of great faith-oriented blogs on that list that … Read More “Top 50 Faith Blogs” »
I almost called this post, “Should Pastors Blog?” but I chose not to because it suggests there is a yes or no answer. The truth is that some pastors should not blog. Perhaps they are not very good at blogging or they may have the skill but they hate doing it. I would never suggest … Read More “5 Good Reasons for Pastors to Blog” »
Blogging can be fun and rewarding. One of the things that I enjoy about blogging is connecting with other bloggers. We are not alone in our desire to produce interesting content for others to read. I have a desire to support and encourage other bloggers. Here are six things I have come up with that … Read More “6 Ways Bloggers Can Support Other Bloggers” »
I have been blogging for a while, having started my first blog about ten years ago. I enjoy blogging and I’m thankful for the good quality blogs that are out there. Of course there is always room for us to improve. Reflecting on my own experiences and what I have seen on other blogs, I … Read More “6 Mistakes Christian Bloggers Make” »
Why You Need a Website I’m amazed at how many churches still do not have a website. Perhaps there are some who do not know how to create one or who think it costs a lot of money. But there may be some who think there is no reason for one. When a visitor comes … Read More “Your Church Needs a Website!” »
I would not consider myself an expert in blogging but I have blogged for ten years and so have learned a thing or two. I would like to share a few ideas about how you can have a successful blog. The only way to know if you are successful is to determine what your goal … Read More “How to Have a Successful Blog” »
Like most people, I have a desire to be as productive as possible. When I come into my church office in the morning, I write on my white board all of the tasks that I need to accomplish on that day. Unexpected things always come up and so I have to be careful with my … Read More “I Don’t Have Time Not to Write” »
I have been blogging in some form or another for ten years. Much of that has included apologetics blogging. I enjoy writing apologetics-related blog posts and hopefully I have learned something over the years. Here are a few things that I would like to offer to my fellow apologetics bloggers. Make sure to do your … Read More “5 Tips For Apologetics Bloggers” »
In recent months I have come across numerous articles, posts and podcasts reflecting on the question, “Is blogging dead?” Obviously blogging cannot be completely dead as I am writing a blog post on the subject. Why are people asking if blogging is dead? The problem is not necessarily something wrong with the medium of blogs. … Read More “Is Apologetics Blogging Dead?” »
Write a Guest Post for Another Blog You have good things to say. You have studied and learned and want to pass on your knowledge. But how do you do that? You may have your own blog but are not satisfied with the results. You may not have a blog but you have a great … Read More “30 Day Apologetics Challenge: Day 12” »