To protect your content, consider these practices:

1. Include a copyright notice

A simple notice at the end of your blog stating that what’s written is your property, while giving instructions on how to properly quote or use any of the content will deter people from plagiarizing.

2. Google Alerts & Google Reporting

Submit your content to Google Alerts, this service will notify you if the same content is published elsewhere. We all have better things to do than troll the internet for thieves, making this a useful tool. If you happen to get a report or discover your content elsewhere there is a way to report it to Google. Google will then contact the server/author and have the content revisited or removed.

3. Watermark your multimedia

If you are publishing original photos, videos or any other multimedia try including a watermark to make sure you’re recognized for your creative content. Here is a tutorial on adding a watermark to your photography through photoshop. Remember, this is for the media you create: when using other people’s images be sure to include sources to recognize the original author.

4. Be Organized

• Create a folder including everything you write, post and create, including multi-media.
• If you receive sponsorship be sure to keep track of contacts, receipts, payments and notes on all interactions.
• Back it up! Back it up! Back it up!

5. Know the Law

• While plagiarism isn’t considered a legal offence (it is a moral and ethical offence), copyright infringement is a serious infraction as defined below:

“Copyright provides protection for literary, artistic, dramatic or musical works (Including computer programs) and other subject-matter known as performer’s performances, sound recordings and communication signals.” – “A Guide to Copyright.” Government of Canada, Industry Canada, Office of the Deputy Minister, Canadian Intellectual Property Office. Web. 23 Sept. 2014.

• “Fair dealing” under the Copyright Act of Canada is the understanding that it is ok for people to use copyrighted works in certain contexts, such as journalism, commentary, private study, criticism or satire. What this means is one can take someone else’s writing and include it in a post with links and sources to the original creator. 
• Photography is automatically copyrighted as it is an artistic work. If the artist is concerned about reproduction, they can submit it to the Canadian Copyright Office. Another form of protection is a copyright symbol or watermark to deter unlawful reproduction.

Since there are a few grey areas in the world of blogging, err on the side of caution when creating posts: always cite written and multi-media content, consult local laws concerning copyright or talk to a lawyer.

Have more tips to keep yourself protected? Leave them in the comments below!

This week, we’d like to introduce you to Anum, the fashionable and witty woman behind the Toronto style & beauty blog, SummerxSkin

What’s your official job title, and where did you go to school?

I studied print journalism at Sheridan College. After graduating I worked as a contract and freelance reporter, but eventually made the shift online. I am now a digital marketing & social media manager.

Elevator pitch. Describe yourself in a nutshell (or sea shell, or any shell for that matter).

Community manager by day, style & beauty blogger at night and fun conversationalist in general! I love to meet and interact with people. I’m a tad obsessed with red pandas and have recently discovered that I enjoy cooking when I have the time.

Why did you pursue what you’re doing now? What was the inspiration?

I have a keen interest in a few things: clothes, makeup, digital media and writing. I get to experiment and indulge in all of these things through my job and as a blogger. I never thought I’d actually be recognized for my work, but it’s a fantastic feeling.

What is the best part of your day-to-day?

Most people hate waking up early, but I really enjoy it! I have a pretty set routine of being up and out the door by 7 a.m. This way I get to conquer everything on my to-do list before going home to relax and sleep.

What’s the most challenging?

Finding a balance between work and spending time with family and friends. Sometimes I feel bad about scheduling everything in my life, but it’s the only way to get things done and still be able to relax and enjoy the company of your loved ones.

If you took a look in the cliché crystal ball, what do you see for yourself?

I have an entrepreneurial spirit, so I hope to create something eventually on my own and perhaps doing it for a living. I’d also like to be a dedicated wife and mom one day. Not anytime soon though!

How do you embrace disruption in your work and personal life?

You have to distract yourself throughout the day in order to get back into focus. I tend to read, watch TV or a movie and sleep during my “down time”. It’s also good to get away from the computer and go to a coffee shop or restaurant.

What is the most memorable moment in your career?

There have been a lot of memorable moments but I have to say that it’s truly amazing being praised for my writing and content curation, whether it’s from a client or blog reader.

Tell us what you see yourself doing at 65 years old.

Still writing and over-accessorizing my outfits.

Just for fun: if you had to pick one app in the whole APPVERSE, what would it be?

Oh man! I can narrow it down to 2; Twitter because I like to stay connected at all times and WhatsApp because I have all my close friends on it.

This week, we’d like to introduce you to Ryan, the fashionable and fabulous man behind the lifestyle blog, I’m Mr. Fabulous!

Ryan Massel (a.k.a. Mr. Fab) began www.immrfabulous.com nearly three years ago, and quickly achieved national recognition. Awarded “Best New Blog” (2011) and “Best Humour Blog” (2011 & 2012) in Canada, he continues to receive acclaim for his witty and unique perspective. Ryan travels the world covering lavish parties and events, always seeming to get the inside scoop. He engages readers with his charm and shares his belief that we all deserve a moment to feel fabulous.

What’s your official job title, and where did you go to school?

I went to school in Regina, Saskatchewan, and spent my summers on the farm. When my grade 12 English teacher Ms. Lewis gave me a mercy pass, I thanked my lucky stars, and decided formal education wasn’t for me.

Why did you pursue what you’re doing now? What was the inspiration?

Growing up, I saw my family fall into the expected. A firefighter, a government worker, a plumber; all very talented but not the direction I saw myself headed. I’ve always wanted to make people laugh, and share fun stories that might inspire people to choose the path less taken. Forge their own story in life and be who and whatever they want to be!

What is the best part of your day-to-day?

My emails are always the best part of my day. When I wake up and see a dozen sitting there, I open them like a stack of presents; anticipation and joy for whatever’s inside. An invite, a compliment, it’s always something new and it’s always exciting!

What’s the most challenging?

Every time I share a story, it’s a bit nerve-wracking. Will they like it? Is it well written? Who will read it?… Over 750 posts in the last 2.5 years and I still dread a flop.

If you took a look in the cliché crystal ball, what do you see for yourself?

I’ve always wanted to host my own tv show. Maybe it’s a game show, talk show or morning show. I would also reluctantly date a Kardashian just to get the camera on my face.

How do you embrace disruption in your work and personal life?

I live a life of not letting obstacles get in my way. No ticket? No problem!!  Heck, I’ve even worked at a catering company to get access to a party I wasn’t guest listed for. Where there’s a will, there’s a way – you’ve just got to get creative!

What is the most memorable moment in your career?

Every day new opportunities present themselves, and my most memorable moments grow. Being flagged over by Tom Moran, the lead designer for J.Crew, at his show in NYC so he could ask my opinion in his S/S14 collection made me pinch myself. Or there was the interview turned carnival-games competition with famed country music singer Paul Brandt. Anytime I meet a celebrity and we laugh through an impromptu selfie photo shoot I think about how amazing my life is. I know I’m a lucky guy and I feel grateful everyday.

Do you support any initiatives or charities?

If your charity involves giving the best life possible to children, sign me up! I’ve done charitable work supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, and for the good people at ivebeenbullied.ca. Our youth need mentors in their lives who motivate them and let them know that the world is their oyster!

Tell us what you see yourself doing at 65 years old.

Being 65 and fabulous, making the most of every opportunity!

Just for fun: if you had to pick one app in the whole APPVERSE, what would it be?

1 app!? Since I’ve never been one to stick to rules, I have 4.

Don’t be fooled by articles and advertisements that promise earning thousands of dollars a week by blogging. You might be tempted to dramatically quit your day job and start earning six-figures by blogging full-time from a St. Lucian beach, but the truth of the blogging business could not be further from this ill-conceived notion.  Check out these 8 tips that can help you work towards your dream of earning a solid income from blogging.

1. Set yourself up for failure

We put this at the top of the list not to discourage budding bloggers, but to prepare them for the reality of the business of blogging (note the distinction between that and the hobby of blogging). As of 2013, there are more than 239 million blogs combined on WordPress, Blogster, Tumblr, LiveJournal and Weebly (snitchim.com). This number excludes the blogs on Blogger, Posterous and Blogsome. There is a lot of competition out there, and only a handful of the 239 million are earning at least some profit. Simply having your blog online isn’t enough to generate revenue and a sustainable source of income. Treat it as you would a start-up business. You need to put effort into making it grow. It will either take-off or flop, and expecting riches quick is unrealistic.

2. Choose your niche wisely

We’ve visited countless cooking blogs, fashion blogs, beauty blogs, and the soccer-mom blogs who manage to squeeze in just enough time between diaper changes to blog about the experience. The truth is that many of those blogs will fail because the market for that topic is over saturated. If a broad topic such as fashion is your true passion, focus on a particular detail and grow from there. For example, instead of blogging about fashion, you can instead dedicate your entire blog to Denim. Once you delve deeper into this one particular subject, you have the potential to become a well-known (and respected) denim blogger.

3. Quality vs. quantity

If you go around commenting on every random blog you can find, telling them to visit your own blog, chances are you’re not going to get a good following. Don’t expect to gain hundreds of followers in a short period of time, either. Blogging takes time, but finding your target audience is more time-consuming than the writing process itself. Research blog topics that are similar to your own and take the time to read their posts. If you are genuinely interested in their work, make productive comments and follow them. By doing so, you have a higher chance of attracting a quality target audience who will also be genuinely interested in your posts. Remember to also spend a good amount of time looking in your back-end analytics, this will give you a realtime indication as to what content is meaningful to your readers.

4. Use social media (duh!)

Having an online presence is a key factor in having a successful blog. If you already have a solid following on your blog, start a Facebook and Twitter account (if haven’t already done so). If you already have a good following on Twitter and Facebook or other networks and are just starting a blog, use those networks to promote your blog. Be persistent and be patient. Tweet, re-tweet, and repeat. Follow the right people on Twitter, and be an active member of all your social network communities – it’s a great way for you and your future or existing fans to connect and spread the word.

5. The money-maker 

Although to some this may seem like selling out, if you’re looking to earn money off your blog, having advertisements is a good way to do so. If your blog has enough traffic, you can offer up space for Google Ads or other content providers on your site for a reasonable fee (just make sure it’s brand safe!). Also, have a look into affiliate links within both your posts, and in the form of ads.  And don’t forget: search engine optimization (SEO) is a great way to optimize your posts to be more search-engine friendly, and Google offers various tools you can use to help your blog with attracting more visitors (such as Google Trends and Analytics). It takes a lot of work, like any business. If you’re in it for the long haul, the work will eventually pay off.

6. Reach out to PR agencies 

Contact agencies that fit in with your particular blog topic. For example, if you have a travel blog, reach out to agencies that specialize in tourism, hotels, travel, etc. If you write them a good pitch, you can potentially receive free samples or one-night stays at hotels in exchange for publicity on your blog. Be forewarned, PR agencies worth their salt will want to know some of the analytics behind your blog, so know your unique monthly visits (not page views) along with your demographic!

7. Don’t forget the art of writing!

What it all comes down to is that blogging is about writing. You can’t expect to have a successful blog if it has no substance. Good writing takes practice, so don’t get discouraged if your thoughts aren’t being translated the same way via text. Keep writing and you will find your own distinctive writing voice.

8. Make an editorial calendar 

Aside from all of the above, your blog needs two main things in order to succeed: regularity and reliability. In order to stay organized and on top of your posts, make an editorial calendar for yourself. Write down ideas in advance and make clear, organized notes for when you plan to publish each post. It’s difficult to come up with a new subject on the spot every day or every other day. It’s much easier to think of a few different ideas and put them in a queue for publishing on your blog.

With all these in mind, happy blogging and good luck! If you do end up getting rich, don’t forget to take us out for a drink or two

Sources:

http://www.nydailynews.com/jobs/real-money-blogging-article-1.1396145

https://www.mint.com/blog/how-to/turn-your-hobby-into-a-money-making-career-0713/

http://snitchim.com/how-many-blogs-are-there/

This week, we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Desforges, lifestyle contributor for FASHIONIGHTS.com!

1. What’s your official job title, and where did you go to school?

I am the Lifestyle Contributor for FASHIONIGHTS.com which is one of Canada’s top 8 most influential Fashion & Lifestyle blogs as rated by Elle Canada.  I attended Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario and graduated in 2007 with my Honours Degree in Mass Communication.

2. Elevator pitch. Describe yourself in a nutshell (or sea shell, or any shell for that matter).

I try to not take life too seriously. I find joy in the simple things like food, wine, love and laughter. I like to think I can stay ahead of the trends in all those areas and enjoy exploring everything the great city of Toronto has to offer now that I have returned for good. Life is what you make it, and I try to make it the best I can each and every day.

3. Why did you pursue what you’re doing now? What was the inspiration?

Julio Reyes is the founder of FASHIONIGHTS and is one of the most successful people I have ever known. Originally he captured my heart when we became a couple, and shortly after he captured my attention as a contributor for all things food and lifestyle. You can say that my reason to write is the love I have for the topics which I cover including Daniel’s Dish, my new restaurant column. But my inspiration is and has always been my love for Julio and my admiration for him.

 4. What is the best part of your day-to-day?

I am so blessed to a part of a huge entity like FASHIONIGHTS and the best part of my day to day is the new faces and places I get to see as a part of the media. Some of the greatest friends I have are due largely in part to the events I attend on a daily basis and the people I get to interact with. I love my job! But I love the people more! It’s why I am inspired to write each and every post.

5. What’s the most challenging?

Dating the boss! Drawing the line between my relationship and my professional life with Julio can sometimes be challenging. Somehow we always manage to find the perfect balance between the two. I love working with him, but I don’t always love how harsh he can be when he edits my posts.

6. If you took a look in the cliché crystal ball, what do you see for yourself?

Five year plan? I am married, settled in New York (The Fashion Mecca of North America) with the man I love and the blog we have made into a global brand. But as long as I have love and I am inspired to keep writing, I will be happy no matter where we end up or what we end up doing.

 7. How do you embrace disruption in your work and personal life?

I do my best to maintain organization, but the fashion and food worlds are far from that! I’m constantly juggling my day and night, answering emails, tweeting, instagraming, facebooking and emailing some more. We are in high demand and that means chaos comes hand in hand.  But I excel under pressure and like to think I do it all with a smile on my face. I’d rather be busy then bored.

8. What is the most memorable moment in your career?

My very first event with Julio at the launch of Restaurant Buonanotte. That first flash of the camera in our face and hob knobbing with celebrities and the very best of the blogger world, I still remember thinking how glamorous my life had become. And I could just tell that my dreams were finally starting to come true.

9. Do you support any initiatives or charities?

I love supporting charity and believe that it is everyone’s duty to give back to causes that deserve attention. It is especially important when you are in the public eye and can use your influence over a large audience to do some good. Movember is my primary charity as I had a very serious prostate cancer scare and The Canadian Cancer Society. I always do what I can when I can for these charities.

10. Tell us what you see yourself doing at 65 years old. 

Sitting on a beach in Barcelona, Spain enjoying my retirement and the most beautiful city in the world.

11. Just for fun: if you had to pick one app in the whole APPVERSE, what would it be?

Instagram.  THAT is the app that I excel in and adore.  There is something so intriguing about the whole process and I love each and every one of my followers.  Plus I’ve been told I’m quite entertaining!  @DoTheDaniel, check it out!

What’s your official job title, and where did you go to school?

My official job title is “Writer”, because that’s what I do – I spin stories. I have a Bachelor of Commerce from Ryerson University.

Elevator pitch. Describe yourself in a nutshell (or sea shell, or any shell for that matter).

I’m constantly trying to perfect the art of “conversuasion”; that is, a gentle call to action in the midst of a great story, adventure or just one of life’s moments.

Why did you pursue what you’re doing now? What was the inspiration?

Isn’t it obvious? I thought the world needed another mommy blogger. Joking aside, I have always had a love for creative writing and business; blogging combines the two perfectly.

What is the best part of your day-to-day?

The best part of my day-to-day is knowing that I am in complete control of my day-to-day. Being your own boss is exactly as great as it sounds.

What’s the most challenging?

Trying to keep organized is a huge challenge for me, but then, it’s not strange to find Hot Wheels lined up on my office desk at any given moment.

If you took a look in the cliché crystal ball, what do you see?

The 3 L’s: love, luck and laughter.

How do you embrace disruption in your work and personal life?

With two young boys who share an “office” with me every day, my entire life is about disruption. Disruption for potty breaks, snack time, whining, hissy fits… and sometimes, my boys bother me too.

What is the most memorable moment in your career?

Every day is a memorable moment – if I don’t absolutely love what I have to say, I don’t hit “publish”.

Do you support any initiatives or charities? 

As a #MiracleMom, I am a huge supporter of the Children’s Miracle Network. And Sick Kids will forever hold a special place in my heart; we donate monthly.

Tell us what you see yourself doing at 65 years old.

At 65 years old, I’ll be sitting with my husband in our condo in Del Boca Vista, Phase III.

Be sure to visit Lena’s blog at http://listentolena.com

There’s a lot of different tactics that writers can use to ensure they’re sharing subjects of value with their readers. The best insights will always come from your users – as a rule, make sure to check your stats daily, and see where the traffic is going when it lands on your site. See what readers are looking at most, and pay attention to the bounce rates. It’s simple really, identify the content that’s getting read and generate content that relates to the subject at hand.

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS

Consult Google Analytics (GA) when reviewing your content strategy. If you don’t know how to use GA, find someone who does – or email us to help!  The value of knowing how to operate and read GA is exponential, especially in today’s market.

LOOK AT TRENDS

Learn to love using Google Trends on a regular basis. Finding out what people are searching for most at a global scale, or at a more local level will help you formulate writing that people are looking for. Remember, don’t just write about a topic for the sake of writing – take a topic, and relate it back to your focus.

Check out what’s trending in Ontario, Canada right now (courtesy of Google Trends)

Writing and creating original content is much harder than it looks. Be sure to keep testing your ideas out, and remember that those tests mean absolutely nothing without fully understanding the data and results behind them.