NOTE: The sign-up form is now closed, but all Blogging U. assignments are published publicly here on The Daily Post — feel free to jump in!
If you’re just getting your blog off the ground, or saw our Zero to Hero challenge in January and wished you’d thrown your hat into the ring, today’s your lucky day: another round of Blogging 101: Zero to Hero gets started on Tuesday, April 15th.
Looking for something more advanced? Blogging 201: Branding, Growth and Traffic starts the same day (201-level challenges on writing/photography and theme tailoring start in early summer)!
Read on to learn more about each challenge and sign up to participate.
Blogging 101: Zero to Hero
What is Zero to Hero? Thirty days of digestible blogging assignments that get you from “What’s a blog?” to a blog that you’re excited to publish — and others are excited to read. At the end of Day 30, you’ll have:
- A half-dozen (or more) published posts, and a handful of draft posts to get you through your next 30 days.
- A customized theme, with widgets to draw new readers in and highlight your favorite reads.
- A (small but growing) audience.
- An understanding of the blogging community, blog etiquette, and how to build a readership of your own.
We can’t guarantee instant viral mayhem (if only!), but you’ll have a jump-start on all the basics for successful blogging.
Blogging 201: Branding, Growth, and Traffic
Branding, Growth, and Traffic assumes a few things about your blog: you know what you want your blog to be, you’ve got a handle on publishing basics, and you’re ready to take your site to the masses. This is a 14-day challenge that will help you:
- Define your blog’s brand and make sure it’s effective and consistent.
- Build your audience both within WordPress.com, and without.
- Understand and use your blog’s stats to grow your traffic.
- Make the most of your existing posts, to bring them ongoing attention.
We’ll help you focus your brand and explore different ways to boost your internet infamy. At the end of the two weeks, you’ll have some new readers, new tools, and a to-do list you’re excited to attack.
If you’re participating in either challenge, you’ll also have access to The Commons, a private, conversation-focused site where you can chat with other participants, share works-in-progress for feedback, and more (there will be separate sites for 101 and 201 bloggers). Staff will be on hand there to answer questions, give feedback, direct you to more resources, and keep the conversation flowing.
Get ready to blog!
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what is the challenges ? n what is the prize
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There are no prizes (other than having an awesome blog 🙂 ). You’ll get an assignment each day that helps your develop your blog and grow your readership.
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I did the last 101, will this be exactly the same format? If so I will skip and do the 201 instead x
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We’ve updated the content slightly based on the first one but yes, it’s the same.
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ok thank you, I will do the 201 then, great work 🙂
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I’m doing the 201, thanks Michelle!
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Woohoo! I can’t wait to apply these to my second blog.
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You’ll do great. Was just checking out your blogs. Keep up the good work 🙂
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Zero to Hero really helped me get my blog off the ground successfully in January. I highly recommend it. (And yes, I’m doing Blogging 201!)
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Sounds great, not sure if the submit button is working though, it seems to keep throwing an error. I’d like to sign up to 201 though 🙂
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It looks like it’s working correctly — signups are rolling in — so I’d try again a little later. If you get the error again, I’ll add you to the list manually.
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Worked this time, thanks Michelle.
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@michelleweber
Will this be similar to the last ZTH? If so, I’m going to pass.
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The 101 challenge is, yes.
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Thank you Michelle! I signed up for 201 and looking forward to it. So much fun hanging out with you in the Challenges! 🙂
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201 sounds great to me
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I am so excited to see the Zero to Hero challenge coming back!
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For me it’s like @Jenna. Learned a lot in January and will join the 201 now.
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Hi Marius! Looks like we both will be doing 201…yay!
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Great. “You never blog alone!”. Yay
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I agree! 😀
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ZTH was great and am on the 201 train too! Looking fwd to it..
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Awesome!
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Looks like a family meeting ;-))
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Haha! Sure one big gathering of the ZTH extended family!
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Since I have completely started my blog all over again, I am doing the 101 challenge. I’m ready, bring it on! 🙂
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Fill out the form how? Here in the comments section??
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There’s a short form right in the body of the post — fill it out and click “submit.”
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Oh okay thanks. I’m looking at this on my phone.
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I’ve only got access to my phone (my husband’s killed the laptop). Can I still sign up to 201, please?
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@gluestickmum, the form will be up throughout the month, so just add your name whenever you get a chance.
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Cheers to this starting again! I missed the last one sooo..
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I hope you’re going to join us Andy!
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I’ll certainly try! thank you! ^^
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🙂
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So, I am officially the only one who has no clue what did I saign for! 😀
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No maybe i am as clueless too! :p
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Ah, that calls for a drink! 😀
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Drinks all around…LOL
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LOL me three..
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When the last ZTH was up, I copied the list before they took it down. So if you’re curious what the last one looked like…
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Thanks, ah… now I am not sure if that was my challenge! 😀
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Ok, so I caved and signed up for the Blogging 201. I’m such a pansy for challenges…LOL
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How is that caving? It’s gonna rock!
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I told myself I would not do another challenge. I’m already doing the A-Z and that is work! Yes, I’m excited to be doing the Blogging 201~
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Just signed up for 201!
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I did the first zero to hero, I think it helped me. I’m going to try the second one.
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Hi. I signed up for 201 but I put my primary blog, Luna’s Imagination Igloo, in the form. I realized that I also wanted to do this for another blog. Is this possible? 😕
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Sure, you should be able to re-submit the form.
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I think I’m signed up for 101? I hit submit and just got a blank page with “0” on it? Anyone else get that?
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We’ve got you!
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Yay! Thanks!!!
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same here! a zero? 😮
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Got you, too, @vedha (and looking into why the form is being wonky).
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haha! ThankYou ! 😀
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Reblogged this on Capt Jills Journeys and commented:
I did the first Zero to Hero Challenge, I’m going to do the second one. I hope it will help me learn to grow my blog some more. The first one was very helpful. I only wish I could’ve done it a couple of months earlier when I was just starting out and totally clueless! 😉
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Just signed up for 201! Looking forward to it…
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just signed up for 201 – looking forward to it!
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yay, just signed up for 201 … if you think 101 is more appropriate after viewing my blog, let me know and how to switch
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Welcome on board to those signing on for the first time, and welcome back to all the original Zero-to-Heroers who are giving 201 a try!
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I just attempted to sign up for 101, but am not sure if it actually went through. Looking forward to the challenge! 🙂
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Got it!
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Awesome! Happy Friday!
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Hello everyone.Just sign up for 201 and i’m already excited to see what this project is all about.I love blogging and writing.But you can’t keep posting blog when you don’t have readers, or feedback.Hope 201 will help me change that!!! Have a great Week end!
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I agree, I have a client that has a great site but no one knows he’s out there. I’m hoping 201 will give me the tools to help improve his readership.
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Reblogged this on Shawn Daily and commented:
And who says I can’t do this? No one, I guess. I bet all of you can do this, too! Maybe even better than me.
Well, what are you doing there, staring at the screen? Sign up!
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I just started a blog last week – so the timing seems perfect. Question – I feel like I have a basic understanding of the blog process. Would it be advisable to attempt 201?
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If you’re brand new, I’d suggest 101 — the community-building pieces of that are invaluable, and it’ll help you get even more comfortable with WordPress. The 201 will be offered again (along with other intermediate challenges), so you can always hop on one of those.
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Thanks. I’ll re-sign up for 101.
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i haven’t done the 101, but i’m jumping right into 201 – wish me luck 😛
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Ready for 201 … I think I’m getting too addicted to this blogging world …
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I already have a blog here but it’s my first and I’d like to start a second one and really get to understand the underbelly of starting it and keeping moving. Great!
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I need to do both 101 & 201! Is there a way! Both have something that interests me 🙂
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201 will come around again, so don’t feel that you have to jump on it now. 201 also assumes that you have a lot of what we cover in 101 already in place, so if you’re just getting started, it’s helpful to go in order rather than trying to do everything at once.
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Awesome! Thanks for the reply! I signed up for 101 🙂
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