If you’re new to blogging or considering starting one, the key to a good blog is developing consistent content. I’m often asked these 2 questions:
1) “How do I figure out what to write about?”
2) “How do I make time to write?”
I’m not a blogging expert, but I churn out at least one post a week, and I can tell you–it’s a lot of work. I’ve picked up some helpful tips from other bloggers and writers over time, and I want to share four of them with you. (I thought it would be fun to match tips with a particular personality type. See which character most resonates with your own style as you venture into the wonderful world of blogging.)
The Sprinter: You already have ideas about different topics and you love to work in intense, short bursts of productivity. If this is you: You need to schedule a few days in your calendar every few months, and dedicate those days to getting all that good content down on paper. Churn your ideas out like you’re printing money. Look at it this way: If you wish to post 1 article every month, churn out 6 articles in a sitting. That way you are finished for ½ the year. This is also a particularly effective strategy for stockpiling your posts, which makes it possible to take trips, extended vacations or breaks without depriving your reading audience.
The Scheduler: You know exactly what you want to write about, but never have time to sit down and do it because you’re “over-scheduled.” You love structure in your life, and your calendar is always booked solid with appointments and to-do’s. If this is you: You need to schedule short writing appointments for yourself, 2-3 times a week, to develop and edit content. If you plan on writing one or more posts per week, you might need to reserve more writing time. This is also a great strategy to keep your productivity and quality high. (Note: For most people, there’s a time of day that is most conducive to writing, (e.g. first thing in the morning, later in the evening, etc.) Try to determine which time is best for you, and be consistent with that timeframe whenever possible.
The Observer: You might not know what to write about, but you’re a dedicated student of everything around you. If this is you: Consider everyday things to be a litany of material for you. Happenings at work, conversations you overhear in line at the grocery store, a blinker from an out-of-state car in front of you that keeps blinking for 32 miles, etc. If you love whimsical yet relevant stuff to write about, there are limitless ideas for material, and this style is for you. Keep a little journal in your pocket, or fire off a quick email to yourself to capture what you saw and to note its relevance to your audience. Once you’ve secured that wonderful idea on paper, you are free to scan the universe for more blog-worthy musings. When you’re finally ready to sit down for a writing session, you’ll have an endless buffet of topics to choose from.
The Architect: You are someone who thrives on having a large, grand design, particularly when that “something” has both a purpose and a system. If this is you, you are in for a real treat: Consider developing your content as if you were writing a book. Pick a rich topic that interests you. Take some time over a weekend and write a few notes about all of the relevant aspects of your overarching topic. Then organize your thoughts like chapters in a book. Each chapter can be split into subsections. Borrow some scheduling strategies from the “Scheduler” and voila! You now have copious amounts of well-organized, yet different, blog articles. As a bonus, once you’ve edited all of this content, you’ve got an e-book–ready to go! How’s that for efficiency, form and function!
By identifying your main blogging style and utilizing these strategies, you’ll be amazed at how much time you’ll save while keeping your content fresh and staving off a bad case of writer’s block! You’ll also have a variety of strategies for stockpiling your articles before a long vacation, and even for making your blog into a book.
Remember, in the blogging world, fresh and engaging content is the key to insuring that your readers will come back for more!
It’s always a good practice to reach out to someone who is an expert in blogging tips and strategies, Here are 2 highly recommend resources we use from time to time: oxnest.com and marketingbuddah.com
