How often do you publish blog posts and other content marketing material? If you find it hard to get information out there on a regular enough basis, this post may help. It’s about the approach I use for developing content on my blogs.
Before my family woke up this morning, I had written 3 blog posts, 2 of which are now published. I mention this, because I regularly hear intelligent, educated people telling me they “just can’t” write a few posts a week.
So, I decided to write this, my 4th post of the morning, to explain how I manage to do it; even though I am no brighter than they are and at least as busy!
Here are a few of the things I have in mind, when I write my blog posts:
They are not perfect, they are blog posts
I never aim for perfection. I aim to write something that is useful or at least interesting in some way. The pursuit of perfection is often called “the dream killer.” I agree. It is also pointless! It stops you in your tracks. Just write the best you can, when you can, and watch the results. Learn, adjust and move on.
They are not detailed guides on how to do something extremely complex, they are blog posts
I give my clients detailed answers to their unique challenges. However, in blog posts, I give my readers some ideas, answers and insights that are appropriate for the platform. My posts are not intended as a replacement to hiring professional help. They are intended to provide an additional resource. Don’t try and give consultations disguised as blog posts. It will take you forever and no one will thank you.
They are not novels, they are blog posts
Many bloggers insist on churning out 1000 / 1500 word blog posts. Most of my blog posts are between 400 and 700 words long. Some are under 100. Learn how to get your point across clearly, and in as few words as possible. This makes your content more information rich and less fluffy. My most popular posts are almost always the shorter ones.
Content marketing needs content. If you want to build your readership and for your blog to remain relevant, you need to turn up regularly. So, the next time you find yourself believing you can’t manage to write a few blog posts a week, make sure you not expecting too much from yourself. If I set myself some of the barriers other people do, I wouldn’t be able to produce regular content either.
Photo: The Italian Voice
Hi Jim,
Thank you for this blog updating my thoughts.
As a (super) regular reader of your blog posts I must admit that a full time blogger as you Jim has more chances to find his personal way to stay focused on his content. It can be as you notice about moment or due to action time.
And I definitely think that all is about organisation of your lifetime.
So I believe that for an entrepreneur that way is be a little more difficult. First because beginners are probably not as well organized as regular bloggers. And second, not everyone has writing capabilities.
I think the secret of creating good content is really niched in what do you expect from yourself, and what do you want from others to give you back.
Hi Yael,
You know I’m not a full time blogger, right? I run a very busy international marketing business. I only blog for several hours a week, that’s it!
This was the whole point of the post. Full time bloggers are very, very rare. Most of us fit blogging around the demands of our business and our families too.
Here are 3 short and simple tips to blog more effectively:
Be Useful
Stay On Topic
Make Your Point
Done…
Haha, I was just practicing writing a short blog post Jim… I think this is useful and its less than 20 words!
Point received — thanks for the tips
Exactly!
Jim,
You’re hilarious!”they are blog posts” A message I badly need! I’m working on two writing projects these days; a blog and a manuscript. My goal is to be able to write awesome blogs FAST. Right now…. not so fast.
I also appreciate the tips Mark gave:
Be Useful
Stay On Topic
Make Your Point
You guys are great!
Lori
Thanks for the kind words, Lori!
I’m definitely not a perfectionist, but I can’t help but make sure a blog post is just right before I click publish.
I view every piece of content as something the represents me.
My worse fear is that I’ll just be contributing to the noise instead of providing useful content.
How do you get over these issues without spending too much time?
Hi my friend. It’s ALWAYS a wise move to pause before you press the publish button. Here’s how I see the issue of adding something of value, rather than more noise.
When we decide to start blogging, we can only do whatever is our best. If we believe that we have something that others will find valuable, that’s worth publishing. If we feel we are throwing words together just to “show up”, that helps no one.
As you very rightly said, your work represents you. Make sure it’s worthy of you by trying to add something genuinely useful. Even if it’s an idea that has been discussed before, maybe you can put it in a way that more people will be able to understand? Show us your subject, according to the way David Spinks (or whoever) sees it. Let me see it through your eyes, so I can better understand the other guy’s perspective.
[...] month will take a lot longer to develop than an equally good blog, updated several times a week. This post will [...]
You are so right when calling perfectionism “the dream killer”. I had a former colleague who was a bit of a perfectionist, and he had an uncanny talent of taking any idea you presented to him and knocking all the energy out of it!
I am fortunate that in my current position spontaneity is encouraged and the results are always worthwhile. Even if I write a new blog post and acknowledge it’s not the best piece of writing in the world, it still fits into the bigger picture of the blog as a relevant element.
[...] some bloggers take the offer. They need content for their blog and are either short of time or short of blog topic ideas, so they paste the post that the stranger wrote, including links, [...]
I’m taking over blogging for our company soon and my boss sent this wonderful wonderful link to me! I want to sleep with it under my pillow and inhale its essence at breakfast! It’s SO simple when you break it down. I am writing “They Are Blog Posts” onto a strip of paper and taping it to the bottom of my screen.
THANK YOU!
Chris, a new subscriber.
[...] the way, 1 of the 3 blog posts I published yesterday is all about how to write regular, valuable content. If you’ve ever wondered how I produce my material, take a [...]
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Jim you are one of my favorite bloggers because of the lack of fluff. Good points on how to get those words flowing.