Having a blog for about 5 months has been a really fascinating experience. It’s like I’ve been a roller-coaster ride throughout this entire summer. Meeting new people, building relationships, creating valuable content… it’s something that is much more difficult to do offline. Though blogging is no substitute for meeting others face to face, I like what I do.
Blogging is fun. Whenever I write, it doesn’t feel so much as a chore as it is getting your voice heard. But I have to admit, there are days when I feel as if I have no idea why I’m writing a certain article.
Honestly there have been articles in the past that have been posted that I really hate. And reciprocally there have been no mention of those posts anywhere on other people’s blogs. I know why I did this too: for traffic. Just to be able to say “Yes, 100 visits today!” provided me with momentary pleasure. But unfortunately I’ve alienated people from my brand because of churning out crappy content. This is exactly what the experts talk about when they say value begets value. I’ve learned my lesson.
Back to the point of this post which is adding the act of blogging to your to-do list. For those of you who don’t know, I will be returning to college near the end of next month. It’s by no means a party school, so the workload is going to be tremendously time consuming. But I don’t want to lose the audience I’ve cultivated by writing this blog. So I’ve decided to take these steps in order to continue sharing my experiences and advice during the next school year:
Video posting
Social media video seems to be catching on quite fast. If I don’t have enough time to write, I could always start posting videos and share content that way. It can also potentially bring more people to this site and add like-minded individuals to the community.
Short, but valuable posts
Whether or not I can write long posts anymore will depend on my workload on any given day. Short posts that have loads of insights may work better in the future. Great ideas for this format are posting quotes or short advice pieces. This could be an interesting route for the blog to take.
Schedule some time to write
Though you won’t always have time, it’s important that you schedule some time to free write. Spend time brainstorming ideas for posts. There’s no law that says you can’t jot down an idea wherever and whenever it comes to you.
Consistency
Writing on a regular basis is central to your staying power within the blogosphere. As you can probably tell if you’ve been here awhile is that I post about three times a week. Not much, but it works for me. As long as you don’t go weeks without posting anything, you’ll be fine.
Blogging can be an important part of your life, as long as you make it a priority. Make it fun. It doesn’t have to be a hassle. If you can make time to complete other seemingly impossible tasks, then you can blog. It’s not hard at all. I’m 18 years old and I still find time to write.
Since this list isn’t greatly specific, I recommend checking out Darren at Problogger and Brian at Copyblogger for tips on blogging. In the mean time, for the rest of the summer (until the end of September) I’ll be writing comprehensive posts.
I’d also like to thank all of you for reading my blog and sticking with me through this difficult process of getting my blog out there. Thanks so much!
John
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14 comments to “How to Add Blogging to Your To-Do List”
When I actually have a blogging outline or “map” of future posts, it takes the burden off and makes it easier for me to find time. I do it not only for my business blog, but I’m leaning to do the same for my personal blog as well.
It’s good to be here John. You are writing some deeply meaningful posts, and that a sign of ‘you’ shining through.
Blog when it works, my friend. I’ve cut back on my blogging schedule in the last several months, and it’s been good not feeling like a I have to post something. I do when I come up with something that is meaningful to me.
And I too write down ideas, or snippets of ideas when they happen (because when I don’t…they’re fleeting!).
John,
I usually make my posts 500-600 words. It allows people to read instead of scan. I love videos especially if they have meaning.
Don’t let this go…most bloggers don’t last past one year. It is difficult but you’re building a life time of community!
@Carla Good ideas. I think they call it a mind map. I’ll check out some resources that explain how to use it.
@Lance Thanks so much. Your writing has done wonders for expanding my horizons and broadening my thinking. Like I say, value begets value and you have that done pat. I suppose I will post when I have something meaningful to say. I would like to use video and see how that works.
@Tess Hey! I definitely won’t be letting this go anytime soon. I’ve met truly brilliant minds by blogging (yours included) so I can’t just let this go. Thanks for commenting and for all the advice/encouragement you’ve given me.
Hello John,
I admire your transparency and heart. That alone makes you a good blogger and you’ll just get better! I understand the pressure you felt about posting often, but I’m with Lance on this. Write when you have something meaningful and from your heart. That’s where your quality will come from and that’s what will keep’em coming back for more too!
Keep going man, you have things to offer that only you can.
As a fellow blogger, i enjoyed this post tremendously. I’ve been blogging for six months (tomorrow!) so I know what it’s like to be a “young” blogger. It definitely takes some getting used to, adding all of the blogging elements into your life, but I’ve found that it’s such a rewarding experience that all of the hard work is worth it!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. They’re great!
Blogging is not for the faint hearted!
I think the need to produce decent content so regularly really sorts out the best from the rest.
I like your idea of short posts. Means you can communicate with your readers more regularly
@Keith We’ll all great bloggers at heart
I guess everyone sometimes feels this pressure to right, especially when you feel as if visits are all that matters. Write when you want to not when you need to.
@Dani Thanks for enjoying my post! I’m glad I know someone with whom I can identify with. It’s going to be something new, but if you can do it, then I can to right?
@Kaizan Your exactly right. Thanks for the support.
Thanks for your submission to the Sixty First edition of the Blog Carnival: Blogging. Your post has been accepted and its live:
http://thatsblog.com/blog-carnival-blogging/blog-carnival-blogging-sixty-first-edition
-ThatsBlog.com
Thanks for the submission!
John,
I do the same thing–sometimes I either just sit at the computer screen and wonder what to write about. Or I abandon an idea when I’m halfway through because it doesn’t feel real. Other times, it’s like breathing and the ideas just seem to appear. A little discipline goes a long way though.
I understand what you mean Chris. I love when the ideas just flow and at the end you’re just like “Wow, that felt awesome.” Just pouring ideas onto the screen, one after the other in quick but fluid succession – awesome. What I do with ideas that don’t it for me is I just scrap them. If in ten minutes I don’t get that ‘feeling’, the post is dead. Save it for another day.
Congrats on the site. You are doing a great job. I really enjoy your site!