Curing the Blogging Blahs

Let’s face it. If you’re a blogger, you are probably in one of three phases:

1)      Excited and spending a lot of time both posting and visiting other blogs.

2)      Burned out because you are out of ideas or have realized it has become a huge time-suck and you are neglecting other things.

3)      A realist who understands the benefits and how to balance blog time.

To get yourself into the third category, think about:

1)      Personal Goals – Once you determine your own agenda, the rest will be easier. Be honest with yourself about why you are blogging. Is it for the writing practice, to win points with an editor or agent or to gain popularity with readers? What information do you want to convey. What FOCUS do you want for your blog? WHO is your audience?

2)      Consistency – Readers, editors, and agents want to see you are posting at a steady rate. If you can’t commit yourself to posting on the same days of every week, at least dedicate yourself to posting the same number of times a week (Most people feel 2 to 3 is ideal).

3)      Variety – Change things up. If we’re bored with our blogs, then chances are high that our readers will be too. Take some time to brainstorm and make a list of things we can do to change the tone. Write about something different. Have a guest poster. Post about something controversial. Stir up discussion. Be creative and do something fun. Create or try participating in a blogfest. (Two examples are the Top Ten: http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/2013/02/overcoming-adversity-blogfest-ninja.html and the A to Z: http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/)

4)      Benefits – Consider what you can both get and give to the blogging community. I have connected with some creative and talented individuals, developed a new system for my blogging, refined my communication skills, and initiated what turned into an amazing relationship with some of my readers! Other benefits might be to establish accountability partners, develop your writing skills, cultivate a habit of writing, create, authenticate and advertise your personal brand, build relationships with fellow readers, increase your confidence and motivation in writing, educate yourself through reading blogs in different niches, build back links through comments on other blogs, grow your social network through the syndicating of posts through social media sites, increase blog traffic, develop new marketing ideas from others, and receive constructive feedback on ways to make your blog/platform even more effective.

So, employ and enjoy blogging, but keep it in its proper place.