"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island." - Walt Disney

Thursday, February 28, 2013

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.

11 comments:

Summer Ross said...

Inspiring post. I think I'm on the verge of two trying to fall into three. LOL

Unknown said...

Counldn't agree more. However, when I have a guest post from another writer, I whizz madly around many blogs in the hope of driving more traffic in his/her direction. :0)

Unknown said...
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Aurora Smith said...

I try to do it while I'm nursing and on the Ipad. What else do I have to do? HAHA.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Inspiring post - I love the long list of benefits!

Tony Laplume said...

I never realized when I started blogging that it even needed structuring, but that seems to be what everyone likes to do. Pretty odd. May consider something like it...

Tonja Drecker said...

This post read my mind. I'm trying to find the balance right now, but still not sure exactly what it is. Like everything else in life - it flows better when we find the equilibrium.

Erica said...

You've provided some food for thought. I'm still in the playing-around-having-fun stage. (1+3?) Whatever the goal, the blogosphere is a fantastic resource, that's for sure.

Do you approach reader vs other writer followers differently or do the tabs do that for you? (And does that question even make sense?)

Krista McLaughlin said...

Great advice in your post! I'm doing both Alex's blogfest and the A-Z challenge. It definitely spices up the blogging world for a while!

Mary Horner said...

Thanks for the inspiring post. I still love blogging, but do get in a rut sometimes. But then I read something wonderful and remember why I love writing in the first place.

Susan Kane said...

The benefits really are huge. The feeling of community is tangible. I will blog as long as my brain and fingers are in sync.