How to Turbocharge Your Blog Post Production: What You Need to Know
Every startup has heard that they need to update their website in order to stay relevant to Google and the little bots that crawl around on the interwebs. But how many of them actually start blogging? Very few, unless forced! Don’t ask me how I know–I just do.
You Can Do it!
You Can Do it!
So, how do you get started? Here’s a pep talk: How to Create a Wonderful Blog Post in An Hour. Know that you can create something in an hour. That’s the most important thing to keep in mind.
Make an Editorial Calendar
There are many ways to create an editorial calendar, and I’d opt for the simplest if you’re just starting out. A spreadsheet on Google, shared by the entire team would probably do it. Here are some examples:
- Coschedule’s Content Marketing Editorial Calendar
- WordPress Plugin Editorial Calendar
- Simple Editorial Calendar Template from Tess Wittler
- Hubspot’s Free Editorial Calendar Template
If You Can Speak, You Can Write
If You Can Speak, You Can Write
My blogging buddy, Bridget Willard, taught me that and I’ve never forgot it. If you don’t think you can write, start by speaking. You can get help with cleanup (that is, editing) later. Don’t worry too much about that for now.
Break it Down
Break it Down
As my friend Randy Clark explains, writing and editing use different sides of the brain. So do your writing first, then your editing. Don’t edit as you go for a faster experience. You might want to get some great examples of blogging at Randy’s blog about car wraps. And Randy’s book, How to Stay Ahead of Your Business Blog Forever, on Amazon is a bargain!
Research First
Research your topic before you dive into the writing. Or, if you’ve already started writing, create space where the researched topics need to go. For example, you could say something like add backup link here, and then keep writing. Since researching and editing use a different part of the brain, you can keep your creative juices flowing if you write this way.
Make an Outline
What do you want your post to be about? Create an outline before you start. Write a header first (here’s a post on How to Write a Headline That People Will Want to Click), then at least five paragraph headings. End with your call to action. Now go back and fill in each of those five paragraphs with two or three sentences.
What Ifs
What Ifs
Secret confession time: I hire both an editor (when I need one), and a full-time graphics person. I’ve been writing for years. Give yourself a break and hire it out if you don’t want to do it. Focus on your strengths!
- What if you have bad spelling and/or grammar? Hire an editor!
- What if you aren’t artistic? Hire a graphic designer!
- What if you are a terrible writer? Hire a writer!
Blogging Buddies
Blogging Buddies
As mentioned earlier, a blogging buddy is a gift you can give yourself. Find someone else to inspire you. The blogging buddies idea can catapult your writing! Brainstorm ideas, and talk to your buddy when you’re stuck!
The Reward System
Like anything else, it’s good to give you or your team member a reward at the end of a successful session. Recognition is also an excellent idea, as outlined in an article from the Next Web: Rewards and Recognition: Two Highly Effective Ways to Reward Your Employees.
Start the Next Post Early
My best blog articles have been sitting on the back burner for days. I like to write in 15-minute chunks, sometimes once a day, sometimes twice. If you start your next post, it can simmer for awhile. Even if you think you’re not thinking about it, you really are! And don’t procrastinate, since that way madness lies!
How Do You Speed Up Your Writing?
Or do you speed it up at all? Maybe you’re more the type of writer who grinds out words one at a time. Let me know in the comments! And thank you!
This is a must read post for anyone who is struggling with staying on top of their blog. If all of the subheads are followed and lnks opened this blog becomes a free online class in blog management! Thanks for including me my friend
Hi Randy,
The pleasure is all mine! You’ve taught me much about staying on top of a blog.
Thank you for your generosity, my friend!
Carol
I’ve been writing non-social media things on Medium lately. Even though I haven’t been publishing as often on my own blog, I find writing is still good for the soul. So, maybe if you feel stuck, write something else.
Hi Bridget,
I’d have to agree with you that writing is good for the soul. I’ve been thinking of taking up my journaling again–it’s a different kind of writing, and not really meant for others to read, but very important to keep in touch with oneself.
I like your idea very much.
Thank you for all your support, here and everywhere!
Carol
Great advice Carol.
I particularly agree with the separation of research and writing. I read somewhere that this is important because research is left brain work and writing is right brain work.
Don’t try and use both halves of your brain at once. You might get a short circuit!
Thank you, Clement,
I imagine it’s like texting and driving at the same time–dangerous for everyone involved. I’ll usually mark a spot where I need to do more research and come back later after having done the homework. But if I leave the blog alone for too long, I’m likely to end up down a rabbit hole and not returning for a looong time.
Carol
Sometimes, when my brain isn’t working, the best thing I can do honestly is to just slog through it. Even though I’m not going to get the best stuff on paper, I’m going to have SOMETHING on paper, and having at least something there means I have something to edit later (when, hopefully, my brain IS working).
Ideally, I’d take all the time in the world to write something, but if I did that, it might take 87 years to get some things written. From time to time, I just find that it’s better to get the words down so I can go back and make them look nice later.
Hi Adam,
Yes, I’m the same way. I’ll put something down and come back. Even if later, I decide it’s garbage there’s something there. Not all posts come together easily or quickly.
87 years is a long time. But then you would be editing for only 86 of those years. Heavenly!
Carol
“My blogging buddy, Bridget Willard, taught me that and I’ve never forgot it. If you don’t think you can write, start by speaking.” So very true!!
I don’t so much worry about speeding up my writing. For the most part I write when inspiration hits. I find reading the content from others does that. I have a hundred topics ready to go but need the passion to come in first.
Hi Robert,
That’s great that you’re so good at speaking! So writing should come naturally to you, then. :D
I don’t write when inspiration hits so much. Mostly I sit down and write and the inspiration comes later (sometimes). But sometimes the writing flows more naturally, and other times it does feel terribly difficult.
Thanks for stopping by, Robert!
Carol
After taking way too much time off from blogging, I have been purposely working on writing more – every day. Whether it is journalling for my personal pleasure, writing a poem or working on a blog article, I can say that once you are out of practice, it is difficult getting back into it. You give some excellent tips, Carol, and thanks for including my blogging editorial calendar.
That’s so true that writing becomes easier the more you do it, Tess. Best of luck getting back into it. I hear you on the writing of any kind, and have been thinking of restarting my journaling. You’re welcome for including your editorial calendar, too. Thank you for creating it!
Carol