You’re a busy entrepreneur. You are just starting out and know that you need to have a blog (I say “need” but each business is unique and you need to look at the need from your own unique industry) but you are having a hard time finding time to write blog posts when that just isn’t your core competency — running your business is, right? How can you increase your blogging output while not taking too much time away from what you need to be doing — growing your business.
I’ve worked with many entrepreneurs and writers and have gathered up their best tips on blogging and being productive at that aspect of business marketing while being productive on their core competencies as well.
Increase Your Blogging Output
- Have a plan in place for what you will write and when you will publish it. An editorial calendar will make you more productive because you won’t have to sit down and stress about the blog post — you will have had it planned out on your editorial calendar.
- Write every day. You don’t have to write an entire blog post a day, but if you get in the habit of writing you will find it comes easier the more you do it.
- Do a vlog instead of a blog. Video is king and if you can sit down in front of a camera and “talk” your blog, do that. Know what you’re most comfortable with and incorporate that into your marketing. Remember, though if you simply post the vlog to your website it won’t be picked up by Google as a video isn’t searchable. You will need to build content around the video.
- Always be looking for ideas about which to blog. Chances are you receive industry or trade newsletters, you attend industry networking events and you hear the problems your clients have — those are all blog fodder. Write those ideas and conversations down then incorporate them into your blog routine.
- Know what topic you’re going to write about before you sit down. This harkens back to having an editorial calendar in place for your blogging. Knowing what you will blog about will help you formulate the post, perform your research and be ready to write on the designated blog posting day.
BONUS TIP: Kn0w WHY you’re blogging. Remember, “just because everyone is doing it” isn’t a viable business reason for taking the time to blog. Do you want to create content to help address client pain points? Do you want to be seen as the expert in your field? Knowing why you want to blog will help you formulate the HOW of blogging.
If you simply can’t find the time or don’t have the skills or desire to blog, hire a professional to take on that role for your business. If you calculate your hourly wage and and compare it to how long it takes you to write a blog post you may find that you’re losing money by struggling with your own blogging and it might make financial sense to outsource that task.
Do you blog for your business? Is it yielding the results you’re seeking?