We live in a time-poor world, where there never seems to be enough hours in the day to get get everything done.
One way to cope is to create a to do list. In fact women love making lists – even if it’s only to cross things off once they’ve been completed.
So where on that to do list would blogging go? If too many other things are taking priority, this is probably getting pushed further down than you would like.
This Infographic investigates all the excuses we have for this, and what the solutions could be:
And here’s some code you could paste into your own posts (via the text mode) if you want to share this Infographic with your readers.
Lack of free time
[thrive_text_block color=”note” headline=””]“Blogging sucks up your free time, and other things start to become more pressing.”[/thrive_text_block]
You know you really ought to be blogging, but other items on your to do list appear to be more demanding. And it also doesn’t help if this list seems to be continuously growing.
However, if you are aware how important blogging is towards achieving your goals, you will find a way of slotting it into your schedule.
It’s all about focusing on elements that will benefit you in the long run, and blogging should certainly be considered to be one of them.
Not enough priority
[thrive_text_block color=”note” headline=””]“Blogging seems to take over from more important tasks you know you ought to be doing.”[/thrive_text_block]
Do you sometimes get that little nagging voice in your head reminding you about other pressing tasks that isn’t blogging? Do you think blogging takes up too much time when other stuff needs to be done?
The answer is to carefully schedule blogging amongst your other commitments. It should take pride of place within your to do list. This will allow you to blog happily away without feeling guilty.
You have every right to blog, especially when you know it will help you achieve what you want. So there’s no need to feel ashamed doing it.
Too much effort
[thrive_text_block color=”note” headline=””]“Blogging becomes a chore, taking up a lot of time, effort and energy.”[/thrive_text_block]
A very long time ago, I suggested that blogging should be like brushing your teeth – something that should be done on a daily basis. Nowadays this has been tamed down to at least once a week, especially since we now write longer posts with much more content.
However, the act of blogging should not be reduced to “Oh no, I have to update my blog again!” rather than jumping out of bed with joy at the prospect of writing a new post.
If blogging seems like a chore, then it’s time to seek help. Talk to a friend to brainstorm ideas, join a writing class or seek out the help of a mentor or coach. There’s no need to suffer in silence. We all need appropriate guidance and stimulation from time to time.
Not taken seriously
[thrive_text_block color=”note” headline=””]“Blogging is not seen as ‘proper writing’, as the hobbyist stigma sticks fast.”[/thrive_text_block]
The trouble is, the blogosphere is cluttered with thousands of sub-standard blogs. This taints other bloggers who do this professionally, and are excellent at their craft. But because these are in the minority, blogging isn’t seen as something to take seriously.
If you want to rise out of the mire, you need to start producing the very best content you can. And lots of it, promoted in many ways and locations as possible, with appropriate interaction and engagement. Writing isn’t the only thing that needs to put onto your to do list.
Proper blogging can produce material that changes their readers’ lives and make a difference to the world. If its quality is able to shine through, the practice of blogging cannot be classed as inferior.
Run out of ideas
[thrive_text_block color=”note” headline=””]“Blogging is difficult if you have run out of ideas or subject matter to write about.”[/thrive_text_block]
There is nothing more demoralising that staring at a blank screen, breaking out into a cold sweat because you can’t think of anything to say. Especially when this is exasperated by a looming deadline.
However, if you had been proactive before you got yourself into this mess, you would have collected together blogging subjects and posts ideas. This is something that could have been part of your to do list: brainstorm ideas in advance and then place them in an editorial calendar.
If you need help now, look about you for inspiration. Read what you and others have written (such as your emails or blogs written by those you admire). There are always writing ideas to be found, if you know where to look.
No commitment
[thrive_text_block color=”note” headline=””]“Blogging stalls if you are unwilling to make the commitment to keep it going.”[/thrive_text_block]
If you want to resurrect a neglected blog, the first thing you should never do is to apologise. Just jump straight in as if you’ve never been away. Ten to one your readers will not realise how long your blog has been dark.
You may have to work a bit harder to regain your readership, though. But as long as you consistently produce quality content, they will soon return.
And note the word ‘consistently’. Find a happy medium in which you can realistically update your blog. If this is only once a week, or even less, then stick to it and make it part of your to do list. Choose a day and time to publish a new post, and put this into your diary as a firm commitment.
Unrewarded
[thrive_text_block color=”note” headline=””]“Blogging can become a thankless task if you are unable to see quick enough results.”[/thrive_text_block]
It’s important to realise that even the most highly successful bloggers didn’t gain their fame overnight. For some of them it took years to gain their reputation and status.
Blogging isn’t a quick fix scenario. You won’t make millions by writing a few posts. Neither will you instantly get hoards of followers champing at the bit to buy from you. Blogging requires the three Ps: persistence, patience and perseverance.
Think of blogging as a long-term investment. As your blog matures, it will acquire the reputation it deserves. The more high-quality content it contains will be recognised by the search engines, not to mention the excellence of its author’s writing.
Lonely game
[thrive_text_block color=”note” headline=””]“Blogging is lonely if you don’t get comments or other engagement.”[/thrive_text_block]
Tapping away to yourself churning out lots of fabulous content to a faceless readership can be seen as unrewarding and thankless. What you really need is feedback and responses to the work that you produce.
Therefore the process of promoting your blog isn’t just sharing your posts’ links on social media. You need to learn to engage with your potential readers by having conversations with them. Talking with those who read your blog will encourage them to read more.
This can be either through commenting on your blog, or by striking up discussions on social media. But whatever you do, get it right and you could be forming long-term relationships with readers who could become advocates for your blog.
Pointless pursuit
[thrive_text_block color=”note” headline=””]“Blogging becomes pointless if you don’t have any direction or purpose.”[/thrive_text_block]
If you don’t know where you’re going, your readers will be less inclined to follow you. At first blogging for the sake of it can be enjoyable, but without a proper purpose, this activity can start to wear a bit thin, as well as be lost from your to do list.
Having an objective or goal will increase your self-esteem when it come to blogging. It will make the process of writing that much easier, and if you’re canny, you’ll base it around what your readers want to read.
It’s all related to totally understanding your readers, knowing what you’re writing about, where you are heading with your blogging, and having a proper reason to update your blog. And this has the added advantage of preventing writer’s block at the same time.
Despondency
[thrive_text_block color=”note” headline=””]“Blogging is demoralising if you think your content isn’t as good as everyone else’s.”[/thrive_text_block]
We all suffer from a lack of confidence from time to time. However, you could either analyse why other bloggers appear to have so much success (if they really are), or strive to become as good as them.
Remember we are all different. We all have our own qualities. There is always going to be that something special that sets you and your blog apart from the others. And this needs to be emphasised and cultivated.
Blogging is a long-term pursuit that needs to be consistently practised. This means it needs to be scheduled within your editorial calendar and given a proper purpose and function. This is why blogging should be placed nearer the top of your to do list. How else are you going to make a success of it otherwise?
So what about your to do list?
Let me know where blogging comes on your to do list. It is at the top, or does it languish at the bottom? Hopefully this post will convince you of the properties of blogging and how it can help you, so you will place it as close to the top as possible.
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