Blogging remains one of the core ways to build traffic for a website.
Personal or business.
Here is what Neil Patel said recently about the future of blogging:
I would also tell you to blog, but you probably already have one.
If you click on that link you’ll see a ton of stats that show the importance of blogging for any marketer and business.
But if you’ve been blogging for any amount of time you know that it can be frustrating. Especially if you don’t necessarily like researching and writing.
Here are a few tips to help you stay motivated to write a blog.
1. Ignore The Stats
One of the most frustrating things for bloggers, especially in Year 1, is publishing content and not seeing any traffic. But it’s what happens to every blogger or brand that doesn’t already have a following.
Google is just not going to trust a new brand and a new blog. They need to see signs that they can trust you with some rankings.
Most people go in with expectations that are too high.
There are benefits to stats. They can help you see what content is working and what isn’t. But the risk is too high in the first year and even in the first three years.
So just ignore it. Focus on creating. Focus on writing the best posts you can and by your own measure. Get in a blogging habit. Let the ability of sticking to a schedule be your bonus for the first few years.
Then once you start getting a little traction and a little recognition you can turn the stats back on.
2. Experiment With Different Schedules
A potential issue with blogging is that the time you’re writing isn’t working. It could be that you starting writing your post at the end of the day and by that time in the office you’re feeling tired and frustrated and just ready to leave for the day. You hack something out and hit the road.
Try switching up your schedule. Set aside two hours in the morning for blogging. Or try right after lunch. Anything. Just mix it up and see if there is a time that better suits you.
I like to audit my work schedule every six months. Bad habits can creep in. The brain needs a little tune-up once in awhile.
3. Separate Brainstorming from Writing
It’s nearly impossible to sit in front of your computer, find something to blog about and then write it up. Not many people can do that. In fact, I don’t think anybody can do that consistently.
The secret is to schedule time to brainstorm. Say you write a post everyday. Schedule time on Sunday night, about 1-2 hours, to research and brainstorm topics for the entire week.
Then when you settle in to write for the day you are already off and running with a topic and maybe even a few notes and links to get you going.
4. Guest Post A Little Bit
If you ignore the first tip about stats and still struggle to boost your motivation then another option is to go out and get some validation and feedback on what you’re doing.
Guest posting.
Go to about five of the top blogs in your industry. See what posts are getting the most engagement. Shares, comments and things like that. Look for recurring themes and topics. Then look for holes in what they have covered in those themes.
Then brainstorm about 3-5 titles or ideas on those themes and send the editor an email asking if they would like you write any of those titles. Look for the guest posting page. Most popular blogs have one that will describe the guest posting process.
You won’t hear back from all of them, but if you do this regularly you can get a few. Maybe 1-2 per month. And when you’re published on popular blogs you’ll get a lot more eyeballs than on your own blog.
That provides a little ego boost. A little validation that what you’re writing is good.
And it could also lead to a little traffic back to your blog…
5. Write Nice Things About People and Businesses
One way to get a little more attention to what you’re posting is to write nice things about people and businesses. You can write about software and services that you use. Nice little reviews that highlight why they’re good.
Do it without expecting anything in return. No affiliate stuff or anything like that. Just do it to show people that you really appreciate what they do.
Mix these in about once a month or every couple months.
Most brands these days have alerts so that when something is published about them online they see it and check it out. They will often see what you’re posting and if you write something nice they might email you or even share your post on their social accounts.
This can add a nice little boost of confidence to what you’re doing. I wouldn’t overdo it with this strategy, but it’s fine once in awhile.
Conclusion
Blogging is still a great marketing tool for any business that wants an online presence. But you’re not going to get traffic right away. Especially organic search traffic. So you might need a little motivation to keep at it. The tips here are things that should work. If you’re committed to the long-term, you can win out as the others in your industry get frustrated and quit.