I’ve been set a challenge – write a blog post and publish it in an hour. This is a particularly good challenge for me as you see, when there’s something hard to do I can be both a champion procrastinator (hmm…. I wonder what’s happening on Facebook since the last time I checked) and a perfectionist (….let me just go do some more research on that topic). I can easily fill up my writing time with a mountain of other tasks to do. So, stop texting, emailing, pontificating and get writing.
Why is writing so hard?
Wow, a blank page… what will I write about?
Blogging and writing consistently is hard and the hardest thing about it is that it’s a change in behaviour. You need to carve out some time in your day to write, to read other people’s content, to comment on that content and then to share and publish your work and that of others that you think are interesting. It's exhausting! I’ve put together a blogging checklist that you can print out an use much in the same way as reward chart for doing your chores… you might just need to supply your own gold stars… or will the increase in website traffic and leads be reward enough?
The fear of publishing
The perfect blog post is the one that is published. Publishing nothing is safe. We’ve all got that negative chat in our head or as Seth Godin calls it “the lizard brain” that tries it’s hardest to stop you from doing something risky. Will people think it’s dumb, superficial, not smart enough? Will you finally be revealed for the fraud you are? By publishing you are putting yourself in a vulnerable position. But how risky is writing and publishing? What’s the worst that could happen? Someone might not like you? Someone might disagree? Someone might think you’re stupid? Does that matter? Is that a bad thing? You could have some interesting conversations. It’s OK to disagree and it’s OK that some people won’t like your stuff. If so, it’s not for them. You have an audience and by writing in your own voice about things that you know, you will find them.
A “perfect” blog post framework
As I said before, the perfect blog post is the one that is published. Imperfect content is infinitely more shareable than a perfectly boring post. Be imperfect, be transparent, be vulnerable... it’s much more human and engaging.
However, if you are a bit of a perfectionist and need some structure for a blog post, then I have a framework for that which can help give some pointers along the way. We all know the blogging is good for SEO, from both a keyword optimization perspective as well as the social sharing benefits. But often that’s overlooked and an opportunity is missed, this framework will remind you of the “perfect post” housekeeping.
It gets easier and better with practice
Writers block isn’t hard to cure, just write, write poorly, write publicly and write often and it will become easier. Clear, crisp, honest writing about conversations that you have every day, or what you know or perhaps tell us how to do something or new tools you’ve discovered. You are an expert in your niche.
Don't write for the applause, write for the joy of doing it. Accept applause alongside the feedback and keep writing, keep publishing and the rewards from increasing your visibility will come.
Just do it
Phew, I've made it.. it's an hour later... so, what are you going to publish today? Did you have an interesting conversation with a client, colleague or partner? Did you learn something new? Don’t be afraid, just flex your writing muscles and they’ll get stronger.
Do you like or hate this article? Tell me, I promise I wont cry… I’ll just go listen to some more Taylor Swift… or perhaps I’ll write a blog article about it.
