The honest truth we all know is that maintaining a successful blog takes a bit of time. We understand that its good for our business but the question still remains: How do keep up a blog without it becoming a 9-5 job?
For many business owners there is a struggle between managing the content of our social media presence and managing the business operations. If you’re like me, time is always limited so here is a simple and quick methodology you can follow for writing a blog post is 15-minutes.
- Keep a running topic list handy – Whenever you get a great topic idea, write it down. You may not have time to write the actual post then and there, but keep a list of topics you want to someday address. Try to keep a consistant list of 10 to 15 ideas handy. Tip: Use Google docs to create a free document that you can access from any computer and add to at any time – whether at home or work
- Write a quick outline – Luckily, blogs are best when kept to 4 to 7 main points. Think about it, who wants to read a dissertation in a blog? That’s what the library is for so keep your posts succinct. Once you’ve created your list, go through and edit out what’s not truly important to your topic. Now start writing a few sentences about each point you’ve kept. Tip: I recommend targeting 600-800 words per blog post. Keep your post short and to the poin and you’ll keep your reader’s attention
- Reasearch your topic, with Google – This is often overlooked, but simply Google your topic and check out the top 5 article results and quickly skim them. Especially if you’re stumped, this will help get your fingers typing. Adding links to your references is perfectly fine but never directly copy anyone else’s written word. Tip: If you’re not an expert, don’t fake it. Lend your insights and opinions and try to get a discussion started. Your readers don’t expect you to be Encyclopedia Britannica, just honest.
- Reasearch your topic, with Google – I’m constantly amazed at how many typos I can make even when I’m staring at my words as I type. Never publish a post until you’ve read it through for errors at least once. I know this probably goes without saying, but it’s very important to have your posts looked polished. Tip: If you have someone else who can give it a quick glance, take advantage. Often a 2nd set of eyes can find mistakes you initially overlooked.
- ALWAYS include the important stuff – Your “must haves” may differ from others, but everyone should have a list of items that appear in every post. Some people love images and simply have to put an image in every post. Others feel it is needed to include a direct contact link or website home page link at the bottom. Figure out what’s important to you and have it prepared and ready. Tip: If you like your signature or contact info in every post, write it out in a text or Word doc and simply copy and paste. This maintains your consistancy and saves you time.