Making the leap into full time or even regular blogging can offer freedom from the everyday routine of work. But turning your ideas into useful content which attracts readers is a stumbling block that many bloggers can’t get beyond. With these actionable tips, you’ll soon find yourself on the path to writing great blog posts that build your blog and reputation.
1. Write What You Know
This is an adage as old as writing itself, but is sound advice that every new blogger should follow.
People can spot a fake. If you try to write about something without a full understanding of the subject, sooner or later you’ll find yourself running out of ideas and passion for what you’re writing.
I started my first blog in 2006, having spotted an area that I thought could become profitable. It didn’t last more than a year, and the posts were few and far between. I started my next blog in 2008 and it is now one of the most popular in its niche. The difference between the two was that my second blog was on a subject I am passionate about, knowledgeable about, and spend my leisure time involved with. As a result, I had plenty to say, could say it with authority, and wanted to keep writing about it every day.
2. Set a Regular Time to Write … and Stick to It!
Often when starting a new blog, the early days can be exciting. Then, a few weeks down the line, you notice a cycle of lacking motivation and getting distracted. You may tell yourself it’s because you don’t have anything to say, but when you think about it there’s plenty you could be writing if only you made the time to do it.
Most bloggers will tell you that the key to creating regular content that is going to see your blog succeed is in finding a time to write and sticking to it. It could be after before heading to work or getting the kids ready for school. Or it could be at night when everyone has gone to bed. Whatever works for you, stick to it and use that time to remove yourself from distractions and dedicate to writing for your blog.
3. Create a Blogging Calendar
Another stumbling block for many bloggers is in finding enough interesting topics to write about.
Having started a new blog recently, I had a wave of great inspiration for blog posts. Then after writing for a couple of months I felt I’d exhausted all of my initial ideas. After a brief spell of panic, I decided that the best course of action was to plan the content for the coming year.
This allowed me to decide on themes that I would write about at different times, which helped me focus on splitting the ideas up into useful blog posts. It also meant that I could plan to monetize my blog by producing eBooks and other content based on these themes, having got my audience interested in it over a period of time.
I now know months in advance what I need to be writing about at certain times, and it helps me to come up with many more posts than if I just sat picking random ideas every day.
It’s beneficial to your blog to create longer, more engaging posts, and not just short news items. However, some of your best ideas can come from news stories within your niche.
4. Keep on Top of Your Niche
I run two aviation blogs and include in my daily routine a scan of all of the relevant news sites and other blogs to keep on top of what is happening in that industry. This leads to ideas on posts I can write to provide value to the pilots, aviation enthusiasts and employees that read my blogs.
A great idea is to make a spreadsheet of all the websites and blogs that are relevant to you and make a habit of visiting them regularly to keep up with you blog’s niche. Another great tool is Feedly, which can keep track of all these sites for you.
Check out more success stories here!
Matt Falcus is a pilot and aviation expert who has written numerous books; he is also an expert in software and gaming technology. To learn more about him, visit AirportSpotting.com or DigitalPilotSchool.com.