Why Your Blog Will Fail - Part IV
March 27th, 2008Why Your Blog Will Fail
Part IV
Control Your Destiny
(Fourth of the five part Why You Blog Will Fail series. Click here for the previous part).
We’ve identified many points that can cause your blog to fail. But, how can they be avoided? How can you take control of your blog’s destiny?
Following are five points that all bloggers should keep in mind when they’re writing, especially when they begin feeling less-motivated.
Advance Writing
Most writers, blog writers included, find their creativity comes in cycles. They will go through periods of great productivity, with tons of ideas, and the words just flow through to the keyboard. This is followed by times of distraction, lack of motivation, or just plain writer’s block.
To help make sure that your blog will survive the latter, the blogger should always try to complete as much advance writing as possible when the creativity levels are high. Just save those posts and use them as backups.
Of course, these posts need to be more generic in nature, so rule out current events. Write about any general subject that would be a natural fit within your blog.
Mix It Up
Whether you write a general interest, niche, or personal blog, mix up the content. Even a serious blog about investing or the funeral industry, for example, has room for a variety of moods in the content. Not all posts should be serious. Not only will it bore the reader, it will bore the blogger.
Likewise, even a humor-centric blog has room for serious issues. Just don’t let them become the focus of the blog, or allow them to divert from the humor.
No matter what the main blog theme may be, mix it up.
Change It Up
Are you, as a blogger, losing your motivation? Have you already posted all of the posts written in advance? Maybe it’s time to change it up.
Try a new theme on your blog, or apply other cosmetic changes. Often times this will spark some new creativity and help the blogger become interested in writing new content again.
Even simple things, like some new categories for example, can give the blogger additional freedom to write, covering new topics or new ideas.
Downtime
All writers need downtime. As mentioned previously, blogging is stressful and demanding. Taking a bit of time away from it to recharge your brain will allow the creative thoughts to return.
Just be sure to let your readers know that you’ll be away for a bit. And, if at all possible, let them know when you’ll be returning. Even better, if it’s possible, consider having a guest blogger fill in while you’re away.
Visit Other Blogs
Try to visit other blogs as much as possible. You will not only get some great ideas while reading good blogs, but you’ll see just how bad others are, and realize how wonderful the work you’ve been doing really is.
Be sure to leave comments on the blogs you visit, even the not-so-great ones. Those links back are priceless.
Up Next: Why Your Blog Will Fail, Part V - Final Destination
March 28th, 2008 at 12:06 am
Hey..I enjoyed what I’ve read so far. I’m just starting up my own. That was going to be the theme of my blog (yea real orginal right) but your website seems to have good advice and interesting pieces.
March 28th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Thanks Chris. Don’t worry about being “original” though… With 5 gazillion blogs out there, it’s practically impossible. Instead, focus on being “better”. I actually have 5 blogs, and only 1 that I would really call “original” (not this one), but haven’t had the time available to work it much yet.
But, I’m not expert. Just a guy that’s been doing this for a while, so I’m sharing my thoughts. I’ve found some things that work well, and others that don’t work well at all. Lot’s of trial and error.
Good luck with your blog!