How to Keep Blogging, Whatever the Weather

Blog writing is a skill like any other. You can learn how to do it, and the more you do it the better you'll get. But only if you keep doing it.

If you don't keep up with your blogging, it can turn your website into a ghost town that reflects badly on you and your business. 

Here are some ways you can keep growing your blogging tree and welcome plenty of new clients to your orchard.

A strong blogging tree needs the right climate

Here in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, we enjoy four seasons every year. Not every day feels pleasant (though I do believe in the old adage that there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing), but each season gives us something of value - even if that's just more appreciation for the season coming up!

Your blogging tree needs different weather elements in order to grow strong, including rain and sunshine, and here's why: 

Rain – For your blogging tree, rain represents the ideas that you'll turn into new content for your blog. Once you get yourself into the blogging mindset, you'll see these ideas all around as you carry out your day-to-day work with clients, and even on your personal time.

Over time, you'll hone the skill of creating blog posts out of frequently asked questions, client meetings and other things that you see and read - both online and in the real world. And if you're already getting the hang of sharing other people's content on social media, you'll be relieved to discover that sharing certain types of content on your blog is just one step further.

Note: Be sure to set up a rain barrel - I call this an idea catcher, where you can capture those ideas when you get them. Carry a notepad (whether it's in your pocket or on your smartphone), have a designated folder on your computer or simply store ideas as draft posts in your blogging program. When you constantly feed your idea catcher, you'll never have to face a blank screen or empty page again.

Sunshine - Your blogging needs your time, energy and attention (sunshine) in order to flourish and continue to attract new clients to your business. Once you've decided to include blogging in your marketing mix, you need a plan for how that's going to happen. As we discussed in another post, the trunk of your blogging tree - your plan - must include:

• Where your blogging time is going to come from
• What types of energy you need for each blogging task, and how/when you can best access that energy
• Which blogging results you need to pay attention to

If you've heard enough about the benefits of blogging, such as its power to:

• Position you as a trusted expert
• Educate your clients about how you can help them
• Deliver more value to everyone you meet
• Gain wider exposure to your website
• Keep your website fresh

then be sure your blogging tree doesn't dry up and wilt. Keep it growing strong by giving it the elements it needs to succeed.

This post originally appeared on the Content Mastery Guide blog.

Related Post:
Cool Tool - Use Evernote to Track Content Ideas, Links and Resources

Linda Dessau is the author of Write Your Way to More Clients Online and the founder of Content Mastery Guide. Visit her site today for more do-it-yourself blogging tips and hands-free blogging services.

Comments

[Ayaz]

Hi Linda!

Great points and I think its depends on the blogger how they get the idea and I love rain that's where I get most of my idea came and I think when you are free from your mind than you can get to more ideas and for that surely some times weather depends on them.

[Linda Dessau]

Thanks for your comments, Ayaz. I also wrote an earlier post about the creative power of water: http://www.contentmasteryguide.com/2008/08/the-creative-po.html

[Vincent Clarke]

Thanks for the tips Linda! I think it can be very easy to fall into a blogging rut after a little while, especially if you feel like your blogging skills and your reader engagement aren't growing. But, as you point out, you can't stop! You have to just keep blogging and find new ways to inspire and push yourself to grow yourself and your blog.

[Florin Muresan]

This is a very nice metaphorical idea about how to keep your blog always updated. It is very important to give your readers fresh and interesting information. You have to take care of your blog, but also your readers. Readers are like plants, and if they don't have rain and sunshine, they die, such as your blog.

[Erica Swanson]

THANK YOU! I am a new blogger, I learned a lot about blogging and started off OK. But I have been in a huge slump lately. I stumbled across this article and it lead me to about 10 others. I feel confident because I was on the right track, but I have also learned a lot to keep me going. This will absolutely be a blog that I follow, not because it relates to my industry but because it helps fuel my ideas.

[Linda Dessau]

Thanks for your comment, Erica, and good luck!