How to Build on the Momentum of a Blog Writing Day

This is a guest post from Linda Dessau of ContentMasteryGuide.com.

Have you ever returned from a conference, class, seminar or other event, all gung-ho to apply your learning, but then find yourself quickly enveloped back into your busy life, with your new goals left behind?

It's certainly happened to me, but I didn't want it to happen to my Barrie Business Blogathon participants or the crew from Denise's Virtual Blog Writing Day. So I put together these simple tips that will help you build on your momentum, so that you can keep building your blog and growing your business.

1. Celebrate your successes in all forms - At the Blogathon, some people published new blog posts, while others wrote as many as three posts to publish later. At Denise's Blog Writing Action Day, they celebrated 15 published posts! Some people got their questions answered, while others got new insights into the concept of attracting new clients with a blog. All experienced the camaraderie and driving energy of working with other people with a similar goal. Now those are some blogging successes!
2. Summarize your learning - Whether you send a formal feedback form to the event organizer or just jot down some notes for yourself, take some time to highlight the key things you learned and the actions you will take going forward. 
3. Integrate your new practices - Did the event inspire you to blog differently or more often? For new habits to take hold, it helps to piggyback on the existing systems that are working for you. Put on your lab coat and be willing to experiment. If something doesn't work for you, tweak it until it does - instead of abandoning it altogether.
4. Enlist ongoing support - I have always found it helpful to surround myself with people who see the positive qualities in me that I don't always see. Think about who could help build your confidence as a blogger and a business owner, and keep their phone numbers and email addresses handy. Even better, schedule regular times to connect. 
5. Restart your momentum at regular intervals - All of the above strategies will help, but it's also important to re-energize your efforts. Sign up for another event, re-connect with your peers from the last event, re-read your notes or find other ways to light that spark.

What do you find helpful for keeping up your momentum?

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

[twitter.com/RiverwoodWriter]

Linda, you've hit on a really important human failing...to lose momentum after an invigorating professional experience. Thanks for these helpful tips for leveraging those experiences effectively.

[Linda Dessau]

Thanks for your comment, Elizabeth. I'm glad you found the post helpful.

[Emily S Hammer]

Great post! I try so hard to block time writing. Perhaps I'll create a day for it and only write.. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Linda Dessau]

Hi Emily - keep at it and you'll get there! Thanks for the comment.

[Nick Stamoulis]

These are some great tips. For me, it is important to jot down every blog idea to come back to later. Inspiration can come during a meeting or an impromptu chat by the water cooler. As long as I have it written down, I know that I can work with the idea when it comes time to writing a blog post.

[Linda Dessau]

Hi Nick, thanks for your comment. Great point. You just never know where the inspiration for your next post will come from.

[Trudy Van Buskirk]

I do what Nick does. I have a folder on my computer called Blogging and inside it a Word document called blogging ideas where I type all my blog ideas.

Also for my email, I created a folder called blogging ideas and move newsletters I get that give me an idea in there.

I'm never at a loss for ideas!

[Linda Dessau]

Hi Trudy, those are great ideas! I also get a lot of writing inspiration from my Inbox. It's good to have a system so you always know where to find those snippets that you've saved.

[Debra Marrs]

Great tips, Linda. Similar to Nick, I have a shallow drawer next to my desk. Because I read a lot of print (offline) content, I tear snippets and drop them into the drawer for later inspiration. Once a week, I browse the papers, toss some, and write using at least one or two ideas. I love having jumpstarts like that and the ones you mention. With that impetus, we're due for another Virtual Blog Writing Day, don't you think?

[Linda Dessau]

Hi Debra, I can just picture the satisfaction of thumbing through the physical papers like a box of treasures. And it's especially important that you've scheduled a time for going through them - otherwise our piles can get out of hand, don't you find? P.S. Yes, another Virtual Blog Writing Day is definitely in order!