Back in 1996 I found this burning sensation inside to share my thoughts, opinions and experiences online. Social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and the likes weren’t around and I didn’t want to just send everyone emails about things they might not be interested and nor would it reach anyone in the world, so I realise that blogging was the thing to do. Web software like WordPress was not around, this forced me to build my own platform to publish my information and allow others to read and comment on it.
Working under these circumstances required time, WordPress and other blogging platforms allow you to post information quickly and a lot of the hard work is taken care of for you, but I didn’t have this luxury and thus learnt how to blog quickly and accurately without spending too much time doing it. I speak to aspiring bloggers every single day of my life and I’m asked the same questions each time:
1. What should I blog about?
2. How much time does blogging take?
3. Will people like what I write?
The question which relates best to this post is question 2. If you’re a blogger or have tried blogging, I’m sure you’ve opened up a document or taken a piece of paper to write a post and before you know it, 20 minutes have gone by and you’ve got absolutely nothing written down. If you’ve experienced this you’ll be smiling inside because you’ll get it!
So, what’s the point? Well, the point is quite simple: A lot of people want to start blogging, but when they try to, it takes 2 hours to write their first post and when it comes to writing their second post, they give up because they can’t justify the time. What I want to do is share a few things that I’ve learnt over my 15 years of blogging experience that will hopefully assist you in conquering that second post hurdle once and for all.
Blog about a Passion
The very first thing I tell anyone who wants to start blogging is that they need to blog about a passion. When you’re blogging about a passion the words should come quicker than if you’re blogging about something you continually have to research whilst writing the blog post. There is a list of other reasons as to why you should blog about what you’re passionate about, but they’re off topic, so if you want to hear more, leave us a comment below.
Blog where you’re Comfortable
If your favorite spot to relax and write is in your garden, then blog from your garden. If you enjoy writing when you’re in bed, then stay in bed and blog from there. If you’re limited to a computer and platforms such as WordPress overwhelm you, what with all the controls on the left and right of the writing screen, then write your posts in a text file and copy/paste them into WordPress when you’re done. If you’re confined to writing inside WordPress, then why not try using Writer Helper.
It’s Slow in the Beginning
These are just 3 tips that I wanted to share, this is the sort of post that could go on and on for pages, but we don’t have all the time in the world, so I’ve kept it short and I’m more than happy to discuss tips and tricks in the comments, just leave a comment and I’ll reply 🙂 I hope this post helps a few of you!
This article is written by Chris. He is an multiple award winning technology blogger and search engine specialist in Cape Town, South Africa. If you wish to write for us, kindly check this.
Hi Chris,
These are really nice points to read and implement. Most of the bloggers leave blogging due to decrease in energy level, decrease in passion and unable to write in time, but I am sure these points would be useful for those who are loosing interest in blogging. I know how hard it was for me to post my first article. It took almost more that 3 hrs to publish my first article.
Precisely! I know too many people who've given up because they find that posts take hours and hours to write. I say put your stop watch on, give yourself 30 minutes to write the post and if that means you have to make shorter posts then so be it 🙂
love such motuvational post. Normally i go on with reading the post and posting my comment rightaway. But this time. Couldnt stay away reading all the comments 🙂
i personally believe passion is the main driving force behind blogging. One have to work his butts off if hes just blogging for money as building content would be difficult in such a way.
Thanks 🙂
@Hassam – You are dead right, a combination of passion and hard work are what lead to success. Glad you enjoyed the post!
Chris I enjoyed reding your post. Really you have experiences over years.
@rijans – Thank you!
nice article about blogging techniques. i always love posts about how to blog! thanx for this. 🙂
@Gautam – Thank you for your kind words, appreciate it. I'll have to do another one soon 🙂
I am full satisfied with your post mostly last post . Why write more articals when you have less readers . At the start of your blogging career post less and do more promotional efforts
Thank you Amrish 🙂
That was a wonderful and informative post Chris ! Loved reading it. Well, I am always bogged down by nothing other than our beloved "laziness" 😀 which i euphemistically call "writer's block" – when I think of posting a new article to my blog. I know that no one has a solution for that, do you? Looking forward to reading more interesting and informative articles from you !
@Deepak – Haha yes, I know what you're saying, I go through lazy spells as well 😉 I've always just chosen topics that I'm really passionate about and I then sit back, relax and write a post, it works for me, but obviously doesn't work for everyone 🙂
I look forward to writing more posts!
You've mentioned an important point about writing when you are comfortable. I guess that's the most vital point of blogging/writing. A blog is meant to share our ideas with others. So if we are in a comfortable mode then the joy of blogging will be much more than the time when we feel so forced to blog.
@Mani – I couldn't say it better myself, you are so very right. Being comfortable is so important and too many people think it has to involve a desk and a room, which is not the case! I'm writing this response whilst I sit outside on my deck, I'm having a Coke and a cigarette 🙂
Yah, people easily get discouraged by lack of visitors and subscribers and all,which shouldn't be the case at all.
You're spot on, it takes time to build a following, a lot of time. I normally tell people to work hard for 6 months to a year before expecting to see anything at all, it's a time investment, but it's also one where the benefits can be amazing, have to think big picture with blogging 🙂
Thanks Chris M, I agree with the puch its slow in the begining
🙂
I am already working on these tips but so far I am not generating money like i read in e-books and this is the only thing which lessen up my passion of blogging.
@Ramsha – Blogging for money is a whole different topic all together and perhaps that's something I should cover in my next blog post? I can write the article so it ties back to this one perhaps and puts it all in order..
What do you think?
Hey Chris, I always feel happy to see long-time bloggers like you. You have had a 15-year blogging experience, thus I don't think any aspect of blogging would remain hidden from you. I feel patience, and originality are the key to bloggers success. You have well elaborated upon writing posts and managing them. My first post, back in 2007 took me hours before I could publish it on my Blogger powered blog. Anyway, I don't really find much experienced bloggers like you these days. Thanks for your experience.
Happy Blogging! 🙂
@Sidhant – Thank you, I do have quite a bit of experience don't I? 😉 I tell you, this post took me 11 minutes to write, no jokes, I honestly timed it! It saddens me that more people don't continue blogging, things like Facebook and Twitter, and even Tumblr, make people lazy and it's really sad 🙁
Happy blogging!
And not to forget the G+, already starting to dominate over traditional blogging!
Google Plus is growing so darn quickly, I read that Facebook took 852 days to reach 10 million users, whereas Google Plus just took 10 days to reach 10 million!
I would say that its the time when people are more aware of what social networking means. While in 2004, it was not the case when Facebook was developed. It will be easier for G+ to rise in numbers quickly, however, I am not sure if it is meant to replace the existing giant!
agree with the last point ..
many newbies think traffic is just going to come and when it doesnt many giveup…
@Aamir – It's such an important point and I'm glad you reiterated it. I know so many people who've started blogging and have given up after a couple of weeks or months purely because they get bored or don't see traffic, OR don't see money. I mentioned in another comment response that I could blog on making money blogging next time, so I'll leave that aside for the time being, but the traffic one is important – Opening up a shop doesn't lead to hundreds of people arriving at the shop, unless you're lucky enough to open your shop in a great shopping mall, the same applies for a website, you have to start and you have to write great things so that other blogs talk about you and introduce others to your site, then it's your job to keep those visitors engaged and wanting to return. Nobody launches a site and get hundreds or thousands of hits, not unless they do something extremely well!
Hi Chris!
We usually tell our clients to blog once a week to get started. We even only blog once a week. A blog is extremely important, but it doesn't have to be stressful. I love your suggestion about finding a place you're comfortable in. I love to write just sitting on the bed, so that's where I do most of my writing. But some others like to do in Starbucks and so-on.
In the end, if you're not passionate about it in some way, you're going to falter. So make sure your passion shows through in whatever you write.
Thanks for sharing your blogging tips!
@Morgan – Once a week if a great starting ground, and even once every two weeks will suffice in the beginning. I guess the decision to be made is whether it's worth blogging lots from a point of traffic and indexed links goes or whether it's worth adhering to "if you don't have something great to say, don't say it". I prefer the indexing of posts, but that is not to say it's worth writing rubbish, that would have an adverse effect. So yeh, once a week, once every two weeks for a few months and then review the frequencies.
My pleasure, thank you for your comment 🙂
These days i'm facing your question two problem. I'm very much stuck in other activities including studies, classes, business, etc. I'm not able to find time to write post for RealTimeTricks (my blog).
I think from next week i have to schedule my day well to bring some time for blogging, at least for the sack of traffic i'm getting there.
Regards
Irfan
These days i'm facing your question two problem. I'm very much stuck in other activities including studies, classes, business, etc. I'm not able to find time to write post for <a href"" title"RealTimeTricks – Computing Tips & Tricks, Social Media, Blogging">RealTimeTricks</a> (my blog).
I think from next week i have to schedule my day well to bring some time for blogging, at least for the sack of traffic i'm getting there.
Regards
Irfan
@Irfan – Thank you for your comment. I can relate to what you're saying as I'm incredibly busy myself. The secret is to schedule yourself a little time and try to blog when you feel comfortable, see it as fun and not a duty – we all hate duties, so if you feel it's a duty then you need to relook at things slightly and turn it into something fun and enjoyable as that will motivate you to blog more.