2 Steps To Become A Productive Blogger
November 19, 2008 by BloggerNewbie
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“2 Steps To Become A Productive Blogger”
There are so many tasks necessary to achieve success as a blogger. Unless you are organized it will be difficult to accomplish everything you need to do. You need a plan, a schedule or routine to follow. I’ve noticed I say that very frequently. I get stressed if I am not in my comfortable rut and routine. Otherwise, I get overwhelmed and panic. Kind of run around in circles. You know, like the puppy who chases his tail? Overloaded as it may be, a rut and routine eases my stress.
There are two essential areas of a successful blog. Writing and Marketing.
First things first: Okay, so you want a blog. Well what is a blog?
The definition of blog according to dictionary.com;
Blog -noun
An online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page; also called Weblog, Web log. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author.
Dictionary.com needs to update that definition. Personal diary! This is not yo’ mama’s blog!
You need to write. Period.
Darren Rowse of ProBlogger wrote an excellent detailed post about Batch Processing and how he organizes his time. I use some of his helpful hints to make myself more productive.
There is no way around the little task of writing. For me, it is best to start writing in my notebook. I can’t get my thoughts together while I am writing on the computer. I literally have to tell myself – step away from the computer – way too much distraction for my undisciplined self! Otherwise, a one hour post would take me three days to write! I can’t help it! I’m weak..
Do NOT try to write under pressure. Prepare your posts for the upcoming week. Pick at least 5 topics to write about. Create a tentative title and start a draft in WordPress. I write my title first so I can set up the posts for the week in WordPress drafts. If you don’t like it you can change it but the title will give you a place to start. Then you can start brainstorming. If you are a big girl or big boy as the case may be and can write in your draft part of WordPress without venturing off into the never never land of the blogosphere, then good for you. That will save you a step.
I always put a picture or graphic in each post. Searching for just the right one can be time consuming. Set aside some time to get all your graphics for the week. I also put a quote at the end of every post. Also time consuming. I have to have just the right one. If the picture and quote are added in each draft, even before you are ready to add your content, you will be half way there. Add your tags and categories and you will have your post nearly done.
Take one day to work on drafts to start. Let them simmer for a day or so. Go back and edit them, add to the content, firm them up. You can add some additional tweaks if you like at this time. You can get them ready to publish.
Now what do you do?
The definition of marketing by dictionary.com
mar⋅ket⋅ing –noun
The act of buying or selling in a market. The total of activities involved in the transfer of goods from the producer or seller to the consumer or buyer, including advertising, shipping, storing, and selling.
It doesn’t do any good to do all that writing and make everything look all pretty and fancy if no one comes to visit! Get out there and strut your stuff or sell your stuff whatever the case may be. You need to spend some time on the social circuit. This part is so crucial,so much fun, so overwhelming. There are a staggering number of choices, it is hard to decide which social media to use. Obviously you can use more than one, hopefully you do. How many social sites you participate in is completely up to you. It all depends on the time you can devote to your choices.
It is important to participate with good intentions. 
I focus on Twitter with quick blurbs here and there. I try to dabble throughout the day whenever I get a chance. I usually visit twitter for breakfast, lunch & dinner and sometimes when I need a little snack. I also like StumbleUpon to share different posts with different bloggers. You can show your appreciation for good writing with others who might not have seen it otherwise. StumbleUpon is where I often meet other bloggers who have the same interest. I have met many people and have made great contacts from MyBlogLog. That is a fun network and allows you to share a ton of stuff about yourself.
I like to visit and contribute to other blogs as part of my marketing plan. Sharing your thoughts with other bloggers is a great way to add community. it also is a great way for people to get to know you. I don’t necessarily set aside a certain amount of time to socialize. I try to dabble throughout the day whenever I get a chance. I have all my favorite stops in my RSS reader and after I browse the headlines for a topic I think might interest me or that I might just have something to contribute to, then off I go for my visit!
I am just starting to browse forums. I recently joined Budding Bloggers Network and Bloggeries. I haven’t devoted as much time to them as I would like. I will definitely put both these forums on more or a priority list.
What are your tricks of the trade that keep you on the track to success? What do you concentrate on and consider most important?
Toodles – Blog Happy!
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“Divide each difficulty into as many parts as is feasible and necessary to resolve it…”
- Rene Descartes
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Hi Dee,
Wonderful post and I’m amazed at your writing aura. Great work. I love problogger’s batch processing tips too and try to keep up as much as possible.
I’ve been thinking a lot about u, bill n some more of our budding bloggers group offlate. Will email you soon
ShriNagesh´s last blog post..25 Power Tips To Build Brand Identity On Twitter
Hi Shri;
Thank you. I am trying to get organized so that I am not so scattered and have 10 unfinished tasks at any given minute. I want to spend more time on the network and forums. Keeps you motivated to mingle with your peers knowing we all have the same challenges. Also a great place to get some ideas!
BloggerNewbie´s last blog post..2 Steps To Become A Productive Blogger
Dee! This is one of the longest post I’ve seen.
These 2 steps are sure time consuming, however its always good to know that it takes time to build up a huge readership for a blog.
I usually think of a title first, then see which one sticks, then start visualizing on how the picture and post should look like before I start writing.
Daniel Richard´s last blog post..7 Anti-Worry Hacks During This Financial Crisis
@ Daniel – I have found that once I have each post set up in WordPress with the title, graphic, quote, tags, category, etc, all the housework type stuff, then I feel less stressed to write.
Do you write your posts each day or for the week?
Batch processing is definitely a more efficient way for me to work.
I usually pick my topics on the previous weekend and make drafts but rarely write them up ahead of time. Occassionally, I will get two or three done on the weekend. For my list of links on the weekend, I collect them throughout the week.
I like things to be scheduled and organized but that doesn’t always happen – I’m trying to be more easygoing about it.
Kim Woodbridge´s last blog post..5 New(ish) WordPress Themes
Hello Kim – Getting all my “stuff” together seems to help with the writing process. I can concentrate on writing instead of worrying that I still need to find a quote or a picture.
I gather my daily quotes for “Monday Motivation” throughout the week and read and re-read them to get a feeling for why they motivate me.
I am very flexible with my organizational schedule, probably too much so. I am either too focused or not focused enough. Need that whole balance plan I hear so much about!
Are you a full time blogger and tech?
@Dee – I write by the week. Not following any schedule now.
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@ Daniel – I guess some writers just write when they get inspired. I am continually thinking about writing so I could be inspired 24/7 but somehow I need a life!
Yuppers, breaking it down to the most base components, this is what it’s all about. I didn’t write for a very long time because I was afraid of step #1
I think that now I’ve got a pretty good handle on #1 and I’m working like the devil on step #2.
Insightful post, Dee. You’re my hero (ine)
Cheers
George
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George – Thank you for stopping by and commenting with your thoughts and opinions. You are a great writer, I am glad you changed careers and stopped fighting your true talents! These 2 steps are the most basic and the core of blogging. There are so many other tasks to do, but only after these 2 are taken care of. Do you have a certain posting schedule you follow or do you write when the mood hits?
Writing and being consistent is the key to success as a blogger (there is no way around it).
Sure, you can outsource content but nothing compares to joys of writing from the heart.
What really helped me write is picking a topic that I was passionate about.
Follow your passion and success will follow.
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Dee,
I don’t hold myself to a particular schedule. If I get inspired, I post. That seems to have worked out to about 3 – 4 times a week. I wouldn’t do more than that anyway. When a blog I like and subscribe to is posting every day or twice a day it’s too much for me to keep up with. I don’t want to overwhelm my readership. I really try to be consistent with the amount of posts on Tumblemoose.
And thank you for the kind words! Right back at ya!
George
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Lazy Slacker – I agree about being consistent and that is what I strive for. In my opinion, the whole point behind a blog is the love of writing and the passion of your topic, so outsourcing is not an option! Thanks for stopping by.
George – I actually try to post every day including weekends. Lately, I have only posted once on the weekend. I write some posts lighter on some days than others. You certainly don’t want a piller article every day! I don’t want to write one and I don’t want to read one every day!
Oh, how I wish I had time to do 5 posts a week, or even in one sitting! I’ve got enough ideas but never enough time. Great advice Dee.
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Dee – No I don’t do this full time. I have a full time job as an Information Specialist, I work on the blog, I freelance P/T and am a single parent of a 6 year old. That’s part of the reason I like things scheduled
Otherwise, I can’t even remember to change the cat litter.
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Ciara – I think opinion type posts are totally different from technical posts. Technical posts seem to be so much longer and take so much more time. Do you work outside of blogging as well?
Kim – Sooo, what you’re saying is you are a tad busy? Yeah, I know what you mean, I have a few things going on too, and I don’t like to write under pressure. Crappy results. Thanks for taking the time to contribute!
Dee Langdon – BloggerNewbie´s last blog post..2 Steps To Become A Productive Blogger
Great tip. I am working more on technical writing these days.. It is easier for me now somehow.
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Talina – technical writing usually includes certain steps to accomplish a task and they are what they are, you can alter the steps if you find an easier way to put your own twist on things, always interesting to add your own personality to a project!