So you have a blog, now what?
With today’s focus on the powers of social media, the rise in popularity and brand recall across different industries has become even faster. This means that you as a blogger would have to keep up with everyone else to succeed, and these tips are the key to doing exactly that.
Create amazing content
Now let me start by saying that no one started their writing efforts as good as they were ever going to be. In fact, your first few posts will probably be no good. That’s OK! Just keep plugging, practicing, and learning about your audience. The better you can write to their interests, the more likely you are to hitting the nerve that will transform your content into shareable gold.
Something else that may help – plan your content ahead of time. This will get the mind started before you even sit down to write.
Leverage social media
First, you’ll need a proper strategy. Next, it will require some serious patience. If you use it correctly, social is the primary channel for getting the word out about your content. Don’t be afraid to start with your own network, no matter how small. Share it. Ask others to share it. Share it again.
Here are some other ways to get good at using social media.
Build an email list
An email list is the holy grail of any content marketing strategy, whether the goal is to simply get more readers or to convert them into buyers. Having the keys to their inbox is hugely valuable.
Try an easy-to-use use an email marketing software like MailChimp and you can easily send updates and new content to your existing subscribers, who could then forward your emails to their network.
Cultivate a community of like-minded bloggers
Promoting other people’s content is a great practice in and of itself. As a bonus, you can earn some reciprocation as well. It may feel like competition, especially if you are writing in a similar space, but the benefit of helping each other grow easily outweighs the negatives.
Blogging and personal branding is always a challenge, but with patience and focused effort, you can slowly build your reputation and credibility and eventually become an authority in the field. And it all starts with your very first post.
I have one thought with regard to the early statement “no one started their writing efforts as good as they were ever going to be.” I would imagine you are right where many people are concerned. But all too often, I do see bloggers who START strong, with great content and the best of intentions – but then fizzle out over time. Their content begins to be thrown together, poorly written, unoriginal, uninspiring. You can just tell they aren’t into it anymore.
I think it’s important for people to realize that blogging is hard work. It takes commitment. It takes discipline. It often seems thankless. It’s not an easy road to … well, anything. There are few if any overnight successes. If you already know yourself well enough to know that you are not able or willing to sustain creativity and quality content – I’d recommend not starting at all.
Every blogger or writer goes through times when we are exhausted, feel less inspired or just want to throw in the towel. But you have to find ways to keep it fresh, to keep the passion in it. Otherwise, the content suffers.
One of the best ways I’ve found to keep strong content coming, and writing about it in ways that matter, is (as simple and obvious as it may sound) just being sure to LIVE – out there in the real world. Do new things. Interact with people. Challenge your comfort zone. If you do that, you’ll have a darned good shot at having plenty to write about for the long haul.
Well said, Erik!
Great post, Reade. The fact that you put “create great content” first is so important. If you don’t have that, you aren’t changing lives.