How to Stop Procrastinating and Write an Amazing Blog Post
How to Stop Procrastinating and Write an Amazing Blog Post
When starting a blog, we all want it to be perfect. You want to have one of those blogs that readers come back to because the content is catchy and the insights are just too human to ignore. You want to really grip your audience, make them feel that your expertise and brand are the right fit – not because you said so – but because they find themselves agreeing with or inspired by everything you write.
But you can't seem to get your fingers to type anything on the keyboard. Maybe you can't think of a good idea, or you can't get started once you have a title. Maybe you're bogged down worrying about keywords or you're starting a blog even though you're not that great of a writer. Don't worry, I can help.
If you need to break up writer's block or wicked procrastination (kinda the same thing) the key is to get excited. Here's how to stop procrastinating and get your blog started with a few really cool pieces.
Brainstorm Everything You Want to Write
What do you want to say? Skip the market research at first: what do your readers always want to know? What insights do you offer that make their eyes widen with understanding or delight?
Write down all your best ideas, and all your half-ideas, into a big list of inspirations. These might inspire informative blogs, how-tos, FAQ pages, and interesting narratives down the road. Don't worry about writing a complete article at first, just get your creativity and inspiration rolling.
Rant! Get Something Off Your Chest
Can't think of anything nice to say? What about your favorite industry rant? Ranting is a great way to get your fingers flying over the keyboard without slowing yourself down. Express with every bit of your professional irritation as to why the trend is not supported by the pros, and how it puts people at risk.
You just might have a few pages of real industry insight, trend-following keywords, and market thought leadership by the end. Then clean it up so that the tone doesn't shout directly “at” the reader, and you've got one powerful blog.
Any industry-focused rant you may have (and take some joy in shouting about) can make a great blog with a little tweaking.
“Mock” up the Blog: Write Ironically
Can't take your blog-writing seriously? Don't! Many creatives who lack confidence (or have an abundance of dark humor) tend to second-guess the value of their effort. It may be easier to make a joke than it is to write a real blog, so make the joke instead.
I've found that sometimes making a “mockup” of a project, like a blog, breaks through that “this is pointless” feeling so you can get started. What would you write if it weren't serious? What if you were just going to show your friends and laugh about it? Write the blog you'd write if you were making a really good, insightful joke about the industry.
Then, either embrace that tinge of sarcasm as your brand voice (knowing it will ring true with many of your readers) or tidy up the final draft to share only your insights without your inspirational mocking attitude.
Explore the Ideal Future
Where do you see your niche 50 to 100 years in the future? Technology is moving fast and transforming the industries they enter. Some technology today could transform new industries if introduced. Drones, AR visualization, mobile access, and AI-assisted projects are only the beginning. If you have an advanced vision of where you see your industry in a high-tech future, write it down.
Go all-out. You can add flying cars to your vision if it makes it easier to imagine the furthest reaches of your industry's growth with the technology we have or are developing today. If this vision inspires you, write it down. It becomes thought leadership when it inspires others.
Outline Your Ideas to Flesh Out Later
Have a ton of blog ideas but you're not sure where to start, or can't start the first paragraph? Write an outline instead. For every idea, quickly sketch out the paragraph titles and sections and write a quick note of the points you plan to make. You don't have to write a beautiful blog right away.
Tell a Behind-the-Scenes Story
Give your audience a glimpse behind the curtain. People today love getting to know their brands. They like to see the team, meet the office cat, and hear about the antics that go into making their product or service experience unique. If you're having a tough time writing about something serious, tell a funny story or personalize the founding story in your own voice instead. Some people write narratives far better than traditional blogs, and some audiences really appreciate being let into the inner circle.
Your blog will be rich in interesting content, thought leadership, and valuable insights in no time. And that procrastination? You can kiss it goodbye. For more awesome insights on how to start and continue a powerful business (or personal brand) blog, contact me today!
When starting a blog, we all want it to be perfect. You want to have one of those blogs that readers come back to because the content is catchy and the insights are just too human to ignore. You want to really grip your audience, make them feel that your expertise and brand are the right fit – not because you said so – but because they find themselves agreeing with or inspired by everything you write.
But you can't seem to get your fingers to type anything on the keyboard. Maybe you can't think of a good idea, or you can't get started once you have a title. Maybe you're bogged down worrying about keywords or you're starting a blog even though you're not that great of a writer. Don't worry, I can help.
If you need to break up writer's block or wicked procrastination (kinda the same thing) the key is to get excited. Here's how to stop procrastinating and get your blog started with a few really cool pieces.
Brainstorm Everything You Want to Write
What do you want to say? Skip the market research at first: what do your readers always want to know? What insights do you offer that make their eyes widen with understanding or delight?
Write down all your best ideas, and all your half-ideas, into a big list of inspirations. These might inspire informative blogs, how-tos, FAQ pages, and interesting narratives down the road. Don't worry about writing a complete article at first, just get your creativity and inspiration rolling.
Rant! Get Something Off Your Chest
Can't think of anything nice to say? What about your favorite industry rant? Ranting is a great way to get your fingers flying over the keyboard without slowing yourself down. Express with every bit of your professional irritation as to why the trend is not supported by the pros, and how it puts people at risk.
You just might have a few pages of real industry insight, trend-following keywords, and market thought leadership by the end. Then clean it up so that the tone doesn't shout directly “at” the reader, and you've got one powerful blog.
Any industry-focused rant you may have (and take some joy in shouting about) can make a great blog with a little tweaking.
“Mock” up the Blog: Write Ironically
Can't take your blog-writing seriously? Don't! Many creatives who lack confidence (or have an abundance of dark humor) tend to second-guess the value of their effort. It may be easier to make a joke than it is to write a real blog, so make the joke instead.
I've found that sometimes making a “mockup” of a project, like a blog, breaks through that “this is pointless” feeling so you can get started. What would you write if it weren't serious? What if you were just going to show your friends and laugh about it? Write the blog you'd write if you were making a really good, insightful joke about the industry.
Then, either embrace that tinge of sarcasm as your brand voice (knowing it will ring true with many of your readers) or tidy up the final draft to share only your insights without your inspirational mocking attitude.
Explore the Ideal Future
Where do you see your niche 50 to 100 years in the future? Technology is moving fast and transforming the industries they enter. Some technology today could transform new industries if introduced. Drones, AR visualization, mobile access, and AI-assisted projects are only the beginning. If you have an advanced vision of where you see your industry in a high-tech future, write it down.
Go all-out. You can add flying cars to your vision if it makes it easier to imagine the furthest reaches of your industry's growth with the technology we have or are developing today. If this vision inspires you, write it down. It becomes thought leadership when it inspires others.
Outline Your Ideas to Flesh Out Later
Have a ton of blog ideas but you're not sure where to start, or can't start the first paragraph? Write an outline instead. For every idea, quickly sketch out the paragraph titles and sections and write a quick note of the points you plan to make. You don't have to write a beautiful blog right away.
Tell a Behind-the-Scenes Story
Give your audience a glimpse behind the curtain. People today love getting to know their brands. They like to see the team, meet the office cat, and hear about the antics that go into making their product or service experience unique. If you're having a tough time writing about something serious, tell a funny story or personalize the founding story in your own voice instead. Some people write narratives far better than traditional blogs, and some audiences really appreciate being let into the inner circle.
Your blog will be rich in interesting content, thought leadership, and valuable insights in no time. And that procrastination? You can kiss it goodbye. For more awesome insights on how to start and continue a powerful business (or personal brand) blog, contact me today!
Written by Ben Cummings
Cofounder of Sage Wave Media
Ben is a professional blogger who holds an MBA with a specialization in Entrepreneurship. He enjoys teaching, blogging, startups, a hoppy IPA, and college basketball. Whenever he's not blogging, you can find him cruising around sunny San Diego with his amazing family.
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