In order to be a successful blogger you need to blog consistently, for a long period of time. I admit I’m guilty of blogging through the honeymoon stage of my new blog, then the excitement tapers off. If you look up my current blog you’ll notice that it hasn’t been around that long. The reason is not because I’m an inexperienced blogger, but rather because I have a habit of creating a new blog then deleting it again a couple months later (see my other post The Serial Blogger). So though I’m a guilty serial blogger, I know a thing or two about how to keep up blogging momentum. Since I began blogging back in 2002, I’ve never taken a break from blogging.
Here are some tips about how to keep on keeping on:
1. Don’t confine your blog to a narrow topic.
Give yourself some room to grow. Nobody likes posting about the same thing day in and day out. Enjoy gardening? Open up your blog beyond your garden to plants, herbs, having a hobby, spending time outdoors, sharing a hobby with your family/friends/spouse, etc. Are you blogging about your book? Include posts not just about your book, but the inspiration for specific scenes, your mood while you write, techniques and tips for writers, etc. Allow yourself some creative flexibility for your posts.
2. Don’t push yourself too hard.
Most bloggers start out posting every day, or a few times every day. Eventually, however, a time will come when life gets in the way. Cut yourself some slack. Just because you haven’t posted in two days doesn’t mean you should give up blogging. Stay involved with your blog. Post consistently, but not constantly. One benefit of your own blog is that you don’t have to stick to strict schedule. Don’t set unrealistic expectations on your posting habits because eventually you will miss a deadline and you don’t want it to ruin your progress.
3. Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Pay careful attention to this tip. I am NOT saying that SEO is the end-all-be-all of blogging. To be honest, for most personal (non-monetary) blogs, it doesn’t even matter that much. At the same time, however, I recommend you use keywords and metatags on your blog. Pay attention to the traffic of your posts. As you see more users read your posts and subscribe to your blog, you’ll likely feel your natural momentum pick up. A larger readership brings more subscribers, and more subscribers mean more people are exposed to what you have to say. So, while SEO isn’t THE most important thing, it can be helpful.
4. Enjoy yourself.
This tip basically sums up the rest. If you enjoy posting, if it is a pleasure more than a chore, you’ll keep your own momentum. When you lose the fun in it, that’s when you risk losing your momentum and eventually your interest in your own blog. If you’re not having fun writing your posts, then take a step back and consider ways you could enjoy yourself more. Maybe you need different subject matter to write about, or maybe you could share your blog with friends and ask them for feedback. Whatever you need to do, make sure you enjoy it!
Good luck and keep on blogging!
