7 Steps to Make Blogging Fast, Easy, and Fun
Do you đlove to blog or write content for your business? If youâre like most business owners, probably not. đ˘ You know getting information out there should help your business, but doing it? Well, you can probably find things you like to do more.
Iâve seen how blogging has boosted businesses from ho-hum income to HOLY COW! đŽ The thing is, the blogs and content have to be written and published.
If youâve been struggling with writing blogs for your business, then my 7 steps to make blogging fast, easy, and fun will help you get them done, quickly, and while having some fun. (Yes, blogging can be fun.)
(This article is going to focus on blogging. You can use tools and tips for most kinds of content thought.)
Letâs get started!
1. Set the Stage and Choose a Reward
If you donât have dedicated writing time on your calendar, then schedule 10 to 15 minutes (or longer). Starting small will help build your confidence and youâll learn how to make it more fun for you.
Take some time to set the stage for your writing time. Here are some ideas:
- Quickly clean off your desk (spend only five minutes)
- Put on some music that helps you write (if you donât have a favorite yet, pick one and try it)
- Light a candle or spray a favorite scent in your space
Or, you can go somewhere other than your usual working space. Getting out of your normal environment can help get the words flowing.
Next, choose a reward for completing your writing time. It doesnât have to be expensive or cost any money. You could treat yourself to a coffee at your favorite coffee shop, or just give yourself a walk around the neighborhood to congratulate yourself for doing what you set out to do.
Setting the stage and choosing a reward makes writing easier and more fun.
Your writing sessions donât have to be hours long. You can get a lot of writing in just a few minutes â 10 to 25. But, youâve got to track the time, which is where timers come in.
2. Timers are Your Friend
Using a timer is a game-changer! It allows you to put boundaries around the time youâre going to spend writing. A timer helps keep you on task and helps keep writing from feeling overwhelming.
I use the Pomodoro method where I work for 25 minutes and then take a five-minute break. Many times I end up going longer when the 25 minutes are up.
Whatever you get done in that time is great! And, it is enough. If you need to come back to it, set another time on your calendar, and when that time comes:
- Set the stage
- Choose a reward
- Set a timer and get going
You can use a physical timer on your desk or one on your phone (there are Pomodoro apps for your phone). Using timers makes your writing feel easier because you put boundaries on the time youâre spending on this task.
Now that youâve got the stage set and a timer ready to go, whatâs the best way to start? Iâve learned to do my SEO research first.
3. Start With the End In Mind by doing SEO Research First
When youâre starting a new blog, begin by thinking about your topic and then do your SEO research. Yup, research your keywords first.
If you do your SEO research last, you may end up having to rewrite most or all of your blog to get them in there.
When you know the keywords youâre targeting, you can keep them in mind while youâre writing.
This is another time to use a timer. Donât spend too much time on your SEO research. Decide whatâs a reasonable time for you and stick to it. I recommend 25 to 30 minutes.
Remember, you donât have to pick the âperfectâ keywords. Pick the best ones in the time youâve allotted. Putting a time limit on your keyword research is another way to speed up your blogging.
Now that youâve got a topic and some keywords in mind you can move to outlining your blog.
4. Create a Draft Outline
Write a quick and dirty outline. Donât do your topic research first â thatâs the next step.
You know enough to get an outline done. And, weâre making this fast â right? This is one of the keys to speeding up your blogging.
Ask yourself what your reader wants to know. What problems are they having? How can you and your blog help solve them?
Then, create an outline covering those points.
You donât need to write unless you want to. If youâve got enough knowledge to start writing, you can skip the next step. But, if you need to do research, grab your timer and dive in.
5. Research Your Topic
I know most of us feel we need to know everything about a topic before we can write about it. Thatâs not true!
You just have to know more than most of your readers.
I recommend researching for a maximum of 60 minutes. Iâve heard of people spending eight to 12 hours researching a single blog. That isnât necessary and isnât a good use of your time.
Focus on the research you need to do to fill in your outline. If you come across something that isnât in your outline, add it if it strengthens your blog.
As you find information you want to include in your blog, fill it into your outline and keep a list of the references (I usually copy/paste the links at the bottom of the outline).
Youâre not writing a lot here. Just put enough information to remind you what you want to say. (Remember, weâre making blogging fast.) Save your writing for your SFD.
6. Do a Speedy SFD
A first draft should suck. Donât try to make it perfect because it wonât be. This is one of the biggest things that changed my blogging and made it faster and funner.
You just need to get words on the page.
A friend of mine doesnât let herself hit backspace or delete when sheâs drafting. I havenât been able to get to that. But, I do set a timer (usually 25 minutes) for my first draft and just go. I leave as many as the suggestions that show up for editing.
You donât have to fill out the outline in order. Start with the section thatâs easiest for you to write then do the next easiest, and so on. Finish with the introduction and conclusion/call to action.
Focus on getting some words on the page and the outline mostly filled out. I can usually get a speedy SFD done in 25 minutes.
Then, let it marinate for a while, and have my reward. In a few hours or the next day â itâs time to edit and revise.
7. Edit and Revise
When youâre ready to edit and revise, set the stage just like youâre getting ready to write. Then, set your trusty timer for a time that feels good to you and start editing.
I start by re-reading what I wrote and revising, being sure it flows and my points make sense.
Then, I take a more formal editing pass where I put on my âEditorâ hat and look at the storytelling, transitions, grammar, etc., and adjust them. Iâll be sure headings are capitalized and that any references are properly formatted.
Finally, I go through and add bold and italics for the skimmers. I always ask, âIf someone only read the bold and italics, would they understand my message? Would they heed my call to action?â
When the editing is done and itâs good enough, I move to get the blog out in the world.
8. Hit Publish! (Bonus Tip)
The final and most important step is to publish it! Otherwise, it just languishes on your drive and never gets out into the world.
People need your knowledge! They canât get it if you donât publish it.
Iâm a huge fan of reminding myself âDone is better than perfect.â Iâd rather have it pretty good and published than perfect and never published.
Hitting that âPublishâ button is fun!
I mean, if I didnât publish this (even though I know it could have been better), you wouldnât be reading it. đ
Conclusion
Now that youâve got seven, well eight, ways to make blogging fast, easy, and fun I challenge you to block off some time on your calendar to spend some quality time starting your next blog (or finishing that one thatâs been languishing unpublished for a while).
Remember, done is better than perfect and the world needs your words!
If you want more articles like this one, then subscribe to my newsletter. Youâll get articles about blogging and writing content for your business once or twice a month straight to your inbox.