One of the first questions I get asked when people find out I’m a professional blogger is, “How do you write that many posts??”
It’s true that I write a fair number of blog posts in a week! Usually 8–10, sometimes as many as 12 posts — and I only work part-time, while I manage a home and a precocious three-year-old at the same time. And that work time isn’t all writing, either; I’ve still got to actually run the other moving parts of my business, like marketing, creating my own content, invoicing, paying taxes, etc. etc. etc. (You know the drill.)
For many of my clients — and I’m sure loads of small business owners out there — finding the time to blog is one of the biggest challenges they face when it comes to creating their own content. (That’s one reason my service is so popular!)
The sneaky secret here is that it’s hard for many of these folks to find time to blog because it takes them SO LONG to write a single post!
In fact, there are some blogging gurus out there who say that you “should” be spending at least 20 hours to write a single post. TWENTY HOURS. Don’t get me wrong: I’m all for quality above quantity, but I could write a BOOK in 20 hours, not a blog post.
People get slowed down during their writing process for many reasons until a blog post can take, on average, anywhere from 2 to 6 hours to write.
But it doesn’t have to. Here are my top tips for making blogging easier and more efficient:
Don’t waste your writing time coming up with ideas of what to write.
I believe you should schedule dedicated brainstorming time totally separate from your writing time. To me, brainstorming is a totally separate activity. For my clients, I usually help them brainstorm and plan out up to six months worth of topics at a single go. For my own business, I find that six weeks is a more manageable time frame for planning out my editorial calendar, but I have a long, running list of ideas that I add to whenever inspiration strikes.
Implement this Tip: Start a document, a note, a folder, a blank sheet of paper right now where you can write down blog ideas as they strike. And use it!
Schedule your writing time and make it sacrosanct.
I have so many clients to keep track of, I have to be sure I schedule in time to write for each one of them — plus myself! But I ran into a problem with this early on in my business; if I actually blocked out time in my calendar for writing, it showed that time as “busy” for people who wanted to schedule meetings with me, when sometimes I was willing and able to move my schedule around. For example, Thursdays are my all-day work days; I know I have to write posts for two clients on that day, but the writing doesn’t have to necessarily happen between 1 and 4pm (or whatever), so long as it happens.
My solution to this was to create another calendar in my Google calendar account. I put my writing time in this secondary calendar, which doesn’t show as “busy” in my main calendar, and then I move the blocks of time around at will. I can see very visually that I still need those blocks of time, and I know when to stop taking meetings for that day. It works for me!
This is also important because it gives you a deadline. I find writing to a deadline is sometimes the ONLY way to get my BICFOKTAM. (Butt in chair, fingers on keyboard, typing away madly.) If that sounds like you, set yourself a self-imposed deadline, or find an accountability partner to hold you to it!
Implement this Tip: If you don’t know how long it takes you to write a post (on average) start timing yourself. Once you have a good idea, start scheduling that time in your calendar, and make it just as important as any other meeting or task.
Don’t skimp on value because you’re short on time; do a “cheater’s” post instead.
I believe that those blogging gurus are telling you to spend 20 hours on a post not because they’re sadists, but because they want you to turn out really valuable EPIC content. And I’ve got no beef with that. Every post you write should be valuable to your audience.
But what do you do those weeks when you are short on time, or you’re struggling with writer’s block?
I like to pull out what I call “cheater’s” posts — but they’re really not cheating. Sometimes these posts are the most popular on your blog! They can include:
- List posts, like your top 10 tools you use to run your business. Or 5 podcasts you listen to. Or your favorite books right now.
- A link round-up (done right) can be great for promotion.
- Share a really great infographic and write one or two paragraphs about why it’s great.
- Write an FAQ post — or what I like to call an SAQ post (should ask questions) — about your business
These are all fairly quick and easy to produce, yet still provide good value for your reader.
Implement this Tip: Take 10 minutes to brainstorm a list of “cheater’s” posts you could write and add them to your ideas list for the next time you’re facing a writer’s block or a tight deadline.
Don’t reinvent the wheel every time you start a blog post.
For many people, just staring at that blank white space is rough. I use a template all the time when I’m writing my own blog or my clients’; it helps to focus my mind on exactly what I need to produce next. It also helps me start in the middle, or start with the snappy conclusion that came to me in the shower, but not lose my place in the post.
Implement this Tip: Create a blog post template you can refer to.
Let go of perfect. Because it will never be perfect.
Here’s the real secret of churning out blog posts quickly and efficiently: confidence. It might sound hokey, but I think the main reason I get so dang much done is that I’m just plain confident in my ability to do so.
I bet you have things like that in your business too. Maybe it’s when you’re creating a new design for a client, or when you’re in the brainstorming stage, or when you’re on a coaching call. You know this is your zone of genius, and you rock it!
You can fake confidence by letting go of the idea that each and every post you write has to be perfect. The Internet has typos, my friends — I know, you’re shocked. And if your post doesn’t quite land the way you hope this week, guess what? You get another chance next week.
If you find you really struggle with this, editing again and again, or really having trouble hitting the publish button, I highly suggest finding or hiring an editor to look over your work. It can really be the confidence boost you need.
Implement this Tip: If you have trouble with perfectionism, tap a friend, an accountability partner, or a professional editor to help you polish and feel more confident in your work.
What my work week looks like:
My work week is going to look a lot different than yours, but here’s the gist:
- I already have my post topics chosen (by me or by the client) before I ever sit down to write.
- I’ve carved out an appropriate block of time in my schedule just for writing.
- I eliminate all other tasks and distractions so that I can hit my deadlines; my clients know when to expect their posts, and I don’t want to let them down.
- I always have a backup plan, like a “cheater’s post,” in mind for when the words just aren’t flowing.
- I write quickly and efficiently, which doesn’t leave much time for the gremlins of perfectionism and self-doubt to creep up on me, and I send important posts to accountability partners to read through before they go live.
How do you make your blogging more quick and efficient? Which of these tips resonates the most for you? I’d LOOOOVE to hear your ideas in the comments below!
I really value you sharing these great ideas!
My pleasure, Sherry!
Great tips Lacy! I am going to actually put my writing into a calendar just like any other appointment. And let go of perfection 🙂 Thanks for the great advice.
Awesome! My pleasure, Melissa!
These are fabulous tips! Your headline jumped out at me right away as something I had to read. I am new to blogging and it is challenging to get started for sure! I can't wait to try some of your tips:)
Love these tips. I know most people don’t whip out posts like I do, either. TWENTY HOURS? Maybe twenty minutes… haha. But this is SO HANDY for me now as I am experiencing blog-writers-block. Ugh. (Just wrote my first one in weeks yesterday.) Thank you for this. xo
Awesome! Thanks Laura, and welcome!
Lacy, I sat down a couple hours ago determined to bang out two blog posts. Well, after 1 1/2 hours, I had mostly finished one with no clue about what the second one might be. So I took a social media break, found this post and just completed that second post in under 20 minutes. THANK YOU. I also grabbed your opt-in template and will be keeping it close for my next blogging session. I am also very excited to be a new subscriber to your list. Thanks!
AWESOME, Lilly! I’m so proud of you! Welcome, and I hope I can keep sharing awesome stuff for you!
Fantastic post Lacey! Loads of valuable info that is simple to implement and I know once I do, it will help immensely! Thank you, thank you!
Thanks Kristie! I am to serve. 😉
I love the google calendar tip! I am going to use this for blogging time, and social media time! My biggest struggle is to not let my posts turn into research papers 🙂 I tend to go deep… I think breaking into smaller topics would help. Oh, and I LOVE Evernote for capturing my blog ideas on the go – I enter into my phone and pull up weekly to plan my posts. Has helped me a ton!
Deep is GOOD, Liane! Consider a series if you feel they are too long, but don't be afraid of going deep. If you tend to write really valuable, juicy posts, maybe you deliver them less frequently?
And I love Evernote too! Great tool.
Thank you for sharing these tips, they are so valuable to help bloggers and writers alike stay on course with their task. Giving up the perfect post is epic game changer!
Thanks Andrea! I agree!
As always it’s a pleasure reading your posts, or shall I say the knowledge and best practices you keep sharing.
Thanks Ashima! The font is called Trial By Cupcakes. 🙂
Thanks :))
An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a colleague who was doing a little homework on this. And he actually ordered me breakfast simply because I stumbled upon it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending some time to discuss this topic here on your internet site.
Haha! Awesome! So glad I can be helpful (and the catalyst for a free breakfast!).
I usually take some time to write up my outline. Once the structure is there, writing is just a matter of punching those keys. Thank you for your advice!
Hi Lacy,
Wow such great tips for people who want to improve their blog writing. I think it’s important to know what you’ll be writing about before you actually start writing.
I love using Google Drive to help me keep track of my blog topics. I have over 100 potential blog topics that I’ll eventually be writing on my blog.
Whenever I think of more topics, I add them to Google Drive. This definitely helps me know what I’ll be writing about that way when I sit down, I don’t have to waste time trying to think about what I’ll be writing.
Like you, I don’t focus on perfectionism. I’ll actually write the post and just write. Then I’ll take time and proofread and clean it up.
While I don’t write 8-10 blog posts per week like you, I do have enough content scheduled on my blog to keep posting for 2 months in advance, without me having to worry about writing.
Although, I do need to spend time creating the images. If you have any tips on how to create images quickly just like blog posts, that would be awesome.
Thanks for sharing these tips, I know that they’ll help so many of us pump out more quality content on a regular basis, which as bloggers is important.
Have a great day 🙂
Susan
Honestly, Susan, I outsource my image creation these days! It’s not my zone of genius so I’m happy to pay an expert to do it!
These are great tips for the writers ! gonna share these tips with my mates 🙂
Lacy, I gotta tell ya these tips are GOLD. Thanks for all of them of course, but the “cheater’s post” idea was my fave. It’s already formatted basically and the topic is easily inserted or already there also; look slike all you do then is get the butt in the chair for a spin and voila! DONE. Thanks again.
Kurt Frankenberg
Thanks Kurt! Hope it’s useful.
now I am ready to try your tips. I might be difficult for me in starting but I hope I will able to handle your tips. thanx for sharing this.
This blog really hit home with me! I tend to have that perfectionist mentality when writing my own blogs, but never seem to have that problem when posting content on LinkedIn or writing technical emails to clients and customers. Thanks for the great insight!
Thanks a lot Lacy. There are answers to most of my questions and solutions to my problems during blogging.
But one more thing I want to ask:When do you perform the research for your blog posts if you don’t have idea on the topic?
Most of the time I started before writing and at the end I feel exhausted and leave everything blank without writing anything.. My biggest struggle..
great & awesome tips about how to write 8-10 blog post within a week. Its a really valuable tricks to writing a blog post for new writer. thanks for sharing us.
Some best tips I ever received, Thanks a lot
Some best tips I ever received, Thanks a lot…
Writing the schedule was the most helpful for me to write regularly
This blog is answer to those people who say 20 hours for 1 blog, yeah that is freking out lol, You have provided creative ideas that are practical and logical I am thinking to get my website https://asoftechsolutionsllc.com/ to have regular blogs now and your blog article has really nailed it to let understand what is the real deal and how we can brainstorm the ideas first and then write the blog saving time. Thank you 🙂
Perfect illustration about time management on blogs, thanks dear 🙂
Information is very Logical thank you
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