Tickle this
What was that thing I was going to write about? It was a great idea. A blow-your-socks off insightful bit of brilliance. If I 
could just remember what it was. I was driving somewhere, I think. Heard something on the radio that made me think about something I knew would make a great blog entry. Or maybe I was watching television? Or maybe it was at the beach last week when summer dropped in just to tease us.
Now here it is Tuesday and I’m a day past when I wanted to post and I’m pressed for time because of deadlines and I’m tempted to push it off a few more days or maybe just forget this week. But then, what happens next week? And the week after? And the week after that? Why would anyone come to read a blog when all they’re going to find is what they’ve already read?
Part of the solution is to (drum roll please) write down those snippets of ideas as soon as they occur to you! That way, when you are pressed for time or you’re brain dead from a big project, or you’re just plain out of ideas, you’ll have some at your fingertips. Collect them in a “tickler” file that you can dive into when you need a reminder. In fact, you may want to have a few – one on your computer for the electronic items you come across, one on the desk top for papers and one that goes with you. (If you’re feeling crafty, you can make decorate your own like the ones in the photo.)
Save everything and anything that you think might be useful, even if you’re really not sure why just yet. Those ideas will sit in the folder simmering and they might just be ready when you come back to them. You may be surprised to find that you have a completely different idea about what to do with them.
I’ve used this concept on the job with success for years. I have two pieces of advice based on hard earned experience:
- Make sure you put the files in a place where you can find them again
- Don’t forget you have them
Now that you know one of the secrets to generating content for your blog, why not join the 90-day blogging challenge starting April 1? Blog just once a week (or more) through the end of June. I have a top designer working on a Badge of Honor to display on your blog for anyone who completes the challenge.
4 Comments
Thanks for the great tips. Very useful. I started using the voice memo utility on my iPhone whenever I get an idea. That way I can listen later on when I have more time. Reminder, if you get a great idea while you’re driving, please pull over before attempting to use the voice memo utility (smile). The only caveat here is that you have to remember to check your voice memo. Another tool I recommend for WordPress users is the editorial calendar plugin. You can then write a bunch of ideas going out several weeks and just come back to the calendar each week. Now, what was I going to write about again …..
March 30, 2012
Thanks for the great tips. Very useful. I started using the voice memo utility on my iPhone whenever I get an idea. That way I can listen later on when I have more time. Reminder, if you get a great idea while you’re driving, please pull over before attempting to use the voice memo utility (smile). The only caveat here is that you have to remember to check your voice memo. Another tool I recommend for WordPress users is the editorial calendar plugin. You can then write a bunch of ideas going out several weeks and just come back to the calendar each week. Now, what was I going to write about again …..
March 30, 2012
Great idea, Jen! I use Evernote to collect my ideas… its a great little app that you can access on and sync across your phone/computer and the web. Count me in on your 90 day blogging challenge.
April 2, 2012
Great idea, Jen! I use Evernote to collect my ideas… its a great little app that you can access on and sync across your phone/computer and the web. Count me in on your 90 day blogging challenge.
April 2, 2012