What’s Holding You Back?
I often here from people that they’ve launched a blog but they’re not updating it as often as they think they should. I’ve 
also come across plenty of blogs that haven’t been updated in months. It makes me sad when I see one that was off to a great start and then it just stops.
Why does this happen? There are lots of reasonable explanations.
We run out of time. We run out of ideas. Other things are more important.
The real question is whether your first answer to why the blog isn’t updated as often as it should be is the real answer.
Is it really about time? Is it really because of a dearth of ideas? If this is a problem you want to solve, then you have to really identify the problem, and be ready to fix it.
If it really is about scheduling and finding ideas, that’s a relatively easy fix. Those excuses, however, often mask a deeper issue. So what’s the real reason for your struggle?
Start with this: Does the blog matter? Do I really want to do it? Why? Be honest. How important is this in your big scheme of things?
If you don’t really feel that there is value to it, you will have a hard time getting motivated to keep it up. If this is the problem, consider putting off until you have a better sense of why you want to spend your time on it.
Next ask yourself: Do you like doing it? If not, why? Is it the writing, the technical aspect of posting, the general topic or something else?
If you don’t enjoy posting, it can be hard to come up with ideas and you will be loath to find the time. If you can pin down what you don’t like, you can address that problem. If you don’t like writing, figure out alternatives like putting up pictures or bullet lists. If it’s the technical aspect, what will make it easier? If it’s the topic, can you switch? If it’s something else, is it fixable?
Another possibility: Are you afraid of what people will think?
This can be a tough one to recognize or admit. You’ve gotten as far as starting the blog, but the reality of people seeing it can be intimidating. What if nobody reads it? What if they read it and hate it? I will reluctantly admit these are two very real possibilities. BUT, (yes, I shouted) these problems are fixable, except that you can’t fix them unless you know they are real. If you find that no one is reading it, you can take steps to draw in readers. If it’s not well received, you can figure out why and make changes. (As a side note, it doesn’t have to be great right away , although it is very likely to be better than you think.)
If you are really concerned, have someone you trust give you feedback on what you write before you post it.
By the way, all of this applies to other kinds of writing too.
Join the 90-day blogger challenge: Blog once a week in April, May and June. That’s just 12 posts. You can do it! Respond with a comment or send me and email.
4 Comments
I agree with your premise that a goal of any blog — whether it’s personal or professional — should be to post often. Few things collect dust quicker than an outdated blog. With that in mind, my general rule with blogs is to keep them short, as in five to 10 paragraphs. It allows me to keep focused on a topic and also not get bogged down with the prospects of writing a major piece as a blog post. I also draw inspiration from current news and pop culture. If a person or event has the public’s attention, find a way to work it into your blog. Doing so makes the writing more fun and increases the short-term chances of search engines picking up on your blog post.
March 19, 2012
I agree with your premise that a goal of any blog — whether it’s personal or professional — should be to post often. Few things collect dust quicker than an outdated blog. With that in mind, my general rule with blogs is to keep them short, as in five to 10 paragraphs. It allows me to keep focused on a topic and also not get bogged down with the prospects of writing a major piece as a blog post. I also draw inspiration from current news and pop culture. If a person or event has the public’s attention, find a way to work it into your blog. Doing so makes the writing more fun and increases the short-term chances of search engines picking up on your blog post.
March 19, 2012
All good questions. I think the first mistake people make is that they commit to blogging when they’re feeling inspired. As soon as the inspiration wears off, as it most surely will, they just stop. That’s why it makes good sense to write down a bunch of ideas when you’re feeling inspired so when you’re not you can refer back to the list. When I do that I find the inspiration comes back. But the best idea is to find a blog buddy – someone who agrees to read your posts if you agree to read theirs. That ramps up the accountability for each of you. Seems to be working for me.
March 19, 2012
All good questions. I think the first mistake people make is that they commit to blogging when they’re feeling inspired. As soon as the inspiration wears off, as it most surely will, they just stop. That’s why it makes good sense to write down a bunch of ideas when you’re feeling inspired so when you’re not you can refer back to the list. When I do that I find the inspiration comes back. But the best idea is to find a blog buddy – someone who agrees to read your posts if you agree to read theirs. That ramps up the accountability for each of you. Seems to be working for me.
March 19, 2012