The Rhythm Section: Finding Your Blogging Pace
In this series:
If this is your first article, check out the others and see if anything triggers your blogging spirit!
How often should I blog?
So, how often should you post an article? Well, that depends. On you.
When working with my clients and friends, here are some of the reactions I have heard:
I do not have the time
I do not know what to write about
I cannot write
This Internet stuff just confuses me
Nobody cares what is on my website
Nobody ever likes or shares my posts on social media
I am being nice here. I have more that are NSFW.
Blogging is, for most, an ungrateful exercise. No one comments. No one shares it. No one reacts on social media. Why do it?
I get it. I do.
There is a number you need to understand. It took me a while to get over it.
95% of people online DO NOT post on the Internet.
Most people who see your website and your blog posts will never leave a like or a comment.
You may never see any positive reactions. So, what do you do?
You quit.
I know this from experience. I have a collective of 3000 followers on social media, and I could get excited when I get more than 3 reactions in a week!
It sounds sad, but this is human nature. It is the way the Internet world spins.
How many calls did you get from the recent flyer action, the one where you sent people out to stuff mailboxes?
Yeah.
What does that cost versus what does your time cost every week to post an article?
Does weekly sound intimidating?
Yeah, good!
Let’s make this easy.
How to make this more efficient and fun?
Coming up with ideas should be easy. Need some help? Ping me.
How does this sound?
Once a month you sit down and write 4 blog posts. You publish a new blog every week.
Once every four months, you write 8 blog posts. You share a new blog post every 2 weeks.
The last one might take a Sunday afternoon. Just think about it. You could write 3 times a year and have blogs for the entire year!
Batch posting works with every type of content. That could be blogs, podcasts, TikToks, Instagram posts, etc.
Would it feel efficient if you sat down one afternoon and wrote eight articles for the next two months? Maybe five hours? And you repeated this six times a year?
Batch posting is generating many pieces of media for blogs or social media in advance. Here we use tools to schedule the release of the articles over time.
Only 6 times a year blogging! Want to learn how?
Batch Posting: Power Up Your Productivity
We talked about the importance of consistency and maintaining a schedule for your blog. But let's face it, staring down a blank page every week can be daunting. That's where the magic of batch posting comes in.
What is Batch Posting?
Think of batch posting as powering up your content creation engine. Instead of writing one article at a time, you dedicate a focused session to creating multiple blog posts in advance. It's like meal prepping for your blog – you invest time upfront to ensure you have fresh content ready to roll out over a set period.
How Does Batch Posting Work?
Here's a breakdown of the process:
Content Brainstorming Blitz: Schedule a dedicated brainstorming session. This could be a few hours on a Saturday morning or a designated evening each week. Use mind maps, jot down ideas, research trending topics – anything that sparks inspiration for future blog posts. Aim for a content calendar filled with enough ideas to cover your desired batch posting schedule (e.g., 4 posts per month, 8 posts every two months).
Content Creation Conveyor Belt: Once you have your ideas, turn on the content creation conveyor belt. This is your dedicated writing time. Batch your writing into focused sessions, knocking out several drafts or even polishing completed articles in one go. By staying focused on the same topic or theme during this time, you'll find your writing flows more efficiently.
Scheduling for Success: Now that you have your content arsenal, utilize scheduling tools offered by most blogging platforms. These tools allow you to pre-set the date and time for your blog posts to be published automatically. This ensures your content goes live consistently, even if you're busy with other aspects of your life.
Benefits of Batch Posting
Reduced Stress: Batch posting takes the pressure off weekly content creation. You'll have peace of mind knowing your blog remains active without the last-minute scramble.
Improved Efficiency: By focusing on writing in dedicated bursts, you'll likely find your writing process becomes more streamlined.
Content Consistency: Batch posting guarantees a consistent publishing schedule, keeping your audience engaged and coming back for more.
More Creative Freedom: Batching frees up time for other creative endeavors. You might use the extra time to brainstorm new blog ideas, research in-depth topics, or experiment with different writing styles.
Ready to Batch Post Like a Pro?
Give batch posting a try! You might be surprised at how much time and energy it saves. Remember, consistency is key to building a successful blog. By batch posting, you can ensure your website remains fresh and engaging, attracting new readers and fostering a loyal audience.
Now, let's set a schedule for your blog posts.
Sticking to the Beat: Setting Your Blog Posting Schedule
We've explored the power of batch posting for content creation, but it all hinges on having a solid publishing schedule. Consistency is the golden rule – it trains your audience to expect new content at a set pace and keeps your website humming with fresh information.
Finding Your Frequency Sweet Spot
There's no one-size-fits-all answer to how often you should post. The ideal frequency depends on several factors:
Your Niche: Highly competitive niches might require more frequent posting (e.g., daily or several times a week) to stay relevant. In less competitive areas, weekly or bi-weekly posting might suffice.
Content Length: Longer, in-depth articles naturally require more time between posts than shorter, bite-sized pieces.
Your Resources: Consider your available time, budget, and content creation capacity. Be realistic – it's better to commit to a consistent, achievable schedule than an ambitious one you can't maintain.
Popular Blog Posting Schedules
Here's a quick overview of common posting frequencies:
Daily: This is ideal for highly competitive niches with a constant flow of news and updates. It requires a significant time commitment.
Several Times a Week: This maintains a high level of activity and keeps your audience engaged. It requires a dedicated content creation strategy, and a team effort might be helpful.
Weekly: A solid option for most blogs. Provides a consistent flow of content without overwhelming your audience.
Bi-Weekly: A good middle ground, offering fresh content while giving you more time between posts.
Monthly: Suitable for less time-sensitive niches or if your content is particularly in-depth.
Pro Tip: Consistency is more important than frequency. Posting consistently every other week is better than sporadically every few days.
Planning Your Publishing Calendar
Once you've chosen your frequency, create a publishing calendar. This visual roadmap helps you track upcoming posts, ensures thematic continuity, and avoids last-minute scrambling. Popular tools like Google Calendar, Trello, or specialized editorial calendars can streamline this process.
Sticking to Your Schedule
Life throws curveballs, but here are some tips to maintain your posting schedule:
Schedule Buffer: Plan a few extra posts in advance as a buffer in case of unforeseen delays.
Utilize Batch Posting: Leverage the efficiency of batch posting to pre-write and pre-schedule your content.
Set Realistic Goals: Start with a manageable schedule and gradually increase frequency as your content creation process becomes more streamlined.
Track Your Results: Analyze website traffic and audience engagement to see what frequency resonates best with your audience.
Pro Tip: Look into tools like Facebook, Metricool, and others to schedule social media posts. I will cover this more in the final article of this series. Check it out!
Remember, consistency is key to building a successful blog. Setting a realistic schedule and leveraging techniques like batch posting ensures your website remains a vibrant information hub, attracting new readers and fostering a loyal audience.
TL;DR
This article emphasizes the importance of maintaining a regular blogging schedule and introduces the concept of batch posting.
Batch posting is a method of creating multiple blog posts at once to ensure consistent content release.
The article also discusses the factors to consider when determining a blog posting schedule, the common blog posting frequencies, the benefits of a publishing calendar, and tips for sticking to the schedule.
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