5 Ways To Overcome The Dry Spells
There’s no doubt about it, blogging is a discipline, especially if there’s a desire for some measure of success. Having blogged for a number of months within a fairly relaxed environment (although I averaged a post each day), I have come to understand some of the pressures of blogging.
Whether we like it or not, the general consensus from successful bloggers is that you should aim to post around five solid, informative posts per week. The problem is, this has come to be expected as the norm, and if you don’t do it, others will, meaning you lose credibility and readership.
This brings me to the problem - the dry spells! You know, the times where you stare at the screen, hoping for the inspiration to jump out at you? Or even the times where you manage to write a post, but you know it lacks the spark to set it apart?
Here are 5 ways to help spark your imagination, and get the victory over those wretched, but ever impending dry spells!
1. A Site Review
You might not think it, but once you’ve built up a loyal readership, they will enjoy learning about what you enjoy. Why? Well because they enjoy how and what you write, and having read your blog for a period of time, they feel connected to you (in a funny way that only the blog savvy understand), so in some ways they think they’ll probably like what you like. Strangely enough, they usually do. However, choose a lesser known site. Reading about a site they already know about, isn’t profitable, so choose wisely.
2. Received Feedback
Have you received an email from someone who really appreciates your work? Use it to write a post. But you must be careful. A little, tactful self-promotion can be useful in highlighting to others what your material is good for. In fact, if a newcomer happens to read the effect your having on others, it may just be the thing to encourage them to click the orange subscription button, in the hope that you might benefit them in a similar way.
But again I say be careful. Blow your own trumpet too much, and you’ll sicken readers, and drive them away. Here’s a good example of tactful self promotion.
3. Your History
So you’ve got 5,000 RSS subscribers on your blog? Well unless you got a linkback from the Yahoo homepage, ProBlogger, John Chow, and on the Digg front page half a dozen times in your first week, then it’s likely that your wide readership knows little about your small beginnings.
Write a little about why you started, or why you chose your niche, or what mistakes you’ve made, etc…I could go on. Just think back and relate. Even if you’ve mentioned it in the past, as long as it wasn’t a week ago, it’s ok to mention it again, just use your imagination aswell.
4. Current News
It’s not appropriate for every blog, but some blogs can get away with reflecting on what’s hot off the press. If it’s a tech blog you run, pass your own remarks on the latest tech news. If it’s a financial blog, again check the news and add your thoughts on current financial issues.
Regurgitating the news in most cases won’t be beneficial. But add your own twisted view, or throw a controversial aspect into the mix, and it’ll liven it up no end.
5. Feed Off Others
When all else fails, whizz around the web looking for inspiration. Seriously, it’s not illegal. Copying anothers work is downright wrong, but feeding off others is not. In fact, the chances are you’ve done it before. Surely I’m not the only one that has been reading a post, when all of a sudden, a great idea for a post has popped into the mind? All I’m saying now is that you be more deliberate. Read around, and hopefully something will set you on track to writing a great post.
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6 Responses to “5 Ways To Overcome The Dry Spells”
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Just a quick thanks for adding me to your blogroll.
It’s an honour and a privelege!
All the best,
David
No problem David. I really enjoy your blog.
I do #5 from time to time, but with a twist — I simply blog about someone else’s blog. Usually, that blog has several good articles of interest to me, so I merely mention and link to them.
This generates goodwill between me and the other blogger, plus it informs my reader of a site worth exploring.
Matt - An excellent idea. I suppose that’s a mix of #1 and #5.
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Great stuff here thanks for sharing!