One day it happened. I fell out of love. . . with blogging.
For the past four years, blogging has been a passion, a point of inspiration for me and my business. But lately blogging has become more of a chore, an action, a requirement, and something that is expected. Over the last month, I’ve fallen out of love with blogging.
Like folding the laundry, it has become something I avoid, and I’m not alone. . .
Ask any blogger that’s been dedicated to the craft of blogging and you’ll hear about this cycle. Inspiration, creativity, passion or love is not a constant. Your level of creativity and commitment ebbs and flows. About once every 12-18 months, I seem to shift my thinking and sometimes lose some focus around my blog. Like any commitment or relationship, blogging takes a level of dedication and persistence. It’s not for the faint of heart.
- Set low expectations. I mean manageable expectations. Don’t over commit. Creativity can’t be scheduled and neither should your blog.
- Write what’s easy. Historically, for me a blog post doesn’t take more than 15 minutes because I write about what I know and what I’m passionate about.
- Target your business. (or your personal brand). The topics I blog about are tailored to my blog audience and prospective clients. Sometimes I completely bomb on a post and other times I hit a home run. The point is that I learn from my mistakes and successes driving me to do and be better in business.
- Visual matters. Half the fun in writing a blog post is searching and finding a fantastic photo to go along with it. Use graphics, photos, and titles that draw the eye in.
- SEO sometimes matters. Everyone talks about links and making your blog search engine optimized. It really depends on your audience and for whom the blog post is intended. It only takes one view a blog post to sometimes close the deal. While I recommend link backs and hyperlinking, it’s not the be all end all solution.
Find your inspiration point or place and bring your intentions and passion with your blog back into focus. For me, I took a technology time out over the weekend and spent some time writing out my personal and professional goals related to Blogging4Jobs and blogging in general. Having an idea and goal in mind helps me to remember what’s important and stay centered with my goals in mind. You can too.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
You definitely speak for me here Jessica. I get into a funk every now and then. Sometimes I feel like I’m on a roll and the hits keep on coming (lol) and other times I feel like I have a million ideas and not one is good enough to publish. I’m glad you are in it for the long haul. I read your blog for those home runs and even on the days when you just hit a single or foul out. Your friend- Trish
Thanks Trish,
Everyone’s gotta hit a foul ball once in a while. It’s how we learn to swing straight and aim for the fences. . . See you on Friday!
Jessica
@blogging4jobs
Whew, I thought you might have been calling it quits for a second. Glad to hear you weren’t. Thanks for keeping it up. You are one of the ones who inspire me.
@John,
Thanks for caring. I wouldn’t pull a Punk Rock HR on ya. . . I’m here for life or at least until the offer is too good to say no to.
Jess
@blogging4jobs
Gosh I thought you all just had a blogging gene and it came easy for you. It is comforting to know that you struggle with it from time to time; although sort of mean for me to say that.
Your comments about titles and pictures are so true, both must do a good job drawing the reader to the post.
I am looking for some great posts from HRFL10!
Home run Jess!