Read this before you start a daily blog
If you want to learn how to create a daily blog that will make you a ton of money or will reach 100K followers in a month, stop reading this right now and go and do a web search. You'll find plenty of content. Good luck!
This article is about how you can start and sustain a daily blog. Most bloggers often give it up within a year or so, mainly because they lose interest.
I started blogging last October. I found myself sharing similar insights with professionals I was mentoring and coaching at the time. It was clear that one-to-one communication could not scale. At the same time, a couple of my friends kept telling me:
You should blog about it. There are many people who would benefit from that!
And so, I started my daily blog on LinkedIn because that's was the only social platform I was using to stay in touch with my network around the world. A quick and simple decision.
If you're thinking about starting a daily blog - on your personal website or any other social platform - before you make this commitment, here are some things to consider:
Make writing a daily habit
This is far more important than the actual skill of publishing your blog. It will make your life easier and alleviate a lot of stress, if you first develop the habit of daily writing. Preferably, at the same time of the day, every day of the week. Ideally, you want to create this habit around something else you do every day that gives you joy. One habit triggers the other. We are all creatures of habit.
Daily writing came easy for me as I had been journal writing since I was a little girl. But I was not writing each and every day. So, I worked on creating a daily writing habit. Most of the days I write after I complete my morning ritual and I always combine it with my first cup of coffee! Or I write after my evening walk with a cup of green tea by my side!
What to blog about
My only thought on this topic is to write about what you know from experience and/or what you want to learn. Topics that you usually discuss with your friends and your network.
If you aim to specifically promote your personal brand or your business, a daily blog may be more challenging to sustain. At least not without a more substantial effort. At some point, you may run out of things to say about yourself and your work. And if you keep talking about the same good old things over and over again, either you or your readers will get bored. I've witnessed this way too often.
Having said that, I've also observed a few very creative writers who blog about their work daily with long-term success. Their work is usually related to technology that evolves rapidly so there's a lot to talk about. The time commitment to sustain such a blog is major.
Most people may think that daily bloggers have a master plan. And perhaps some do. I don't. Because I don't need one. I blog the way I talk. It's a merely another way of communication.
- I write about what I want to share with others.
- I write about what I experience in my daily life and work.
- I write about thoughts that are still boiling in my head.
- I write about things I want to learn.
- I write about my worries.
- I write about my hopes and aspirations.
- I write about my ideas...
Who to blog for
Many bloggers suggest to start a blog for yourself because of its numerous benefits. While this is absolutely correct, I would suggest to think about the people you enjoy sharing your thoughts with every day. And those you may want to coach or help. If you can think of five people in your current personal and professional network that fit the bill, it's safe to assume that there are many more out there in the world that want to hear from you.
The connection economy - namely the web - allows us to reach people whom we may never meet in person. When we think about those who will read our blog, we tell our story for them and not for us. Although we are the ones who write the actual blog, it helps to think about it as a conversation with another person.
What would you share with them today if you met them for a cup of coffee? This gives our blogging a new purpose to strive for.
Although blogging gives me tremendous joy and has helped me on so many levels, I don't blog for myself. Journal writing fulfills this need nicely. Writing a daily blog is about telling my story and sharing my thoughts and experience with those who would benefit from them.
A simple decision
When I committed, first and foremost to myself, and also announced it publicly that I would start blogging daily, I made a very simple but important decision. That I would write about any topic I want and I would not attach my blog to any particular aspect of my business. I may occasionally share bits and pieces of my work in my blog but it will always serve as my voice to the world.
How to write and publish your blog every single day
- Write about what you are thinking on any given day (or hour!).
- If you don't like what you wrote, write it again.
- If you still don't like it, write about something else.
- Now, you've got to publish your blog. That's a non-negotiable step!
Photo by Kaitlyn Baker on Unsplash
How to ease the tension before publishing
It's probably rare, if not impossible, to identify a catastrophic or life-threatening event related to blogging daily; in case any of you were wondering! It's a perfectly safe activity!
Even if nobody reads your blog on any given day, nothing severe will happen, except for a short-lived disappointment for you. And if those who read it do not like it, it's still okay. Within 24 hours, you will publish a new blog!
I truly believe that blogging daily may be the best way to get over our fears.
Publish your blog every single day!
I cannot emphasize how important that is, especially at the beginning. Some bloggers attest that it only took them 30 days until they were able to make it a daily habit. Others needed longer time. Let's go with 100 days and leave it at that!
The exact number of days does not actually matter. What matters is that you keep going until you reach the point that you cannot wait to write and publish your blog every single day. If you've just started blogging or you're still thinking about it, you may believe that this day will never come. Well, I've got good news for you! Not only, will you look forward to publishing your blog, but it will become one of the most joyful activities of your day.
To make daily blogging fun, you need to do it for the right reason, and make it a habit.
The more you write, the less you'll edit!
When I first started blogging daily, I used to spend as much time editing as I did writing. It was time consuming and, often, frustrating. This is not the case anymore. There are days that I write my blog in one take. Or, I draft a thought when it strikes me and, by the time I sit down to write my blog, what I write is what I publish, without much editing. It's very common to write my blog in just a few minutes now. And if I can do this, so can you!
Two things happen when we blog daily:
- We become better writers; we're able to articulate our message more precisely.
- We trust more our writing; the more we write the more confident we feel about it.
A personal thought
I've learned more about myself since I started blogging daily than I've had in any other way. It has helped me become a better teacher and a more engaging storyteller. It has also triggered more intense journal writing because daily habits have a magical way of working for each other! So, yes, you'll personally gain more than you'll give to those who want to hear from you! But you've got to start with serving others first. It always works this way.
Final advice
If you're not feeling quite ready yet to take the leap, you can get into the practice of daily writing and share what you write with an accountability partner every single day. No need to ask for feedback. And it's perfectly okay if they don't read it every day. Just write and send it to them. I promise it will be a matter of time before you will want to hit publish.
Happy blogging!
Maria is a storyteller, and a change maker on a mission to empower people to design their learning journey and build the life and career they want. She blogs on LinkedIn daily, and she is the host of the Impact Learning podcast. You can listen on Apple Podcasts, on Google Play Music, on Spotify, on Stitcher, or subscribe via RSS.
Host of "The Engineering Passion Express" Podcast
6 年Maria Xenidou, PhD This was a great article. For me personally, I’ve always made a lot of connections in the world, just the way my mind works. For years, I thought, “I should write a blog to share these.” However, I let the process get in the way. Which blog platform? What should I call it? Etc. Finally, after years of debate, I settled on LinkedIn. Already had a profile, didn’t need to choose a name. I started writing, no schedule though. Then the habit grew. Two years later I wanted to do more and grew it into a new site and daily blog at noneofthisisright.com I’m in agreement with everything you said, except the part about not liking your writing and waiting on it. I say, post it anyway. Come back tomorrow and edit then. Force yourself to ship.
Preparing adults 16-60 for the Future of Work|Author: Contours of Courageous Parenting|GenZ| Transition|Strategy|Speaker |Podcast:Tilt the Future|Climate Action
6 年This is the most valuable part of your message to me today: 'I made a very simple but important decision. That I would write about any topic I want and I would not attach my blog to any particular aspect of my business'. Thank you for that insight.
Dialogue that truly connects in the present
6 年What a timely post as I'm developing my writing habit. I find your article easy to follow, give clear and simple instructions on how to do, what to write, as well as the emotional challenges when people want to start to write. You have thought this through and answered all the questions one might not start or stop us from developing this as a habit. What I enjoyed is that you make it a point to make sure we have the right reason and motivation to see this through and also reminding us the benefits of writing. Knowing that you were in our place a year ago was comforting, and know that you have walked the path, and sharing advice with us, or perhaps it could be seen as your self a year ago.? If there was anything I can suggest, I really enjoy articles/ presentations where they lay down what they will talk about early on, so I will know what to expect. Your article flows so well, the question never popped up my mind asking "So what about... But how do you..." Well done! Keep inspiring others to write!
SEO Account Manager
6 年Hi Maria Beautifully written! You've inspired me to even consider daily blogging. I've always been bogged down by the idea of it having to relate to your business in some way but you've reminded me that it really doesn't have too and rather it is the act of writing that will provide clarity and action. Thank you!
Passionate about wellness
6 年I had a friend advise about how if she really wants to try a lifestyle habit, she gives it a year because here's an adjustment period which I believe is like the dip, then the learning curve dissipates and whatever it is becomes easy. I feel that you're writing about the same sentiment. Do it, give it ample time, make it habit. You've set this piece up very clearly. The audience can pick up skills and advice from you. You even address fear and benefits. I'm thinking about what daily habits I want in place now. Thank you for the inspiration Maria!?