How to Start a Consistent Blog

I’ve set myself a challenge of blogging consistently.

Consistently for me means at least 3 times a week. But to get in the habit, I’m going to attempt it every day.

Ok, every weekday.

And in the interest of building a habit, I’ve got a few criteria that I’m going to stick to.

These are tips and suggestions that I’ve picked up from reading other peoples’ blogs, reading ABOUT other peoples’ blogs, and general business sense.

Just write, don’t edit

If you’re like any writer I’ve ever known or read about, you’ll start writing, and get stuck on sentence one.

“no, that’s not right.”

“Should I say Hello, or Hi?”

The constant desire to get it perfect can delay the whole process.

I learnt once, and this has always stuck with me, that when you’ve got writer’s block, “just write badly.”

So that’s my intention as I write this. Just write badly. Get it out, no editing as I go (sure, I’ll edit after, but this step 1 is going to help me get to that stage a LOT faster)

Set aside time every day, no distractions

This means phone goes on Do Not Disturb. Got my water, got my lip balm, I’ve read my emails.

I can clear 20 minutes to just write. And since I’m not editing, 20 minutes is plenty!

For some, you might find it helpful to turn off the internet as well. I’ve heard of computer apps that lock your internet for a set time so you physically can’t be distracted, but I don’t think I need to go to that extreme yet.

I can see the little yellow envelope icon telling me I have new mail, right now. But it can wait.

Make it easy for myself

I have a habit of re-inventing the wheel.

For this blogging project, I’m going to make it easy. I’m going to write about what I know, and probably write about the same topic I just did a facebook live on.

I find it easier to do a facebook live – I can just speak. There IS no editing when you’re live on camera. Those lives take about 5-10 minutes, maybe 15 minutes including some prep time before I hit that big red “Go Live” button.

The other way I’m going to make it easy for myself is to let go of perfection.

I’m not planning out this writing schedule in advance, I’m not trying to tie it in with my launch products. I’m just writing. Whether it’s long or short. No pre-defined formula, no set format.

Just one topic at a time, whatever is in my head when I sit down to write.

I know that might freak a lot of people out – “what, no planning??”

It kind of freaks out my inner planner, too. I think I actually get more thrill out of the planning that I do out of the execution.

But this project is all about execution, so my planner is officially on holiday.

Don’t worry about SEO, yet

Oh yes, SEO is essential. I want people to find my blog, so at some point, I’m going to have to learn about keyword search tools, headline checkers and meta data.

But for now, the habit is the most important thing to cultivate, and the techie stuff will come in time.

I know a lot of bloggers say that the one thing they wished they had started earlier was keyword searching, so I’m tempted to dive in straight away. (I’ve already researched the various tools out there)

But I think that’s a problem I’d like to have. It would be better than never starting a blog in the first place because I was too bogged down in research.

Final Thoughts

I’ve realised that whenever I write, I’m always thinking about how it might help other people. I’m an advice-giver. I can’t help it.

That’s what annoyed my sister so much when we were growing up (and probably still now, to be fair, but I think we’re both a bit more diplomatic in our 30s)

However, what this means for you, my lovely reader, is that even though this blog is MY challenge, you’re going to be coming along for the ride and get hearing my suggestions to make it work for you.

And that’s it.

I think that was 17 minutes.

Nailing it!

See you tomorrow.