One of the hardest things I find as a work from home blogger is coming up with stuff to write about.
I understand the principles of blogging… do it on topic, do it well and do it often… but sometimes it seems that the universe is just working against you.
Finding time in between working a fulltime job, looking after a family, and running a household with its ever growing lists of house-work chores and property maintenance can be a real challenge. Is it no wonder that there are not so many women in the Internet Marketing game?
I am reminded by what my Step-mother used to always say:
“… Women’s work is never done..”
Not to say that men don’t work equally hard but I have observed that once ‘wonderful husband’ comes home he spends his evenings “relaxing” doing his hobbies or chatting online with his friends, while I on the other hand try to put in some work-online hours before collapsing into bed exhausted. (I have been known to fall asleep at my desk and face-plant into the keyboard)
The technicalities of creating a WordPress blog are not the issue, I have no problems with understanding the basics of installing WordPress, themes, plugins, graphics, modifying CSS etc.
It is the writing of good content on a consistent basis - that is my greatest challenge. I can see why many pay for articles for site content and why copy writers are in high demand – alas - I don’t think I will be one of them.
However I have found that the biggest stumbling blocks to writing are of course… me, myself and I. There are a number of self challenges that get in my way to writing on a regular basis.
As I write I am also thinking of ways to over come them.
Too Scattered
I sometimes find I have so many ideas and interests that my head swims and then I find myself going off topic. A beginner’s number one mistake when starting out to earn money online blogging is to blog about anything and everything on the same blog.
Yes, we are more that one dimensional beings and have many interests however when people are searching for information they have something very specific in mind. If they come to your fishing blog they don’t want to hear about your tricked out car (unless they happen to be interested in that as well) they want to know what lures or bait you used to get that 25 pounder the other week.
Simple Solution: Create One Blog Per Topic or Niche.
If you have more that one interest, create a separate, specific blog for each. You can link to your other blogs so those who might be interested have an opportunity to check them out but as a general rule visitors come to your blog because they are interested in the specific topic you’re a blogging about.
Ignorance and Not Knowing Your Purpose
Identifying the purpose of my blog helps to keep focused. If you are looking to make some money from blogging you may have started a blog in a niche that is profitable but you know absolutely nothing about! Coming up with “fresh” content is going to be a challenge. Rehashing old and out of date information may initially get you some visitors but it won’t be long before you are sprung.
Simple Solution: Blog About What You Know And Love.
It is so much easier to come up with content from your own personal experience and passions. You are more inclined to know stuff as you live and breathe it and your monetizing purpose - to attract others who feel the same way to your blog so you can recommend them to a product that will benefit them - will yield results.
Perfectionism and Sweating the Small Stuff.
This is one of my own personal demons. I could spend days and weeks tweaking my blog “look” and functionality to make it ‘perfect’. Hours spent creating the ‘perfect’ blog post (and quite a number of them never get to be published) is costly. The high cost of perfection is un-productive wasted time.
Simple Solution: Just Do It.
“Life itself is a process of trial and error…And those people who make no mistakes are those who make nothing.” - Alfred P. Sloan
For sure; I need to spend the time setting up monetising, spell and grammar checking post content, apply the principles of SEO but I can’t waste time on the small stuff. There is no profit in it.
Research – Write – Recommend. These are the basic fundamentals of earning money blogging
Inferiority Complex and Fear of Failure
There are so many great bloggers and blog out there in the Blogosphere and it is easy to become a little intimidated. I have my favourite bloggers that I follow and I greatly admire the way they write, how regularly they post great content and sometimes I feel that I don’t measure up
Simple Solution: Gain some Perspective and Be Myself.
For every good blog out there are hundreds or even thousands of “C-rap” blogs. The ones I’m thinking of are the auto-generated for Google Adsense clicks rubbish that are a waste of time visiting and add nothing of real value to the web. You can do much better than that!
It’s natural to want people to like what you write but just as in the real world some people will like you and others won’t. I choose not to worry about it and just be myself.
I am always surprised to learn that I have new followers and I used to feel an incredible pressure to live up to their expectations. However now, after adopting the “Be Myself” philosophy, whenever this happens I turn each new follower into an affirmation… “I must be doing something right”
Inspiration and Writing when in the Mood.
At first glance this may not seem to be a problem. However if you are inclined to write only when you feel inspired you may find that your inspiration, mood and blogging schedule don’t always conveniently synchronize.
There are times when you sit and stare at a blank post editor in a cold sweat racking your brain for something to write about. You know your time is limited, you know you have to post something because it has been a while and you need to update your blog but for the life of you, you can’t think what.
Simple Solution: Carry a note book and pen or pencil with me everywhere.
Inspiration can hit you at the most inopportune times… jot the thought down to look at later and carry on with your day. Come “Blog Time” you have a basic idea on which to develop for a post.
Even a soul searching post like this one has value… not only has it enabled me to work through my own stumbling blocks but I hope that others who read it with similar thoughts will find encouragement to carry on with their own work from home blogs.
