Header graphic for print
Gen Y Biz Dev Business Development from the Perspective of 20 Somethings

10 Tips for Getting Back on Track with Blogging

By Kara McKenna on Posted in Fun Stuff, Internet, Networking, Social Media

Our little princess, Reagan

I am finally back with my tail between my legs and a big “I’M SORRY” for being gone for so long followed by a gigantic “THANK YOU” to my colleague, Jenna for keeping us going. There have been a lot of changes in my life the last 8 months but the biggest one of all was welcoming my beautiful baby girl (Reagan Michelle McKenna) on June 24th. Yes, I am already that mom wanting to brag about her and share a million pictures but I will do my best to save those for the “new mom” posts that I have in the que. I have thought long and hard about how I really let this much time go by without a blog post and it all came down to life getting in the way. It happens. Instead of beating myself up about falling into the stale blogger category, I decided to hit the net for some inspiration. After a few hours of surfing, reading, reviewing Tweets and a motivating breakfast with Kevin McKeown I was inspired to put together my own tips for getting back on the blogging track which was also a nice way to ease back in. So, for my fellow stale bloggers or even those just getting started, here goes.

  1. Re-visit your strategy. Remind yourself why you started a blog to begin with. What are your goals? Are they the same? Have they changed?
  2. Be yourself. I found myself trying to emulate what my colleagues were doing. This was a nonstarter for me and an instant de-motivator because we are all different. Go back to your roots and just remember to be yourself.
  3. Seek inspiration. Inspiration isn’t always going to come to you. Sometimes you have to seek it and the next couple of tips will help with that. Seeking inspiration does not have to exist only online. Read a magazine, talk to a friend or take a walk. It is okay to put down the smart phone.
  4. Comment on your peers blog posts. This is a great way to generate ideas for a blog post or spark up a conversation.
  5. Review your Tweet stream, Facebook news feeds and LinkedIn updates. Go back to the things you have Tweeted, shared, liked, etc and see if there is anything worth turning into a longer discussion. What are your friends sharing? A blog post is a great way to further that engagement and share your opinion beyond 140 characters.
  6. Schedule blogging time but be flexible. In order to stick with blogging, it should become part of your routine so it is good to schedule the time, however do not feel stressed if you need to move it a day or two. Just try not to push it back 8 months like I did.
  7. Limit distractions – that includes social media. This has been one of my biggest problems. Once you have your post idea, sit down and write. Log out of your social networks and close your email. You might even think about leaving your phone in the other room as to not be tempted by Snapchats and text messages.
  8. Change your scenery. Having trouble focusing? Think about moving to a coffee shop, sitting outside, or just moving to another space in your office or house.
  9. Don’t feel obligated to finish a post in one sitting. This post alone has taken me a few days but each time I come back to it, I have a clearer vision. Just be sure to commit to a time when you plan to hit publish.
  10. Don’t beat yourself up (or give up). If you are like me, feeling guilty about the time that has passed is easy. Don’ let it get to you, just put an end to it. Part of my problem was being too hard on myself. I’ll admit, I was close to throwing the towel in but really glad I didn’t.

Along with the tips above, I encourage you to also read Blogging: Most Definitive Medium For Demonstrating Expertise On The Web  as another great reminder why you should stick with blogging. After all, like Dorie Clark says,

Writing is still the clearest and most definitive medium for demonstrating expertise on the web.

I am curious to hear how others got back into blogging after a hiatus. Please share your thoughts, ideas, frustrations and breakthroughs. In the meantime, while I am not playing mommy or trying to finish Orange Is The New Black, I will be looking for inspiration on my next blog post. Ideas welcomed.