7 Ways To Rescue A Dying Blog
July 18, 2008
Thousands of new blogs are created every day. (At the last count: 120, 000 a day.) They don’t all make it. Many blogs wither and die as their owners move on to new interests and other activities. By and large that doesn’t matter (except for the web litter they leave behind).
But if you’ve set up that blog as part of your business, your brand or your identity online it does matter.
A stale, dusty or dying blog suggests that you have:
- Lost interest in your subject: what you’re writing about (or working on)
- Moved on to other lines of work
- Given up on something
- Forgotten about a project you started
- Run out of energy and inspiration
None of which are exactly positive ways to enhance your reputation.
If you think your blog might be on the way out here are 7 things you can do to rescue it:
1. Change your pace: if you’ve been blogging too frequently and are burning out try slowing it down to a more sustainable pace. If you haven’t blogged in months, try getting into a fortnightly schedule to ease back in
2. Add variety: experiment with shorter posts (or longer more thoughtful ones), adding in some photos, using quotes that have got you thinking… anything that will freshen things up and reawaken your interest
3. Brainstorm topics: if you’ve got stuck on your content, sit down with a pen and paper and brainstorm ideas for one dimension only - the tighter focus will help you generate new ideas
4. Tidy it up: integrate your blog into a website - that way it won’t look so obvious if you’re not managing to update it regularly
5. Make a decision: if you know you don’t want to blog any more then take some time to tie up the loose ends - write a concluding post, turn the blog into an archive, point visitors to a place you do want them to go
6. Check your purpose: think back to your original purpose - will it still drive you forward? What words will that purpose get you to write? If it’s not working any more: what purpose will?
7: Tap into your motivation: jot down the benefits you’ll get from bringing your blog back to life. Which ones are the most compelling - make your feet start to tap or your fingers itch to write? Focus on them to get you going again
What other strategies are there for kick-starting an ailing blog? Have you ever had to give a blog the kiss of life… or made the decision to put it to rest?
Powerful Web Content provides you with not just the site but the training, skills and support so you can manage and update your site with confidence.
Sign up for a coaching consult to help you get your blog back on track.
Photo Credit: Up, Up and Away by Darwin Bell on Flickr
Powerful Web Content: Don’t Just Keep It Simple
July 8, 2008
Applying the KISS Principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid) is one of the simplest and most powerful ways you can improve your content on the web.
You don’t need to be Hemingway to write compelling content.
But you will help yourself - and your readers - if you keep your content:
Fresh: Adding a blog to your site means you can freshen it up with news and articles
Relevant: Focus on what your readers and site visitors want to know
Simple: Don’t worry about fancy terminology or writing as if you were at college. Keep it simple: it’s easier for you to write (and easier for others to read)
Specific: Dig below the surface of platitudes and jargon to write about what you do and what you know, where you live and work, what you’re about
Conversational: Keep the tone light, conversational and friendly - you’ll draw your visitors in
Easy to read: Break up the text so it’s easy on the eye. Use really short paragraphs, with spaces inbetween
Plain: Stick to Plain English to make your web content easy to read and understand
Vivid: Add some colour by way of photos or by adding details - stories, specific points of interest - to bring your content to life
Two way: The comment function on blogs makes it easy for your readers, clients and potential clients to swap ideas or ask questions - and to give you feedback
Findable: There’s little point writing fabulous content if people can’t find you. Make sure you’ve got a site that’s search engine friendly (hint: a Wordpress blogsite will help you do just that)
What other simple tips would you add to this list?
Powerful Web Content provides you with not just the site but the training, skills and support so you can manage and update your site with confidence.