If you aren’t blogging yet, or you’re looking for shortcuts to save time and blog more frequently, here are three ideas to get you started:
1. Can’t write? Then talk!
Too many people don’t blog because they can’t write, or it takes them too long to write well. The solution? A small tape-recorder.
When an idea strikes, simply dictate your blog post into the recorder. Then transcribe it yourself or hire an inexpensive assistant to transcribe it for you and post it to your blog.
Also consider using voice recognition software. Dragon Naturally Speaking turns your voice into text three times faster than most people type, with 99 percent accuracy. I haven’t tried this product, but I know people who have, and they rave about it.
2. Recruit guest bloggers.
Most of your blog content should be your own.
But you can recruit guest bloggers occasionally to fill in when you’ll be on vacation, taking time off, suffering from writer’s block, or when you simply want to expose your readers to another viewpoint. Blogger LinkUp links bloggers who want to write guest posts with bloggers who need them.
3. Recruit others on your team to blog with you.
Don’t carry the entire load on your shoulders. If you work for a company or nonprofit, ask fellow employees in your own department or other departments to contribute to your blog occasionally by writing their own posts. Be sure to include their photos.
If you’re a sole proprietor, ask your virtual assistant, or a vendor, or business associates to write on a topic that would interest your target audience. They’ll probably be thrilled to receive the exposure.
If you like these tips, you’ll love the teleseminar on “Time-saving Tips for Smart Business Blogging” at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, Jan. 20, with blogging expert Patsi Krakoff. Everyone who registers will receive a handout that includes 77 ways to find content for your blog, and simple formulas you can use for better, faster blog writing.
If you’re participating in the teleseminar, bring your questions for Patsi. If you can’t attend, you’ll get the MP3 recording the next day.
Make 2010 the year you finally commit to blogging and pulling tons of traffic to your website.
What time-saving tips do you use to make blogging go faster? Share ’em here. (Shutterstock photo)
Thanks, Joan, hadn’t thought about using voice recognition software. That will be interesting, for sure. I use your advice frequently, and have had success with your associates.
I think having a blog strategy is imperative for rhythm. It’s very easy for the day to day business itself to drown out blog post ideas. Knowing in advance what to hit on in the upcoming weeks, even months, really helps me keep things on track.
Of course, that must be what you practice to stay one step in front of us! Keep up the good work.
You’re right, Susan. Having a strategy is so important!
Blogging without a stragegy is like driving across country without a road map or a GPS.
If you’re an author who’s trying to sell more books, you should be blogging about topics within the book, even if it’s fiction.
If you’re a consultant who needs more consulting clients, you should be flaunting your expertise by offering solutions to problems that your target audience faces.
Fabulous tips, Joan! I’ll be on your call too!
Best,
Christine Elisabeth Hueber
http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/6ac449dd26c4733401a982a1dca433a2.png
Christine, I’m thrilled you’ll be joining us.
Bring your questions for Patsi. She’s terrific.
Joan, good tips! I hadn’t thought about asking my VA to write a guest post, that’s a good one. And, now that you mention it, many of my clients might like the exposure & opportunity to share their ‘voice’ on my blog. It’s true one’s blog is one’s voice, but none of us work in a vacuum, so why not get the rest of my ‘gang’ involved!
Looking forward to sharing my tips with people, and hearing more of yours.
Patsi, the trick to doing this is to make sure your VA or vendors who whomever writes something that ties into the topic of your own blog.
For example, my VA, Christine Buffaloe, manages lots of Facebook accounts for her clients. She could write a guest post on how to create a compelling Facebook Fan Page.
Your VA could offer tips on how bloggers, Internet marketers and writers (people in your target audience) could outsource work to a VA.
Joan —
Can you help me connect with Christine Buffaloe? I direct two community based mental health programs for a non-profit and have acquired a fan page for one of them on Facebook, but have no idea re: how to really set up an attractive page. Thanks! Casey Garrett
Casey, you can contact Chris at chris@serenityva.com. She’s excellent!
Joan, we just discovered Write Q and Speak Q for voice recognition and character recognition software. My son has been using Dragon and it is much more difficult to train to recognize his specific speech patterns. Write Q and Speak Q have a great voice training program built in and they really work! Good ideas, all. Judy
Judy, this is a great tip. I’m not familiar with this product, but I’d probably choose it over Dragon because I hate hassling with technology issues.
Enthusiastic endorsements from my readers regarding products and services they love really add to this blog. Thanks for letting us know about this.
I like the idea of recruiting others to blog for you , nice idea, now I just have to find folks for my team since I am solo so never thought of that. Nice idea.
Agree with others the overall strategy makes sense and is what I need so thanks for the post.
Gregory, ask some of the vendors you work with if they’d like to write something that ties into your topic.
I’ve been a reader of your blog for years, and I always appreciate your tips, Joan. 🙂 This post came in at the perfect time since I just launched my natural beauty blog about two weeks ago (here is the link if you’d like to see: http://www.epicbeautyguide.com) and am writing more than ever.
What about doing videos? I plan on doing YouTube videos to help with the writing load. Do you think it’s a good idea to copy content from your blog posts and use it in your videos?
All the best,
Stephanie
I don’t see anything wrong with taking content from a blog post and turning it into a video.
People have different preferences for learning. Some are auditory learners and want MP3s. Others want to “see” and learn. So video is for them. Still others want to read. So for them, electronic transcripts are best.
This is called “repurposing” your content. I’ve even taken questions I’ve answered on LinkedIn and turned them into videos.
Thank you so much, Joan. This is full of rich ideas! I’m off to check out voice recognition software.
Anne Bevan
aka Annie McEntire
You see, Joan, you are teaching through example. One of the things we’ve included in our list of 77 ideas for finding fresh content is to look to readers’ comments for blog post ideas.
Another tip is to write about peripheral needs, such as tools for capturing voice onto the computer. This is handy for those who don’t want to write everything down, or for speakers, etc.
These are both strong illustrations of looking to the problems and challenges of your target audience, and writing to help them out.
Today I’m going to be posting about time-saving tips for writing a series of posts you can create from a ‘grocery’ list…you can go to WritingontheWeb.com to see it.
I have a feeling this blogging class is going to be fun!
My partner uses Dragon Naturally Speaking and finds it much better than 2-3 finger typing, often hitting several keys at once!
But, if you want it to work effectively, you MUST take the time required to train it, correct it where necessary, add to its vocabulary (it can look through your emails and documents and create a list of unknown words for you to approve and add).
From experience, we found we were unable to train the handheld, remote DVR (digital voice recorder) version – we could correct it while transcribing but not train it to learn – so beware of that. But it is useful as a way of quick thought catching for later expansion into articles, etc.
The Dragon Mobile could come in handy especially when you have that Eureka moment. But I’m not sure if all the time spent correcting it will negate its usefulness under normal circumstances.
Will try to get the boss to purchase and test it out.
Hi Joan,
Great tips!
As a virtual assistant, I write blogs posts for clients. I also take a topic they have suggested an embellish this into an article or a blog post. I appreciate that you included VAs in your tips list.
Although I am sure you will cover more blogging topic suggestions in your seminar, one of the best sources for blogging material I use are the answers I provide to people from my SEND email box.
Once a week, I go through my Sends and create blogs based on the information I provide. In fact just this morning there were two questions from clients asking about social media and one about creating live links.
Thank you!
Janine Gregor
PS I took your Publicity Hound course in 2008 and still use many of the lessons today!
Joan you are my guru (should that be guruess?)
Whatever it is you’re it.
Can’t read your stuff too many times. Get a new Aha! every time.
Will be listening in on the seminar.
hugs
Jim Sear
http://goo.gl/g5Oi
Eastbourne UK
http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/5ff9b4fd71f5b351c0fc067144ef0254?s=80
One note on the voice-capture software: ONLY use this if you live/work alone. We have a guy who does that in my office and it’s irritating as heck. Even with the conf. room door shut, you can hear him throughout our small office.
Hi Joan,
I just love your pro-active enthusiasm. Your simple, can-do solutions are truly inspiring. I’m re-doing my blog to incorporate it as part of an online resume / personal website and will definitely be taking on board your advice.
Thanks once again, Olivia.