“Conquering Creative Constipation”
or “Overcoming Blogger’s Block”
If you’ve been blogging for any period of time, then chances are at some point you’ve experienced ‘Blogger’s Block‘ – that discomforting dry spell in the writing desert where your inner muse takes an extended hiatus, and you find yourself staring at a blank computer screen for hours on end.
Well, take heart, Bucko! This article is just what the doctor ordered! Here you will find some practical sure-fire methods/strategies to unplug your creative constipation, and ensure your blogging pipeline is chock full of smooth-flowing content that keeps those search engine spiders busy and coming back for more!!
As most of you know, in order to effectively attract, engage, and retain any meaningful amount of readership/traffic to your blog, you have to be committed to consistently contributing good, relevant content to your blog.
I once heard a statistic which claimed only 4% of the people who start blogging will still be blogging after 3 months. If true, that’s quite an attrition rate. So why do so many quit?
There are probably many different reasons, but I think one of the main ones is that people get to a point where they feel as though they’ve run out of things to say/write. They hit a mental brick wall where inspiration and creativity seem to elude them.
Personally, I think this dilemma has a lot more to do with a lack of proper planning and discipline than it does a loss of inspiration/creativity.
To successfully compete in the ‘marathon’ that is blogging, you must develop a consistent, long-term, organized strategy for writing. While a certain portion of your blog writing will come as a result of creative moments of ‘inspiration,’ other portions should be planned or scheduled, and become part of your regular writing routine.
Top Ten Ways to Maintain Blogging Regularity
#1. Take a Relax-a-tive
Sometimes you just have to ‘unplug’ yourself completely from the use of all technologies, and take a short respite.
#2. Keep Your Drafts on Tap
#3. Use The ‘Buddy’ System
Find a Friend in the Rain: I’ve been most fortunate to have the constant friendship and encouragement of fellow Rainer, Mark Flanders. We meet every week on Thursdays for coffee at Starbucks. We started our own blogsite together, SoundBiteBlog. Mark is like my blogging cheerleader (Can’t you just picture him with a skirt and pom-poms?) He helps me to keep things in perspective. Find another Rainer to be an encouragement and motivator to you.
#4. Pimp Your Market Reports
I publish a real estate market report at the beginning of each month for all of Kitsap County WA. My reports contain 3 primary components – statistical data; my personal opinion or analysis of the current market; and a local business/interest story. Consumers don’t want cold statistical data, they want your expert analysis and interpretation of that data. They also want a sense of what makes your area such a great place to live, work, and play.
#5. It’s a Wonderful Day in the Neighborhood
This is where you can do a detailed overview of specific neighborhoods, developments, or communities within your market. Be sure to include lots of pictures, median home descriptions, school information, shopping, parks, etc..
#6. Building Bridges with Local Business
What better way to build relational bridges with area business owners than to promote their services/products on your blog! Start off with recommendations of service-related businesses that new residents would find the most helpful.
#7. Previously on ’24′- Create a Series
One way to keep yourself disciplined to blogging more consistently is to create a multi-part blog series. In fact, you’re currently reading one right now! It can require a lot more work than usual, but it will become a worthwhile and valued addition to your blog archive.
#8. Become The Local Real Estate Expert
Trulia has done an excellent job with this particular approach by providing a forum where consumers can pose questions and solicit answers from local real estate experts. Provide a link on your blog where readers can send in questions, and those questions can become source material for future blogs. Or simply, make a list of the most common questions that Buyers and Sellers are constantly asking you, and turn your answer(s) into blog articles.
#9. Preview of Coming Attractions
Consumers can access listings from literally hundreds of websites, but what they really have difficulty finding is good relevant information on local entertainment, recreation, and attractions. What are the ‘Must-See’ points of interest in your area? What are the primary local sights and attractions that make your area such a great place to live?
#10. Pictures are Worth a 1000 Words
Consumers are graphically oriented or ‘picture happy’ and are accessing the Internet in droves with searches of images for their destinations of interest. If your goal is to expand your digital footprint and increase the likelihood of consumers finding you, then creating photo galleries is one more effective methods to employ. In addition to creating photo galleries on your blog, also consider similar galleries on your Facebook Page, or on social networks that are dedicated to photos, like Flickr. Keep Your Digital Camera with You at All times: Whenever you’re out and about, take pictures of your area. Capture the essence of your market and where you live through pictures. Then come back, and write about it.
~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~
Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, ActiveRain, Everyday CK, and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail: kitsapagent@gmail.com