Written on March 17th, 2009 at 12:03 am by Darren Rowse
Advice For Part Time Bloggers Juggling Blogging with Work, Family and Other Commitments
Over on Twitter recently @jimlavin asked if I had any ‘ideas how someone with a normal day job can schedule time to blog on a regular basis?‘
Image by Helico
This is actually a great question and one that I’m sure many others will grapple with. While a handful of bloggers are able to blog full time the vast majority of bloggers can not and blog ‘on the side’ before, after (and I’m sure for some ‘during’) other work or life commitments.
This is how I started out. When I started blogging entrepreneurially I was working 3 part time jobs and studying part time (in addition to other ‘normal’ life stuff like being a husband. You can read more of how I progressed from a part time blogger to a full time blogger here.
Following are a few lessons that I learned through that process. It doesn’t just focus upon the topic of scheduling posts (although does give a few tips on that) – but rather probably gives more general advice for those juggling blogging and other priorities such as work, family and other commitments – particularly advice for those wanting to transition from part time to full time blogging.
Priorities
When I first started blogging it was simply a hobby and something I did out of interest. I had no intention of making money from it or growing it into a business. However when I began to realize that there was potential for this medium to earn an income I (or ‘we’ as I always involved my wife in the decisions) had to make a decision as to whether I was seriously going to pursue it or not.
If you want your blog to grow into a significant income stream or to achieve other serious goals then you do need to make a decision to invest time, energy and perhaps even a little money into it. Making this decision doesn’t guarantee success by itself but for me it was important.
In actual fact for me there were probably a series of 4-5 such decisions. Each time I let go of a part time job to put more time into blogging was a decision that we thought long and hard about and was effectively a stepping stone towards going full time.
Set Aside Regular Times
This might vary a little depending upon your situation and personality and style of blogging but I found that I worked best when I set aside regular times to blog and established a daily pattern of when and where I did it. For me the times that I blogged varied a little at different periods depending upon my other commitments but I distinctly remember a time where I was getting up an hour earlier than normal to do a solid hour of blogging before going to work. At other times I would set aside time in the evenings (the same time each night) or arranged to have access to a computer over a lunch break at work.
I found that if I didn’t set time aside to blog (and to effectively diarize it) that I simply didn’t do it (or struggled to). For me it was a little like exercise – if I don’t set aside the time it doesn’t happen.
Boundaries are Important
One of the things that I struggled with particularly in the first year or so of blogging was the setting of boundaries. Working a number of jobs, studying, family life and blogging all competed for my attention and at times blogging encroached upon some of these other aspects of my life when it should not have.
My last point of setting aside time to blog was helpful in this but so was giving those around me permission to tell me when I was getting obsessed with blogging.
Batch Blogging
One practical tip that I would give those juggling numerous hats is to learn about Batch Processing. I’ve written about how batch processing made me more productive but in short it is a technique where you set aside concentrated time to do one particular task rather than trying to achieve lots of things all at once.
For me there was a time where I would set aside every Monday morning simply to write posts for my blogs. I’d take my laptop to a local cafe, stay offline, switch off my phone and church out 5-6 posts in a morning. I’d then schedule these posts for the days ahead and let them publish automatically. I would still do other shorter/newsy type posts during the week – but the posts I wrote on Mondays were my longer, deeper more feature length content.
I found this approach to writing suited me and released me during the rest of the week to concentrate on my other jobs as well as other areas of my blogging.
Gradually Increase Time Invested into Blogging
If you read my story you’ll see that ‘going pro’ as a blogger was a fairly gradual process which effectively involved me decreasing the time I put into other work to increase the time I put into blogging.
While this is not the only way to do it (I know 1-2 bloggers who just decided to go full time and live off savings) it is the approach I recommend IF you have the goal of going full time (and I say IF because I know many bloggers don’t want to go full time). I recommend this approach mainly because building successful and profitable blogs takes time – deciding to quit your job and go full time as a blogger is a nice dream but in reality most blogs earning enough to support a full time blogger take years to build. Unless you’ve got a nice nest egg to live off in the mean time you’re cutting off the income stream that will sustain you while your blog grows.
Bring Those Around You On the Journey
IF your goal is to go full time (or even to earn a significant part time income from blogging) it is probably going to impact those around you. For me it was something that impacted ‘V’ (my wife) more than anyone else.
‘Honey, I’m going to be a full time blogger’ is a statement that you might want to think twice about saying over breakfast one morning (or at least wait until her mouth isn’t full).
‘V’ was incredibly supportive of my vision to grow blogging into an income stream but it was a process for her as much as it was for me. It meant that we were giving up other income in order for me to concentrate my time upon blogging for starters.
One of the sad things that I’ve seen happen a couple of times over the last few years is bloggers forging ahead with their vision to ‘go Pro’ without bringing along their partners. Blogging is great, but it’s not that great!
Daily Posting isn’t Essential
When you’re starting out the pressure to post every day on your blog is great. In talking to many new bloggers I find that many struggle with this expectation of daily content. Those who don’t achieve it often feel guilty or as though they’ve failed. Others keep the daily posting level up but as a result let the quality of their work slip.
Here’s the thing – daily posting is not essential to grow a successful blog.
For example – when I while Digital Photography School has two new posts go up each day these days – when I started I posted just 3 times a week to it. My goal was to write 3 high quality, helpful, unique, engaging feature length posts each week for the first month or so and then as the blog grew to increase that frequency. I worked toward producing 4 a week, then 5, then 6….. and beyond. It took me over a year to get it to daily posting even though I was working full time as a blogger.
Daily posting is great, but don’t stretch yourself too thin early on. 2 quality posts a week is better than 7 average ones.
Editorial Calendars
To help with the posting frequency it can be well worth thinking about developing an editorial calendar. For me at different times this meant setting time aside to set goals for the types of posts I wanted to write each week.
Some bloggers take this further and allocate a different type of post for each day of a week (ie Mondays might be the day for reviewing a product, Tuesdays might be a day to do a ‘how to’ post, Wednesdays might be a ‘reader discussion’ day…. etc).
I didn’t do this allocating of topics for days type editorial calendar (at least I never did it for long) but I found when I thought ahead about the content that I wanted to produce, identified topics ahead of time and even set myself deadlines for them that I was much more productive than if I just got up each morning and sat down to write with a blank mind.
Further Reading on Editorial Calendars – Editorial Calendars and Professional Blogging and 7 Ways to Keep Fresh Content Flowing on Your Blog.
178 Responses to “Advice For Part Time Bloggers Juggling Blogging with Work, Family and Other Commitments” - Add Yours
Nate @ Debt-free Scholar
March 17th, 2009 12:35 am
I normally set aside time in the early morning to blog.
This is a great post!
Thanks,
Nate
shrewdcookie
March 17th, 2009 12:36 am
Excellent article. I am new to blogging and am just about to start posting to my new blog. I have a full-time job as well as evening and weekend commitments so I have planned my work on the blog around the “free time” I have available.
I am also now carrying a notepad and pen with me to jot down notes during those slack periods at work as well as emailing home URL’s for useful websites I come across at work during my lunch hour.
LoneWolf
March 17th, 2009 12:47 am
Darren, this is great advice. I’ve been all over the place, time-wise. I need to get things a bit more scheduled and prioritized. I’ll need to read more on the “editorial calendar”.
By the way, you used the phrase “church out 5-6 posts” in the Batch Blogging section. Is that a typo or is it Australian slang? If the latter, it has a nice ring to it.
Shalom
LoneWolf
Robin
March 17th, 2009 12:48 am
I certainly agree, that a few quality posts are better than daily drivel. It seems too many bloggers feel they need constant presence, in order to get noticed. I like themes/templates with featured post options. This makes sure you can always put your best foot forward when new readers pop in. It wouldn’t be very productive to have a new visitor bounce, because the first few posts they see don’t reflect the quality of your blog.
A great set of hints, Thanks.
David Hopkins
March 17th, 2009 12:58 am
Thanks for this. While there is quite a bit in here about taking the blog from part-time to paying full-time, I enjoyed reading between the lines on how to just keep my blog interesting and valid while working to keep my employer happy.
All in all, my blogging activity brings me greater knowledge and experience which I can bring into my every-day job, so it’s a win-win situation.
Phillip Gibb
March 17th, 2009 12:59 am
oh man, that is so relevant to me at the moment.
especially since I am burning time blogging that I should be using for quality time with my wife. And the more I blog the harder it is to bring her in on the journey. Maybe there is a time to step back and establish balance least you burn everyone out.
I love you suggestions – great stuff and encouraging.
Phill
BW
March 17th, 2009 1:00 am
Great advice.
Setting aside regular time to write is good advice, but may not always be possible, so don’t sweat it, if you can’t always stick to the schedule.
You may not always have a PC at hand, so have a small note pad where you can jot down ideas or even write articles when you get a few minutes during the day
If you do happen to get more free time than usual, try to bulk up on articles, so that you can schedule them in advance.
Just a few thoughts
Jay Garrett
March 17th, 2009 1:00 am
Good points raised Darren :0)
I have ‘fixed times’ ie: lunchbreak at the day job and early evening before band stuff and life.
It’s taken me a year to realise if, for whatever reason, I’m not able to blog for a day or so that the world doesn’t end nor the sky comes crashing down.
Avoiding burnout is essential :0)
Thanks once more.
J
Laura Spencer
March 17th, 2009 1:01 am
This is great advice, and takes the pressure off new bloggers who feel that they must immediately produce at the same level as professional bloggers who’ve been building their blog base and resources for years.
I’d add the following: ask yourself how much you enjoy blogging. The best case scenario is to be blogging for the joy/fun of it, rather than because you have to meet some sort of self-imposed schedule.
Suzy Schwarz
March 17th, 2009 1:05 am
Darren, this is just what I needed to read today. Thanks for describing the way you work and how you structure your writing projects. Batch processing is a unique idea. I’ll go read that article now.
Yum Yucky
March 17th, 2009 1:10 am
You’re all up in my brain! Thank you for stressing the importance of boundaries. I’ve been blogging for less than 3 months and churned out 60 posts in that time – all with a husband, 4 kids, a full time job, and an exercise workout each morning (and got a little stressed, imagine that).
But my last two weekends have been totally off limits to any type of blogging and I’ll continue that. I’ve set a schedule to post 5 days per week Mon – Fri, with a post written each evening after the kids go to sleep. I’m in bed by 11:30 pm and up at 5:30. It’s working. I feel better. Go figure.
Jolenta Averill
March 17th, 2009 1:12 am
This is THE topic du jour with me. I am new to blogging and having a terrible time trying to figure out how to balance it with everything else I’m doing. What’s worse is that I dove in head-first and started five blogs simultaneously! It’s an impossible task but one I felt was important to build links to my main blog. Thanks for your suggestions – it was very helpful to think about scheduling time and scheduling posts so my mind would be free during the week for other activities.
jan
March 17th, 2009 1:15 am
I’ve dutifully written down on index card this idea of making an editorial calendar, complete with examples you’ve listed. I’m moving around some type of posts that will suit my blogging pace. Very helpful idea, this.
I have a day job, but I find the strange mix of job and blogging not too stressful. I’m comfortable posting every other day. But I’m planning to rev it up to daily posts once I get my blogging rhythm down pat. And yes, my job pays me third world wages, but I’m keeping it. I love blogging more, but I have to be practical. My blogging can’t pay for my utilities yet. :)
Eric
March 17th, 2009 1:16 am
This situation fits me pretty well. Thanks for the suggestions.
Chris Prakoso
March 17th, 2009 1:21 am
Darren, thanks for this post. It really recharged my ‘blogging’ battery, to push me to be more serious in taking this forward.
Stuart Flatt
March 17th, 2009 1:22 am
Good post, I am sure this has relevance to many of us out there. I guess the other deciding factor is what you are blogging about and your target audience.
If you are proving articles and how too’s then quality definitely rides above all else. However if you are blogging about relevant topics and time is off the essence then we may need to squeeze these in ASAP.
Will re-tweet on twitter :)
Steve Buchholz
March 17th, 2009 1:24 am
I failed twice at blogging before my third (and current) venture succeeded. For me, finding the time meant finding the passion first. Now that I blog about marketing, I have little trouble finding things to write about and carving out the time to post.
I end up thinking about possible topics and angles throughout the day. By the time the rest of the family goes to bed at night, I have a fairly solid outline in my head. I can then crank out a 250-word post in less than 15 minutes.
So, that’s my advice: blog your passion.
LisaNewton
March 17th, 2009 1:27 am
Great advice, especially the last point. Because my blog is photo based, which requires going to different locations, I usually plan these out. Different events, venues, and activities are featured. It takes time to do these, but I love every minute of it.
Heather Allard
March 17th, 2009 1:28 am
Wow, Darren! This was exactly what I needed to read today! I’m a mom of three little ones, CEO of my household (hee) AND The Mogul Mom–I struggle with juggling it all!!
I recently sought guest bloggers to help me with the writing workload & it’s helped a TON. I’m going to implement some of your other ideas!! :)
Thank you so much!!
Heather Allard
HDTV Plasma Televisions
March 17th, 2009 1:29 am
very inspiring post darren, im gonna follow your steps :)
saleel
March 17th, 2009 1:31 am
Hi Darren, nice information. Daily posting is still a diificult task considering the time available. Happy to know that its not essential to post daily. Nice to know about your earlier blogging times
Jensen | CS-Weekly
March 17th, 2009 1:33 am
Thanks Darren. I will forward this to my contributors and try to find someone to make a long term commitment and become co-author.
Although I can not post daily, with two or three persons, it will be easy to post daily.
Steve Buchholz
March 17th, 2009 1:33 am
I failed twice at blogging before my third (and current) venture succeeded. For me, finding the time meant finding the passion first. Now that I blog about marketing, I have little trouble finding things to write about and carving out the time to post.
I end up thinking about possible topics and angles throughout the day. By the time the rest of the family goes to bed at night, I have a fairly solid outline in my head. I can then crank out a 250-word post in less than 15 minutes.
So, that’s my advice: blog your passion.
Blog Expert
March 17th, 2009 1:35 am
You really just have to make a schedule so you have enough time to do everything in your day. I do like the idea of writing a whole bunch of posts in one day. Then you do not have to worry about writing any more during the week. You can work at your other jobs and then come home and market your Blog. A simple way is just by going and commenting on the other Blogs.
tim
March 17th, 2009 1:35 am
Great post! One of my struggles have been juggling time and responsibilities. Some of these items on your list are areas I’m currently working on, including: Setting Aside Regular Times, Batch Blogging, and Editorial Calendars type work.
I’ve begun to realize that I will not have time EVERY DAY for posting so batch posting is beginning to appeal to me. I need to find the consistent time each week to sit down and do it.
I’ve also began a weekly post topic (Fridays) and as I get better at meeting that deadline without struggle, I’m planning on adding more weekly topics on other days too. I want to let my followers know what they can expect when.
Thanks for the TIMELY advice!
Jeff@MySuperChargedLife
March 17th, 2009 1:36 am
Count the cost of blogging before you begin! You have to be passionate about your topics or you’ll likely burn out. I think that bloggers that get started just for money, usually fade away fast.
I’ve been a part-time blogger for over a year. It isn’t always easy, but it is fun. I make a little, but not enough to justify the time I spend at it.
I write before work and on lunch hours. I also squeeze in some time on weekends. Part-time blogging is hard, but not impossible.
I carry a cheap spiral notebook to jot down ideas in as they occur to me. This is absolutely invaluable! A one-line note will bring back the whole idea. When I don’t do this, I generally completely lose it. Crap!
I don’t post on weekends. I occasionally miss a day during the week. As others have pointed out, the world does not end. Give yourself a break!
I take time off when I go on vacation. Now that my blog is a little older and has more readers, I am able to recruit guest bloggers to write for me when I’m gone. This works out well. Don’t hog your blog!
Ching Ya
March 17th, 2009 1:36 am
I started out blogging merely for interest. It’s interesting how it actually leads me to the belief today, that it’s something I want to do for the rest of my life. It’s definitely a dream to work home-based, and currently struggling on should I quit/not quit, it’s only a matter of time.
What I got from your book~ the 6 Figure income, mainly,is the encouragement that this could happen. It’s important to see part-time blogger do have a chance to go full time, which is why double-hardwork is on the table. I agree on the boundaries, and the not-necessarily 1 post/day (so much better to hear it from the pro himself), however, we do need to ensure the quality, isn’t it? ^^ thanks.
Kasia
March 17th, 2009 1:39 am
Fantastic advice, I am currently struggling with blogging (just starting a new blog) and all other commitments, including full time job. Your post gave me hope though and I will start acheduling my work and keeping up with writing posts. Fingers crossed.
Kasia
silentgirl
March 17th, 2009 1:45 am
this is a great post. im one of the part time blogger who decided to do it more seriously this year. my day job & daily life takes up most of my time & i do find it hard to keep up with my several blogs every week. but it is my passion.
and i appreciate your detailed articles & efforts very much! thank you for your great advice.
Bob Plumer
March 17th, 2009 1:45 am
I’m glad somebody addressed this issue. It’s a great article. It seems like many advice articles on blogging address the mechanics of blogging. Not many address issues as how to juggle other things in real life as family, work and other commitments. Thank you!
Jillian
March 17th, 2009 2:15 am
Great post, Darren!
I’m struggling with trying to juggle my life as a stay at home mom to a very (VERY) active 22-month-old and my desire to put more time into my blogging efforts. While I can usually find the time to post 5 out of every 7 days, I’m having a harder time finding the time (and energy!) to read/respond to other bloggers in my niche (which is very important!-as you know and have said time and time again).
I have this dream that one day life will be somewhat predictable, and I’ll be able to have a set time to blog. For right now, I work around nap time!
Chris Morin
March 17th, 2009 2:22 am
Darren, I am reading your book PROBLOGGER Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income. It is great and really SO helpful for new bloggers like me. It has tips like above and the nuts and bolts of everything you need to start and maintain a blog. Thanks!
John Samuel
March 17th, 2009 2:26 am
It’s very important to have a balance between personal life and blogging. You have discusses about a very good topic. But I would like to say that niche bloggers have to work a lot to catch up with the competition in blogging
BetseyJ
March 17th, 2009 2:32 am
this is exactly the post I needed to see!
Thanks!
Su Prieta
March 17th, 2009 2:40 am
I am struggling with this now. This post will help me take a step back and think about where I want to put my priorities. It is interesting that you say daily postings aren’t necessary. It depends on where you go and who you read, but this answer can vary. I am currently writing daily posts, but may consider scaling back a little until I can become better at managing my time. Thanks for your tips.
Eddie Gear
March 17th, 2009 2:42 am
Thanks Darren,
Wonderful article. I been looking for one on a similar note. I guess you always have something up your sleeve.
Cheers,
Eddie Gear
Kashh
March 17th, 2009 3:07 am
Hi Darren,
Thanks a lot. Great advice and covered most of pausing questions! I will prepare myself to follow this article!. Cheers!.. :)
Hilary at Tandem Antiques
March 17th, 2009 3:29 am
Darren –
Totally helpful and down-to-earth advice. I need to work extra hard on scheduling and creating some boundaries because my husband and I are self-employed. So we already had the issue of work acting like a liquid (filling any space/time available) even before the advent of our blog.
I have identified the time of day that I write most effectively (morning) and now I need to actively set it aside so that I can write.
I am struggling with blogging often enough, and need to learn how to write several posts to have in reserve.
Thanks for sharing your process and guidance.
Agent 001
March 17th, 2009 3:38 am
Nice tips Darren.
Currently my priority is study. I am engineering student at one of the top technical institute in my country, India. It is a rare opportunity available to selected students only. Only 5000 out of 5 lakh get admission. I cannot look down to it.
I also love blogging, so I am trying to proceed slowly. But studies are holding me back. I hope your tips help me to do well in blogging.
Stephan Miller
March 17th, 2009 4:28 am
Thanks for the tips.
I am currently trying to work out a new schedule for my blogging. I was stuck in the “post a day” mindset for the longest time and realized my other projects were suffering. Now I am just trying to find a middle ground between that and weekly posts.
Toma - Optimizing The Web
March 17th, 2009 4:30 am
Hi,
These rules are 100% true. Working on your blog I consider to a graduated experience. I think that if you’ll start posting an article everyday from the beginning you’ll probably “die” by the end of the first month (for a starter). Writing everyday a quality article can be a little bit overwhelming but in time everybody can do it – this is a result of daily reading other people’s articles on the niche you’re blogging and developing your own ideas.
Planning is another very important thing, as it is stated in this article. Without planning I feel like writing in a big void – with no real goal to achieve.
Good article,
@TomaBonciu on Twitter
balbir
March 17th, 2009 4:55 am
nice post, iam facing the same problem as i work for 8 hours a day, reach home by 6 in evening and then start working on the net from 9 onwards as my net service itself starts from 9, i will have to read this whole post 3 – 4 times to fully understand it
Felicia - I Complete Me
March 17th, 2009 5:05 am
This is such a great post and well needed for me. I work full time and blog part time but need to do all the steps you have suggested. I have done one though, I have decided that I want to blog seriously. So once again thank you for your wonderful advice.
Frugal Dad
March 17th, 2009 5:05 am
The batch blogging idea has sustained me for several months now. I carve out a few hours each weekend (usually Saturday mornings) to crank out as many posts as possible and schedule them for the coming days. My family treats this time like Dad is going off to his PT job, because in many ways that is what it has become. The remainder of the week is spent working at my full time while sneaking in blog administration during any downtime I can find.
Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach
March 17th, 2009 5:07 am
I’d also add….don’t let your own personal “me time” get away from you as well. Be diligent about your health and wellness, and step away from the computer to exercise, socialize and ground yourself once again.
David
March 17th, 2009 6:47 am
The thing that I appreciate about Darren’s approach is his steadfast adherence to his goals. He started out with X number of posts per week and by the end of the year planned to have Y number of posts per week.
This is not the way most people operate in my estimation. It’s all about self discipline and meeting goals. I write posts when I’m inspired to do so. If I thought “now it’s time to write a post” I would start having flashbacks of being in school and writing papers.
It would not work for long. Maybe Darren went to a better school than I did and enjoyed that sort of thing.
Blogging shouldn’t be about work or homework unless its about making money and its a job. Are there other good reasons to blog? Maybe just to enjoy being creative or communicating your point of view.
If blogging is something you do while you have a job or two chances are its not about making a lot of money. Maybe its about enjoying being a blogger. Because the idea that you will make a lot of money at it can be quite disappointing in the long run.
Just enjoy it. Enjoy life. And don’t worry if you write a post once a day or twice per week.
Keith
March 17th, 2009 7:02 am
I have recently entered the blogosphere myself and I faced many of the issues you mention here. Especially the part about post frequency. Thankfully, I had done a lot of research into that (ALOT of it on this blog!) and have done pretty well balancing my “Day Job” , family life and my writing of posts. If you prepare a schedule for yourself, specific time set aside for blogging, it works really well! Thanks!
Jason Cartwright
March 17th, 2009 7:14 am
A great article, it’s something I’ve had to deal with for the past 2 years at techAU.
Scheduling posts is something I’ve considered, but never done. I think after reading this I definitely will use scheduling.
That said, you can only really schedule generic posts. When your covering the latest movements in the tech industry, or any for that matter, your always competing against other blogs to be the first, or at least shortly after.
Anyway thanks for the advice. A lot to consider about the future.
PCStuffBlog
March 17th, 2009 7:31 am
Great article, again. These informations are especially useful for newbie bloggers.
Kayla
March 17th, 2009 7:43 am
Good post! I just started setting aside time to blog, and I’m trying to make that a regular time like you suggest, although it doesn’t always happen.
I’ve also been thinking about doing the batch processing practice…spew out a bunch of posts when I have time to. I find myself lacking in inspiration when I do that though, and only get out 2 or 3 at a time.
Stuart Conover
March 17th, 2009 7:57 am
I completely agree that setting a dedicated time to work on blogs in your schedule can help. Once you get into the flow of writing as well it will most likely take you less time to write quality work. (Again this is after being used to writing for awhile.)
This allows you to work ahead- jot down some future ideas, and eventually start storing articles in advance for either multiple posts a day or to have extra articles setup in case you are too busy one day or need to take a vacation.
Rohit
March 17th, 2009 8:52 am
Just the type of article I was waiting for months.This should help me a lot in building my Tech blog.
Blogging as any other profession is tough and income from your blog needs to get going before one can jump in as a full-time blogger.
Online Income
March 17th, 2009 9:16 am
Good advice as always. I’ve read about the batch blogging before and I can say that it really does work. Instead of trying to do everything at once and having no real direction, you know what you have to get done and when to do it! It’s a much more effective way to work.
- Dot Com Dud
Phaoloo
March 17th, 2009 9:50 am
Great post! I think it’s not only for part time bloggers, but also good for full time bloggers as well. My family is the most important thing in my life, spending most time taking care of them is a good way to relax, refuel your blogging energy.
Mattb4rd
March 17th, 2009 12:10 pm
Timely post! I spent about 30 hours this weekend working on my blog, 5:AM until Midnight on Saturday alone. Although it paid off in that I had record traffic, I’m now sporting a pretty good headache.
It was a beautiful weekend here and perhaps I should have taken the boat out.
At least I did manage to take the family to see Race To Witch Mountain.
Scott
March 17th, 2009 12:12 pm
This post is a huge help to us that are part time. I intent to use some of your advise. I already set aside time like working out so that my blogging happens everyday. I also have a new rule in our house which says “No computers on Sunday at all”. This rule has done more for us to do things together as a family then anything else.
Rules and ideas work well when thought out in practical ways. Thanks for the info.
Michael Aulia
March 17th, 2009 12:42 pm
I’m trying to maintain at least a post each day and like you said, I feel guilty when I can’t reach that goal. Spot on.
Depends on your blog’s niche, you may need to post daily or you may not (if you are giving up to date news, then you want to post something as soon as you know about it)
Stephanie's Mommy Brain
March 17th, 2009 12:59 pm
You are right on about set aside time to write. My personality (and family life) needs that time to be the same every day.
I also agree with you on planning posts ahead. Just taking some time to look at the week, or even month, before you can really help focus your posts. I have found Google Cal is a great tool for planning ahead. I have about 5 major topics on my personal blog. By creating a different calendar for each one and then overlapping them all I can see if I’m focusing too much on one topic and not enough on another.
Darren Rowse
March 17th, 2009 1:21 pm
thanks everyone for your comments on this one – looks like it describes the situation of many ProBlogger readers. Hang in there with it everyone and don’t beat yourself off if you’re not able to blog full time on a part time schedule!
Sean Patrick Simpson
March 17th, 2009 2:42 pm
I dig this post Darren.
I’ll ad my thoughts on the Batch Processing time, as I do a form of it to. I call it my daily Critical Writing Time. I learned this from a mentor of my Alex Mandossian, who also recommends Critical Thinking or Productivity time.
For my Critical Writing Time (CWT) I specifically set aside 50 minutes EVERY SINGLE DAY to write. No exceptions! I write every single day. I go to online-stopwatch.com, set the countdown timer for 50 minutes, and GO. When the buzzer starts, if I’m just finishing a thought, I go ahead and do that, but other than I do not start a new paragraph or go on. I keep my boundaries at that.
I find this to be EXTREMELY useful and I highly recommend others make use of CWT, or CPT, or CTT!
A new habit takes at LEAST 30 days to form (science proves it; there’s been studies and what happens in the brain to create the habit takes at least 30 days) — So to commit to doing this Critical Writing Time for a blogger every single day is CRUCIAL. Sure, don’t worry about POSTING every single day…when you first start writing you may not be able to create an entire blog post in 50 minutes. It might take 3x as long! But as you develop the habit you will improve your skills, and become better and better and the time it takes to write a post will be shorter and shorter.
READERS: Do yourself a favor and do what Darren calls Batch Processing time, or spread it out over everyday and have ‘critical writing time!’ Pick a time each day, set your stopwatch, and GO!
–Sean Patrick Simpson
VPSean on Twitter
PM@Payment system
March 17th, 2009 3:47 pm
Yet I become full time blogger,I know it is time to start investing my “energy on it.and Luckily I have a great job that let me to “learn how to Better blog and after visiting this blog, I know I have a friends who let there there live rule by the passion to become Better blogger,I follow them and I follow probogger to say my appreciation for supporting me how to “live surrender Full time with pain and pleasure to be come successful blogger worker
SD
March 17th, 2009 5:18 pm
very real as I can truly compare some part of it with my life as well…interesting
dan
March 17th, 2009 5:23 pm
Great post.I try to start a blog and here I find good advice.Will be hard for me because my english is no so good and I have a regular job.It’s a long way to do something good. But each day is a new day.
Mikes
March 17th, 2009 6:33 pm
I’m a new blogger and i’m learning really a lot from your blogs. thanks you went full time. for now i am juggling all my priotities. sometimes i really get choked on what to blog and when to blog. but thanks for your advice. it’s more on the quality and not on quantity. more power!
Asif
March 17th, 2009 6:53 pm
Dear Darren,
i am writing this comment from my phone, you can see how much i follow ur blog.
Whenever i feel like giving up blogging, u throw in some really nice posts which gives me an inspiration to work harder.
Your posts make me realise that even i can blog,
I wish to write a post for this blog, bt before that, i want to make my blog a success, so that people who land on my page can see how much i have learned.
Right now i m slruggling to get admission in MBA, i m goin to apply ur stratigies to my blog.
Thank you for this post.
eyesolution
March 17th, 2009 7:30 pm
agree. time really important. Its not easy to follow our tight schedule for blogging or family.
Asif
March 17th, 2009 8:46 pm
Dear Darren,
i am writing this comment from my phone, you can see how much i follow ur blog.
Whenever i feel like giving up blogging, u throw in some really nice posts which gives me an inspiration to work harder.
Your posts make me realise that even i can blog,
I wish to write a post for this blog, bt before that, i want to make my blog a success, so that people who land on my page can see how much i have learned.
Right now i m slruggling to get admission in MBA, i m goin to apply ur stratigies to my blog.
Thank you for this post.
P.S. – Sorry, forgot to tell you great post!
Neil Matthews
March 17th, 2009 10:23 pm
The tip I would add is to use your downtime to greater advantage, I was having a fourty minute commute on public transport to my full time job. This was downtime in my mind, I swapped this to usefull blogging time writing and planning my posts on my bus ride to and from work.
Rajeev Edmonds
March 17th, 2009 10:25 pm
Very helpful post for every part-time blogger. I normally get free on Saturday and try to write as much as possible on that day.
Darren, your batch processing post has really helped me a lot.
Musings of a Housewife
March 17th, 2009 10:57 pm
I have implemented an editorial calendar and have tried to implement batch processing since reading about it here on ProBlogger. As a mom blogger who is chiefly a “diarist” I really can’t do too much ahead b/c my content is pretty much spurred by my daily life. But it’s a great technique for my other writing gigs. And also for dividing up design work and blogging. I basically have to focus on one or the other, or I find I’m doing both badly. Your “batch processing” post really helped me manage my time more efficiently.
Agent SEO
March 17th, 2009 11:14 pm
I like the idea of scheduling posts and not writing too many posts. I’ve been worried that I’m not posting enough, but I was also worried that the quality of my content would suffer as a result.
Amy Dumas
March 17th, 2009 11:27 pm
“Here’s the thing – daily posting is not essential to grow a successful blog.”
Thank you for that! So many “How to Blog” Blogs say you have to post daily, or multiple posts a day and while I try to write a post a day, sometimes life just gets in the way. I want the information in my posts to be accurate and helpful and engaging. Sometimes, when life is throwing me curveballs – one after another – that just isn’t possible.
It helps me to see YOU say it’s ok not to post daily. I will keep striving for that, but I’m gonna stop feeling like my blog is gonna die if I miss a couple days of posting! :~)
MommaWannabe
March 17th, 2009 11:31 pm
This is a very good post. I especially agree with getting your partner involved and not neglecting them.
I also have limited my self to blogging only on weekdays to be able to still spend time with family on weekends. Like you said blogging is great but not worth it to lose your family.
Mark Daymond
March 18th, 2009 12:01 am
As a person trying to juggle three blogs, various other online projects, a day job and family life this post just feels so timely! At the moment I am just so lacking boundaries and I have come to the conclusion that I need a schedule that I have some chance of sticking to. I did some scheduled posts last week and that worked really well so I will try and do this regularly I think. Good to hear from you and people leaving comments that juggling time can be a challenge for other people too.
Part of my problem is that I spend too much time checking stats and trying to find a “magic” solution to increasing traffic.
Jim Landis
March 18th, 2009 12:02 am
Thanks for the wonderful tips and direction. I’m in an “actively searching for employment” stage of my life right now, which means I should have more time than if I worked 8-5. But I’m finding myself blogging and researching more than I should, feel guilty about it. Even just yesterday said I need to get a plan to get organized and not take good time away from needed things like my family. Your ideas and personal schedules such as getting up Monday morning and doing your work makes a lot of sense. Thanks again for the ideas!
Ryan
March 18th, 2009 12:11 am
Thanks for the tips. I am just starting out and find this information very useful. I currently work full-time and am attending school for a master’s degree. On top of both of those commitments, I have set a goal to start a business and begin blogging. So, to me scheduling time and keeping to a schedule is extremely important if I hope to succeed.
Sarah
March 18th, 2009 12:37 am
I started off as a freelance writer juggling with my day time job until finally I realised that I can no longer juggling between freelancing and my office job so I decided to quit my job and work as a writer.
MJ Doyle
March 18th, 2009 2:07 am
I always look forward to your posts dropping into my mailbox. It’s my indulgence for the day to read your posts while I sip my tea or munch on a snack.
I have to tell you, though, since the posts are so interesting, I follow all the links and they lead to even more engaging reading material. By the time I’m done, I can easily spend an hour reading your blog. Could you please make your posts less interesting and with fewer links so I can juggle my time better? ;)
Obviously, I’m being facetious–keep ‘em coming!
-MJ
Kikolani
March 18th, 2009 3:17 am
My fiancé is very supportive of my blogging. When he knows I have things I need to get done, he makes sure I stay on track till I do them, but also drags me out of the office when I’ve gotten a bit too obsessive. I even think my blogging has rubbed off on him, as he wants to write a guest post on my site now. :)
~ Kristi
Kristin T. (@kt_writes)
March 18th, 2009 5:12 am
As a freelance copywriter and a mom of three, keeping up with my blog can be tough. I have the ideas, the energy and the desire to write, but I feel guilty about what’s being neglected. I also feel, at times, like I can’t justify the time and energy I put into my blog—it’s not my paid work, and I often end up writing after the kids are in bed, when I’d also like to be relaxing and spending time with my husband.
I think the key, as you point out, is to try to find techniques and methods that work for you, personally. Batch blogging, for instance, just doesn’t work for me. I get compelled to write about something on a certain day, and I’m only able to focus on that all-encompassing idea, in that moment.
But the editorial calendar idea is really helpful for me. I have three main categories, clearly set up on my Thesis-design blog, with the 9 most recent posts (3 in each category). This gives me some structure and balance, as I try to keep each of the categories equally updated. I’m also a big believer in not having to post every day. My posts tend to be on the long, involved side, so letting myself off the hook and only writing 3-4 posts a week is a huge relief.
Tumblemoose
March 18th, 2009 7:05 am
Ok Darren,
I discovered ProBlogger early on when i started blogging. Over the last six months I’ve found your information to be helpful and inspirational.
By far, this is my most favorite post. The advice is real, level headed and point to do-able things.
Someday soon, it’s going to be a good time to put your story down in book format – unless you are already working on it. ;-)
Thanks, kind Sir.
George
FatFighterTV
March 18th, 2009 7:57 am
I totally need to try batch writing for my blog and for my freelance job – I think that would really help me with both. Right now, I do a little bit of this, a little of that… and feel like I get nothing done. Thanks for the idea!
Nicole Chow
March 18th, 2009 8:36 am
Funny, I was just thinking about this on my way home. You must be able to read minds! Great tips – I especially liked ‘allocate a different type of post for each day of a week (ie Mondays might be the day for reviewing a product, Tuesdays might be a day to do a ‘how to’ post, Wednesdays might be a ‘reader discussion’ day…. etc)’. I never thought about that and I think it’s quite helpful to have some sort of a guideline or else you’re just sitting there waiting for your ideas and thoughts to flow through (and we all know that’s never that easy). Thanks Darren and keep up the great work!
John Hoff - WpBlogHost
March 18th, 2009 8:53 am
This is an ongoing issue with us bloggers, isn’t it? – Time.
Blogging is great. The one question I like to ask new bloggers is “what is this going to cost you?”
I’m usually looking for something like time away from the family, because it does.
WaystoWorktheWeb.com
March 18th, 2009 10:10 am
Great article! I can tell you that juggling blogging with my other daily activities is always a heck of a task. I will have to try out some of the pointers you have in this article!
Thanks again Darren.
Stephanie Valentine
March 18th, 2009 11:48 am
Darren,
Yay you for addressing such a difficult question that tons of bloggers struggle with. I juggle 4 businesses (each with its own blog), a family, and an obsession with riding and showing my horses. Blogging consistently is HARD and your tips are right on target. An editorial calendar helps keep my head clear about what I’m writing and why.
I think what’s even more important, though, is the struggle to find the core or kernel of my blogs. I have to ask myself, “What major problem am I trying to solve on this blog?” or “What questions am I trying to answer that a lot of people are struggling with?” Once I get this focus, the posts flow much easier.
Did you ever have trouble finding that core? Finding your voice? It’s an ongoing source of productive friction for me.
Millionaire Acts
March 18th, 2009 12:05 pm
I’ve been blogging for nearly 4 months now and I already got 96 articles already that gives me nice traffic from search engines. Although it consumes a lot of my time, I see to it as an investment that will give a few passive income for me in the future.
Josh Hurlock http://twitter.com/JoshHurlock
March 18th, 2009 12:48 pm
Darren,
Thanks for the post. Right now, I am in college, getting more involved in social media, interning for http://www.under30ceo.com/, and blogging about once a week.
I just started blogging this year and plan to gradually increase how often I post. These tips are very helpful as a refresher when times and work seem to become hectic. Keep up the excellent work.
Mitch
March 18th, 2009 1:18 pm
Now if only I could break the habit of checking my stats and adsense revenue and get down to doing some of the things in this list.
Ganesh - Online Bull
March 18th, 2009 1:44 pm
I’m a 15 year old school student from India. I’m in class 10 now, which is a very important year as I’m going to sit my boards by next March. So, 9 hours everyday is spent at school. And after all other things, I hardly have 3 hours of time to concentrate on blogging. Its pretty difficult to manage time between school and blogging. So, far I’ve been juggling it and paying more attention to my studies than blogging.
I really liked your post on Batch processing and managing tasks. I’m going to read it again and see if I can learn something useful. Thanks.
Elizabeth at About Stress Management
March 18th, 2009 3:44 pm
Excellent points! I especially appreciate the point that it’s not important to blog every day. I used to push myself to blog every single day, and sometimes the inspiration just wasn’t there. (But I would feel stressed if I didn’t hold to this standard–ironic for a stress management writer!) Now, every blog is a good one.
Thanks for another inspired post, and on a topic that applies to so many of us!
Elizabeth
Phillip Gibb
March 18th, 2009 4:12 pm
I think that my wife is happy now that I have decided to go easy on the blogging thing and not keep pushing out more or more posts a day.
ha ha ha
Tyrone – Internet Business Path
March 19th, 2009 1:02 am
Wow, nice! why i have not thought of that?! Hmmm… i think i should write something like that! Thank you!
Karenne Sylvester
March 19th, 2009 4:23 am
Wonderful suggestions, your blog is always so helpful as was your book – in fact the blog is a great way to not have to dip back into the book continuously ;-).
It’s also really interesting how, although your posts are quite long, it’s very comfortable reading – not always true across blogosphere. You have a good writing style.
Recently I realized I had to do the editorial calendar thing and was shocked to discover how time-saving this is. I completely cut out the ‘what am I going to write today’ question because now I always already know. Kind of like brushing my teeth, you do it because you do it.
Karenne
Jim @ CoolStuffForDads.com
March 19th, 2009 5:06 am
A lot of great tips here. I think setting aside regular time makes a lot of sense. It makes sure you are getting the time in to blog, but also helps with it not interfering with other priorities you have.
Sharon Wilson
March 19th, 2009 8:45 am
Setting aside a time to blog at least 3-5 times a week is very important. It’s too easy to put it off completely and not post for a week or more. It’s also a great idea to write your posts ahead of time. If you’ve got the writing juices flowing why not prepare 5-6 posts ahead of time. Great tips in this article.
Aaron
March 19th, 2009 10:24 am
Cheers for the steer Daren. For the past few 3 months (thats how long i’ve been running this blog now)…ive been churning out posts on a daily basis hoping this would increase the popularity of the blog. Not so….it’s been building but really slowly.
I did fall into the trap of simply posting ‘a post’ rather than posting a quaility post. I’m definitely going to focus more on quality and if that means, less posts a week – so be it until I turn into a pro…and the traffic is simply breaking the floodgates!!!!!
Cheers!
Amanda Steinberg
March 19th, 2009 10:59 pm
Here are a few tips from my bucket of tactics balancing a full time job, a blog (dailyworth.com) and 2 very young children:
- Find “guest bloggers” to fill in holes. On days when I am too slammed to blog, I use Twitter to find like-minded bloggers and ask if I can post one of their posts on my blog. I then credit them and link back to their blog, which drives traffic to them, so they are totally excited. And it takes me 2 minutes.
- Use your PDA to write down notes while you’re on the road. My husband was in CVS buying stuff, and I was in the car writing my next post on my iPhone. I got a complete first draft done in 20 minutes.
- Keep it simple! Write blog posts of only 2 paragraphs. Treehugger.com is a wildly successful blog built on 1 paragraph blog posts (sold for $10 million to Discovery.)
James
March 19th, 2009 11:37 pm
This is an exellent post so awesome points here.
I’ve noticed if I try to create a post every day and publish it, it is sometimes too much for my audience, therefore, I’ll post every 2 days and when i am not publishing. I’ll promote my blog.
So Monday, Wendesday, Friday – Publish post
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday – promote posts.
Tatjana
March 20th, 2009 2:57 am
Hello Daren,
It’s always so great pleasure read your article and learn new techniques. As always you are very straight forward and to the point which I like the most. I’m blogger but let’s call my blogging ” after hours”, which is not enough how I feel about . Hopefully within few months is going to expand to great and bigger project .
I really appreciate your article… Thank you
phenom
March 20th, 2009 3:58 am
Great advice coming straight from the Pro.
Thanks for sharing.
http://health.okguru.com
Make Money Online
March 20th, 2009 5:02 am
That’s a great article. It’s true that maintaining a quality blog takes a lot of time, and most of us will find free time to be at a premium, but as with everything, you get what you put into it.
Internet Strategist
March 20th, 2009 5:25 am
This post will help so many who struggle with life balance while working to build an online blogging business. While regular posting is very important especially early on, if you must take a break for personal reasons later you may be surprised at your readers’ reaction.
One of my friends and favorite blogs (DerekSemmlerdotcom) is temporarily taking a break from blogging to focus on his family. Because he has built such a caring blog community his traffic is not declining.
Another blogger is doing guest posts for him and his regular readers are still coming by, leaving comments, and expressing their support of his decision.
One way bloggers can apply your advice to “bring those around you on the journey would be to encourage their families to write guest posts so they’ll be very involved and supportive.
Those who blog part time might be interested to know that even those of us who do it full time still feel we never get enough done because there is always more to do.
This is especially true if you spend a lot of time on Social Networking sites sharing the content of other bloggers which I do. If anyone has blogs or businesses and would like more visibility and free assistance getting their posts spread contact me through my blog or @ or DM @GrowMap at Twitter.
Stephanie
March 20th, 2009 6:52 am
Thanks for your insight on blogging especially your emphasis on the frequencey of postings. I started blogging last year just to share my thoughts with people who were willing to read them and posted 1x/week. I did find that positng 1x a week made it very easy to stop altogether, which is exactly what I did. I recently started posting again and I have committed myself to a minimum of 2 postings per week. I am definetely going to try batch blogging, seems like this would help with organizing my time, maintaing my commitment to my blog and eventually increase my frequency.
Matthew
March 20th, 2009 7:48 am
This is a great discussion, and one I have struggled with over the past few months. I’m a father of 3 kiddos, so I don’t find myself with too much ‘blog time’ throughout the week.
You’ve touched on a number of things I’ve integrated in an effort to ‘build a better blog’. The big additions that have helped me are:
– Build up a ‘Drafts’ folder…(similar to your Batch Blogging)
– Set up a calendar detailing what I want to write about and when.
(sadly – I can’t get any of my visitors to leave comments – but at least they have new content! :) )
Thanks,
Matt
http://oldweiler.com
naudoti automobiliai
March 20th, 2009 8:38 am
Blogging must be like a daily job, nothing other. So, planing exact time and go forward :)
Dustin@BeatingtheGrind
March 20th, 2009 10:22 am
Darren —
I get up 3 hours before work every day and spend my time blogging and studying graphic design and web design. Going to school full time to get a degree while also working full time and recording an album taught me how to utilize my time.
I find that consistently taking steps towards my goals, on a daily basis, inevitably leads to success.
I find is reassuring that I’m taking the right steps when I discover that someone of your stature in the blogging world did some of the things that I am currently doing.
Thanks Darren!
P.S. Your book is awesome! It is clearly written and provides a good balance of information and personal examples.
Rully Job
March 20th, 2009 12:30 pm
wow i’m a gree with Phillip Gibb “I think that my wife is happy now that I have decided to go easy on the blogging thing and not keep pushing out more or more posts a day.”
i think he is right ;)
Jeff
March 20th, 2009 9:26 pm
Great article – as a completely new blogger I think I just learned in 10 minutes what would have taken me months to learn realise myself.
Thanks!
Best wishes,
Jeff
Tom L
March 20th, 2009 9:38 pm
A blog can only become successful if it is updated with good content regularly.I have a simple schedule that I follow and it works really well.
Tony Eldridge
March 21st, 2009 2:20 am
Great article! This is the type of thing many bloggers need to hear. I just linked to it on my Friday marketing tips around the net post.
Nick Stamoulis
March 21st, 2009 2:30 am
It is def. a challenge when you first start out blogging or really doing any sort of online project whether it be a blog or just a small online business. The challenge is to create time to do everything and also do it well. If you do plan on doing something online prepare to sleep a lot less.
FaithBalance
March 21st, 2009 4:45 am
Darren,
Once again, great job establishing that you can balance your work / blogging life with family and other commitments. We talk about the same avenue of problems over on our blog, and this post in particular spoke to me. Everything is great, in moderation.
-R
Naomi
March 21st, 2009 5:00 am
I tend to do more batch blogging than anything else. I like to set a day to pump out a few blogs and pre-set them for the week. I have to make sure that I get some sunshine though because at times I’m too glued to the PC! :)
Online Money Making
March 21st, 2009 2:16 pm
Great article about putting things in perspective. Family always comes first in my life, but I put as much time as I can into fresh daily posts to my site. Thanks.
Free Webmaster SEO Tools
March 21st, 2009 4:09 pm
I totally agree with the daily posting is not required, I don’t know what the obsession is with posting every day, it is not necessary and sometimes can be a hindrance because people have other things to do!
sumit
March 22nd, 2009 2:50 am
It is nice article about blogging and full time or part time. I also believe write little but write good, quality is important than quantity. Writing 2 or 3 post a week is good if post is having with good quality.
dhairaz
March 22nd, 2009 11:23 am
Nice article. I’ll do my best to juggling.
Andrew
March 23rd, 2009 1:29 am
Very useful advice. Thanks
Brittany
March 23rd, 2009 6:14 am
Whew. This post helped take a lot of pressure and burdens off my shoulders. I’m trying not to stretch myself too thin and keeping my family as top priority. My main goal now is to set aside a certain time of day for blogging. After that time, I’ll put it away, go outside, and breath some fresh air!
StocksHaven dot com
March 24th, 2009 12:21 am
Great post! I try to maintain my blog along side a hectic school schedule, and if time is of the essence, I try to include a small video or two in order to keep the interest. There are always tweeks and perks out there which can help you maintain your following!
Blog4Movie
March 24th, 2009 3:25 am
Even I’m a newbie, sometimes I feel guilty if I don’t write something in my blog every days. Thanks for the advice, I will try to increase the quality than the quantity of my post.
Rick Vaughn
March 24th, 2009 5:13 am
Good Post Darren!
I like the idea of batching my posts together on the weekend or when I have time. A problem arises then because many times the 1st post I write is much better than the last.
People should be forced to read this post before they start their 1st blog. Thanks for the info.
Eight Women Dream
March 24th, 2009 7:38 am
We post every day on our blog, but the weight is divided between the members of our little group. And sometimes it is still hard to post … writing can be funny that way. I like what yo say about the crossover – when to start taking on more blogging over another obligation. I will share this with all the ladies in my group.
Catherine
Damilik
March 24th, 2009 11:41 am
Another post, I would like you to write is having a mind set of not quitting.
Because many people write quality post, but there is no one reading it, they would quit.
Matutu Nyabange
March 24th, 2009 12:37 pm
You know what I do agree with Darren but with less enthuasm,posting content dairly is really crucial especially if you are a begginer.I will share one trick with you.busting your batt dairly writting new content will drive you crazy,get bored and fail to balance up with life especially if you are still part time blogger.You could avoid this and blog like a pro,by either buying content from content selling sites,or obtain free good quality blogs to post on your blog,this will take you less than five minutes and you good to go!saving you time and steam for more!
I post an article on myblog frogblogger.com and explaing some key issues to keep you running and balancing up the scale..you might wanna check it up..
Caleb
March 24th, 2009 2:19 pm
Amazing suggestions, but quick questions, how do you start getting readers for the site? I write a lot and have no problems with daily postings but how will I end up getting people to actually read my blog.
Huy
March 24th, 2009 4:22 pm
Thank you! The advices given were candid, simple, and without fluff. They were what I needed to hear. Starting my own blog has been mind numbing at first and stressful at times. Day to day business dealings begin to feel like reading the Wall Street Business Journal – just a bunch of black letters and numbers against white spaces – that I have often hesitated and wondered what part of what I know could possibly be interesting to anyone else as there are stock piles of knowledge continuously downloaded every second of every day online. Don’t get me wrong, I love real estate…there are aspects of my career I love and others I do it anyway because it is my business. Starting this business has been an uphill climb and adding a blog site has made the mole hill into an Everest…sounded much better than a brick wall. = ) The real Everest will be in planning and hunkering down to a viable schedule as there are lots of business demands that may often distract me. I thank you and hope that you continue to give more of these sensible advices.
Crystal
March 25th, 2009 8:43 am
Thanks for an excellent post. I struggle finding the time to post as well. I realized it comes down to priorities. I re-evaluated some of my nightly habits and found a way to fit in blogging. I still slip and a post goes unwritten but it has helped tremendously with my posting problem. I have been meaning to try the advanced posting methods of churning out several posts at once but never got around to it. Priorities, right? =)
Seattle Website Design
March 26th, 2009 1:42 am
Excellent post and inspiring. Also loved your book. Keep up the great work!
Abbie
March 26th, 2009 3:03 am
Darren, Thank you for this wonderful informative article. As a SAHM to 2 in diapers, and as a compulsive perfectionist, it is hard to not simply dive in 110%. I have always found it hard to define a good work-life balance. However, sharing my blogging goals with my husband and asking him for his critique and input, has really helped him not feel put on the sidelines. You certainly are an inspiration to a newbie blogger. I always stop by to get your opinion on what ever topic I am researching! Thanks so much. Abbie
The Style PA
March 26th, 2009 4:43 am
I work a full time job and have to fit blogging around my work. I find that sunday afternoons are my most productive days for writing and drafting posts. I tend to then schedule many of these posts for the coming week, leaving me time to promote them and network. I also send out my weekly newsletter on sundays. If I don’t use this time, I am behind all week and don’t catch up. A routine is key as is using the most productive time of the day and week for you as an individual.
Kai Lo
March 26th, 2009 3:46 pm
I always believe in quality over quanity. I also believe in working smarter and not harder. Spending most of your day on your blog and posting everyday do not necessarily mean you are getting quality results. Doing the same thing over and over without learning to change or accept feedback, you will get the same results. Most important thing to do is to network with other great bloggers who have been there and done that. They can give you advice on how to cut your time in half and produce three times as much results. Learning to network with other bloggers will definitely help you work smarter without working harder.
Bariski
March 27th, 2009 12:01 am
Well said Kai Lo +1. When I started blogging I was used to post long useless leeched articles lol. But soon I relalized it is better to post your own articles no matter if they come once or twice in a week ;)
And the result is in here, I got over 300+ Feed readers and sometimes they get around 400 :D I got many of my articles submitted on different sites by different peoples, bringing heavy traffic to my blog.
Ermm back to topic hehe Thanks dude, it will surely come in handy to new and old bloggers like me. Keep them coming :D
Regards
Tutzone
James D
March 27th, 2009 3:31 am
I totally agree. I’m supposed to be working now but I’m reading about blogging with hopes that it can become a full time job.
Deborah
March 27th, 2009 1:15 pm
Very timely post for me … I’ve started allocating time in the evenings for blogging while working a full-time job. My gut level instinct is to allocate 5-10 hours per week to administration, writing and marketing.
Fortunately, I don’t have a huge learning curve on the basic WordPress administration end, and I’ve been writing professionally for years, so it’s the marketing/promotional/SEO side I’m learning more about than anything else.
Lisa
March 27th, 2009 1:19 pm
This was an awesome post. Especially today as I’m feeling a tad bit of frustration. I work full time and I’m spending all of my free time trying to balance learning about the technical side of blogging and writing posts. This gives me a little perspective. Thanks.
Phillip Gibb
March 27th, 2009 4:37 pm
I think that the question: “What is most important to you?”
When you are married, like I am, the answer should be simple: “my wife of course”, but even I find myself spending more time on blogging and twitter and reading and commenting and and and
hmmm
I think I need to find some balance
Phill
[twitter: http://twitter.com/phillipgibb ]
[blog: http://synapticlight.com/ ]
krissy knox
March 27th, 2009 11:31 pm
Thanks, Darren! This was excellent! It reminded me of a few things I have been getting slack on. I need to get more disciplined. And now I will after reading this post.
krissy knox :)
visit my main blog: Sometimes I Think
follow me on twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/iamkrissy
Tathagat Varma
March 28th, 2009 2:03 am
I am still a (relatively) new blogger and do it primarily for writing whatever I think :) Who knows what direction it takes in future…
Blog: http://managewell.net
twitter: tathagatvarma
Paul the Knight
March 28th, 2009 6:35 pm
Thanks for excusing me from crafting daily posts under pressure :D
Seth
March 28th, 2009 11:44 pm
I am finishing up my degree, working part-time, spending time with my family and preparing for law school. Needless to say I am busy!
Blogging requires me to usually post in bundles. I write a bunch at a time and then schedule the posts out or some times do a post dump of 2 or 3 new posts!
Juggling can be really hard. At times I have found myself giving way to much to blogging and then other times I realize it is a great way for me to relieve stress and relax!
Make Money Online
March 29th, 2009 5:38 am
This is a very common problem faced by all. I do I know, so i guess ill need to make a schedule.
Shawn
March 29th, 2009 10:37 am
I think the issue of blogging when you can especially as a part-time blogger is SOOOO important. This is something I did when I started part-time. If you look at creation of ongoing quality content as a process you won’t be tempted to publish crap just to get a post in every day and you won’t suffer blocks when trying to write. You’ll have a long list of things you want to do and you will go at it a bit at a time without worrying about the next step or whether you are posting enough.
Teddi (Teddi14 on Squidoo)
March 30th, 2009 4:06 am
Thanks so much for tweeting this. Excellent advice here. Being a lensmaster is much like a blogger. I am RT this, bookmarking it, and I will be back!
Thanks!
Teddi
needmoney.com
March 30th, 2009 10:02 am
I liked the comment/article about batch processing. Might give it a go. Thanks for the tip.
Graham
March 30th, 2009 12:02 pm
Very insightful article. Particularly the discussion on “Batch Blogging”. I am now in the process of developing a plan for my own situation. Many kudos and thanks!!!!
Brian
March 30th, 2009 12:09 pm
The work / family / blog balance can certainly be tough. It’s all about planning your week ( I like google calendar) to make sure you’re devoting the amount of time needed to create a successful blog.
The Fitness Diva
March 30th, 2009 6:19 pm
Very good advice and points. Even without working a long hour job, I’m finding that I need to better organizing all the tasks necessary to keep my blog going.
Not as easy as some think!
Tom - Home Business Tips
March 30th, 2009 6:59 pm
Good post! You cannot do everything at once anyway, so you will need some kind of system in place.For me it is to get up an hour before everyone else and this allows me to read my email and do some research for the daily blog post.
Vikram
March 31st, 2009 12:02 am
Hi Darren,
Can I call you from now onwards as Acharya! ?
A very nice post! , Even I always have the same question on my mind but its been so well explained by you.
I thank you very much for the clear explanation.
Thank you Darren Acharya!.
Cheers,
-Vikram.
vikram@gripsack.org
http://www.gripsack.org
Anja Merret
March 31st, 2009 4:28 am
Time and exhaustion is the biggest issue I think for part time bloggers. Spreading yourself too thinly can be very debilitating. But if you are passionate, you make time.
LaTosha Johnson
March 31st, 2009 6:48 am
Great post. There is no way in the world I would ever be able to blog if I did not set aside time. I discipline myself to batch blog posts during this time because I will not allow distractions to get in the way during this time period. Everyone knows not to disturb me during my bloggling time!
healthy ashley
March 31st, 2009 11:31 am
Great post! As I begin to invest more and more of myself into my blog I’m also beginning to look for ways to do it smart. This post gives me some great ideas to go off!
Anders Holm
March 31st, 2009 1:06 pm
I’m finding that I’m having some trouble with this. Just tonight my wife asked me to start about an hour later. I agreed, no questions asked. I have an amazing family and they are my top priority. I guess I’ll just have to wake up an hour earlier to cover the evening loss.
Anders
Personal Trainer
March 31st, 2009 4:30 pm
As….always great post…Darren….I know it’s a weak reply but you always throw down good stuff. Juggling is tough…but man does it pay off if you are persistent. $$$$$$$$
R Kumar
March 31st, 2009 5:50 pm
An interesting topic for sure. I am one of those bloggers who are juggling work and blogging. Initially it was very difficult to manage both and I would not post for days together. But after some time, I decided that enough was enough and set-up a stringent routine around blogging. If you start considering blogging as you business and go about it by following a calendarized schedule you would slowly and steadily fall into a routine where you will have time for your family, for blogging, and for your work, of course.
marl
March 31st, 2009 5:51 pm
Great advice to new bloggers like me. setting up your priorities is really essential.
vamsi
March 31st, 2009 7:57 pm
Great tips..
I am thinking about increasing the amount of time to spend for blogging.
Shane Hudson
April 1st, 2009 12:33 am
Everyone says to blog every day, and I think that is where I have been going wrong! It is really starting to get to my stress levels, with school added.
Kelly Lininger
April 1st, 2009 2:19 am
I like the idea of power blogging several blogs at once. Another idea would be to carry paper or a tape recorder.. I get the best ideas when I am empty handed!
Tiggy
April 1st, 2009 3:10 am
I found the best way to write posts is offline. Otherwise my attention wanders and the temptation to check FaceBook and Twitter becomes irresistible!
Alper
April 1st, 2009 3:46 am
“2 quality posts a week is better than 7 average ones.”You true,a skilled post is better than others…
I think,a blogger must write long and quality posts(I am trying to it :) )Great tips,thanks a lot.
PMF
April 1st, 2009 5:55 am
This does fit me quite perfectly. But i am struggling to find things to write about. My mind is blank.. What do you do to find inspiration for post writing?
Greg Katz
April 2nd, 2009 2:36 am
Regularity is key. I recently looked at the dashboard of my blog and noticed that all the blog post times were within 10 minutes of one another on any given day. It helps keep me in the groove. I also have a notebook where I keep quotes, ideas and I stuff articles I’ve ripped out of magazines. Having a steady stream of inspiration keeps the pump primed.
John
April 2nd, 2009 4:35 am
I just wanted to say that as a newbie, you really gave some good ideas about blogging and how to get it done. It sure is beneficial to read from someone who has been through it and knows what they are talking about.
Thanks,
John
Expert Skills for Real Estate Agents
April 2nd, 2009 10:18 am
I make use of my iPhone and jot down headlines or topics that I come across in my non-blog activities throughout the day. When it’s time to write a post, I have a little host of topics to consider.
I think planning out blogs in advance (like the 31 Day idea) is also good for keeping you focused on writing regular content. Even if you’re busy you can knock out a few blogs at a time and schedule them to post later.
Bethany
April 2nd, 2009 12:37 pm
This is such a timely read for me! I go back to work full time next week (after being laid off for four months) and I’m nervous about incorporating blogging into my new schedule. My blog is only a few weeks old but it’s already doing so well and there’s no way I’m going to let it go by the wayside! I’ve already been doing some “batch blogging,” and I have a very small laptop so I can blog when I’m commuting to work (I’m in NYC).
chickmagnetstuff
April 2nd, 2009 1:49 pm
actually bloggers with other commitment should not be an issue because blogging should be just like a hobby so whenever you have the time to blog you blog and when you don’t wait until you have the time to blog to do it, it doesn’t have to be a requirement to do unless you make it as your main source of income then you’ll have the requirement to do it everytime but in that case you’ll have no other commitment since that is your job right, in my position I make blogging as one of my hobbies so this is always my second priority
Tim Scullin
April 2nd, 2009 4:00 pm
Great Post, I especially love the idea of batch posting. I personally am happy to spend a lot of time on my blog at the moment and batch writing my posts especially if they are on the same topic will really save me time. Especially when researching things because quite often you stumble across valuable information that you should save for another post.
elmot
April 2nd, 2009 5:26 pm
very helpful tips. just as i needed being a newbie blogger and just starting to have my own blog be known in the blogosphere.
im certainly getting overwhelmed with pressure on posting deadlines and at the same how to make my blog be known and widely-read.
what i am doing is trying to build relationships with other bloggers so as when i get overwhelmed and pressured i have great people to fall back on and cheer me up…and help keep going my blog.
great, engaging, quality contents are indeed far much better than having daily posts… having some intervals also between posts i think makes readers have some focus and have a deeper engagement on the posted topic on a blog.
Ryan McLean
April 2nd, 2009 5:41 pm
I always wanted to read this post because I am personally a part time blogger.
I finally read it and I love what I read
Really inspiring and really well thought out
Thank you
beamer
April 2nd, 2009 10:21 pm
What a great post!
I’m new to blogging, too, and I also work a full-time job so this post really strikes home.
I should try the idea of carrying a notebook idea that I see everyone talking about. Right now I just have little scraps of paper tucked into my uniform pocket at the end of the day, and lots of junk mail envelopes laying around my car! LOL
I especially like the power posting idea and the scheduling tips. I have few days off from work over the next week and I think, instead of blindly working up posts I’ll use the time to get organized.
Thanks so much!
Ari Lestariono
April 2nd, 2009 11:06 pm
What really matters is motivate yourselves, and push it to the limit.To succeed you have to crush it
information
April 3rd, 2009 1:32 am
Time management and Dedication is really important for this problem.
Time is gold and Gold isn’t cheap. Use it well.
HCA_Recruiter
April 3rd, 2009 1:46 am
Great tips!
I set give myself an hour a day to read blogs and comment on them. I usually do this during my lunch hour and I have found it’s given be a great online presence in the blogging community.
I do have to cut myself off at the hour otherwise I think I would just keep blogging all day :)
Ari Lestariono
April 3rd, 2009 4:14 pm
I do promo my blog and work on SEO, 6 to 8 hours a day.I think I need more time, since blogging is very competitive.Thanks folks
HotGirl
April 24th, 2009 3:49 am
Interesting points! I was actually thinking about this topic last night and this morning (particularly how to incorporate it into my own blog). Thanks for the tips, bro!
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