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Beating the Blogging Blahs

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We all get writer’s block. It’s totally natural: you can only post so much, and come up with only so many new ideas before you just get burnt out. Especially if you work from home- sometimes, all you want to do is just curl up and sleep all day. It’s really hard in the winter- the weather is gloomy and cold and completely uninspiring. It’s easy to put off work and procrastinate when you have access to your bed, pajamas, and Netflix. But, you have to make yourself push through it! If you’re going through a slump right now, this post by Melyssa at The Nectar Collective should motivate you! (some NSFW language in link)-

-Figure out what you’re afraid of- Will something take a long time? Do you think your results won’t be spectacular enough? Figure out your fears, then tackle it from there.

-Cut yourself off from social media- Turn off notifications on your phone. Set specific times that you’re allowed to check social media sites (and ONLY check at these times).

-Create rewards for yourself for completing projects/ posts.

-Organize! Having a put together workspace will help motivate you.

-Know when to give up, and don’t beat yourself up. Some days you’re just not going to feel it and pushing yourself to work when you absolutely CAN’T will probably only result in mediocre results and even more overwhelm. Play hooky for the day or a few hours. Relax. Take a freakin’ break.

Photo Credit: William Brawley 

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Responding To Blog Comments

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I know, on this site, the comments are disabled. This is because we’ve had spam problems in the past, and find it easier than sorting through page after page of spam to find genuine comments and questions. However, if you have your own blog, I strongly recommend that you respond to as many relevant readers’ comments as you can- especially if you are first starting out! (I know, do as I say, not as I do). No, you don’t have to type 100 individual “Thank you, glad you liked it”-s to all the people who comment: “Awesome idea!”. But, you should still read all of them, and respond to any questions (especially if you run a recipe or craft blog!). It really helps you connect with your readers! For more reasons why you should respond, check out this post by Marc Guberti:

What most bloggers forget is that they can build conversations by simply responding to other people’s comments. Responding to someone else’s comment counts as a comment in the grand total. If you respond to 25 comments, people will see that your blog post has received 50 comments. That shows bustling activity and popularity: the two things that people look for in a blog.

Photo Credit: D Kalo 

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Apps For Entrepreneurs

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If you’re a real estate agent, an entrepreneur, a freelancer, or other work-from-homer, you depend on your technology. Without my laptop and my smartphone, there’s no way I could get anything done. I write on my phone and my computer, post my articles, look for blogging images, upload my own photos, email- the list is endless. I use the WordPress app, Plaintext (a phone word processor), and Aviary, Flickr, and Instagram for photos. I don’t know where I would be without my phone. If you have your own business, or are a blogger, there are plenty of (free!) apps out there to help you. Check out this post by Scott Gerber at Mashable for a good list:

-Lift- to develop good habits

-Winstreak- This app helps you focus on what’s important and the steps you need to accomplish to move toward your goals.

-CloudMagic- a powerful but simple search tool

-Fleksy- lets you type without looking at your computer

Photo Credit: Robert Scoble 

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Should You Set Up An Email List For Your Blog?

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Currently, I’m subscribed the email lists of more blogs than I can count. Personal finance blogs, craft (crochet) blogs, mommy blogs, pet blogs, food blogs- the list goes on and on. I love seeing new crochet patterns, recipes, and tips in my email. It also makes me feel more connected with the writers, and lets me know if they are running any contests. So, if you are considering adding an email list to your blog, you should definitely do it! Read this post by Bonnie Andrews at HobbyToHot for more info:

-It gives you direct access to your readers

-It gives you access to feedback

-It deepens your connection with your readers

-It’s the highest “return on investment” of any other channel

Photo Credit: Jonathon Narvey 

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Blog Organization Tips

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Having a blog that is easy to navigate is essential if you want to pull in new readers, and keep the old ones coming back. If they can’t find the recipe, tutorial, or article that they’re looking for, they’re more than likely to just find it somewhere else. Using tags, search bars, and categories are great ways to organize your blog, but they can be quite a headache. Read this post at Tico and Tina for tips on how to straighten up your blog while keeping your sanity:

-Categories are for big picture, tags are for smaller details

-Make your “about” page easy to find

-Keep your design simple- tons of bells and whistles can be distracting to readers

The post also includes links to useful WordPress plugins- be sure to check it out!

Photo Credit: Jacob Botter 

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How To Beat Blogger’s Block

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If you’re a creative person, you know what I mean by “burnout”. You have no inspiration. Whatever your craft, you suddenly can’t do it. You can’t draw, or paint, or write, or think of any new ideas at all. If your income is mostly or completely dependent on your craft, this can be disastrous. However, if you’re writing a post of original content every day, it will definitely happen. For tips on how to get over “blogger’s burnout,” read this post by Rebecca at Letters from Sunnybrook:

The fun of writing gives way to the pressures of deadlines and earning potential, social media issues, and hosting commitments.

Scale back — You decided to do X posts per week. You can choose to slow down the pace and catch your breath.

Don’t post stuff you aren’t proud of

Regroup — go back to why you wanted to write, what you wanted to write about, why this is important for you to do this.

Photo Credit: Drew Coffman

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Writing Sponsored Posts

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A great way to bring in some extra cash while blogging is to do a sponsored post. These work best for those who already have popular, established blogs. Companies will see your blog as a great outlet for advertising. Admit it, if a friend recommended a product to you, you would be 100x more likely to use it than just by watching a commercial alone. Advertisers know this! So, how do you go about writing a sponsored post? This guide by Becky at Blogging On The Side will show you how. First, she shows you how to FIND people who will pay for posts, then how to write quality content that will keep them coming back:

 Keep it natural: I will write a normal post and just throw in the product information, as naturally as possible.  I don’t want it sound like  a commercial.

Keep it similar in style to your other posts: If I am sharing a recipe, I try to make it as normal as possible. Yes, these ingredients are great & you should try this product that I am including in this recipe. 

Try to do your very best work: Make it great and they will call you again and again.

Add great pictures that are pin-worthy: I usually go back in and add a great pin-worthy picture. 

Photo Credit: Walmart Corporate

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Time Management 101 For Work-From-Homers

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If you can’t manage your time properly, you’re gonna have a hard life. Generally, most people get the hang of this in high school, maybe college– definitely by the time you get your first “real” job. You get up at a normal time, set goals for the day, go to work on time, and deal with what needs to be done. However, if you’re a new work-from-homer, it’s extremely easy for your routine to get ruined. Procrastination sets in, and it’s impossible not to get distracted. Sometimes, you even need to relearn how to manage your time. For some quick tips, check out this post by Martha Latta at Handmadeology:

-Have clear goals

-Make a to-do list every day

-Set a schedule to avoid procrastination

-Ask for help, or hire help

Photo Credit: Mattys Flicks 

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