15 Tips to Unclog Your Blog : Breaking Blogger’s Block

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Posted in » Blogging Tips, Guest Posts - by Ades on November 30th, 2009

Edward Khoo is a full time blogger from Malaysia. You can follow him on twitter at @squall768

;)The phenomenon of blogs has caught on, in case you hadn’t noticed. In just a few years, bloggers went from the unknown, unread, poor cousins of mainstream media to a powerful force that help shape everything from political policies to better eating habits.

However, keeping your blog fresh takes dedication, drive and hard work. It’s something you should do regularly and think about often as you drive around town. Here are some tips to keep you motivated, writing and posting. After all, your blog is important. It’s your little piece of the W3 landscape so take ownership and use it to spread your message.

1. Create a blog on a topic about which you have a passion or genuine interest.
It’s much easier writing about topics that actually interest you. So, if you’re interested in politics on a global scale, create a political blog that covers topics of interest to like-minded readers.

Writing about a topic that interests you is not a work. It feeds your natural, innate curiosity. You learn more as you teach others what you’ve learned.

2. Set aside a time each day to write your posts.
Schedule an hour a day (or more if you really want the world to read what you have to say) and stick to the schedule. Instead of turning on the TV after dinner, write a 500-word post for tomorrow.

If you opt to write when the spirit moves you, it may never move you and you may never post. There are thousands of dusty old blogs out there with posts that are five years old. Nobody is going to read that.

3. Visit blogs on the same topic as your blog.
You can’t copyright an idea. You can’t own an idea. So, visit blogs that cover topics similar to your own.

Now, you can’t (and shouldn’t) rip off content from other bloggers. That’s just bad form. But you will find topics you hadn’t thought of. Spin these articles to make them your own. Rewrite them from a different point of view. Reference other blogs and even link to them when the topic is related.

Blogging is a big part of web connectivity. Use it to discover people who share your interests, whatever they may be.

4. Take your blog seriously.
Think of it as a job – one wherein you’re the boss. No editor. You’re the editor. Post at least twice a week. Three times weekly is even better and daily is the best. Visitors to your blog will stop coming by if they see the same content each time they visit.

This ties back to point number one. If you have an interest or expertise about which you’re passionate, posting daily won’t be a chore. It’ll be fun. As you learn more about your topic, you’ll enjoy spreading the news.

5. Google the topic of your blog.
There are always new trends, new opinions, new concepts and new ideas available on the W3. Google keywords related to the topicality of your blog for new ideas and new topics about which to write.

6. Provide helpful information.
Even though it’s your blog – your digital real estate, your blog isn’t about you. It’s about your readers. Provide helpful information in your posts and you’ll soon start to build a following.

7. Keep your gadgets and widgets fresh.
There will be days when you just don’t have time to write a lengthy post on your passion for ceramics. However, you can post tips daily in your widget column. (See the miniblog on top of Adesblog? That’s what I am talking about!) Update these posts with quick tips. They’re only a few words and the tips you provide in your widget column will keep readers coming back.

8. Take pride in your work.
Even if writing is a difficult task, you can still take the time to correct spelling errors and keep your grammar in tact. A poorly written blog is worse than a blog that doesn’t keep content green.

Take the time to edit your posts, run them through a spell checker and re-read them several times until each post is letter perfect.

9. Ideas for posts are everywhere.
If you’re interested in horses, chances are you subscribe to an equine news magazine that arrives weekly in your mail box. That one magazine is chock full of good topics that you can spin, make your own and post.

Even better, reference the article in your post. Your readers may want to learn even more about the subject so, by providing the source of your idea, you provide a valuable service to readers.

10. Patience is a virtue.
It takes time to build a blog following – sometimes months and even years. Be patient. If you keep posting good, insightful, helpful information, more and more readers will load your blog into their RSS readers and, what do you know, you start to develop a fan base.

The first time someone “signs up” for your blog and becomes a member of your blogging community, you’ll be soaring with delight. Enjoy it. You’ve worked hard to get that one reader. Others will follow if you stick with it.

11. Flog your blog.
Tell others about your latest post. Use Facebook, Plurk, LinkedIn and other social media sites to announce new posts. If web users don’t know your blog is there, well, they won’t stop by. So tell them where you are and provide a link directly to your blog.

12. Track your stats.
As your readership grows, so, too, does your motivation to “feed the beast” – the W3. As your readers engage you, you become a web-based celebrity.

As you see more and more readers appearing, your motivation to post will grow right along with your stats.

13. Controversy sells.
One sign that you’re reaching blog readers is the threads readers create below one of your posts. Take a controversial topic, make it your own and encourage debate. People like to express themselves and your blog is a good place for them to do just that.

14. Create more than one post at a time.
You don’t get extra credit for posting more than once a day and, in fact, your second or third post may get lost in the shuffle. However, when you sit down to write, create more than one post.

Then, post over the course of a couple of days. When the writing bug bites, or your muse is perched on your shoulder, keep writing – even if you’re tired. Always keep a few posts in reserve so, on those days when you don’t have the time, motivation or inspiration, you still have some green posts on your hard drive ready for upload.

15. Develop a series: Part 1, Part 2, etc.
A good blog post should run between 500 and 1,000 words. Blog readers don’t want to plow through page after page of text.

Break up long posts into a series: Part 1, Part 2 and so on. Post a new segment each day to keep readers coming back for the next installment.

The most valuable piece of advice for newbies and old blogging vets? Your blog isn’t about you, it’s about your readers. Keep your topics helpful, on point and targeted directly at the interests of your readers.

Over time, you’ll see the results as you pick up more and more subscribers. And nothing will motivate you more than a steady stream of new blog subscribers.

Keep posting and they will come.

Edward Khoo is a full time blogger from Malaysia. You can follow him on twitter at @squall768

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48 Responses to “15 Tips to Unclog Your Blog : Breaking Blogger’s Block”

  1. By 2D 3D Animation India on Nov 30, 2009

    Very nice list of tips , although i generally install wordpress on my own server but yes i do like Blogger so will try your tips soon.

  2. By The Guru on Nov 30, 2009

    I believe patience is the key. Most of wannabe blogger thought it take days to earn hundred a month. For me, I believe it take years to earn that prospect :D

  3. By earnword on Nov 30, 2009

    looks like many full time blogger exist todays. Congratulation to all of them.

  4. By Blogging Tips on Nov 30, 2009

    Great post.Patience is the key to achieve success.We need more patience to achieve success in the blogosphere.

  5. By Legitimate work at home jobs on Nov 30, 2009

    All are really very nice tips for improve our blog. I know that for improve our blog we have to keep continue our work and we have to take all things seriously.

  6. By mini laptop on Nov 30, 2009

    Edward / Ades,
    Very good compilation indeed. From my experience I would like to add some value to this post by contributing additional points.
    > Research well and find good long tail keywords for each blog spot.
    > With the long tail tail keyword frame an attractive and meaningful Title (This is quite important)
    Here is an example for the above points.

    Say I would like to target keyword like “Dofollow blog list”. Remember, this must be long tail to work well. I would create a title like “101 Ultimate Dofollow blog list with High PR”. First point is that you have your keyword there in the title and secondly this will fetch more CTR in serps.

    > Now do internal link building. From other blog posts link to this post.
    > Have widgets like “Popular post”, “Recent Post”, “Most commented posts”, and display links from home page or all pages.
    > Ask your subscribers to link from the keyword you select.

    By following the above points you can not only improve your serps. But more importantly your post must contain some VALUABLE INFORMATION to get spread like virus.

    Thanks for the post.
    David

  7. By Young on Nov 30, 2009

    Very completed list, and I think the NO 10 is most important for blogging, patience is a virtue.

  8. By Edward on Nov 30, 2009

    @Blogging Tips: Glad that you like it
    @mini laptop: Gotta agree with the long tail part, not only bloggers can avoid tough competition but they can gain some targeted readers too

  9. By Techadictos on Nov 30, 2009

    Nice tips,

    4. Take your blog seriously and as a business

    very nice list bro.

  10. By fences on Nov 30, 2009

    Wordpress is the way to go. It seems like everyone that uses blogger ends up using or wishing they were using wordpress.

  11. By Fatin Pauzi on Dec 1, 2009

    Wow, I can see there’s a lot of tips. Yeah, blogger’s block is one of a major things happen when a blogger has stop writing new article. I believe those things could overcome it.

  12. By Rhys on Dec 1, 2009

    Great post, though some things I respectfully disagree with.

    Writing 500 words on a daily basis can be great, however it’s tricky, and you shouldn’t rely on writing it on a daily basis.

    I’ll always if I’m in a zone scribble ideas down. That way I’ll have 2 or 3 posts in backup, which will require very little work to turn into fully fledged posts.

    Still, good post :)

  13. By marcus@how to make money on Dec 1, 2009

    Great advice. I love the statement…”Your blog is not about you, it’s about your readers”

  14. By Tamahome Jenkins on Dec 1, 2009

    I’d like to add, focus on content generation in the beginning. It’s so easy for paralysis by analysis to set in from watching stats and trying to find Wordpress plugins that you’ll never post anything meaningful. Another helpful thing, if you can afford it, is to outsource the technical side of things so you can focus on content generation.

  15. By Marketing Man on Dec 1, 2009

    Writing is a painful process for me at best, but I have found much help from people who blog about processes to follow to aid in the writing process. Googling your niche/topic is definitely a winner in my books.

  16. By fences on Dec 1, 2009

    Good, good post. Edward work is impressive.

  17. By Minnesota Attorney on Dec 2, 2009

    Tip one (Create a blog on a topic about which you have a passion) is a great point. I made the mistake of not following this advice a couple years ago by launching a blog on a topic that I thought would be popular but it wasn’t something in which I had much of an interest. I had to research the topic for each blog post. As a result, it took more time to write each blog post, and I became increasingly less interested in blogging. Writing about something you know and care about is important for efficiency and persistence.

  18. By Edward on Dec 2, 2009

    @Rhys: Not only the amount of words but the type of post as well, mix it with list posts, question posts & polls to have a variety of elements in your blog. That will make it more interesting & readers will engage in the conversation. After all, it’s about building a community & sharing useful information with readers

  19. By Get 3 Quotes | 3Q on Dec 2, 2009

    Passion for your subject is important, and I can not think of anything worse than trying to crate content for something you’re not terribly interested in, and suffering writer’s block.

  20. By iPhone on Dec 2, 2009

    …and keep going, even when you think your blog is failing - keep it up, and be patient. Eventually your reader base will increase.

  21. By clickonpost on Dec 2, 2009

    Thanks for this useful list… its looks serious…

  22. By Laptop Briefcases on Dec 3, 2009

    Good tips for overcoming bloggers block. The best tip is probably #14. It is important to create some backup posts to use when you are not able to come up with a new post. These come in particularly handy when you are sick or out of town. Just remember to keep your backup fully stocked for times like those.

  23. By Descartes on Dec 3, 2009

    I like #4-Take Your Blog Seriously. I think too many start a blog with the idea that they will be rolling in the dough and are then shocked when they are not-and that they need to write a new blog post on a semi-regular basis.

    Writing a blog is a time sink, but it can be a rewarding time sink.

  24. By living room furniture on Dec 3, 2009

    I like number 10…Blogging is not an easy money, but with patience you’ll get what you want.

    And also, I have to add the Posting Frequency on your tips :)

  25. By cash back credit cards on Dec 4, 2009

    This is a very good list…and I come to find this one to be very true and can really give your blog a big push when needed. The whole idea of Controversy sells. It’s true and will work when you use it correctly.

  26. By grafiker on Dec 4, 2009

    I believe patience is the key. Most of wannabe blogger thought it take days to earn hundred a month. For me, I believe it take years to earn that prospect

  27. By cash back cards on Dec 4, 2009

    I really liked and appreciated lucky number 13….Controversy sells! This could be a great tool to really push your site to the next level. And it’s the truth that Controversy sells…why not give it try. Or better yet just sit on your butt and continue to read blogs that tell how you should it…such as this one.

    Great post!

  28. By Lee Ka Hoong on Dec 4, 2009

    I strongly agree with your #2, I used to update my blog 3 times a week or sometimes once 3 days, my mind has been set to this schedule. I tried to push myself to write a post everyday but due to my mind has been set, I couldn’t be able to write a post everyday.

    All these tips need to be done step by step, eventually we would be able to have a perfect blog and will be well known in the blogopshere.

    Thanks Edward for the tips, very useful!

    Cheers,
    Lee

  29. By jam@ps3 modern warfare 2 on Dec 4, 2009

    There are some nice tips here, for me i always prefer to use wordpress and to become a good blogger it not that easy as it seems. It need some patience as well as hard work.

  30. By GDI Blog on Dec 5, 2009

    Great Tips Edward :)
    best wishes for your blog

  31. By Sim so dep on Dec 6, 2009

    Nice post. i think blogger should use WP in order help their blogs better.

  32. By financekick on Dec 6, 2009

    ehm. nice one. I also have some problem with my won blogging styles.

  33. By Vienka on Dec 6, 2009

    i like your article :D thanks for share :)

  34. By iPhone on Dec 6, 2009

    I’ve just taken off about 6 plugins that weren’t really necessary. Google webmasters now has an option to see how fast your site loads. Mine went from being in the slowest 20% to the fastest 25% after changing a few things :)

  35. By Get 3 Quotes | 3Q on Dec 6, 2009

    @ David Mini Laptop - Your comment on long tail keyword research and shaping your titles around this has huge SEO merit. If it is going to break blogger’s block I don’t know, but at least you will have a solid starting block to work off, namely your title & topic.

  36. By Conversion Vans on Dec 7, 2009

    I believe patience is the key. Most of wannabe blogger thought it take days to earn hundred a month. For me, I believe it take years to earn that prospect :D

  37. By Conversion Vans on Dec 7, 2009

    Writing 500 words on a daily basis can be great, however it’s tricky, and you shouldn’t rely on writing it on a daily basis.
    I’ll always if I’m in a zone scribble ideas down.

  38. By Predictive Dialer System on Dec 7, 2009

    If you’re interested in horses, chances are you subscribe to an equine news magazine that arrives weekly in your mail box. That one magazine is chock full of good topics that you can spin, make your own and post.

    Read more: http://www.adesblog.com/2009/11/30/edward-khoo-on-bloggers-block/#comment-125998#ixzz0YynC0wdt

  39. By living room furniture on Dec 7, 2009

    Amazing tips, I have also done the same thing when I was starting. And also, I like the tips “mini laptop” added, the tips that he mentioned are somewhat new to me…

    I’ll do some research and learning on some of his tips.

  40. By mimar on Dec 9, 2009

    I’ve just taken off about 6 plugins that weren’t really necessary. Google webmasters now has an option to see how fast your site loads. Mine went from being in the slowest 20% to the fastest 25% after changing a few things :)

  41. By grafiker on Dec 9, 2009

    looks like many full time blogger exist todays. Congratulation to all of them.

  42. By ferforje on Dec 13, 2009

    blogging is sometimes boring.And people can’t find something interesting to write.Just don’t force yourself write it when u re ready.
    That s how your blog won’t become a garbage.

  43. By DoFollow Blog List on Dec 16, 2009

    I like the create more than 1 post at a time. Sometimes you just can’t get in and if you schedule your posts it’s not as big a deal if you miss a day.

    Dwippy

  44. By osha 10 hour online training on Dec 17, 2009

    We all suffer from blog clog every now and then… Great post!

  45. By NAPW on Dec 17, 2009

    I agree about visiting blogs on your subject, but then how do you keep from replicating others ideas and in turn keep your blog fresh and different… the most successful blogs seem to have a spin on things and that, I think, is the hardest thing to maintain…

  46. By Tampa Real Estate on Dec 22, 2009

    Great tips for blogging. Create a blog on a interested topic, We can easily write for our interested topics.

  47. By Link Wheels on Jan 8, 2010

    Thanks for the detailed list!

  48. By Jasa Pembuatan Website on Jul 18, 2010

    I believe patience is the key. Most of wannabe blogger thought it take days to earn hundred a month. For me, I believe it take years to earn that prospect.


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