How to Blog Almost Every Day

October 10, 2009 · Comments

Crowd at IzeaFest I put up a blog post (almost) every day, and sometimes, I put up more than one a day. On top of this, I write for clients, write for other projects, work on books, and other things. Some of you don’t have all these other writing commitments, but still want some ideas on getting more writing out the door. Here are some thoughts into my process that I hope will give you a framework for writing a blog post (almost) every day.

How to Blog Almost Every Day

  1. Read something new every day. Need a starting point? Try Alltop. (Hint: read something outside your particular circle to get new thoughts).
  2. Talk with people every day. I get many of my topic ideas from questions people pose to me, or through conversations.
  3. Write down titles and topic ideas in a notepad file. ( I’ve given you 100 blog topics and another 20 blog topics just to get started.)
  4. Maintain a healthy bookmarking and revisiting habit. I use Delicious.com
  5. Find 20-40 minutes in every day to sit still and type.
  6. Follow an easy framework. Here are 27 blogging secrets to start you on what I mean.
  7. Get the post up fast, not perfect. You can edit if you have to, later. Perfectionism kills good habits.
  8. Dissect other people’s posts to understand what makes them tick. The more you understand of HOW they write, the more you can take the best parts of it into how you write. (hint, my 27 blogging secrets post gives you my patterns.)
  9. Find useful and interesting pictures. I use Flickr photos licensed under Creative commons for most of my photos. This helps me sometimes get a great photo for a post I already have in mind, but it also gives me post material sometimes.
  10. Think about what your customers and prospects need. I write from the perspective of the communities I serve. Every post is aimed at something I believe will be helpful to my community in some form or another. This focus takes some weight off my worries about what I should write about or not. I write about what my community needs.
  11. Mix things up by sometimes blogging on paper first.
  12. Mix things up by writing guest posts for sites that aren’t like yours. This gives your mind new formats to think about. I did this recently as part of a project and I loved it.
  13. Mix things up by changing the lengths of your posts: some long, some brief. Learn what makes an impact how.
  14. Never worry about throwing up the occasional “best of” post, once you get enough material. Example: here’s My best advice about blogging.

It’s not easy, but once you develop the habits, they stick with you. I’m writing quite regularly now, but it took me several years to get my groove down to a science. Some days, it’s still thrown off. Busy schedules can get the best of us, no matter what. That said, try to keep some content “in the can,” so that you’re rarely at a loss to keep your audience happy.

What do you think? Any other ideas to add?

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  • Such a great list of tips,i agree developing a proper mindset and setting a goal will really keep all things easy.
  • stevekapski
    Concise and to the point, great blog. As a newbie on the blog block I hope to contribute interesting posts with regularity. Unafraid of making mistakes...a learn as you go approach.
  • interesting, thanks for the tips
  • If you want to be a blogger than you have to be regulate and keep upate content other wise there is no used of blog. Nice Thank u
  • marryroy01
    You reap dividends as writer for making yourself write. Not every post is going to be earth-shattering. But then again, not every post you write for a client will be, either. Building a collection of smaller conversations will lead to the big ones.

    travel accessories
  • Well, I must admit that there are a lot of bloggers, or nor necessarily bloggers, who would really want to know this "secret", which is not really a secret, because now it's here, for everyone to read and learn. We all have to thank you for making a "sum" of these! So, thank you!
  • Ash
    Great Tips. Thanks
  • Ash
    Great tips. Thanks
  • Nice post Chris, and nice meeting you. Posting every day to our company's consumer blog has become a priority for us for a few different reasons. Posting daily and staying fresh is a challenge. Your tips have helped give me some fresh perspective. Thank you.

    Do you have any idea what percent of the millions of blog sites post everyday?

    I search Google and couldn't find much of anything helpful.

    You are one of the premier bloggers so I thought you might know.

    Jim Adams
  • Stephanie
    I would like to start blogging. Is it best to link a blog to my current web-site or originate at a web-site such as ActiveRain for blogging or use Wordpress. If I use Wordpress to originate my blogs then can I push out my blogging post to ActiveRain and my web-site etc.? Thank you.
  • it's a blessing to have the luxury to do anything always and everyday. for those of you who's time is not your own, i say the one thing you can do everyday is not beat yourselves up for perceived inadequacies. The freedom from guilt generates it's own energy and that's happy!
  • shermy
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  • Probably the best article and most useful tips I've ever read on blogging schedules. I have the hardest time pulling my act together and just writing because of information overload. I read too much, get off on tangents, then waste the day away instead of doing what I should be doing...writing!

    Thanks. Bookmarked, Saved and will be revisited.
  • I treat my website like a baby. I have to feed it every day.
  • Great post,
  • allwatermeter
    It's usefull for me
  • allwatermeter
    the most helpful for me
  • richardblack
    Great post, excellent tips. As a new blogger, I am quite sure that the thoughts provided here will help me to better organise my blogging topics. Consider me now, a regular reader.
  • Thank you Chris for sharing these helpful insights. I started blogging in August 2009 and found myself struggling to meet a minimum goal of 1 post per week. I have more confidence in surpassing that goal since reading this post and your helpful ideas. Besides regularly revisiting my Delicious.com bookmarks, I also started using Google Docs as my online journal for recording ideas. Used to keep my paper journal in my briefcase to record spontaneous ideas but like the flexibility of Google Docs because I can lighten my business travel load. Also started using the Notes feature in my iPhone to record top-of-mind ideas when I don't have access to my laptop.
  • bloginterfacenet
    Reading something new every day is a proofed way to get new ideas for posts. And when you get a new idea make a note of it (paper or on a phone (Evernote) - I'm practicing both). If you don't do this, there is a chance that you forget a great idea.
  • This is seriously some TIPS on blogging every day. Wow. Thanks for the inspiration, Chris!
  • Love this blog, Chris. I get my inspiration from reading the newspaper each day. If there is an article that relates to my blog theme (small business and marketing), then I apply it and write a post that connects back to the story. Also, Stumbleupon is another great place to get ideas. I have also gotten blog post ideas from going to local small businesses, chatting it up with the owners and asking them what their biggest pain points are in marketing. This way I get a blog post idea AND a possible new lead for a client. Thanks for the other tips!
  • I go on streaks where I'm producing a 10-15 minute podcast and blog post 4 days a week at: http://www.lullabot.com/podcast/drupal-voices -- My secret is to do a brief audio interview with anywhere from 30-60 people in the course of a weekend conference, and then spread it out over the course of 3-4 months as daily podcasts. Edit the audio in 45 minutes, and while listening to it write up the blog post and link it up.
  • With all the action going on in your life, it would be good to have a good handy camera. Then blogging will be so much fun :-)
  • matthewcornell
    Super helpful, Chris. I'm experimenting with writing short, frequent posts instead of long, weekly essays (gasp!) and your tips make sense. I like the freedom this approach gives me - I'll toss anything up!
  • matthewcornell
    Super helpful, Chris. I'm trying an experiment where I write short, frequent posts (gasp!) instead of my long, weekly essays. I'm having fun so far, and your tips will keep me on track.
  • I think finding remarkable pictures and then relating the picture to your area of expertise is a good one. Analogies are something that Seth Godin specializes in, and everyone seems to enjoy how they relate to marketing and leadership.
  • Is blogging every day necessary?
  • mmc
    Great tips that help you create a writing habit.
  • I suffer from perfectionism (though they're almost never perfect) and from the occasional case of writer's block. Writing daily (even if you never publish a post) is a great exercise and a great habit to build. But on that occasion when I can't seem to squeeze anything out, a little exercise never hurts! I head out for a 3 mile run. The calm of being out there running through the trails is somehow peaceful for me and it gets ideas flowin'! Sounds crazy I guess, but it works for me...
  • Thank you for this information. I am procrastinating about blogging consistantly because as you say "perfectionism kills bad habits". I also appreciate the suggestion for finding pictures on Flickr. I am already on my way to read about the 27 Blogging secrets.
  • Thanks for this article. I really appreciate it. I am a new blogger and am finding myself getting stuck on perfection. I'm going to print and post these tips.
  • Yeah, I think it's a bit of a struggle for some bloggers to think of topics to tackle on their blog post. Especially if the bloggers have very limited resources. I really salute you for having enough knowledge to write a blog post or two, everyday. :D
  • jaden
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  • Jaden
    Totally agree
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  • Joe
    Great article.
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  • Good blog post Chris!

    My trick to everyday blogging is RSS Reading 50-200-300 news per day. And mostly PR stuff I get emailed.

    Again great blog post, tweet ya later aligateerr...
  • Thanks, this is great information. I always find it hard to come up with new topics to write about.
  • I have also installed disqus comment plug in on my blog. This is really very nice plug in.
  • Dara Bell
    I think this is good practice. I think your right (write) its about craft, content and current affairs (relevant to the readers). belldaragh@twitter.com
  • This is really a good advice on blogging. As a new blogger this is really very helpful post for me. Thank you anyway.
  • tiffany1111
    Thank you very much,I have read it now.
    And welcome to my site,
    Tiffany 1837

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  • If I could blog every day I would, but finding time in between family commitments by the time I get home from my day job is difficult. I always strive to keep my posts relevant to an event to give them context in addition to practical advice. Further to tip 3 that you made above, I've found what facilitates a more regular routine for me is keeping an open file on my desktop and whenever I come across something I want to write, I'll put down the bulk of the point I am trying to make with a the context. From here I can come back to it later and bulk it out with more context and detail, and eventually I end up with a lot of content that I can put out over a week or 2 weeks.

    Certainly too, I've begun experimenting more with different length posts - I used to publish diatribes, but have recently been writing much shorter and practical posts - much easier to get out.
  • I handle the perfectionist thing by scheduling my posts for the next day. That gives me time to check them a couple of times before they go live and make edits. But it is not so long as to allow me to make endless changes.

    Thanks for the great post, Chris!
  • Okay Brogan, I'm getting *really* tired of you having all these incredible ideas and lists and giving them away to all of us for free. What are you trying to give Letterman a run for his money or what? Good Lord have you ever had an idea or post that has just been utter crap and blew up in your face? I'd love to know that your human too! I hate to say it - again - but thanks - again - for all the kick ass ideas you give us. You, my friend, are the Original Rockstar. I've met a few people at this past PodCamp Philly that have blogged EVERY SINGLE DAY without missing one for over four years. Key to it all - read more than you write. Keep your brain full and you will never run out of ideas.
  • I don't blog everyday but I post everyday. And yes, sometimes more often than that. I've learned along the way the importance of posting in advance. I usually have 15 to 20 posts sitting in the "launching bay" just waiting for their moment in the spotlight. Occasionally, I've have to delay a post. This only happens when I find something I feel is more interesting to post about on that particular day.
  • I like to have notepad lists to refer when I write everyday. I can be reading or see something on news or popular topics and make note to self to write about it and if it is news worthy to my website readers. It is important to wrte every day for traffic while having the intrest what I write about.
  • The input I've gotten is that blogger challenges are 1) discipline/time; 2) inspiration. So at two BarCamps recently, I gave a presentation, clumsily titled "Not A Writer? How To Use Twitter and Other People's Content To Drive Traffic To Your Blog." Before seeing it, some people thought I was talking about stealing content - but that's the farthest thing from what I meant. What I showed was how to easily use other sources of content as inspiration for a blog post - no matter how brief that post might be. Some bloggers feel that every post has to be some brilliant analysis, when in fact it can just be a pointer to other interesting information, with a short comment from the blogger. So for time-saving AND inspiration, as well as a blogger's normal sources of content, I recommend (as you did, Chris) using alltop.com, which is a big time-saver through it's aggregating by industry or topic and through it's "hover" summaries that let you decide if a piece of content might be worth clicking on and reading further AND would be of value to readers of your blog. Then, write a post based on that content, even if the post is just a short thought about it, and always include a link to the source. Finally, use a link shortener (I recommend bit.ly) to create a link to YOUR new post, and tweet out the link. Voila - you've got a new post up that will be valuable to your readers, and you can tweet a link to your post. Readers of your blog read your post and can move further to the content you point to, if they desire.
  • PedroFonseca
    Hey, this is good and welcomed advice.I think that it is important to gather momentum and then stick to it.
  • delmelinscott
    Awesome advice and tips Chris.
    Thanks. Will let you know how they pan out.
    Cheers
    Delme Linscott
  • patsikrakofftheblogsquad
    Since I've been blogging daily, my traffic has doubled and I have less trouble coming up with post ideas because my mind is already there. Thanks, Chris, for the great tips.
  • patsikrakofftheblogsquad
    I hate to say ditto, great post, etc. but I was just going to post a similar thing today because - get this - since I've been blogging everyday, as opposed to every other day or 2-3 times a week, my number of visitors & readers has DOUBLED!

    Strangely, I have less problems coming up with something to write daily than when it wasn't daily because my mindset is already there, all day long. I'm finding ideas everywhere...
  • Hey Chris, I am one of your Twitter Followers, @amazinglyamara . I just wanted to say that this is a very helpful and clever post. There is some controversy over how blogs should work, if they should be only niche related or span a person's entire interest spectrum, any thoughts?
  • I prefer niche. I think they help better that way. I want to read about the aspect of your writing that appeals to my needs. Make sense?
  • jimpivonka
    When I blogged, a few years back, my discipline was to read and research 5 to 10 hours for every hour I spent writing. When life got too busy - I'm a now 70 year old "tweener" with the family members in KS & SF - for me to do the reading, the writing pretty much had to stop.

    My posts are still there - with very few updates since the onset of my Mom's last illness, its aftermath, my daughter's divorce, wedding, birth of 3rd grandaughter, & moving back to the suddenly unoccupied farm home where I grew up. Life's good, but I regret that blogging is no longer a part of it.
  • Use Sidewiki to comment on other blog posts while reading them and don't forget to submit some of your comments to your own "blogger" blog. I find it an effective way to get rid of blogging procrastination !
  • These are great tips - I especially like the idea to get something up quick and go back and edit later. I do keep a notepad of ideas - sitting still is my problem!
  • AnnaFB
    Thanks, you've inspired me! My best tip is to have a key theme that can unite a lot of ideas and experiences. Mine is "learning." I find I can relate nearly everything back to that theme, which really helps generate posts.
  • Thanks for this! I read this post yesterday, and today I had so many ideas for posts that I actually went in and created drafts as each idea came to mind. Usually i just try to "remember" them and get back to them later. So just reading this one post of yours yesterday I have a pretty good collection to blog about all week :)
  • Clemence Ko
    Very invaluable tips for all bloggers. I especially like tip number 12 and 13. Very refreshing methods. Never thought of them.
  • Fantastic post Chris.
  • Great post. Sometimes I feel like it is hard to put up something everyday. Our blog is a family and product review blog so sometimes it is hard to come up with stuff but I am not hoping with your suggestion it will get easier. I like your suggestion get it up fast not perfect. I strive for perfect alot and I think that messes me up and prevents me from getting posts up sometimes. Great blog and keep up the great posts!!!
  • tamivroma
    Great post Chris! You nailed me on #7. It IS what has kept me from blogging. I am a perfectionist!!
  • Will put into action today - will put up video found with brief comment, rather than waiting until "perfect" longer post
  • Inverted Pyramid story format

    Hi Folks,

    One suggested approach is to use an inverted pyramid format.

    The "pyramid" is a triangle.

    1. The top represents the most substantial, interesting, and important information you want to convey.

    2. The middle section discusses the main points of your article, often as bullet points and

    3. The tapered lower portion illustrates that other material should follow in order of diminishing importance.

    This works best when writing longer posts, i.e. as opposed to short snippets.

    Ken Blake, Ph.D. explains how it works on the Tennessee State University site:

    Journalists use many different kinds of frameworks for organizing stories. Journalists may tell some stories chronologically. By far the simplest and most common story structure is one called the "inverted pyramid."
    http://mtsu32.mtsu.edu:11178/171/pyramid.htm and here Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_pyramid

    Having this model in mind helps me structure each article. I write a one sentence intro, break out the content in chunks, and then wrap up at the end with conclusion and/or questions.

    Asking a question at the end can be a simple but effective way to encourage readers to post a comment. Something I read on this site, actually. Thanks Chris.


    What you think!


    Ivan,

    Beijing, China
  • Makes sense to me. I love it.
  • Hey Chris,
    I really felt this post of yours would be very fruitful for my writing. Well, I have a blog and at the same time write regularly on it. I have a problem, that as far as I know, is common to all the struggling bloggers on the web. I actually don't find a good number of readers and loyal subscribers to my blog. I am currently even working out a lot of social networking websites to interact with people. But still I don't seem to find satisfactory results. I hope you show me a way to this problem.
    Thanks :)
  • LilianMahoukou
    Hi Chris,

    You're totally right on listening and reading first to understand people's needs. I think we can also play on different writing styles (more study-oriented, useful tips, asking big questions, etc ...) and this will lower the pressure we put ourselves to blog everyday.

    @LilianMahoukou
  • cathytaylor
    Great post Chris. Your point about finding 20 to 40 minutes a day is doable given that I have a 40 minute train commute to and from work everyday. That suggestion alone just may push me over the edge to finally buying a netbook to carry w/ me everyday. Or maybe at the very least, I could do it old skool and just jot down some handwritten notes.

    I also enjoy guest blogging for other blogs, which I started doing recently. Nice exposure. And using comments to generate ideas is fast becoming a good way for me to shape subject matter.

    Thanks fo sharing.
  • Excellent tips Chris.

    I use Alltop all the time for ideas. I especially like your point to look outside of your circle for new thoughts; I have been trying to do more of that lately.

    I agree to mix things up between different types of posts since things can get stale after a while. One of my biggest problems is editing while I write. Now I just throw out my words on paper and go back to mop things up afterwords. I have been using my MoleSkine much more lately and prefer to use paper to spew out my words instead of a keyboard.

    This reminds me of a book I just finished up a while back. The book was Stephen King on Writing. This post reminds me of his words to write something everyday. Great stuff.
  • Another way to generate ideas, especially if you deal with local businesses, is to pick up a daily newspaper and just read the headlines. See what is important news for your area, read the article, and blog your thoughts on it.

    - Jeffery
  • Seriously, headed for the printer! :) Thanks for sharing!
  • Chris, you always give indispensable information where ideas can grow and flow through into our lives. Thankyou
  • bill_free
    Great post, Chris. Will use as motivation to stop procrastinating and get my blog up (using Thesis on your rec, btw). Also wise counsel on curbing perfectionism. I will try to take it to heart.
  • I find the first 2 and #10 are critical to producing any kind of useful stuff at least for me.

    I would add to your list to experiment with apps like Posterous for brief stuff, it's very quick. You can post stuff from email or with the bookmarklet and it also works great as notepad. Also useful if you want to dissect someone's or one of your own posts and reduce it to it's essence.

    What do you think of Posterous Chris?
  • Posterous is great. Very lightweight, but does the job.
  • I'd have to agree with some of the others and say scheduling multiple posts is a great way to maintain momentum. Especially in cases where you're doing multiple-part posts or weekly themes. There's something to be said about the sense of productivity you get from having posts appear "as if like magic" all on their own. Lends a lot to consistency.
  • I came across this post last week that has a few related tips on how to blog faster, an essential skill if you're trying to post daily.
    http://www.productivecatholic.com/blog/write-a-...
  • Great thoughts. I've found that other projects I have including answering email questions and writing assessments get some blog posts started. I take that content if I think others might be interested, format and expand based on fit, and there you go.
  • The post-date facility in Wordpress is your friend! When you're 'in the zone', write several blog posts and date each for some time in the future. I try to keep up to a month's posts already written ahead of time. That way, if I can't write every day (busy, away, not in the mood), there's always something ready to fill the spot.

    Also, I use a 'to do' list (Toodledo.com) where I copy in URLs from Tweets, RSS feeds, Google Alerts etc. that I haven't got time to read thoroughly when I receive them. When I'm ready to write, I go to my list to see if any will spark a blog post.
  • I can't agree more.
  • You left out Blog Responses. I've barely gotten started, this should work: subscribe to the rss of blogs that frequently post entries you would write about (keep the on your iGoogle page or something) and write a response (some comments on this blog could be posts!) The benefits will be three-fold: (1) you'll keep up with the latest and greatest within your subject, (2) you may attract attention of bigger bloggers who appreciate the trackback and get yourself a link or two, and (3) You'll appear in Technorati under every blogger you trackback and may incite an online argument.
  • That's certainly another way to get it done. Thanks!
  • Whoa! Number 7 punched me in the face! Guilty as charged. These are some awesome tips, Chris. Many thanks.
  • alexisjameson
    Good post and commentary. I think Realtors internet marketing is great but people
    are getting way to caught up with it and think that if you
    are great at blogging and marketing…the $$ just rolls in.
  • Thanks, Chris. Great post with lots of practical tips to boost creativity and develop the habit of writing daily.
  • Also try reading http://www.paper.io - its brand new and you can own some topics too
  • Your post came right into time that i was thinking " How will I find time to write my next blog post?".Great timing!
  • Editing-itis is probably the thing that slows me down the most. Keeping the daily momentum is probably the most important thing, but it sure seems to be the biggest challenge too.
  • readerviews
    What a delight to find you!! I know what I'll be doing tonight.
  • Coming from an editorial background, #7 is definitely the most liberating lesson I've learned. Great list, Chris. Much appreciated, as always.
  • I am still learning (with the help of Mike CJ) and there are some great ideas here as well. I am just trying to decide on a posting schedule for mine at the moment, it was going to be Wednesday and Saturday, but I am wondering now whether to include a third day for a shorter posting. Not decided yet, but still loads to read up on.
  • Jez
    This is a great article, thanks. I've just discovered your blog and I love the way you take your own advice in every post — it's so much easier to absorb the advice when there are examples of it right before my eyes.

    Keep up the good work!
  • That's my favorite thing to do, Jez: model the behavior I point out. : )
  • Like Seafarer, I'd rather spend time thinking through a post than slapping it up there, even if it means posting less often. It's in the editing that I figure out what really needs to be said. So for me, I'm calling these tips How to Blog (Consistently) Once a Week. And I especially appreciate the reminder (#1) to read outside the usual suspects. Thanks!
  • Thanks Chris - Love number 7. I've got a ton of posts that are 80% complete and queued up. I guess I get need to hit [publish] and get them out there.
  • Thanks for this blog. I have been blogging for about a year and I struggle to do it every day as I usually think my issue is a subject. But you are correct, if I would just make a note of ideas as I have them or as my clients as questions, or as an audience asks questions during a presentation I would have plenty of subjects.
  • Interesting
  • Insightful, purgent, practical and real. Great stuff from the guru. More grease to your elbow. Permit me to share this on my blog.
  • markharmel
    My easiest posts are one that play off something in the news. The Nobel Prize in Physics rewarded an invention to digital photography. The quick post was about my start in digital. Because it was breaking new I wanted to get it up fast instead of making the perfect post.
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