3 Tips That Got Me To 800 Posts

This is my 800th post on this blog (I blogged for a little about software development). My first post on this blog back in July of 2006 was a summary of a book that is still one of my favorites, The Game of Work. I’m sure at the time if you had told me I would blather on for 799 more posts I would have doubted it.

I certainly wouldn’t describe myself as a writer. Just like anyone else who blogs, I often struggle to come up with something to write about, so today I thought I would share 3 tips that I have picked up over the years that have helped me.

Set a schedule – I try to write something daily, at the same time every day. That doesn’t mean I post something everyday. Sometimes I am able to write 2 or 3 posts at once. At other times my best typing of the day is when I hit the delete key.

Talk to one person – I’m not sure where I first learned this idea, I think it may have been from the book Accidental Genius, but it has been a tremendous help to me. Rather than thinking you are writing an article, picture yourself having a conversation with one other person (a friend, customer, prospect, etc.) and write that conversation down. Have you ever left a meeting and on the drive home thought of all of the things you should have said? Have that conversation on your blog. I think you will find it helps your writing and it also helps you do a better job the next time you have a similar conversation.

Learn by teaching – I believe I learned this lesson from Stephen Covey, author of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – the best way to learn something is to teach it. I like to use this tip along with the idea of talking to one person. If I was going to teach my best client about a new marketing opportunity, how would I do that? What questions would they ask? Why should they care?

If you are new to blogging, or still considering it, I want you to know that if I can do it, so can you. I believe that if you stick with it, you will benefit greatly. I would do it all over again just because of the people I’ve met through my blog who I don’t think I would have met otherwise.

For those of you who have been blogging for a while, what’s you best tip for keeping it going?