I thought I’d write a little more about getting into a “routine” that helps me to make sure I’m constantly moving forward and sticking to my challenge of 10 blog posts every day.
I’ll start by saying that I use so many different methods for productivity. It probably shows something about the way I work that one productivity method can work perfectly for me for a few days or weeks before it completely stops and I need to change things again.
Setting Blocks of Time for Writing
The main system I tend to use is setting blocks of time. I have a program, the Action Machine, that sets timers for fixed lengths of time and notifies you when the timer runs out. You could do the same with a kitchen timer – it has the effect of helping you to focus as much as possible until it “pings”.
First, I set a block for research. Doing research in bulk for batches of five blog posts is something that’s come to work for me. I have quite a few authoritative sites that I call to for my research, sites that I know I can trust for accurate information (which I believe is important). For health niches this is vital. If you’ve got a different sort of niche, maybe this isn’t as vital and you can get a bit more creative.
Then I write my blog posts in batches of five. With the research done beforehand, I usually find writing very quick, especially as I generally follow a set layout for posts:
- Intro paragraph containing the post keyword,
- First subheading and point,
- Second subheading and point,
- Conclusion containing the post keyword,
- Then, if relevant, a few sentences pre-selling the affiliate product.
What’s Really Worked for Me These Last Two Weeks
All the things I mentioned above are things I’ve been doing for a long time. And they do work, but you need an extra ingredient. It’s the mindset that always comes and goes, making some days more productive than others.
Ever since I set myself a goal of 10 posts per day – a tough goal that would challenge myself – and posted it here in public, I’ve had so much more drive to get things done. I feel like setting something challenging has helped, and it’s also given me reassurance that, no matter what the results are from day to day, I do know that I am slowly building my business with everything I’m writing.
The most important thing is that the challenge is making it a “habit” to work hard for my business every day. Whether that’s writing or other marketing and site building tasks, I am going to try as hard as possible to keep the momentum going without fail.
Update for today – completed my 10 blog posts and now need to upload them and go back and work in some pre-selling paragraphs into previous posts.
No related posts.
I think it’s easy when you work for yourself to let things slip. At least in an office setting you have a boss and/or coworkers who are relying on you to do certain tasks in a certain time period which creates accountability. These blogging challenges are kind of a nice way to have some accountability.
Seeing any fruits of your labor, yet?
.-= Carrie´s last blog ..Google Rankings Stuck =-.
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Carrie – You’re so right. It’s the only way that I feel truly accountable I think. Before these two weeks I wasn’t meeting any of my own goals, I just wasn’t staying accountable.
Thanks for sharing your routine, and writing tips. Definitely something worth taking a shot at. I think my biggest challenge lately has been to establish a consistent rhythm.
.-= Kim´s last blog ..Why Blog? =-.
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Kim – I think the key is to see what works for you. Like I said I regularly have to change things a bit just because I can’t seem to stick to the same routine for so long. But I have found getting a rhythm in the last two weeks has helped so much. It just takes a while to find it – and you also don’t want to be too hard on yourself either, as that can have the opposite effect about making you motivated. Gotta find a balance.
If you do research for the posts in batches of 5 before you start writing them, what do you do with all the research before you get to the blog post? Does that question make sense?
What I have been doing is copying and pasting what I want to use and putting it directly into a draft in blog with the correct title I will use. Then when I’m ready to write it, I have all the info right there.
.-= Cathy´s last blog ..Monday Monday-Cant trust that day =-.
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Cathy – Oh yes good question. I am similar, but I have one big word doc for all my posts (like “blog posts for — niche” and then copy and paste lots of info from various websites into it to find ideas for topics etc. So much easier than constantly referring back to the original websites! Similar to yours except I do it in Word so I’ve got saved files for all my posts.
Ruth, You are a true inspiration to all your visitors.
You should put all your techniques together in an eBook, I know I would be interested in purchasing a good reference like that.
So stay busy but uppermost stay happy.
agere sequitur credere
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Steve – Aw thank you Steve!! I had to look up “agere sequitur credere” – but thank you for your words of wisdom! Perhaps one day I will have the time to put all my ideas into a book
Hi Ruth,
some great advice there thanks. My biggest problem at the moment is that I don’t have a fixed amount of time to spend on my online work, so when time does become available I often end up wasting it and not doing the most productive things.
I think you’ve spurred me on into at least setting up list of productive tasks I need to complete. I can then rotate through the list as time becomes available. Not quite a routine, but will hopefully focus my efforts a little more!
.-= Des @ Affiliate Progress´s last blog ..What is on the AP Reading List? =-.
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Des – That must make it a lot harder to get into a routine. I think having a list you can pick and choose from will help – you won’t sit there thinking “what shall I do” – instead you’ll just sit down and start what needs to be done.
I love seeing how others work… I have still been very fragmented these last few week. My partner just finished Uni and keeps making arrangements for us to do this, that and everything…. Been trying to explain I do have a job of sorts :0… Anyway it should calm down soon and I can get on with things.
.-= Forest´s last blog ..Baby Steps Towards Self Sustainability =-.
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Forest – To be honest mine is also at uni but is just finishing those end of semester assignments, so he’s busy working making me more likely to get down to the work too! But when he’s finished, I’ll probably be less regimented too.
Hey Ruth,
Nice Post. These are some awesome advice. one needs to have a strategy, otherwise you’re just vaporizing your precious time.
Thanks for sharing this great Post.
.-= Dev | Technshare´s last blog ..Blog and Win $1000 from DesignCrowd =-.
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Dev – Sometimes it’s hard not to waste time, but having a strategy does really help
Thanks for sharing your approach Ruth. You sure put my current work output to shame. Like Forest, I have people (friends and extended family mostly) who just don’t understand that I do ‘work’ from home. It’s very difficult to say, “Sorry, I’m busy working…from home.” lol! It just doesn’t have the same impact as “Sorry, my boss has called a meeting over lunch and I can’t meet up now.” I haven’t found a good solution for this problem yet.
The timer is the best thing that’s worked for me too. I even do crazy stuff like when I need to leave the house in ten minutes time, I set myself a goal to write a 300 word blog post for a niche site before I leave, it works fantastic for niches that I can write for without research.
Loving the updates and your honesty. Hope the sun is still shining there.
.-= Michelle Adams´s last blog ..You’re Fired! =-.
Twitter: webcareergirl
says:
Michelle – Oh yeah that is tough. Thankfully I don’t have that so much, but people still don’t get that I’m working during the day (or at very random times sometimes lol) I tend to completely ignore the phone when I’m working!
The sun stopped shining – good old UK weather (and typical Brit complaining about it), I was even cold in my bed last night but seems to be back a little today. Hopefully we’ll get a good summer this time for once!
The timer thing so don’t work for me, I spend all the time thinking about the timer. lol
That said, I love your super simple yet quite effective set layout for posts…..now mine.
.-= Dennis Edell | Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..New Form of Human SPAM – Now via Yahoo Messenger =-.