One of the main conversations I have with bloggers who want to grow their blogs is about creating more content. I strongly believe that the more content you have, the bigger and better your blog will be.
I know there are a lot of bloggers who claim to have really successful blogs with just 20-30 blog posts, but those people are in the minority. Not only are they unusual, but many of these bloggers run blogs with hundreds, if not thousands, of blog posts to date, and what works by creating all this content? I learned.
Every time you write a post, you learn something new, even if it’s something small. And every post you write has the potential to attract a whole new audience and lead to new opportunities.
As of this writing, there are approximately 1,400 blog posts about The Travel Hack. Let’s say they all get him 100 views per day (which is not an unrealistic goal!), your blog will get 4.2 million page views per month. And once you hit 1 million pageviews a month on a regular basis, everything becomes a lot easier!
Sure, it took me over 12 years to write them all, and 300 of them were written by other people, but more content means more potential for your blog!
But the thing bloggers tell me the most is that they don’t have time to write more content. They have a full-time job, family, hobbies, friends, home, and a billion other things on their to-do list before they sit down to write a blog post.
So today I want to share with you some tips that will show you how to create more content for your blog.
I currently create all of the content written on my blog in about 7 hours a week. The only time I am able to sit down and write is when my youngest is at daycare. I often plan blog posts while I’m in the shower, take photos during family walks, or research ideas while watching TV, so I find that I do all my work during this time. I won’t say, but these are all. Something you can incorporate into your life without taking up too much time in your day.
Here are some tips to create more content for your blog in limited time:
#1. Write what you know about
This is pretty obvious, but it’s easier to write blog posts about topics you actually know about. It’s easier, it’s faster, and the internet loves it.
As a blogger, you want to become an expert on a particular topic, and if you write regularly about things you know a lot about, you’ll become one. Most bloggers try to write about a variety of topics in order to attract a wide audience, but in reality you should do the opposite. If you write about something truly niche, you’ll find a small but dedicated audience of readers who will turn to you for advice and inspiration. The Internet is full of people expressing their opinions on topics they don’t know much about. So don’t be a shoutout on the internet. Become an expert in providing information that others can’t find.
Understanding who we are as experts can actually be surprisingly difficult. When something becomes part of everyday life, we sometimes forget that it is unusual, unique, or interesting to other people.
I have avoided writing about static caravan purchases for years. Because it was boring and boring and I thought everything I had to say was obvious. I never expected my static caravan content to become the most read post on my blog. Not only that, but it’s a topic I know very well, so I can explain it right away!
Read more: How to find your niche blog
#2. Don’t stop to check facts
if you need to check the facts, don’t stop by googling something. Leave a gap and go back. I always write “xxxxx” and highlight the gap in red so I don’t forget.
If you stop searching on Google, you’ll get sucked into email, Instagram, and the billions of other distractions on the internet, and there’s a good chance that that blog post will never be written.
Read more: How to write the perfect blog post
#3. Turn one topic into multiple blog posts
Let’s say you go to Marrakech for the weekend. You can create:
- travelogue
- hotel reviews
- favorite place to eat
- Top 10 things you like
- general travel tips
- What to bring to Morocco
- Stories from your favorite activities
Not only will this encourage you to go into more detail about each topic, but it will also improve your search engine traffic, making it easier for readers to find the specific content they’re looking for.
I find it easiest to create these posts all together (at least in the same week) while everything is fresh and my mind is focused on this topic. You’ll be able to create each post faster!
Read more: How to plan your blog’s editorial calendar
#4. Write your title and your subheaders first
I start each post by writing a working title and all subheadings in the list below. And when I get to writing all the actual words, all the structure and ideas are there for me.
Having lots of subheadings throughout your blog post is good for SEO, and most readers will appreciate breaking up long posts into digestible chunks. And, let’s be honest, most people skim through blogs and stop to read the parts they find interesting. That’s why subheadings are an important way to tell people where to stop skimming and start reading!
Read more: Is it worth starting a blog in 2020?
#5. Create your own stock image library
In my case, I can write a post fairly quickly, but finding the right photo to go with it takes forever!
For me, having quick and easy access to images is very important. To be honest, it took me years to figure this out, but now it feels like second nature and the whole blogging process has become so much faster.
After a trip or photo shoot, I organize my photos into folders by date and activity. Then create a new folder with your best photos, edit them, rename them, and resize them so you can post them on your blog. I keep everything on an external hard drive so I can access it wherever I go.
Read more: How to organize, save and share your travel photos
#6. Do things in batches
Let’s say you wrote all five blog posts above. In my case, it took him one day to write the article, one day for him to take and edit the photos, and then one day for him to upload the photos and make sure her SEO was all on point. Masu. It will be easier to understand the flow of each activity and you will be able to make better use of your time.
It also means working at “appropriate hours”. You don’t have to sit indoors during the day and write blog posts. You can write your blog posts in the evening and use your daytime hours to take all the photos!
Read more: How to continue your travel blog after having kids
#7. Write with a notepad and pen
If you’re having trouble getting started, try writing with a notepad and pen. I often do this when I have a half idea in my head but can’t quite bring it to life. Write a few paragraphs the old-fashioned way, then find a flow and move to the computer.
Read more: Travel Blogger Q&A
#8. Turn the WiFi off
If you’re constantly distracted by social media, notifications, and all the shiny things on the internet, here’s an idea for you. Please turn off the internet!
Read more: 10 Tips for New Travel Bloggers
#9. Block out an hour a day
If you have a lot of responsibilities and blogging is always at the bottom of your to-do list, try setting aside an hour each day for blogging. You may need to wake up an hour earlier each morning or go to bed an hour later if you’re a night owl, but try making it a routine.
If you like the idea of blogging for an hour every morning, check out Power Hour: How to Focus on Your Goals and Build a Life You Love. This is a really inspiring book to help you get the most out of your mornings.
Read more: My Blogger Office and why it’s more than just an office!
#10. Set a timer and don’t stop working until it rings
This is what I used to do to write essays in college. There’s no need to do it now since you have limited time to write anyway. However, if you find it difficult to concentrate for long periods of time while writing, try setting a timer and keep writing until the timer goes off.
The timer is not too long, about 15-20 minutes is fine. Then let him reward himself with a 10-minute break before starting again.
Read more: How to get work done more efficiently
#11. Find your perfect writing place
We all have a place where we feel comfortable, creative, and relaxed, but sometimes it takes time to find your own space!
I moved my desk around the house multiple times to find the perfect space. I’ve tried outdoor offices, my own bedroom, a spare bedroom, and another spare bedroom, and worked from kitchens, living rooms, and numerous cafes and office hubs. It took a while, but I now have the perfect writing space.
I like to work at a completely quiet, uncluttered desk with lots of natural light.
Read more: 4 monetization strategies to earn more from your blog
#12. Stop making excuses
This may be hard to accept at times, but often the reason we don’t work is because we keep holding ourselves back and making excuses. Either you don’t have time or you don’t want to make it. There is a difference. Think about which category you fit into.
Read more: The secret to a great blog post
#13. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks
A big factor that holds many of us back is fear of what other people will think. Especially when we create for an online platform where the whole world may see what we create. We often stop ourselves from creating something because we’re worried about what other people will think, but once you get over that fear, you can’t stop.
Read more: How do I manage work/life/blogging/parenting balance
#14. Done is better than perfect
If you’re a long-time reader of The Travel Hack, you’ll have noticed numerous typos, spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and HTML issues. I strongly believe that doing is better than being perfect. I try my best to avoid stupid mistakes and correct what I do wrong, but I accept that I’m only human and sometimes I make mistakes.
If you wait for every blog post to be perfect, you’ll never publish anything!
Read more: How and why I started a travel blog
#15. Remember, you can always go back and change it
Following on from “Done is better than perfect”, remember that you can always go back and change things. If there’s a photo you’re not sure about, don’t avoid publishing your post, publish your blog and change the photo when you get a chance!
Read more: How to update your travel blog while actually traveling
#16. Ask yourself what you’re aiming for and make a plan to get there
If you’ve always wanted blogging to be a fun hobby with some benefits, keep it that way and don’t put too much pressure on yourself.
If you want to make blogging a side hustle or a full-time job, pageviews will be your best friend. The way to get a lot of page views is, quite simply, to post a lot of blog posts and then go back to the top of this blog post and read it all again. Stop procrastinating and focus on writing new blog posts!
Read more: A week in the life of a travel blogging mom