5 Ways to Write Targeted Posts in 2012

Do you feel that you sometimes spend too much time crafting articles for your blog or website? I know the feeling: I write thousands of articles annually for clients, for my blogs and for websites that I own or manage. My pace varies from 5 to 8 articles per day which puts me in the neighborhood of 2,000 articles written annually.

That’s a lot of articles for anyone to write, but it does provide for a decent living. I’m not including in that total the magazine articles I write for print publications nor the behind the scenes work that I do for my own sites.

Thought Articulation

Blogging offers the most informal way to write as bloggers generally aren’t sourcing other websites nor are they required to follow various style methods. Both options help elevate your authority, but aren’t required. Besides, when you have a thought in your mind, you want to articulate what you have to say and not worry about what others think or say.

For 2012, I’m planning to increase my writing productivity by about 20 percent. This means I’ll have to write at a faster clip or work longer hours — believe me, I want to actually reduce the hours I put in and make more money. I expect to do that by employing the following five techniques for the year so that I can produce more in less time:

1. Laser focus — My main areas of writing expertise are automotive, business, college and consumer topics. This ABCC arrangement means that I can cover those subjects I know and do each one well. Gone are the days where I’ve ventured into other areas only to be weighed down by having to do extensive research to bring myself up to speed. All four topics I know enough about to write most of my articles off of the top of my head.

2. Smarter headlines — I’m being extra careful to write headlines that are catchy as well as smart. You can write the best article, but have those words lost because your title is uninteresting, vague or confusing. Attract your readers with articles that offer plenty of substance, but are accompanied by headlines that attract.

3. Develop idea lists — Most of my ideas are percolating in my brain, but I’m going to start jotting down my ideas and go to that list whenever I’m needing something new or fresh. You can put your list on your computer, in your handheld device or do it the old-fashioned way: on paper. Find a method that works best for you and keep adding to it and subtracting from it when you’re ready to use an idea.

4. Simplicity matters — There are times when I’m writing longer, magazine-style articles of 750 words or more with three or more references. These articles take one to two hours to complete, but are no where nearly as common as the shorter articles I write. Stick with a 400-word minimum and come up with at least three points to following your introduction and to precede your conclusion. Bullets and numbered lists are still the way to go, providing visual appeal and reading simplicity.

5. Write when you’re inspired — I firmly believe that writer’s block does not exist. What does exist is our personal fear of failure and bodily fatigue. Overcome the fear and write, write, write. Get rested and write whenever you’re most productive. There are times when I’ve banged out five articles in two hours, took an extended break and returned to write four or five more before calling it a day.

Have Fun!

Above all else, have fun when you’re writing. The vast majority of your articles should be on topics you’re familiar with and like, allowing you to be the most productive and hopefully making the most money. As long as your interest in writing remains strong, you’ll do fine. If you’re flagging in interest, find something else to do for a while before returning and are ready to write.

See Also — Easy, Breezy Tips for Better Articles

How to Breathe New Life Into an Old Blog

Is it time for you to bring your old blog out of the box?

Old blogs never die…they just seem to fade away. Well, unless you close down your blog and delete all of your messages, your weblog may last for many years after your final post. That is, if you keep paying for your web hosting and renew your URL.

I’ve seen some really nifty blogs fade away over the years and I can certainly understand why: blogging is a lot of work and many sites gain little or no financial remuneration for all the hard work that writers do. These days, nearly every one of us is scrambling to make a living and that means we have to follow the money trail, as straight and narrow as that may be.

This blog is nearing its sixth anniversary and definitely qualifies as an old blog. Were I to rejuvenate it to its past glory, you’d begin to notice dramatic changes immediately. Alas, I am also chasing money and have little time to breathe new life into this old blog. That doesn’t mean you can’t give your blog a kick start, helping it to regain must of the prominence it once had, by taking the following four steps:

1. Get Writing – What made your blog successful in the past? Likely, it was your frequent postings that attracted a healthy following. Therefore, plan to write your heart out even if your audience isn’t still around to read what you write. Some former readers will come back and you’ll bring in new readers too. Yes, that means making good use of social media, such as Twitter, to let people know that you’re back shaking the blogosphere.

2. Get Your Mojo Back – Your passionate writing of yore may have disappeared, at least with the blog that you once loved and poured your heart and soul into. Tap that passion you’ve since transferred to your other writing gigs and bring it to your blog. Be real too: in life, you may be able to fake people out to their faces, but when it comes to writing they’ll know if you’re authentic or a poser. Allow the passionate blogger within you to take over!

3. Make a Plan – I operate an automotive blog (autotrends.org) and have enjoyed much success with it because I plan ahead. Some of my articles are written a week ahead and will “drip” at the appointed hour days from now. Other articles are sitting on my hard drive in outline form. I also have a draft or two that I’m working on. This type of scheduling and planning works out for me because I can take a break whenever I want (i.e., Thanksgiving and Christmas) and get back to writing when inspiration hits. I wrote this article yesterday and had it all set up to appear today.

4. Engage Your Audience – You want people to follow you, right? Well, engage them in a conversation. But, note this: you don’t have to be 100 percent thorough when discussing a topic. Leave 10 percent untold and your readers will add a point or two to fill in the gap (exception: if you’re giving step by step instructions, then you must be thorough). That way, you’ll elicit more responses from your readers and will respond to their comments – think about creating a dialogue. Leave helpful comments on other people’s blogs too, especially if the topic is similar to your own. I use Google Blog Search to track down related blogs (google.com/blogsearch) and will leave a comment if I find something of value.

You can also participate in various offline activities such as attending seminars, conferences and related events. I regularly hit the road to take in automotive events, passing out my business cards and acquiring cards and contact information as well.

The more involved you are with your blog, the greater the chance you’ll connect with people including industry influencers and others who will buy an ad, invite you to their event or recognize you through their website. Now go and breathe new life into your old blog!

Photo: Svilen Milev