“Building blogs is like building muscles—in order for them to grow you need to use them.”
I tweeted the above statement a few weeks back and it got so much traction I decided to create this video on the topic.
The idea for the video came out of the a Skype chat session I had with five readers who all worked through the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog workbook together. Their feedback was that they felt like they’d all signed up to the gym together and had just had a month of intense training. In each case, their blogs had grown (both in terms of content and traffic), and they’d come to the realization that daily blogging exercise was what had led to the results.
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I absolutely agree with this Darren.
When I go to the gym I like to bring a friend with me. So when I started blogging, I actually got one of my friends into blogging too (He is actually doing a bit better than me right now thanks to Google). This has helped a lot as we can bounce ideas back and forth and don’t feel so alone with our new blogs.
Planning ahead for what you are going to work on is absolutely necessary. It helps keep down with procrastination and not knowing what to do.
Great post! (couldn’t watch the video at work =/ )
Hey, great video! And it’s nice to see you back on YouTube :D
You got another video !!! It’s been a long while you done a video. Building blogs is exactly like building muscles. It takes some time to grow and if you are off from it No doubt they will contract.
Thanks for the tip Darren
Chris
Great advice Darren – I’ve been mulling it over for a few weeks but you’ve just convinced me to give your “31 Days To A Better Blog” a shot!
Thank you for this post – I always find that when I schedule what I do I am a lot more successful, so this makes a lot of sense to me and I am going to try and put it into practice.
Also I want to thank you for transcribing it. I hardly ever watch v-logs because I read a lot quicker than I watch something, and with three small children I rarely have the time to watch a video. So I was very grateful you wrote it out!
I’ll admit that I have a hard time keeping a schedule for my blog posts. But I do post often, I’m going on 500 posts since February, they’re just at random times.
The buddy part is something I struggle with, I’m “OCD” about the way my blog and posts should look and I don’t want to seem pushing if I find a blogging buddy. I know they’d get annoyed with my obsession for perfection, it annoys me too.
I digress–great post, I’ll try to take my blog to the gym more often before it becomes a sloppy mess :)
I’ve found that planning your goals and achievements, just like planning your weight loss or muscle building goals, can have a huge impact on your results.
Just like with exercising, there are things that have huge benefits with the smallest amount of input. What do you think are the smalls things that make a big difference with blogging?
As always, you make a lot of sense. I started my blog in January. Bought your 31 day ebook. Haven’t started it yet, I am ashamed to say. For a time I got very busy with work, a 2 week visit of my son and my grandchildren( 2 weeks! Twin 4yr olds and a 2 yr old) and training for a 10K race in June ( I just won first in my age div, my goal) So now I am relatively free and my goal will be to work through your ebook- I promise.Plans and goals really do work. They keep us focused on what has to be achieved for the day as well as the long term
You make a good point, i’ve been reading similar posts implying the same work ethic, I have a daily list, a weekly list and monthly list of things to do. It’s just a little plan to motivate myself and to tick jobs off when i’m done. It feels like i’m making progress when i can see a complete list.
Thanks for the psot
I’m starting to believe and inject in my blogging activities Darren.
Thank you for this post because it reminds that what I did this morning is the right thing, where I plan my blogging schedule and topics.
Thank you for including a transcript as well as the video! That is something I can do…videos are just eh. Plan A and Plan B but plan! :)
Couldn’t agree more. Effort almost always ends in results. However sustained effort is what really makes the most difference. For most of us this is where things can go astray. It is easy to stick to something for a few weeks, but ongoing effort is hard work, especially if the results you are getting are limited. it is simply a case of keeping plugging away. (or posting away!)
My posts are usually 1000 words or more (I like a bit of waffle in my day!) so I can only cope with four or five a week. I guess my results might come a little more slowly.
Good stuff! I agree that when you start a blog – you just need to BLOG. You have harnessed so much valuable information in all those years of not blogging that it is time to share it with the world. It doesn’t matter if nobody is reading your posts at first – just keep blogging and you will be sure to gather a following in time.
Like a “plan to eat healthy” or “lose weight” we get so caught up in the following a strict plan to acheive our goals. And once we fall of the wagon, the white flag goes up. If you missed a friday “how-to” post, write it on Saturday.
Yes, using some kind of checklist and a process for executing and ticking off the things that need to be done when posting and building a blog will make a better blog in the end. I have an (anally retentive) checklist of things to do, with crazy little icons for whether it needs to be actioned, edited, still to be written, etc, as well as a calendar and reminder points, for posting to make sure it comes together and it pays off most of the time.
I agreed with your opinion on building a community in the blog. For me this is the best way to sustain a very good traffic and also loyal readers. The pinnacle of this strategy is that when we just throw out a question and get hundreds of ideas and answers from the readers only. Sharing ideas between hundreds of people is rather useful than having to read just only our own opinion.
As simple and short as this video post was, it was very informative and straight to the point. Thank you! I knew I was starting off on a good note when I set-up a blogging schedule when I first started blogging. I am even sticking to that schedule more and more as time passes.
You’re so right when you say that the more you post and use your blog, the more traffic you get. It’s definetly working with my blog.
Just want to say thanks again!
Kendra
Really good point about a blog being like a workout. It certainly does require a constant effort!
Great post with useful take away-tips. I really like the idea of being “strategic” and having an accountability buddy. Thanks for this.
I agree with your points about treating your blog like a muscle and connected with other bloggers.
It’s a really simple concept but so many people overlook it. i for one struggle with posting daily at times but when I do I notice my blog gets a much great response from readers than it does if I miss a few days.
Relationships can prove to be a difference maker for one’s blog. The camaraderie, the sharing of stories and resources, and the cross promotion and endorsements all help to elevate all the blogs and bloggers involved.
Excellent Video Darren!
Ouch! That hurt. Felt like you were talking directing to me because I’ve totally been thrown off of my daily blogging rhythm which was my plan when I started 31 Days to Build a Better Blog w/the SITSGirls. I’m a bit different than most other people, I guess, in that I do better when I blog alone instead of having a blog buddy – or 500 blog buddies like w/31DBBB – because I tend to focus on growing their blogs instead of my own – which of course is lots and lots of fun, but then I end up running out of time (and energy) to grow my own blog. Sucks! So, after 31DBBB, I will be blogging alone, and I daresay I’m looking forward to it. Good point on scheduling ALL blogging activities, too, like analysis and such. For me, I almost have to schedule in time to mentally prepare myself to write a post – to warm up, if you will (stealing your exercise metaphor). I like to find the right angle to take on a post, because I believe angle is everything. The right angle makes it more fun to write the post and more fun to read the post. Why bother blogging if the end result is not satisfying to you or your reader? Oh, and you’re totally playing favorites with those 5 bloggers on Skype….lucky them. ;)
I love writing for my blogs Happy Foods Diary and Sexy Ads Online. I love the challenge of finding topics to write in my niche too. Going to Wikipedia or Dictionary help sum up the purpose of my article I’m going to write about.
I try to write an article every other day to keep it fresh and interesting.
Linda @sexyfoodsonline.com
Some very helpful advice.
I think having a schedule and trying to stick with it(With alterations from time to time) is possibly one of the best ways to achieve positive results with a Blog(Website). The accountability part should really be the individuals onus. Though, I would agree that having someone else to keep you on track, and doing the same for them(A training partner) is a good idea. You both would benefit from the constant motivation and feedback.
You are absolutely right about building blog is similar to muscle building.
I try to follow PDCA cycle by trying the following
PLAN -Schedule on what to do with my blog- even smallest activities. This gives me the consistency and a feeling of certainty
DO – is the most toughest for new blogger like me due to the mind keep changing its own expectation on how to develop blog.
CHECK – I practical don’t check at all, Probloger has covered it in many post about checking with the reader. Nah i hardly do this.
ACTION- There is no way a blogger can just simply take action without Planning, Doing, Checking.
Well, this post has just put things in to perceptive that Blogging is absolutely like muscle building which require constant commitment and actual following the PDCA cycle to achieve sustainable growth in blogging.
Thanks for this meaningful post Darren
Hey Darren–
Love your engaging ways! You make it seem so doable w/out being salesy. I just re-xeroxed my copy of 31 Days…I bought it when I started blogging, and decided to revisit now that I have a better frame of reference.
Love the idea to be strategic. I joined a blogging forum at the beginning of 2011 and noticed that only about 1/2 the members blog on a regular schedule. I too, do better with a strategy. Capriciousness just doesn’t cut it for me.
OK–off to Staples Office Supplies tomorrow to buy a big calendar to map the next 3 months. Of course, I’ll begin with where I left off with “31 Days…”
If anyone would like a Blogging Fitness partner, please hit me up! [email protected].
You sparked some new ideas that I will follow through on. Having a blogging calendar makes sense. I tend to be an emotional blogger. I see the traffic increasing and I am happy and start blogging more, when I don’t see the fruits I slow down… I know its not the way to success but a structured plan is.
Thanks
Patrick
Well if we see that our work is getting results the tendency is that we are motivated and even work harder… but if we fail sometimes we should not stop instead we should learn from it and use it to improve our craft.
Plans are important but the rebellion in me will do anything to sabotage a plan to upset the apple cart. I am seeing how posting more brings more especially as I create more community. They may not all be commenting or interacting on Facebook but they are there. I feel them.
Exercise is something that this computer person needs to schedule to get away from the computer too. Trying to do more posts on four blogs instead of so sporadically is becoming acutely aware to the results I want. Thanks for a great post. I really enjoy when you post versus your guest post.
Eileen
I have been procrastinating it for longer than anticipated. Yesterday I registered the blog and was again wondering how I am going to build the blog and here you have come up with great video.
In addition to your workbook, this video gonna to keep me motivated to build my blog.
Thanks Darren as always.
Great comparison, plus good video. It’s true building a blog is the same as building muscles, it requires time, dedication and really hard work to achieve the desired results. But a blogger should also concentrate on exercise too! The topic is great it provides a lot just by the heading.
“Building blogs is like building muscles—in order for them to grow you need to use them.” – Absolutely right! The more we practice, the more it’ll grow up.
I think my own blog is an honest obesity blog, and features valid information from top scientists.
Take care,
Raz
I have been much more successful building blogs than muscle :(
Great video. Absolutely valuable information. Blogging for me is an undiscovered land. I came across this blog not long ago and reading it for some time now. This blog made me think about starting my own blogging and inspired to start building blog in my native language.
Hello Darren,
You are excellent! I am new to blogging and have lots to learn. I will more than likely learn a great deal of it from a seasoned person such as yourself. This post and video were excellent and much appreciated!
Thanks,
Arnold
Hi Darren,
I always enjoy your materials: thank you!
One request: would you consider making the videos you share through your blog mobile-friendly? I can’t view this view on either my iPhone or my iPad, and yet there are some great WordPress plugins out there that make this so easy to achieve. I use them on my own sites, so I know they work for most devices.
Sure would appreciate it! (I do so much of my online reading away from my desk, now, that mobile-friendly-access really come to matter to me a lot.)
Thanks!
:-)
ea/
Thanks for
Great video and words of wisdom. Love the exercise metaphor – consistency is key and so is nutrition (the content you feed your blog). Reminds me I need to hit the gym right now and write a post!
Wow! I love this post. It inspired me to sit down and write three posts. I also went ahead and installed the editorial calendar plugin for WP. I think seeing a snapshot of my blog will motivate me to write more and get more items done.
Great analogy about writing’s similarity to muscle building. Use it or lose it, right?
Interesting. I’ve got specific days I do specific things and days that I post, but I never considered having specific kinds of posts on specific days. Great advice that could probably be a great full on post. What are the different kinds of posts that you’ve found to be most effective Darren? Can you break them down for us?
Thanks for that Darren. It’s given me something to think about. You know I exercised on my own for years because I don’t like having to rely on anyone else and I used to think I could figure things out on my own, but I’m realising as I get older that sometimes I certainly need some instruction, coaching and help. Especially in this field – blogging and internet marketing. Your book is on my list of IM stuff to buy and learn from.
Cheers!
Terrific advice. I especially liked “Don’t leave things to chance. If you want to take your blog to the next level, follow a system, routine, or plan.” Will apply this to my own blog. Thanks for the inspiration.
Darren,
Thanks for the advice. It’s just what my gym instructor said to me and I’ve been pretty fit and healthy for the last 15+ years as a result. This was the post that made it “click” for me now with blogging.
Matt
Really great video Darren. I must admit, one thing I still struggle with is setting up a regular positing schedule. Although after checking out your video – I’m going to start locking stuff down.
One of the problems I find is that there’s so many online distractions. Everything from building more traffic using social media to wasting time checking out my analytics. As much as this stuff is all good what’s going to achieve the same end result is just putting more content out there more regularly.
So now a question –
If you are blogging more regularly, do you think it’s ok to vary the length of your posts or should you shoot for a similar length for each post?
Thanks a heap,
Dan
Great advice, Darren.
When I started my blog about a year ago, I wrote every day. Then I lost steam.
I did get into the habit recently of posting each Sunday. Now I just need to expand that and get back to the daily posts.
Thanks for the help, the inspiration and the encouragement!
Jason
I agree it is totally like a workout. You have to study, research, spend the time, care for what you are doing, have a good reason for wanting to build the muscle or wanting to build a successful site. Great simile, you must also be a poet lol.
I’m kinda lazy to go to gym to buff up my muscle :D but I guess I can’t use that same excuse for not nourishing my blog. I do post daily but never have any plans like your examples (such as emaling some of my commentators or anything). Hm might be a good idea to have some solid plans from now on, though
I totally agree with everything that was said, I have to build my own muscles.
Great article! Because of this, I know post new material on my blog every second Monday. I even posted a schedule of my next two blog entries.
I am not blogger myself but I have noticed that lot of blogers have went down that route where they have someone doing exercise for them. As it can not really benefit you as we would talk about real ‘working out’, then with blogging I suppose it can be really good if you can get lot of quest posts in. I just like the business model when users generate most of the contend. If I was go to the gym I would probably take steroids as well. :)
Darren:
Really enjoy your blog. I like the idea of working through your 31 days with a small group. How can I identify others who might be interested in creating such a group?
Darren, I like the insight. Sometimes I look at things like this and am glad that everyone doesn’t have what it takes to be successful or else the competition would be crazy.
Darren
I totally agree with darren words ” building blog is like building muscle”. Muscle need to be developed with constant and rigorous exercises with regularity and blog needs regularity…………
I like the 31 day concept…………………….