The word ‘burnout’ gets banded around a lot and for good reason it’s a real problem if you don’t handle your work rate properly. Over producing value and quality content is vital in my opinion, some have said I could reduce this sites output to 20 or so posts a month. I considered it, but rejected the idea very quickly purely because I see this site as motivating and a way of actually showing it can be done, after all if I can do it anyone can.
Firstly back to the title, there is no ‘secret’ I’m trying to be clever and use a title hook, but without doubt I do use things that help me and this site continue at the rate it has been going at for nearly 6 months now.
- Focus
You need to decide exactly what you what your site to give to it’s readers, we’re not talking about the business aspect of things here, I’m talking about getting you 100% focused on what you’re site is all about and how it’s going to achieve it’s aims. Think about celebrity gossip magazines, they produce so much content and people gobble it up, they don’t produce a magazine every week for a month then reduce it right down to one a month for 6 months then back up again, you need to give your readers consistency.
Being consistent is sometimes a difficult task though, you could set out with the intention of producing around 20 articles a month but only actually end up publishing 15 one month and ten the next, that’s why it’s good to have a base level. For example this site’s base level is every day there is fresh content, on the majority of days there is more than one post, usually it’s two and on rare occassions it’s three but as an absolutely minimum, this site puts out at least 7 brand new posts a week.
Think about your base level and your work/life balance and decide what base level would suit you, your site and it’s readers.
- Delivery
I talked about making sure you hit your base line rate of content, but what about the delivery of that content? Well for me the majority of posts are published in the morning around 0900hrs GMT London, that’s every morning. Personally I like it when I get to know a site, if I know when roughly when any new posts are going to be published. One instance of this would be Problogger.net I know in most cases publishes the new post daily at around midnight London time.
Delivering on time is good, but you absolutely have to hit the mark with delivering every time, I used the celebrity gossip magazine analogy earlier, but it’s a good comparison, if your site produces sporadic content then stay sporadic, I follow a couple of sites like this, BloggerIllustrated.net being one and I’m completely cool with it, because I know not to keep checking it because I know Allyn updates it as and when. The point I’m making here is if you make a habit you have to expect your readers to get used to that habit. If you start off publishing fresh content every day 5 times a week, then stick to it because if you then start on the slippery road of disappearing for a week then posting a quick ”Hey Sorry” post, publish another 3 articles then nothing for a month readers will lose the want to actually come and see you.
- Ask
OK we have talked about focus and the fact you need to set a base line production rate if you are planning on regular consistent publishing, but what happens if you get swamped? Well, simple you ask for help! Bring is guest posts, no matter what your market place you can always have other people come and talk on your site and it will help you out in two ways.
Firstly guest posts allow you to get more work done while actually having more fresh content on your site and secondly it will bring in new readers. It’s easy to ask for guest posts and actually getting people to want to guest post for you, believe me if you want to take your site forward and allow you to work on other things at the same rate you want to, guest posts are where it’s at.
What does everyone think?
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James, yet again…..great advice. Time/Task/outcome..no method no progress.
.-= Mick Morris´s last blog ..How to be right – maybe =-.
There’s really no secret to any of this stuff. These are all great methods for over delivering on your site and ways to get ahead so you can make the most difference with your effort and time.
Guest posting is probably the strongest besides actually have fresh quality content to come back to your site to. On top of that, it’s good to know what you’re site is going to do and be about and always keeping focus on that with every post you write.
Great stuff here brother, as always!
.-= Eric´s last blog ..Five Reasons Why I Don’t JUST Tweet Newer Blog Articles =-.
Thanks man, sent you an email dude!
I’m pretty consistent with my posting. I’ve posted an article at least every other day for over 2 1/2 years. I can’t believe you have that many drafts. That’s funny. At the most I only have about 10 drafts, and those are hand written.
Yeah there not all complete with content, some are just titles, some just have titles and bullett points, some have a few hundred words of content, daft really but I do have a use for them!
I really agree with you on all that you’ve said, James. I didn’t really give allowing guest posts on a blog all that much value but now you’ve talked about it I think I’d be considering it on my blog
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Thanks
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.-= Shirley´s last blog ..27 Young Internet Entrepreneurs Who Inspire =-.
Hey Shirley, it does allow you to focus your energy on other things, it’s a great idea
Asking people to guest post is something we really haven’t tried. I think we’ll try to consider it seriously.
.-= Julius´s last blog ..How to Caption Videos in YouTube =-.
Thanks for the production tips James. I certainly need them. I definitely get a lot less done every day than I could. It’s great that you are able to consistently publish at least one new post on this blog every day.
.-= Trent´s last blog ..Cash Crate Review – Can You Make Easy Money Online? =-.
Hey Trent, yeah man you have to go for it, so many people online really pushing forward so you have to stay in front really
Production yes, posting just for the sake of posting, no. I think it is better to put out quality rather than just following a posting schedule. Building a reserve of posts like James seems to be doing is a heck of a good idea (although you did not mention it James).
.-= JadeDragon@innovativepassiveincome´s last blog ..Should You Work 9 to 5 For Someone Else or For Yourself Online? =-.
Hey Jade, no didn’t mention it because some of those drafts are just titles, some are just titles and bullett points and some are just half written posts that I can come back to three, four or 10 months down the line lol
I think it’s a good idea about setting a base level. In my about page I talk about posting as often as possible but at least 3 times a week. Just recently I’ve been stepping that up a gear, but with a new baby on the way, I don’t know if I can guarantee to maintain 5 times a week. So for now I’m sticking at minimum comitment of 3 times.
Anything else is pure added value!!!
.-= Matthew Needham´s last blog ..So, whats your problem? (part 2) =-.
Yeah good plan man and you’re right anything else is a bonus
I don’t draft anything, I do keep a running list of topics to write about on paper, but I sit down to write, I just do it and hit publish.
Of course I am not normal….
.-= Keith´s last blog ..Blog Tip | Work Environment =-.
You’re not normal dude lol You’re a pro
I pull the trigger on mine around Midnight local, and we’re GMT – 8, so you have your daily Website In A Weekend every morning for coffee.
.-= Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Warping WordPress into a “pretty website” =-.
Awesome man !
Oh man, scheduling and focus are the really pushers here – once you get accustomed to deliver a certain flate rate – you have to keep crushing it – gaining and keeping your momentum.
And I seriously respect yours – you’re creating with so much valuable stuff every single day, it’s almost a miracle !
.-= Mars Dorian´s last blog ..How to really connect with Your Community ! =-.
ha ha a miracle of the internet!