Legal Internet Marketing Blog
Whether you’re a lawyer, mom, or SEO, or all of the above!, we all face the same problem – we have no time. Or at least, this is how most of us see it.
If you love doing something, shouldn’t you make the time for it? I know, easier said than done.
What about blogging? If you love to write, writer’s block still happens, and you may not have the time to sit at your computer for hours on end waiting for the words to come. If you hate to write, blogging can be that much harder. However, not being a writer or hating to write are not excuses for neglecting to blog if you run a business. If you’re not a writer and don’t want to blog, you may want to find someone who can write for you. Just be sure that they capture your message clearly.
So, whether you’re mostly lacking minutes or motivation, here are some tips on how to blog when there’s “no time.”
1. Don’t Make it a Chore – It’s important to write about a topic that interests you and it’s even better if it’s something you’re passionate about. Don’t think of blogging as “work” otherwise it may seem like a chore and you might be less motivated or excited to do it. If you blog with your message and target audience in mind, the topics will seem endless.
2. Don’t Always Wait for the Right Time – Write down ideas as soon as you have them. It doesn’t matter if you’re cooking or in the shower – waterproof notepads, anyone? Even if you don’t think you’ll have time to actually write about the topic, you can always come back to your notes later. Jotting down some ideas or having someone else do it for you the moment that they arise will help you remember them and can open up even more ideas.
3. Work it Into Your Routine – If the “I don’t have time” mentality has taken over any blogging desires, try working it into your daily routine and see what happens. You make time to do a number of other things, so why should blogging be any different, especially if it will help your business establish authority and build an online community?
4. Use a Calendar! – Most people fight this one but just about every electronic device has one and it makes a world of difference to use one. A giant desk calendar that you can write on might work better for you – just try out a few methods and see what you prefer. Write down or enter the times that you will write. It might also be helpful to use a timer. Start writing for 10 minutes a day and slowly work your way up to 1 hour. Everyone can write for at least 10 minutes a day. Once you start, you might not want to stop.
5. Outsmart Your Distractions – We are all aware of the social activities or forms of entertainment that can take us away from blogging or any other task that needs to be done. Try a few different environments and approaches to help you spend less time browsing your Facebook news feed or messaging friends on Gmail. Whether you have to turn off your wireless AirPort while you write or go to the library, you almost have to train yourself to be immune to distractions.
6. Just Write! – Some bloggers prefer to have an outline and this can be very helpful, but sometimes, you just have to get down to it. Begin with one detail and let it expand. Don’t worry about spelling, grammar, syntax, or organization. Get your ideas down and if you get caught on one specific area, it’s okay to skip it and come back. Once you have something down, then you can go back and review to make any edits or add in new information if different material pops into your head.
Take Control of Your Blog & Online Success
If there’s one thing to take away from this post, it’s that you control whether or not you have time to blog. If it’s not important to you, then you won’t do it. If it’s important to you and you’re struggling, there is a solution – there are many, in fact; you just have to find the right one for you.
At SLS Consulting, our legal marketing specialists have been assisting law firms throughout the country with content management ranging from blogs to press releases. We’ve learned the importance of prioritizing our time so that our clients get the most out of our work for them. If you have any questions about blogging for attorneys, please call us at (323) 254-1510.