Blogger's Block
how to overcome writer's block on a blog
How hilarious is this stock photo? What are you DOING with that pineapple? And the giant graph paper? And the scissors? WHYYYYYYYYY?????
You've probably noticed, but I don't update this blog regularly. That's a big no-no for SEO and marketing. The whole idea behind a blog, from the SEO/marketing perspective, is to bring in prospects by waxing poetic on specific keywords for your chosen niche - like "copywriter for coaches" (see what I did there? In the first paragraph too - that's important).
Why blog? To let Google know your website has a pulse.
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And to let prospects know you're knowledgeable about the problem they have or the solution they need.
Most businesses don't think past getting prospects into the top of their sales funnel with gobs and gobs of content. But here's the thing content marketing strategists don't tell you, probably because they don't know:
Your blog needs a better Why.
To sit down and blog every day, or three times a week, or once a week (let's be real here, we all have lives), you have to have a bigger, better WHY than writing for Google's webcrawler. A better WHY, even, than attracting, convincing and converting prospective clients.
Blogging has to be more than just another item to check off on your marketing to-do list.
Or it will be boring AF. You won't be inspired. You won't want to do it. And...
You won't do it.
See, that's the trap I fell into. I don't have a good WHY for this blog. Here was my thought process: Why have this blog? Because I should have one. Because I advise people on copy and content marketing. Because I'm a goddamn professional!
Not good enough.
Blogs require passion - and that, my friends, is where you're going to do great.
Every single one of my clients is passionate about the way in which they help people. They're excited and motivated and see the results, and know how good it feels to help people live their best lives.
That's your WHY.
So if you're experiencing Blogger's Block, go back to your WHY. Why are you doing any of this?
Okay, so, what if your answer isn't ultra heroic. What if the real answer is: "I want to work for myself, so I can have flexibility and so I don't have to suffer working under the whims of others."
That is totally valid. In fact, that's one of my big WHYs for copywriting for the past 10 years. I tried regular 9-to-5 employment, had two bosses in a row who were very abusive, and I committed to being my own boss forever.
But that's not going to write a blog.
No, your Blog WHY can't be about yourself. It has to be about service to other people, in some way, even if it's about you and your life and your struggles - it's still really about sharing stories that are helpful to others. So refocus.
What do you know that - if only they knew - could make their days a bit brighter, work a bit easier, relationships kinder?
Marie Kondo wrote a whole book this way, I promise you. She had a few things figured out that would help everyone improve their lives just a little bit (like that weird folding technique? Mindblowing), and BOOM! Book! And check out her WHY!
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So what is your mission? Not your motivation to do the work that you do, necessarily, but your larger mission on this planet?
Seems to me, that would make for very interesting blog material.
Now, I just need to figure that out for myself, because this blog isn't what I'd like it to be.