Over the previous 7 months, I’ve been doing a weekly problem on a new blog called ‘Find Your Spark’.
My objective with it’s to write down a brand new ‘immediate’ weblog submit each week for 52 weeks on the subject of serving to folks ‘discover their spark’ (and to assist me discover mine too).
On this submit, I assumed I’d share a few of what I’ve realized (and relearned) via doing this problem.
1. I’ve cherished beginning one thing new
Whereas I really like ProBlogger and Digital Images Faculty (my predominant blogs), it’s been refreshing to get again to writing one thing I’m obsessed with.
2. Having a ‘problem’
Committing publicly to write down a weekly submit for a 12 months) has been very motivating for me and has helped me keep on process.
3. I’ve actually loved utilizing the Ghost running a blog platform
Whereas I often encourage new bloggers to begin their weblog on a platform that they management and Ghost is a hosted service – there’s additionally one thing fairly liberating about not having to work out the tech challenges when beginning one thing new. I don’t suppose I’d have began this undertaking if I needed to do it by myself server, with my very own design, and many others. I made a decision after I began that I might not spend a lot time ‘tweaking’ design or options and make investments 99% of my time into creating content material. I feel this has paid off massive time.
- Ghost not solely offers you with a running a blog platform however a publication. Being able to hit publish and know that the brand new submit routinely additionally goes out through e mail in a publication is fairly cool.
- Whereas I’m not monetising what I do, it’s also possible to have paid membership tiers to supply premium content material to paid subscribers, which is fairly cool.
- Whereas Ghost is new(ish), it’s nice to see that they’re persevering with to develop the platform. In the previous couple of months, they’ve added new options, together with feedback, new stats/insights, viewers suggestions and many others.
Click through here to check out more about Ghost (affiliate link).
4. I’ve cherished the method of researching, gathering concepts and creating content material once more
I’ve tried quite a lot of forms of kinds of content material during the last 29 weeks (totally different lengths, curating some content material, utilizing quotes and many others) and have cherished the tempo of 1 considerate submit every week. I’ve in all probability gone longer/deeper into the content material than I had anticipated after I began the problem, however I’ve actually loved the long-form strategy
I’ve taken the strategy with this weblog of reporting what I’m studying fairly than making an attempt to come back throughout as an skilled. This voice has served me properly up to now, however significantly with the subjects I’m protecting (which I assume border on private growth), I feel it’s been essential.
5. Ranging from scratch is difficult!
I had forgotten how onerous it’s to take a position a lot time and power into creating content material solely to listen to a convincing silence after you hit publish. Ranging from scratch with constructing an viewers after which getting engagement from that viewers is difficult!
Whereas I’m writing primarily for my very own growth, I feel I’d maybe taken without any consideration the fantastic neighborhood I’ve grown through the years on my different blogs.
I believe that with my strategy of investing all of my efforts into writing, I’ve fallen quick in selling the content material as a lot as I’ve with earlier blogs within the early years. I feel I have to tweak this strategy.
6. I’m glad I brainstormed subjects earlier than I began the problem
Earlier than I began, I used thoughts map software program to create 52 subjects that I might write on over the 12 months. I’ve since provide you with different concepts and discarded among the authentic ones, nevertheless it has been very helpful to have that financial institution of concepts to attract on when I’ve had weeks the place I’ve not felt as impressed to write down, or just lately after I travelled with the household for just a few weeks. Right here’s a podcast episode I recorded about using mind maps in your blogging.
All in all, the problem has been a really rewarding course of for me to this point. I’m studying tons about running a blog and the subjects I’ve written about.
For these eager to observe alongside – the brand new weblog is at https://find-your-spark.ghost.io/
For those who do wish to begin a weblog, I might advocate signing up for my FREE Ultimate Guide to Starting a Blog Course.
