Lots of people cringe at the thought of having to blog. “I am not a writer,” they say. Does this sound like you? You’re not alone. I used to feel this way too. I used to have trouble getting started writing, but once I started everything would flow. As a matter of fact, if you ask most any online business owner what their most dreaded task is, blogging will likely rank right up there with bookkeeping and cold calling. Most people simply do not like to write and will find any excuse not to do it.
I hear from coaches online that they choose not to prioritize blogging and do not feel that blogging can lead to sales. #WRONG
As you can imagine, their website traffic suffers and so does their bank account. #SADTRUTH
The good news is, if you hate to write or feel you’re just not good at it, there are plenty of other ways to create shareable content on a regular basis while hardly ever putting your fingers to a keyboard.
Crowdsource
Guest blogging is a fantastic way to both generate content and get in front of a whole new audience. Bloggers, marketers, coaches, and service providers are looking for ways to grow their audiences, and many of them would jump at the chance to appear as a guest on your blog. It’s a win/win for both of you.
Not into guest blogging? What about a text interview or cross-blog conversation? Simply supply a list of questions to your interviewee and post her responses. The interview format is perfect for introducing your audience to someone they might want to get to know better.
A cross-blog conversation requires a little more work on your part, but it can be a fun way for your readers to get to know you a bit better. A cross-blog conversation is exactly what it sounds like: a discussion that takes place on two different blogs, with you and your blogging partner both offering opinions about a topic, just as if you were having a chat over coffee.
Audio and Video
Podcasting, video blogs, and Facebook lives are more popular than ever and they’re perfect for those who don’t care for writing. I have clients who absolutely love video and prefer not to write a single word. With either type of content, all that’s required is you sharing your thoughts. You don’t have to do anything as involved or complex as interviews, and you certainly don’t have to hire a studio for a day to record a series of “professional” videos.
You can create podcasts and video blogs with nothing more than your laptop with its built-in camera or a headset and an audio recorder. Just grab your computer, tablet or phone and press record. Don’t worry about perfection; your visitors will love a chance to see the real you!
In case you have followers who prefer to read, you can have your podcasts/audios and videos transcribed and written blog posts can come of that. #WINNING
Curate Content
If you’re like most people, you very likely share a variety of content on your social media accounts. It is so easy to click on the share button on social media posts. You point out articles you’ve read, videos you’ve enjoyed, infographics that explain a complex idea in a simple way or something hilarious. It’s part of what makes social media fun and informational.
But what if you took your sharing one step further, and posted your thoughts on your blog first, before linking on social media?
The result of this curation technique, where you add your opinion with a link to the original article or video, is that you drive traffic to your site rather than someone else’s. #PROMOTEYOURSELF Not only that, but it gives you more opportunity to start a conversation with your readers about the content you’re sharing.
Relying on Google or the other search engines to send you traffic can be very frustrating if you know nothing about SEO (Search Engine Optimization). A better method is to encourage sharing on social media. But if you’re not a wordsmith, creating content can seem an overwhelming task. Rather than giving up and letting your blog languish, explore some other ways to create content your readers will enjoy and share.
