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June 19, 2005
Blogging 101 - Develop Regular Features
By QBlog in Blogging 101
The question I'm most frequently asked by new bloggers (and some veterans) is, "how do you keep blogging for so long? Don't you run out of material?"
My answer is that yes, I run out of material all the time but with practice and a few "tricks" I'm able to overcome some of those "content droughts" and stick to a regular publishing schedule. I've outlined some of those "tricks" in previous installments of Blogging 101 such as The List, Consistency and The Interview. Today I'll outline my "ace in the hole" which is either a bit of blogging brilliance or blogging stupidity, depending on your perspective.
The Content Schedule
Traditional media (newspapers, radio, television, magazines, etc.) has had regular programming/publishing since the very beginning. A content schedule gives the audience something to look forward to, gives advertisers something to spend money on, gives content producers something too plan for and generally creates a structure that everyone enjoys. Blogs can benefit from similar structure and a schedule can make developing blog content a simpler process and less demanding of your "creative juices." It also gives your blog readers another reason to regularly check in.
I know, it sounds a little crazy. You're wondering how creating specific publishing expectations makes blogging easier. Well, allow me to explain with some personal examples.
I run a weekly feature on the Quixtar BLOG called Monday Reader Mail. Each Monday I select an actual email sent in by an actual reader and post it on the blog, usually with a few of my own comments. It's something that blog readers seem to enjoy and it doesn't take much time for me to produce. And after publishing the feature for a while, I've learned how to produce it more quickly and with less effort.
Think of any repetitive task. At first it's difficult but after a while it becomes almost second nature. A little like riding a bicycle though that's oversimplifying.
Developing Content
The real devil is in the details. A wise blogger will carefully choose the type of content to shift to a regular publication schedule. Don't create a weekly series critiquing European socialism unless you know you can pull it off. I suggest beginning with something simple, something like Monday Reader Mail or David Robison's Sunday Thoughts. Once you're comfortable with a simple feature, consider expanding to something more complex. The key is in finding your groove.
But be warned, don't bite off more than you can chew. If you start a regular feature you should plan to stick with it or else set an end date. There's nothing wrong with creating a seasonal feature, like "Summer Memories" or "Winter Travel Log." And if you run a feature for a limited time and find that you can extend it, then you've just developed a permanent fixture for your blog. Cool huh?
The Trap
There's a definite downside to developing regular blog features. I've bumped up against that with my own regular features, including this one. While I firmly believe that having specific expectations makes me a better blogger, there are just some times when the well is dry. On occasion I'd rather not expend creative energy posting a Blogging 101 entry or drawing a goofy cartoon and simply blog about whatever is on my mind instead.
When you develop a regular feature you give up some of the flexibility that has helped define blogging. That can trap even the best bloggers. Is there a way to avoid such content traps? I think so, by making it clear that every feature can be replaced by something more interesting and more spontaneous at any given time. Don't give up your flexibility and allow the quality of your blog to suffer. If you ever notice that your blog is harmed more than helped by regular features then end them immediately, or at least shelve them for a while.
Think of a regular schedule as a little like fire. When used correctly it can improve the quality of life but when neglected or misused, it can cause devastating destruction.
Blogging 101 publishes every Sunday and provides blogging tips, advice and tutorials for blog newbies and veterans alike.