Why is Writing Blogs Consistently So Difficult? Part 2: The Top 3 Blogging Roadblocks — and some Solutions

Hello blogging my old friend / I have forgotten you again — Understanding what your writing blocks are—and coming up with solutions—is the first step to getting back into a consistent, business-boosting blogging practice.

Welcome to PART TWO of why blogging consistently matters for your business — check out Part One here.

Part 1 TLDR: Publishing a blog is a core pillar of inbound marketing, and one of the best things you can do for your business. 

But blogging consistently is hard.

We examined why maintaining your business blog and posting consistently matters. In Part Two, let’s examine some of the main reasons why people struggle to blog, and some simple solutions to stay on track with your blogging goals.

3 reasons people don’t blog (even when it would be good for their business)

Reason #1: We don’t know what to write about

We all know the feeling of staring at a blank word document, waiting for inspiration to strike….

Depending on what industry you’re in, coming up with interesting ideas for your blog is easier said than done. And if your niche doesn’t lend itself easily to how-to posts or listicles, coming up with topics might feel impossible.

Inspiration may be a fickle mistress, but there are easy ways to get around the pressures of topic-choosing so that blog writing can be, dare I say it, fun?!

Here are some tips to break through this blogging roadblock:

1. “Idea Farm” — check out Part One

2. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel

This is a big one: your blog post idea does NOT have to be original or cutting-edge. Keep it relevant, keep it fresh if you can, but don’t fret about blowing the collective mind of the internet. 

Are there other articles discussing why it’s hard to consistently blog? Absolutely. If I needed a unique blog topic, I would always struggle with choosing a topic. 

Just because others have written about it, doesn’t mean you don’t have something to add to the conversation. 

Blogs are a chance to authentically communicate what you know, and to give your audience access to your knowledge in one place. It’s more about connection and conversation than novel ideas or industry one-upmanship.

Remember: you will always bring your unique perspective into your writing. So in that sense, it will be original no matter what you do (as long as it’s not plagiarized. That’s a big no-no, not to mention a sure-fire way to destroy trust).

Reason #2: We don’t have TIME

My blogging downfall: making time for my own business. 

To be completely honest, blogging is time-consuming. Researching, writing, proofreading, crafting a headline, finding an image, publishing, promoting… We’re easily looking at 5+ hours of invested time. 

And when push comes to shove, I prioritize the commitments I’ve made to my clients over my marketing schedule. It’s incredibly easy to move blogging to the back burner, just as many of our own needs (self-care, rest, etc.) become adjustable or dispensible when we are stressed or busy.

But letting ourselves (and our businesses) slide has consequences. 

Here are some suggestions to help with blog procrastination:

1. Schedule it in

Waiting for “spare time” to write a blog post is an adorable lie we tell ourselves. 

Not many entrepreneurs have large chunks of extra time floating in their week (do you know of any? Send them my way so I can pick their brain). The best solution for time-crunched business owners is always to schedule blogging time into your calendar. 

Be strategic and mindful about the timeslot you choose. Personally, I have difficulty writing for my own business if I have other deadlines looming. So I schedule blogging after I offload a few deliverables and my schedule feels more spacious. 

And as we know, we can’t wait until inspiration strikes. Open your idea farm, put your cute little butt in a chair, and start writing. Show up and honour the commitment you made to yourself – it feels great to follow through!

2. “Write, or nothing”

Minimizing distractions is crucial to writing blogs in a reasonable timeframe.

Writing a blog post takes long enough as it is, but context switching (jumping back and forth between tasks) is a total productivity killer and could double the length of time to write a blog post. 

Nothing breaks writing momentum quicker than seeing a new email notification or text message. Unchecked, I will click it within seconds, no matter what I am working on. Try minimizing external distractions during your blogging sessions — you’ll be surprised at how much time it can free up.

Another tip to help maintain focus: tell yourself, I can write, or I can sit here and do nothing. You’ll quickly find that you’d much rather write than just sit and stare at the wall (no thumb-twiddling allowed either!)

Reason #3: We, quite simply, don’t want to.

Ahh, the crux of the problem for many people. We know we should blog, but we just don’t want to do it.

For some, it can be an issue with motivation, with blogging being at the whim of mood, energy levels, or inspiration on any given day.

For many others, writing is not your thing. And that’s ok! Your time is valuable, and investing energy into something outside your wheelhouse can feel draining and counterproductive. 

No matter which camp you fall into, there’s a solution (or two) for your blogging woes:

1. Keep in mind the benefits of blogging

For my motivation strugglers, what can I say? I see you. I hear you. 

Rewind to Part 1 of this blog post to remind yourself why it pays off to blog consistently, or check out the empowering benefits of blogging here. Maybe even grab a sticky note and jot down what parts of blogging most motivate you — sharing your knowledge, marketing, conversation, etc. — to reference when writing juice is low.

If writing feels like you are sending your thoughts into the void of the internet, keeping the bigger picture in mind will help keep you centred and focused. There is a “point” to blogging!

2. Hire a copywriter

If, after trying some tips and tricks, you still have to force yourself to write every month, consider outsourcing your content creation.

There is zero shame in recognizing your strengths or weaknesses (and playing to them)! It takes business savvy to understand where your time and energy is best spent, and where it would make more sense to bring in assistance. 

As in any profession, there are plenty of copywriters out there, but the good ones can be a little trickier to find. Be prepared to pay decent rates for good posts, and don’t cut corners and hire poor writers or someone who doesn’t understand your industry. You typically get what you pay for.

It’s better to publish good-quality posts less often, rather than publishing badly-written articles that are too short or don’t contribute anything to your industry’s online conversation. A good copywriter will make sure that each post is impactful, informative, and inspires action.

My tip: Find someone who understands your business mission and priorities, can reflect your voice, and who you enjoy interacting with. Fit is everything!

Remember…

If you want to increase your online exposure, establish yourself as an expert in your industry, and connect to your ideal clients, be sure to take advantage of consistent blogging as a marketing strategy for your conscious business. 

And if you don't have the time or resources to write blog content (or hey, maybe you just hate writing!), I offer unique, relevant, and engaging blog writing services — let’s chat about how I can focus on your writing, so you can focus on your work.