36 Quick Fixes to Jumpstart Lifeless Business Blogs

You’re blogging, and blogging, and blogging.

But sometimes you wonder… is it working? Or are you wasting your time?

Do you feel blogging is becoming a dull grind?

Do you sometimes think about quitting?

Don’t give up! Let’s renew your blogging enthusiasm:

• Review your business blog strategy;
• Find inspiration for blog posts;
• Reinvigorate your writing and have fun.

Let’s start with twelve ideas to refresh your strategy.

How to rejuvenate your business blog strategy

1. Reduce your blogging frequency. You don’t have to blog daily or weekly. Find the frequency that suits you.
2. Write when you feel enthusiastic. If you make blogging a painful chore, then you’ll surely bore your readers to death. Try writing at another time of the day; or another day of the week. Write when you feel fresh.
3. Connect with your readers. Reach out to your readers with an email or via social media. Ask how you can help. You’ll be amazed how many good post ideas your readers have for you.
4. Experiment. Try shorter posts, a podcast, video, or turn your text into visual content.
5. Take a break. If you have regular readers, just explain you’re taking a break and tell them when you will be back. Why not?
6. Stop worrying so much about SEO. You sound robotic if you write for robots. Instead, imagine writing to your favorite reader. Your blog will become more fascinating and more engaging.
7. Quit acting like a company. Companies don’t write blogs, people do. Companies don’t connect, people do. To engage your readers, be human. Be yourself.
8. Redesign your blog.The most entertaining text looks boring if it’s badly presented. Cosmetic surgery for blogs can help: Increase your font size, add white space, and find high quality illustrations.
9. Revisit your objectives. Why did you start your blog? What is working? What isn’t working?
10. Celebrate your success. Stop comparing yourself to the most popular blogger in your niche. Focus on your own progress. If you can get 10 subscribers, you can get 20. If you can get 50, then you can get 100.
11. Talk to other bloggers. Ask a fellow blogger to review your blog and give you some new ideas. Or maybe swap a few guest posts?
12. Spend more time promoting your blog. Readers won’t magically appear. You need to work hard to gain more readers. Spend less time writing, and more time promoting your blog.

How to reignite your inspiration

Do you sometimes stare at a blank screen wondering what to write about next?

Does it feel like you’ve written everything already?

Below follow thirteen sources to renew your inspiration.

13. Read headlines. Find ideas for posts by reading completely unrelated headlines and substituting words.

    For instance: I turned Food Fixes for Insomnia into Quick Fixes for Lifeless Business Blogs; and then decided to add the word jumpstart plus a number:
    36 Quick Fixes to Jumpstart Lifeless Business Blogs.

    Get your inspiration from a variety of sources:

    • Covers of popular magazines;
    • Book titles on Amazon;
    • Popular blogs like Copyblogger, Social Triggers, or Psychotactics.
    • Jon Morrow’s headline hacks.
14. Be inspired by your readers. Read comments on your own blog or elsewhere. Ask a question in your e-newsletter. Check out industry forums or groups on LinkedIn or Google Plus.
15. Interview experts. It’s the quickest way to create new content.
16. Develop case studies. Don’t write sugary case studies. Describe the challenges you overcame in your project; or the hesitation your customer had before hiring you or buying from you. Create a story of setbacks and success.
17. Become opinionated. Don’t play it safe all the time. Middle-of-the-road views don’t stand out. Share strong views and you become more authoritative, more persuasive, and more influential.
18. Answer customer questions. What questions have you been asked recently? Answer each question in a blog post.
19. Write an ultimate guide. Focus on writing something truly comprehensive and incredibly useful for your readers.
20. Check out a For Dummies book. Are there any For Dummies books in your industry? Check out the table-of-contents for blog posts ideas. Of course, you shouldn’t copy the chapters, but you can use the headings for topic inspiration. Alternatively, imagine appointing a new assistant who knows nothing about your industry. What topics would you cover in his or her induction program?
21. Do some blog maintenance. Update old articles with the latest developments.
22. Invite guest bloggers. Draw up clear guidelines and invite others to blog for you.
23. Create an editorial calendar. Or just keep a list of blog post ideas.
24. Spend less time planning. Don’t waste too much time thinking about what to do. Sometimes you just have to get going. Find out what works; and change direction as you go.
25. Get out. Go for a walk. Listen to music. Watch a movie. Read a novel. Browse through photo albums. Read a completely unrelated blog. Talk with your neighbors. Meet new people.

How to re-energize your writing

How can you make your blog posts more interesting?

How can you keep your readers hanging onto each word you write?

Let’s add some sparkle to your writing.

26. Update your writing voice. Read a blog post aloud or ask someone to read it to you. Does it sound like you? Your voice evolves over time, and reviewing it can reinvigorate your writing.
27. Give yourself a time limit. Legendary copywriter Eugene Schwartz used to set a timer at 33 minutes and 33 seconds. To boost his productivity he would take a break after 33 minutes and 33 seconds of writing. Use a kitchen timer or try the Focus Booster app.
28. Create a swipe file. Collect attention-grabbing headlines, delightful opening paragraphs, and inspirational conclusions. Don’t copy outright. But study the techniques of other bloggers.
29. Write to one reader. Imagine your favorite reader and write to him or her. It’s the quickest way to turbocharge your writing.
30. Scrap vapid clichés. Because they make you sound boring.
31. Use power words. Tickle the right brain with emotional and sensory words like lifeless, drab, ignite, and jumpstart.
32. Create stories. They bring your blog alive.
33. Cut verbosity. Because wordiness is a sure-fire way to kill your reader’s interest. Edit rigorously. Tighten your text.
34. Use metaphors. Unique metaphors add personality to your posts; and they help readers understand complex concepts.
35. Add concrete details. Use specifics to beat fluffiness. Make your content more fascinating and more credible.
36. Stop selling. Business blogs aren’t a direct sales tool. Blogs help build your authority. Share your expertise, show personality, and your readers will start to know, like, and trust you.

How to write a sparkling business blog

When you next sit down to write, don’t write just another blog post.

Don’t just write because it’s time to publish another post. Don’t just write to share some information.

When you next sit down to write, share your passion. Inspire your readers. Write your best post EVER.

Be more helpful. Be more comprehensive. And spend time editing until you’re perfectly happy with your post.

Imagine your favorite reader, and write something that truly inspires her.