Publishing content online is the best way to become visible and to bring opportunities (clients, partnerships, collaborations.
But when you're neither a full-time blogger nor a professional web writer, it can quickly become time consuming.
Because it's not about posting once here and there for a content marketing strategy to work. The key to success is re-gu-la-ri-ty!
In addition to writing, you will also need to promote your article so that it is read, maybe even shared, and gain visibility.
Do you find it difficult to reconcile with your already busy freelance schedule? Do not panic. In this article, I explain how to write a blog post in 1 hour fast.
PS: To make the exercise even more authentic, I also set myself a time to write this article. I'll tell you the times for each part.
I am in a cozy cafe in New York having breakfast, the distraction is everywhere. I want to talk to everyone. Come on, I still take up the challenge with you write my paper for me
1) Create an editorial calendar
The editorial calendar, what is it? It's a schedule that includes all of your content ideas, and gives you dates to publish them. There are several advantages: By setting deadlines, you will more easily succeed in posting regularly and quickly. This is the famous law of Parkinson's. Things take the time they are given; You will go much faster in your content creation because you will know on which subjects to write (keywords, target audience, issues addressed, etc.);
Finally, you can link your content to your business strategy. Each article will support your sales objectives: launching a new service, finding customers... Choose your themes according to your target audience, your services and your business specialization. The more intentional your content, the more you will be recognized as an expert in your niche! How to choose? As a freelance, the goal is to stand out, build your expertise and/or find clients
2) Give a purpose/meaning to each article
What is the added value of your article?
Think about your audience: who are you writing for? What is the transformation you propose with this article?
It is in this first step that you will decide on the common thread of your content, its writing angle, and the reader's journey (which you take from point A to point B).
You can possibly do some quick research to inspire yourself for other articles and think about all the areas that you will need to develop.
3) Write a detailed plan first
It seems impossible to me to write a blog article in 1 hour by spontaneously writing his article on a blank page. To go fast, you need structure. So start by writing your detailed plan.
Remember to keep it concise. You only have an hour. Your article should not be too long!
Some ideas for plans?
A list of methods, a natural progression over time, a breakdown by category, a plan with a thesis and its antithesis… the possibilities are endless!
4) Go to writing a first draft
There is a time to write, and a time to edit! Wanting to write perfectly the first time is facing a lot of frustration.
Do not go into too much detail or formatting. This writing stage must be punctuated by your creativity - your flow - and a period of intense concentration.
5) Edit your content before posting
This step is - for me - the longest. But it can vary if you've spent more time writing.
It is by editing that you will prepare your article for publication with:
the formatting of your text: titles, tags, words in bold, images, links and emojis;
adding keywords if you are working on your SEO;
the description of the metadata (the text that will appear on social networks and search engines);
the choice of categories and labels or hashtags depending on the blogging platform.
It seems difficult to write a blog post in 1 hour AND create a series of visuals at the same time - but some bloggers do it arrivent
In this case, after editing your text, you can move on to creating graphics for Pinterest or other social networks.
6) Aim for publication rather than perfection
Done is better than perfect (dixit Mark Zuckerberg).
You can always come back and refine your article later. In fact, search engine algorithms love regularly updated content.
So yes, you might be making some spelling mistakes. But I can guarantee you that if you publish regularly, next to your freelance activity: no one is going to come and hold it against you!
7) Choose tools that you master
Some freelancers are terrified of blogging because it seems technically complex! Yet posting content - whether audio, video or written - is the best way to be found by customers.
So think about getting started on a blogging platform that you already know.
I made my life a lot more complicated and wasted time on details, rather than posting to be visible.
If you don't want to become a blogger, but simply to give visibility to your expertise, I recommend simpler platforms:
8) Write regularly to improve your speed
Practice and all is coming. This is my favorite mantra (By Pattabhi Jois, the “father” of Ashtanga Yoga) comes to describe forcefully.
To be successful at writing a blog post in 1 hour can sometimes take months of work and learning. Don't lose heart. Business is a marathon, not a sprint.
Once you have learned to write for the web, you will master a solid skill to grow all of your future entrepreneurial projects.
9) Isolate yourself from distractions I am currently suffering in the cafe where I am because - in the middle of writing my article - very agitated children have arrived.
This is the game: it is not a co-working space, but a place of sharing.
If, like me, you are sensitive to noise: I advise you to write in a quiet and studious room to give yourself every chance of success.
Also remember to close all the other tabs in your browser, put your phone on silent and leave the cat at the door.
10) Use a time management tool
There are many applications for measuring the time spent on a stock. I really like Toggl (free). You can set
4 periods of 15 minutes for each grade step: reflection-research, plan, writing and editing period!
Having a limited time for each step will allow you to gain speed. Once the time is up, it's over, you have to move on.
If you need a little over an hour to write your blog post, then this time tracker can give you an idea of ​​your productivity and progress.