I was doing a presentation for a group of authors called “30 Blogs in 10 minutes” and one of the attendees told me, “Your system is so easy … if I knew it was that simple I would have started blogging much earlier.” I really didn’t do anything, except put the process of blogging into a simple system. These authors were looking at blogging as taking A LOT OF TIME. The trick isn’t the time you spend, but the system.
Most people who blog, get on the computer and start writing. There’s nothing wrong with this action, but to keep blogging a simple, organized and exciting process, implementing a system will help … and that’s what the 10 minute tips are all about.
So here is the system … So get your egg timer (see 10 minute tips) and set it to 10 minutes. As soon as that timer is done … STOP. Remember: if you need a digital timer look at Ix, the Get Enoch FREE digital countdown. (Yes this is a blatant sales tactic. :) )
First: Create a list - 10 minute activity
Write down all the topics you want to write about. Write only the topics … nothing else. DO NOT WRITE CONTENT! Just write a list of ideas. At the end of the 10 minutes you should have a list of blog ideas (some good and some not as good). Even if you only came up with one idea a minute … that’s still 10 ideas. Stop for the day and continue to Step Two in another 10 minute activity.
Second: Write a Summary - 10 minute activity
Look at your list of topics and choose 3 topics that you would like to flesh out into a blog post. After choosing 3 topics … write a quick précis (or summary), about each topic. DO NOT WRITE CONTENT! Only take the time to write a quick summary about what you WANT to say. This might be difficult to do 3 topics in 10 minutes, but if you only write a summary description it shouldn’t take long. A summary should only be about 1 – 3 lines of information.
For Example:
Topic: Blogging in 10 minutes – it can be done
Summary: A quick 5 step process of 10 minute activities that will get a blogger from thought to post. This is just a personal system that includes planning, charting and execution.
Now that you have a summary and your timer has sounded it’s alarm, stop for the day and continue to Step Three in another 10 minute activity.
Third (and possibly fourth): Write Content -10 minute activity
Now you can WRITE content. Take your list of 3 summaries and select one topic you want to post. As you read the summary and have the thoughts germinate throughout the day you should be ready to tackle the post. Start writing. Write for 10 minutes … possibly your post will only take the 10 minutes to write. Possibly it may take 20 minutes, or more. The trick is to stay within your 10 minute time limit, stopping each day when your timer alarm is heard. Now that you have your content created … stop for the day (or two … or three) and continue to Step Four in another 10 minute activity.
Fourth (or fifth): Edit, Hyperlink, and Media - 10 minute activity
Now comes the editing, adding pictures and hyperlinks. If you don’t have “Auto Linking” turned so you’re not automatically adding hyperlinks to your post … it’s time to manually link now. Select the words and sites you want to link and as you read through your post start inserting. Add photos or other media to the content if you want as well. As you read through the blog post adding the links, edit your content. It’s a great time to modify phrases to captivate your audience and ask questions. After this is done … PUBLISH THE ENTRY!! Wait … there is one more day. :)
Fifth (and onward): Rinse and Repeat - 10 minute activity
Look at your list of 2 remaining topic summaries (Step Two) and do step 3-4. When you run out of topic summaries jump to step 2 and take 3 more topics from your remaining list of 7 (Step One). Then once you have exhausted your list from step 1, start from the beginning.
It’s simple … and depending on how often you stick to this system you will get faster at publishing your insights and posts. The trick behind this system is to keep doing it EVERY DAY! Like practicing an instrument or learning a new language, the more you do it the easier it will become and the better you will become as well. And now that you have a system in place … you should have a much easier time posting entries. Good luck and happy blogging.