5 tips to kick your creativity (and blog) into gear

With a new year can come a new you—and the same goes for your organization’s blog.

However, those New Year’s resolutions to write and publish more blog posts (especially those that entice readers to share online) can be hard to keep

Henneke Duistermaat, owner of Enchanted Marketing, wrote:

Whether it’s writing a book, exercising more, or quitting smoking, most people don’t keep up their new year’s resolutions. According to the Statistic Brain Research Institute, only 38% of people in their twenties achieve their resolution each year, and that figure drops to a disappointing 16% of people over 50.

Luckily, Duistermaat also created an infographic that can help you keep your blogging resolutions and kick your creativity into gear. In it, she outlines five steps that can help any PR or marketing pro in a writing rut:

1. Rediscover the joy of writing. Instead of thinking, “I have to write this blog post,” tell yourself, “I want to write a post that will entice readers to click.” Remind yourself why you’re blogging in the first place: It could be to boost your organization’s bottom line, share your expertise, connect with consumers or improve your writing prowess.

2. Regularly generate ideas. Don’t wait until you’re staring at a blank page with a looming deadline to come up with an idea for your next blog post. Instead, write down ideas throughout the day (and week) that can make fodder for an interesting article. Ask, “Why? How? What if…?” constantly—and host brainstorming sessions to glean ideas from co-workers and networking contacts.

[FREE GUIDE: 10 ways to improve your writing today.]

3. Be curious. Your writing can improve when you’re crafting a blog post about something that you know and are passionate about—but don’t forget that readers want to read blog posts that answer their questions, solve their needs and add value.

4. Take small steps. If an entire process is too much for you to handle without wanting to forget blogging in the first place, break each part of the writing process into separate steps. On the first day, choose your theme and write an outline. The following day, conduct research. Then you can write a first draft, and the following day, revise and edit your copy. Taking a fresh look at your writing can help you better proofread—and it can make the task more manageable.

5. Don’t stress out about being original. Although you should ask questions about what you’re writing and what your reader desires, don’t spend too much time worrying about whether your blog post will be unique. You have your own set of experiences, along with an understanding and skill set that enable you to develop your own voice. Trust it.

For more on these motivating steps, check out the infographic below:

from PR Daily News Feed http://ift.tt/2nmRzBu