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Post Your Best Blog Content
(Even When It Feels Like Your Shouting To The Void)
Are you new to this whole side hustle deal and feel like you’re shouting to the void every time you post something to your blog?
Don’t worry, we’ve all been there.
It takes time to build a following. Sometimes it may feel like there’s no point in posting the so-called best of your goods so early on in your blogging career.
In fact, that’s just the opposite.
Don’t hold back on your best content, just because you worry no one is going to read when you have to say right now.
Remember, side hustling is a long game. You’re not always going to see an immediate return, especially not right away. But that’s not a bad thing. There is nothing wrong with building your foundation, especially building a foundation of quality, evergreen content, so when your audience DOES find you, they already have a TON of stuff to learn from you. It will get them truly excited about you and your offerings, and will turn them quickly from a one-off visitor to a passionate member of your audience.
Your Best Blog Content: People LOVE To Binge-Read
Not too long ago, a friend of mine who lives overseas posted a meme in her Instagram story. While I can’t quite remember exactly what the meme was about, I know it was grammar related. We got to talking and I mentioned my favorite grammar-themed story of all time, The Alot Is Better Than You At Everything by Allie Brosh of Hyperbole and a Half. It is hilarious, and everyone should go read it right now if you haven’t already. Any time anyone EVER uses the word, “alot”, this is what I think of.
When I first discovered Hyperbole and a Half, I don’t even know how many years ago, the first thing I did was binge read every single post. I don’t remember how many hours it took me. I read it all, and laughed so hard my stomach hurt for days.
(My all-time favorite story: The God Of Cake. I laughed so hard I cried, and my roommates thought I was dying).
My point, is that I binged Brosh’s entire backlog in a day because every single post I read was amazingly read-worthy (yes, even the ones that are some pretty brutal takes on depression). Brosh didn’t wait to post her best stories, she just posted them as they came to her.
So if you think of an idea for a blog post, don’t think to yourself, “I should totally hold onto this until I get more readers.”
No. Write that post and get it out there. There is no time like the present, and what’s better is that in the future, people will come across your blog and find all this amazing content to binge.
Your Best Blog Content: Pinterest Takes Time
If you’re not already using Pinterest as one of your side hustle’s social media platforms, now is when you should start. It takes time to build a Pinterest following, but that effort has more return than you can imagine. In the world of pay-for-play ads on Facebook and Instagram, and getting lost in the super-speedy Twitter, Pinterest is a platform where you can get people coming to your website without having to pay a dime.
When I publish a new post to the blog, the first thing I do is pin that pin that I have at the bottom of this post (all nice and vertically optimized for Pinterest) to one of my boards. Many of my older posts that I don’t actively pin (like my the first few posts I ever published), I still get traffic because people have found those pins and clicked through.
And I’m talking months ago. According to awesome Pinterest strategist Rachel Ngom, a pin has a lifespan 1600% longer than anything you post on Facebook or Instagram. And in a world where your post can disappear into the ether in the blink of an eye, you want to make sure that you are laying the groundwork for readers new and old to see the blog posts that serve as the foundation to your side hustle.
So, long story short, get to pinning.
Your Best Blog Content: SEO Takes Even Longer
While Pinterest can take some time to get some traction with you older pins, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) takes even longer.
But on the plus side, you get some serious returns once Google does start picking up on what you’re putting out there. And those returns are that you rank, which means showing up higher and higher in the search results.
To keep it simple, the goal with SEO is to pick a featured, long-tail keyword for your blog post and get your post to rank in that keyword by ensuring that your post is filled with your best content. Many keywords have more competition than others, and there are a ton of amazing tools out there that you can use to determine which keywords have competition in that sweet spot that you can capitalize on and rank in.
Other SEO tips to consider:
- Your post length. Your posts should be at least 300 words, but I personally recommend you try to aim for the 1,200 – 1,500 word range. For more on the ideal length of a blog post from an SEO standpoint, check out this post.
- Break it up with sub-headers. As you can see, I have sub-headers breaking up every single blog post I publish. In today’s fast-paced world of super-scrolling, you have to do what you can do make sure your words jump off the page. Sometimes people don’t even read the whole blog post, instead they scroll through the sub-headers and scan whichever ones jump out at them. Breaking up your text also makes it easy to read, which Google also takes into serious account.
- Images. Our digital world has evolved into something very image-heavy, so it’s always important to have at least one image in your post. This could be an image of an affiliate product you’re showcasing (like what I do in the Required Reading series) or pictures of your travels, the new recipe you tried out, or even just the Pinterest-optimized image you feature for your post.
Your Best Blog Content: You Can Go Back And Make Old Posts Better
Remember, you are not carving your blog posts into a stone tablet. You can go back and update old posts.
In fact, I highly encourage it.
Not only does it benefit you from an SEO standpoint, but going back and updating old posts lets your readers know that, even though this is something you posted three years ago (or however long it’s been), you’re still making sure that it’s relevant. You can take out dated information, replace it with new, whatever fits.
You can also go back and add content whenever you want. In my post about Top Products For Better Posture That Every Blogger Needs, not two days after the post went live did I go back and add in two more products, taking me from six to eight.
Or you can add in links to some of your newer blog posts, so anyone that comes across an old one can see what awesome, more recent posts you have to offer.
Really, the sky’s the limit, and there are no rules to what you can and can’t do when it comes to your posts.
Your Best Blog Content: Ready To Get Started?
Have a lot to talk about, but don’t have the website to guide your readers to? Now is the perfect time to get started.
Now is the perfect time to take my free email course, where I teach you how to plan a year’s worth of blog content in just one day. This training takes away all the mystery behind figuring out what you’re going to write from week to week and helps you plan the ultimate in blogging content that your audience will absolutely love.
Don’t forget to get hosting (plus a free domain) for as little as $3.95/month through Siteground. You can read why I choose Siteground to host my websites in my post, 6 Reasons I Host My Side Hustle On Siteground (And You Should Too).
I am definitely guilty of this! I always catch myself holding onto a topic because I don’t want it to get “wasted” on no readers. lol! I actually have to consciously tell myself that the post will be there when I get more readers and I can always re-promote it! I love that you brought that up, because it’s kind of something you do without realizing you’re doing it.
Exactly! I’ve had it happen to me too, and I have to keep reminding myself that, like you said, there’s nothing wrong with re-promoting some of your favorites!
Great info! I binge read a good blog!!
Right? Me too!
Great advice and I agree with all of it from my experience so far. Pinning should be a priority!
Yes! Pinterest is SO key!
Fascinating, I do too post what I have, I went back and ended up changing some of my first content, and I imagine I will end up doing that constantly.
Yep! It’s totally normal! At some point it’ll become routine to go back and flesh out older blog posts, make them more relevant and boost its SEO.
This is so true! We should not wait for best blog content to come out to the public. The earlier the better!
Exactly!
Excellent information for all bloggers! Pinterest is huge for me and it did take a while but it literally grows by leaps and bounds monthly! And my SEO is finally taking a foothold too, it does take time but well worth the effort. Pinning to share with my friends, thank you! 🙂
You’re doing a great job. Keep at it and you’ll see those returns. And thanks for the share!
I wrote an article titled The Great Nog of Fire. I think it’s my best article… true to my personality and experience. It’s been (in my opinion) my best content and I am so happy with the results I now strive to repeat that style in my posts. It’s not always there but I try. 🙂
That’s awesome! Keep writing what works best for you and what you feel that you are aligned with! That’s how good blogs get great!
Great advice and Pinterest really is the key. You’re right that it just takes time!
Yep! In a world of go, go, go and instant gratification, sometimes it’s not the easiest thing to step back and remember that some things are the long game!
This is really great advice and nicely written. Thank you!
Thank you!
I’m not one that says I’ll hold on to the blog idea until I get more readers, but I’m definitely of getting the ideas noted and not written. I need to get better at this.
It’s a process! Just remember that there’s nothing stopping you from putting out something awesome that you can repurpose later down the line!
Great post! I have been working on updating old posts as I go along. Adding pins, adding links, and adding content in some cases.
That’s awesome! Keep it up!
You’re absolutely right, we shouldn’t wait to get started. Just go out there and start somewhere!
Exactly!
I agree! While I’m still building my audience, I put it all out there now while I’m inspired. I view it as this is how I’m going to speak/attract people even though I’m building. Hopefully it pays off as google starts crawl it, I’m still working on the SEO aspect!
Yes, that’s a great plan! A good place to start with SEO, even at the beginner level, is to make sure you have YOAST installed. I have it on my website and it’s helped me make a lot of great changes to my blog posts!
Great content. It’s all important. It surprises me how many older posts suddenly take off, months after they were originally published.
Exactly! You never know what the internet will pick up on!
YES! I really think it’s important to get it out there and get things going. It can take months for posts to get picked up which is why I’m posting holiday content so early.
Yes, exactly! And I’m sure many people are of the opinion that it’s NEVER too early for holiday content!
Great advice for bloggers! I’ve been working on upping my Pinterest game.
Pinterest one of my 2019 priorities as well!
Well written. I agree. I am in that space this year where I am not procrastinating about putting the content out there.
That’s awesome! It’ll get you to where you want to be even quicker! You got this!
This is so helpful and encouraging. I often say “screw it” and post anyway, but as a new blogger it’s really hard to tell what’s the right move. This is really affirming that going ahead and doing it is a good place to start. <3
It can totally be intimidating, but all you have to do is know that your audience is out there and is ready for your best NOW!
I’ve struggled with this before, especially as a new blogger! But I really went for it with my last two posts 🙂 Great advice!
That’s awesome! Keep it up!
Thanks for sharing this! I’m a new blogger & it’s so daunting at first. I’m relieved to know I’m not the only person out there with these questions. Slow & steady wins the race…
Exactly! If you go into it acting like you’re a pro, the quicker you’ll really start feeling like a pro! Keep it up!
You’ve convinced me! I really need to start being more active on pinterest!!
Yes! Pinterest is an amazing way to get free leads!
Great advice! I only recently started getting into the habit of revisiting an old post now and then to revamp.
That’s awesome! Keep it up!
Well organize post with lots and lots of great stuff. Thank you.
Thank you!
I don’t hold on to ideas, I just send them out to the universe.
That’s awesome! Keep it up!!
Good advice! Now to put it into action. Lol
Yep! Action = progress!
Yes, just publish your best blog content because it takes time to get that deserved traffic; especially from SEO and Pinterest. And yeah, at the moment I’m also revamping old blog posts.
That’s awesome! Keep it up!
Quality posts are where you get your audience. I might stop by and start skimming but if after a paragraph I’m hooked I’m going to keep reading and looking for more on your site. You might feel like you’re wasting good content with a tiny following but how are you going to grow without good content?
Yes! That’s exactly how I tend to read posts these days!
These tips are super helpful to me because I have so many blog posts that I have written saved up in my notepads! I need to just start posting them.. but I get so nervous to sometimes. Thank you for the great tips and motivation!
Yes! Get to posting! It’ll totally be worth it! Share your amazing content with your audience and it’ll grow!
I have definitely waited to post content thinking there would be a “better” time but you are SO right! It is best to just get it out there, knowing it will take time for people to start seeing it, SEO to kick in, and honestly, I will have to go back and update it regularly anyway. This is great advice!
Thank you! It’s so easy to think it’s better to save things “for later”, but now is the BEST time!
This is great advice! There’s no such thing as the right time. We should take the moment and make it the right time. I like sharing inspirational content on the spot. Makes me feel creative and productive.
XO
Candace
http://www.thebeautybeau.com
That’s so awesome! Keep it up!
Great points! It does take time to build a following. Starting with your best foot forward is a good idea.
Exactly!
This is SO accurate! My pins are JUST NOW taking off with some of them being out just over two months. It takes awhile to build, and it takes guts to stick with it and patiently (or not so patiently) wait for it to happen.
I’m going back to read the blog you mentioned. It sounds like something I’d love, too.
Same here! My Pinterest traffic to this website is slow going but definitely getting there! And enjoy. Hyperbole and a Half is HILARIOUS!
This tips are great! I really want to grow my blog and I’ve been slowly trying to work on these. I just started to use Pinterest heavily last month and my blog views tripled!
Exactly! Pinterest may sound daunting but it’s a MASSIVE benefit that all bloggers and side hustlers should take advantage of!
What a great advice, Very detailed and organize. This is really helps for all newbie bloggers.
Thank you!
Oh my gosh, this is so timely. I really need to work on my blog. I swear, I haven’t touched it since the holidays. Uggghh
Get back to it! Consistency is also a key to success!
I agree, timing matters when posting a lot. In lots and lots of niches even minutes matter most to actually be noticed. and overall you will never have ideal timing for whatsoever.
That’s SO true! Definitely why consistency is also another massive key to side hustle success!
You are absolutely right! I will binge read once I find something I like!
Exactly! Glad I’m not the only one!
Patience is key! These are some great tips, thank you for sharing!
Of course! That’s what I’m here for!
You made some great points here,consistency is always keys.
I also don’t believe in saving the best content for last. After all you wanna share quality content that will make people fall in love with your blog.
Exactly! No better time than right now to get sharing!
Great read! While I usually pin my pinnable graphic closer to the topic, everybody has a different experience. Looks like this has been working for you!! Thanks for laying out all this amazing information to help motivate.
I’m in the party of as long as it’s IN the blog post, it doesn’t matter where! Glad you enjoyed the post!
I really need to go back to my posts in the past. I know I can improve them but I don’t think about that because I am so focused on future content. But I really should go back especially with past posts.
If you have even just one or two awesome posts that you can go back to and make even better, it’s a fantastic start! You don’t have to go back into them all at once.
Whenever I create content which I feel is best so far, I do not wait for the next minute and publish it. Also because I have the knack to be the first one to get the word out and when it is good content, there is no stopping me
Yes! Keep up that awesome mindset!
Great content! Such great tips. I still struggling with pinterest. My blog is mostly stories about our farm life. Does a peraon make a pin on things like that? Thanks for the great info.
It’s very likely there is an audience for farm life on Pinterest. What you should do is cultivate a Pinterest account with great pins full of your content related to your niche, and remember to include relevant hashtags so people can find your content in the searches.
Wow! Such great learning here! Really good tips! Thanks so much!
Happy to share!
I love that saying “shouting to the void”. I think people think blogging is instant gratification but people have to remember you can write the content today but it can be read and be of value years from now too!
Exactly! I “shouting to the void” is one of my favorite phrases! And it’s something that you have to keep in mind, especially when you’re getting started!