Blogging is too hard, Im going to stop
Many bloggers start strong, blog with great enthusiasm and then disappear – why does this happen?
People quit blogging maybe because they run out of things to say. After the intitial enthusiasm you need more info to continue. That, and not spending hours pouring over two paragraphs just in case there’s a better way to say it.
The advice:
- you don’t have to write the best post ever
- break it down
- keep it simple
- keep it short
- if it’s long break it into two posts
- focus on what you know
It’s easy to forget what you know and focus on what you don’t know. Do your readers a favour and tell them what you have learnt so they can learn too.
‘One of the best approaches to educational blogging is to write for yourself as you learn or write for beginners (same thing)’ @DrVes
What to blog about?
Use your RSS - Stay with me, your eyes are beginning to glaze because you’re not quite sure what RSS is.
RSS is a simple concept with a rubbish name
RSS button
RSS automatically collects new information from the sites you have chosen onto one page.
That’s it. That’s all it does.
How do you set it up?
- you press the RSS button (often top right on a website).
- it adds the blog your are looking at to a page you’ve set up
- you can add as many as you want to
- you log off, go and have a life away from your computer
Next time you log on, any new posts that have been written will be ready and waiting for you to read, all on one page.
Fancy RSS button
which means: – you make sure you have a cuppa in hand, and spend the next half hour reading all the new info that’s been posted
= you’re up to date with all the latest news.
= new info = new ideas = blog posts because you want to share it
How do you do it?
Go to Google Reader, sign up.
If you don’t like the interface search for Feedly (my preference) and sign up with your gmail account (I’ve written about how to use additional Feedly features here)
Every time you log into your reader, any new posts will be waiting for you to read. Have a look at the common craft video here for a quick video demo.
RSS and twitter are my entry into the online world and make sure I don’t get lost. Even some twitter streams go into my reader (yes, there is an RSS button for every tweeter, go and have a look), so although I may not follow someone on twitter, I am seeing their twitter stream in my reader).
That said, some people never run out words, ever
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Great job, Heidi. This is an excellent resource for newbies like me. Love the mix of practical fact and cheeky humour. Well done, Robin
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Heidi Allen Reply:
January 22nd, 2010 at 8:46 pm
newbies like you and me both!
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Thanks for the tips and great info once again Heidi, I’m in love with feedly.com I had skimmed over it years ago. Wow what a great polished RSS reader/aggregator it has become. Great post about another front of mind subject. Tony
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Heidi Allen Reply:
January 23rd, 2010 at 1:06 pm
I LOVE feedly. It is my door to the internet.
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Heidi, this is a great blog and fabulous resource. Thanks for the inspiration to keep at it. KISS is the best advice ever, but for me probably the hardest to keep in mind as I blog for work. Check out my blog sometime and let me know what you think. Keep up the great work!
roraxoxo.wordpress.com
mditv.com
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Heidi Allen Reply:
January 26th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Thanks Aurora – blogging for work is a whole other thing in itself. Good luck with it.
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Aurora Reply:
January 26th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
Thanks Heidi! I was sent you your blog, by the way, through Life in the Fast Lane, which is great too.
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Heidi Allen Reply:
January 26th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
The Life In the Fast Lane Team will be very happy to hear that — Mike here’s a thumbs up for you!
Great work again Heidi
Feedly is a great source of inspiration to me, a great collator of information and I love the ability to change the feel of the information presentation to suit my working needs.
Keep up the great work
Mike
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Hey Heidi,
Will have to check out feedly – I’ve been really happy with Google Reader, especially with the prospect of Gwave looming ever nearer.
Loved your ‘buzz’ title – I thought to myself, “as if”… LOL
Nic
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