I want to hear everyone’s top productivity tips when it comes to writing new blog posts and updating old blog posts. I need to increase my traffic right now. Being around since 2009, I know how to write blog posts that will rank and I know how to update blog posts to see them climb up. The track record of success is there, right now I just need to increase what I am able to get done, I think there is room for growth there.
Share any tips you have. I am sure everyone will find them useful too.
My productivity really increased when I started doing online Focus Sessions. There are of course the ones we do for EBTs on Mondays and the 1st and 3rd Thursdays, but I also do ones through another platform (that I pay for). I’m way more productive when I have dedicated work time and on a Zoom call along with others who are also focusing on whatever task they’re working on. The platform is here if anyone is interested: https://www.focus-sessions.com/
I also started planning out my weeks and assigning tasks to each day, as well as tasks I could start on if I finished early.
These are smaller things but they’ve really helped me.
@taryn That’s great that you have been doing them besides the EBT ones. I have been trying to use the EBT ones for stuff that I have been struggling to get done, like today it was taking clips from my podcast episodes and turning them into reels to share on Instagram.
My schedule is too unpredictable with our traveling so I don’t really have the abilities to assign days so much every week. But maybe I can assign at least a small task to each day, that can be done in 5 to 10 mins.
Have you ever done a time audit @eatlikenooneelse? I know we did one when Megan started doing her masterminds years ago, and it was helpful to see how exactly I was spending my time so I could identify where I was doing things I didn’t need to be so that I could spend time on what I really wanted to.
As for work sessions, I totally get you having an unpredictable schedule, but you could use the Pomodoro method on your own to get things done! At the start of each day identify when you have 25 minutes of uninterrupted time then do some really focused work during that time.
@eatlikenooneelse Definitely try Taryn’s suggestion and do time logging for a few days to see if you can streamline anything (doing this ALWAYS reveals something new to me about how I’ve been spending my time and how I can make positive changes).
Also, have you gone through Brandon Gaille’s podcast series where he talks through exactly which old content to update? You can find the episdoes here and search for the 4 episodes titled Updating Blog Posts for Big Traffic Gains. I’ve been doing this and it helps me to know for certain that when I sit down to update my content, I’m updating the right things (and not wasting my time).
That’s a good plan. Instagram is that for me. Don’t mean I should completely ignore but need to limit the time. I can do quick reels that take much effort, I am not going to spend hours crafting all the perfect looking videos and setups.
What things have you found that you had to cut out?
Yeah I can definitely do more of the Pomodoro method on my own. I haven’t done a time audit exactly. I did time myself recently with how long it takes to write an email for my subscribers, so I need to keep expanding on those kinds of things.
@megan I haven’t listen to those episodes but I can do that. I talked to his wife at Tastemaker and she send me a link to a post he did on updating blog posts, so I have been following those principles.
I don’t have any suggestions because I struggle with this too! Right now, there are too many distractions in my life, which makes it difficult for me to stay focused and get things done on my blog. Listing my goals weekly in this group has helped me quite a bit!
I understand you. You can have all the knowledge, SEO strategies, photography skills etc, but it’s not always easy to apply all that with life going on around you. I am glad to hear listing your goals has been helpful. If I am struggling, I try to work on something for at least 5 minutes. I set a timer and commit to working those 5 minutes. If you get a couple 5 min sessions here and there on a blog post it helps makes the taste of finishing it easier.
