The first question you need to ask yourself is “Can I afford not to write my next post?” Consistent writing builds trust in you with your readers. We already talked about the importance of consistency in your writing, and we all know writing takes time. Most accountants don’t have time to write, but building an audience for your blog requires a commitment. Here are five simple strategies I have used and they can help you make your blog writing simpler and more efficient.
1. Make a list of 100 Titles
You will find it much easier to start your next post if you spend some time brainstorming titles ahead of time. I keep a list in Evernote. I have over 75 potential titles now, and I have added a sentence or two to spark my memory when its time to write the post. This list can be sorted or categorized so I can create a series of posts. Now when it is time to write I have a great place to start.
2. Use A Template
When I first started my blog I started with a template from Michael Hyatt. I don’t always use the template now that I have some experience, but I have it if I need it to help me get started. The template is also very helpful for keeping a consistent style and flow to my writing.
3. Don’t do research
As accountants, we often feel like we need to have a lot of detail in our blog, but most of our clients just want the highlights. Let’s be really honest here, our clients pay us to worry about the details. They really only want the information they need and most of the time they don’t need to know all the details. Of course, your blog needs to be accurate but it doesn’t need to be a graduate research paper.
4. Set a time limit
I don’t know about you, but I work well under pressure and that is when my most creative ideas show up. If that describes you too, then set a deadline for your post just like you would have if you wrote for someone else.
- Set a timer and give yourself 30 minutes to write your first draft.
- Next only allow 10 minutes to edit the post.
If you don’t set a time limit you could spend hours editing your writing getting everything perfect, but most readers only scan the writing. Your reader is often just looking to get the highlights and they will come back if they need more information later. Remember even if it is highly relevant your clients don’t really want to know all the details anyway.
5. Let the software help you
I am not a great writer and I am a horrible speller. I am the person that right clicks on the red underlined word and the spell checker says “You stumped me! I have no idea what you’re trying to spell, try again.” So I found Grammarly. Grammarly not only looks at spelling but also the context of your writing. Oh and accountants will love this part, Grammarly sends me a weekly report that tells me how many words it checked and what my most common errors are in my writing. Bottom line it makes proofreading pretty fast and it tells me what I need to work to improve.
What will you do next?
You already committed to blogging. Now it’s time to build trust by providing great value to your audience. The best way to start is to commit to a regular schedule of posting and make sure you meet your deadline. Which of the 5 simple steps can you implement in your routine today? Adding just one will make your blogging more efficient and simpler to do.
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