Hello, my name is Kayla, and I am a challenge addict. As any good addict I have my justifications for being addicted to challenges. By their very nature, and name, they challenge me and like that. Challenges also hold me accountable, push me to grow and stretch, and probably best of all—challenges are done as part of a team. I’m social by nature so having a support system and teammates is exceptionally appealing to me.
I just raised my hand and said, “I’m in,” to the 30 Day Blog Your Brand Challenge that is starting June 10th. Several of my friends have asked if I thought it would be good for them and their business. This got me thinking that it would be a good idea to write a pre-challenge blog on how to succeed at blog challenges (and really any writing challenge) today. So here it is.
Six Steps to Succeeding at a Blog Challenge
- Be Realistic—seriously put consideration into jumping into the challenge. Weigh the benefits and the costs in your life and business. When this challenge came up I knew that I absolutely did not have time for it, but that the commitment to working on (and not just in) my business far outweighed any negatives. So I’m making time by following the next step.
- Have a Plan—think ahead of what you plan to blog about for 30 days in a row. With a plan you can succeed. Without a plan you can succeed, but it will be more stressful and hectic. Your plan can be a theme, a pre-planned calendar (here is an example) or a blog series. Put it in writing so that when it is 30 minutes before the deadline to turn post your blog and panic sets in all you have to do is refer to the plan. It will help you knock that blog out in time without writers block setting in.
- Set Aside Time—in many ways this can be part of having a plan, but at the same time it is important enough for it to be a step. Most people can look ahead a week or a month and know what major obstacles are already in the way. Plan for those by pre-scheduling blog posts, working double time on one day to account for a day you know you won’t be able to fit it in and most importantly set aside time in each day for blogging.
- Have Back-up Material—every blogger has something they wrote and didn’t post. It may be sitting in a draft folder or still in a document on your desktop. Know where it is, review it, edit and update it so that if all else fails in your day—you have a back-up plan.
- Be a Good Teammate—don’t just expect your teammates to cheer you on, to repost your material and leave comments. Go above and beyond the call of the duty whenever you have a free moment to do extra, read more blogs, comment and lead your followers to their blogs. Cheer on your teammates and be the awesome inspiring person that you are out loud. Don’t cheer for them in your own head—say it out loud (or in this case in writing) to them. I often hear people say they sure were cheering for someone who didn’t end up making it through the challenge…yet they never said it for that person to hear it.
- Don’t Give Up—on a whim, in a fit of frustration, or half-heartedly. Do not resign late one night in the silence of the mocking blinking curser on your blank document. If you are struggling—ask for support in the group. Don’t let paralyzing self-doubt end the challenge for you. You really can do it. Life may turn upside down one day and you may have to step out, but don’t vanish quietly in the night and whatever you do—DO NOT give up on challenges all together if for some reason you need to step out of one.
If you want to join the Blog Your Brand Challenge check it out or come along for the ride as a reader—hang onto my hand and let’s do this thing.
Please leave any tips you have learned as a blogger in the comments section. Read Lessons I Learned from 30 Days of Blogging to find advice from other bloggers.
Amanda says
Love it! Such great info! I am so excited to join in this time. I did a previous challenge but couldn’t keep up. I still count it as a success because I published 20 new blog posts (out of 30). 🙂 I hope to keep up this time and finish the challenge.
Kayla says
Thank you! I totally agree that 20 new blogs in one month is a success. Can’t wait to do this one with you.
Ann s. says
I’ve been waiting for this! I have an additional challenge of being on vacation for a whole week with spotty wi-fi. I may end up being a phone blogger!
Lois says
Love the idea. But…my blog is more personal stuff (ThatResonates) and my business doesn’t have a blog yet. Wish I’d had more time to connect them.