This is my sixth blog/website where I plan to pen my thoughts and collate my knowledge for the ambitious, deep-thinking lost souls out there. The first attempt to write to inspire happened almost a decade ago from today. I wrote about men and the challenges they face and what one needs to do to conquer them.
The blog fell apart because I was in high school and a lot of shit was going on. The lack of real-life experience on an authoritative level and a beginner’s writing skills didn’t help either.
The second and third attempts occurred in college. Some of the articles were about relationships, jobs, and the fucked up education system. I also wrote on nihilism and the meaning of life.
As graduation neared, the pressure to start a ludicrous career skyrocketed and all the attention, focus, and energy I had was spent on that.
The fourth attempt was mostly an experiment. Most of the content I planned to create and put out just sat on my drives.
The one after that (the website before this very one) was actually going pretty well.
However, when I started that blog, there was no definite plan about anything, including the things I’d write about. As I figured things along the way and started finding my groove, the site became a nightmare for anyone looking for a decent reading experience.
Anyway, it’s been a ride and there were a lot of lessons.
Part of the reason why I encountered multiple losses in a row is the process itself. But another driving factor is simply because I didn’t know any better.
In this article, I have documented all those crucial lessons that, in hindsight, could have reduced a couple of instances of those failures.
1. Consistent writing schedule
One of the most overused platitudes in the self-improvement sphere is ‘consistency is key’ and for good reason.
When you start something, particularly something new, chances are you don’t know what tf you are doing. It’s like giving a pile of wet clay to a kid who wants to learn pottery. All creations that will come out of that kid are likely a grotesque paperweight, to put it crudely.
And you will see it too. Do you think you won’t know if you are writing horseshit that no one will ever read? Think again mate. There is an escape from everything but yourself. Yes, you can distract yourself with delusion and drugs but it is temporary.
The only solution here is to keep showing up every fucking day, knowing that you will crank out horseshit, to crank out horseshit.
My professional career as a marketing content writer began in mid-2021 and I have been writing nearly ~1500 words every single day, weekends included. Even after writing thousands of articles through all those years, I still, occasionally, produce horseshit!
Fortunately, when you show up every day like the sun, eventually you will discover a couple of paragraphs in your ocean of mess are actually pretty dope. And that begins your ascension.
2. Document and content management
There are two kinds of bloggers: hobbyists and entrepreneurs.
Hobbyists write articles or posts on the go and their content is often about what’s in their mind at that moment. It could be something they learned at work or advice they would like to give to others (or their former self).
Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, are much more methodical, kind of like this very website. (Yes, I see myself as a content entrepreneur, but more on that later.) These people dive deep into any topic and have multiple posts on a single subject that are organized neatly.
Truthfully, if you have been a hobbyist for a long time, you may grow into a content entrepreneur yourself. It will start as a desire to collate and organize your existing content to help your readers enjoy a more immersive experience. Then, suddenly, you will start seeing all these ways you can optimize your website or blog for your esteemed audience.
Hence, the document and content management system.
If you are a topical blogger (authors that write, semi-regularly, on a few consistent topics), like most hobbyists, I suggest developing a system where you can track your work. Something as simple as a Google Sheet with multiple sheets within, each dedicated per topic will suffice.
Apart from measuring your progress, it will be easier for you to update your content over time, internally link your articles with one another, and organize your content in the future.
For the first couple of failed blogging attempts, I didn’t have that. I would simply create a Google Doc or MS Word doc and type away. Then I will hit publish and call it a day. I didn’t even copy the published link to store it somewhere for record-keeping!
3. Reader deserves value
Fate took me to the world of marketing. Of course, I gravitated towards content writing as my specialty within that career or field. And one of the most essential things I learned, right off the bat, is that the ‘reader deserves value’.
They are spending a chunk of their life listening to what you have to say. You gotta give them their money’s worth, in the least. ‘Wow’ them and you’ve earned a fan.
Even though you are simply journalling or organizing your weird (or in my case disturbing) thoughts, you are still writing for an audience, which is the future you.
Now, here’s the tricky part. Value could be anything. We consume content for entertainment, awareness, and education. You must pick one or a combination of those to make anything you write interesting to your future reader(s).
After you write a post for your blog, think like your own potential reader and ask yourself what is the takeaway here. Why will I read this? Will it make me laugh or feel something else? Does it contain useful information, insight, or perspective that I might find useful?
Look, I am not saying all this to put pressure on yourself and give you even more writer’s block but to help you begin your journey.
A simple and easy way to tackle this is by focusing on your first reader or audience: yourself.
I have been writing articles and notes that I find useful and valuable over time. Sometimes, I stumble upon a note I wrote 6-8 months ago and it makes me feel grateful to my previous self for taking the time to pen that shit down.
4. It’s never about the views
The truth is, I cannot be certain that this blog will amass even one reader. In fact, except for companies or organizations that have the budget to run a fully charged and keyword-targeted SEO campaign, no one stands a significant chance. Google fucked us all.
For all of my failed blogs (and this one so far), I was the only audience. I sent some of the pieces to a few friends, who were sweet enough to read them and give feedback, but that was about it.
After that realization, I started to write just for myself.
There are plenty of things you are interested in and want to expand your knowledge on. At the same time, there are certain topics where your wisdom and experiences will help others. And these are the primary reasons behind any independent blog, including this one.
If you care about views or are concerned about the economic viability of your blog, then pick a topic that is easily monetizable such as tech, sports, entertainment, and news. Of course, you need to be an expert in the field and have the relevant knowledge of SEO.
Personally, I do not want to start an online publication business (because that’s what it is) as it’s quite stressful to manage a team of writers and fact-checkers while collaborating with technical folks to maintain the website.
5. Long-term mission and vision
It’s no surprise that the above lessons are difficult to implement. Regular people have regular lives filled with essential duties which are responsibilities. Writing valuable content consistently without much incentive like money or views can be difficult or appear meaningless.
The truth is, in order to keep going and writing at least semi-regularly, you need to assign a purpose to your writing project which is the mission and vision. This will decide the topics you will write about.
That could be as simple as collecting your insights about a particular career or industry, recording your observations about a certain phenomenon, or clearing your thoughts at the end of every week.
When you are writing for vanity metrics like views and whatnot (not saying that they are shallow goals, I love money too), it will be hard to keep going or produce articles with sincerity over a long period.
Look, it is possible that the mission and vision you start off with today will evolve and change a few months down the line. And perhaps it may require you to start yet another blog, or five.
I guess, it's all part of the process.
Conclusion
My blogging journey has been a rollercoaster of lessons and growth. Each failed attempt has taught me something valuable, from the importance of consistency and proper content management to the necessity of providing value to my readers.
I've realized that success isn't just about the number of views or immediate recognition but about the personal growth and understanding I gain along the way.
Writing for myself first has made the process more meaningful, and having a clear mission and vision helps me stay focused and motivated. While I can't guarantee this blog will attract a large audience, I'm committed to sharing my thoughts and experiences with sincerity and passion.
This is just another chapter in my ongoing journey, and I'm excited to see where it takes me next.
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