This week, I’m writing a blog post about when not to write a blog post. I know. The irony is pretty thick.
I’ve divided this post into the three conditions I take into account when I decide to blog or not.
There’s a schedule
Most bloggers adhere to some kind of schedule in their writing. Some promise to blog every day or every other. For SheHe Media, Jim and I decided to blog once a week on a like topic on which we would give two opinions.
I’ll lean on my journalism background and say schedules and deadlines are all well and good. When I worked in the newspaper industry, we couldn’t decide to just not publish one day. But blogging is different if you’re doing it for yourself or your business.
Sometimes that schedule you set for yourself becomes less important when considering other factors. Still, there are plenty of “experts” who will tell you that if you’re going to blog, stick to a schedule. I want to; but don’t always. For instance, Jim and I didn’t blog last week. We didn’t announce it and I wonder if anyone really noticed. Did you?
You have something important to share
There are days and weeks when I look forward to blogging because I have something that I think is important to share. There are other days and weeks when we struggle to come up with a topic for our posts. On those days and weeks, I wonder if it’s worthwhile.
As a hobby, I do some painting. In my experience, the worst time to pick up the paintbrush is when I feel uninspired or uncreative. It’s the same with writing. If I don’t know what to say or how to say it, who will want to read it? However, that mindset changes when I have something valuable to say.
You’re trying to ramp up business
During down times in your business cycle, blogging about your company’s services, accomplishments and products can be used as an essential part of your marketing strategy. I’ve seen this work well. But what about when business is booming … or at least busy?
I’m not going to sit here and tell you that I’m not in business to make money. So when it comes down to choices such as “do I work on this website and collect a paycheck or blog about something related to social media,” I have to choose the former. And if the other two conditions I mentioned (sticking to a schedule and having something important to say) don’t rank high, my choice to not blog is even easier.
One more thing
Let’s not forget: It’s summer, I’m a human being and I have a life beyond business. I love my business; don’t get me wrong. But I have vacations I want to take and people I want to see during these warm summer months. I work hard so that I can do these things. If I miss a blog post due to a vacation, you will all forgive me, right? (Here’s where I should mention that I’m taking a short vacation that starts this Thursday which may make it impossible for me to join in on #shehechat that night.)
What about you? In your mind, when is it okay not to blog?
