This week, I shared four tips about blogging. Your blog is a very important part of your business website. You can use your blog to share your expertise and keep customers up-to-date about new products and services. You can build relationships and community with the readers of your blog.

If you struggle to keep your blog current, this week’s tips will help. Take some time, today, to try one or more of these tips.

Here are those four tips, in case you missed any:

Find Your Why

12 Minutes of Blog Brainstorming

Write a 12 minute Blog Post

Start — Again!

You might also enjoy this Story about Motivation and Blogging.

How will you spend your 12 minutes today?

Also, my friend Wally Bock shares daily tips for leaders at the Three Star Leadership Blog. You can read his tips here.

If you have a blog that you’ve been neglecting, my best advice is to start again. (What does a neglected blog look like, to you? Is it a blog that you haven’t updated in months, weeks, or days?)

If you are blogging for business, frequently updating your blog with fresh, relevant content will give your customers and potential customers a reason to keep coming back to your website.

If you are not consistent, you may lose the opportunity to build stronger connections with your readers, fans, and followers.

I don’t want to pile on the guilt. Instead, I want to give you hope.

There is only 12 minutes between a neglected blog and an up-to-date blog.

You can spare 12 minutes, right?

You will not be able to write a masterpiece in 12 minutes. You may not have time to choose the absolute right photo to go with your blog post.

Yet, in 12 minutes you can write something. You can start a conversation or answer a question. You can share something of value, even if it is only one small thought or one quick tip, one funny story or one poignant moment. Or, you can link to something brilliant you’ve recently read.

So, consider today your opportunity to START AGAIN.

Today’s Tip: Start Again!

Set your timer for 12 minutes and write something for your blog.

• Start a conversation.
• Answer a question.
• Share one small thought.
• Share one quick tip.
• Tell one funny story.
• Describe one poignant moment.
• Link to something brilliant.

Remember, only 12 minutes separates a neglected blog and an updated blog.

Ready, set, START AGAIN!

How will you use your 12 minutes? 

If you are interested in growing as a leader, I hope you’ll check out the tips my friend Wally Bock shares daily  for leaders at the Three Star Leadership Blog. Discover Wally’s tips here. 

There’s nothing like a paycheck to keep you blogging.

If you knew that writing a blog post would mean a paycheck, would you write more frequently, more regularly, more enthusiastically, more thoughtfully?

Would those dollars and cents be enough motivation to push you past your resistance? Would you create the lovely rhythm of word after word because you knew that there was a financial reward at the end?

For most of us, the line between blogging and the bottom line of our business is not so clear.

We are blogging for business — make no mistake about that — but no one is actually handing over dollars every time we write.

For what now seems like a brief time, about 18 months total, I worked for a university writing a leadership blog. Three times per week, typically on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, I wrote and published posts on leadership topics. Occasionally, I wrote what might have felt like advertisements for the school and its leadership degrees, but more typically, I wrote real content on the topic of leadership, infusing my own personality and perspectives into each post.

During that time, I wrote consistently. I wrote consistently and I invoiced consistently, and I deposited my paychecks in the bank, consistently.

If blogging is your job, you’ll get it done.

When I started my own blog in December of 2010, I stayed with the routine of posting three times per week —for a quite a while.

And I realized that I found rewards through blogging FAR beyond the paycheck.

For me, writing is its own reward.

And, through the writing, this: the relationships, the community, the camaraderie, the support, the insights of others.

Also: the feeling of accomplishment, the record of my journey, the ability to share what I know with others.

What rewards do you expect when you blog?

If you are blogging for business, you may expect, at some level, that writing articles will lead to new leads, sales, and new business. My strong belief is that  you WILL see those benefits, though you may not be able to connect the dots neatly. (Blog post, lead, new work.)

Instead, your articles will help you build your relationships with current and potential customers. Your blog posts will help people get to know you and your expertise.

If writing is not a reward to you (I am not deluded to think that everyone enjoys blogging the way I do), I encourage you to use my story as help in considering — and FINDING — your own WHY for blogging.

Once you have found your why, go one more step and outline the rewards. What rewards do you look for when blogging?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Share them here, or join the discussion on Facebook.

How will you spend your 12 minutes today? 

Using your list of blog topics, generated yesterday, choose a topic for writing today. (Didn’t spend 12 minutes brainstorming yesterday? Do it now!)

Today’s tip is designed to help you push past any resistance you have about blogging.

Sometimes, starting a post is the most difficult part. Once you start, you’ll want to finish and publish.

But you MAY have a mixed up sense about how long it really takes to write a blog post. You may think that you spend more time on each post than you actually do. Or, you may think that you need to spend a lot of time. My opinion: A Good Blog Post Doesn’t Have to Take 2 Hours.

In fact, I think you may, in time, be able to write some blog posts in just 12 minutes.

Join me for today’s tip and try it!

Today’s Tip: Write for 12 Minutes

Plan for this tip in advance, so you have time to think about what you want to write. Look at your list of topics — now — and think about the topic you’d like to write about today for a few hours as you go about your other work.

When it is time to write,  eliminate as many distractions as you can. Turn off your phone, close other browser windows, and shut your office door. Open a new blog post. Choose a topic.

Then set your timer for 12 minutes and write.

When the 12 minutes is up, review your progress. Did you finish a post? If not, finish now, if time allows. If you are out of time, save your draft and return to it for another 12 minutes later.

How will you use your 12 minutes today? I’d love to hear about your success with this tip! 

If you are interested in growing as a leader, I hope you’ll check out the tips my friend Wally Bock shares daily  for leaders at the Three Star Leadership Blog. Discover Wally’s tips here. 

Have you ever sat at your desk, staring at the blinking cursor on a blank post on your blog?

One of the main barriers to blogging —for some people — is being unsure about what to write.

One way to overcome that barrier is to spend regular, focused time creating a list of topics to write about on your blog.

It may be helpful to use your blog’s categories as idea starters. Ask yourself, for each category, “What could I write about this topic?” Stay focused on your readers, potential readers, clients, and customers as you consider what topics will add value for them.

What topics have interested your clients/customers/readers in the past?

What questions can you answer for your clients/customers/readers?

What are you learning about/thinking about that you could share with your clients/customers/readers?

What success stories can you share? What struggles could you share?

What can you write that will make a difference for others? What can you write that will propel your business forward?

What can you write that people will want to share? What can you write that will engage people in conversation?

What can you write that will help people get to know you better?

What can you write that will help you people understand your business offerings more clearly?

Today’s Tip: Blog Brainstorming

Set your timer for 12 minutes. Using the questions above as a guide, brainstorm topics for your blog. Keep the list in an easily accessible location so you can add to it, wherever you are, when inspiration strikes. (Evernote is a good choice.)

How will you use your 12 minutes today? 

If you are interested in growing as a leader, I hope you’ll check out the tips my friend Wally Bock shares daily  for leaders at the Three Star Leadership Blog. Discover Wally’s tips here. 

I love blogs and I love blogging.

I started reading blogs too many years ago to count. I started writing a blog nearly three years ago. I’ve managed and created content for several blogs and contributed to many others.

While blogging is fun for me, I know that blogging is a challenge for some of you. You may know it’s important for your business but struggle to create and share content.

This week, I invite you to join me for a series of tasks related to blogs and blogging. By devoting just 12 minutes to each task, you’ll build your online presence through your blog.

Today, I invite you to spend a few minutes discovering your why. Your “why” for blogging is important; your “why” will keep you motivated and fuel your commitment. Realize that your why may change over time. My why for writing this blog is very different than my why for writing other on other blogs.

Today’s Tip: Find Your Why

 Set your timer for 12 minutes and spend that time reflecting about why you want to blog. If you are blogging for your business, consider what you hope to accomplish and who you hope to reach. Write down your ideas and thoughts.

How will you use your 12 minutes today? 

If you are interested in growing as a leader, I hope you’ll check out the tips my friend Wally Bock shares daily  for leaders at the Three Star Leadership Blog. Discover Wally’s tips here. 

I have a new show this morning at Toledo Biz Connect TV. It outlines three reasons your website needs a blog.

WATCH IT NOW!

What motivates you to create content for your blog?

If you do not have a blog for your business, would you like one? If not, what reservations do you have about starting a blog?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

I’m happy to announce that Phil Gerbyshak and I are launching our new Social Media Quick Start Guide today.

It’s designed for people who need to start using social media to grow their businesses. It’s step-by-step, practical, focused training.

You can get it by filling out this form. Not sure if you should download it? Read 3 Reasons to Download Our Quick Start — Now.

Did I mention that it’s free?

I hope you’ll download it today and share it with people you know who need to start.

Today is one of those days when I realize how much I am learning.

A year ago, I had no idea what a friend was talking about when he asked me (about another friend) “Does he have a list?”

I didn’t know that a list was a list of email addresses for business. I didn’t know anything about how people grow their lists or what they used them for.

Maybe I shouldn’t be telling you this.

It seems a little embarrassing.

Maybe you’ve known about lists and the importance of growing a list for a long time.

I’m not sure why I didn’t know. I wasn’t paying attention. I didn’t need to.

Now that I know, I’m glad to share what I’ve learned with you.

And I’m excited to share my first ever email newsletter with you. I’m happy about how it turned out, and I love all the cool social media functionality Mail Chimp offers.

I’d also love it if you subscribed to the newsletter. There’s a form on the bottom left of the sidebar to this blog.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you grow or communicate with your list!

She won’t be four forever.

That’s my reminder to myself when I hear footsteps in the hallway and then see my littlest girl tumbling into my room.

The clock says it’s time for me to get up; I typically spend an hour working each morning before my daughters rise.

But then she climbs into my bed and snuggles close. She’s cozy and even though I’m wide awake, I stay here, our heads touching on my pillow, all the way through that planned hour of work.

Because she won’t be four forever.

She won’t be ten forever.

That’s my reminder to myself when my oldest wants to read extra at bedtime. We’re reading To Kill a Mockingbird aloud each night, with me skipping the questionable parts.

It’s also my reminder to myself when she wants to talk. She won’t always want to talk to me at the end of the day, I know.

I’m often feel rushed. The clock says that it’s time for bed, and I have plans for the time after the kids go to bed.

Sometimes —work.

Sometimes (although not often enough)—exercise.

Sometimes — television (my husband and I are loving Mad Men on Netflix.)

Often — quiet time to talk with my husband after the day.

Often — moments to relax, collapsed in my favorite chair.

I set aside those plans for a few extra minutes, and we read or we talk.

Because she won’t be ten forever.

She won’t be seven forever.

That’s what I tell myself when she creates a fun game involving the hose, an umbrella, and mud.

She’s exuberant and full of energy, and she’s happiest when she’s playing outside with her sister and their friend from across the street.

I cringe inwardly when the three of them parade in, muddy feet and soaked clothes, and I open my arms to hug her.

I feel my shirt grow wet from our embrace and my eyes trace the path of mud to the doorway. I hold on for as long as she wants, releasing her with a tight squeeze.

Because she won’t be seven forever.

Tell me something! What do you do to enjoy your children where they are right now? What reminders do you give yourself?