Maintaining Blog Series Momentum
Have you ever found yourself looking at your blog wondering what to write about next?
You may think you’ve explored every angle of your subject, leaving nothing unturned. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
Many bloggers face this challenge, especially after the initial enthusiasm has faded, usually between 6 and 12 months into their blogging journey. This feeling of having “said everything” can be discouraging, but we are far from being at the end of the road.
The myth of exhausted subjects:
The feeling that you’ve covered every possible topic is a common misconception among bloggers. Rather than viewing your blog archives as a completed checklist, I encourage you to view them as a goldmine of untapped potential. Your past posts aren’t just remnants of your blogging journey; they are springboards to deeper and more enriched content. Here’s why:
- Depth over width: Topics, especially in dynamic fields like blogging, are never truly “finished.” Just as you grow and evolve, your topics and niche evolve as well. What was relevant a year ago may have new implications today, and your understanding of certain concepts has likely deepened. This development is the perfect opportunity to revisit old topics with fresh eyes and new perspectives.
- New readers, new perspectives: Your audience is continually evolving and new readers discover your blog every day. These new subscribers have not browsed your archives; to them, your old content is brand new. Returning to previous topics can introduce your new audience to valuable information they missed, while also giving you the opportunity to update and refine your previous views.
Because of these two factors, you should view your archive of old messages not only as a collection of your previous thoughts, but also as a springboard for new ones.
I regularly go through old posts looking for ideas for future ones. I’m particularly looking for articles that I disagree with (due to a change in perspective) or articles that I think I can expand on. Sometimes I link back to my old posts to show the progression of thinking, but many times I simply write them as new standalone content.
I often talk about how blogs are conversational in that they lend themselves to interactions between blogger and readers (as well as between bloggers). Here are 3 easy ways to make your blog posts more conversational.
Strategies for leveraging your archives:
Turning your archives into a source of inspiration can transform the way you approach content creation. Here are some practical strategies to help you get started:
- Audit your archives: Dive into your previous posts and identify topics that could be updated, expanded upon, or even challenged. Look for posts that once sparked heated discussions or ones that continue to attract attention. They are perfect candidates for follow-up.
- Disagree with your past: As you evolve, so do your opinions and strategies. If you find posts that no longer align with your current views, write a rebuttal. This not only demonstrates your growth, but also encourages readers to engage in the evolving conversation.
- Dive deep into complex topics: Some topics cannot be fully covered in a single article. Identify previous topics that could benefit from more detailed exploration. Breaking down complex ideas into multiple articles or series can provide tremendous value to your readers.
- Introduce new formats: Coming back to a topic doesn’t mean you have to stick to the same format. If your initial post was text-heavy, consider creating an infographic, video, or podcast episode to explore the topic from a different perspective.
- Encourage reader participation: Invite your audience to suggest topics they would like to see revisited or expanded upon. This not only gives you direct insight into what your readers find valuable, but also fosters a sense of community and engagement.
Learn more about managing and updating your archives.
The feeling of having covered every possible topic in your niche is a sign that it’s time to revisit your archives, not a signal to give up. By viewing your past content as a foundation for growth and development, you can continue to produce engaging, relevant, and valuable posts for your audience. Remember, the key to keeping blogs vibrant isn’t always finding something new to say, but finding new ways to say it.
When you treat your archives as a living part of your blog that can be revisited over time, you take the conversation into a new realm: talking to yourself. Although “talking to yourself” might seem a little strange (my mother always said it was the first sign of insanity), I think it’s actually one of the first signs of a mature blogger who takes his blog to a new level by refining his thoughts. on a subject. It is through this process of refinement that true wisdom and expertise surface.
Without revisiting your previous thoughts or ideas, you run the risk of stagnating and limiting your own growth in your chosen field.
Action plan:
Start today by taking a leisurely stroll through your blog archives. What hidden gems can you find? How can your past self inspire your future content? Let the journey of rediscovery fuel your next great article.
- What do you see there that is expired?
- What old posts do you disagree with?
- Where could you go deeper?
- What older articles have your new readers never seen?
If you’re still struggling, one of my favorite techniques in business to organize my thoughts, help me review, plan and organize my business and think creatively and generate lots of ideas is to use the mind mapping – listen to this podcast episode to hear how I do it.