This week at ProBlogger, we’re diving deeper into a topic that’s close to every blogger’s heart: how to keep the momentum going, no matter what life throws at you. Whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned pro, maintaining your blog’s momentum is key to its success.
Last week we talked about the first steps in planning a blog that will help create a long-term sustainable blog. But let’s be real, most of you reading this already have your blog up and running. So, today we’re shifting gears to focus on how to keep this blog thriving, especially through the unpredictable waves of life that can often put an end to blogs (most of which I’ve covered here).
Plan life’s big moments
What “life events” are coming your way that could potentially break your blog’s momentum?
Major life events, whether a joyful occasion like a wedding or the arrival of a new family member, or the exciting transition between taking a vacation or starting a new job, can a drag on your blogging routine. The key here is anticipation and planning. Ask yourself: what big events do I have on the horizon? How can they impact my blogging schedule and what steps can I take now to prepare?
With some forward thinking, the impact of such events can be minimized (and even mitigated). The options for managing these planned outages are wide-ranging.
You might consider:
These strategies are all legitimate – but it’s important to know what you’re going to do, communicate it to your readers, and most importantly think about how you’ll re-engage with your blog after the event (more on that soon).
Facing the unexpected
What would I do if an unexpected life event made starting a blog difficult or impossible?
Then there are those life events we can’t plan for: illness, loss, emergencies. Although we cannot predict them, we can think about how we would manage our blogging commitments during such times. Who could you call on to help you run your blog? Do you have a contingency plan, such as a set of standing articles ready to publish, or a way to let your readers know you’re taking a break?
I don’t have a specific contingency plan for my blogs for these events, but I’ve thought about it. I know that on my main blogs there are other bloggers I could contact to take on some of the load (voluntarily or paid) in an emergency. I also have a few people who have administrative rights to my blogs in case of emergency (kind of like giving a friend the key to your house in case you get locked out).
For some, the contingency plan may simply be a post informing readers that there will be no blogging for the next period, for whatever reason you might have. For others, it might mean involving other people in a blog, having backup posts ready to publish, having a series of questions for bloggers to discuss on your topic, a lighter blogging frequency, etc.
Re-engage after a break
How will you re-engage with your blog after a period of absence?
Taking a break from blogging is important. I try to do this on both a micro level (breaks throughout the day and days off each week) but also on a macro level (extended breaks/vacations).
I’m pretty good at taking extended breaks, but I struggle to get back into the swing of blogging when I return.
Here’s how I approach it:
- Come back to it slowly – don’t expect to rush back. Give yourself time to review comments, emails, and your reading list.
- Provide a buffer – extend your break by a day or two at each end to give yourself time to catch up. It’s not just about extending the vacation, but also managing the workload that awaits you.
- Set a deadline – announce your return in advance to make yourself more responsible.
- Start slowly – gradually increase your publication frequency. Let your readers know that you’re getting back into the swing of things and may need some time to get back to your normal schedule.
Sometimes a break also offers the opportunity to recalibrate and change the way you work. You may want to think about how to make your blogger’s life easier.
We’ll then explore practical tips to help you keep your blog vibrant. Stay tuned!
But for now, remember: blogging is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s about pacing yourself, planning for the ups and downs, and knowing that it’s okay to take a step back when life demands it. You have this.