Blogging Tips for Busy Entrepreneurs that Hate Writing + Tech
“Megan, how can I improve my website’s SEO?”
“I highly recommend adding a blog and posting regularly.”
“Ughhh. But I hate writing and tech stresses me out and I’m already so busy as it is!”
I hear you.
Just thinking about blogging can feel overwhelming.
But it’s such a great way to improve SEO and build trust with potential customers, so if you’re too busy, or hate writing, or are freaked out by the tech, I’ve got some tips for you!
Blogging Success
I have a friend that launched her business and website around the same time as I launched mine.
She started with a few short blog posts. Then stopped blogging and focused her attention on guest features, building a social media following, and attending in-person events.
She’s everywhere, has a much bigger social media following and is way more well-known than I am.
And yet. My website has nearly triple the amount of views a month than hers. I am convinced it’s because of my blog.
I don’t have a million posts.
I don’t blog everyday.
I just try to produce helpful, thorough, strategic content regularly. And those blog posts are pulling in traffic, from Google searches, to my website.
One of the biggest concerns of small businesses these days is SEO. And in my experience, producing quality, consistent content is one of the best ways to improve your SEO.
You might be thinking: “But I hate writing. I literally have a mental block when it comes to tech. I am not a consistent person. I am already SO busy. I just can’t blog.”
Well, I’m here to break down those walls.
You can do it.
And I’ll show you how.
In this blog post, I am knocking down four myths of blogging that I’ve personally heard from fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners. Plus, I’m dishing out lots of encouraging tips to show you how even the tech-averse, non-writer, busy business owner, can start a blog.
Myth #1 - You have to be a tech-wiz to have a blog.
If tech ain’t your thing, you can still have a blog. Can you type on a keyboard? Use a mouse? Then you can blog. And here’s how…
Blog on Squarespace
Squarespace has a user-friendly interface that makes blogging simple, even for “non-techy” folks. No coding needed. No complex tech.
I like to say that Squarespace is like the iPhone of the website-building platforms. It’s got such a sleek, streamlined and straightforward user-experience.
If you can send an email, you can blog on Squarespace. Seriously.
Squarespace has a whole library of tutorials to walk you through blogging on their platform.
Not a designer? They offer templates where the blog feature is pretty much ready to use “out of the box.”
And the best part is, with Squarespace, you can have your blog, your website, and your online store, all in one place. (I’m not an affiliate of Squarespace - they’re not paying me to say this - I am just a genuinely happy customer.)
Hire a Web Designer
If wading through Squarespace tutorials makes you want to gouge your eyes, I’d consider hiring a Squarespace website designer. (Shameless plug. 😉)
Not only do I set-up blogs for my clients, but I also provide a live lesson where I teach them how to use it.
Of course, they’ll forget half the steps by the time they’re ready to add a new blog post, so I record the entire lesson for them to refer back to.
Plus, I provide a blog post template, so that adding a new post is as simple as clicking “Duplicate” and swapping in the new text.
And, I give them access to a portal of resources, including step-by-step instructions for blogging.
When looking for a Squarespace designer, look for one that will teach you how to use your blog once it’s built.
Look for Creative, affordable solutions
If you’re not ready to invest in professional help, but your tech-loathing is preventing you from starting a blog, don’t despair.
Don’t give up. Get creative.
Enlist the help of your favorite Gen Z’er friend - maybe a niece or nephew.
The younger generations have been using tech since birth. It’s second-nature to them. So, ask for their help. Pay what you can afford and what is fair for their age/skill level.
Use Word or email to draft the post.
Heck, type it on a typewriter or write it out with good ol’ pen and paper, if computers freak you out.
Then ask your Gen Z friend to wade through the Squarespace tutorials for you.
When there’s a will, there’s a way. ;)
Myth #2 - You have to be a good writer, or at the very least, enjoy it in order to blog.
Don’t let your detest of writing hold you back. If you hate writing, talk instead.
Video or Audio-Record
Some people are overwhelmed by the thought of writing, but could talk about their business all day.
Sound like you?
If so, instead of trying to force yourself to sit down and write a new blog post, make a video or audio-recording instead.
Get it Transcribed
Use a transcription service like Amazon Transcribe to turn your speech into text.
Clean up the transcription.
Add some headings.
Voila.
You just made a blog post.
The written text is great for SEO, and see, you didn’t even have to “write” it.
Upload the video to Youtube
Upload the video or audio-recording with some powerpoint slides to Youtube. (Call your Gen Z friend for help if you need to.)
Youtube is essentially a giant search engine.
By adding videos there, you’re creating another way for people to discover your business and also drive more traffic to your website.
Double the benefits.
One post.
Myth #3 - People who blog are consistent. I can’t blog because I’m not consistent with anything.
When it comes to blogging, it’s true that consistency trumps frequency. But, even people who struggle with being consistent, can blog.
You’re probably more consistent than you think
If you’re thinking to yourself: “I’m not a consistent person, I don’t keep any new habit, I could NEVER blog on the reg.” I’d like to argue that you’re probably more consistent than you give yourself credit for.
Do you sleep on the daily?
Eat?
Drink?
I’m guessing that you probably do these things at least every other day, if not daily.
Boom.
You can now consider yourself a consistent person.
Choose a Manageable Blogging schedule
Now, to become a consistent blogger, choose a blogging frequency that you can easily stick to.
Start with a manageable number, like maybe once a month.
Write a few blog posts in advance. Schedule one post to go live each month. (Squarespace has a great feature to schedule posts ahead of time.)
And see, you’ve just become a consistent blogger.
Myth #4 - I’m too busy to blog.
Maybe. But before you swear off blogging due to busyness, try these time-saving hacks first.
Start with a Blog Post Template
Rather than re-invent the wheel every time you need to write a post, start with a template.
Squarespace makes it easy to duplicate posts, so I always start by duplicating a previous post of mine to use as my template. It keeps the layout of my posts consistent.
I also have a go-to outline I use to actually write the posts. I got the idea from copywriter Ashlyn Carter, it looks like this:
Hook/Intro story/Fact, then segue
Core Message: In this blog I’m telling you…
Sections (4+)
Tell Them Again
Call to Action
Set-Up a Workflow
When I say “workflow” I just mean a set of repeatable tasks or a process to accomplish something.
To set up a workflow for blogging, when you sit down to create your first blog post, write down every step you take to get it done.
The next time you sit down to write a post, rather than trying to remember what you did, you’ll have a clear process written out, step-by-step, for you to easily follow.
My current blog workflow looks like:
Select a blog topic. (I actually like to brainstorm blog ideas in advance and keep a running list to choose from.)
Determine the blog objectives.
Outline + write the post in Google Docs.
Duplicate the blog template in Squarespace.
Add in text.
Add images, graphics, screenshots, links, etc.
Create the lead magnet (if needed) & embed.
EDIT.
Select Categories + Tags
Schedule Post.
I’m going to link to Ashlyn Carter’s post about creating a blog workflow again here since I think it’s so helpful! In fact, I incorporate a lot of her tips into my own blog writing process.
Batch Write Posts
Trying to write a post the night before it goes live, never works for me. Instead, I like to schedule time in advance to work on blogging. And I like to batch my work. Meaning: I like to focus on similar tasks at a time.
For example, every quarter, I schedule a time to brainstorm blog post ideas and map out my content strategy for the upcoming months. I have a whole section in Asana (my project management software) where I keep all my ideas for blog posts.
I love knowing what I’m going to write about for the next couple months.
Weekly, I schedule a day to outline a couple posts. Then, I schedule a day to write out the post. And another day to add it all into Squarespace.
This way, I can have a post ready to go on time, without burning the midnight oil (usually 😉).
Hopefully, with these tips, I’ve given some blogging hope to all the busy, tech-averse, non-writer entrepreneurs.
PS - Looking for more tips to improve your website? Click HERE to download a FREE calendar of simple, daily tasks to completely refresh your website in a month.