Starting an organizing blog? Get advice from the experts!
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Everyone’s telling you that you need to start a blog to promote your organizing business. But when you begin to research what’s involved, most of the resources you find are geared towards blogging as a business model (as opposed to a marketing strategy) or for large organizations with a whole team dedicated to blogging.
I know how hard it can be to apply that information to a one-person service business, so a few months ago, I posted this question in the Blogging Organizers group:
If you could go back in time to when you started your blog, what would you tell yourself?
Group members shared some interesting insights, and you’ll find them helpful as you start or ramp up your blog.
- Have it as part of your website not on another separate blog site.
- Stick to the topic you know best!
- Even though you think you don’t have much to say, you’ll still be coming up with fresh ideas eight years later. So don’t worry about that!
- Work on SEO for each blog post.
- Be consistent. Write weekly no matter what.
- Start your email service provider immediately. Write to your email list weekly no matter what.
- I would not have started a newsletter in addition to what I was writing for my WordPress site.
- Don’t do things just because other bloggers do… do what makes sense for you.
For more answers to this question, read What I’ve Learned in my First 10 Years of Blogging, including the excellent comments.
I’d like to thank the following organizers for contributing to this discussion:
- Julie Stobbe of Mind over Clutter (blogger since 2013)
- Janet Schiesl of Basic Organization (blogger since 2010)
- Lisa Gessert of buzz (blogger since 2014)
- Hilda Rodgers of From Overwhelmed to Organized (blogger since 2012)
- Amy Slenker-Smith of Simply Enough (blogger since 2016)
- Lucy Kelly of Joyful Surroundings (blogger since 2015)
- Diane N. Quintana of DNQ Solutions (blogger since 2007)
Join the conversation
In the comments, please share the advice you’d give to someone who is just getting started with an organizing blog.
If you’d like to discuss blogging with other organizing and productivity pros, join Blogging Organizers – it’s free!
Photo © alphaspirit / depositphotos
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Wow, great advice already! I would add, “Write for the client you want.” I always have my ideal client in my head when I’m writing, and try to provide content that will make them feel positive towards me as an expert they would hire.
Also, join Blogging Organizers (which I did suggest in my NAPO Conference session last year!)
That’s brilliant, but often overlooked. I once had a new client tell me that she read my blog, she felt as though I were speaking to her directly. That’s exactly what you want!
Thanks for supporting Blogging Organizers through your conference recommendation and your active participation. It’s people like you that make it such a wonderful community.
Wonderful advice! Love Seana’s additions too.
A few other things to consider:
• Create a blogging schedule/calendar. I like doing it every six months (Jan-Jun and Jul-Dec.)
• Comment on people’s comments and visit other people’s blogs to comment. Share, share, share.
• Keep an ideas file or notebook (by category) for ideas you might want to blog about. That way if you feel stuck, you have ideas to pull from.
• Pay attention to what resonates with your readers.
• Celebrate the milestones. Wrote this post for my 10-year Bloggiversary: https://www.ohsoorganized.com/blog/2019/11/4/feeling-grateful-and-reflective-on-my-10-year-bloggiversary.html
Lots of great advice, Linda! Thanks so much for sharing and for setting such a great example to other bloggers.
Great ideas Linda, I will start keeping a notebook…!
Awesome. The blog ideas notebook is so helpful when I’m not sure what I want to write.
I write a lot about different organizing steps, etc…I also write about things in my life that may pertain to organizing,,,I say if you write from your heart and experience you can never go wrong…
Absolutely – that is the main thing that will set you apart from everyone else who blogs about organizing!
I agree with all the comments above. What I have started doing is developing a theme and carrying the theme through the month in multiple arenas. My newsletter, weekly tips, and blog all focus around one central theme so I can continue to expand on thoughts. I think the more times and ways someone hears a message the better they understand it.
That’s a great strategy, Diane! I’ve done that too, and sometimes I find it helps me to stay on track, and other times I feel like it’s too rigid… whatever works at the time, I guess!
These are great ideas and I appreciate the shout out, Janet! I’ve come to feel that consistency is key, and no, you don’t have to write weekly. If your readers want to hear your unique voice, they’ll be delighted to hear from you at whatever cadence works for you. The golden rule is, don’t just contact them when you want to sell something 🙂
You’ve hit the nail on the head, Lucy! The beauty of blogging is that it lets you talk to your readers, human to human, instead of marketer to potential customer.
I love these tips for new PO bloggers! I would say be sure to respond to comments. Either delete the ones that are spam or comment and share the legit ones. Visit the blog post when the post go-live to make sure you do not miss the conversation. People commenting are taking time to do it so make sure you are present to respond.
I agree, responding to comments is very important! If you receive more than you have time for, at least answer any questions that are posted – that interaction is gold!
For a beginning blogger (and a beginning organizer!), I appreciate all of your advice so much. I’m working on the consistency right now, but I love all the other advice. Thank you for all that you do!
I’m so happy it’s helpful for you! Thank you for leaving a comment.