Hi guys, I wrote an article which I wanted to post on my blog. However I thought more people will read it on BHW. So here it is:
If you?re thinking of starting multiple blogs ? and reading this article for tips on how to do it ? chances are your level of enthusiasm is quite high at the moment. You?re focused on the many advantages that running more than one blog can offer: exposure, credibility, recognition, and increased revenue. And that?s a good thing. The purpose of this article is to help you maintain that initial enthusiasm over the long-term by providing some sound guidelines for managing multiple blogs without burning out.
Here are 10 tips to help you manage more than one blog without sacrificing your sanity in the process:
1. Be Realistic
Don?t spread yourself too thin. Do your best to make a reasonable assessment of the number of blogs you?ll realistically be able to handle. This will include considering the following factors: the amount of time you have available for blogging, your writing style and speed, and how long you honestly expect it to take you to update each blog (hint: it will almost always take longer than you think). It?s usually a good idea to start small. Begin with one blog and add a second one only after you?ve developed a good rhythm with the first. You?ll then be able to continue adding one blog at a time as you feel able to handle the extra work.
2. Select the Right Blog Topics
Often, selecting complementary topics for your blogs makes your job easier. Several blogs devoted to the same or similar topics can share much of the same research, saving you time, energy, and effort. This isn?t a hard and fast rule, however, and many bloggers enjoy the change of pace of writing about other topics that interest them. Writing about topics you know well can also save a great deal of time that you would otherwise spend researching and attempting to grasp unfamiliar subjects.
3. Make a List of Post Topics
Brainstorm as many ideas as you can for future posts. Try new approaches to keep it fresh for both yourself and your readers, planning a variety of post types to suit the occasion, as well as your mood. Whenever an idea strikes you, write it down. The more items on your list, the easier it will be to select one you?ll feel motivated and inspired to write about when the time comes to tackle your next post.
4. Pace Yourself
Determine your desired posting frequency for each blog, and develop a posting schedule based on it. Add it to your blogging calendar to create a visual reminder of your plan. Then, create a writing schedule that will allow you to complete the required posts with enough time to spare to keep your stress levels manageable. Take regular breaks to stretch, breathe, relax, and de-stress, and plan time off for rest and recreation.
5. Take Advantage of Spurts of Creativity
When you?re feeling particularly inspired and writing seems almost effortless, make the most of that enthusiasm by turning it into an opportunity to write an extra post or two. That will help you get ahead of the game, providing a few extra posts to tide you over when you need them.
6. Be Research Savvy
Keep an ongoing list of resources to which you can refer instead of starting from scratch each time you need to research a new post. Often, fresh research is preferable, but at times information gathered for another post and never used will be just right for a second, similar post. Using Google Alerts can also simplify your research. Setting up alerts using the keywords that best reflect the focus of your post instructs Google to notify you whenever the Googlebot finds information that?s relevant to your topic.
7. Use Guest Bloggers
Many bloggers in your niche would welcome the opportunity to write a post for your blog ? and do it for free ? in return for a little exposure, a link to their own blog, and an increase in their sphere of influence. Take advantage of this pool of eager helpers to take some of the pressure off.
8. Hire Writers When Necessary
Keep a list of quality writers handy at all times, so you?ll know whom to contact when you?re in a crunch. Many writers are willing to work for a reasonable fee, and once your blogs have become established and your monetization has begun to pay off, you?ll be able to hire a writer when needed without taking money out of your own pocket.
9. Bring a Co-Blogger On Board
Explore the possibility of working with a regular co-blogger, who can share some of the responsibility for keeping your blogs updated. You will likely have to pay this individual though you may be able to offer a percentage of your ad revenues or barter a service you provide (e.g. editing his/her blog).
10. Manage Comments Effectively
Use a comment plug-in such as Akismet to minimize comment spam. You may also want to close older posts to comments entirely. Require guest posters, paid writers, and co-bloggers to respond to the comments left on their posts, and when replying to comments left on your posts, do so succinctly but meaningfully to engage your readers without spending too much time on comments.
A little advance planning can help you manage multiple blogs efficiently and effectively ? and still have enough energy left at the end of the day to enjoy your life.
10 Tactics for Effectively Managing Multiple Blogs
If you?re thinking of starting multiple blogs ? and reading this article for tips on how to do it ? chances are your level of enthusiasm is quite high at the moment. You?re focused on the many advantages that running more than one blog can offer: exposure, credibility, recognition, and increased revenue. And that?s a good thing. The purpose of this article is to help you maintain that initial enthusiasm over the long-term by providing some sound guidelines for managing multiple blogs without burning out.
Here are 10 tips to help you manage more than one blog without sacrificing your sanity in the process:
1. Be Realistic
Don?t spread yourself too thin. Do your best to make a reasonable assessment of the number of blogs you?ll realistically be able to handle. This will include considering the following factors: the amount of time you have available for blogging, your writing style and speed, and how long you honestly expect it to take you to update each blog (hint: it will almost always take longer than you think). It?s usually a good idea to start small. Begin with one blog and add a second one only after you?ve developed a good rhythm with the first. You?ll then be able to continue adding one blog at a time as you feel able to handle the extra work.
2. Select the Right Blog Topics
Often, selecting complementary topics for your blogs makes your job easier. Several blogs devoted to the same or similar topics can share much of the same research, saving you time, energy, and effort. This isn?t a hard and fast rule, however, and many bloggers enjoy the change of pace of writing about other topics that interest them. Writing about topics you know well can also save a great deal of time that you would otherwise spend researching and attempting to grasp unfamiliar subjects.
3. Make a List of Post Topics
Brainstorm as many ideas as you can for future posts. Try new approaches to keep it fresh for both yourself and your readers, planning a variety of post types to suit the occasion, as well as your mood. Whenever an idea strikes you, write it down. The more items on your list, the easier it will be to select one you?ll feel motivated and inspired to write about when the time comes to tackle your next post.
4. Pace Yourself
Determine your desired posting frequency for each blog, and develop a posting schedule based on it. Add it to your blogging calendar to create a visual reminder of your plan. Then, create a writing schedule that will allow you to complete the required posts with enough time to spare to keep your stress levels manageable. Take regular breaks to stretch, breathe, relax, and de-stress, and plan time off for rest and recreation.
5. Take Advantage of Spurts of Creativity
When you?re feeling particularly inspired and writing seems almost effortless, make the most of that enthusiasm by turning it into an opportunity to write an extra post or two. That will help you get ahead of the game, providing a few extra posts to tide you over when you need them.
6. Be Research Savvy
Keep an ongoing list of resources to which you can refer instead of starting from scratch each time you need to research a new post. Often, fresh research is preferable, but at times information gathered for another post and never used will be just right for a second, similar post. Using Google Alerts can also simplify your research. Setting up alerts using the keywords that best reflect the focus of your post instructs Google to notify you whenever the Googlebot finds information that?s relevant to your topic.
7. Use Guest Bloggers
Many bloggers in your niche would welcome the opportunity to write a post for your blog ? and do it for free ? in return for a little exposure, a link to their own blog, and an increase in their sphere of influence. Take advantage of this pool of eager helpers to take some of the pressure off.
8. Hire Writers When Necessary
Keep a list of quality writers handy at all times, so you?ll know whom to contact when you?re in a crunch. Many writers are willing to work for a reasonable fee, and once your blogs have become established and your monetization has begun to pay off, you?ll be able to hire a writer when needed without taking money out of your own pocket.
9. Bring a Co-Blogger On Board
Explore the possibility of working with a regular co-blogger, who can share some of the responsibility for keeping your blogs updated. You will likely have to pay this individual though you may be able to offer a percentage of your ad revenues or barter a service you provide (e.g. editing his/her blog).
10. Manage Comments Effectively
Use a comment plug-in such as Akismet to minimize comment spam. You may also want to close older posts to comments entirely. Require guest posters, paid writers, and co-bloggers to respond to the comments left on their posts, and when replying to comments left on your posts, do so succinctly but meaningfully to engage your readers without spending too much time on comments.
A little advance planning can help you manage multiple blogs efficiently and effectively ? and still have enough energy left at the end of the day to enjoy your life.
