Start thinking ten articles ahead
Gary Bloomer | SHAKING THE TREE #154
Are you a planner? Or are you more of a ‘fly by the seat of your pants’ kind of person?
What do you think would happen if an architect and a contractor were to build a house without a plan?
I think the building would fail down.
When I first set out to build an online presence, my initial articles were not well planned. In fact, they were all over the place.
I thought I could wing it and simply let ideas come from any old source. At the time, I didn’t think about the importance of planning. As a result, I didn’t plan anything.
Looking back, this was as much a mistake as it was an illustration that I had no idea what I was doing.
These days, I do a lot more research and analysis, and I do an extensive amount of planning.
Now, I plan my articles days if not weeks in advance m, with multiple articles referring back to and introducing other pieces.
Back when I first started publishing articles, and because I wasn’t working with a clearly defined plan of action, I found myself writing about all sorts of vaguely disconnected subjects, few of which made much sense, all of which resulted in me losing focus that eventually led to me packing it all in.
These days, I plan my articles weeks in advance. Winging it is no longer the luxury it once was. Now, planning is a necessity.
These days, by outlining and scheduling my content weeks in advance, I’m developing a more consistent and effective online presence.
Here's why thinking several articles ahead is a game-changer:
1. Greater consistency: By planning what you’ll write about and publish weeks in advance you take the pressure off to come up with ideas, AND you show your readers you’re on the ball. By giving your readers a better idea of the articles you'll be sharing with them in the coming weeks, you give them more reasons to keep coming back.
2. Better SEO: Search engines reward websites with regular, high-quality content. By planning ahead, you can ensure that your content is optimized for relevant keywords and published on a consistent basis, boosting your search engine rankings.
3. Improved time management: Planning ahead allows you to allocate your time and resources more effectively. You can batch similar tasks, such as conducting research or creating graphics, saving time and reducing stress.
4. Smoother thematic coherence: When you plan your content weeks in advance, you create a much more cohesive narrative that connects your articles. This greater cohesion increases your expertise, positioning you as a greater authority in your field.
5. Adaptability: While planning is important, it's also essential to remain flexible. By having a content calendar in place, you can easily adjust your plans to accommodate unexpected events or trending topics.
Thinking several articles ahead is a strategic approach that can significantly enhance your content creation efforts.
By planning your content, you can create a more consistent, effective, and engaging online presence.
As always, thanks for reading.
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P.S. Next time on Shaking the Tree … The benefits of planning your content