This is a second post, the first was written a couple days ago Writing for Internet Success.  Michelle Shaeffer of the Ultimate Blog Challenge added a method and I wanted to share a few more.

Brainstorm ~ via Michelle Shaeffer

In this method, you sit down and think of all the article topics you would like to cover. Write down the topic, a title, whatever comes to your mind. Write down something that might seem random but you know how to tie it into what you need.

Multiple angles

Almost any subject can be covered from multiple angles. What if you were writing about computer repairs? You could have an article about hard drive problems, problems with software, problems with hardware or problems from viruses.

Write children articles.

Now before you tell me you don’t write about children, I mean the article. You write a post covering very basic information. Then write articles to further explain what you covered. Maybe you wrote about places to find videos cheap, this would be the parent article. The children would be articles providing more information about each of the places.

But I am writing for a blog!

Just because you wrote several articles or posts it does not mean you have to post them all. You can post one on one subject and use a different subject next. Then after you cover a few subjects go back, like a rotation through all the posts you have. This way you have variety and have covered what you need.

Live ♥  Laugh ♥ Love

~ MJ Schrader

PROBLEM 1 I had not actually started a daily writing routine, so my goal of writing at least 25 articles a week for 100 in the first month resulted in 60 articles.  250-60=190

PROBLEM 2 One month into HAHD my grandmother had a stroke.  For 2 weeks we had to plan for the unexpected, a sudden leaving.  Then we had 10 days of taking care of things for the family.  So in the 30 days of June, I wrote maybe 15 articles.  190-15=175

PROBLEM 3 This left just over 40 days to write 175 articles ACK.  This resulted in basically what happens when your car is in mud and you decide to use speed to get out…  I bogged down. 

Now the count down is coming to the line… can I do it?  Who knows.

But this is supposed to be writing for internet success.  I learned lessons. 

Solution 1: Make plans to write every day, or a regular once a week session.  Set it up at a regular time.  If you can not write a post for your work blog, create another blog to share ramblings and thoughts but do what you can to write regularly.

Solution 2: Plan ahead.  Do more at the beginning when you have time when things are ok.  When things go south, you are ok.

Solution 3.  FOCUS ON THE NEXT STEP.  See the mountain in the distance, but focus on your next step not the path up ahead, not the hills, rocks and other things in the middle.  Focus one post, one article at a time. And then look up to check the mountain top and realize you are there. 

What solutions do you have?  Add some good ones in the comments and I may add them to another post with a link to your site.

Live ♥ Laugh ♥ Love

MJ Schrader

i. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you used to seeing in print.

Writers may use the phrase inappropriately, or it may not be understood by readers.

ii. Never use a long word where a short one will do.

In his case, he felt like people who used long words were doing so to sound pretentious. Now, people reading online come from all education levels and from around the world, long or confusing words you make your reading harder for them.

iii. If is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.

Your articles and posts do not need to go on for pages when one page will do. People have limited time and are more likely to read an article that gets to the point and lets them go.

iv. Never use the passive where you can use the active.

Using active writing pulls readers into your article. The opposite is true of passive writing.

v. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.

This was before the multicultural foods we enjoy and before technology was something you didn’t leave home without.  Currently this takes more thought and depends on your niche.  If your website is “Raw recipes” you readers likely understand the difference between Vegetarian, Vegan and Raw.  My readers maybe not, but my readers hopefully understand the differences between sidebars, headers, and posts.  While your raw reader may not.  So try to use words that your readers will understand without talking down or over their heads.

vi. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

Even then George Orwell said the rules were mostly suggestions. Using these rules as suggestions will help your article writing and blog writing share information online while helping readers around the world understand you.

And because this blog is read by people in several countries…

Gracias, Blagodaram, Danke, Tack, Arigatô, Xiè xie, Merci, Mahalo, Grazie, and Thank you!

(Spanish, Macedonian, German, Swedish, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, French, Hawaiian, Italian and English)

If I missed your language…  please tell me thank you and please tell me your language.  Sometimes I know other times… not so much.

~ MJ Schrader

Actually I have 7 blogs right now.  (I think.)  There have been many blogs over the past 8 years some of which I got rid of as new blogs with better names came along, some that just no longer fit my needs.  How many?  I haven’t a clue.

The oldest is my blog http://LoveRockstar.com/blog.  This little ditty has made multiple transitions.  It was my first blog back in 2003, and over the years when I move it to the newest interface I have dropped some posts but kept some as well.  Actually this transition only goes back to 2007.  Why did I write about my personal life?  Well I have always wanted to be an author, so that was something to write.

That blog is attached to LoveRockstar.com which is a WordPress website, but the blog part has been dropped.  Although I am considering moving the personal blog to this WordPress site.  (Thinking about it)  But I dropped it because while this was a starting point after I created the blog you are reading now, it became mostly redundant, even more so when 365 was created.

Yes… you are reading Rockstar Guide Books.  This is a blog to help people learn how to use the online tools that can help you succeed.  And yes, I am the WordPress Rockstar so many of my posts relate to that.  (If you want to learn WordPress grab one of my products!)  This was born from the first.

Then 365OnlineTips provides daily success and motivational tips.  Since LoveRockstar website was tips and motivation it seemed redundant but it is a hub page  so people can find the other blogs.

“But you said 7 blogs.”  Well there’s a blog for my affiliates, a blog for my clients, there’s blogs I set up for clients that I still work on, there’s a couple blogs that I haven’t decided on their use.  So that’s how it goes…

“But the title is ‘One More Blog… Please?’”  Well, gee you really want answers for everything don’t you   Ok, it seems that I will soon be a contributor for at least one blog.  There are actually 3 I am in talks with, there was a fourth but they wanted too much for too little.

Why do I have so many blogs?

Simple, people are not simple.  Ok, the thing is we are multi-faceted beings.  You probably are not all about Hypnosis, Crazy Quilting, or Thinking and Motivating. In fact each of these blog owners have other blogs to cover other parts of their lives.  It is okay to have more than one, just make certain you are able to handle the ones you have.  But my thing is I love to write, but can not focus on just on topic.  So multiple blogs help. 

Til Next time

~ MJ Schrader

One Question = Multiple posts

You aren’t going to get even a single post when you answer a question with a simple yes or no.  So think about other aspects, related needs, or situations.  For example: “Should I get a Blackberry phone?” does not have to have a one word answer.   You just need to think about what information you would want, had you asked the question. Then discuss the information for your web site content. But for true web site content creation, look into the question, you are sitting on a goldmine of articles.

Finding the Goldmine of Content Creation

For the Blackberry phone, here’s just a sampling of articles you could write.

• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a Blackberry.
• Explain the differences between the models.
• Which is best for a job type
• Is photo geek’s needs different than a text lover?
• Does where someone lives make a difference?
• Problems with Blackberries
• Go for funny, explain the differences between the blackberry fruit and the Blackberry phone.

Everyone has different needs.

When you think of all the different people who need answers to a question, and how their needs are different from someone else your potential article opens up into a whole world of articles. One question can turn into multiple blog posts for your web site content. You can turn content creation from an aspect of fear into a world of opportunity.

~ MJ Schrader

PS:  Special Blog Post Love ♥ To Melanie Kissell of MelanieKissell.com,  Evelyn Brooks of GetHappyToday.com,  Vernon Harleston of HighRoadism.com, Deb Auger of MyWebGal.com, who have kept me inspired during this #Blog30

This may not seem like an online tool type post, yet the biggest tool to succeeding online is you and your inner game.

It has been said that what you need tends to show up around you. While last week I got ahead on my blog posts I wrote yesterday’s in a bit of hurry. (Sorry Geoff but I do love you and your post was easy to write.) Yesterday I was getting everything together for my mom’s birthday today.

But the reason I went from ahead to “on time” is fear based.  Because I am very very near completion on two projects, and I am very afraid. Yet in the synchronicity that seems to be the topic many people are writing about this week. Erica Douglass has guest blog The Secret to Getting Past Go, then Geoff Hoff has Look After Your Gnome while Connie Green wrote Fear of Rejection – Overcoming the Feeling of Not Being Good Enough.

The Teachers Were Wrong

Similar to Connie, in school many teachers told me that I really needed to leave writing and story telling to someone else.  They told me to stick with math.   Over and over I heard this, yet writing was a life long dream. By life long, I mean at 5 I wanted to be an author. So the hunger was fire deep inside my belly and grew and grew until I finally had to take action.

Hesitation

I sit here with just two ebooks available. Rockstar Guide to WordPress and Unlock Your Personal Power which I wrote with Kelly.  There are 5 products (including the 2 that are almost done) within just a few steps of completion yet I have hesitated.

Hesitation does not benefit anyone. It keeps your light, your story, your adventure from reaching full potential. Perhaps this is the final lesson, as Erica’s was to me today… the one that makes you say to the Universe, “Yes, I got the message.”

Succeed is My Only Choice.

In answer to some recent questions, this is my full time gig now. Writing and pushing this blog and my business into a full time income. In the past year since I lost my job, the income has grown but not by enough yet.   And now, my savings is running dry, so I am going to have to push forward.  But why haven’t I finished my products before now?

Why?

… blah … blah… blah… (translation: I have excuses but the true reason is fear)

What if you do not like my writing?  What if people don’t read my writing?  What if no one buys?  What if it does not work?

The thing is you have these what if’s as well. If you allow them to grow and do not push for your own success who will?

BUT WHAT IF??

What if my writing becomes wildly popular? What if I make more money than I ever did with a J.O.B?  And in your case, what if your dreams come true in the wildest fashion imaginable?  What if you had more than enough to meet your needs and help the others important to you???  What if???

So what is your fear? And what is it keeping you from doing?

~ MJ Schrader

Please wish a huge Happy Birthday to my mom!!!

She actually doesn’t go online much.  And the cake?  Took an hour to decorate.  Chocolate Cake, Coconut filling, Chocolate Butter-cream frosting, Decorations are Almond Flowers and Dark Chocolate lines and spots

Meeting Geoff

Geoff and I finally got to meet in person at Unseminar 7 after having chatted a few times over at a forum.  Unseminars are incredible experiences that bring together a wide variety of people who may not know anyone upon arrival and leave with a brand new family of friends.  The incredible Pat O’Bryan hosts the events and actually there is Unseminar 8 coming.  But Geoff is an incredible guy, very passionate in telling and writing of stories.  Writing is assuredly one of the loves of his life.

About Writing

Geoff has written with Steve Mancini for 11 years.  They have written a best-selling satirical novel called Weeping Willow and won a Webby Award for our work on the web series Poor Paul.   While awards are nice, the question remains, what is “You Can Write a Short Story” and WIIFM?

WIIFM, What’s In It For Me?

They have a course that can teach you how to write.   They can teach you how to “find inspiration” and how to break “writer’s block.”  You do not have to be a writing fiend to learn how to find ideas and turn them into actual stories.  Many of my stories come spur of the moment which is something Geoff and Steve teach as well.

But what does this have to do with my business?

Ok, so short stories aren’t your thing.  But blog posts, ebooks and courses require some writing.  If you are wanting to write more for your business, then this could teach you the skills to feel more confident in your writing abilities.   By following the course, you will have written a short story by the end.  Perhaps the story will never do anything but sit upon your laptop, but the skills can be applied to your business.

In other words, if you have trouble creating content this will help you!

To Learn more or buy now visit “You Can Write a Short Story” and tell them I sent you!

~ MJ Schrader

PS Yes, I earn commission, if you buy it.  But Geoff and Steve are wonderful writers and teachers of writing.  And the commission will be used to help fund my trip to Unseminar 8.

This has been interesting. Twice in this #Blog30 day challenge I have been gone for 4 days. That has left me with 22 days to write, if there are no other absences.   The first time I was gone, I got my posts done in advance.  After the one this weekend,  I am playing catch up. The 4 days between visiting the family in Florida and preparing for company and spending the weekend family here was not enough time to get ahead, although I am now writing in advance.

Scheduling WordPress Posts

Every time you make a post you have the option to schedule it. What this does it delays writing or can back date it.

Back Date WordPress Posts

When you create a new blog, you might want it to look like an established blog. You could also write a post and realize you want to add a previous post to add back story or information that needs to come before. In my case I back dated a few posts to keep the dates at one post a day during my last absence. Months from now, it will show one post a day, instead of 2 or 3 posts a day.

Future Scheduling WordPress Posts

This is the big thing I used. Again this keeps it from showing 2 or 3 posts a day. In my first absence I scheduled a post a day so they would keep showing up daily. Plus right now I am on a writing binge so this post itself is scheduled for Tuesday  and today is actually Friday night.

For some people they may not have time to write every day. This also comes in handy if you have ideas for a series of blog posts, because you can write all the posts at once. A vacation does not mean your blog will look abandoned. Some people write 52 posts at once and have a full year of posts scheduled to automatically post.

How to Schedule Your Blog Posts

After you are done writing your post, you can press publish. This might either be below the post or to the right depending on if you have your screen set on one or two columns. Above that publish button is “Publish Immediately” followed by “Edit.” Clicking Edit will allow you to change the date. You can change the year, the month, the day, even the time of day.

For 365 Online Tips, Kelly nor I want to get up at 5 am to make the daily post.  (2 women who hate early morning, early morning post not a good combo.) Thus we schedule the posts for release before 8am EST. Perhaps you want to have a lunch post, or one after work. This allows you to be specific about the time of day the post will publish.

Now you know! And now you don’t have to worry about writing lots of posts in one day and having nothing to write the next.

~ MJ Schrader

Recap

Enter your topic of choice in the search at the top of the page.  Add an author, quotes, or extra words as necessary.  Now what happens when you find an article you like?

Looking over an article

Click on an article title you like or click = Do it Right Now! Be Productive With a Prickly Pear. The byline (author’s name) is underneath the title. Below that the word count (419 words), should you need a particular size. Then you can view the summary by clicking that link or scroll down and read the full article. Near the bottom of the page are the various citations, MLA Style, APA style, and Chicago Style (not be confused with the pizza).

Choosing an article.

You decide this article is exactly what you need. If you are the bottom scroll back up to right below the article. Beneath the article is a gray box. Click an icon to share the article in that social media format. However since you are looking for content you are going to click “EzinePublisher.”

Now what?

You will see an article summary. A summary of TOS. Improbable phrases and improbable keywords (phrases and keywords unique to my article i.e. prickly pear.) Next is a text version of the article followed by an HTML version. Since you are adding this to your blog, you want HTML. It looks nicer. Below that is the Summary, Keywords and Article URL.

Adding to your Blog.

Click add posts. Where you enter your posts you will see a tab (on the right) that says Visual and another HTML. Click HTML. Click inside the HTML box on Ezine Articles. Press Ctrl+C, this will copy the article. Now back to your blog post. Inside the box click Ctrl+V, this will paste the article with the Author Resource Box and Article Source. Alternative you can use the mouse right click functions.

SEO

If you are using an SEO plugin or Thesis Theme (or other SEO theme), you have a few additional steps for SEO! (Search engine optimization). Copy the title into the title box. Then copy the summary which is below the HTML version, using above tips. You will paste this in the description or summary area of your post. Repeat with the keywords. And Badda Bing you have new content for the price of a few clicks of the mouse.

Hope this helps, and please comment with your ideas and suggestions!

~ MJ Schrader

Your blog first and foremost should be something that interests you and your readers.

Picking a Niche

You need to find a niche, which a specialized market. A blog covering everything is too broad for your readers to get involved. Focusing on something smaller, like home theaters, flower gardening, or cooking quick easy meals give you and your readers a certain amount of connection automatically. When you choose a blog topic that you enjoy your readers will feel your passion and be more inclined to read.

Once you decide on a niche, look for forums, social networks and other online sites aimed at your niche. Look for people wanting information, people who are buying, and what they are buying. Make a few posts, discuss your ideas. This will start building your reputation and help you find potential readers..

Not an expert?

Don’t worry if you aren’t an expert. A 4th grader knows more than a 1st grader. Thus sharing your knowledge about a particular niche even if you do not think is much is more than what some know.

Being a professional writer is not required. As long as you can follow basic grammatical rules and write in a clear and engaging fashion you will find readers. Your readers are not looking for Shakespeare, they are looking for information.

I hate to write

Fortunately there are many sites that offer articles which is great blog content. Ezine Articles is one such site. I highly recommend the Expert Author MJ Schrader. Seriously right now I have over 100 articles and the number is growing. But you can search on Ezine articles for different articles that fit your needs.

Your blog should add value to your readers’ lives, give them something to thing about, or makes them form an opinion. This is what will keep your readers coming back again and again.

~ MJ Schrader

PS Tomorrow’s post will be about how to use Ezine Articles.