Many bloggers make the mistake of treating their articles like a test. They come up with an idea for a post and then research and cram all the information they can find on the internet into their study process for that post. Before they know it they have an ulcer worrying about all the information they believe they don’t know about their topic instead of focusing on what they do know.
I am just as guilty as the next blogger at treating my posts as some imaginary test that I am cramming for in the unrealistic belief that there might be a pop quiz on my subject. If you find yourself spending more time researching a post than writing your next great post, STOP! Chances are you know everything you need to know to complete your killer content. Spend your time writing about what you do know instead of trying to find the elusive needle in the information haystack.
Here are some techniques you can use today to eliminate information overload, increase content production, and help you learn when enough is enough…
Your Blog Is About What You Know, Not What You Don’t Know!
You should already have selected your blog niche. You are probably already an expert (or very knowledgeable) about your selected topic. You have to have more faith in your knowledge about the subject of your post.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that you should not further your expertise on your topic, but is it realistic that you are going to know everything possible on a given subject? Ask yourself this question. What do you already know about your topic that can help readers that have very limited knowledge of your topic? By focusing and writing what you do know instead of wasting hour looking for a small scrape of information that you don’t know you can use your limited blogging time much more productively.
Pick A Few Sources
know when you have enough information to write your article
Unless you are working for Britannica you are not writing an encyclopedia. When you come up with a great idea for an article sure you should do some research on your topic, however know when you have enough information to write your article.
Find a few interesting posts with unique points and information that increases the benefit of your post and link them in your post. For instance Rich Schefren has some great advice on how to eliminate information overload.
Enough Is Enough
Spend some time writing your article and then go back and reread it, searching for mistakes, bad grammar, and spelling mistakes. Did you make a promise to your readers in your post? Did you fulfill your promise? Did you add some WOW? If you have fulfilled the promise of your post, now you need to end your post.
It doesn’t take 5000 words to say what you can say in 500. I’m sure you have come across a post that just does not seem to end. I am guilty of this myself. You can spend hours looking for that perfect ending, don’t do that. The best advice I ever received about how to end an essay or blog post is so simple you might not believe it works. Here is the secret to writing an ending.
The best way to end whatever it is you are writing is to take your fingers off of the keyboard.
How do you avoid information overload?
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Great information as usual Bill. I’m guilty of cramming and I do it for almost every article. Do you think that it is worthwhile to research an article, sit back a day, and then write on it after you have given some thought? Or are you advocating to just sit down and write with just the information you know and possibly one source?
I would suggest writing more posts about topics you are already an expert or very knowledgeable on. If you find a topic that you would like to write about but do not know a lot about spend sometime researching the subject.
Many people fall into the trap of thinking they are always forgetting something and need to learn a million more things before they press the publish button. Spend more time writing about what you do know (you know more than you think) than researching endlessly.
I have many posts started that I have not finished. I noticed the reason I had not finished most of those articles is because I felt like I didn’t know enough about the topic and that I needed to do more research. 9 out of 10 off those articles I researched more information and did not find anything that was so important that just had to be added to the post for me to publish it. I think it was my self doubt that kept me from publishing those posts. Seems I have a little self esteem issue that needs to be addressed.
Thanks for the comment Jerad!
I’ve been guilty of this too. I’ve found myself doing it when I haven’t found an angle for post. I keep hoping that I’ll find a fact or quote that will bring the whole thing together.
The trick I play on myself if I find I’m writing and researching too much is to tell myself that I can always do a follow up post. I usually discover afterwards that I’d written everything that needs writing anyway.
Great article, I needed that reminder, I have been focusing so much on writing great articles, that I can write without all the hubub! Thanks again!
This is an excellent article which will be featured in my next blog carnival, thanks for the submission.I appreciate that. Remember to check back on the 26th Aug 2007 as i will release out the authors and articles that made it into my blog carnival first edition. cheers!
Rdgs
Etienne Teo
I have been guilty of cramming. The funny thing is that when I do this the posts are no where near as successful as the ones I just write from my heart.
carnival of struggling bumbling newbies - Aug 18, 2007…
Welcome to the August 18, 2007 edition of ! carnival of struggling bumbling newbi.
Millionaire Mommy Next Door presents Evaluation is Critical for Success. How to Measure Your Progress. posted at Millionaire Mommy Next Door, saying, “…
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You got it Woodshed, when I started to realize I was spending more time reading than writing I had to find a way to be more productive.
Thanks for including me in your blog carnival Etienne Teo!
Thanks eve.
I guess that is what makes N.A.D.S. so perfect because I AM THE EXPERT. (paste evil laugh here) HA HA HA HAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
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good post.
[…] Bill presents Stop Cramming For A Post! posted at Passionate Blogger, saying, “Many bloggers make the mistake of treating their […]