I admit that I don't write consistent blog posts. There's no excuse. However,
the reason is that I haven't made a commitment to a self imposed schedule - until now. Whether my inconsistency matters is really a question for my audience, that's you. If you don't care, then all is well. However if you do care, then it's potentially damaging my brand. Ouch!
So you should be able to tell that because I'm writing about consistency here that it does matter to me. So today I'm making a commitment to post a blog each week. I'm not commiting to long blogs or even blogs of a certain quality, but just to share thoughts through this medium consistently. I'm going to commit to weekly for the next three months only to put myself through the process (torture?) of other writers who have to crank out ideas to a deadline. It's like in Hollywood, the show must go on. We, that's you and me, must do the work even when we don't feel like it. It takes a level of professionalism to get on with the show. I'm committing to do that and if I find weekly doesn't work, I'll change the frequency rather than subject you to utter rubbish.
So I'm sharing this because I want you to think about the thought leadership pieces you write or produce and whether you keep to a schedule. In your business if you post material to your website and the last piece of content reads 2014, then it's a sure sign you're not being consistent. Given your a professional of some type, it's tempting to say that you are busy with work. Of course! However the material you produce is part of your job too even though you don't bill for these thought leadership pieces. You know they are important when the business development bubble bursts and you realise that it would have made sense to keep consistent material flowing.
Whether you maintain a blog, write articles for external media or produce videos, keeping to a schedule is helpful to get more practised at the craft. Sometimes producing material consistently can result in content that falls short on quality. It can mean a trade off between quality and quantity. I do prefer quality over quantity anyday, however I'm prepared to give up on this if the schedule demands content. Just remember to produce the best you can on the given day, with the available time. Being overly critical isn't going to help you or your audience. Instead be mindful that fresh material encourages visitors to come back if they value what you share.
So I commit to write here consistently even when it pains me to do so. I intend to be a real writer and do the work eve when "I don't feel like it". It's a experiment I want to keep up for at least three months before I revise the schedule.Why don't you set yourself a standard for the next three and keep to it too? I'd like to know how you go.
Tips to keep your content consistent
- Design a schedule that works with your diary - don't impose a frequency that burdens you.
- Decide what key topics you'll focus on, consider the areas you know well or want to build your name
- Understand you build trust by being consistent, use this understanding to support your effort
- Give yourself a break in the event that the last piece of content you produced doesn't match the one before. Sometimes what you consider to be your best work might not be perceived by your audience as their favourite - just do the work when in doubt.
