What I learned from #NaBloPoMo
I did it, y’all. I completed National Blog Posting Month. All 30 days. I actually posted 42 times in November, if you can wrap your head around that fact too.
It was intense, fun, exhausting, exhilarating. I learned a lot in the last month!
1. Planning is key. I started the month strong. I wrote and scheduled several posts one Sunday and that week was great. I think there was one other weekend I was able to write in advance. Throw in a week of traveling and full-time (plus a few hours) of work and I kind of lost my blogging mojo.
2. A content calendar is handy. If you look at November, I had a lot of sponsored content and one big giveaway. I wanted to keep a variety of posts, while focusing efforts on a few important-to-me topics. And I think this is where I ran into the multiple posts in one day.
3. It’s ok to take breaks. I didn’t take a break in November, but it’s totally fine to take a break, regroup and come back refreshed. Even if it’s a day. Or a week. Or longer.
4. Tons of content doesn’t equal a ton of page views. Just because you write it, doesn’t mean people are going to read it. Just like this post! I was writing so much that it was sometimes difficult to properly promote my own work.
5. I have more content ideas than I realize. I have dozens of blog posts in draft, just waiting to be completed. I shocked myself by having different posts every day of November (and I lived to blog about it!)
I set a goal for my numbers before November. And I hit them. There was a point where I didn’t think I was going to make my goal and I started to feel really bad about my blog (and myself) and I had to remind myself why I’m here…because I want to be here. Not because I think I’m the next internet sensation.
NaBloPoMo can be fun. I found a group of bloggers and we all supported each other through our triumphs and not-so-triumphs last month. Without them, NaBloPoMo would have been torture. BlogHer had a great list of links that you could post to each day – I think I posted a few days, but there were THOUSANDS of links and I felt overwhelmed at one point. I think it’s a great idea, but that list could be organized differently.
Will I do it again? Probably. Do I want to do it right now? Absolutely not. I took a night away from my laptop this week. I didn’t check other blogs. My blog post was already scheduled for the next day. I just did things around the house….and it was glorious.
Did you participate in NaBloPoMo this year? Have you participated in previous years?
Congrats! I don’t know how you did it!! I do 5 posts a week and that is my limit!
Great month though and congrats on hitting those numbers!
I made it through the whole month too, and it was an interesting experience. I am happy not to have the stress of trying to get a post written every day now, though. I might do it again in the future, but not for a while. I did find it was easier than I expected in general. I had a lot more to blog about than I had realized. I didn’t use BlogHer much either, I have to admit. I also felt it was just too much to try to weed through. And with posting every day, I didn’t have time for that!
That’;s quite an accomplishment. I need to go back and read some, I know I missed a few posts. I want to do this next year.
It’s funny because I always say that I have more content inside my head than I could ever blog about LOL.
I participated a few years ago and since I was blogging 7 days a week at that time anyhow, it was easy to keep up. But I know what you mean about marketing it! Time, time, time…
That sounds like a lot of work. I would be ready for a week long break after that many blog post.
congrats on making it! and I love your lessons!
Good job! I’ve done the November NaBloPoMo every year since it started. I used to write a fresh post every day (I think that was one of the original “rules”), but I started writing ahead and scheduling posts after BlogHer took it over. It’s never done anything to boost my numbers, but I’m pretty much just writing to entertain myself these days anyway.
I have participated in the past, but failed after like 12 days. I think planning was my downfall. I didn’t put it high on my to-do list or brainstorm topics beforehand. Those two things would have helped, I’m sure.
Good job getting through it alive! Posting that often can be really draining.
I seriously admire you for doing this! I’ve been wanting to do NaNoWriMo for years. I didn’t know there was one for blogging. I think next year it will be my goal 🙂
I definitely agree that it is okay to take breaks. Sometimes it can be overwhelming and break is needed.
No I have never participated – looks like fun. I might give it a try!
I participated a few years ago. I found it easy enough to write the posts but you are right, promoting them wasn’t so easy.
I’m going to try to do this next to year! I’m glad to see what has to go into before hand though!
I have learned that a calendar is always a must have! It helps me to remember what I have do, and when it’s due.
Good for you. Great job. I like to post on avg 8 x a week. Doesn’t happen sometimes, but organizing is the key.
It’s a lot, for sure – but I enjoyed the connections more than anything. I love our little group!!
Good job keeping at it all month. I like to blog, but I don’t think I have the dedication it takes to blog every day for a month straight.
Planning is the key to my blog. I try to do as much as possible in advance because I never know when I’ll run out of steam, or when something will happen.
Not so triumph here! I’ll do this again next year. It served a purpose for me even if I didn’t make it. And I’m thankful for the group that Andrea created. It’s a wonderful bunch!
I have not participated. I enjoy reading others’ posts though. And yep, a break can really be refreshing and nice!
I’ve tried to do once but couldn’t keep with it. Your list sounds like one I would write. Lol
I have not participated in this before. I will have to look into doing it next year.
Congrats to you! I always think I should try this writing task, but I just don’t think I can do it!
It’s interesting to take a step back and reevaluate yourself and your blog. I think you’re making wise decisions!
Congrats on completing every day. That is really impressive. I try to plan ahead and stay organized, but then life happens some days and I get derailed. lol. Isn’t that just the way? … I have never participated in this before but would totally check it out. Thanks.
Never heard of NaBloPoMo but it sounds interesting. I have a problem posting 3x a week so you doing it everyday for a month must of been something! Writing can be tedious but it show preservernce and that you completed your goals! Good Job!
I think people are shocked when I tell them that I only spend about 20% of my time writing. If that! Most of it is marketing/planning/creating content. And then there is the whole business back end. Great post!