Some business owners love writing content for their blogs, social media and websites. It is a creative outlet in their day. Not everyone finds it easy though and this can build up a lot of dread, moving the task to the bottom of their to-do lists.
Do you feel stuck when thinking about writing content for your business?
- The writing task seems to get bigger in your mind before you even start.
- You feel the pressure of knowing consistent, fresh, audience-focused content is necessary for a powerful marketing strategy.
- Despite great intentions, it just isn’t getting it done.
- A blank page is waiting to be filled or a few half-written blogs are sitting on your desktop.
Today, I am here to suggest reasons why you may be struggling and provide you with solutions to help you overcome the problem.
5 Top Reasons for Writer’s Block (and What to do About Them)
Putting written content out into the world is about routine, practice, and creative expression. Too often we start editing our ideas before we even begin putting pen to paper. This will get you stuck, anxious, and frustrated. Creativity and self-expression require freedom and space to build an idea.
The challenge with writing content for digital marketing and business growth is it requires consistent, audience-centred, market-researched material for it to be effective in its job. Blogging, website copy and social media are content that needs regular attention for them to work. Getting stuck with writer’s block or avoiding getting started isn’t going to help your business thrive.
If you feel like you are stuck in a writing rut, fear is taking over, and you just can’t seem to start, there normally are a number of reasons for the problem. Where there is a problem, there is a solution – read on!
Reason #1 There is no Plan
You think inspiration will simply appear at some point and it will get done. Some people can fly by the seat of their pants and make this work, but that is not most of us. We can also have the greatest intentions and know that is important to our marketing strategies, but that doesn’t get the job done on its own.
What you may currently be missing
- A scheduled, specific block of time to write content
- A writing routine
- A system and process for content planning
- Action – get started writing
Solutions
How to fix this problem. Create a simple routine for yourself. Set a timer for 15 minutes at the beginning of each workday. Have your workspace prepared beforehand, do not let yourself get distracted, and simply sit down ready to write. You could dictate notes into your phone, use pen and paper, a typewriter or a laptop. Not colourful enough? Use markers, paintbrushes or crayons. Write big, small, upside down, in circles, and let your ideas guide you. The medium doesn’t matter at this point, only unleashing the creative writing process.
Take it one step at a time. Don’t think about the whole writing project, just get started by doing a brainstorming session of ideas. When the timer stops, you can continue or stop writing.
Reason #2 Fear of Being Judged and Visible Online
This is a tricky one for introverts and people who like their privacy. It can stall the writing process worse than any other reason when trying to get content out. Sometimes what we think is procrastination is a masked fear of being seen.
The problem with procrastination (despite it being a lovely distraction) is you are not serving your audience with valuable insight into your business. They need to see what makes you unique, your voice, subject authority and ability to communicate ideas in an engaging and relatable manner.
When your audience gets the opportunity to know you, see what you have to offer and how your products and services can help, they will want to buy from you because they like and trust you. Trust in business comes from consistency, honesty and transparency.
Solutions
Here are a few tips to help you overcome your online fears
- It is not personal when you are writing content for your business. A good marketing strategy will have you interacting with your audience, but it is a business relationship you are building, not a personal one.
- You are not required to overshare. You get to decide what you share and what you do not. Start out small, practice, and your confidence muscles will grow.
- You are building a relationship with your audience (i.e. potential customers), not trying to please everyone on the internet.
- You be you, don’t try to be like your business competitors.
- Practice, practice, practice. This is how you become more confident in writing online. Start out with one blog a month, or one social media post a week on one platform.
- Talk to people in your community, build relationships with other service providers in your industry, and join an association. This will build your experience, and ability to communicate your ideas.
- It goes without saying, online do not share information such as your, your friends or family’s home addresses, account numbers, name of your child’s school. This is basic personal safety for an online presence.
Reason #3 Lack of Ideas About What to Write
There can be many reasons for staring at a blank page and not knowing what to write. Ideas can be fickle sometimes! These are common reasons:
- You don’t know enough about your audience and what will appeal to them.
- You are bored and feel like you write the same old content.
- You dislike writing and don’t feel like doing it.
Solutions
Tackle this one with market research, by getting to know your audience and the current industry market. Doing market research once every few years does not keep you up to speed with trends in customer wants, market influences, changing technology and demographics. Know your customer. Review, and research every 6 months to a year minimum. It needs to fit into your strategic plan. Conduct a SWOT analysis to know yourself, your competitors and the market, to know where you want to position yourself.
Reason #4 Don’t Know Where to Start
This can usually be sourced to feeling overwhelmed. Practically speaking overwhelm can come from a lack of prioritization, exposure to too much information, anxiety, confusion and indecisiveness. Here are a few tips.
Solutions
- Have a writing strategy and a well-researched content plan in place.
- Create a regular, routine block of time in your schedule to plan and write.
- Have a quiet environment where you can focus without external distractions.
- Tidy up scattered papers, clutter, and disorganized computer and paper files in your workspace to minimize the distraction of other to-do’s. Clear your desk, clear your mind.
- Take a class, read blogs that teach you how to plan content, and write blogs, website content and social media posts.
Reason #5 Not Enough Time to Write
This is a popular reason and may seem simple on the surface. Here are a few situations that may be getting you pinched for time to write.
- Everything and everyone else seems to come first – clients, bills, family, professional development, and even keeping your desk clean.
- You sit down to write, are tired can’t think of ideas, feel uninspired, and before you know it, time is up and you haven’t written anything. You give up, defeated.
- Your mind is telling you there isn’t time to fit it into your day.
- There is no writing routine in your schedule or agenda.
- You feel unsure about how to prioritize tasks in your business.
Solutions
This is not a place for judgment. When we gather awareness about our habits and practices we are in a position to choose what we can and want to change as well as to keep what is working well.
We are in charge of our time and how we choose to spend it, are making choices at any given moment. We get to choose for ourselves what we want to focus our time on – does it reflect our values and activities that move our businesses forward? Conversely, does how we spend our time feel empty, obligatory, anxiety provoking and tiring? If it doesn’t feel good or support you in moving forward in life, there is always another way, another choice.
The bottom line is that you matter. Your health, prosperity, sense of well-being and happiness are important! If you are filling your time mindlessly, feeling bored, overwhelmed, angry and stressed, you deserve better. Do some self-reflection, and sit down with a friend or supportive family member, counsellor or business coach to talk about what is going on. They can help you identify and find ways around obstacles in your path. Further, this will help your business grow, bring your stress level down and elevate your day with a sense of purpose.
Next Steps
If you love writing, but get stuck sometimes
Start out small, put some ideas on paper, and create a routine of 15 minutes per day. Put your lucky charm next to you, have a snack beforehand, take a class, read a blog, and sit in a space that gets the ideas twirling. For some that may be set up in a quiet office, at home, a library or a busy coffee shop. Try out some of the ideas and reflections mentioned in this blog. If you are determined and want to write content for your business, you will find a solution.
If you don’t like writing and would rather be doing anything else
If you are avoiding writing because you don’t like it, you could either set a timer, get tough with yourself and write, or hire someone else to do it. Lack of action will not help your business and you won’t feel good about it.
Hire help such as a writer, graphic designer, or virtual assistant to free your time for activities you thrive at doing. This will result in business growth and revenue. These service providers can help you with your content preparation for your business marketing. Forcing yourself to sit and write and the page stays blank does not produce results for you or your business. It is defeating.
Need help writing content for your business? Click the button below to contact me and we can find a solution for your business.
