I decided to write this post thanks to my dear Twitter friend and colleague Sarai Pahla who mentioned once on Twitter that she honestly wonders how I find time for blogging regularly. Well, I am about to share my secret with you now. I am also going to share a couple tricks that help other blogging translators. Interested? Then read further. Here's what I do:
1. Long ago, I made it my commitment to post a new article approximately once a week. It all started with that commitment. For me, blogging is a part of my business. It's not a hobby that I do at my free time, but it's a part of my work. I love it, so it's not a burden.
2. I plan my schedule accordingly. Normally, it takes me several days to finish a post because I work on it bit by bit every day or almost every day.
I realize very well that sometimes it's hard to update your blog on a regular basis. We all have our busy times, and sometimes other circumstances may prevent us from publishing new content. Let's see some examples of tricks we can use:
- Catherine Christaki publishes her own weekly collections of posts written by other bloggers.
- Megan Onions publishes very simple (3 questions), yet very interesting interviews with other translators. By the way, that also helped her blog to gain popularity.
- Some bloggers who have been around for a long time revisit their older posts and publish them again with some slight variations.
- Guest posts are also helpful. There have been a few times when I asked my colleagues to write a post for my blog because I was sick or very busy. I will never regret that decision. It really was a win-win solution because it provided new content for my blog and helped my colleagues to gain more visibility online.
Would you like to share some tips and tricks you use to update your blog on a regular basis? I'd love to hear from you!
That's true, Olesya! I also make a lot of draft posts and write down every idea I have. It really helps. Btw I really like your latest post about the psychological aspect of working with freelancers. Great article.
ReplyDeleteI'll just read what others have to say, because my both blogs, and both are not about translation, are now quite obsolete:(. I just have no time for them. I'm trying to do something about it, but it seems hard for the time being. I know I have to, because the travel season is on the way and blogging is really a part of my marketing, but, but, but...
ReplyDeleteHi Olga! First of all, I love your blogs :) They are not about translation, but you share a lot of interesting things about the Russian culture and about Siberia. I can only hope that one day you will start updating them more often, though I realize it's a tricky subject in your case. Anyway, good luck with your translation business and with the new tourist season! :)
DeleteOlga, I'm happy that you like the blogs. I'm now working at a factory in Novosibirsk, helping people to fulfil assembly and commissioning of a production line. Yesterday they did not need me much and I managed to write two posts in www.mytravelog.blogspot.com ! They are both about the travel our familiy went on this winter. We visited the parents of my husband in Kazakhstan and went via Chelyabinsk. And I'm thinking about a kind of marketing post for the coming travel season. It was your post that stimulated me. I decided I have to use the free time at work and do something useful.
ReplyDeleteWow, what can I say? First of all, good luck with your job! And secondly, I am extremely happy that my post has inspired you for two great posts with wonderful pictures. I thoroughly enjoyed both of them :)
DeleteHi Olga,
ReplyDeleteIn order to update my blog regularly, whenever I have time, I write some posts in advance and I save them. Hence, when I have not time to write, I can publish these previous posts. This way I have always stuff ready to be published anytime.
Thanks for sharing your experience! That's a great method, I think that's what professional bloggers do. I do the same with my Russian blog, but it takes me longer to write a post in English, so by the time I am done with a post it's normally the time to hit "publish" ;) But occasionally I manage to save and schedule English posts, too. Still have to work more on that though.
DeleteHi Olga,
ReplyDeleteI think planning in advance and keeping track of resources and ideas are two ways that could help the busy freelancer. I usually write down a first draft as soon as something interesting comes in mind, and then spend some time to add details and publish it. Blogging is a commitment, but should be perceived as a pleasure rather than a must. I know blogging it's a great part of a translator's brand, but it can be tricky: if you don't like it you will end up with a very inconsistent or empty journal that could destroy your reputation.
Hi Sara,
DeleteI like your point about the empty journal. It's so true. This whole priorities thing works only if you love blogging. If not, nothing will help I think.
Hi Olga,
ReplyDeleteThanks for answering my question - and as you can see, I'm doing my blog catch-up now and this is a great post to feature in my next Translation Blog picks post, which by the way is one of my ways of coming up with post material... (but you guessed that already ;))
Am looking forward to reading more of your posts!
Hehe, thanks Sarai :) Looking forward to another collection of useful content in your blog and to reading your own thoughts, too ))
DeleteHi Olga. I'm just starting out on my own blog, and this is great advice. I guess that's what most things in life boil down to: you have to just somehow find time for the things you think are really important. Catherine Christaki's collections are a great resource, as a blogger but also as a reader. But I had not really thought about what Babelan.net wrote earlier, writing posts in advance for whenever I cannot find the time to start from scratch. I will definitely bear that in mind!
ReplyDeleteHi Veronica! First of all, you made a wise choice. A blog is a very powerful marketing tool that can bring you immense benefits. It is great fun, too. And yes, writing posts in advance and saving them or scheduling for publishing (it's possible in Wordpress) is a great way to keep your blog alive even when you are too busy with translation work.
Delete