10 Ways to Make Nonprofit Blogging Easier

Marketing, Project Management, Social Media

Blogging is an amazing way to show gratitude to your supporters, give them a sneak-peak behind the scenes, and show them how their involvement is making an impact.

To make blogging more enjoyable for you, and more rewarding for your audience—try these 10 tips:

 Planning and Productivity

  1. Don’t wait for inspiration, just write. Depending on your blogging frequency—monthly, weekly, bi-monthly—schedule a dedicated day and time when you will be writing your blog posts.
  1. Have an editorial calendar. There’s nothing more stressful than your blog-posting day approaching and you have nothing to write about. This is easily solved by planning your topics ahead, annually or quarterly. Afraid you’ll change your mind? That’s fine if you do—but at least you are prepared and have a bunch of topics lined up.
  1. Clear you head. We all have very busy lives, and sometimes blogging can seem like an added chore. I’ve found that by taking 15 minutes to free-write a few times a week (about any new ideas or thoughts that have come up) helps clear out the clutter in my head, and has helped the blogging process run smoother and faster.
  1. Set a timer for 50 minutes and write on your topic. Just GO and see what happens; you’ll probably finish the post.
  1. New ideas can come to you at any time. They usually do when you are in a relaxed state like in the shower or going for a walk. Keep a notebook or app on your phone handy to collect them as they come to you.

Story

  1. Include emotional details. People connect more to emotions than facts and figures. As you write, include details that evoke an image and create a feeling. This helps convey an emotional memory in the reader and can lead to stronger relationships.
  1. Find your voice. Be yourself and envision a member of your target audience sitting in front of you; write as if you are speaking directly to them. Ask yourself: What’s important to them?
  1. Have a call to action, but make sure it’s only one. You don’t want to confuse people with multiple messages and potentially lose their support. Have one focused call to action.

Structure

  1. 300-800 words is best. Use short paragraphs and leave whitespace. You want your reader’s eyes to be drawn into your post, not overwhelmed by overcrowding and clutter.
  2. Use simple language that is easy for all members of your audience to digest. You want to sound knowledgeable, but accessible to everyone.

What is your most helpful tip when it comes to blogging? Email or tweet me—I’d love to read them.