Maybe you've got a blog on your website because you were told you needed one by your web designer. 

It would help with SEO, they said. 

It would give you a platform to have your own expert voice and engage with your audience, they said.

Sounds straightforward, right? Only thing is, you can't even remember the last time you posted and now it’s the standing item on your to-do list that never gets ticked off and makes you feel crap. Time trundles along and it’s like tumbleweed on your blog page.  

Maybe you're thinking it's time you actually started writing or maybe you already are. Only thing is, you’ve been hit by the biggest wave of writer's block and you can’t even remember what you’re supposed to be writing about, let alone remembering how to upload the darn thing. 

Don’t worry. Here are five tips to help you dust off your blog without even writing a word. 

1) Strip! Remove the dates on your already posted posts.

Delve into your previous posts and remove the published dates. A blog with a date is quickly out of date (as in, the day after you’ve posted it).  

2) Make it evergreen.

Can you repurpose or update the content of blog posts you’ve already published? Spruce ‘em up to create evergreen content that’s relevant all year, not just on Fridays, Christmas or 2020. It'll give them a longer shelf life and without a date, it means they're more likely to still be relevant and interesting weeks, months and years later. 

3) It doesn’t have to be all about you. 

An easy, organic way to generate new content is to engage with a different audience, like highlighting other brands or businesses you love, have discovered or whose values are aligned with yours. 

4) A picture speaks a thousand words.  

If you’re struggling to write anything fresh, take a rain check and don’t get hung up on the words. Instead, lead with a picture and let it do the talking. Everyone loves a before and after transformation, can you add new photos to your blog to bring it up to date?

5) Ask a question and get someone else to answer.  

A Q&A piece is a great way to generate content quickly.Try asking a customer, client, supplier or partner some questions they can answer and send back to you. OK, so you have to write the questions, so it’s not totally writing-free but it’s not all you. Plus, featuring a Q&A format on your blog adds variation, which is always a bonus. Take a look at this one on Love East Yorkshire.

Bonus: How to... 

Now you’re on a roll, maybe your pen is starting to twitch. So how about trying out a ‘How to..” blog post? Just like before and after transformations, informative how-tos are a good way to serve your audience with useful, engaging information in a structure that keeps you writing. Check out this one by Zebomb. 

When you’re not in the mood to write but you know you need to do something to polish your words, taking a few minutes to review your website copy to make sure it’s in tip top condition is always a good idea. Need help? Grab our free download 5 Tips to Take Your Copy from Shonky to Spectacular to help you spring clean your copy.

Laura & Becca x