How Much Time Does It Take To Blog?
I get asked that question a lot. Friends and other bloggers ask because they’re curious about how much time I spend blogging. Clients and prospects ask because they’re nervous about the time commitment.
I usually reply with a question of my own, “Are you talking about the time I’m thinking about blogging and the content I want to produce, or just the time it physically takes to type stuff out?”
Typing up a blog post takes anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. It rarely takes longer than that, although occasionally it does when I’m hunting around for a great image. Ultimately, it’s not the writing (and editing) time that’s significant - it’s the thinking time.
Blogging successfully means adopting a new mindset.
That’s really the challenge. When you get neck-deep into blogging you realize that the physical act of writing is nothing more than getting pre-written blog posts out of your head. They’re pre-written because you’ve been thinking about them already, sometimes for days or even weeks.
The Blogger Mindset has a few elements:
- You become much more observant. Bloggers are observant people. They have to be. They need something to put into their blog tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that. The Blogger Mindset means that you’re always looking around for something interesting to spur on a post. It might be a funny anecdote, an experience you’re having in life, or a song you’re listening to that triggers an idea. You’re always asking, “How can I turn that into a blog post?”
- You become more focused. Bloggers need to focus. Whether it’s on one idea for a blog post or on the news in their industry / subject of choice, the Blogger Mindset means more focus. It is easy to get distracted when you start tracking hundreds of blogs and feeds, but successful bloggers know the importance of focus and they’re mastering it daily.
- You become more of a salesperson. Bloggers need to be salespeople. Why? Because you’re selling your blog and its content. You’re selling it as important, meaningful, entertaining, worthwhile…and the more you blog and get into the Blogger Mindset the more you want to grow your audience and community. The result of that is becoming a better salesperson. In blog terms, selling means writing great headlines & copy and networking online.
- You become more social. Blogging isn’t a one-way form of communication. There’s plenty of interaction involved. You want people commenting on your blog. As a result of blogging and developing the Blogger Mindset you’ll find yourself being more open and accessible, wanting to socialize and interact with people all the time. This is key component of blogging and part of why it takes commitment and time.
- You become more strategic. Bloggers are strategic in a number of ways. As your blog gains popularity you’ll start looking for ways of leveraging that opportunity. Heck, opportunities will just come to you, but you have to be in the Blogger Mindset to recognize them and pounce on them. The Blogger Mindset means being strategic about what you post, how, when, why…you’re no longer just writing whatever comes to you, whenever you want.
It also means being strategic in terms of planning the development of your blog and using it as a springboard to other things. Your blog becomes part and parcel of everything you do. It’s strategically placed at the core of all other activities, things you’re doing, and how you think.
So, how much time does it take to blog?
How many hours are you awake in the day?
Ben, you whacked the nail on the head with this one - good job! In fact, I might just keep this list around for your next “what I learned in 2007″ contest. These are the things we bloggers are learning how to do better, every single day.
And you know what? It’s not only incredibly rewarding, but incredibly fun and fulfiling, too! Now there’s a few good “why do I blog” reasons!
This is so true, Ben! More and more often, I find myself pulling off the road to take a picture of something that I know I’ll want to write about.
Someone asked me recently how in the world I could find something to write about EVERY DAY! I find that the harder task is picking one from all of the things that I’d like to write about each day. There are just too many to get through.
In addition to carrying a digital camera, I’m now carrying a digital tape recorder to catch all of the new ideas that spring out everywhere I go.
I guess I’ve caught the Blogger mindset.
Digital recorder, must get one! Thanks for the tip Carole.
“How many hours are you awake in the day?”
That is so true. I find I have to stop myself from making every little thing a blog post. Every step I take seems to have the potential. The trick for me is sifting through all the ideas to come up with just one for the evening.
In Spirit,
Nneka
To complete, Cory Doctorow write that great post few years ago:
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/javascript/2002/01/01/cory.html
Really? Only takes me 3 hours each day to do everything.
J/K - Really true, it takes your whole day if you really want to excel.
I’m the odd one here…it takes me foreveeeeeer to write just one post!
An observant, focused, social and strategic saleperson. Now there is a successful individual in any area of life. Nice one Ben.
Being new to the whole blogging game I find resisting the urge to write a new blog every 5 minutes is always a challenge.
I’m sure this will change when the novelty wears off…hopefully.
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“Blogging successfully means adopting a new mindset”
After reading your blog, it inspired me to write “How to be successful” which again focusses on the mindset of an individual.
Cheers Ben
How Much Time Does It Take To Blog?…
This was a great post for me to read. Being an engineer, I’m not big into blogging but I know it’s really important for the success of PlugIM or websites in general. This is a great post outlining the benefits of becoming a disciplined blogger….
Great stuff here!
There are so many distractions and never enough time. Focusing will ensure that things get things done quickly. Now I just need to take those words and use them… Damn A.D.D
[...] 5. Ben Yoskovitz from the Instigator blog debates a question he gets asked all the time by his blogs readers and friends How much time does it take to blog ? [...]
Hi Ben:
Thanks for your post. I especially like point 6 about strategy. Staying on topic and staying focused is key in blogging. Sometimes I think I have too wide a focus and should break it down into several blogs… but hey, then where would I get several hours to keep them all up, right?
How important do you think it is to blog everyday? More than once a day?
Thanks!
Chris
brandandmarket.blogspot.com
I think the mindset makes you a better person. I totally agree with you. I started blogging while I was interning on the other side of the world in a culture which was different from my own. It got me places a normal intern wouldn’t think about. It pays off to be curious. And well.. I don’t consider thinking about blogging as taking time
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I guess it will depend how much time u spend.A new blogger might have to spend more to learn and professional blogger needs to think more.It has to be balanced one.
I spend around 3 hrs of making a post and rest of free time to read.I love to generate ideas
[...] How Much Time Does It Take to Blog? by Ben Yoskovitz… I think the real question Ben is asking is-”Do You Have the Right Mindset for Blogging Well?” Ben gives 5 elements involved in Blogging to give you an idea of the commitment involved. [...]
Hi Ben, it takes me longer than I’d like at this point to write a blog.
One thing I’d add to your list is that blogging has kept me much more current in my field. I investigate new research and ideas and must admit without this, I would soon be a dinosaur
Excellent post and really good observations about bloggers and the blogging mindset.
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Thanks for all the comments folks - glad you enjoyed the post. I may just have to develop The Blogger Mindset further…hhhmmm…
Another nice post. Thanks.
“How much time do I spend blogging?”
Well, still being fairly new my time is all over the place right now but I am trying to settle into a daily routine of reading other blogs, commenting, and then writing for my own. I’m still struggling with the focus of my blog and while I try to write daily, I only “publish” twice a week — for now.
Chris - your comment got caught in spam - just replying to it now - I tend to post daily, but I don’t think it’s essential. I do think it helps to post a few times per week - not just for your audience/community but also for yourself - to stay in the groove and maintain the Blogger Mindset.
[...] Did you write a few posts? You can’t launch without content. I’d aim for 3-5 posts before you really put yourself out there and launch your blog. The more content you have upfront the easier it is for people to get a feel for what you’re doing. Plus you’ll get more comfortable in your blogging shoes. It takes awhile to get into the Blogger Mindset. [...]
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When people tell me they don’t have the time to blog I respond with a question about how much time they spend watching TV. I then suggest they cut that in half and spend that time reading something. That’s what I do and often a blog post pours out almost instantly after reading a magazine article or a few pages of a book.
[...] Not good. But being busy, preoccupied and tired, I just wasn’t feeling, as Ben would call it, The Blogger’s Mindset. This part the [...]
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I’ve been blogging only 6 weeks, but I’m learning there is a Blogger Mindset. If you do it right, it helps you think and focus, as you note.
Good post.
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Hi Ben, I am so new. Is there a place I can go that is really the very beginning process of blogging? I don’t even know if I have to get back to you here to read your responseor do you email me direct.
Thanks for your help-and patience. Everyone has to start somewhere.
Judy
Judy - There are many sites that cover the basics, although not necessarily on the technical requirements for setting up a blog / what’s involved in that process (Although it’s very easy.)
I’d suggest: http://www.successful-blog.com as a great place to start.
http://www.dailyblogtips.com -another great place
And yes, everyone does have to start somewhere, so you’ve made a great first step!
ooooh, #1 is especially true! not saying the other aren’t. but you start looking everywhere for blogging ideas. and it’s amazing what you can come up with. great post.
@paul: Thanks for stopping by and commenting…I appreciate it.
Ben I checked out Successful-Blog.com. Thanks! (btw how do you deal with burnout; ever just run out of ideas?)
@Max: Burnout is hard. I do run out of ideas, and it’s one of the reasons I’ve been blogging less - although that has a lot to do with being insanely busy as well.
There’s no easy way to handle burnout except to take a break, do some reading, go “off topic” and reconnect with why you started blogging in the first place.
@Ben - I admire your post and it really goes to show how much you have put into your blog.
Success is achieved through hardwork, passion and dedication - with a little bit of creativity
@Rom: And these days with Standout Jobs consuming so much time, I’m left with less and less time to blog - be it through hard work, creativity or even luck. But we’ll keep swinging for the fences here, just the same…
I thank you so much for taking this time to create this useful guide for beginning bloggers such as myself. I have a new website that I am learning how to update from my programmer. One of my very first goals is to include a blog - with the no-follow removed such as yours! (Thanks for the google juice
)
@ Ben - Very true! The time for blogging gets even lesser if you have a daytime job. But in the end, seeing how much your blog have inspired and helped others - it’s all worth it. Keep this blog a success that it is today buddy!
@Liann: Glad I could help!
@Rom: And thanks for stopping by and commenting.
I’m just starting out with a blog, so this post is valuable information for me. I definately need to focus.
@Barb: Best of luck getting into blogging…it’s an amazing experience.
“Blogging successfully means adopting a new mindset”
I can’t believe I just saw this amazing post late. truthfully blogging kind of sets you ahead of readers from a writers point of view. Blogging is a gift and requires ample amt of time.
Monica x