You may have noticed that I’ve missed a few days here and there this month. My 30-day challenge has had a few blips, but I don’t consider it a failure, and still plan to keep going and post my stats at the end of this month and every month.
Instead, I see those blips as a learning experience. I’ve left too much up to chance with my blogging, and I’ve failed to devlelop a cohesive plan for the month of September. As a teacher, I realize the importance of planning–I couldn’t live without structured lesson planning, but it’s also important for writers and content creators.
I’m publishing this on Saturday night because Sundays are my favorite days to plan. Tomorrow I will share some ideas for you about effective planning, and the best planning strategies that work for me, from the pros and cons to paper vs. digital planners, to whether or not you should do daily, weekly, or month planning layouts.
Planning is also a form of self-care for me, because it helps me feel more in control of my time, helps keep anxiety at bay, and reduces the nasty surprises and panicked Monday mornings when I’ve gotten behind on my tasks.
If you’re not already familiar with NaNoWriMo, it stands for National Novel Writing Month, which takes place every November, in which writers from around the world try to write 50,000 words in 30 days. It’s incredibly fun and inspiring, and is a great way to get to know a community of writers.
As I was sitting down to think about what I might write this November (I have participated almost every year since it started in 1999), I realized that although November might seem a long way away, it’s really only 7 weeks away, which means it’s time to begin planning.
I have two courses that I’m going to run this year. One is a free mini course for prepping in October (you’re not supposed to start writing until November 1st, but there is plenty you can do ahead of time to get ready), and other is a 30-Day writing intensive that runs during the entire month of November.
If you think you might be interested in either course, be sure to follow this blog for updates. I’ll be posting more info about how to sign up for NaNoWriMo and the courses in the next week or so. I’ll also be sharing information on how to do NaNoWriMo with your students.
If you have any interest in writing, I highly encourage you to follow this blog for updates. My immersive writing courses will transform your writing and your creative process. This is an amazing experience, and all kinds of writers can participate. People have used this time to write novels, but also nonfiction books, ebooks, poetry, blog posts, essays, and screenplays.
Hope to see you here in November! Be sure to subscribe below for updates.
Engaging an audience, whether they are students in a classroom, an online audience for your content creation, or readers of your written work; is a skill that can make a significant difference in how effectively your message is received. It’s not just about delivering information; it’s about creating a connection and sparking interest. Here are some tips to help you engage your audience and keep them captivated:
Know Your Audience:
Before you can engage your audience, you need to understand them. Consider their age, background, interests, and prior knowledge. Tailor your content and approach to meet their specific needs and expectations.
Start with a Hook:
Begin your presentation or writing with a compelling hook. This could be an interesting fact, a thought-provoking question, a relevant anecdote, or a surprising statistic. A strong start grabs your audience’s attention right from the beginning.
Tell a Story:
People love stories. Whether you’re teaching a lesson or writing an article, use storytelling to illustrate your points. Stories are relatable, memorable, and help to humanize your content.
Use Visuals:
Visual aids like images, charts, and graphs can enhance understanding and engagement. Visuals break up text and make your content more visually appealing. Use them to support your message, not overwhelm it.
Interact and Involve:
Engage your audience actively. Ask questions, encourage participation, and create opportunities for discussion or reflection. In the classroom, this might involve group activities or class discussions. In writing, it could mean including interactive elements like polls or quizzes.
Be Passionate:
Enthusiasm is contagious. If you’re excited about your subject matter, your audience is more likely to be engaged. Show your passion through your tone of voice, body language, and choice of words.
Keep It Clear and Concise:
Avoid jargon and complex language unless it’s necessary. Clear, concise communication is more likely to be understood and retained. Break down complex concepts into digestible pieces.
Use Humor (Appropriately):
A well-timed joke or a touch of humor can lighten the mood and make your content more enjoyable. However, be mindful of your audience and the context, ensuring your humor is appropriate and doesn’t offend anyone.
Connect Emotionally:
Appeal to your audience’s emotions. Share stories or examples that elicit empathy, excitement, or curiosity. Emotions help create a deeper connection with your audience.
Be Responsive:
Listen to your audience’s feedback and adapt accordingly. If you notice confusion or disinterest, adjust your approach. Encourage questions and address concerns.
Provide Value:
Ensure that your content is valuable and relevant to your audience. They should feel that they are gaining knowledge, insight, or entertainment from your presentation or writing.
Practice, Practice, Practice:
Whether you’re giving a presentation or writing an article, practice is essential. Rehearse your delivery, refine your content, and be prepared to adapt as needed.
Engaging an audience takes effort and creativity, but the rewards are worth it. When you successfully capture your audience’s attention and keep them engaged, you not only convey your message effectively but also create a positive and memorable experience for your students or readers. So, go ahead and apply these tips to captivate and connect with your audience in your next endeavor.
Content creators of all types (blogging, YouTube, social media, etc.) face the ever-evolving challenge of capturing and maintaining their audience’s attention. With countless blogs, videos, and social media posts competing for the spotlight, how can you stand out and build a loyal following? The answer lies in one key principle: consistency.
There are numerous benefits to consistency when creating content, and this should be the cornerstone of your content strategy.
Here’s why. Consistency helps with:
1. Establishing a Brand Identity
Consistency in content creation helps you build a strong brand identity. Whether you’re an individual blogger, a small business, or a large corporation, presenting a consistent image and message to your audience is essential. It creates a sense of trust and reliability. When your audience knows what to expect from you, they are more likely to engage with your content and return for more.
2. Building Trust and Credibility
Consistency goes hand in hand with trust and credibility. When you consistently deliver valuable, high-quality content, your audience begins to see you as an authority in your niche. They trust that you will provide reliable information and insights, which can lead to increased brand loyalty and customer retention.
3. Retaining and Growing Your Audience
Imagine tuning in to your favorite TV show, only to find it airs at irregular and unpredictable times. Frustrating, right? The same principle applies to content creation. Consistency in posting schedules, whether it’s daily, weekly, or monthly, keeps your audience engaged and coming back for more. It also makes it easier for new followers to discover and join your community.
4. Enhancing SEO and Discoverability
Search engines love fresh, consistent content. When you regularly update your blog or website with relevant content, search engines like Google are more likely to rank your site higher in search results. This, in turn, makes it easier for people searching for topics in your niche to find your content.
5. Content Planning and Efficiency
Consistency in content creation encourages you to plan ahead and stay organized. You’ll be more likely to create content calendars, set deadlines, and streamline your content creation process. This efficiency not only saves time but also ensures that your content aligns with your long-term goals and messaging.
6. Engaging Your Audience
Consistency extends beyond the frequency of your posts. It also relates to the style, tone, and voice of your content. When your audience becomes familiar with your unique voice and style, they feel a deeper connection to your content. This connection can lead to more meaningful interactions and discussions in comments and social media.
7. Monetization Opportunities
If you’re looking to monetize your content through advertising, sponsorships, or affiliate marketing, consistency is key. Brands and advertisers are more likely to partner with content creators who consistently produce high-quality content and have an engaged audience. Your reliability and track record can open doors to lucrative opportunities.
Conclusion
In the world of content creation, consistency is a powerful tool that can propel your success to new heights. It builds trust, fosters audience growth, and enhances your overall brand image. Whether you’re a seasoned content creator or just starting out, make consistency a priority in your content strategy. The benefits it brings will be well worth the effort, helping you achieve your goals and connect with your audience on a deeper level. So, stay consistent, stay true to your voice, and watch your content thrive.
This is a screenshot of the metrics I track for my blog. This shows the past four months of activity, ending in August. I will share an updated version at the beginning of each month showing the last month (I will post my stats for September at the beginning of October). I’m doing this for two reasons. First of all, I love it when content creators are transparant about their stats, showing views and subscribers and income for things like blogs, YouTube, etc. The other reason is that I thought it might be interesting for my readers to see a blog grow from scratch in real time. Most of the time when I follow a blog they already have thousands of subscribers.
I have no goals except consistency. As I mentioned yesterday, I plan to post at least once per day during the entire month of September, partly as a personal challenge to create a blogging habit, and party to measure the impact of consistent posting on my stats.
You may have also noticed that I’m posting a mix of content, which varies from articles about teaching to articles about content creation. I plan to continue with both topics until I figure out whether I can sustain 2 niches, or if my stats reflect a reader preference for one niche or another.
One thing the productivity gurus like to preach is the power of consistency. One of the biggest problems people have with reaching their goals is trying to do too much at once, burning out, and then giving up. Instead, if we are able to commit to tiny changes over the long haul, we can make enormous strides toward our goals. For example, when dieting people often try to lose 2 or more pounds a week, which is not sustainable, and they give up. Most diets fail. However, if we make small changes and plan to lose only 1/2 pound a week, we can lose 25 lbs. in a year. Even though a year seems too long and 25 lbs. seems too little, in one year I’ll bet most of us are the same weight we are now, or heavier. It’s better to focus on small, consistent goals.
I remember when I first started writing my novel, I heard again and again that writers who commit to a page a day (about 250 words) can finish a novel in a year. Once again, a year always seemed too long, and I couldn’t bring myself to commit to such a tiny challenge. Yet it took me more than 10 years to write my novel (more on that in my next post).
SO, I am committing to making small, consistent changes. One way to do this is the 30-day challenge. Building consistency takes practice. I’m going to pick one small goal, which is write a blog post, of any length and on any topic, at least once per day for the next 30 days.
To demonstrate the power of consistency, I’ll also share my stats and how they have changed over the 30-day period. I know consistency works, because I blogged for two weeks straight in July and my subscriber count doubled. Granted, it was tiny to begin with, but I saw in real time how much just posting consistently impacted my blog stats.
I’m excited to see what the next 30-days brings! If you’re not already, be sure to subcribe to my blog, so you can see my journey and real time, and also because I’ll be having another giveaway at the end of this month.
ELA Source 
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