10 poor excuses for not updating your blog
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I've heard them all before: bloggers giving their latest reason for not posting anything. Let's have a look at some of the most common ones, and what you can do if any of these excuses apply to you. (Image by whizchickenonabun.)
1. I've been on holiday.
You've been away? So what? Write some posts before you go away and schedule them to publish when you come back. Nobody else is going to do it for you.
2. I've been posting on Twitter.
Oh really? Well, we can all follow you, but if we're not around when you tweet, we'll probably miss your comments. Blogs aren't like that - they're good for checking into when you have some time to do some reading. Don't abandon your blog for Twitter!
3. I saw this blog that's much better than mine and it put me off.
Ever heard of a little healthy competition? No? Well then, there are plenty of blogs you'll probably never get to read and they're all like yours. OK, some of them are like yours, some might not be, but there's room for all of us. If you think your blog could be improved - improve it! I've got plenty of tips for you that will help.
4. I don't have any time.
This may be a legitimate excuse, but when you started blogging, did you have any free time to write posts? If so, and things have changed, I guess you'll have to see if there's any free time in your busy schedule to post on your blog. If you have no time, assess if you'll ever have the time. Don't string it out - don't lead your readers on - confess, and we'll all have some closure. If you really do have some time, then don't make this excuse!
5. I don't have anything to say.
Sure you do! You just... haven't thought of it yet. Try writing something and see how it goes. Initially, nobody will really know about your blog anyway, so it doesn't matter too much what you write - although it's probably better to have a scratchpad to write your thoughts, rather than writing bad posts that people find later once your blog is the biggest one on the web.
6. Someone said something bad about my blog.
There are always going to be people who don't like your blog. Accept that, and move on. Don't dwell on it - life's too short. Actually, that's not true - life is quite long. Which is even more of a reason not to dwell on it - it'll drive you mad.
7. I keep getting spam comments.
OK, it is annoying, but we all get them. Only the very newest blogs will be safe from spam - and even those won't be safe for long. View it like this: people are finding you! Well, not very nice people, but nicer people will find you soon...
8. Someone stole my post!
Let's be honest - how many people can't wait to tell us that the latest version of WordPress has come out? Most posts have already been written - your goal is to write something that blows everything else out of the water. It's easier to do that if other people have posted on the same topic than if you're the first person to get your post heard. You can use existing posts as the yardstick, then completely ignore them and write something totally different or approach the subject with a new point of view.
9. Nobody's reading at this time of year.
Sure they are! Just because most people aren't reading, doesn't mean nobody is reading. Subscribers will have more to read when they come back, if they're not reading right now. And if most other bloggers have stopped posting for a bit, it's a good opportunity for you to keep on posting.
What if readers are looking for new content and can't find any? What if your blog was the only one that published anything for 2 weeks? Imagine that! You'd have every reader from every other blog, and you'd gain thousands of subscribers. I wouldn't pass up a chance like that.
10. The cat ate my post.
Do you really think you can pull the wool over my eyes like that? Don't give me silly excuses. Just update your blog in future.
Can you relate to these excuses? Do you have any others?
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Comments on 10 poor excuses for not updating your blog
2
Hi ben,
I'm falling in most of the cases you denoted in this post. I have to modify my Time table according to my work schedule. Otherwise I will start to say these excuses.
Thanks for the valuable lesson.. :)
3
I can relate to not having any time or being on "holiday" for sure. Back in the early spring, when I was going though a sudden MS Exacerbation and working full-time, I hardly had enough energy to shower and eat. I'm going to stockpile some posts for the next time I'm out of commission or on sick leave.
4
I've suffered from bloggers block a few times, but my best excuse is "my girlfriend is giving me a hard time for spending too long on the computer." :-(
5
John, I can relate to you on that one! That was one of my best excuses as well. LOL
And #10 was pretty funny.
Tom
6
Yourself applied #8 You wrote something totally different! I can relate to: I've been posting on Twitter. It has been an excuse to stop updating our blog :) Thanks.
7
I make it a point never to apologize for not posting. I certainly don't want to call attention to it!
8
Thanks for the comments everyone - glad you liked the post.
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This gave me something to giggle about. At places you sound like a very strict school teacher. You are correct though, there is never a valid excuse for not updating your blog.
The thing that gets to me the most are the guys who have not updated for a while and then they write an entire article explaining why they did not update. If you did slip up, leave things there and move on. Post something that others want to read, no-one is interested in your excuses.