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I started taking this blog very seriously only this year, and currently, we get a few thousand visitors every month, which is amazing considering that no one even visited this blog in January.
There are many contributing factors to this growth, but the most significant one has been learning how to write blog posts faster, which helps me post regular updates.
I post between 3 to 7 blog posts every week, sometimes more in certain months, but never fewer than three. This would have been practically impossible a few years ago when I managed other blogs, but now it’s super, super easy.
Please know that while I describe the strategies in this post as incredibly easy, it’s because I’ve been using them for a few months and adapted them to my schedule—they simply work.
If you choose to employ any of these writing strategies, remember it should be something that works for you.
1. Outline before writing
I know this goes without saying, but you would be surprised at how many people do not actually create an outline before they start writing a post.
Many people think that outlines are best for creative and academic works, but the truth is they are just as effective when creating a blog post.
So before you begin writing your article, think about exactly what you want to write about. This helps you stay on topic throughout.
For me, this means writing the title or headline of my article, as well as the excerpt or meta description, and then breaking down the entire article into headings (H2s and H3s, if applicable).
As I mentioned earlier, it depends on how you work. You might find that an expanded outline works better for you than a more skeletal one, so try both formats and see which works best for you.
2. Plan your time properly
If you are anything like me, there’s always the risk that you might unexpectedly find yourself several levels deep in a rabbit hole if you so much as blink.
To make sure that I stay on track and achieve whatever goals I have set, I usually allocate specific time slots for research, drafting, and editing. Posting can be done at any time, but what matters is that your work is of the highest quality possible.
In my schedule, research and drafting take the bulk of my time, so I account for that as well as making time for momentary lapses of attention and whatever else comes up.
3. Reduce interruptions around you
No matter how many times I try, I have found that a quiet workspace where distractions are minimised always works wonders for my productivity. So, I tend to make sure I have eliminated every source of distraction before I start working.
For one, I have created a workspace in my room. Secondly, I ensure that notifications on all my devices are turned off, and that whatever device I use for research—whether it’s a phone, tablet, or laptop—doesn’t have any social media apps.
Again, this is something you’ll want to consider based on your particular circumstances.
I usually leave notifications off throughout the process, which can take anywhere from two to three hours. This is possible because I don’t receive any emergency calls.
But, if you have kids or work from home, this might not be practical for you, and you’ll need to fit your writing around your system.
4. Use a grammar checker
Grammarly is an app that can be integrated into your keyboard or used as a plugin on your desktop to help you run grammar checks on your writing.
I used to spend hours obsessively editing an article because I was scared a typo might somehow escape notice, but Grammarly checks it in a matter of seconds, and that is amazing.
One thing I’ll tell you, though, is that if you feel Grammarly might not catch some errors you make, it might be worth it to write down a list of common writing mistakes you have noticed when editing your own work. After writing, you can then run through the entire manuscript based on a checklist created from those common writing mistakes.
And at the end of the day, remember that a typo here and there isn’t going to make your reader totally abandon your article, as long as you are providing value to them.
5. Break down your writing into smaller, manageable chunks
When I first started outlining, what I would do was tackle a heading or two every single day, and I found that this helped me, especially during a period when I was extremely busy. This is something you might also want to consider.
The depth and length of every paragraph depend on your niche. So, if you can comfortably handle several headings in one day or even the entire article, if you have multiple articles to publish, you can also do as you wish.
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6. Use old blog posts to generate new ideas
A lot of people don’t talk about it, but brainstorming fresh and engaging ideas for a blog is always a headache, no matter what level you reach. It was only when I started taking this blog seriously that I understood the importance of creative directors in every publishing firm.
So, if you sometimes find yourself sitting and simply thinking about what to write next instead of hunting for new topics, why don’t you take a look at your archive and see what you come up with?
This is also a very helpful idea, especially if you are interested in improving your SEO game for your blog because Google likes content that is created primarily for the consumer. There is nothing that screams consumer-facing content more than a blog that answers every single question a person could have on a topic.
7. Spend a few minutes freewriting every day
I actually learned this when I attended a creative workshop a few years ago, but the main gist of it is that to improve your writing speed, you need to write every single day. The entire research and editing process that goes into every article can be tiring, so you might want to try freewriting.
Freewriting is essentially sitting down to write whatever comes to your mind without any regard for structure, grammar, or any requirements laid down by search engines. At this point, you’re simply writing as if it’s a stream-of-consciousness phase. Then, at the end, you will filter out what makes sense from everything you have written.
And I know this might sound counterintuitive, especially since I have advocated for outlining, but the truth is that letting your mind roam does wonders for creativity, and you’ll be all the better for it.
8. Set realistic writing and publishing goals
The biggest mistake I made when I started this blog was aiming to publish at least 15 articles every week. Needless to say, I was very unsuccessful in many ways.
For one, if you are a new blog just starting to publish content and you release so many posts in a short timeframe, Google interprets this as spamming, which could lead to your ranking being demoted.
On the personal front, the fact that I couldn’t meet this overly ambitious goal meant that I was consistently unhappy with the blog’s growth, even though we were doing relatively well.
The first thing I did was take a step back and assess our growth. This way, I was able to see that I had made some improvements from the previous years when I had owned the blog and published sporadically. I also identified some flaws in my blogging strategy.
The next and most important thing, which solidified my attitude towards writing and has since been a bedrock for me when it comes to my publication goals, was acknowledging that my blog had to fit around my schedule at every point in time.
At the end of the process, I was able to pare down my goals to something more realistic, which turned out to be anywhere from 3 to 7 posts a week. I simply make sure that every single blog post is as detailed, informative, and helpful as possible.
9. Use voice typing
I started becoming involved in blogging communities a few months ago and I was very surprised to learn that not a lot of people were using voice-to-text tools, and some weren’t even aware that their writing software had this feature.
Personally, I use Google Docs for writing and I only write on my phone because I don’t like opening my laptop for anything. After I sprained my left-hand last year and couldn’t use it for some time, I discovered the gem that is voice-to-text, and it has been a godsend for me.
The voice typing feature is the only thing I use when creating the first draft of a post. It is fast, reliable, and so easy to handle. If you use a Samsung phone, simply toggle the keyboard options at the bottom left to access this feature.
If you use a desktop, you can also access it in the tools ribbon which floats above the writing area. It is so helpful and makes work much easier to tackle because you don’t have to give much thought to every single word you write.
10. Schedule breaks from time to time
As a blogger, the worst thing you can do to yourself is suffer burnout because it can prevent you from writing or doing anything related to your blog. I know because I experienced this earlier this year when I hadn’t been intentional about my blog.
The best thing you can do for yourself and your blog is to schedule short breaks while writing to focus on other things that can help switch up the rhythm. I believe the Pomodoro Technique is the most popular; when you take a break and then resume, your mind is fresher.
Aside from taking breaks while writing blog posts, you might also want to schedule periods during the year when you take a break from publishing new blog posts.
During this time, you can update old blog posts, handle your social media or outreach, or focus on other backend tasks. Essentially, you shouldn’t be writing new blog posts.
Search engines love it when a blog post is updated from time to time, which not only pleases them but also gives your brain a break from constantly creating new content. It’s amazing if you can work on what you have already published and diversify your traffic.
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These are 10 strategies I have used to help me write blog posts faster, and I genuinely believe that if you are honest and diligent about creating a schedule using these strategies as a jumping-off point, you will see changes in a couple of weeks.
And as I always advise, remember to take it slow and build your momentum gradually, set realistic goals, and ensure they meet the publication demands of your niche.
If you’d like to see more posts about having and running a blog to ensure it’s the best it can be, check out the related posts below. I’m sure you’ll find some very helpful tips.
