Consistently creating content is the fuel for an inbound new business program.
With the rise of content marketing, writing has become an important component to new business as the battle for business has moved online. Content has become the magnet that draws in prospective clients and provides a positioning of expertise.
I’ve been writing about business development for eight years. On occasion I suffer from writer’s block. It becomes extremely difficult to produce new articles. I feel hopelessly stuck.
My writer’s block usually comes from any number of causes:
- I’m often distracted, especially when working online.
- At times, I lack inspiration.
- My writing can be hindered due to the paralysis of analysis when I tend to over think what I’m trying to write.
- I’ve built a significant number of readers, which is a good thing. But, the pressure to produce content on a consistent basis can contribute to my writer’s block.
- Perfectionism is also a quick route to writer’s block.
- There are times when I have doubts about my own abilities and lose my self-confidence. I’ve worked with enough great copy writers to know that I’m not one of them. But they are within my target audience.
I hate writer’s block as much as I do having a cold or the flu. It leaves me feeling dysfunctional and overwhelmed. When I’d rather physically dig a ditch than write, I know I have it.
No doubt you’ll also have periods of “writers block.” I thought I would share my personal insights in overcoming it.
Here are three simple ways I break the cycle of writer’s block:
1. It’s time to re-focus.
I need to get back to writing what my audience wants to read rather than what I want to write.
This kind of focus makes the writing so much easier. Especially when you can clearly identify your target audience and you know what kind of content is appealing to them. You have to zone in on what your audience is interested in reading. It’s not what I’m passionate about, it’s what their needs are. To know what my audience wants from me, I have to listen and engage with them.
2. I’ve said it a thousand times, “reading fuels your writing.”
If I’m honest with myself, this is usually the primary cause. I’m not reading enough. I turn to Feedly as a primary tool for reading online which is a great time-management tool.
Inspiration for this post came from a collection of David Ogilvy’s writings. Ogilvy remains one of the most famous names in advertising. He said,
“The better you write, the higher you go in Ogilvy & Mather. People who think well, write well. Good writing is not a natural gift. You have to learn to write well.”
Ogilvy stated that he was a lousy copy writer, but a good editor. It’s helpful to be reminded that there’s nothing easy about writing. You’ll always have to work at it, but the benefits are great.
3. You don’t know what you know until you write it down.
When I get into a mental fog and have difficulty with writing, I simply write. It helps me to think my way clear. Like an avid song writer, I have hundreds of blog drafts that will never see the light of day. But, they were a good mental exercise that helped me to clear my head and regain my confidence.
Willie Nelson once said, “I like myself better when I’m writing regularly.” I can say the same.
Additional content marketing articles that may be of interest:
- Content Marketing: Hire a Journalist for Ad Agency New Business
- Ten Toughest Content Marketing Challenges for Ad Agency New Business
- 6 Simple Steps for Using Content Marketing to Attract Ad Agency New Business
- 6 Writing Tips to Make Your Ad Agency’s Blog Effective for New Business
- 21 Blog Post Writing Tips for Ad Agency New Business
- The Four Great Laws of Copywriting for Ad Agency New Business
photo credit: Structure of stonewall via photopin (license)
