As a author for HubSpot, essentially the most I believed I’d use our product was creating advertising weblog posts and measuring their efficiency over time. I by no means envisioned myself truly utilizing a CMS to, nicely, you already know, construct an internet site.
However, that shortly modified within the Fall of 2022 after I created a weblog that cataloged my journey down the Nice Divide, a mountain bike path that stretches from Canada to Mexico.
Earlier than I knew it, I used to be managing Pedaling4Pups.com and producing a handful of weblog posts every week all whereas biking the 2700-mile path. At the same time as a seasoned blogger, I used to be amazed at how a lot I realized about creating content material — largely when doing it on the go.
This is what publishing a weblog publish appears to be like like once you’re 12K toes above sea degree:
On this publish, I wished to share the teachings that I realized about content material creation from my journey. Beneath are 5 suggestions you should utilize to create superior content material from the highest of a mountain, on a sandy seashore, or wherever inspiration hits you.
Methods to Begin Creating Content material On the Go
If you happen to’re simply right here for the guidelines, scroll on right down to the subsequent part for the good things — I promise I gained’t maintain it in opposition to you.
If you happen to’re curious concerning the weblog that I created and are questioning how I managed to publish 2 posts per week all whereas biking by means of 1000’s of miles of distant wilderness, you’re in the suitable place.
I had two targets when creating my weblog. First, I wished a strategy to simply share updates with family and friends. What higher approach to try this than with weekly weblog posts accompanied by a recurring publication that readers might join?
The opposite objective was extra private. I wished to make use of my platform to generate donations for a charity. Readers might comply with my journey whereas concurrently having the chance to donate to a trigger that I used to be keen about.
This led to me to create Pedaling4Pups.com, a dog-centric weblog that may not solely comply with my journey on the Nice Divide however would additionally assist an animal shelter in Ukraine. Whereas on the path, I wrote two posts per week all by writing and importing content material by way of my smartphone.
After I was at my campsite, I’d sort up content material in my Notes app, then add it to the weblog every time I had the luxurious of cell service.
It was an superior strategy to cross the time and I used to be shocked at how simple it was to tug off. With pre-made templates and themes, creating an internet site took no time in any respect, and writing and importing posts on a cellphone is extra environment friendly than you might assume.
Skeptical? I’d be, too. It wasn’t all the time a downhill journey (bike pun supposed) and I needed to adapt my content material creation abilities to suit every state of affairs I discovered myself in. Learn on to find out about how I did it and what you are able to do on your web site for those who ever end up in an identical state of affairs.
5 Ideas for Producing Content material On the Go
1. You possibly can produce content material actually anyplace.
Creating content material on the go is less complicated than you assume. You probably have a smartphone or a pill, you’re already midway there. I used HubSpot on my cellphone, however you should utilize any running a blog software that gives a cell CMS.
Even for those who simply have a pen and paper, sitting in a tent in the midst of the woods, you may nonetheless provide you with tales, classes, or different items of attention-grabbing content material that your viewers will wish to learn. Simply jot it down whereas it’s contemporary in your thoughts then switch it to your cellphone or laptop computer as quickly as you get the possibility.
As for the precise creation half, you’ll nonetheless want a platform to publish your content material on in addition to web entry so you may share it with the world. Some platforms to think about using whereas on the go:
- Your Web site: Don’t have one? If I can create one, then I’d argue most land mammals can, too (sorry whales). Simply seize any free web site builder and also you’re off to the races.
- Social Media: Tik Tok, Fb, Instagram, Twitter, Membership Penguin — take your choose. There are many social media websites to select from and so they all have their very own options that make them distinctive.
- Group Boards: As of late, it’s powerful to be authentic on the Web. However, that’s okay. There’s power in numbers which implies there’s possible a group discussion board or chatroom that may be excited about your content material.
- Information/Media Retailers: Whereas I didn’t do that personally, I do know two content material creators who did get some media consideration for his or her perilous canoe journey down the Mississippi River.
Relating to importing content material, you might need to get a bit inventive as to when and the place you’ll have web entry. Listed below are a number of locations to maintain an eye fixed out for for those who’re in want of web or mobile phone charging whereas on the go:
- Libraries: Libraries all the time have free wifi and often don’t care for those who hang around for some time. They might even have computer systems you should utilize for those who’re bored with importing content material by way of mobile phone.
- Gasoline Stations: Gasoline stations are nice locations to add content material. Many supply free wifi and there are sometimes charging ports scattered across the constructing.
- Relaxation Areas: Relaxation areas are a no brainer for those who’re touring by way of a busy highway. Together with bogs and snacks, these locations are fairly dependable totally free wifi and charging stations.
- Public Parks: Whereas wifi might differ from park to park, preserve an eye fixed out for charging ports as nicely. I discovered parks have been one in every of my favourite locations to cease and steal a cost for some time.
- Eating places + Espresso Retailers: As long as you’re a paying buyer, most companies gained’t thoughts you plugging your cellphone into their wall shops. Some will even have free wifi you should utilize to add your content material.
So, there you go. If I can discover a strategy to add a weblog publish right here:
Then I’ve the utmost confidence you can add your content material anyplace, too.
2. Folks nonetheless learn private blogs.
That’s proper. Social media hasn’t stolen all of running a blog’s thunder. Positive, you may publish like-grabbing pics on Instagram, or shoot viral movies on Tik Tok, however you may’t exchange the storytelling capability {that a} weblog platform affords.
Blogs are glorious areas to share private experiences, and also you don’t need to be sponsored by a enterprise to be a preferred blogger, both.
Actually, our analysis reveals that almost 1 / 4 of all creator companies don’t but generate earnings (mine for certain didn’t). Which means you don’t must be a enterprise to drum up an viewers on your web site, you simply must create compelling content material.
Listed below are some suggestions for creating superior content material on the go:
- Be clear: If you happen to’re posting about private experiences, make them actual. Folks need real content material and most are good at sniffing out when one thing is faux. And, as quickly as they assume you’re ingenuine, it’ll be laborious to win them again.
- Be optimistic: Don’t drown in your sorrows or search empathy too typically out of your readers. Whereas this will acquire you some consideration within the brief time period, folks will develop bored with listening to concerning the negatives in the event that they aren’t ever adopted by a number of positives.
- Don’t draw back from battle: Now don’t get me flawed. This isn’t me saying exit and fire up hassle. That is me saying that my two top-performing posts have been those the place I confronted the most important challenges on my journey. Folks wish to hear about your struggles and the way you overcome them so don’t be afraid to play up the dramatics when it requires it.
- Break the 4th wall: Don’t be afraid to speak on to your reader. This makes the expertise really feel extra private like they’re on the journey with you.
3. Anybody is usually a content material creator.
Earlier than this journey, essentially the most website-building expertise I had was creating my bio on AOL Immediate Messenger. I do know some coding, sufficient to know I do know nothing about coding — definitely not sufficient to construct a full-scale web site.
Thankfully, I had one factor going for me. I labored for a corporation that sells this website-building software you is perhaps conversant in. It’s known as HubSpot, and like Squarespace or WordPress, one in every of its instruments is a drag-and-drop web site builder that makes running a blog easy for non-technical folks like me.
Is that this a plug for HubSpot? Sure, however that’s not my level. My level is, anybody can construct an internet site if they’ve entry to a drag-and-drop web page builder.
Mine took me a couple of week or so to design, and from there I used to be posting content material very quickly. I used a pre-built template for my net pages so none of my design concerned laborious coding and I used to be thrilled with how a lot customization I had entry to with every of the modules that have been already included on the web page.
The laborious half was moving into the mindset of a content material creator. It’s a must to be a bit weak and keen to simply accept that some content material gained’t carry out in addition to others. In time, you’ll get the grasp of it, however studying what works and what doesn’t can definitely pose an intimidating problem for brand new content material creators.
4. Content material creators are in all places.
One of many coolest issues about my journey was what number of different content material creators I bumped into. My hands-down favorites have been Jesse and Fien who handle the web site “Two Drained Belgians.” These two adventurers are biking from Alaska to Argentina multi functional, two-year journey — placing my measly little journey by means of the Rockies to disgrace.
The excellent news is that you simply don’t need to journey 20K miles by bike to turn out to be a content material creator. There are many causes to get into content material creation and bikepacking is just one of many.
Beneath, are a number of different the explanation why content material creators do what they do.
5. Bear in mind, it’s only a weblog.
On the finish of the day, it’s essential to do not forget that your weblog is only a weblog. Don’t overthink it, simply get pleasure from it as an outlet to share your experiences with others.
In any case, for those who’re not making a living from it, you need to be having enjoyable with it and testing what works together with your viewers and what doesn’t. If you happen to aren’t having enjoyable creating your content material, your viewers is just not going to have enjoyable interacting with it.
I realized this lesson after I wrote about my tent getting sprayed by a sprinkler system in the midst of a frigid night time. Looking for some humor within the state of affairs, I wrote concerning the expertise as if I have been at battle with the sprinkler system and used army phrases to explain how I moved my tent to security or “engaged in defensive maneuvers.”
I used to be soaking moist, chilly, and sitting at nighttime ready for a sprinkler to cease spraying my tent. The very last thing I wished to do was write about it. So, I had some enjoyable with it.
I poked enjoyable at myself for pitching my tent in such a ridiculous spot and sarcastically applauded my efforts to salvage the night time of sleep. It was quirky and doubtless not all that humorous, however it was what I wanted to do to get a publish out that day.
To my shock, this was one in every of my best-performing weblog posts. Family and friends reached out to inform me how a lot they loved the lighthearted storytelling and the way they thought the entire state of affairs was hilarious and was glad I shared it.
Whereas it wasn’t my shining second as a bikepacker, it was memorable and by placing my very own humorous spin on the state of affairs, I shared a real expertise that my viewers wished to listen to extra about — isn’t that the mark of a superb piece of content material?
Bonus: Canine content material all the time sells.
If there’s one elementary fact that I can converse to about bikeblogging, it’s that canine content material all the time sells. It won’t make sense, it is perhaps irrelevant, however sprinkle in a number of pics of pups for those who can and also you would possibly simply see your engagement go up a bit bit.
Undoubtedly not a science, however it’s a wagon I’m keen to hitch my horse to.
