27: How to Blog by "Documenting" Instead of "Creating"

Summary: Meredith’s husband emphasizes the value of documenting everyday work for blog content, rather than creating something new each time. He demonstrates how a photographer can turn a recent photo shoot into a valuable resource by providing tips, images, and location details for others. Website owners can apply this approach to reduce content creation stress while providing valuable, searchable content for their audience.

Blog Post: How to Turn Everyday Work into Blog Content That Ranks

Creating fresh, engaging content for your blog can feel like a daunting task. You may feel pressured to come up with new ideas constantly, but what if you didn’t need to start from scratch every time? In a recent podcast, Meredith’s husband introduced the concept of “documenting, not creating,” which allows website owners to turn their regular work into valuable blog content. This approach can save time while helping you produce content that resonates with your audience.

Here’s how you can implement this concept for your blog:

Document, Don’t Create

The idea of documenting your work rather than creating something new from scratch makes content creation more manageable. Instead of brainstorming new blog topics every week, take the tasks you already do and document them in a way that adds value to your readers. For example, if you’re a photographer, you can document a recent shoot and turn that into a blog post filled with practical tips, locations, and examples that others will find useful.

Meredith’s husband highlights how this concept can be applied to any profession by showing how a photographer can turn a recent shoot into a valuable blog. By doing this, you take something you're already familiar with and provide a resource for others who might be searching for the same information.

Steps to Turn a Recent Project into a Blog Post

Meredith’s husband uses the example of a recent photo shoot in Prospect Park to demonstrate the steps in creating a valuable blog. Here are the steps you can follow to implement this in your own work:

1. Identify a Recent Task or ProjectInstead of starting from scratch, look at your recent projects. Whether you’ve completed a photo shoot, finished a design project, or consulted with a client, that task can become the foundation of your blog post.

2. Determine the Audience's NeedsAsk yourself: what would people be searching for related to this project? Using simple keyword research tools like Google’s “People Also Ask” section can give you insight into what your audience is looking for. For example, “best places to take photos in Prospect Park” is a popular search query that could be relevant to the photographer's blog.

3. Create a List of TipsA helpful format for many blog posts is a list. In the case of the photographer, a blog post could feature “Top 3 Spots for Photography in Prospect Park,” with photos and descriptions of each location. Lists are digestible and engaging for readers.

4. Include Supporting DetailsMake the blog more valuable by adding extra details like maps, transportation options, and relevant tips. For example, the photographer might include the best times of day for shooting photos or specific lighting tips for each location.

5. Use Quality ImagesWhether you’re a photographer or not, images enhance the quality of any blog post. Include photos related to the project or task you’re documenting. In the case of the Prospect Park blog, the photographer could include shots from each of the highlighted locations. Additionally, showing a comparison of “what to do” and “what not to do” in terms of photography could add extra value.

6. Offer Practical AdviceBeyond showing off your recent work, share practical tips your audience can use. For photographers, this might include lighting tips or best practices for certain locations. These tips should be easy to follow for beginners, especially if most of your audience will be using tools like smartphones for photography.

Update and Expand Over Time

One of the benefits of blogging is that your content doesn’t need to be set in stone. You can start with a simple post and update it over time as you gather more insights or complete more projects. For example, Meredith’s husband suggests that you could start with a list of three photography locations in Prospect Park, but later expand the post to include more spots. Updating your blog not only keeps it relevant but also signals to search engines that your content is current.

Resources

• Prospect Park official website

• Photography equipment recommendations

By shifting your mindset from creating new content to documenting your daily work, you can reduce the stress of content creation while still providing valuable resources for your audience. This approach not only saves time but also ensures that your blog is rich with helpful, searchable content that resonates with potential clients.