The end of the 40 day blogging challenge

If you’ve been following me on social media, you will notice that I’ve been doing a blog a day for a long time. Well, 40 days to be precise. It’s been part of a self inflicted 40 day blogging challenge. I still have no idea why I went for 40 days. Probably the voice inside my head that gets me into a world of trouble. But there you have it, I’m now at the end of my 40 day blogging challenge.

So – the 40 day blogging challenge

The 40 day blogging challenge is exactly what it says on the tin. I have published a blog each day for the last 40 days. I have picked the theme, the length, the type. I have not followed any formula, only that I needed to publish one blog each day for 40 days. I’d seen in The Million Dollar Blog that there was a challenge called the 30 day blogging challenge (I believe there’s a book about this too). I can honestly say that I didn’t research the 30 day blogging challenge. I just saw it and thought ‘Yeah – I should push myself, let’s go for 40’. I know. I’m not quite sure what planet I’m on a lot of the time. But the intention was simple. To push myself in the world of blogging. To get under the skin of it. To really experience the issues my clients face when I tell them they should be blogging. And I feel this challenge has done this. Well. More or less.

There are some common issues that people seem to experience when blogging. These include…

• I have nothing to blog about
• I don’t like writing
• I don’t have the time
• I have no ideas
• My images are rubbish
• I don’t know what I’m doing
• I don’t know what the point of it is

And so on. All are perfectly valid. And I’m not going to tell you otherwise. But all can be overcome. So…

I have nothing to blog about – have a look at this blog here

I don’t like writing – fair point. I do, so I haven’t experienced this issue, but even I got tired of typing. Have a look at this blog about dictation software for one idea on how to sidestep this issue. But you can also pay people to transcribe vlogs and videos, so this can be fixed.

I don’t have time. I find people make time for things they want to. I know everyone is busy. As I type this very blog I have dinner bubbling away, it’s twenty to eight at night (yep – this has been scheduled) and I have a to-do list to rival most people’s. But I make time. Because it’s important to me.

I have no ideas – refer to point one.

My images are rubbish. Fear not. Not everyone includes images in blogs, and this is an area you can address with tools like Canva, your iPhone and free image libraries.

I don’t know what I’m doing. Yeah you do. You’re writing about stuff that matters to you. Don’t overthink.

I don’t know what the point of it is. There are so many points that I’m doing another blog about it.

Did I learn anything?

Oh yes. I learnt loads. I learnt how to save time, use dictation tools, schedule, share content better – I learnt a LOT. I would definitely recommend a blogging challenge to anyone serious about content marketing, their business and improving the experience for their customers.

Would I do it again?

Yep. Actually, I haven’t quite decided what I’m going to do with my blogging for the foreseeable. I’m thinking three or four times a week might be easier and take the pressure off a little bit, to allow me to really get under the skin of something else.

Was it hard work?

At times it definitely was. I have a pretty hectic life. I have two small children, a business to run, horses, a dog, family – lots of things that take up my time. And blogging definitely does.

Was it worth it?

Yes. Without a doubt.