Mental blocks are more common than content marketing agencies think. When words don’t appear on pages or word documents as easily as they should, this is known as writer’s block. To say that it inhibits one’s creative endeavors would be an understatement. Not only is this true deep in a writing project but even before pen is put to paper. With that said, it doesn’t have to be a long-standing issue. If you’re having difficulty determining where to go next, as a content marketer or creator in general, here are a few do’s and don’ts to follow.
DO’S
Create a routine. No matter the work that you’re involved in, from a content standpoint, you’ll find yourself better able to complete it if you have a set routine in place. What days do you plan on writing? How many hours per day do you intend to focus on these tasks? If you’re unable to make one of those days, can you adjust your schedule to ensure that the hours to reach are met? These are just a few questions you should ask yourself so that you can establish a routine to work off.
Consider freewriting. If you don’t have anything to write about or are struggling to figure out where to go next, consider freewriting. Don’t mind the spelling of your work, how grammatically correct it is, or even what your writing should accomplish, just to name a few variables. Simply write as long as you can, no matter where it takes you. Even if you’re unable to use most of what you create in this time frame, you may find this strategy effective at helping you overcome mental hurdles.
Take breaks when needed. If all else fails, step away from your work. One of the most common causes of writer’s block is mental exhaustion. If you’ve been writing for an extended length of time, not allowing yourself to breathe, you run the risk of burning yourself out. As a result, when you return to your work, you’re less likely to produce what you believe is up to your standards. Take a break, whether it’s a few minutes or a few hours. You’ll see an improvement in your work soon enough.
DON’TS
Avoid keeping questions to yourself. If you’ve been assigned a topic to create content about, uncertain as to what’s expected of you, speak up. Ask questions to your assignee to learn more. Understand how long a piece of content should be. Inquire about the goal that said content should achieve, whether it’s to increase website traffic, generate higher social media activity, or boost revenue. It’s okay to have questions about whatever’s assigned to you; by speaking up, you’ll be able to create work that meets or surpasses expectations.
Know that the first draft isn’t the final draft. The best content marketing efforts are done with multiple drafts in mind. One of the other causes of writer’s block is striving for perfection at the onset, which is unlikely to be possible, especially for long-term projects. These tend to require multiple rewrites, so take advantage of the fact that you have multiple drafts to work off. By knowing this, you will find content creation less stressful, which will minimize the likelihood of writer’s block developing.
Don’t focus on too many ideas at once. Believe it or not, writer’s block doesn’t necessarily come from having a lack of ideas. In fact, this can develop as a result of having too many ideas floating around the mind at once. In an attempt to use them all, your work will be negatively impacted. It will help you to build a hierarchy with your ideas. Consider the ones that should be tackled first. From there, you can work your way down until your goals are complete. Don’t mentally overwhelm yourself, as it will only worsen your bout of writer’s block.
By following these tips, writer’s block will become less of an issue over time. Your ability to create content will improve and, just as importantly, won’t run into as many mental roadblocks. With that said, if you’re unable to commit the time or resources to content creation efforts, it may be in your best interest to work alongside a social media marketing agency. Not only will they produce content that speaks to your business, but you can rest easy knowing that said content will produce results.
About fishbat: fishbat is a full-service online marketing company that takes a holistic business approach to their clients’ digital marketing programs. The fishbat team understands the importance of business principles just as well as the nuances of the latest digital technologies. fishbat offers every digital marketing service available from digital marketing research and planning to brand development to website and asset creation through social media management and search engine optimization programs – all custom calibrated for both B2B and B2C businesses.
