As a author for HubSpot, essentially the most I assumed I’d use our product was creating advertising weblog posts and measuring their efficiency over time. I by no means envisioned myself really utilizing a CMS to, nicely, you understand, construct an internet site.
However, that rapidly modified within the Fall of 2022 once 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 discovered about creating content material — principally when doing it on the go.
Here is what publishing a weblog put up appears like while you’re 12K toes above sea stage:
On this put up, I needed to share the teachings that I discovered about content material creation from my journey. Beneath are 5 ideas you should use to create superior content material from the highest of a mountain, on a sandy seaside, or wherever inspiration hits you.
Easy methods to Begin Creating Content material On the Go
In case you’re simply right here for the ideas, scroll on all the way down to the subsequent part for the good things — I promise I received’t maintain it in opposition to you.
In case you’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 proper place.
I had two targets when creating my weblog. First, I needed a technique to simply share updates with family and friends. What higher means to try this than with weekly weblog posts accompanied by a recurring publication that readers might join?
The opposite objective was extra private. I needed to make use of my platform to generate donations for a charity. Readers might observe my journey whereas concurrently having the chance to donate to a trigger that I used to be enthusiastic about.
This led to me to create Pedaling4Pups.com, a dog-centric weblog that will not solely observe my journey on the Nice Divide however would additionally help 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 technique to go the time and I used to be shocked at how simple it was to drag 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 could suppose.
Skeptical? I’d be, too. It wasn’t at all times a downhill experience (bike pun meant) and I needed to adapt my content material creation expertise 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 in your web site if you happen to ever end up in an identical state of affairs.
5 Suggestions for Producing Content material On the Go
1. You’ll be able to produce content material actually anyplace.
Creating content material on the go is simpler than you suppose. In case you have a smartphone or a pill, you’re already midway there. I used HubSpot on my cellphone, however you should use any running a blog software that provides a cell CMS.
Even if you happen to simply have a pen and paper, sitting in a tent in the course of the woods, you may nonetheless provide you with tales, classes, or different items of fascinating content material that your viewers will need to learn. Simply jot it down whereas it’s recent in your thoughts then switch it to your cellphone or laptop computer as quickly as you get the prospect.
As for the precise creation half, you’ll nonetheless want a platform to put up 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 decide. There are many social media websites to select from they usually 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 suggests there’s seemingly a group discussion board or chatroom that will be taken with 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.
In terms of importing content material, you may need to get a bit of artistic as to when and the place you’ll have web entry. Listed here are a number of locations to maintain a watch out for if you happen to’re in want of web or cellphone charging whereas on the go:
- Libraries: Libraries at all times have free wifi and normally don’t care if you happen to hang around for some time. They could even have computer systems you should use if you happen to’re uninterested in importing content material by way of cellphone.
- Gasoline Stations: Gasoline stations are nice locations to add content material. Many provide free wifi and there are sometimes charging ports scattered across the constructing.
- Relaxation Areas: Relaxation areas are a no brainer if you happen to’re touring by way of a busy highway. Together with bogs and snacks, these locations are fairly dependable at no cost wifi and charging stations.
- Public Parks: Whereas wifi could range from park to park, preserve a watch out for charging ports as nicely. I discovered parks have been one among 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 received’t thoughts you plugging your cellphone into their wall retailers. Some will even have free wifi you should use to add your content material.
So, there you go. If I can discover a technique to add a weblog put up right here:
Then I’ve the utmost confidence you could add your content material anyplace, too.
2. Individuals nonetheless learn private blogs.
That’s proper. Social media hasn’t stolen all of running a blog’s thunder. Positive, you may put up like-grabbing pics on Instagram, or shoot viral movies on Tik Tok, however you may’t substitute the storytelling capacity {that a} weblog platform gives.
Blogs are glorious areas to share private experiences, and also you don’t should be sponsored by a enterprise to be a preferred blogger, both.
In actual fact, our analysis reveals that just about 1 / 4 of all creator companies don’t but generate earnings (mine for positive didn’t). Which means you don’t should be a enterprise to drum up an viewers in your web site, you simply have to create compelling content material.
Listed here are some ideas for creating superior content material on the go:
- Be clear: In case you’re posting about private experiences, make them actual. Individuals need real content material and most are good at sniffing out when one thing is faux. And, as quickly as they suppose 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 likely achieve you some consideration within the quick time period, individuals will develop uninterested in listening to concerning the negatives in the event that they aren’t ever adopted by a number of positives.
- Don’t shrink back from battle: Now don’t get me mistaken. 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 largest challenges on my journey. Individuals need 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 generally is 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.
Luckily, I had one factor going for me. I labored for an organization that sells this website-building software you is likely to be aware of. It’s known as HubSpot, and like Squarespace or WordPress, one among its instruments is a drag-and-drop web site builder that makes running a blog easy for non-technical individuals 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 internet 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 entering into the mindset of a content material creator. It’s a must to be a bit of susceptible and prepared to simply accept that some content material received’t carry out in addition to others. In time, you’ll get the dangle of it, however studying what works and what doesn’t can definitely pose an intimidating problem for brand spanking new content material creators.
4. Content material creators are in every single place.
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 function, two-year journey — placing my measly little experience by means of the Rockies to disgrace.
The excellent news is that you just don’t should journey 20K miles by bike to develop into 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 explanation why content material creators do what they do.
5. Keep 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 take pleasure in it as an outlet to share your experiences with others.
In any case, if you happen to’re not making a living from it, try to be having enjoyable with it and testing what works along with your viewers and what doesn’t. In case you aren’t having enjoyable creating your content material, your viewers will not be going to have enjoyable interacting with it.
I discovered this lesson once I wrote about my tent getting sprayed by a sprinkler system in the course 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 struggle with the sprinkler system and used navy 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 midnight ready for a sprinkler to cease spraying my tent. The very last thing I needed 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 possibly not all that humorous, but it surely was what I wanted to do to get a put up out that day.
To my shock, this was one among 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 needed to listen to extra about — isn’t that the mark of a superb piece of content material?
Bonus: Canine content material at all times sells.
If there’s one basic fact that I can communicate to about bikeblogging, it’s that canine content material at all times sells. It may not make sense, it is likely to be irrelevant, however sprinkle in a number of pics of pups if you happen to can and also you may simply see your engagement go up a bit of bit.
Undoubtedly not a science, but it surely’s a wagon I’m prepared to hitch my horse to.
