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 really utilizing a CMS to, properly, you realize, construct a web 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. Whilst 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.
This is what publishing a weblog put up appears like if you’re 12K ft above sea degree:
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 need to use to create superior content material from the highest of a mountain, on a sandy seaside, or wherever inspiration hits you.
How you can Begin Creating Content material On the Go
If you happen to’re simply right here for the information, scroll on right down to the following part for the good things — I promise I received’t maintain it in opposition to you.
If you happen to’re curious in regards to the weblog that I created and are questioning how I managed to publish 2 posts per week all whereas biking by 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 solution to simply share updates with family and friends. What higher means to do this than with weekly weblog posts accompanied by a recurring e-newsletter that readers may join?
The opposite objective was extra private. I needed to make use of my platform to generate donations for a charity. Readers may observe my journey whereas concurrently having the chance to donate to a trigger that I used to be obsessed with.
This led to me to create Pedaling4Pups.com, a dog-centric weblog that may not solely observe 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 posh of cell service.
It was an superior solution 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 a web site took no time in any respect, and writing and importing posts on a telephone is extra environment friendly than it’s possible you’ll assume.
Skeptical? I’d be, too. It wasn’t at all times 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 in your web site in the event you ever end up in an identical state of affairs.
5 Suggestions for Producing Content material On the Go
1. You may produce content material actually wherever.
Creating content material on the go is less complicated than you assume. If in case you have a smartphone or a pill, you’re already midway there. I used HubSpot on my telephone, however you need to use any running a blog device that provides a cellular CMS.
Even in the event you simply have a pen and paper, sitting in a tent in the course of the woods, you’ll be able to 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 recent in your thoughts then switch it to your telephone or laptop computer as quickly as you get the possibility.
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’ll be able to 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.
- Neighborhood Boards: As of late, it’s robust to be unique on the Web. However, that’s okay. There’s energy in numbers which suggests there’s doubtless a neighborhood discussion board or chatroom that may be enthusiastic 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 may need to get slightly artistic as to when and the place you’ll have web entry. Listed below are a couple of locations to maintain a watch out for in the event you’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 in the event you hang around for some time. They could even have computer systems you need to use in the event you’re uninterested in importing content material by way of cellphone.
- 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 in the event you’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 fluctuate from park to park, preserve a watch out for charging ports as properly. I discovered parks had been one among my favourite locations to cease and steal a cost for some time.
- Eating places + Espresso Outlets: As long as you’re a paying buyer, most companies received’t thoughts you plugging your telephone into their wall retailers. Some will even have free wifi you need to use to add your content material.
So, there you go. If I can discover a solution to add a weblog put up right here:
Then I’ve the utmost confidence that you may add your content material wherever, too.
2. Individuals nonetheless learn private blogs.
That’s proper. Social media hasn’t stolen all of running a blog’s thunder. Positive, you’ll be able to put up like-grabbing pics on Instagram, or shoot viral movies on Tik Tok, however you’ll be able to’t change the storytelling capacity {that a} weblog platform presents.
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.
In reality, our analysis reveals that just about 1 / 4 of all creator companies don’t but generate earnings (mine for positive didn’t). Meaning you don’t have to be a enterprise to drum up an viewers in your web site, you simply must create compelling content material.
Listed below are some ideas for creating superior content material on the go:
- Be clear: If you happen to’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 assume you’re ingenuine, it’ll be exhausting to win them again.
- Be optimistic: Don’t drown in your sorrows or search empathy too usually out of your readers. Whereas this may occasionally achieve you some consideration within the quick time period, individuals will develop uninterested in listening to in regards to the negatives in the event that they aren’t ever adopted by a couple of positives.
- Don’t draw 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 had been those the place I confronted the most important challenges on my journey. Individuals 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 could be a content material creator.
Earlier than this journey, essentially the most website-building expertise I had was creating my bio on AOL Prompt Messenger. I do know some coding, sufficient to know I do know nothing about coding — actually not sufficient to construct a full-scale web site.
Fortuitously, I had one factor going for me. I labored for an organization that sells this website-building device you is likely to be conversant in. 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 a web site if they’ve entry to a drag-and-drop web page builder.
Mine took me a few 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 exhausting coding and I used to be thrilled with how a lot customization I had entry to with every of the modules that had been already included on the web page.
The exhausting half was entering into the mindset of a content material creator. It’s a must to be slightly 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 actually pose an intimidating problem for brand spanking new content material creators.
4. Content material creators are all over the place.
One of many coolest issues about my journey was what number of different content material creators I bumped into. My hands-down favorites had 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 the Rockies to disgrace.
The excellent news is that you just don’t need to journey 20K miles by bike to grow 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 couple of different the 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, in the event you’re not getting cash from it, you need to be having enjoyable with it and testing what works along with your viewers and what doesn’t. If you happen to aren’t having enjoyable creating your content material, your viewers isn’t going to have enjoyable interacting with it.
I discovered this lesson after I wrote about my tent getting sprayed by a sprinkler system in the course of a frigid evening. Looking for some humor within the state of affairs, I wrote in regards to the expertise as if I had 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 nighttime 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 evening of sleep. It was quirky and possibly not all that humorous, nevertheless it 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 great piece of content material?
Bonus: Canine content material at all times sells.
If there’s one basic reality that I can communicate to about bikeblogging, it’s that canine content material at all times sells. It won’t make sense, it is likely to be irrelevant, however sprinkle in a couple of pics of pups in the event you can and also you may simply see your engagement go up slightly bit.
Undoubtedly not a science, nevertheless it’s a wagon I’m prepared to hitch my horse to.
