I know a lot of writers who would like to become bloggers. I’ve also met many wanna-be online-business owners who need to blog. And I hear from tons of bloggers who would like to become better at this activity. One thing stops all of them: technology.
How do you get past this hurdle and start blogging, blog a book, create a website with a blog that promotes your web-based company, or transform your blog into a popular destination in your target market? Here are three easy-schmeasy steps you can take to help you overcome your technophobic tendencies and blog your way to success.
1. Start with a positive attitude.
The quickest thing to do, albeit not the easiest, is to change your attitude about blogging and technology in general. Instead of thinking of it as hard or overwhelming, think of it as easy and fun.
I often feel my chest tighten and my head start to hurt when I think about trying a new technology with my blog, such as podcasting, editing videos or even a trying a new plugin. (Yes, even me.) I’ll find myself putting off tackling that technology, but I know that doesn’t serve me or my blog. With this attitude, the tasks become difficult and stressful.
More often than not, the technology is not as hard to master as I expected. Afterwards, I say to myself, “That wasn’t so difficult!”
From this experience, I’ve learned a to change my mindset prior to going into any new task. I give myself a pep talk. I tell myself I can do it and that I’m smart enough and good enough. I remind myself of the other hard or scary things in my life I’ve accomplished, and then I dive in.
You can do the same. Start out with a positive, “I-can-do-it” attitude. You’ll be amazed at what this will do for your results.
2. Begin armed for the task.
The times I’ve taken on a technological task without any prior knowledge, or with little knowledge, of how to do it have been my downfall. I failed, and then I fell into believing I couldn’t do what was necessary to succeed as a blogger or online marketer.
I often didn’t have the resources for training. So I found myself going it alone—a recipe for failure.
Then I realized that help was almost always at my fingertips…or at the click of my mouse. I could find amazing tutorials on almost anything I wanted to do by conducting a Google search. Then, I could spend as much time as necessary training myself by watching free videos produced by experts or reading articles about how to use the technology I wanted to implement on my blog.
Jump over your technology hurdles fast by allowing the huge resource the Internet provides to help you! Learn, and then test what you’ve learned little by little. You don’t have to “go live” the first time you try to do something on your blog. Make it private or don’t publish. Allow yourself to make mistakes.
3. Give up perfectionism.
Yes, it’s okay to make mistakes. I’ve made tons of them! I don’t broadcast about them, unless it’s necessary to fix them, but I make them…a lot. And you will, too, as you try new things.
I’ve had typos in blog posts, links that didn’t work, posts that didn’t publish, and incorrect information in a post! I’ve had to reshoot videos several times and then use them anyway despite the fact that they were of a much lesser quality than I desired (to really look professional). I just couldn’t do any better in the moment with my skill and knowledge level, or my equipment.
So give up the idea that your blog will be perfect and that everything you try will work out. It won’t. Your readers will forgive you. They may even like you better because you aren’t perfect.
4. Get help.
If you are technophobic tendencies are keeping you stuck, and nothing I’ve suggested has helped, it’s time for drastic measures: Get help!
Help could look like:
- a mastermind group
- a blog coach
- a paid training or course
- a conference
I’ve used all of the above at different times in my blogging career, and I still do.
It doesn’t matter what you choose, but choose something. If you don’t, you’ll never start your blog or make your blog successful. That means your dream and your message will stay inside you, and you won’t make the positive and meaningful impact in the world that you desire.
Don’t let that happen.
Do you have other ways you’ve moved beyond your technophobic tendencies to create a successful blog (or start blogging)? Tell me about them in a comment.
If you would like to learn how to write (or blog) a bestselling book and create a career as a bestselling author, click here to watch my series of 4-free videos on this topic. And enter your name in the form below to ensure you get notified when the next video becomes available and when I release details about my new Create Your Bestselling Author Career premier coaching program.
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Nina,
I think you could add “virtual assistant” to the list of what “help” might look like. A lot of virtual assistants will format blog posts for their clients but many of them are also happy to teach their clients how to do it themselves and answer their questions. Many virtual assistants work specifically with authors. Just thought I’d mention it.
Shelley
Great tip, Shelley! Why didn’t I think of that? Yes, “VAs” are a godsend to those who are not adept at technology or who don’t want to be. It’s wonderful that some will also teach their clients! Thanks for your comment!