Have you ever dealt with the dreaded blogger’s dip?  It happens to all of us, at one point or another.  It’s happened to me on every blog I’ve ever written for, and I’ve seen it happen to other bloggers time and time again.

What is The Dip

I’d like to preface this conversation by saying that I mean no foul or harm to any bloggers out there.  The reason I say this is a very good friend and business collaborator started a blog early in the year, and after wishing her luck, I gave her some advice:  You’re burning red hot right now; remember, it’s a marathon not a sprint.  And no matter what – you’ll hit the dip.  You won’t see it coming.  Just relax, and take it in stride.

My friend was quite offended (to say the least) and I was only trying to help.  But I feel the need to point out this unusual phenomenon because I see it happen over, and over, and over.  The process usually goes something like that:

• New blog starts  - whoohoo, new chiny blog (cue streamers and bunting)
• Blog gathers steam
• Blogger starts to realise the pressure of maintaining a blog (cue sweat-drenched brow)
• Blogger hits THE DIP — blog content starts to suffer, and said blogger suffers emotionally because of it

The result is only one of two things: either the blogger comes out the otherside more appreciative of the work involved in making their blog work, or they don’t make it.  Their blog becomes one of the hundred thousands millions (billions?) of abandoned blogs out there.  The only thing worse than no blog at all is an abandoned blog.  What would you rather have next to your home: a vacant lot, or a house with broken windows on the verge of collapse?

How To Deal With The Dip

Here’s my less-than-twelve-steps way to deal with blogger’s dip.

1. Acknowledge that a blog is a marathon, not a sprint.  In fact, it is a marathon with no finish line.  If you can’t stomach that though, don’t start running.
2. Acknowledge the dip will occur.  You will loose focus.  You will question why the hell you have blog in the first place.  You will have days when nobody reads, nobody comments, nobody cares.  Deep breaths.
3. Remind yourself the benefit your blog is giving you.  Why do you have it?  Is it an SEO tool?  Is it to provide some interactiveness to your website?  Write this down on a piece of paper and put it up next to your desk.
4. Fix whatever problems you have. The dip often happens because you’ve not got something quite right.  Are you struggling with slotting your post into categories because the categories are wrong?  Fiddling with tags and have no idea what you’re doing?  Was the whole point of this to do SEO and yet you aren’t even researching and using keywords in the posts.  Ok, so how do we fix those problems?
5. Turn down the dial if need be.  If you were blogging three times a week, take it back to two while you reorientate and adjust.  Do NOT feel the need to apologise to your readers.  Mostly, they won’t notice.
6. Stretch, limber, loosen, relax – refind your voice.  This is another common problem that leads to the dip: trying to pigeonhold your square-shaped blog posts into round hole.  The best blogs have a clear voice – the voice of a person (or people) – so maybe you need to re-find yours.
7. Get some feedback.  Once you are slowly reorientating yourself, get some feedback from customers or other small businesses (maybe one who blogs and who who doesn’t?).  How was your stuff previously?  How is that new plan shaping up?
8. Now, get going.  Just like in a marathon, if you stop for too long, lactic acid (and inertia) will take over and you’ll never get going again.  Same here:  baby steps, nudge yourself forward.

The dip can happen anytime, and it can happen more than once.  I like to say that it’s the universe’s way of challenging a blogger to make sure their blog is awesome, and to kindly point out when the powers-that-be think you aren’t doing something quite right.

To Learn More

We have two great resources that are key tools for any successful blog, useful before, during, and after the dip.  Check ‘em out, use ‘em – and watch your blogging effectiveness soar:

• Do It Yourself Search Engine Optimization – arguably the biggest weapon a blog provides your small business
• Guide to Google Analytics – if you aren’t measuring how your blog is performing, how can you improve your performance?

We also have a blog coaching programme if you’re feeling really off track and could use a hand. We’re here to help!

Photo by Colin Gregory Palmer

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