Today is the last day of global A-Z Blogging Challenge. When I decided to take the challenge, my blog was in bad conditions. Though I was getting good traffic (thanks to my search engine optimzed articles and Pinterest), my blog was almost dead since last November.
I wrote an elaborate post here on why and how I stopped posting on the blog. I will not deal with the negativity today but I will show you how you can boost your blog and business with sheer will.
I decided that I will take the challenge on 28th March. It meant that I had only 4 days to plan my content and I could not schedule posts. I had to write every day. But there were another aspects to consider.
I had two major things coming what would take majority of my time in April. I was the core team member of Celebrate Spring@ North East who organised Manas Spring Festival on 7-8th April, 2018 showcasing rural food and culture. The event was a huge success and we were applauded for the initiative. But it also meant that I got hardly an hour every day to write a full blog post, create images and promote it in the first week of April.
The second week of April came with the major Assamese festival, Bihu. It ensured that I travel almost 1k km to and fro my in law’s place. Bihu is also time for family and friends and sitting in front of the laptop was a strict no-no.
I knew about all these things, still I took the challenge. I could not write for days but still I went on. Why?
Cause, for me, my blogs are important. But due to some circumstances, this blog was neglected and my heart was in war with me.
I thought on 28th April that if I want to go back to my blog, this is the right opportunity. I pushed myself to my limits during this one month. I was on the verge of failing but still I kept going on.
I wrote in wee hours of the day to keep the challenge going. I wrote up to three articles a day when due to my other responsibilities, I couldn’t get time to write continuously for 5-7 days. I cried, got frustrated due to lack of rest and the pressure, but at the end of everything, it is worth it.
This challenge benefitted me from so many sides.
First, I was finally able to lift my writer’s block. I wrote continuously for longer hours and without feeling lost.
Second, it increased my patience level. Instead of abandoning an article in the middle, I took deep breaths clearing my mind and then resumed writing.
Third, it built my capacity as a writer. I normally take two days to finish a 1000 words article. I spent another one day creating graphics and then post it on my blog. But during this challenge, I wrote quality articles continuously and created graphics in shorter period of time. As a whole, I grew as a blogger.
Fourth, I made some good friends who continuously supported me during my bad days. They encouraged, they appreciated and made my zeal to keep going.
Fifth, it increased my blog traffic tenfold.
Sixth, my social shares incrased too. Some of the articles are pinned more than 100 times within just one week.
Seventh, I got to know what articles on blogging and related topics were approved by my audience. I can now build my content strategy according to my readers’ need so that I can help more and more people.
As I conclude the A-Z blogging challenge today, I would like to thank my readers, Blogchatter for putting the challenge exciting and my family for their continuous support.
I will see you all next month with exciting updates and useful resources to grow your blogs and turn it into a business. Till then, keep Blogging!
The post Zeal for Blogging: My Experience in A-Z Blogging Challenge appeared first on My Writing, My World.
