There are many opportunities you may be missing to create content in your day to day lives. I remember reading an article by Chris Brogan about how he "does it all". Chris is a speaker, author, consultant, and father... And on top of that, he regularly blogs multiple times per day. How does he do it? He makes the most of every moment. He's always thinking or doing something (even if that something is playing with his kids).
So when do you find time to create content? Here are a few underused opportunities.
Waiting for a Delayed Flight
In fact, this article was written while waiting for a delayed flight! With this unexpected free time, I pulled out my iPhone and started typing with my thumbs. I managed to finish 2 articles before boarding the plane.
In the Car or Grocery Store
While this takes some setup time so as to stay safe, you can setup a video camera to film you while you drive to your next appointment. Or maybe you get an audio recording device, stick it in your shirt pocket while you go grocery shopping. Just start talking and answer a common customer question as if you were talking to your customer there in the grocery store. For many folks, this is a much faster way to create great content.
Live Blogging While at an Event
This means taking out your computer and taking advantage of the ever pervasive wireless Internet at many conferences and sharing the learnings from the event itself . By the end of the event, you're done! You would have spent that time there anyway, so why not create a blog post or two in during the process.
Outsource Content by Email
Ok this was a trick answer I suppose but still results in great content with limited time. Think about the top 3 questions in your industry and send them out to experts you know in the field. Send them by email, get their answers by email, and combine them into a blog post. This curated type of content actually works great becasue it draws the credibility of each person that contributes.
Other ideas of great times to leverage for content creation? Please share in the comments below!
Photo Credit:
Dr Stephen Dann
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aharon 8:34 AM on November 10, 2010
Wow you guys are serious about blogging.
Howard Lothrop 8:59 AM on November 10, 2010
I agree with you on it being easier to speak a blog post than to write one. I use speech recognition software and a headset mike to speak all of my blog posts. Just flows more naturally for me that way.
Suzanne Monson 9:27 AM on November 10, 2010
I like to take prompts for my blog posts from inspirational resources I use in my business. Right now i am working my way through a deck of cards filled with great ideas: the Creative Whack Pack by Roger Von Oech. http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Whack-Pack-Roger-Oech/dp/0880793589
Hailey Rene 12:33 PM on November 10, 2010
I recently flew from Houston to Boise with two layover (yay for cheap flights). I had a ton of wait time in airports, not to mention on the plane. I ended up writing 3 weeks of blog posts. So it is not just for delayed flights, but flights in general. :)
Hailey
Dave Hale 1:11 PM on November 10, 2010
Great!!! I love it. I am as passionate about blogging as you folks. I use the HARO site to post questions like you mentioned above. I typically receive 50-100 answers back. This is a great way to QUICKLY amass a pretty good amount of field knowledge. I do the same as you in that I mash the answers together for blogs, write white papers, ebooks, etc.
Keep the good tips coming.
Dave Hale
Harmony Wheeler 1:48 PM on November 10, 2010
Well, you've got to entertain yourself some way when you're waiting for a flight. And if you're anything like me, you'll want to use all of your time in as constructive a way as possible
Hunter Wayne 3:14 PM on November 10, 2010
I have a good one for you. How about at work. Just kidding that would be funny though right. How about if you have smart phone and your waiting for your significant other while they are shopping and you are bored. Get on your smart phone and start doing some work right there and then.
Stephen McCarthy 5:57 PM on November 10, 2010
Great article. Making the most of the down-time is a real discipline and I think it's something we could all do a little better...good tips - thanks!
Steve.
Build Creative
Andrew Dymski 9:46 PM on November 10, 2010
Thanks for the post! Really enjoyed your points, everyone feels as if they don't have enough time. These are great tips
Carl Stevens 12:36 AM on November 11, 2010
I always take down time or what would be wasted and turn it into a positive creative moment. Carry your tools and when you have some free time be creative whether you are blogging are drawing out a new internet business plan.
Carl Stevens
Internet Home Business Strategies
Roseanne 6:02 AM on November 11, 2010
Hi Ellie,
Great tips! I agree 100% about live blogging an event - I find that doing this or live tweeting an event often helps me remember stand out points. If you do live tweet an event rather than blog, you can always go back and collate your tweets (and even those of others with the same hashtag) to create a blog post with a bit of distance.
For creating quick audio blogs I would highly recommend Audioboo.com. I use it for daily-ish updates to support my podcast about television therosieview.ie. It is really easy to use and integrates well with Twitter and Facebook. They also have fancy wee widgets to pop into your blog's sidebar or each post.
Roseanne