![\"How](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/problogger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/How-to-Write-Faster-Better-Blog-Posts-4-Techniques-Top-Bloggers-Use.png?resize=1430%2C800&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Is it taking you ages to write blog posts? <\/span><\/p>\n You’re not alone…<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re new to blogging or you\u2019ve been running your blog for a while, the time commitment can be really overwhelming. Just getting one post published each week can be a struggle, especially if you\u2019re focused on producing <\/span>high-quality long form content<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Even if you\u2019re not a natural writer, there are lots of ways you can speed up your writing process. Writing faster means you can publish more often\u2014or you can spend more time on <\/span>other vital activities to grow your blog\u2019s traffic<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n First, let\u2019s address a common worry about writing faster\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n One of the worries that some bloggers have is that by speeding up the writing process, they\u2019ll compromise on quality.<\/span><\/p>\n I don\u2019t believe that\u2019s true. Sure, some methods for speeding up might affect the quality of your post \u2013 if you decide to shave time off your process by skipping editing completely, that\u2019s probably going to result in posts that have typos or other glaring errors. And if you simply hand the whole process over to an AI tool that can whip up an entire blog post based on a one-sentence prompt, you won\u2019t be producing something of your usual quality.<\/span><\/p>\n But in many cases, working more effectively <\/b>improves<\/i><\/b> the quality of your finished posts.<\/b> Let\u2019s say you speed up by cutting out distractions when you\u2019re drafting: your post might flow better as a result, with smoother transitions between sections. Or how about you speed up by <\/span>nailing your outline<\/span><\/a> before<\/span><\/i> you start writing the post\u2014you\u2019ll have a well-structured piece that covers all the most important points.<\/span><\/p>\n With each step we cover, we\u2019ll be looking at how to write faster <\/b>and<\/i><\/b> better.<\/b> Along the way, we\u2019ll take a look at some key techniques that top bloggers use to consistently produce high-quality content.<\/span><\/p>\n Whatever type of posts you write, and however long or short they are, you\u2019ll be going through these different steps of the blogging process:<\/span><\/p>\n Each step is important, and by recognising each of these as distinct parts of the blogging process, you can look at how to speed up <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> write even stronger posts.<\/span><\/p>\n We\u2019ll take a look at ways to be more efficient and effective at each step \u2026 but before we dig into that, let\u2019s tackle a huge issue that\u2019s probably on your mind as you think about writing fast.<\/span><\/p>\n As a freelance writer, I\u2019ll admit to some mixed feelings about <\/span>AI (artificial intelligence)<\/span><\/a>. On the one hand, I think tools like <\/span>ChatGPT<\/span><\/a> are very cool\u2014I\u2019ve had fun playing around with them. But I\u2019m also keen that the machines don\u2019t put me out of a job!<\/span><\/p>\n The good news for me is that AI really isn\u2019t at the point yet where it can replace a skilled blogger (or freelancer, author, or journalist). I don\u2019t think it\u2019s a good idea to \u201cspeed up\u201d by simply handing the whole blogging process over to AI. You might get a technically competent piece of writing, but it\u2019s not going to be as engaging and well-written as a post produced by a human.<\/span><\/p>\n But AI definitely has a role to play, and it can help make your posts stronger. I like to see AI as a bright intern. You wouldn\u2019t hand over full control of your blog to an intern \u2026 but you might ask them to carry out some preliminary research or to write a rough outline for a post.<\/span><\/p>\n As we go through the steps, I\u2019ll give you some ChatGPT prompts you can use if you want to speed things up using AI. If you want to go further, I\u2019d recommend using a premium AI tool aimed at bloggers\u2014some good ones to check out are:<\/span><\/p>\n The first step of the blogging process is to come up with an idea. You can\u2019t get very far without one!<\/span><\/p>\n To write a really <\/span>good<\/span><\/i> post, you want an idea that works for both your readers and for search engines. That means <\/span>doing some keyword research<\/span><\/a> if possible, so you can figure out something that people are searching for online, and write a post to meet their needs. Obviously, you also want to choose a topic that\u2019s relevant to your readers.<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re struggling, here are some great ProBlogger posts to help:<\/span><\/p>\n Some of my best articles have come from reader questions. They work well because if one reader wants to know a particular answer you can guess many more do too. If you can\u2019t find anything useful in your own comment area or inbox, go look at another blogger’s comments or a forum.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n (<\/span>How to Generate Post Ideas When You Are Stuck<\/span><\/a>, Chris Garrett, ChrisG.com)<\/span><\/p>\n There are plenty of AI-powered keyword research tools out there. <\/span>ClickUp has a great list here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n ChatGPT Prompt<\/b><\/p>\n Give me [X] blog post ideas for a blog about [TOPIC]. The audience is primarily [A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF YOUR AUDIENCE]. For each idea, tell me the primary keyword to optimize for.<\/span><\/p>\n Example: <\/b>Give me 10 blog post ideas for a blog about personal finance. The audience is primarily people in their 20s and 30s who feel a bit daunted by getting on top of their finances. For each idea, tell me the primary keyword to optimize for.<\/span><\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve got a clear idea in mind, it\u2019s time to craft an outline for your post. This is such a tempting step to skip, especially if you\u2019ve got a title that gives you a pretty clear picture of how your post is structured. <\/span>7 Easy Ways to Improve Your Morning Routine,<\/span><\/i> for instance, is clearly going to be a listicle.<\/span><\/p>\n But spending just 10 minutes outlining your post could make a massive difference to how quickly you can draft it. Those 10 minutes might save you an hour or more \u2026 and result in a much better finished piece.<\/span><\/p>\n When I\u2019m outlining, whether that\u2019s for my own blog or for a client piece, I like to include:<\/span><\/p>\n Some posts are easy to structure, like listicles and how-tos. Others are a bit trickier, like an A vs B comparison review, where you could give all the information about product A first, then cover product B \u2026 or you could do a point-by-point comparison of features, pricing, and so on. Even a list post can be tricky as you need to decide on the best order to present your different points.<\/span><\/p>\n The advantage of writing an outline is that you can experiment with structure until you\u2019re confident you\u2019ve got something that works and flows well.<\/span><\/p>\n A good outline gives you a holistic view of how your article will come together.<\/span><\/p>\n Aim to be as thorough as possible. The research process is key to ensuring that you have as much detail as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n This way, you can knock out each point without having to divert your attention away from writing.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n (<\/span>How to Become a Better, Faster, and More Efficient Writer in 7 Steps<\/span><\/a>, Neil Patel)<\/span><\/p>\n Either use AI to create the outline first, then edit it to add\/remove points\u2014or write down your key points, then create an outline with AI to help you spot any ideas you may have missed.<\/span><\/p>\n ChatGPT Prompt<\/b><\/p>\n Write a detailed outline for a [XXXX] word blog post titled [\u201cTITLE\u201d]. Give a suggested word count for each subsection. Include a call to action at the end to [CALL TO ACTION].<\/span><\/p>\n Example: <\/b>Write a detailed outline for a 1,500 word blog post titled “Zero-Waste Vegan Kitchen: Sustainable Cooking and Eco-Friendly Tips”. Give a suggested word count for each subsection. Include a call to action at the end to download my free vegan cookbook.<\/span><\/p>\n The stage of the blogging process that takes the longest is drafting your content. Perhaps you\u2019ve had the experience of staring at a blank page on the screen, trying to figure out what to write: if so, you should find it much easier to draft now you have a solid outline in hand.<\/span><\/p>\n But even when you\u2019ve got a clear outline, it can be hard to stay focused when drafting. <\/b>The biggest problem that trips bloggers up here is getting distracted and going off-task. This can easily make a one-hour writing task take three hours \u2026 and it may also end up with your post seeming disjointed at the end of the process.<\/span><\/p>\n Here\u2019s what you can do to dramatically <\/span>improve your focus<\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n I use a writing tool called TextExpander \u2014 which expands custom keyboard shortcuts into frequently used text \u2014 for common copy, like my email sign-off, bio, mailing address, book titles, HTML codes, and words and phrases I often use in my writing.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n (<\/span>How to Write Faster: 10 Quick Ways to Hit 1,000 Words Per Hour<\/span><\/a>, Linda Formichelli, SmartBlogger)<\/span><\/p>\n I prefer to draft without AI, but you may find it helpful to use AI to kickstart your writing \u2013 particularly your introduction, which many bloggers struggle with.<\/span><\/p>\n ChatGPT Prompt<\/b><\/p>\n Write a [XXX] word introduction to a blog post titled [“TITLE”]. The tone should be [TONE].<\/span><\/p>\n Example:<\/b><\/p>\n Write a 150 word introduction to a blog post titled “10 Common Blogging Mistakes Holding You Back (and What to Do Instead)”. The tone should be friendly, supportive, and encouraging.<\/span><\/p>\n If you started out with a solid outline, you\u2019ll have found it much faster to draft your post. You\u2019ll also save a lot of time <\/span>when you edit your post<\/span><\/a>, too. The fundamentals of your post will all be in place, and hopefully you won\u2019t need to make any really major edits (like cutting out or adding in whole sections).<\/span><\/p>\n Most likely, your editing will involve:<\/span><\/p>\nFaster Writing <\/span>Doesn\u2019t <\/span><\/i>Mean Slapdash Writing<\/span><\/h2>\n
How to Speed Up Your Blogging Process from Start to Finish<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
Should You Use AI to Speed Up Your Blogging?<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
Step 1: Coming Up With Ideas \u2013 That Work for Your Readers <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> Search Engines<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
What Chris Garrett Says About Coming Up With Ideas Faster<\/span><\/h4>\n
Using AI to Power Your Ideas<\/span><\/h4>\n
Step 2: Outlining Your Posts \u2013 And Giving Them a Rock-Solid Structure<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
What Neil Patel Says About Outlining Faster<\/span><\/h4>\n
Using AI to Power Your Outlining<\/span><\/h4>\n
Step 3: Drafting Your Posts \u2013 Without Procrastination and Writers\u2019 Block<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n
What Linda Formichelli Says About Drafting Faster<\/span><\/h4>\n
Using AI to Power Your Drafting\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
Step 4: Editing Your Posts \u2013 Polish Your Work and Catch Mistakes Easily<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n