5 Classes Discovered About Running a blog After Biking From Canada to Mexico

As a author for HubSpot, essentially the most I assumed I might use our product was creating advertising weblog posts and measuring their efficiency over time. I by no means envisioned myself truly utilizing a CMS to, properly, you realize, construct an internet site.

However, that shortly modified within the Fall of 2022 after I created a weblog that cataloged my journey down the Nice Divide, a mountain bike path that stretches from Canada to Mexico.

Earlier than I knew it, I used to be managing Pedaling4Pups.com and producing a handful of weblog posts every week all whereas biking the 2700-mile path. Whilst a seasoned blogger, I used to be amazed at how a lot I realized about creating content material — principally when doing it on the go.

This is what publishing a weblog submit appears to be like like whenever you’re 12K ft above sea stage:

On this submit, I wished to share the teachings that I realized about content material creation from my journey. Beneath are 5 suggestions you should use to create superior content material from the highest of a mountain, on a sandy seashore, or wherever inspiration hits you.

The way to Begin Creating Content material On the Go

In case you’re simply right here for the ideas, scroll on all the way down to the subsequent part for the good things — I promise I received’t maintain it towards you.

In case you’re curious concerning the weblog that I created and are questioning how I managed to publish 2 posts per week all whereas biking via 1000’s of miles of distant wilderness, you’re in the proper place.

I had two targets when creating my weblog. First, I wished a method to simply share updates with family and friends. What higher approach to try this than with weekly weblog posts accompanied by a recurring e-newsletter that readers might join?

The opposite objective was extra private. I wished to make use of my platform to generate donations for a charity. Readers might comply with my journey whereas concurrently having the chance to donate to a trigger that I used to be keen about.

This led to me to create Pedaling4Pups.com, a dog-centric weblog that may not solely comply with my journey on the Nice Divide however would additionally help an animal shelter in Ukraine. Whereas on the path, I wrote two posts per week all by writing and importing content material through my smartphone.

After I was at my campsite, I might sort up content material in my Notes app, then add it to the weblog every time I had the luxurious of cell service.

It was an superior method to go the time and I used to be shocked at how simple it was to drag off. With pre-made templates and themes, creating an internet site took no time in any respect, and writing and importing posts on a telephone is extra environment friendly than chances are you’ll suppose.

Skeptical? I might be, too. It wasn’t all the time a downhill trip (bike pun supposed) and I needed to adapt my content material creation abilities to suit every state of affairs I discovered myself in. Learn on to find out about how I did it and what you are able to do in your web site if you happen to ever end up in the same state of affairs.

5 Suggestions for Producing Content material On the Go

1. You’ll be able to produce content material actually anyplace.

Creating content material on the go is less complicated than you suppose. When you have a smartphone or a pill, you’re already midway there. I used HubSpot on my telephone, however you should use any running a blog device that gives a cellular CMS.

Even if you happen to simply have a pen and paper, sitting in a tent in the course of the woods, you’ll be able to nonetheless provide you with tales, classes, or different items of fascinating content material that your viewers will wish to learn. Simply jot it down whereas it’s recent in your thoughts then switch it to your telephone or laptop computer as quickly as you get the prospect.

As for the precise creation half, you’ll nonetheless want a platform to submit your content material on in addition to web entry so you’ll be able to share it with the world. Some platforms to think about using whereas on the go:

• Your Web site: Don’t have one? If I can create one, then I’d argue most land mammals can, too (sorry whales). Simply seize any free web site builder and also you’re off to the races.
• Social Media: Tik Tok, Fb, Instagram, Twitter, Membership Penguin — take your choose. There are many social media websites to select from they usually all have their very own options that make them distinctive.
• Neighborhood Boards: Today, it’s powerful to be authentic on the Web. However, that’s okay. There’s energy in numbers which implies there’s doubtless a neighborhood discussion board or chatroom that may be keen on your content material.
• Information/Media Retailers: Whereas I didn’t do that personally, I do know two content material creators who did get some media consideration for his or her perilous canoe journey down the Mississippi River.

Relating to importing content material, you may need to get a little bit inventive as to when and the place you’ll have web entry. Listed below are a couple of locations to maintain an eye fixed out for if you happen to’re in want of web or mobile phone charging whereas on the go:

• Libraries: Libraries all the time have free wifi and often don’t care if you happen to hang around for some time. They might even have computer systems you should use if you happen to’re bored with importing content material through mobile phone.
• Gasoline Stations: Gasoline stations are nice locations to add content material. Many provide free wifi and there are sometimes charging ports scattered across the constructing.
• Relaxation Areas: Relaxation areas are a no brainer if you happen to’re touring through a busy highway. Together with loos and snacks, these locations are fairly dependable totally free wifi and charging stations.
• Public Parks: Whereas wifi could differ from park to park, maintain an eye fixed out for charging ports as properly. I discovered parks have been considered one of my favourite locations to cease and steal a cost for some time.
• Eating places + Espresso Retailers: As long as you’re a paying buyer, most companies received’t thoughts you plugging your telephone into their wall shops. Some will even have free wifi you should use to add your content material.

So, there you go. If I can discover a method to add a weblog submit right here:

Then I’ve the utmost confidence you can add your content material anyplace, too.

2. Individuals nonetheless learn private blogs.

That’s proper. Social media hasn’t stolen all of running a blog’s thunder. Positive, you’ll be able to submit like-grabbing pics on Instagram, or shoot viral movies on Tik Tok, however you’ll be able to’t substitute the storytelling means {that a} weblog platform presents.

Blogs are wonderful areas to share private experiences, and also you don’t need to be sponsored by a enterprise to be a preferred blogger, both.

In reality, our analysis exhibits that just about 1 / 4 of all creator companies don’t but generate earnings (mine for certain didn’t). Meaning you don’t must be a enterprise to drum up an viewers in your web site, you simply must create compelling content material.

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Listed below are some suggestions for creating superior content material on the go:

1. Be clear: In case you’re posting about private experiences, make them actual. Individuals need real content material and most are good at sniffing out when one thing is faux. And, as quickly as they suppose you’re ingenuine, it’ll be exhausting to win them again.
2. Be optimistic: Don’t drown in your sorrows or search empathy too typically out of your readers. Whereas this may occasionally achieve you some consideration within the quick time period, individuals will develop bored with listening to concerning the negatives in the event that they aren’t ever adopted by a couple of positives.
3. Don’t shrink back from battle: Now don’t get me improper. This isn’t me saying exit and fire up hassle. That is me saying that my two top-performing posts have been those the place I confronted the most important challenges on my journey. Individuals wish to hear about your struggles and the way you overcome them so don’t be afraid to play up the dramatics when it requires it.
4. Break the 4th wall: Don’t be afraid to speak on to your reader. This makes the expertise really feel extra private like they’re on the journey with you.

3. Anybody generally is a content material creator.

Earlier than this journey, essentially the most website-building expertise I had was creating my bio on AOL Immediate Messenger. I do know some coding, sufficient to know I do know nothing about coding — actually not sufficient to construct a full-scale web site.

Luckily, I had one factor going for me. I labored for an organization that sells this website-building device you is perhaps acquainted with. It’s referred to as HubSpot, and like Squarespace or WordPress, considered one of its instruments is a drag-and-drop web site builder that makes running a blog easy for non-technical individuals like me.

Is that this a plug for HubSpot? Sure, however that’s not my level. My level is, anybody can construct an internet site if they’ve entry to a drag-and-drop web page builder.

Mine took me a couple of week or so to design, and from there I used to be posting content material very quickly. I used a pre-built template for my net pages so none of my design concerned exhausting coding and I used to be thrilled with how a lot customization I had entry to with every of the modules that have been already included on the web page.

The exhausting half was entering into the mindset of a content material creator. It’s important to be a little bit susceptible and prepared to simply accept that some content material received’t carry out in addition to others. In time, you’ll get the cling of it, however studying what works and what doesn’t can actually pose an intimidating problem for brand new content material creators.

4.  Content material creators are in every single place.

One of many coolest issues about my journey was what number of different content material creators I bumped into. My hands-down favorites have been Jesse and Fien who handle the web site “Two Drained Belgians.” These two adventurers are biking from Alaska to Argentina multi function, two-year journey — placing my measly little trip via the Rockies to disgrace.

The excellent news is that you just don’t need to journey 20K miles by bike to grow to be a content material creator. There are many causes to get into content material creation and bikepacking is just one of many.

Beneath, are a couple of different the reason why content material creators do what they do.

5. Keep in mind, it’s only a weblog.

On the finish of the day, it’s essential to keep in mind that your weblog is only a weblog. Don’t overthink it, simply get pleasure from it as an outlet to share your experiences with others.

In spite of everything, if you happen to’re not making a living from it, try to be having enjoyable with it and testing what works along with your viewers and what doesn’t. In case you aren’t having enjoyable creating your content material, your viewers just isn’t going to have enjoyable interacting with it.

I realized this lesson after I wrote about my tent getting sprayed by a sprinkler system in the course of a frigid night time. Looking for some humor within the state of affairs, I wrote concerning the expertise as if I have been at struggle with the sprinkler system and used army phrases to explain how I moved my tent to security or “engaged in defensive maneuvers.”

I used to be soaking moist, chilly, and sitting at midnight ready for a sprinkler to cease spraying my tent. The very last thing I wished to do was write about it. So, I had some enjoyable with it.

I poked enjoyable at myself for pitching my tent in such a ridiculous spot and sarcastically applauded my efforts to salvage the night time of sleep. It was quirky and doubtless not all that humorous, but it surely was what I wanted to do to get a submit out that day.

To my shock, this was considered one of my best-performing weblog posts. Family and friends reached out to inform me how a lot they loved the lighthearted storytelling and the way they thought the entire state of affairs was hilarious and was glad I shared it.

Whereas it wasn’t my shining second as a bikepacker, it was memorable and by placing my very own humorous spin on the state of affairs, I shared a real expertise that my viewers wished to listen to extra about — isn’t that the mark of an excellent piece of content material? 

Bonus: Canine content material all the time sells.

If there’s one basic reality that I can communicate to about bikeblogging, it’s that canine content material all the time sells. It may not make sense, it is perhaps irrelevant, however sprinkle in a couple of pics of pups if you happen to can and also you may simply see your engagement go up a little bit bit.

Undoubtedly not a science, but it surely’s a wagon I’m prepared to hitch my horse to.