Blog “out of season” for better value
Bicycling along the Cape Cod Rail Trail on a Veteran’s Day weekend reminded me of the
benefits of traveling in the off-season. Similarly, a blogger who posts about topics when they’re “out of season” can reap benefits.
Rail trails can be uncomfortably crowded during the summer. If I pass pedestrians, I must move quickly so I don’t run into cyclists or other folks coming from the opposite direction. The unpredictable behavior of little kids and dogs is a constant challenge. Contrast this with the serenity of riding off-season with my husband. The path was empty most of the time during our November outing
A blogger’s “out of season” ride
For a financial blogger, the equivalent of the tourist season is writing about taxes in April, college graduations in May, and holiday gifts in December. Sure, those topics are in the news then, but you’ve got lots of competition from other writers, just as I ran into lots of traffic on a popular rail trail on a summer Sunday afternoon.
It’s better to blog about seasonal topics well ahead of time. There are several benefits.
- Your readers need to plan ahead to implement your suggestions for April 15 and other important dates.
- Reporters seeking story ideas are more likely to use you if they find you early. Print publications have especially long lead times. A monthly magazine may plan its January edition three to six months ahead, with its writers working with a lag.
- You can recycle a seasonal blog post as the relevant event approaches. For example, if you publish a Thanksgiving-themed post in September, you can email it to clients in October and pump it out via social media in early November. By the time of Thanksgiving, your blog post will have permeated your target markets.
Have you tried this?
If you’ve tried this, please report on the results you’ve achieved. I’m also interested in your tips on this topic.
