Looking back, I’m genuinely pleased with the progress I made during my first four weeks. I wrapped up week four just before heading off on holiday, and while I’d planned to tie up a few loose ends during the break , maybe keep things ticking over , the reality was I did absolutely nothing for 12 days. Frustratingly, I’d suspected it might turn out that way, which is why I made a real effort in week four and actually produced some solid work. Annoyingly, though, I’m now struggling to recall exactly what that was.
A big success, however, was my first breakthrough with a non Lewes FC football blog. It started with a post I wrote about a single by The Clash, how pivotal it was in transforming the band’s fortunes. I’d already joined a couple of Clash-focused Facebook groups and decided to share the piece there. To avoid it looking like spam, I added a thoughtful comment at the start of the thread explaining the context. That seemed to do the trick , the moderators approved the post, even though I hadn’t contributed to either group before.
It ended up receiving a couple of hundred views, a big leap, considering my previous non-Lewes FC blog posts had topped out at around 30. I was genuinely delighted. Energised by that response, I put together a manual spreadsheet listing all the blogs I’d written over the past month, along with the ever growing relevant social media and publishing platforms. The goal was to organise everything clearly, so each piece could be published and shared in a sensible, coherent way, no more hit and miss posting.
Weeks 1 to 3 can be read here:
I’ve recently started joining a wide range of Facebook groups aligned with my various interests. To keep track, I’ve created a spreadsheet with two key columns: one for comments and another for likes, a way of making sure I’m actively engaging within each group. My thinking is that by fully participating, I’ll earn the trust of moderators and members, which in turn makes it easier to share relevant content, just as I’ve successfully done with my Lewes Football Club blogs.
So far, I’ve joined around 20 groups. While this might sound strategic, maybe even a little cynical, the truth is, these are all topics I’m genuinely passionate about. I’ve set up a system to stay engaged, though of course, I sometimes forget to keep it up when life gets in the way. Still, this whole approach is a meaningful pathway for me to share my blogs and reach the right audiences in an authentic way.
That said, it does need to be carefully managed. I’ve had to be tactful with my likes and comments, making sure they’re thoughtful and relevant, not transactional. My aim is to post a blog link every few weeks in each group, which works out to roughly one post a day across all 20 — especially since most of them fall under just two main genres. With time, I hope this steady rhythm will build momentum and encourage readers to explore connected posts.
Of course, there’s still a long way to go. I need to evolve the blog layout and structure to make it more professional, so that when readers land on one article, they’re naturally led to others. Interestingly, as I write this, just two days after returning from holiday, I can feel things beginning to click back into place. The focus is starting to return.
I set off on holiday with my spreadsheets in hand and a new sense of purpose. I felt organised, motivated, and then, predictably, I ignored all of it. I came home to a glut of sales and buying tasks that completely destroyed my rhythm. I was rushed off my feet.
I had also planned, rather optimistically, to spend some proper time working on my third short story. That effort lasted about half an hour. But in truth, the break was much needed. It made me realise just how wired my head had become, spending 20+ hours a week at the laptop, trying to build a blog using tools I’m not entirely comfortable with. It’s a massive strain on the brain, and while I was away, my brain essentially said: “Enough.”
Even so, I couldn’t fully switch off. A situation arose at Lewes FC, the usual controversy, and I felt compelled to write about it while still on holiday. But oddly enough, it felt almost effortless. Like water off a duck’s back. It reminded me how simple it can be to write something quickly, leave it, then come back and finish it with fresh eyes. But with all of my new subject matters, platforms and social media, everything is new, every task needs fresh eyes and mental preparation, and I do things super quick so it is quite trying. On holiday bashing out a few blogs of what you know and where to pist and promote it is effortless. That’s my excuse anyway.
Now, back home and surprisingly rejuvenated, I can look at my first month and say, honestly, it was a good one. I’ve learned just how hard this journey is going to be. But I’ve also discovered that I can write a lot of quality material, and I can do it quickly. That might be the most important realisation so far.
One by one, I’m overcoming the technical barriers, building a social media strategy, setting up publishing systems. When I look at what I’ve done over the last month, I can’t help but wonder how good things might be if I stick with this for another 23 months.
Right now, I’ll admit, the intensity has dipped. Understandably so, I’ve returned from a 12-day break to a mountain of admin and logistics. But if I can carve out some proper time this weekend to refocus, I’m optimistic that week 7 will be a return to form. Once you’re properly set up and recognised, blog views can grow quickly. That’s the next challenge, and I’m ready for it.
#Blogging Journey #Social Media Strategy #Football Writing #Content Creation #Omline Publishing
The Rights of Fans. 