This is my second year participating in the Blogmas event, and the excitement hasn’t died down. I’ve enjoyed writing since 2nd grade. So, it was a no-brainer to be a part of something that would challenge my writing daily.
Participating in Blogmas 2020 and 2021
The first time I heard of this event was last year, and I had seen many Twitter posts towards the end of November talking about this thing called Blogmas. For those who don’t know, Blogmas is an event in December. Like Vlogmas, a video version of Blogmas, Blogmas is where bloggers present new posts centered around Christmas-related content.
Right away, I was both excited but nervous because I was a reasonably new blogger at the time and had no idea what to write. Also, I figured it was too late to participate because all the bloggers I saw talked about being prepared months in advance.
Yet I still went for it and was glad I did. I remember being nervous that no one would read any of them or that I was doing everything all wrong. Still, I did it and managed to sneak some mental health articles in there as well.
Doing Blogmas in 2020 allowed me to take a step away from writing about mental health for something less serious, and it gave me a fun little break that I enjoyed. And 2021 was no different, and Blogmas have become like my Christmas break from my regular content.
What has changed between Blogmas 2020 vs 2021
Now with both years of Blogmas are in the books, I’m starting to see a difference. My first Blogmas was a last-minute thing, and I had started planning and writing on December 1st, which pushed my days of posting back to the thirteenth.
I was stressed trying to write everything, finding topics to write about, and my posts were long because I wanted to pack everything I’d researched into each one. And every night, I would stay up late setting up my website for the next day, not to mention the graphics for my social media platforms. It was a nightmare.
However, going through that process taught me that if I was going to be a part of Blogmas this year, I had to plan ahead of time. While it still wasn’t months in advance, it was definitely before my first day of posting, and I already had my topics to go and wrote my 1st six posts at the end of November.
And because I had all my topics set, I was able to schedule my posts on my site and not worry about my deadline for the following day. Now some things haven’t changed from last year. I still had six posts that I hadn’t written yet. And I had to gather photos for both my posts.
Yet despite a few old habits, I was less stressed than last year, and I didn’t have to scramble to find things to talk about. Year by year, I’m getting closer to mastering my Blogmas schedule. So take note from me, be prepared.
Here are some ways to prepare for your own Blogmas
One thing that I learned from participating in both years is “Be prepared.” Writing posts daily shouldn’t be taken lightly. So, knowing how to approach Blogmas for the first time will help keep you from scrambling at the last minute.
Decide in advance
Before anything, decide on what works best for you. Are you able to write a months’ worth of posts? While some post every day of the month, this may be a bit much for your first time. But if you’re up for the challenge, I say go for it.
Prepare your content in advance
This is especially important. Preparing your content in advance takes the load off your shoulders when it comes time to post. Use the year to plan out your topics, photos and research your content. Research topics that you’d love to write about but are also appealing to your audience. Once you have your topics, you’re able to write your posts ahead of the process.
Keep it simple
Keeping it simple allows you to have a quick turnaround when writing. You want to make sure it’s manageable. The less complex you make the process, the less stress you’ll experience. This is a fun event, so make it fun.
Don’t forget your social media posts
The significant part of Blogmas comes from the preparation and scheduling of each blog post. However, don’t forget about your social media posts as well. This is how you’ll advertise your new posts on your social media platforms. A simple way is to use the same or similar templates for all your posts.
Scheduling takes the pressure off
Scheduling everything before your start date will take away the stress of having to do it daily. Have a set time in mind, and you can plan every post to upload on your site without worrying about it. Also, think about scheduling your social media posts. There are sites such as Later, Planoly, and more that are free to use, and you can easily prepare for each platform.
Conclusion
I can say that I’m glad I’ve been a part of Blogmas these past two years. It’s given me a challenge each time, but I’ve been up for each one, and I’ll definitely do it again. I highly recommend participating in at least one, but be prepared.
Share some of your experiences of participating in Blogmas, current or the past, in the comments down below. And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram, @thesilenttorch, for daily affirmations, weekly challenges & check-ins, updates, and positive words.
Until next time this is Tammy saying keep strong, keep positive. And Happy Holidays!!!
