We all go through both hectic and quiet periods with our blogs. Some months, right from the get-go, we’ve got emails flying in about collaborations or offers to review products. Our stats are banging, interaction is great and we’re generally just loving life. And other months, it’s quite the opposite. So today we’re going to look at how to keep busy during quiet blogging months
We’ve all been there. I have. And it sucks. But it’s important to remember that it’s probably not your fault. The blogging industry certainly goes through waves of activity and more often than not, when I’m having a quiet month, I’ll see other bloggers mention on social media that they are too. I mean, it sucks for both of us but it’s nice to know I’m not alone.
It can definitely be a bit disheartening and annoying. Not to mention a little worrying when you rely on money you make through your blog to pay for things. But the important thing to remember is that it won’t be like this forever, especially if you continue to work hard and tomorrow, next week or next month could be completely different.
When I go through quiet periods with my blog where my inbox resembles that of tumbleweed, I always try and keep a level head. But sometimes, it does get to me. And I mean REALLY get to me. I don’t think it matters how long you’ve been blogging or if you’re a full-time or a part-time blogger, it’s absolutely okay to feel negatively affected by quiet blogging months.
That said, there are plenty of things you can do to keep yourself busy and motivated and I’m highlighted 8 things in this blog post to help you, if you’re going through a quiet period as well.
Here’s how to keep busy during quiet blogging months:
Update or create your media kit
When working with brands it’s good to have an effective media kit handy to send out. If you’ve neglected your media kit or don’t yet have one at all, now would be a good time to carve out some time to focus on creating one or updating it! Check out my post about how I created a free and attractive media kit with some tips on what to include in yours!
Spring clean your blog
Now is also a good time to give your blog a little TLC as well. If things are on the quiet front, you’ll have more time to tend to your blog like you’d tend to your garden on a slow Spring afternoon. All those little jobs you’ve been putting off… get them done! Stuck? Here are some suggestions!
Research and make a list of brands you want to pitch to…
Just because brands aren’t coming to you right now, doesn’t mean you can’t go to them! Dream big, make a list of all the brands you’d love to work with and potentially pitch to. Categorize them and research the appropriate email to send your pitch to (and the name of the PR person, if you can!)
…then pitch to them!
Why the heck not? You’ll never know until you try. Pick out some of your favourites, write up a banging pitch and go haywire on that send button. You can pick up my Beginners Guide To Pitching To Brands for just £7, which contains all my insider tips and tricks for successful pitching, as well as real life pitching examples and templates for you to use!
Set some short and long term blogging goals
Now is a good time to sit back, reflect and have a little think about your blog and where you want to go with it. Busy months are fan-bloody-tastic. But they rarely give us time to reflect. So sit down with a pen and paper (not your phone!) and write up some short and long term blogging goals for yourself.
Where would you like to be in 1 or 5 years? Who would you have liked to work with in that time? What direction do you want your blog to go in? All those scary questions! Sign up to my mailing list to receive access to my freebie library, where you can grab your own Goal Setting and Action Plan Workbook!
Brainstorm blog content for the next month
A great thing to do – that I like to do the most – when I’m thinking about how to keep busy during quiet blogging months is to brainstorm, plan and create new, incredible content for the upcoming months ahead. You have more time than ever to put into your content right now so make it count! Stuck for ideas? Here are some blog post ideas to help you out:
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Make a plan and research something you’d like to create
If quiet times stress you out (yep) then it might be worth spending these times researching alternative ways to avoid them, going forward or extra ways to make money blogging when the sponsored post opportunities are on the slow side.
Do you excel in an area of blogging that you could create an informative eBook about and sell? Are you in a position to start offering advertising packages to other bloggers? Or think even bigger than that in terms of offering coaching or another type of service!
Try and not let it get to you
And finally, you gotta look after you and mentally, these quiet periods can really get to you. It’s easy enough to say “don’t let it get to you” but just try and remember that there’s a 99% chance it’s not your fault and that other bloggers are probably going through the same sort of drought. Keep yourself occupied, work on your plan and have faith that things will turn around. They always do!
I hope this post gave you some good ideas for how to keep busy during quiet blogging months. If you’re going through a quiet blogging month right now, I’m sorry to hear that and I hope it picks up for you soon! In the meantime, try focusing on some of these tasks to help keep the motivation and creativity high!
What do you do when your inbox is dead and you’re having a quiet month? Do you have anything to add to this post? Let me know!
Quiet blogging months can be really hard – I’ve been there when I’ve really let them get to me. So focusing on your mental health as a blogger is so crucial. Sign up to my mailing list to receive your FREE Mental Health for Bloggers guide!
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We try to do all these (or most of these) regularly, but you are so right, once you’re a little quieter, it’s the best time! Also updating old content is a great way to make it less boring (if there is ever anything boring!)
Haha totally agree!
This is such great advice. I hope to apply this although my blog is still small and hasn’t attracted much attention or brands.
Good advice to keep in your back pocket for later!
This is great and helpful post. I need to set some new short and long term goals. I will definitely try some of these tips in the future. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome!
I really needed to read this right now! Thanks for sharing Jenny!
[…] is not jam packed full of opportunities every single day – there are of course times where my blogging inbox is a bit dead and work is slow, which is the case for a lot of bloggers – but I am at a stage where I […]
As someone who’s worked in the restaurant and clothing business I can say that it’s not just blogs that have downtime. As you say the important thing is to keep going, use the down time to catch up and think of new ways to attract readers. These are some great tips. Thanks for sharing
Love, Tea
https://teaspangsberg.com/
Yeah I know – my boyfriend works in Hamleys and the beginning of the year is so dead!
Yeah, it can be sooo boring to be at work like that
I loved reading these tips! It’s always good to know what to do when it’s a bit more quiet on the blog. Right now, I think it’s time for me to do some spring cleaning and pitch to brands! Thank you for sharing your tips.
xoxo Simone | https://beautymone.com
You’re welcome! Glad you found this post helpful 😌
I have to admit that when my inbox isn’t coming up with new opportunities every few days then I do get quite disheartened and I shouldn’t feel that way x
You definitely shouldn’t x
I understand what you mean by some months are busier than others. I love all your tips. I try to catch up on things that need to be done when it calms down.
I’ve got to give my blog a bit of a spring clean soon, I’m so behind!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
Hope you manage to get around to it!
Great advice! Glad I read your post. Currently at a quiet position at the moment and redoing my media kit now. Pinned your post for future 😄
Good excellent tips and hints as ever.
You’re welcome x
So glad I read this as my inbox has been dead for a while! It’s seemed so much harder this year so far to find genuine opportunities. I’m just about to update my media kit and then I think it’s time to start pitching to brands again! Brilliant post Jenny xx
Tiffany x http://www.foodandotherloves.co.uk
I totally agree! I think since the ASA guidelines were reinforced it’s been harder. There are STILL brands wanting no disclosure and I’ve definitely turned down more things this year than any other!
Great post Jenny! I need to do a spring clean of my categories!! thanks for the reminder x
You’er welcome!
Such insightful tips! I LOVE pitching to brands but I feel like it’s daunting for a lot of people. I always tell myself “realistically, what’s the worst that’s going to happen? They’ll say no” and then just crack on with the pitch haha. P.s. the title on this post is perfect – definitely better than any “professional sounding title”. xx
El // Welsh Wanderer
Yep exactly, literally the worst they can say is no and then you move on 🙂
Hi Jenny,
Some great tips there. Being new to the scene I’ll be checking out quite a few of the links included so thanks for that! 🙂
Dan
You’re welcome! Hope you find the links useful!
Pitching to a brand is such a scary concept! But you’re right, why the hell not?! Thank you the tips, I’m going to look into writing a great pitch! Can’t hurt! Thanks for your advice.
Exactly, the worst they can say is no! I’d recommend Kirsty Leanne’s eBook for pitching!
Awesome tips! Really love the style of your blog and will take these into account!
Thanks very much!
Really great tips. I think it’s important to keep positive and keep going.
http://www.fashionradi.com
Thank you 🙂 It really is – attitude is everything!
The title of this post really made me laugh! It’s true though, it can definitely come in waves and it’s so hard to not think you’re doing something wrong when your inbox dries up a bit. It took me a while to get over that mentality. This is a great list of proactive blog things to do instead though! x
Sophie
http://www.glowsteady.co.uk
Thank you 🙂 It can be tough for sure x
I love these ideas! When things are quiet, we all need something to do and what better to use the time for then improving our blogs?
My favorite pastime is brainstorming and, when I am on a roll, I write like there is no tomorrow.
I can tell you first hand cleaning up your blog will suck away time and you will be left wondering where it all went!
Totally agree. But it’s worth it!
Without a doubt!
Oooh thanks again for another insightful blog post! I admit that I haven’t thought about pitching before because I am just a hobbyist blogger, but I would love to work with Boohoo or missguided one day!
I think you should totally pitch to those!
YESS – It really is up and down, some months are amazing in terms of interaction & stats and some not so much, a massive rollercoaster at times. I’ve been cleaning up a few of my old posts and wow that takes so long to do but also so worth it!
Personally I haven’t approached brands myself – usually some just find their way into my inbox haha – I think I’d be too scared to be the one to initiate the conversation!
I love love brainstorming blog content but I have to say the best ideas come when I’m not focused on thinking on an idea if that makes sense!
Great tips!
You shouldn’t be scared – the worst they can say is no 🙂 And I’m sure loads of brands would love to work with you!
Great tips! Still getting the hang of things and figuring stuff out so posts like this are super helpful, thanks!
-Morgan
Glad you found it helpful 🙂
The last few months have been the best for my blog numbers wise, however I haven’t spent nearly as much time writing as I want to. So my focus for the next few months is to get back in the groove of writing more!
Fab advice. Earmarked for future notice! Definitely go through blog lulls and neglectful periods as a full-time teacher but these are ace tips for when those times arise!
Terri x
https://more-th4n-words.blogspot.com/
Thank you 🙂
I don’t earn from my blog yet but I think these tips are great for any of us, especially if we find ourselves with a few minutes to spare… rare I know as a blogger but we can certainly learn a lot from this.
Thanks for sharing 😊
Haha true, I rarely have a minute to spare!
Great post Jenny. I thought these tips were really great. I’m still nervous about creating a media kit though eek. Idk if my stats are up there yet. But you gave me some things to think about
You need to create one, regardless of your stats 🙂 It’s not all about the stats either – it’s how you present yourself and what you can offer!
These are great ideas. I really like to take the quiet times during blogging to revisit older content and spruce it up. I also like to redo images to give some new stuff for Pinterest.
I wish I could do that but I literally have over a thousand posts!
I love this!! I definitely get really disheartened when everything goes quiet, but I never really know what to do about it. Definitely now clicking through to your spring cleaning your blog, I feel like I need to do something with some of my older stuff since upping my game last year. Another great post.
These are such great ideas to help. I need to actually develop a media kit. This year was the year I started pitching to brands, stationery week was amazing and it actually pushed me outside my comfort zone to approach brands and it went really well. I definitely want to do a spring clean on my blog. I will definitely keep these ideas in my mind for my blog when I am struggling. Thank you for sharing your advice and tips Jenny! Xx
That’s amazing to hear, well done! You should definitely get your media kit done!
Great post, I can imagine this will definitely help a lot of people because as you’ve said – there are the quiet moments which I can guess can be quite sad but it’s definitely good to make the most of that time because you may not have the opportunity when you are really busy! I’d love to work with brands and such in the future so I’ll make sure to keep these tips in mind if I’m in this position!
Amy,
https://creativenails.uk
It can be a bit disheartening for sure!
I never even considered these things during quiet patches, I usually hope for the best with promotion, but I’ve noticed lately blogging Twitter is a bit quieter than usual. Thank you for this post, it’s so helpful!
Ash | thisdreamsalive.wordpress.com
Blogging Twitter definitely goes through lulls
Great tips Jenny! Love it x
Thank you x
Really great advice…it’s always interesting to see what “pops” and what doesn’t, and I like your ideas to refresh and re-engage!
Thank you 🙂
Some great ideas! I need to make a list of brands to contact xx
You totally should x
These are some great tips! Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome 🙂
There are some fab ideas on here Jenny! My inbox has been a bit emptier than normal recently so I’ll definitely use your tips. I’m going to make a list of brands to pitch to and spring clean my blog and hope that spurs some collaborations. Eve x
http://www.evemorganinteriors.com
Mine too – I think it’s a lull at the moment!
These are great ideas Jenny, being a blogger there is always something to keep us occupied isn’t there! 🙂 It’s nice to have quieter times to have a chance to reflect and plan ahead. Setting goals and pitching to brands are both fab ideas to give motivation and direction. Like you say, things always turn around.. and before we know it we are busy again! Thanks for the inspiration, fab post as always! <3 xxx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
Exactly, you should definitely make the most of the quiet moments!
Great tips!
I’m always spring cleaning my blog and doing little odd jobs on it to keep it looking fresh 😊
Love Lozza xo
http://girlygabble.com
That’s great 🙂
I actually breathe a sigh of relief when my inbox is quiet, it takes the pressure of – at least for me. I just enjoy the lull and I do take the time to do things like updating my media kit, do some boring maintenance stuff. 😀
Sarah 🌺 || Boxnip || Latest Post
I secretly love the boring maintenance stuff. But I’d rather be busy!
Yas to this blog post! (I’ve actually booked marked it now) because my blog inbox is very very empty and is filled with tumble weed. I’m hoping once my final university assignment is handed in that I can do this and really start investing back into my blog! I’m so nervous about pitching though because I’ve never actually done it before. Do you have a blog post or something advice surrounding pitching and approaching brands for a newbie?
I’d highly recommend Kirsty Leanne’s eBook for everything about pitching!
Great idea’s darling, I’m more than sure that this blog post is going to help so many people. I’m sending you all of my love! 🌸💜
With love, Alisha Valerie x | http://www.alishavalerie.com
Thank you x
I have little time to devote to my blog at the moment as I am working on beta edits of book two. Plus working long hours and hoping to submit to SCBWI undiscovered voices competition.
Great tips though Jenny. 🙂
Thank you 🙂
I needed to hear this as we go into this next week. I know that it will be quieter because last week was an anomaly. I need to remind myself that these surges happen, as do these ‘tumbleweed’ moments.
I’m nervous about approaching brands. I have a gifted opportunity coming up, so I suppose after that is completed I will have more confidence to approach brands that I love.
Finally, I’m all or spring cleaning your blog/pins!
– Nyxie
I’d highly recommend Kirsty Leanne’s eBook about pitching!
Great post. My inbox is dead at the moment, haha. But I am too scared to approach brands. I need to be more confident.
x
Bettie
http://www.thewildflowerhippie.com
Confidence is key when it comes to contacting brands.
Some good tips here… I need to spend my half term giving my blog some TLC!
Lola Mia x
Hope you manage to get that done!
Always love your posts will be taking some time out to do some of these things xxx
Thank you 🙂
I take the opportunity to focus on content and writing new and fun posts x
It’s nice to not have any distractions! x
As a book blogger my inbox is always dead ha. I appreciate it at the moment though as I’ve so many books to get through.
I’m sure you get periods with lots of review requests or books to review at once!