We’ve established that publishing is one of the few ways to get traffic online.
So, what about this idea of publishing daily?
Obviously, it’s going to prove quite ambitious for experienced content creators let alone artists who often have day jobs in addition to fledgling music careers.
If I were to bottom line it, I think it’s about finding what works for you.
Standing on the Shoulders of Titans
I’ve been publishing daily for almost 17 months.
After a year, I thought about redirecting my energy elsewhere, but ultimately, I didn’t feel like breaking the chain.
Author Seth Godin says blogging daily is one of the best career decisions he’s ever made, even though he admits to “blogging into the void” much of the time.
Show Your Work! author Austin Kleon recommends sharing your work with the world as it’s being made… preferably daily. Though these days Kleon seems to publish three to four times per week. It’s still nothing short of impressive.
ClickFunnels co-founder Russell Brunson says if you publish daily for a full year, it will solve all your business problems (although there are some stipulations to go with that statement) – it’s a lofty promise my yearlong blogging efforts didn’t deliver on, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work or won’t work for you.
Podcaster John Lee Dumas started a daily entrepreneur interview podcast a few years ago, and because he was the only one doing something so bonkers, his show caught fire a couple of years in and now he rakes in hundreds of thousands of dollars per month.
Although he doesn’t talk about it all that often, entrepreneur James Schramko created daily videos for years, a habit he’s returned to in recent years.
The funny thing about this is that none of these people need to do it anymore, and yet they seem as active on the publishing front as ever.
Take from that what you will.
Personally, I write because I want to write. Because I like to write. I’ve been blogging “into the void” for ages, and most of the time, the only strategy behind that is that many of the posts I write (not all) will eventually make it into a book.
And regardless of how my interests or efforts shift, no doubt I will continue to publish in some capacity.
To wrap up this section, I want to answer a few frequently asked questions.
Do I Need to Write?
No, you don’t.
There are three dominant forms of content online – text, audio, and video. And you can choose the one that’s right for you.
I can tell you from experience that some forms of publishing require more time and effort than others, especially if you’re expecting perfection (please don’t insist on perfection if you’re going to publish daily). There’s no need to make this more complicated than it needs to be!
Do I Need to Publish to My Blog?
No. I have a friend who publishes daily on Instagram and does quite well at it. And considering the time and effort that can go into other forms of content, sharing daily on Instagram doesn’t seem so daunting.
That said, everything I’ve already shared about ownership still applies. You’re in a position of compromise if you don’t backup your content and add as many people to your email list as possible.
What do I Even Talk About?
Many experts, like entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, advocate documenting your journey. And this is what I would recommend as well.
I understand that not every day in the life of an artist is filled with bizarre misadventures and exciting breakthroughs, but can you post a picture (even an old one)? Share a lyric snippet? Talk about your favorite guitar? Show people what you’re up to in your DAW? Film a quick segment of a Zoom call with a fan or friend (with permission, of course)?
Of course, you could. And that would be more than enough to keep your audience engaged.
Do I Need to Publish Daily?
No, you don’t.
Or should I say – I can’t make that decision for you.
It’s going to take something to publish daily. And, again, while I can’t tell you what that is… you might call it a certain determination, consistency, perseverance, or even tenacity in the face of a wild world where there are always more fires to put out… It’s not all going to be candy canes and butts in thongs.
You can publish at a frequency that feels right for you. Not even the top marketers follow their own advice in this regard.
As entrepreneur Noah Kagan says, do 100 of something and then you’ll know a) how it feels, b) whether you enjoy it, and c) whether it works.
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