How to Come Back From a Blogging Hiatus With a Bang
*Updated: June 27, 2022
It’s perfectly normal to take a break from blogging every now and then. Whether you went on a much-needed vacation or life just got in the way for a couple of months, a blogging hiatus isn’t the end of the world. However, according to Hubspot, inconsistency is considered one of the more common blogging mistakes that can hold you back from success, so it’s important to return with a bang if you’ve been MIA for a prolonged time.
4 ways to Come Back with a Bang After A Blogging Hiatus
Give Your Blog a Redesign
If you took some time away from your blog, there’s no better time to give your blog a makeover than just before you make your return. It’s a way to tell your readers that you are back to blogging, you’re still devoted to your blog and you care about its upkeep. It’s also a great way to build some excitement to draw an inactive blog following back to your content.
If you’re wondering how to update a blog, the secret is not to overthink it. Before you get started, really take a look at your blog with new eyes. What could be cleaner? Is it time for a new color scheme? New font? What are the blogs that you admire doing with their setup? Take time to redesign your blog in a way that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. This could mean switching to a new theme, adding or removing plugins, or a full brand and blog update to match your new vision as you return from your blogging hiatus.
Once you take the time to make some quality changes, don’t forget to announce the makeover on your social outlets. Let your followers know you’re back and better than ever!
Invest in a Few Boosted Posts
To really come back with a bang, invest in a few boosted posts on your different social outlets. Even throwing $30 at a boosted Facebook post promoting your blog could reach new eyes and gain you new followers. If you’re going to put all that hard work into giving your blog a makeover, wouldn’t it be great to gain some new readers along the way?
Additionally, since you’ve been taking a little break, you very well may have lost some readers. You want to let everyone know you’re back from your blogging hiatus, so some extra advertising wouldn’t hurt.
Offer Extra Value to Your Readers New and Old
If you simply start emailing your mailing list again out of the blue after a blogging hiatus, you may find that you experience a large number of people unsubscribing. The truth is that many of your followers may have forgotten about your blog and not recognized your email when it came through. Reengage your subscribers by offering something of value.
This is a great time to introduce a new and exciting lead magnet to your email marketing. Not only will it encourage old followers to check out your new look, but it will also give you a kickstart when you restart your blog by encouraging new readers to join your newsletter list.
Take the Time to Plan out Your Editorial Calendar
Part of the reason many bloggers take a break is that they don’t have a handle on their editorial calendars. When you’re planning your future posts, plan further in advance than you think you need to. If you have all your posts laid out in front for the next couple of months, you’re more likely to stick to it and get all of your writing done. If you find that you can’t keep up with writing a post every day, that’s okay. Instead, try writing a couple of posts a week, but plan further ahead. Focus on publishing consistent, quality content not as much on the quantity that you’re sharing.
What’s your go-to move when returning from a blogging hiatus?
Kelsey Goeres is a writer based in Los Angeles, California. She writes about marketing, small business, and real estate. When she’s not writing, she’s performing improvisational comedy around LA. You can contact Kelsey at kelseygoeres@gmail.com.
