How To Plan A Blog Post In 10 Minutes

How To Plan A Blog Post In 10 Minutes Every website owner loves the idea of a blog. They love hearing about how adding a blog to your website is one of the fastest and easiest ways to increase traffic, improve search engine rankings, build a big email list, gain expert positioning, and attract new clients. They love the impact it can have on their social media content strategy and they love that blogging for business is free- it doesnt add another monthly bill. But blogging isnt really free- it takes time, energy, focus, and commitment. Blogging is a long-term strategy, so even though time is being taken away from billable work to write blog posts, there more than likely isnt going to be an immediate return on investment. Plus, because were an instant gratification society, this causes frustration and makes site owners want to spend less and less time creating new blog content, because its a lot of work and they dont get an immediate reward. So, while website owners love the idea of blogging for business, they are not using their blogs! Often nothing new has been published since the site originally went live, or it's been three, six, or even twelve months since any new content has been added. Yikes! Can you relate? Do you like the idea of having a blog, but feel overwhelmed by the realities of managing a blog and creating new content regularly- good content, you can be proud of? Is it hard to come up with ideas for new blog posts? Are you struggling to come up with great headlines and find the time to write new posts? Wouldn't it be great if you knew how to quickly generate new blog post ideas or have a stash of post ideas available to you at any time? Do you need help finding inspiration for your blog content and a guide to craft a good post? Yes? Well, you're in luck. I am going to walk you through five different ways on how to plan a blog post in 10 minutes or less so you can write it better and faster- without stress, frustration, or overwhelm.  I am also going to give you a tool I created for myself to help me create great headlines and map out a ton of blog post ideas at one time- and you don't even have to opt-in or give me an email to get it. 5 ways to plan a blog post in under 10 minutes with a nice checklist to get started.I know everyone is not inspired the same way. Some people find inspiration in visuals, others need the headline to be perfect before they can write, some people hate to write, and still others will procrastinate until the last minute. To make blogging for business easier and faster, you don't need a cookie cutter formula. You need the right tactics and strategies at your fingertips to help you find your unique creative groove. Once you find that place, planning  blog content will be easier and writing blog posts will happen faster. 1. Like To Plan Ahead? Keep An Idea File For Posts. An idea for a blog post may strike at any time. An image, a tweet or Facebook post, an experience, another person's actions, a blog post you read, a client question, a business struggle, or even a talk at an event could inspire a new idea. Create a place to write down your blog post ideas so you have them to pull from in the future. You could do this in a multitude of software programs, in a journal, or even on your phone. I keep a plain text file on my desktop and I use the Notes app on my phone. But here's the kicker: You can't just write down the idea or the headline. You need to add context to the idea and create a mini post outline. This often takes far less than 10 minutes, and it takes all the stress out of writing the post later. Here's what to write down when a new blog post idea strikes: The topic or idea. Any possible headlines. How you came up with the idea. Any story that may fit with it (this is a lifesaver, as you think you'll remember it, but you may not). The link to your inspiration source if appropriate. Inspired by a tweet or Facebook post? Snag the embed code so you don't have to hunt for it later. The key message you want to communicate in the post or major bullet points. Any image ideas. Don't overthink it. Write down everything you can about the topic at that moment, and don't worry about writing in complete sentences. Don't edit yourself now; you can do that later when you're writing the final blog post. This exercise is just about getting the meat of the post out of your head. When you write down your blog ideas, you need to capture more than just your headlines.If you do this every time you have a new idea for a blog post, you'll build up a valuable idea file full of blog posts that are already halfway complete! Then when you need to write a post, you can grab one from your file, finish it up, and hit publish! 2. Work Better Under Pressure? Set A Timer. I love timers. I love the feeling of the clocking ticking down, the pressure on, and a task to complete. A challenge was accepted, adrenaline kicks in, and I'm thinking let's do this. I often do my best work under pressure with a deadline. I tune out all distractions, focus, and get things done in a much shorter amount of time than normal. Using a timer is merely a faster, more effective way of time blocking tasks. So, if you're like me, you may benefit from using this same approach when brainstorming blog post ideas. Here's how it works in only 10 minutes: Choose one topic, set a timer for 3 minutes, and brainstorm as many headlines as you can on that single topic. Don't edit as you go. Don't second guess. Don't stop or slow down. Every idea is good. Write it down no matter what. When the timer buzzes, stop. Set the timer for 1 minute and in that time, review each headline, circling the best ones (shoot for at least two or three). Set the timer for 6 minutes and in that time, quickly outline the blog post content for each headline. List what content to include, image ideas, story ideas, key messages to communicate, the problem it solves, and why someone should care. If something doesn't come to you for a headline right away, skip it and move on. At the end of this exercise, you'll have at least a few great posts on your topic that are already halfway done. You just need to finish them up later. Need help? I LOVE this exercise. I created a fill-in-the-blank headline guide with more than 200 Mad Libs style headlines to help me quickly brainstorm great headlines with little effort. I just set my timer, fill in the blanks for as many as I can, and then loop back and set my timer again to fill in the content notes for each one. You can download it free (no opt-in needed). 3. Hate Writing? Speak Your Post. I don't know about you, but many of my great ideas don't come to me when I'm conveniently in front of my computer or at home with a journal nearby. And sometimes I can't write them down- like when I'm driving or in the shower. If you can't write down your ideas, or you simply don't like writing- that's okay! You can still create blog content regularly without writing. All you need to do is speak. Yes, you can speak your content- and often do it much faster than writing it. Everyone can talk out loud. It's easy! When we speak, we don't judge, delete, self edit, or criticize ourselves like we do when writing. Plus it is MUCH easier to edit and refine existing content than it is to write it from scratch. Sometimes you just can't write down your blog ideas. Speak them out loud.When you've got a great blog post idea, simply grab your smartphone, your computer, a digital recorder, or use a service like freeconferencecall.com to record your post ideas. Then have the recording transcribed. It's that easy- and you can do it less than 10 minutes. 4. More Of A Visual Person? Start With The Imagery. If you're a visual person who is inspired more by imagery, it's okay to start there. I get great ideas for new posts when looking through stock photo sites and search for images with my brand keywords or the topic I am interested in writing about. But be careful- this can be a huge time suck. You may start looking at images and find that hours have gone by in what seemed like minutes. Here's how to plan a blog post using visuals in 10 minutes: Set a timer for 4 minutes, visit your favorite stock photo site, and search for images on your topic.  For every image you find that gives you a post idea, note the image number, and either add it to a lightbox or download it. When the timer buzzes, stop. Set the timer again for 6 minutes and write down the headline or post topic and all the notes, thoughts, and ideas you have for each image. (Use the same list I shared with you on #1.) Plan a blog post using visuals as your inspiration.When I find an image that inspires a new blog post, I download the image, crop it, and upload to my site. I then create a new post, assign the image, and make all of my post notes in the draft. This way, I can come back to the post and finish later, and I don't have to worry about finding the image again because it's already done and added to the post. 5. Stumped By Technology? Grab A Pencil. Many people are shocked to hear I brainstorm, make notes, and plan out my blog posts with a good old fashioned pencil and paper. Often I'll write an entire article by hand, then refine and edit it when I type it up. Some people just find that their creativity flows faster and easier on paper instead of in front of a screen. If this is true for you, own it. Get yourself a new sharp pencil or a great pen and some quality paper, or a beautifully designed journal. Then write and write some more- it doesn't have to be full sentences or complete thoughts. Here's what I recommend: Get your pen or pencil and paper and find a comfortable, quiet, cozy spot free from distractions. Set a timer for ten minutes. Write down the topic a blog post topic at the top of your paper. Then write down everything you think of- possible headlines, stories, examples, bullet points, key messages, problems and solutions, resources, and more. Write until the timer runs out. In this scenario, you're focusing on really fleshing out all of your thoughts, ideas, and opinions on one single topic, instead of a few different topics. This approach is often my go-to strategy for mapping out the content for longer, more in-depth blog posts. Challenge: For 3  weeks, 21 days, set aside 10 minutes each day to complete this exercise, writing down a different topic each day. Not only will your writing get better and you'll get faster at generating ideas, but 21 days is the length of time it takes to create a habit. Creating a habit of daily writing and idea generation will benefit both your business and your blog. Create A Repeatable Process And Stick With It If creating new blog content has been tough for you in the past, I highly recommend you give each of the five different ways to plan  blog posts a try to see which one is easiest and most successful for you. Remember, the more detail you provide about your topic up front, the faster and easier it will be to write the full blog post later.

US and Mexico Border Fence Pros and Cons

US and Mexico Border Fence Pros and Cons The southern border of the United States shared with Mexico spans almost 2,000 miles. Walls, fences, and virtual walls of sensors and cameras monitored by the U.S. Border Patrol are already built along one-third of the border (approximately 670 miles) to secure the border and cut down on illegal immigration. Americans are split on the border barrier issue. While most people are in favor of increasing the security of the borders, others are concerned that the negative impacts do not outweigh the benefits. The U.S. government views the Mexican border as an important part of its overall homeland security initiative. Cost of the Border Barrier The price tag currently sits at $7 billion for border fencing and related infrastructure like pedestrian and vehicle fencing with lifetime maintenance costs expected to exceed $50 billion. The Trump Administration and Mexican Border Enhancement As a major part of his platform during the 2016 presidential campaign, President Donald Trump called for the construction of a much larger, fortified wall along the entire 2,000-mile-long Mexico–United States border, claiming Mexico would pay for its construction, which he estimated at $8 to $12 billion. Other estimates brought the cost of the wall closer to $15 to $25 billion. On January 25, 2017, the Trump administration signed a Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements Executive Order to commence the building of the border wall. In response, Mexican President Enrique Peà ±a Nieto said his country would not pay for the wall under any circumstances and canceled a scheduled meeting with Trump at the White House, seemingly straining relations between the two presidents. With the possibility of Mexico paying for any part of the wall  apparently off the table, the Trump administration used existing funds to begin construction of a small section of the new wall, along with improvements to existing sections of the wall in early March 2018. On March 23, 2018, President Trump signed an omnibus government spending bill dedicating $1.6 billion to the construction of the remainder of the wall. As he signed the bill, Trump referred to the $1.6 billion as â€Å"an initial down payment† on the estimated nearly $10 billion needed to fence the entire border. The funds  will pay for construction of about 25 miles (40 kilometers) of a new wall along levees in the Texas Rio Grande Valley, as well as repair and upgrades to existing walls and anti-vehicle devices.   The Great 2019 Border Wall Government Shutdown The issue of the border barrier, and especially the politics behind it, escalated dramatically in January 2019, when Congress refused to include $5.7 billion requested by President Trump for the construction of steel border fencing in a bill funding the operations of nine of the 15 federal executive branch agencies. On December 22, 2019, the resulting stalemate between the White House and the now Democrat-controlled House resulted in what, by January 12, had become the longest lasting government shutdown in U.S. history. On January 8, President Trump, calling the situation on the Mexican border a â€Å"humanitarian crisis,† threatened to declare a national emergency, allowing him to go around Congress by ordering the use of already allocated funds for construction of the border barrier. In a letter to Congress, the White House Office of Management and Budget estimate that the funds requested by President Trump would allow for the construction of about 234 miles of steel fencing to be added to what was by then the 580 miles of barrier already in place at a cost of around $24.4 million per mile, exclusive of ongoing maintenance. While the resulting 814 miles of barrier  fencing would leave approximately 1,140 miles of the 1,954-mile long border still free of barriers, the Department of Homeland Security had earlier stated that not all of the remaining border needed to be fenced. Border Patrol officials suggested that the inherent dangers of trying to cross rugged, desolate desert areas on foot made fencing unnecessary. On January 19, Democrats rejected another immigration reform and border security package offered by President Trump, refusing to negotiate until and unless he ended the government shutdown. On February 15, 2019, President Trump signed a compromise Homeland Security spending bill providing $1.375 billion for 55 miles of new border fencing. The same day, he made good on his threat to declare a national emergency to build the wall. Under the terms of the emergency proclamation, $3.5 billion was redirected from the Defense Department’s military construction budget to the construction of new border wall. In addition, he used executive orders to redirect another $3.1 billion from the Departments of Defense and Treasury’s drug interdiction programs to wall building. White House officials said the combined money would pay for at least 234 miles â€Å"of new physical barrier† along the border. While no further details were provided, President Trump stated in a Twitter post on March 8, 2019, that, â€Å"The Wall is being built and is well under construction.† History of the Border Barrier In 1924, Congress created the U.S. Border Patrol. Illegal immigration increased in the late 1970s, but it was in the 1990s when drug trafficking and illegal immigration had a major uptick and concerns about the nations security became an important issue. Border Control agents and the military succeeded in reducing the number of smugglers and illegal crossings for a period of time, but once the military left, activity again increased. After the September 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S., homeland security was again a priority. Many ideas were tossed around during the next few years on what could be done to permanently secure the border. And, in 2006, the Secure Fence Act was passed to build 700 miles of double-reinforced security fencing in areas along the border prone to drug trafficking and illegal immigration. President Bush also deployed 6,000 National Guardsmen to the Mexico border to assist with border control. Reasons for the Border Barrier Historically, policing borders has been integral to the preservation of nations around the globe for centuries. The construction of a barrier to safeguard American citizens from illegal activities is considered by some to be in the  best interest of the nation.  The pros of a border barrier include overall homeland security, the cost of lost tax revenue and strain on government resources and the past successes of border enforcement. Rising Cost of Illegal Immigration Illegal immigration  is estimated to cost the United States millions of dollars, and according to Trump, $113 billion a year in lost income tax revenue. Illegal immigration is considered a strain on government spending by overburdening social welfare, health, and education programs. Border Enforcement Past Success The use of physical barriers and high-tech surveillance equipment increases the probability of apprehension and have shown some success. Arizona has been the epicenter of crossings by illegal immigrants for several years. In one year, authorities apprehended 8,600 people trying to enter the U.S. illegally in the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range used for air-to-ground bombing practice by Air Force pilots. The number of people caught crossing San Diegos border illegally has also dropped dramatically. In the early 1990s, about 600,000 people attempted to cross the border illegally. After the construction of a fence and increased  border patrols,  that number dropped to 39,000 in 2015. Reasons Against the Border Barrier The question of the effectiveness of a physical barrier that has workarounds is a significant concern to those opposed to a border barrier. The barrier has been criticized for being easy to get around. Some methods include digging under it, sometimes using complex tunnel systems, climbing the fence and using wire cutters to remove barbed-wire or locating and digging holes in vulnerable sections of the border. Many people have also traveled by boat through the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific Coast or fly in and overstay their visas. There are other concerns such as the message it sends to our neighbors and the rest of the world and the human toll of crossing the border. In addition, a border wall affects wildlife on both sides, fragmenting the habitat and disrupting essential animal migration patterns.   Message to the World A segment of the American population feels that the United States should send a message of freedom and hope to those seeking a better way of life instead of sending a keep out message at our border. It is suggested that the answer does not lie in barriers; it entails  comprehensive immigration reform, which means these immigration issues need fixing, instead of building fences, which are as effective as putting a bandage on a gaping wound. In addition, a border barrier divides the land of three indigenous nations. Human Toll on Crossing the Border Barriers wont stop people from wanting a better life. And in some cases, theyre willing to pay the highest price for the opportunity. People smugglers, called coyotes, charge astronomical fees for passage. When smuggling costs rise, it becomes less cost-effective for individuals to travel back and forth for seasonal work, so they remain in the U.S. Now the whole family must make the trip to keep everyone together. Children, infants and the elderly attempt to cross. The conditions are extreme and some people will go for days without food or water. According to the Human Rights National Commission of Mexico and the American Civil Liberties Union, almost 5,000 people have died attempting to crossing the border between 1994 and 2007. Environmental Impact Most environmentalists oppose the border barrier. Physical barriers hinder migrating wildlife, and plans show the fence will fragment wildlife refuges and private sanctuaries. Conservation groups are appalled that the Department of Homeland Security is bypassing dozens of environmental and land-management laws in order to build the border fence. More than 30 laws are being waived, including the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Updated by Robert Longley