The 80/20 Rule in Blogging: Focus on What Matters Most
Ever feel like you’re running on a hamster wheel, churning out blog content, managing social media, and barely keeping your head above water? (Girl, don’t even get me started on the laundry pile!)
I bet it’s even harder when you have a part-time or full-time job outside the home as well. Then time to spend on your blogging tasks is scarce. It could be anything from an hour before the kids wake up to trying to get stuff done in that little time frame when they are doing their homework.
I get it. We’re all juggling motherhood with our blogging dreams, and sometimes it feels like there just aren’t enough hours in the day. It can be a real challenge to figure out where to focus and on what tasks, the ones that move the needle forward, right? What if I told you there’s this fantastic tool that could help us be more productive mom bloggers by working smarter, not harder?
I’m introducing the 80/20 rule in blogging. Let me tell you how it can help us focus on the activities that actually move the needle in our blogging businesses, leaving us more time for what matters most (like those snuggles with our little ones!).
Table of Contents
What is The 80/20 Rule or Pareto Principle
You know how sometimes most of the laundry (80%) comes from just one family member (20%)? I had one kid like that. Oh my gosh, so much laundry!
Well, the 80/20 rule, also called the Pareto Principle, is kind of like that. It basically says that in many situations, a small percentage of our efforts (like 20%) lead to the majority of the results (like 80% of the traffic to our blogs!).
The 80/20 rule in blogging works similarly. It means that a small handful of activities (like creating amazing content and promoting it strategically) likely drive most of our website traffic and engagement.
Let’s figure out how to identify those high-impact tasks and ditch the rest, shall we?
The 80/20 Tasks in Blogging
To apply this great productivity tool, we need to figure out which tasks are high-impact (the magic top 20%) and which are low-impact (the time-consuming 80%).
So, let’s take a step back and look at some examples of tasks you have going on in your blogging biz.
Low-Impact Tasks, aka the 80%:
- Responding to every single comment (unless it sparks a conversation)
- Spending hours on social media with minimal interaction or engagement
- Excessive perfectionism in design elements (e.g., spending days on a single image)
- Scheduling countless pins on Pinterest with little to no strategy
- Returning every single follower request, even if irrelevant to your niche
High-Impact Tasks, aka the 20%:
- Creating valuable content that resonates with your reader’s needs
- Promoting your best posts on the platforms where your ideal audience hangs out
- Engaging with your ideal audience by responding to comments on high-value posts and participating in relevant conversations
- Repurposing existing content into different formats (e.g., video, infographic) to reach a wider audience
- Batching content creation (writing, editing, scheduling) to save time and maintain consistency
Optimizing Your Time with The 80/20 Rule
Now that you know the power of the 80/20 rule, it’s time to uncover those high-impact activities in your own blogging journey. Here are a few ways to identify your personal “golden 20%”
Dig into your blog analytics:
Most blogging platforms (like WordPress, Squarespace, etc.) offer built-in analytics tools or allow you to connect with Google Analytics. Tools like these give you valuable insights into your website traffic and how your audience interacts with your content. Here’s how you can leverage them to identify your high-impact posts:
- Traffic patterns: See which posts consistently bring in the most visitors. Are there specific topics your audience loves? Do certain types of content (e.g., listicles, how-to guides) outperform others? When you identify these high-performing posts, you will better understand what resonates with your readers.
- Engagement metrics: Don’t just focus on views. Pay attention to engagement metrics like comments, shares, and time spent on the page, as well. Posts that spark conversation and keep readers engaged are more likely to be high-impact.
- Conversions: If you’re monetizing your blog, track which posts lead to the most sales, clicks on affiliate links, and sign-ups for your email list. These are valuable high-impact content pieces as they’re actively generating results for your blogging business.
By analyzing these metrics, you can identify the types of content that resonate best with your audience and bring in the most traffic and engagement. This can then form your future content creation strategy. Maybe you can create sequels or related content to these popular posts. You may explore similar themes in a new format (e.g., video) to repurpose the content you already have and is performing so well.
Analyze your income sources
This tip is especially valuable for us bloggers actively monetizing their content. We love all our blog posts, but let’s be honest, someposts just convert better than others! By analyzing where your income comes from, you can identify the content that’s truly working for you.
Here’s how to dig a little deeper:
- Affiliate marketing: Many bloggers use affiliate marketing to earn commissions by promoting relevant products. Most affiliate programs provide reports that show you which posts lead to the most clicks and sales. These posts are gold! The strategies you used in creating them (like targeting a specific audience need or crafting a compelling product review) are likely part of your high-impact zone.
- Direct sales or subscriptions: If you sell your own products or courses through your blog, track which posts lead to the most sign-ups or purchases. This content is clearly resonating with your audience and driving sales, making it a strong contender for your high-impact zone.
- Email list growth: A thriving email list is a goldmine for bloggers. Look at which of your posts leads to the most email sign-ups. These posts are likely to spark interest and build trust with your audience. The activities involved in creating them (like offering valuable free resources or writing compelling email opt-in calls to action) are part of your high-impact zone.
By analyzing your income sources, you can identify high-performing content and replicate those winning strategies to create even greater results for your blogging business.
Listen to your inner voice
Don’t underestimate the power of self-awareness! What tasks do you genuinely enjoy and feel naturally good at? Here’s the thing: tasks that energize you are more likely to be done consistently and well.
Think about it:
- Do you get a thrill from brainstorming creative content ideas that resonate with your audience (high-impact!), or do you find yourself dreading the technical aspects of SEO (low-impact)?
- Do you light up when you connect with other moms in the comments section (high-impact!) or does scheduling countless social media posts leave you feeling drained (low-impact)?
Identifying your strengths and passions is key! When you focus on activities you genuinely enjoy and feel naturally good at, you’ll be more likely to produce high-quality work and experience a sense of accomplishment.
This positive energy will translate into a more productive and fulfilling blogging experience. Plus, by acknowledging your limitations, you can free up valuable time and energy by delegating or outsourcing tasks you dislike (to a VA) to free yourself up for the things that truly move the needle for your blog.
Remember, you don’t have to be a superhero blogger who does it all. Play to your strengths, embrace your passions, and watch your high-impact zone grow.
The 80/20 Rule in Blogging in Action
Now that you’ve uncovered your 20% zone, it’s time to put that knowledge into action. Let’s dive into some specific strategies to help you focus on creating more high-impact content, promoting it effectively, and truly engaging with your audience.
Content Creation
- Focus on quality over quantity: After you’ve analyzed your top-performing blog posts (the ones with high traffic and engagement), you want to replicate these. If it’s evergreen posts, write more evergreen posts. Do your readers love how-to-posts, create more how-to-posts. But keep in mind, always focus on quality over quantity.
- Repurpose existing content: Don’t reinvent the wheel! If you have a successful blog post, breathe new life into it by repurposing it into different formats. Transform it into a podcast episode, a captivating video, or an informative infographic. This extends the reach of your content and allows you to connect with your audience in new ways, all while maximizing the value of your existing high-impact content.
- Batch content creation: Schedule dedicated time for content creation and power through tasks like writing, editing, and scheduling in one go. This saves you time and helps you stay focused, allowing you to churn out high-quality content consistently.
- Delegate tasks (optional): As your blog grows, consider delegating tasks you dislike or that take away from your high-impact zone. For example, if image creation isn’t your forte, outsource it to a freelancer. Freeing yourself up from these low-impact tasks allows you to focus on what matters most, which is creating amazing content.
Promotion
- Find your audience: There are a million and one marketing channels out there (social media, email, guest posting, etc.). In my opinion, email marketing is the most important because we own our lists. Regarding social media platforms, I suggest you figure out where your ideal audience spends most of their time and focus your efforts. This ensures your message reaches the right people and maximizes your promotional impact.
- Schedule strategically, automate if possible: It’s a good idea to strategically schedule your social media promotion to reach your audience where they’re most active. Many platforms offer scheduling tools or third-party apps that can help automate this process, freeing up your time for other tasks.
- Collaborate for reach: The power of collaboration is real! Find fellow bloggers and influencers in your niche, connect with them, and explore opportunities for cross-promotion. This allows you to tap into their audience and expand your reach without a ton of extra effort.
- Outsource promotion (optional): Just like content creation, consider outsourcing promotional tasks like creating social media posts and scheduling. This will allow you to focus on your high-impact zone activities.
Audience Engagement
- Prioritize valuable conversations: Responding to every comment is time-consuming and often not necessary. Focus on engaging with comments on your most valuable posts, the ones that spark conversations or provide valuable feedback. This fosters a sense of community and shows your audience you care.
- Connect in real-time: Host Q&A sessions or hop on video to connect with your audience live. You’ll create a more personal connection and it can generate valuable content ideas based on audience questions.
- Build a community: Your blog shouldn’t be a one-way street. Encourage your audience to interact with each other by fostering a sense of community. You can create Facebook groups, host discussions via Zoom, or run interactive contests to keep your readers engaged and coming back for more.
A Few Extra Tips
To help you truly implement the 80/20 rule, I have some extra but practical tips.
1. Create a prioritized to-do list with your top 20% tasks
2. Schedule dedicated blogging time and commit to it
3. Make use of time blocking
4. Create a content calendar
5. Set goals for your blogging business
6. Make use of realistic deadlines
If you want more info on the different tips in this list, I have written blog posts about them all. Just click on them to read more.
Final Thoughts
Let’s wrap this up, shall we? We talked about that feeling of being on a hamster wheel, churning out content, and barely keeping up, right? A big laundry pile and overflowing to-do list can definitely make it feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day for both motherhood and your blogging dreams.
But with the power of the 80/20 rule, you can shift your focus to the activities that truly move the needle for your blog, freeing up precious time for what matters most. We’ve explored what the 80/20 rule is and how it applies to blogging. We identified high-impact tasks like creating valuable content and engaging with your audience, and low-impact tasks that drain your time and energy. We even brainstormed strategies to optimize your workflow and put the 80/20 rule into action.
The key takeaway is this: By focusing on your 20% zone, you can become a more productive blogger without sacrificing quality or time with your loved ones. Imagine the possibilities! You’ll have more time for snuggles, more time for creativity, and a blog that flourishes because you’re focusing on the activities that truly matter.
So ditch that hamster wheel, embrace the 80/20 rule, and watch your blog and confidence grow.
If you are interested in more tips to up your productivity, fill in your name and email below. You will get a list of my most helpful tips to tackle time management. Little secret? Tip #4 is my favorite, but I couldn’t do without tip #7!
