Incentives are a great way to keep your site up to date

Back in my days as a student, I swam competitively with the University of Ottawa. I can’t say that I was very good, but it did keep me fit and I owe it to the sport for making me who I am today. I don’t swim much anymore. Swimming is actually really boring. Going up and down the pool with your head in the water is really not that exciting. In fact, the only place I like to swim these days is at Kitsilano pool.

Kitsilano is home to the largest pool in Canada. It is 138 metres long, outside in a breathtaking location and filled with salt water. Swimming is still boring at Kits but just not as much. So every year, to motivate myself, I sign up for FastLane. FastLane is a training program that runs twice a week from mid-June, first thing in the morning. So, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 5.45am, you’ll find me working out in the pool with lot of other like-minded people.

Every year, throughout the entire program when I hear the alarm clock at 5am, I ask myself the same question. Why on earth do I do this? I don’t want to go, I don’t want to get up, I want to stay in bed… But I get up, go and feel great for it. I’ve paid for the program and I know the benefits, so I’m motivated to go.

When working with clients on their website, I hear the same kind of excuses when it comes to making web updates, blogging or setting up a newsletter.

” I don’t have time to write articles. I won’t have anything to say. I’m too busy to update my portfolio, etc…”

Maintaining a website requires discipline, and giving yourself incentives is a great way to keep on top of your workload. Here are some ideas that might work for you:

• Go to your favourite coffee shop to write your articles. Preferably one that doesn’t have wireless access, so you’re not interrupted by email.
• If you are feeling particularly in form, write two or three articles in one go and keep them for later use.
• Write your article first thing in the morning, before checking your email, and get it out of the way.
• Meet regularly with a colleague and discuss business and article topics.
• Tell your clients, that you will be sending them a newsletter or publishing a blog post every week or month on a certain day.
• Treat yourself. When the job is done, take a break, go for a walk, buy yourself an extra latte. Whatever makes you feel good.

Keeping your site up to date can be a lot of work, but the rewards far outweigh the difficulties. Use whatever means necessary to motivate yourself and your business will benefit as a result.