How To Blog When You're Busy

Let’s be honest. Most small business owners don’t wake up in the morning thinking, “I can’t wait to write a blog today.”

More likely, you wake up thinking, “The washing machine’s broken, I’ve got a customer waiting for a call back, and I still haven’t invoiced Mrs Jenkins.” Sound familiar?

Leah, who runs her beauty business in Grays, told me she once tried to write a blog post between school runs, tidying up glitter from a lash extension disaster, and reheating yesterday’s pasta for lunch. It took her four hours to finish 600 words — and by the end she was ready to throw her laptop in the bin.

Blogging when you’re busy can feel like climbing a hill in flip-flops. But here’s the truth: it doesn’t have to be that hard. If you’ve only got scraps of time to spare, you can still keep your blog alive and make it work for your business.

Here’s how.

1. Keep It Local and Relevant

When you’re pushed for time, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Write about what’s already happening around you. Local events, customer stories, even the quirks of your town — they’re quick to write about and they connect you with the people who matter most.

Tony, a plumber in Benfleet, once wrote a quick post about “5 things every Essex home needs before winter hits.” It took him 30 minutes, and he had three new calls that week from people who’d read it.

👉 Read more about local blogging.

2. Silence the Inner Critic

Here’s the trap: you sit down to write, and suddenly that little voice in your head pipes up. “This isn’t good enough. Who’s going to read this? You’re not a writer.”

That voice is lying. Blogging isn’t about perfect grammar or sounding like a journalist. It’s about showing up with your perspective and helping your customers.

Leah now gives herself a rule: no editing until the draft is done. It shuts up the critic long enough to get words on the page.

👉 Here’s how to deal with your inner critic.

3. Plan for Promotion, Not Just Creation

If you’re short on time, writing a post is only half the job. The other half is making sure people actually see it.

Here’s the truth: a short, well-promoted blog will beat a long, hidden one every time. Even a quick checklist post, shared across Facebook, Instagram, and your email list, can drive real results.

Tony keeps a simple system: every new blog gets turned into three Facebook posts, one LinkedIn update, and a quick email to his list. It takes him an extra 15 minutes, and it doubles the number of people who read his work.

👉 See our guide to blog promotion.

4. Choose Keywords That Work for You

Writing without a plan is like shouting into the wind. If you only have time for one post this month, make sure it’s the right one. That starts with keywords.

Don’t worry, you don’t need fancy software or hours of research. Just think about what your customers actually type into Google when they’re looking for help.

For example: instead of Leah writing a post called “Lash Extension Aftercare,” she focused on “How to make your lashes last longer.” Same topic, but in the words her customers actually use.

👉 Here’s the beginner’s guide to choosing keywords.

5. Use Expert Shortcuts

Busy weeks call for clever hacks. Blogging doesn’t have to mean sitting down to write from scratch.

- Batch your ideas so you’ve always got a list ready.

- Recycle social media posts into blogs.

- Write shorter “snackable” posts that answer one quick question.

Tony swears by voice notes. He records his thoughts while driving to a job, then types them up later. Ten minutes talking equals 800 words on the page.

👉 Discover 3 expert, little-used blogging tips.

6. Optimise as You Go

Even if you only manage a half-hour slot, make your post work harder with a few quick tweaks:

- Add headings so it’s easy to skim.

- Drop in a customer example.

- Link to other posts or your services.

Leah always adds one call to action at the end: “Book your next lash appointment here.” It turns readers into paying customers without extra effort.

👉 Learn how to optimise your blog content.

Final Thoughts

Blogging when you’re busy isn’t about churning out epic essays every week. It’s about small steps. Done often.

Keep it local. Shut up the inner critic. Promote your posts. Use the right keywords. Steal a few shortcuts. Optimise as you go.

Even if you can only manage one post a month, that’s still one more way your customers can find you.

So, kettle on, laptop open, and remember: you don’t need more hours in the day. You just need the right approach.

Want help fitting blogging into your business without adding stress? Let’s chat — we’ll help you build a plan that works for real life.

Sarah x

PS: Ready to take the next step? Grab your copy of Blogging Blueprint today 👉 https://mybook.to/blogblueprint. It’s packed with practical strategies to make blogging simpler, faster, and far more effective — even when life’s chaotic.