This Blog Post Exists for SEO Purposes Only

1,000 Words on Nothing, Because Clicks are Forever

Remember when blogs were thoughtful? Yeah, neither do we. Volume and velocity—that’s the name of the game today. That’s what the algorithm is hungry for, and really, that’s all that matters. Cool world we’ve built ourselves here! Don’t you think??

So, if you too want eyeballs, you better be prepared to serve up a bottomless buffet of that sweet, sweet, seo-optimized, soul-eroding, definitely-not-worth-reading-but-I’ll-click-and-give-it-a-quick-scroll, mind-numbing content. Mmmm-mmm!! Be sure to pile it high and deep, and don’t skimp on those delicious keywords either.

So here we are: writing weekly blog posts—not because we have something thoughtful, helpful, witty or even mildly entertaining to share, but because our digital overlord said we should. And I’m sure she’s right. I can already taste all those sweet, sweet hard-earned clicks.

So, before we let ourselves get washed away and churned into the gushing torrent of insights, tips and thought leadership we all love so much (I can’t wait to see this on LinkedIn!! But seriously, let’s connect.), I figured the least we could do is toss you a life vest and a quick start guide just in case you feel the need to dive in too, Because… you know… clicks.  

So, without further ado, I give you:

Joe’s “Professional” Guide to Selling Out in the Digital Age.

Lesson One – The Algorithm Demands Sacrifice

How do I say this gently… it’s not that what you say doesn’t matter. I mean, I’m sure it does. At least a little. It’s just that it doesn’t matter any more than then when you say it, or how often, or how recently. Those things count just as much—maybe more.

The algorithm doesn’t care if your post is that perfect blend of poignant and hilarious. It cares if you posted something last week. And if you’re planning to post again next Tuesday. And Tuesday after that. And that Tuesday after that.

Just remember this simple rule:

Crappy + Consistent > Considerate + Erratic

(Or maybe Casual? You know, just to keep them all C words. )

So yes, your beautifully designed annual report infographics and carefully crafted op-eds will always be great content to share. But only if they’re surrounded by regular, snackable posts—much like this one.

Lesson Two – Quantity Doesn’t Have to Mean Garbage

I mean, don’t get me wrong—garbage works, as long as you shove enough keywords into it. (Speaking of…[COME BACK AND INSERT LIST OF KEYWORDS HERE]. Ok, hopefully that has us covered the rest of the way).

 And believe me, I understand the appeal of just rubber stamping some AI-generated, industry jargon soup. You’re busy. You’re juggling real work. And at some point, you’re just going to feel like you’ve said everything you can possibly say. I know if I’m being honest with myself, I probably had two, maybe three blog posts’ worth of content that actually felt worth sharing—and yet here we are, many, MANY posts later.  

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time. With a little structure, you can create consistent content that doesn’t feel like you’re scraping the bottom of your brainpan.

A few tricks to make it all a little more bearable:

• Rotate voices.
  Different people have different tones, angles, and gripes. That variety is content gold.

• Stick to a few themes.
  Call them content pillars, call them categories, call them “the only five things we ever talk about”—whatever. Just know what your core topics are and keep cycling through them.

• Steal from yourself.
  If you said something smart in a meeting or wrote a decent paragraph in a proposal, guess what? That’s a blog post now. Just reword it, slap on a heading, and boom—original content.

• Lower the stakes.
  Not every post needs to be profound. Some weeks, “helpful and coherent” is a win.

• Use AI.
  Make friends with a robot and politely ask it to help shoulder the load. What’s my voice? What’s there’s? A better question: Who cares?

This isn’t about creating masterpieces. It’s about showing up. Reminding people that your brain still works, that your team still has ideas, and that your organization is still moving. Frequency doesn’t have to kill quality—it just can’t wait around for perfection.

Lesson Three – Okay, I’ve done all that—and I’ve still got nothing. What Now?

This will happen. One day you’ll sit down to craft something for your adoring audience and realize you have nothing. Zero insights. No takes. Just the soft sounds of that bubbling rage coursing through your body as you sit and quietly consider just how stupid it is that this is something you have to do.

It’s okay. Breathe.  

When you inevitably find yourself in this position just remember: it doesn’t have to be good. It just has to be done. So, punch the keys for God’s sake! And if you’re like Jamal and need a little help getting started, take one of these tried-and-true formats for a spin:

• “5 Questions We Hear All the Time”
  Think about the things clients or customers constantly ask you. Round them up, give short answers, and you’ve got a helpful, authority-building post.

• “What We’re Seeing Lately”
  Share a trend or shift you've noticed—whether in your industry, your inbox, or your day-to-day work. Doesn't have to be groundbreaking. Just observational and a little thoughtful.

• “A Common Mistake (And How to Avoid It)”
  Everyone likes to feel smarter. Highlight a mistake you often see—something people get wrong, overlook, or underestimate—and offer a quick fix or insight.

• “3 Things That Helped Us This Month”
  Could be tools, tactics, habits, or even questions you’ve been asking internally. This format feels human and helpful—and it’s easy to repeat.

• “A Conversation Worth Having”
  Heard something interesting from a colleague, client, or even a podcast? Reflect on it and share your take. You don’t need all the answers, just a reason to invite people into your thinking.

That’s it. That’s all I’ve got. And frankly, it’s more than enough given the assignment and the stakes: Show up (check), say something halfway useful (check), remind people that you exist (check) and that you’re good at what you do you (check? I think… I mean, I did just give you a pretty solid 1,000 words on basically nothing).

Until next time (which will be way too soon) good luck out there making all that sweet, beautiful noise.