Running a blog is hard work! The process of generating ideas, writing posts, publishing them, and following up with marketing can be exhausting. Add the range of technology skills needed to navigate the various platforms and apps needed to accomplish the work and its the perfect recipe for overwhelm.
Many bloggers are a team of one when they launch. You are a one stop shop and performing every task your blogging business requires. This can consume a lot of time and energy, so the work you do should be laser focused and efficient. That way you can avoid feeling as if you are constantly working and not accomplishing all that you’d hoped.
To eliminate the overwhelm that can come from completing all these tasks, I have created a strategy and posting schedule that manages the chaos. I wanted to share some of my top tips on creating a blogging strategy and finding the time to follow through on completing the work.
Use A Content Calendar To Plan Blog Posts
Decide how often you want to post, and create a content calendar. I plan my posts monthly using an easy monthly tool I created. You can get that freebie below. It helps to plan posts based on a calendar month. This allows you plan for upcoming holidays or seasonal posts. When you are planning your content, keep a running list of ideas. Doing so can come in very handy when you have writers block. I use Trello to keep a running list of blog post ideas.
I allow myself some flexibility in my content calendar because I am still working full-time and need the thoughts to flow easily. I will often move posts around from week to week depending on what topic appeals most to me at the time I sit down to write my weekly post.
Create A Blog Post Checklist
Having a checklist of all the steps you take when creating and publishing a blog post can help ensure you don’t forget any necessary steps. I create all my checklists in CoSchedule. You can manage most of your blog post content in CoSchedule which I really love! After I am done writing my posts, I can market them right from CoSchedule. Another really cool feature is the Headline Analyzer which optimizes your blog post titles and helps you create titles that perform better with your readership and with SEO.
When making your blog post checklist consider the following tasks:
- Drafting the post
- Placing affiliate links
- Analyzing the headline
- Check grammar and punctuation using a tool like Grammarly
- Create a blog post image
- Include internal and external links to relevant posts and websites
- Place an opt-in form or freebie within the post so readers can join your email list
- Make 3-4 Pinterest pins
- Optimize your content for SEO using a tool like SEO Yoast
- Schedule social media posts and pins to your favorite platforms (I LOVE Tailwind for posting to Pinterest)
Schedule Time To Blog
A very important part about being a blogger is showing up consistently for your readers. If you do not post on a regular schedule, readers are not sure when they will hear from you. It is best to blog on a schedule you can commit to following. Personally, I blog once per week. I can’t manage more than this without overdoing it and missing posts. Some bloggers produce more or less depending on their personal goals related to their blog.
If you struggle to write at very specific or scheduled times, have the ability to jot down your thoughts on the go or whenever creativity strikes. Personally, I plan my posts and freebies throughout the week. Then on weekends, I tackle my blog post for the week.
Stay Organized
Create a system to organize your files, images, and content. You’ll be very glad that you did. Staying organized takes just a few extra seconds, and it’l be much easier to find what you’re looking for it when you need it. Not taking those few extra moments can create chaos. I learned this lesson the hard way! Not naming or saving files in consistent locations added time on to my weekly blog schedule.
Use a business planner or other accountability tool to make sure you meet your blogging goals. I like the Full Focus Planner. It can really be a lifesaver!
Sometimes I like to keep the blog posts brief and actionable. No need to skim through a bunch of fluff to get the tips and tricks you need to make your blog successful. I hope this post was helpful. If so, drop a shout-out in the comments. You can also join our Facebook Group called Inspiration and Collaboration Lounge for Online Entrepreneurs HERE or use the social sharing buttons in the sidebar. Thanks for reading!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you use one of the links and make a purchase, we may receive a commission that supports our blog. We only promote products we use and love. Thank you in advance for your support!
Recent Comments