The Blogging Schedule - Gotta Do What You Gotta Do
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Blogging can be quite time consuming, and if you’re a blogger writer/publisher, you probably know what I’m talking about:
and so on.
That’s a lot huh? And I’m sure, there’s a lot more I could add to that list.
It can be quite time consuming, it’s true, but on the other hand if you schedule things, everything seems to fall into place, and suddenly you have more time on your hand to dedicate to your favorite blogging activities.
There are some things you kinda have to do, like writing posts, that goes without saying. But how can you effectively manage your time so that you can spend more of it on the parts of blogging you enjoy the most?
It’s Actually Quite Simple
You need a schedule. Period. Or else, it probably won’t work. Whether you’re working a full-time job and you blog in your spare time, or you are a full-time blogger, if you don’t stick to a schedule, chances are you’ll end up struggling to find time to do everything you “have” to or “want” to do to keep your blog up and running, updated frequently, and take it to the next level.
Scheduling Is The Key
Make a list of all of your blogging activities, a little like I did in this post, and then decide how much time you wanna spend on each.
If the most important thing for you is to write posts, dedicate more time for that, and a little less for other tasks and activities. If you’re more of a conversational blogger, and enjoy replying to comments and participating in discussions, maybe spending a little less time analyzing stats would be a good idea. :)
The only thing you have to remember is: stick to your schedule!
If you have some free time, instead of surfing aimlessly (StumbleUpon can get really addictive ya know!), why not write a new post (or two, or three) and use the timestamp feature of your blogging platform so that posts gets published later or on the next day? Or go read some of your favorite blogs, and take some time to comment.
Your Turn To Talk
What is your blogging schedule? What is the thing you spend the most of your time working on? Is it writing posts, tweaking your design, replying to comments? And how do you effectively manage your time? How do you deal with unexpected stuff?
Take care! :)
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You’re right-on. But I think the one thing that’s more important than creating a schedule is defining up-front what the 2-3 most important things are that you are going to accomplish that will give you the biggest bang for your time. If you’ve read the book 4-hour Work Week, the author talks a lot about how most people are masters of spend the majority of their time working on things that aren’t that important to avoid doing the few uncomfortable or difficult things that really need to be done–I have to work constantly to make sure I’m doing something that matters. Especially when I’m sitting here on an Internet connection….!
Chronicles of a (Wannabe) Pro Blogger
Zen, I haven’t read that book, but I surely will! :)
You’re right, it’s always a good idea to make sure the “most important tasks” and in fact really the most important ones. For instance, putting stats analysis before replying to comments, doesn’t really make sense to me :)
So much truth in this post. Fascinating to read and simple in essence to implement.
Thanks for the tips,
–Steve
Great post again!
I’m especially guilty of this “maybe spending a little less time analyzing stats would be a good idea.”
That is a very good idea, but stats are so addictive ;)
Hey Steve, you’re welcome, I’m happy you got useful stuff out of my post! :)
Thomas, thanx, hehe yep stats are addictive. Which is fine.. .if you have time for it. But neglecting to reply to comments and writing new posts “because” of stats analysis kinda defeats the purpose of blogging, I think.
But yep, they’re addictive :)
I’m thinking of having a schedule myself, but have not been successful in implementing it. Perhaps it takes time.
Calvin, it does take some time, but it’s well worth it :)
But still Calvin, you’re doing a great job with your blog, and you’re actually making money with your businesses, so for as long as you get good results, I guess it’s fine.
I probably spend the most time on reading articles. I do not have a solid schedule that I follow every week, but is just very faintly shaped so I know when to do what.
I work full-time, so I check in on my fav blogs before work and make my comments over my morning Java. When I get home, I write my post for the day. Then if I have time, I tweek and participate in some stumbling or catch up on some BlogCatalog! Makes for a very busy day. I sometimes take advantage of the ‘publish’ date stamp…some days I have other things to do and don’t get to do a post. Sometimes life just gets in the way…dishes, laundry, dog needs a walk….I need a bumper sticker that says ‘I’d rather be blogging’!
Grace, hey at least you have “some kind” of schedule :)
I do have a schedule, but playing music in a rock band, kinda have to adjust the blogging schedule often.
Robin, a bumper sticker!! now that’s a cool idea!! haha :)
The timestamp thing in most blogging platforms is like a lifesaver in my opinion.
Following tips are work well for me:
*Active on well known forums
*Stumbling my own article
*Writing short story of current issue
I work a full-time day job, so I do most of the activities on week nights after the children are asleep. The most difficult part is researching for ideas to write unique post, but once I caught on an idea, the writing will take care of itself.
Sometimes I comment on blog during lull period at work, yes, I’m guilty of doing that!
Tweaking and optimizing the blog is an ongoing activity but I reserve that during weekends.
Checking stats is the least of my priority as my stats are nothing to crow about and checking them is like watching grass grow!
So yeah, I kind of have a schedule that I stick to.
Aris, that does work ok for me too, except the “stumbling my own articles”, I prefer when others stumble it. :)
Betshopboy, hehe for as long as your boss doesn’t know you’re blogging at work (kidding hehe).
It’s true, with a day job, kids, spouse, and “other” stuff to do, it can be difficult to stick to a schedule, but that’s when you need one the most.
Very helpful post, thank you. I’ve been trying to convince myself to set up a schedule for posting, etc. and you gave me some good ideas. Specifically, to identify how much time I want to spend in each area–its very easy to get distracted with all the fun commenting and networking.
I love this article.
You know that is a big list of things to do :). The thing of it is, most of the time it doesn’t feel like “work” it feels more like “play”.
When I’m doing the prep work like researching, reading other blogs, networking the hours can just melt away.
Great tips.
Heather
Charlotte, you’re welcome, I’m really happy you found my post useful! :)
It is very easy to get distracted, totally!
Heather, hehe, yeah it’s quite a big list, but I could probably add more to the list. “the hours can just melt away” - oh yeah, I know exactly what you mean, happens to me all the time. Then I have to remind myself that I have to stick to my schedule.
Hey Jon,
I feel that knowing your vision and goals of your blog is important. It will become the beacon that guides what you need to do and what activities are important to meet your vision and goals. :)
James,
words of wisdom my friend! :)
You’re absolutely right, the ability to see the big picture and knowing your vision is so important.
Without that you can’t really reach (all of) your goals, and being able to see the big picture will make you chose which activites are more important and which ones you have to spend less time on.
Useful post Jon, when I think of the hours I was supposedly blogging and the hours that were actually constructive blogging, awww man thats not an encouraging ratio. Got to keep all those tips you mentioned in mind mate.
Take care and cheers bro.
Hey Robin, I think we’re on the same boat bro! I constantly have to remind myself :)
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Hey great post, — I’ve blogged it and added my two scent investment. One thing that helps me a lot - is deciding how much time I have overall per day. then splitting that up into 15 minute intervals, and keeping a timer with a beep, so I know when to end and start the next task.
If you don’t get finished save it for the end of the 2-hour block, and then you can finish up stuff if you have time left — this work especially well if you’re easily distracted, or have adult add/adhd.
Which I’m very easily distracted.
Hey Patrick, thanx a bunch for the link and mention :)
I like the 2 hours block idea, that’s actually close to what I do. I always try to dedicate a block of time, no matter when during the day, I know if I have say an hour an a half to do this, I’m fine, so I usually make sure I do have that block of time available, and place it on my schedule so it fits with everything else.
A great post Jon. I am surely guilty of going on the fly without a schedule. I guess the task of organizing which can also be broken down into other tasks such as scheduling and dealing with the clutter needs to be a priority that in the end will prove to be beneficial.
Adam, well I do go on the fly without a schedule sometimes, cause playing guitar in a rock act, you know :) But I guess you could say I’m well organized, but there’s always room for improvement.
That’s right. It’s hard to keep up your schedule. Once you miss few posts, you will even miss more.
Great post!
Lol. I just saw your comment about checking stats before responding to comments. That’s exactly the type of thing Tim Ferris talked about in his book. Checking the stats of your site is something that we should really do no more than once a day–TOPS–and probably more like once a week, but it pulls you in. And before you know it you’ve wasted an hour that could have been spent writing a killer new article or networking with other Blog authors.
Hi Terence, you’re right, and sometimes you don’t even realize it.
Hey Zen, haha, ok now I really have to read that book! :)
Hey Jon, I was just on BlogaboutyourBlog and he has a contest with the prize of a day planner. Sounds like a good contest…http://blogaboutyourblog.com/2007/07/09/day-planner-giveaway/ to win inorder to get organized…
It sure is! Need to limit myself or I can spend 8+ hours AT A TIME blogging. Yikes.
Finally I’m feeling 100% and back to work.
Adam, hey that’s a great contest! :)
It’s for US residents only, I’m in Canada unfortunately, but for everyone else, if you’re in the US, check out the contest! :)
Bryan, hey buddy! haha yep I know what you mean. Hey seems your business is doing pretty good, keep it up buddy! :)
i know u r absolutely right!!!!! in order to save time u need to organize urself … the problem is that i was never someone who would follow schedules!! :D im always late for everything!!!!!! hehe
hey Confessing7Girl! :)
hehe, well I’m not the “late guy”, but I tend to take on too much stuff, so it’s not necessarily better.
Hmmm, I think I’m guilty of spending too much time checking stats too!
And I’ll probably try Patrick’s suggestion of working 2 hr block. Thanks a bunch man!
Cheers
James
Scheduling is important with any aspect of life. Scheduling is something I ran into early in my blogging career.
Do I spend time writing blogs for several topic intensive blogs or do I jumble media into one exclusive blog.
Thankfully writing has toned itself down to three different areas of writing(blogging), research, and networking.
Hey James, hehe I guess we’re all interested in knowing how our blogs are doing :)
The 2 hours block things works real good for me!
Hi Catherine! Writing, researching, networking. I think those are the 3 most important parts. Without those it’s not really a blog, especially without the writing part. Just have to dedicate enough time to each of those 3.
:)
Great post! It’s too bad I have so much difficulty following a schedule, though I have really tried. Numerous power outages really make it nearly impossible to do — if catching up is hard, scheduling is even more so.
What helps a lot, if your blog software supports it, is to write many posts in advance and then let the software publish it at specific times or intervals. If anything puts a crimp on your abilities to blog (like my own), the effect can be somewhat mitigated.
Jon- I guess that’s true…
It teaches you how to read fast too! Very fast! I have gotten eye fatigue due to all of the pages I have read before.
Hey RT, good point, wordpress allow us to timestamp posts so they get published no matter what. It’s great, especially with those power outages man!
Grace, for as long as we’re comfortable and have time to get things done, it’s all good :)
Cooliojones, hehe, yep you’re right!To read fast, and to scan through headlines. Shows us how important it is to write somewhat catchy headlines :)
sorry you cant enter in our contest, next one will be Canada included :)
Thanx a bunch, will keep an eye open for that! :)
Blogging is definitely made easier when you keep to a schedule. Unfortunately I am often travelling so it is really hard to keep to a specific schedule, particularly when I am crossing time zones!
- Martin Reed
Martin, it’s true it ain’t easy, if you write some posts and timestamp them it helps quite a bit though :)
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