Create a blogging schedule that you’ll actually stick to

One of the major blog goals I had when I started was to have a consistent post schedule and be more organized. While I have things in control, it took me so long to reach this place of peacefulness. Let us talk about a few tips that can help you create a blogging schedule that you’ll stick to easily.

Create a blogging schedule that you’ll stick to

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This is part of a series on blogging consistently. Read the previous parts here

• The importance of blogging consistently: Why do you need a blog schedule
• 5 reasons why you can’t stick to the blog schedule.

In our next post we will talk about the blog schedule that I have been following for a while, so that you can use it as a guide to make your own.

Set your blog time aside

Everybody’s life and routines are different. So to start with, identify the best time for you and your blog and set aside a few hours to spend only on your blog. When I say blogging it may include everything that you do for a blog from researching a topic to scheduling your social media or answering your DMs.

For me I am super focused in the morning before the daily chaos ensues. That is why I usually spend the time writing the posts in the morning and schedule the sluggish works like scheduling post lunch. You get to choose what works for you.

Make tough decisions

Next, you have to make some tough calls. Note that there is no magic number or correct answer to these questions. You just have to choose what works for you. Remember we are aiming for consistency, so think of the long term when you choose your blogging schedule.

• How often do you want to publish on your blog?
• Who are your target audience?
• What are the broad topics that you will write on and does that match with your audience’s interest?
• What are the items that you depend on someone else’s input?; and
• Which ones can you outsource or automate?

Once you honestly answer these questions you will have a realistic idea on what you can and what you can’t do.

Create an editorial calendar

An editorial calendar is the correct place to start with while creating a blogging schedule that you’ll stick to. A blog schedule and editorial calendar are closely interlinked.

An editorial calendar will act as the backbone of your blog and will keep a track on what is being published and when, and also what are you planning to publish in future. Usually it is filled for a month and I know bloggers who do it for a year even.

I use Spreadsheets for marking down the special days on the calendar and the blog content for the month. If you participate in any memes or link ups, you can put them down on it too. This will ensure you won’t forget what is pending and what’s written up.

Build an idea tank

How many times have you sat in front of the screen and waited for inspiration to strike to write a post? Not knowing what to write is one of the major reason why we do not post as per schedule.

And that is why you need to build an idea tank. Yes it is exactly how it sounds. You need a place to dump all your ideas without judgement.

I use Evernote for that and any topic that remotely feels like it can be a blog post topic goes into a note. It is not the right time to think if it is a good idea or not, just dump it there and stop thinking about it.

Next time you are hit with a block or slump, pick one of these ideas and you are good to go. Say bye bye to your writer’s block.

Batch tasks

A quick tip to get things done faster – batch similar tasks. If you are designing header images for a post, do it for the entire week or even month at a time. Work on SEO research for all the posts at a time instead of repeating the same task for each post.

This is one of the best things that I learned in the last few years and it only saves me time but ensures I don’t get bogged down by small tasks repeatedly, and thus keeps me on the blogging schedule that I have been following religiously for a while now.

Social media time

Like it or not, we spend a huge amount of time on social media, especially for our blog. We try to be everywhere at the same time. Promoting our content and responding to our DMs and mentions are just a tiny speck when it comes to blog promotion.

So ensure that your blogging schedule includes time for all these social media activities like following your peers posts and engaging with them. And these activities should not be affect your other blog schedule.

Get a partner or ten

Another quick tip to ensure you stick to your blog schedule is to rope in a partner or two to keep you accountable. Or you can quickly join a Discord or Facebook group of like minded bloggers who are also working towards similar goals.

Having an accountability partner makes the process much more fun than you doing it solo.

Discipline

While all the above tips might help you to create a blogging schedule that you’ll stick to, I believe everything starts from your inner self. So when the going gets worse and it feels like the blogging schedule is getting out of your way – slog through it. Because slump begets slump.

The more you procrastinate or cancel things, harder it gets to go back to your routine and schedules. So as much as possible push it through and get yourself on to that discipline of following the schedule.

Of course that doesn’t mean you have to overwhelm yourself. Just take one step at a time and get things done.

Previously on blogging tips for bloggers

• Does your blog have these? A checklist for new bloggers
• Blogging Terms You Have To Know As A Book Blogger
• Why Book Blogging Is Different From Other Niches?
• SEO For A Book Blogger – Things You Can Do Today!
• What’s A Successful Blog To You?

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Let’s chat

How hard is it for you to create a blogging schedule that you’ll stick to? What are the challenges uou face when you make a blogging schedule? Let us talk.