Making Fast Work of Blogging
A little while back, I was feverishly working on scheduling my blog posts so I’d have plenty of content before the birth of baby #3. I had managed to schedule 20 posts in about 2 1/2 hours and some of my Twitter friends were dumbfounded. They said 1 blog post could take them up to that much time – how could I do 20?
If you’re interested in making fast work of blogging, here are my 3 thoughts on getting more (GOOD) posts done in a short time:
Plan your topics and make notes ahead of time. I regularly get my notebook out (no, not my laptop…an actual paper notebook) and write down my ideas ahead of time. I keep the notebook with me at all times and I plan posts a few weeks (or in my recent case, a couple months) in advance.
If you prefer to use your PDA, go for it, but I do recommend getting away from the distractions of the computer to start your brainstorming. If you need to do research, that’s fine…but do your final planning away from that computer.
Novels are not required. There is no length requirement for blog posts. In fact, some of my shortest ones ar the most popular with my readers (ex. the whole Tough Question Tuesday category). Sure, sometimes you have a lot to say on a subject, but overall – keep it short, sweet and to the point. Your readers will likely appreciate and you don’t have to be chained to your computer for just 1 blog post.
Use the scheduling feature of your blog. You probably do use your scheduling to some degree, but really take advantage of it. If you plan a few weeks in advance and realized you don’t need novels, you can load up your blog with plenty of fresh content to roll out over the next few weeks. Just doing everything in chunks (a bunch of planning and then a bunch of writing), makes it a whole lot easier.
Time to write this post: 8 minutes.
About: Alice Seba
Alice Seba earns a full-time online income as an entrepreneur and loves to help others achieve the same. With a focus on using content to create relationships, loyalty and results from the written word, she co-owns both a ghostwriting service and a private label content business. To get more tips for your content marketing, visit Contentrix.com - your free resource with plenty of tips and strategies.Freebies
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netkickstart
I’d heard scheduled posts don’t ping the directories upon going live (published). Do you know if this is true or not?
Jason Pelham
Hey Alice,
Great article. I think we were on some strange parallel thought universe as I wrote a similar post yesterday for today: http://positivepelham.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-do-you-find-time-to-blog.html
Keep up the great work. You’ve been one of my marketing mentors for a long time…
Thanks,
J.
kevin
You must be reading my mind I’ve been trying to figure out some kind system for posting content to my blog.Just not enough time in the day,these are great pointers that I’ll definitely take into consideration.Thanks for the info.think I just found a new friend!
Kevin,
Lynette Chandler
Hey Alice, great pointers. I am one of those who suffer from being too chatty in each and every post. Trying to cover all the bases. How silly when I later realize these little ‘bases’ should be starting points for new blog posts.
But you’re right on the scheduling. I don’t know what I’d do without it.
@netkickstart, it should ping. The older versions of WP – pre 2.3 or was it 2.0 can’t remember, does not ping scheduled entries correctly. It used to be scheduled entries were pinged at time of scheduling/posting. But even then there was a plugin we used to control that to ping only upon publication.
But the newer ones have this built in so technically it should ping upon publication. If your blog is not doing that then there could be something that’s preventing that. You may want to use the Smart Update Pinger plugin, let it log your pings and check the pinging behavior later.
http://ultimateplugins.com/smart-update-pinger/
Alice Seba
Glad to hear the post was helpful. It’s simple, but it works.
Thanks for the clarification and the great info, Lynette. I appreciate it.
DonnaB
Focus. It boils down to Focus. Putting the tasks into chunks like you said and then just doing those things one at a time makes a difference. Posting at blogs is quick and simple unless you are trying to make it a major article or tutorial piece.
So, I have a little of both, but in different doses.
I have started to write several blogs on a theme and then manage when I post them so I can see how they connect and then use them when I need them.
Good advice you share.says the Yoda in me.
Alice Seba
Most welcome you are, Donna. To provide tips that work for me, it is my pleasure.
Yoda rocks!