As we discussed last week, one of the first things to do when starting a blog is to blog regularly. I don’t know about you, but the only way for me to do that is to have a blog editorial.
The blog editorial enables me to write in my own pace
When I have it all on paper, I know what I need to write and what the due date is. The blog editorial helps me stay organized even in the creative process of writing. If the inspiration happens to come at midnight on a Tuesday, I can just open my blog editorial and see what the next article I need to write is. If I feel like writing about something in particular which is not ob my blog editorial – no problem; I just add another topic to my blog editorial where appropriate and start writingβ¦
Having a blog editorial also helps me a lot when running multiple blogs
I can get easily overwhelmed or confused whatΒ toΒ publish when and where. So, when it’s all there, in written, I can always double-check and more importantly – I can always plan the time I will need to write certain content before I lose my sleep over deadlines.
Creating a blog editorial somewhat frees my mind
When starting a blog, I have so many things to say that I often cannot decide what’s more important to be said first. So it’s a relief when at some point I spare the time to think about the logic in my blog, the topics I want to cover, the sequence of the different posts; and afterwards – I just sit and write without thinking and worrying what should be written, when, how, why…
On the other hand, when I have been running a blog for a long time, sometimes it’s hard to come up with new topics. Maybe everyone’s been in the situation when you stare at the blank sheet of paper (or new word doc) and just don’t know what to write about. With the blog editorial – this never happens to me. I always know what I am going to write about. Well, I might stare in the blank document titled “Blog editorial” but that’s another thing π
The blog editorial improvesΒ the blog posts qaulity, too
Last but not least, having all the topics in one place and in advance helps me better research, if research is needed. Nowadays, we spend a great deal of our time online, right? We read a lot of interesting and useful content on daily basis. So when I come across something interesting which relates to one of my soon-to-be-written articles, I put it down on my blog editorial – to remember and make the reference when the time comes.
Creating a blog editorial isn’t hard and is a matter of preferences
I have always used plain word document to create my blog editorial but recently I started looking around an app to do that. I am just trying out Evernote but so far, the only difference I see is that I can sync my notes – I have access to the editorials or blog posts ideas and notes across all my devices – PC, laptop, tablet, phone. It’s an important difference though – I never know when a new idea will come to mind and I’ll have to write it down π
If we forget for a moment about the technical side of things, creating a blog editorial for me is a process. I try to have blog editorial for 2-3 months ahead for a new blog and for at least a month ahead for well established blog. So I spent a few hours every now and then to actually create the blog editorial. I recently came across a great article by Jeri Walker where she gives a great tactic of coming up with new topics for your blog. Her post is titled What to blog about. I am yet to try it myself π
I usually draft topics ideas on the go. I compile raw info on daily basis using the following informational sources:
- just browsing online
- conversations with clients and friends
- readers’ comments, questions and emails
- interactions with other bloggers and the community on social media
- and basically everything else that comes to mind.
Once it’s time to create the blog editorial, I open this file with ideas and start bringing in structure to it – what topics, what keywords, what structure for each article, etc.
Bottom line – the blog editorial basically ensures that I will blog regularly
and that I am prepared to do it in my own pace. It helps me write better content. And it makes me a better blogger and a better member of the community.
This great. I find picking topics is the most time consuming part of blogging. If you plan ahead, then you are golden! Great post. Very helpful!
thanks for your comment, Trinidad! And for your feedback – glad you find the post helpful. Stay tuned for more π
I’ve never heard the term “blog editorial” before, I always say “content calendar” but whatever you call it the thing is indispensable. You need a plan, but you also need to stay on top of events. This can be a holiday (you should always plan those posts ahead of time, of course), or a professional event in your space like a big trade show or product release, or something seasonal. By checking ahead and preplanning these you stay ahead of the curve. You may have 5 great holiday recipes, but what’s the use if you don’t post the article early enough for your readers to get to the store and buy ingredients? And blogging about a big convention in your profession is good, but how will people attending know to look for your posts if the firsat one goes live while they are checking into their hotel?
I’ve never heard for “content calendar” but you are right that it probably is better to say “blog editorial calendar” rather than just “blog editorial” – my bad π
As for staying on top of events – the editorial calendar will help you do that as well, especially if you;re like me and often forget what day of the week it is or which time of month. π
Thanks for stopping by!
That sounds like a good idea. I’ve had some problems coming up with regular posts in the past, so this might help. I already have a list of posts I want to write, I just haven’t decided when I should publish them by.
if you have already a respiratory of articles, that’s fine – for me, blog editorial calendar comes in handy exactly when I feel stuck and when I lack inspiration or motivation to come up with something new π Thanks for your comment, Shaun π
My main problem with blogging has been settling on the type of topic posts which will suit me best, and I can definitely see how a calendar would come in hand. Also, thanks for sharing my link.
you’re welcome, Jeri! always glad to link out to good content π
What do you mean your biggest challenge is “settling on the type of topic posts which will suit me best”? What different types of posts are you trying to choose from… sorry – couldn’t quite understand your point π
Finding topics is a very hard part of keeping a blog going. I like to search different social media sites and websites and find some trending topics that help me come up with new ideas. Thanks for the info!
right, social media has been a source for me, too – always new ideas waiting to be discoverd and discussed π Thanks for stopping by π
I agree that focusing on topics can be the hardest part about blogging. You want to be able to maintain content in your niche but what happens when you have already tapped out all that information. π
oh, Susan, do you really think you can ‘tap out’ all the information in your niche – whichever it is? Don’t think so… With the internet and the world developing in such a fast pace, i really don;t think there will be ever a moment when a good blogger, blogging in a specific niche, would not have anything else to say. Coming up with topics on their own may be hard at some point, yes – but that’s a creativity problem, not a information depletion. Yet another reason to help each other tap into our own creativity π Thanks for your comment, Susan!
Hi Diana, great post. I life and die by a blog editorial. I only use OneNote though. It’s not as transferable to the other platforms as EverNote is. But it has worked very well for me. I set up tabs for each month and then have a page for each upcoming post. Doing it this way, and being able to see all my upcoming posts for the month helps me stay on track with the theme i have planned out.
~ Johnny Bravo
Thanks for your comment, Johnny! Your way sounds cool and pretty organized π I catch myself more and more often jotting things on my phone when in the park or on my tablet when waiting at the dentist… So, being able to sync different devices is important for me. But what you said about having different tabs for different months – wow, this would be perfect for me! π
Thanks for the advice! So you think we should plan 2 months in advance? I had better start doing that for sure. I was wondering, is there a best “time” to post blogs? Should it be regular, like every week/3 times a week or an every day sort of thing? Right now I’m posting when I have a blog ready, once or twice a week during the weekdays.
Yes, i think planning 2 months ahead will enable you to write freely – worry-free of the topics… but hey, it is a matter of personal preference and time availability – i am sure we can do just fine with a week ahead planning or no planning; it’s just easier for me with 2 months ahead π
as for the best time for posting – i remember reading somewhere (sorry for not sourcing, i really don;t remember where) – that Monday morning is best time to post, around 9 am (probably EST?); while Saturday is the best time to email or do something else to attract comments – people read on Monday morning the most and comment on Saturday morning the most π
about the regular thing – yes, i think you should blog regularly – this is one of the 6 tips when starting a blog that i shared earlier this month.
Thanks for your comment, Jessica! and stay tuned for more tips π
I can’t survive without my editorial calendar! Up until January I blogged at 3 different locations (now I’m down to 2), and it was the only way I survived! I love being organized, and I have complex forms in my calendar to help me organize posts months in advance.
that sounds great Running multiple blogs for me would be impossible without blog editorial calendar, literally impossible – so i hear ya loud and clear! Thanks for stopping by π