Over the past couple years of blogging, I’ve learned a thing or two about organization. Simply put, being well organized leads to better blogging. When you’re organized, you can spend more time creating awesome content rather than scrambling at the last minute to publish a post. Today I’m sharing with you my top 5 tips for staying organized as a blogger… so let’s get started!
TIP #1: KEEP AN EDITORIAL CALENDAR
Blogging is much easier when you have your content planned out. I keep a HUGE monthly calendar (from Target) hanging on my wall near my desk that is solely dedicated to helping me plan out blog posts for the month. At the beginning of every month, I’ll mark down the days that I have committed to posts (for example, if I’m partnering with a boutique, I’ll write down the specific day that the post will go up). An editorial calendar also helps me plan around holidays. Halloween is coming up at the end of the month, so I’ve already marked a few days for dedicated “Halloween” or “Fall” posts. These calendars also help you make sure that you don’t commit to doing two blog posts on the same day. Another tip: always write in pencil! (Things change often and I like to be able to erase!)
TIP #2: PLAN WEEK BY WEEK & DAY BY DAY
Every Monday morning, I like to sit down and make a plan for the week, which includes writing down what I’m blogging about each day and what needs to be done to accomplish that. I start by looking at my monthly editorial calendar to see if I have any posts that must go up on a certain day. This blog planner notepad has been tremendously helpful in my weekly planning (although a regular sheet of paper will do, too!). This particular notepad has a space for each day of the week, as well as a checklist that includes writing the post, adding images, editing and scheduling the post. It makes it super easy to see the whole week in one glance.
I also like to plan daily as well, so I’ll write down a list of “To Do’s” that must get done that day. I usually include everything on this list, not just blogging stuff! A typical day of To Do’s may include a photo shoot in a new outfit, grocery shopping, paying a bill or responding to a specific email. This notepad is great for daily planning.
If you’re looking for a planner in notebook form that you can carry around in your purse, I would recommend the Design Love Planner. Not only is it really cute (and it has fun prints inside!) but it’s extremely functional, featuring a weekly checklist, weekly schedule, and a page for budgeting and To-Do’s each month. I’ve owned both the Kate Spade and Lilly Pulitzer planners, and I think this is the best. You can see more features of the Design Love Planner here.
TIP #3: ALWAYS KEEP A NOTEPAD WITH YOU
Blogging inspiration can strike at any time… when you’re at work, at the grocery store, shopping at your favorite boutique or just laying in bed at night. I carry around a small notepad with me that I use to jot down blog ideas when they come to me. This is a smart practice because if I don’t write down my ideas, I always forget them! Sometimes it’s an idea for an out-of-the-box blog post (like a new recipe or a YouTube video on my makeup routine) or sometimes it’s an idea for a new way to wear a leather jacket. Whenever inspiration strikes, write it down!
TIP #4: SCHEDULE AHEAD OF TIME
If your blog is run through Blogger or WordPress, you have the option to schedule your posts. For example, I usually write my posts at night and then schedule them to go live in the morning. This feature makes it really easy to write all of your posts ahead of time… You could write a blog post on a Sunday night and then schedule it to publish the following Wednesday at 10 a.m. (without actually having to be at your computer on Wednesday at 10 a.m. to hit “publish”!)
Something else you can schedule? Your social media posts! Social media management is a large part of being a blogger, because social media contributes to your branding and helps drive traffic to your blog. However, no one can be online 24/7 (for example, if you have a full time job its hard to tweet all day about your newest blog post!). The good news is that there are several free programs out there that allow you to manage your social media and schedule posts in advance. My favorite free service is Hootsuite, because it allows you to see your Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus (and more) accounts at one time and schedule posts ahead of time.
TIP #5: SET REALISTIC GOALS & CELEBRATE MILESTONES
This may seem like a boring one, but I think it’s essential! To keep your blog growing, you must determine where you want it to go and have a means to analyze your success. For example, when I first started my blog my goal was to reach 100,000 page views per month. When I reached that goal, I celebrated, and then I set another goal. People measure their success in different ways. You could set a goal for the number of Bloglovin followers, social media followers, etc. Just make sure that you are setting realistic goals for yourself and not setting yourself up for failure. Setting goals and striving to achieve them is something that has kept me motivated to blog!
I hope this was helpful, and if you have any other questions about how I stay organized (or blogging tips in general), I’m happy to answer them! Just email me or leave them in the comments below. Happy Friday!
SHOP THE POST:
Evelyn Henson painting // Design Darling striped desk organizer (being restocked soon)
Capri Blue candle (obsessed) // hot pink matches
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Thanks a lot, I'm convinced you are right! Like you I have also a tough blogging schedule and I find it much easier with it 🙂
xx from Bavaria/Germany, Rena
International giveaway: Top form by the reasons of problems
http://www.dressedwithsoul.com
So so helpful!! Thanks girly, have a great weekend 🙂
Xo,
Nicole
Nicolerpuccio.wordpress.com
I do have a question…as far as photographing your outfits – do you set aside one day to photograph many outfits for different posts? Did you have to hire a photographer? Love your blog, your outfits and you are just too stinkin' adorable…I love posts like this…I'm an OCD sort of gal, so organization is my jam, lol. xo
-Morgan
California To Carolina
The Gym Bunny
Hey Morgan! My mom is a photographer, so fortunately I do not have to hire anyone. And yes, we have found that it's a lot easier to knock out a bunch of outfits at once! 🙂
Great article. Your tips are so helpful!
X
Miri
http://currentlywearing.com
These are such great tips! I need that weekly blog planner!
Hunter
Prep on a Budget
Very good post! Thanks for sharing!
Ievushka.com
Love this, great tips! Thanks to much for sharing!
The Style Storm
<3, Christina
These are great tips! I also love your desk set up. Swooning over all your gold desk accessories and fun artwork!
xoxo,
Kim
http://www.champagneista.blogspot.com
Useful tips! LOVE that Target calendar!
xoxo
cvilletodc.blogspot.com
Great tips! Love all of your accessories too. It's always great feeling organized and ready for the week/month!
~Lucy & Jenn
eastmeetssouthblog.blogspot.com
hi! where are those cute little heart note cards from?
They are from Swoozie's! 🙂
your deskspace is gorgeous and I'm so grateful for so many of these tips. thanks for sharing!
love, arielle
a simple elegance
Beautiful photos and a great opst! Such a great tips!
http://lartoffashion.blogspot.com
Thanks so much for sharing your tips! You always give us bloggers great advice! xo-
Shauna
http://www.lipglossandlace.net
Love these items! Will search for Blog Planner now, such a cool idea!
http://www.julialundin.com
Great tips! I will be referring to this post next time I get disorganized!
xo, Scarlett
The Trendy Chick
Love that notepad! I may have to look into getting that!!
http://www.madeintheshadeblog.com
I need that blog planner! What a great little invention 🙂 These are some fab tips Cait! Thank you 🙂
I'm really enjoying these posts from you, Caitlin! Great tips and your mom is a fab photographer, you lucky girl:)
Heidi D.
http://www.wishesandreality.com
Love the blogger planner. I need that. It's so cute! <3
http://www.shallwesasa.com
These are fantastic tips – I'm off to buy the blog planner notepad – such a great idea!!
This was so helpful for me! I love scheduling my blog posts, but had no idea you could also schedule social media posts! Definitely going to have to look into that! Do you use google analytics? If so, I would love to see a post explaining how to interpret that data. What shows up in my google analytics does not match at all what I see for statistics on my blogger platform and I have no idea which one is actually accurate! For example, my google analytics tells me I have had 30,000 page views from September 10-October 10. Blogger statistics tells me only 13,000. So confusing!
http://www.amemoryofus.com
Great tip. I also use a blog calender.
Awesome tips! Thanks for the helpful advice!
xx colleen
http://www.pleatherandsparkles.blogspot.com
I love these tips! Thank you so much!
Michaela || The Monogrammed Midwesterner
Ah those notepads are so cute!
Emma | With A City Dream
These are all such great tips! I definitely need to work on scheduling post ahead of time.
Lauren,
http://www.atouchofsoutherngrace.com/
Love this set up! The flowers are so pretty 🙂
Life As Lissy
Love these tips!!! Your desk is adorable!!!
Emily
Dimples of Dixie
That blog planner is amazing!
Sophia | sophiebysophia.blogspot.com
Thanks for the tips. I'm definitely thinking of getting myself a planner asap.
So helpful! x
https://www.marjorievie.blogspot.com
Out of all the blogs I read, yours is my favorite! Thanks for sharing these tips!
ericakato.blogspot.com
Thanks for the ideas! I especially love the bloggers notebook planner. I've been looking for a weekly calendar specifically for blogging and planning ahead week by week, so that is perfect!
iamkelskels.blogspot.com
this tips are very handy, especially when you're starting 🙂
xx Cecil // http://www.wednesday19th.blogspot.com
Loved this post so great
So helpful. I agree, ever since I started keeping things organized on a calendar, I've been so much more productive!
Valentina
Valentina Duracinsky Blog
Great tips!!!
Thanks so much for sharing! I am new to blogging and these tips are very helpful! It's very overwhelming starting out (especially working full time, like you said), but I like the idea of a blogging notebook. Your blog and Instagram are amazing! 🙂
Brittany
http://www.lawyerlookbook.com
Thanks for the tips! They are really helpful for new bloggers like myself
Puppies and Polka Dots
I like carrying a notepad / planner with me just in case, because I tend to forget everything!
Great post! I never get tired of reading blogging tips from those who have been in the business for awhile. This post is definitely inspiring me to do more with my blog. Thanks for this post!
petitechicgirl.com
If you have a self hosted Word Press blog you can use the Editorial Calendar Plugin, which is simply amazing. I use that and it keeps my entire blog organized from one spot 🙂
I agree about scheduling posts ahead of time. I actually have posts drafted/scheduled into March of next year on the editorial calendar plugin 🙂
Thank you for sharing- this post is really great!
http://www.blondeincashmere.com
I find that if I don't organize, I simply won't blog! I love it too much to be careless with it so I organize my self too 🙂
Allison from http://www.mercuteify.com
This post couldn't have come at a more perfect time. I just started a blog last week, and am using WordPress. I too find that writing post ahead of time and scheduling them to publish is best. I'm definitely going to purchase a wall calendar like yours to organize editorials. Love your blog and style! I look forward to more post like this.
http://www.laceandpearlsblog.com
Love this post – and all the items you linked to were beautiful.
Mina | Cream Coloured Ponies
I love this post idea and I follow a lot of the same practices! Big game-changers for me have been scheduling social media posts, and learning to write down any idea that pops in my head. My next goal is to get better at planning posts ahead of time!
Also, thanks for introducing us to that planner… I'd never heard of it but it looks incredible!
Jacy
http://www.lovelenore.com
Look at those gorgeous planners and notepads!! Must have them all!!
<3 ae
http://www.keeponsing.com
I always love getting an inside into how others keep up with their blog. I love your way of organizing everything. I can so relate to that – I always have to write down everything that I plan out.
Love,
Svenja
I loooove this!! Definitely could have used this from the beginning!
I would love to know some realistic goals for the beginning of blogging? I'm at about 1,000 views per month, posting 2x weekly (hoping to increase to 3 by Nov!), I'm about to self host and buy my domain, and I've already done lots of reviews/partnerships. I really want to find ways to increase views, which I've started realize requires posting more. What's a realistic next monthly views goal and other goals moving forward?
Thanks, in advance!! 🙂
Great advice! Just ordered my planner!
Love these tips, and I'm definitely ordering the planners and scheduling pads.
xo Amanda
http://theluxelion.blogspot.com
Love this post, very informative. Where did you get the painting of the Tory Burch logo; I love it. Also, please follow my blog, thank you and God Bless
http://love-pink-forever09.blogspot.com/
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gave me more inspiration 🙂
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I love this post. Something you did here is what I think the key to sticking with organization is…using beautiful items you love to see and utilize every single day.
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FABULOUS post! So inspiring! Like you, I'm a planner as well! I love the items you linked to!
Question: How did you reach your goal, of say 100,000 page views a month!?
Happy Friday!
Lisa
http://www.theeverydayelevated.com
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My names is Darneha Varner am from Canada i want to use this opportunity to thank Dr John the great doctor who bring back my husband which makes me very happy today so i could not keep the wonderful work he has done for me so i decide to share it with you all because he is real not like those who eat up my money and never do anything for me, i have 2 lovely kids for my husband, about 3 years ago my husband and i has been quarreling about some things he is doing that he had not been doing before,like keeping late at night and drinking i dont know that my husband is having a secret affair with a lady close to my street they do meet after work at one hotel,one day i felt that this is too much to bear then i confronted him one night but he did not listen instead he beat me up in front of our kids then he finally left me for the lady. i felt my life was over and my kids thought they will never see their father again. i tried to be strong just for the kids but i couldn't control the pains that torments my heart, my heart was filled with sorrows and pains because i was really in love with my husband. Every day and night i think of him and i always wish he will come back to me, until one day i met a good friend of mine that was also in a situation like me but her problem was her ex-boyfriend who she had an unwanted pregnancy for and he refused to take responsibility and dumped her. she told me that mine was a small case and that i shouldn’t worry about it at all so i asked her what was the solution to my problems and she gave me this great Doctor email address. (indiaspelltemple123@gmail.com) i was doubting if this man was the solution,because i have tried so many fake Doctor on the internet but they only eat up my money and never work for me so i contacted this great man and he told me what to do and i deed them all, he told me to wait for just 12hours and that my husband will come crawling on his kneels just for forgiveness so i faithfully deed what this great man asked me to do and for sure after 12hours i heard a knock on the door i went and open the door, in a great surprise i saw him on his kneels and i was speechless, when he saw me, all he did was crying and asking me for forgiveness, from that day, all the pains and sorrows in my heart ran away,since then i and my husband and our lovely kids are living happily.that is why i want to say a big thanks to dr guru This great man made me to understand that there is know problem on earth that has no solution so please if you know that you have this same problem or any problem that is similar, i will advise you to contact this great doctor through his mail (indiaspelltemple123@gmail.com) and he will solve your problem results okay
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Do you have any pictures of your office? I love what I see just from these but would love to see more!!