Things for Boys

Sewing, baking and making

Keep your Blogging Time Efficient

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In Part One of this series, I covered using a spreadsheet for organisation. In Part 2, I covered using a calendar. They are the main tools I use to plan and structure my blogging, but there are a lot of ways you can get the best value from the time you put into blogging.


KEEP YOUR BLOGGING TIME EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT
Write Posts When You’re in the Mood
I used to start a new post when I had any idea. I would put a sentence or two in it and save it as a draft, but I ended up with so many drafts that I couldn’t keep track of anything. That’s when I started the spreadsheet. Now, I only start a new post if I can pretty much write the whole thing. If I’m in a writing mood, I like to pick a few ideas and get my posts written up and ready for photos.

If I’m in a writing mood but not anywhere near my computer, I will write up a note on my phone. Sometimes the wording I want for a post just comes to me, so I like to get it down while it’s in my head. Saves me trying and failing to remember it later.

Write the Way You Speak
Trying to make your writing sound more professional or formal takes time. People read your blog because they like way you talk. They connect with you as if it’s a conversation. If you write your posts as if you’re saying them to a friend, they will flow naturally and most importantly, quickly!Write About What YOU Want to Write About
Don’t get caught up thinking ‘this post will get me lots of clicks’ or ‘everyone is blogging about this so I should too’. If you write about your own ideas, your own passions, then it will be an easy write.
Take Photos When the Moment Strikes
If it’s a lovely day and the light is nice, take some photos! You get double efficiency points if you’ve made your kids some new clothes and they already have them on that day. Just take a few snaps while they’re playing in the garden and you’re halfway to a post. Don’t forget to list this in your spreadsheet.
Schedule Posts
If you’ve been in a post writing mood and have a few posts written and ready to publish, you can schedule the publish date and time. That way, they go live while you’re having a sleep in. Now you’re blogging in your sleep…that sounds efficient to me!
Set Up a Photo Area
This is useful for food photography and for taking pictures of items that are a similar size. You can set up a little corner in the house so that it’s ready to go. Bake a cake? Take a quick snap before you eat it.
If you don’t have the space to set up an area permanently, try to keep all your photography kit together and close by to your spot so that you can set up quickly when needed.
You can see my setup in the picture below. I have a fold up table in the corner of my sewing area. It’s a good spot between 2 windows. I keep the reflector and tripod handy.

Finally, I just want to say that while all these tips are about being efficient and actually blogging…if you don’t feel like blogging, then don’t! We all lose our mojo at some point and feel like we ‘need’ to blog, but your readers will still be there. Take your time and don’t push it! It’s just a blog after all. Did I just write that?!

Do you have any tips for blogging efficiently? I’d love to hear them so please leave a comment.

See also:
Part One: Keep your Blogging Organised with a Spreadsheet
Part Two: Keep your Blogging Organised with a Calendar
Part Three: Keep your Blogging Time Efficient

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Comments

  1. This series was great Abby! All this stuff is very inspiring. I have no organisation or plan, I get caught up in trying to blog what I ‘think’ I should blog, then with kids and life… It is not very easy! Thanks for giving all your pointers x

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