One often fatal problem for bloggers is keeping track of time, and making the best of what they can. In this post, Evan shares some tips for managing your time on and off of your blog.
Blogging takes an extreme amount of effort, work, patience, and time, no doubt. I think readers, subscribers, and bloggers alike sometimes forget how much work is actually put into a successful blog. Bloggers not only have an online community/life to deal with, but they also live their own lives in the real world!
On some occasions, bloggers may find it difficult to balance these two very different lives. In my experiences with handling my online identity and the real me, there has been only one solution. It’s a little something I like to call “Blimage”, or Blogging Time Management! 
Yes, there’s another one of my crazy words again! Now it’s time for me to teach you the one simple way of “Blimage” (Blogging Time Management). This way of Blimage will not only help you balance your online identity and the real you, but it will help become a more overall successful blogger. There’s never a bad time to think about ways to manage the important aspects of time management. So kick back and let’s get down to it!
Blimage You Say?
Poke fun if you will, but Blimage is a blogging must for those bloggers out there wanting to make the most out of your efforts and time spent on your blog. Read on and you will find the most effective way, in my opinion, to carrying out successful time management!
Creating A Blog Calendar
I think it is an exceptional idea for a blogger to have a calendar system. A blogging calendar system usually consists of the following: (This is only and example.)
- Planned Dates for Posts or Post Ideas
- Planned Dates for Site Updates or Ideas
- Planned Dates for Releasing Guest Posts
- Planned Dates for Advertising/Social Media
Planning, Planning, and More Planning!
No matter how you slice it, it’s all about the planning. Set aside specific days and times of the week to help you manage your real life and blogging time better, simple enough?
For example, say you wanted to dedicate at least 2 hours every Sunday and Monday for coming up with new post ideas and drafts. Well now you’ve dedicated 2/7 days of the week to post ideas, so when do they become finalized and published? My answer is to begin finalizing your ideas Tuesday and publishing them Wednesday through Friday. If you think you haven’t fulfilled your post number in that amount of time, go over guest posts, if you have received any, and decide when to feature them on your blog.
So now we’ve eliminated 6/7 days of the week, only one day left! Now that you’ve dedicated time for developing and publishing your content, let’s begin to look into planning for site updates/ideas and advertising/social media. Since Saturday is the only available day now, set aside a reasonable time, maybe at least 2 hours, going over site plans and advertising plans. Then spend the rest of your time carrying out these plans. Please take note that these plans will be developed and carried out over a certain period time if you manage your time correctly.
Don’t Get Discouraged!
On a little side not I would like to say don’t get discouraged if you’re posts per week is low. Concentrate on creating quality articles that consist of well thought out content, rather than spewing out space fillers! I’d rather read one effective, useful, and interesting article than five useless and boring articles.
Remember, this is only just one example of the many combination’s bloggers could potentially set themselves up with. Creating plans makes blogging much more easier and effective! This way, you have time for the real you and your real life. I think I would prefer having a plan rather than having no plan at all and being stressed out because I don’t know what’s next for my blogging world!
Final Thoughts
In my opinion, creating a blogging calendar or working out some sort of planning system is the best approach for developing successful time management. Blimage is the best way to have total control over your blog so it does not interfere with your real life. After all, you don’t want something as common as an internet blog controlling your life!
Now it’s time for my questions to the readers.
- How much time do you put into YOUR blog?
- Do you use a system of Blimage (Blog Time Management)? If so, please share it!
- Do you believe successful time management helps you become a better blogger and at the same time gives you more control over your blog?
Ordinary people think merely of spending time. Great people think of using it.
Author Unknown
14 Discussions
I couldn’t agree more with this article. Most bloggers have lives and jobs or school outside of blogging (in some cases both.) The only way to keep track of doing it all is to have a plan of action. Good post as it’s something many don’t think about as they start blogging.
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I feel good about blogging, because I only go to school. I don’t have a job (will most likely get a summer job), but for now I make the best of my time between school, social life and blogging.
It’s always a shame to see some potentially awesome blogs die because of poor time management, but there’s not always much you can do about it really. =/
I totally agree, there are bloggers out there that don’t keep this in mind before they blog, and rush into things that they can’t handle. I’m speaking from experience here, so I thought it would be a good post!
You wouldn’t happen to offer an time-management consulting services now would you, Evan?
Nah but on a more serious note, really well written article man! I can directly relate to your point, because managing between school work + exams + blogging is one heck of a tasks, but sometimes my priorities can go off the top
LOL @ the “Blimage” that could catch on as a web-term! I’m going to start using it myself, hope you don’t mind
This is a really nice reminder to keep things in check! Alex and myself are both proud to have you has a writer here man, keep it up ~ never know where it might lead up to
Yeah totally, being on varisty baseball means 3 hour practices everday, sometimes that’s just a little bit too much, combined with the homework and all!
Of course I don’t mind! Blimage is now up for use! :p
Thanks for the compliments, really appreciate it!
Time management is one of the most diffiuclt hurdles to overcome for a blogger but tips like this really help. I’ve also found that “batch” blogging (a tip from ProBlogger) also really helps. Allocating time for a specific task where that is your only goal is a much better way to work compared to trying to do everything all at once, you just end up getting lost.
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Exactly, it’s tough going into things without planning ahead before time!
I have a loose system planned out for creating my content and for when to update. Nice thoughts and suggestions, although, I dislike the word “blimage.” Doesn’t really make much sense.
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Kinda thought so, just thought of it because it combines Blog Time Management into all one word. Thought maybe it could catch on.
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A topic that comes up a lot and something I have blogged about on my past blogs.
Working your time out is another key factor in doing well with your blog. If you are unable to get time to blog, you will find your visitors decrease and find your blog not really getting far. However, if you do space out your time and work on your blog you do see it get better ranks and visitors, etc.
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Your right, it makes it much more easier to plan things out rather than just go straight into them. However, some people do prefer to jump right into things.
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I don’t have any time management when it comes to blogging. I always get distracted with Facebook and chatting on AIM, or simply just enjoying life outside of the blogosphere. I post, comment, and market my blog all in the same day. Some days I do more, and some days I do less. If I plan out stuff, and follow the plan, it makes blogging feel like work to me. When I enjoy what I do and whenever I feel like doing it, blogging does not feel like work.
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Hey, if it works and you’re successful, then do whatever works for you!
I enjoyed this it, thanks Evan! Is it bad that I read this post partly to procrastinate? Now, to answer your questions…
1. How much time do you put into YOUR blog?
Now that I’m out of school I’ve probably been spending about 60 hours a week on the Internet. But I would only consider about 30 hours of it to be productive time. The other 30 I spend finding and reading interesting articles like this one. I don’t plan it that way, but that’s how it seems to happen.
2. Do you use a system of Blimage (Blog Time Management)? If so, please share it!
I do. Do I use it to it’s full potential? I don’t. For the summer (I’m a senior at Colorado State University) I have developed a 13-week project charter for my business. Within the charter I have established 6 objectives and 20 goals. 3 of these objectives are directly tied to my site. They are: 1) To increase traffic, 2) To boost my online social media presence, and 3) To add interesting and relevant content. Additionally, I have set 11 goals under these particular objectives.
To accomplish these objectives and goals I have set weekly and daily tasks. For instance, under the adding content objective I will publish a guest post on Mondays, a new article on Thursdays, and a JJ Entry on Saturdays. I’ve found that subscribers are most likely to open and read their emails on Fridays and Sundays; so I publish my articles the nights before. I have a number of other tasks under these objectives but I don’t want to bore you.
As far as sitting down at my computer and getting these things done, I’m terrible at Blimage. So I have found your tips very helpful.
3. Do you believe successful time management helps you become a better blogger and at the same time gives you more control over your blog?
I think time management is integral for a successful blog and any business, for that matter. If you don’t know what to expect from your blog, then how are your readers/customers supposed to know what to expect? Also, developing a project charter provides accountability; which is huge, especially if you are doing everything by yourself.
Thanks again,
Nick
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