How To Get on Schedule And Stay On Schedule
Blogging schedules are WAY different than business scheduling. In blogging its not the ‘same ol’ 9-5 grind. It’s an every inducing labor of pain and accomplishments. The topic of a blog schedule has come up numerous times in the blogosphere as well it should be and I think its time it deserves some recognition.
The question I usually see concerning about a “blogging schedule” is:
1) How do set one up?
2) It’s so hard to stick on it so do we tell the public?
Setting #1 up is easy, in theory. If you have any type of scheduling in your life than a blogging schedule isn’t any different. The same principles apply – schedule out in general then just break down to daily. This can range to the following for a month broken down:
- Series
- Tips
- News
- Polls
- Misc Ramblings
From here you break down how you want to plan out the following weeks and down to days and assuming you ‘only’ blog on a M-F format:
- Monday – Weekend news wrap-up
- Tuesday – Start a 2 part series (1 of 2)
- Wednesday – Tips / News / Informational
- Thursday – Finish up the series (2 of 2)
- Friday – Week wrap-up / Poll
Rinse and repeat.
While it’s not hard to “get a schedule” it is quite difficult to “keep a schedule” and I found on some blogs I run that its easier to let your readers know what to expect in the following days. Yet, there are some who might not be interested in something and wait until Thursday to visit just to get the 2nd part of the series. There are pro’s and con’s to both sides and there is nothing truly proven for either side.
You just need to find something that will adjust to you and go from there. I know from personal view that I have a schedule and sometimes something comes up and it puts be behind but then again I don’t blog ahead of time like I need to. Yet, this is changing!
So, in the end what do you think? Good idea for scheduling for your blog and telling the readers or not?
Hey Nathan,
It’s funny you should discuss this topic today. The past week has seen me develop my own blogging plan and that includes a posting schedule (or editorial calendar, as they’re called in the old-media world).
Just ten minutes ago I started a thread at the Authority Blogger forums that asks whether we should publicly display our schedules. Maybe you’ll be the perfect man to help answer that question over in the forums. http://forum.authorityblogger.com/showthread.php?t=1819
I will say that since I started following my schedule, I’ve found it much easier to blog. Rather than worrying what topic to write about, I already have it planned. Just one less thing to worry about when it comes time to start writing.
Jamie