Written on April 17th, 2009 at 07:04 pm by Darren Rowse
Develop an Editorial Calendar for Your Blog [Day 12 - 31DBBB]
This post is an excerpt from the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Workbook
Yesterday your task in the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog challenge was to come up with a list of at least 10 post ideas for your blog. The idea was to spend time before you needed posts coming up with ideas. Doing this can release you later on to just write instead of having to brainstorm ideas every day.
Today’s task is to take the list you created yesterday and to plan your posting schedule (or editorial calendar) for next week.
This is something I attempt to do on a weekly basis for each of my blogs (I usually do it Sunday night or Monday morning).
How to Develop a Weekly Editorial Calendar [or at least how I do it]
1. Calculate how many posts you want to post in the coming week on your blog.
2. Set up a spreadsheet or table in a word document that has a slot for each post and the date and time that the post needs to go live on the blog.
3. Take the list of ideas that you’ve previously brainstormed and begin to slot them into the empty slots in the table. As I do this I often get other ideas that I’d not previously thought of for posts that might make good followup posts to those I’m planning. I slot these into the schedule too.
4. For each post that you slot in write a sentence or two about what the post is about (so you’re able to remember later in the week). I often also take a moment or two at this point to brainstorm some main points for the post. If any examples, illustrations, pictures or related posts that I’ve previously written come to mind I make note of these too.
Let me say at this point that what I come up with after going through this process is not always the way that I roll out posts in reality. My blogging style is a little more fluid than this and I tend to add new posts into the mix, reorder posts and extend single posts into series.
However – going through this exercise is fantastic because it means I’ve got a week’s worth of post ideas at my finger tips. It also means that for each post I’ve got ideas that I can use when writing the post – this gives me a real head start and means that I can usually get right down to business and start writing on the days I need to do the writing of posts.
Another Editorial Calendar idea to Consider
Another way that some bloggers approach editorial calendars is to come up with a weekly rhythm for their blog. They assign a different type of post for each day of the week and stick to that rhythm over the long term.
For example Mondays might be ‘list post’ day, Tuesdays might be ‘link post’ day, Wednesdays might be ‘opinion/rant’ day, Thursdays might be ‘review’ day etc. In this way they know the style of post for each day and then just have to slot in topics that fit each style.
The above two methods are only two suggestions of many and there are many variations on the idea of blog editorial calendars that you might like to explore. Here are a few posts that pick up the idea from archives here at ProBlogger:
- Editorial Calendars and Professional Blogging
- Having a Constant Stream of Blogging Ideas
- How to Develop a Niche Blog Content Plan
- 7 Ways to Keep Fresh Content Flowing On Your Blog
How did you find this process? Have you got next week’s Editorial Calendar set up? Share in the comments, or join the discussion over at the forum: Day 12 – Develop an Editorial Calendar
Want More?This task is a sample of one of the tasks in the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Workbook – a downloadable resource designed to reinvigorate and revitalize blogs. Join over 14,000 other bloggers and Get your Copy Today. |
133 Responses to “Develop an Editorial Calendar for Your Blog [Day 12 - 31DBBB]” - Add Yours
shrewdcookie
April 17th, 2009 7:55 pm
Another great idea – will keep me busy this afternoon. Thank crunchie it’s friday!
Lee
April 17th, 2009 8:00 pm
This simple post has probably been the one that has the most meaning to me so far as a lack of forward planning is probably my biggest weakness.
I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve thought of developing a calendar for posting different types of articles at specific times but then never following it through.
Hopefully reading this will motivate me to finally do it.
Karenne Sylvester
April 17th, 2009 8:02 pm
Thanks Darren,
Very useful and practical advice as always ;-). Do you think that it is a good idea to put a “schedule” up on a blog or just let your readers get a feel of what will be coming next themselves?
Off-topic, I thought that was really cool how you twittered that your post was on its way, that was kind of exciting. And then, because I was lazy, I clicked on your account, followed the link there and landed on yet another great idea for a page – explaining who you are and what you do and why follow you on twitter…
You really are a veritable goldmine.
Thank you so much for all the work you’re doing. I enjoyed your book hugely and I love this course refreshing me and getting me working on the things I missed doing.
Karenne
HazardousPaste
April 17th, 2009 8:05 pm
In conjunction with Day 11’s task, your blog should be well organized!
Scary Mommy
April 17th, 2009 8:08 pm
This is an awesome tip, once again. I’ve been thinking I need to look at my blog on a bigger scale and this is perfect. Thank you once again!! And the forums are a gold mine too. So glad I joined this!
Dominique
April 17th, 2009 8:14 pm
Great advice Darren,
have been thinking of how to develop a weekly calander for my blog. At present it consist of weekday memes, reviews on thursdays/fridays and weekend linky – love.
Mike CJ
April 17th, 2009 8:21 pm
I’ve created the spreadsheet and filled it all in – feels very satisfying to know what’s going to be on the blog for the next week.
Just the hard part now – writing them all!
This level of organisation is so helpful. Because blogging has so many facets to it, it’s easy to feel a little out of control. So thanks once again.
Rahul Jadhav
April 17th, 2009 8:28 pm
Thanks for the idea. I also have Sunday Link Love posts on my blog.
I am going to create an editorial calender today only :)
Phillip Gibb
April 17th, 2009 8:30 pm
and if you are really spurred on you could schedule them, or maybe that’s tomorrow’s point?
Yesterday’s post makes me wonder about getting a moleskine and today I think about getting my phone synched up with my calendar for scheduling when I should write/post my stuff.
Phill
[ twitter: http://twitter.com/phillipgibb ]
[ blog: http://synapticlight.com/ ]
[ blog: http://sonofmine.wordpress.com/ ]
Alex Newell
April 17th, 2009 8:32 pm
This is my only real problem blogging so I’m really pleased to get some help with this.
Thanks!
Alex
MoneyEnergy
April 17th, 2009 8:33 pm
I do some version of this, though not as nicely systematic as you. I should push harder for this much organization. Great to hear what works for you.
MoneyEnergy
April 17th, 2009 8:35 pm
But then there’s always the unplanned, spontaneous posts you want to include as well – like the transcription I just did of @aplusk (Ashton Kutcher)’s “twitter victory speech” – much fun!
Robert Bravery
April 17th, 2009 8:40 pm
Thanks Darren,
I know I know I know, plan plan plan. But it does get so difficult when time is a thing you don’t have. I have up until now only ever had three posts in the cache. Most times, I post those posts the next day, and then have to work on the next three.
I haven’t spent much time on developing a Calendar.
What would be nice is to see a estimate of how long it takes you, and how many do you plan in advance. I think this might give us a better idea of the effectiveness of planning.
Being a developer, I know full well the importance of planning, and how that can save you in the long term.
Bradford Shimp
April 17th, 2009 8:41 pm
My current post listing practice does not involve a schedule. I am often several posts ahead in my writing, but then I just edit and post when I feel the urge.
I am experimenting with posting every day this week, which is working out.
What I like about this idea is that it will help me be more structured and write and publish more related posts. Plus, if I have a schedule and write ahead, I can set up my posts to publish automatically so I don’t have to worry about forgetting.
Beth Robinson
April 17th, 2009 8:46 pm
I’ve had to break my calendar the last couple weeks, and it’s very frustrating. If I had done more of Day 11 first then it might have been easier. It was good to put those tips in this order.
Joel
April 17th, 2009 8:50 pm
Hey Darren,
Once you get this calendar ready, do you recommend going ahead and starting work on the future posts? What about writing them entirely and scheduling? I know from your Twitter stream you do that at least some…
Online Banks
April 17th, 2009 9:00 pm
Great advice Daren. I feel that having a calendar really helps me with coming up with post ideas. I am more focused on what I need to be writing about.
Another great benefit is that it helps you stay on track for your blogs purpose. Too often bloggers change the focus of their blog without even realizing it.
Krishna
April 17th, 2009 9:10 pm
HI,
Thank you for the post. It will be very useful to me.
Thanks,
Krishna
Sudeep
April 17th, 2009 9:15 pm
Hey Darren ,
Actually yesterday when i was doing my brain storming i did come up with the same way … did not think that could have been the next tip of yours. Thanks …
I think so its good to be aware of what and when you are going to say what in the week , just enough ahead…..
Healthy Regards
SquiggleMum
April 17th, 2009 9:25 pm
Thanks for this tip. After visiting a number of other mummy/mommy blogs I’ve been toying with the idea of a weekly posting schedule, but haven’t been quite sure of how to do it without copying others, and without burning myself out. This gives me more food for thought…
Alison
April 17th, 2009 9:26 pm
Hey Darren, I love a plan, so a calendar is perfect.
for http://www.ahotpinkpetticoat.blogspot.com, I have attempt half-ass to create a routine. This exercise along with yesterday’s exercise will help me nail that down and commit. So thank you.
Alison
Internet Business With Purpose
April 17th, 2009 9:59 pm
This is a great idea. It requires some discipline but can be part of an overall task to follw a “Business plan” for a week, month, or even the whole year.
I really appreciate your valuable advice,
Greg
Samuel McCrohan
April 17th, 2009 10:04 pm
Definitely a useful tactic. I mentioned in yesterday’s tasks that I have an overwhelming backlog of post ideas and can never decide which order to do them in. Writing them down into a specific order with dates will definitely help me decide. In fact, I even reckon writing out a month’s calendar would be beneficial, although obviously then there will probably be more shuffling about required as the month progresses. :)
Thanks,
Sam
JustBlogz
April 17th, 2009 10:06 pm
I never thought of doing this. But this should keep me more disciplined to post on a more regularly basis.
Fred
April 17th, 2009 10:09 pm
Great homework…
The time line will depend on how fresh the product must be, it will be shorter for news blogs than long lasting content ones (there is no reason for a history blog, for instance, not to have 2 years planned in advance.)
Keeping some flexibility into the frame is a great suggestion.
Baker @ ManVsDebt
April 17th, 2009 10:16 pm
Awesome! I’m going to set this up in Google calendars, immediately.
Right now on Mondays I do a weekly series where I do my take on a the theme of that weeks Personal Finance Hour. It is a blogtalkradio program hosted by two of the leading bloggers in my niche. This has been working well for me.
Also, I’ve been doing links of the week on Friday, however, I would like to move these to Sunday, and provide some more useful content on Friday.
Thanks for all the thought provoking ideas, Darren!
Jodi
April 17th, 2009 10:30 pm
I do this but not on the computer. There are some things I like to be able to touch, feel and scratch :) So I do this on a piece of blank paper. And I do a month at a time.
I do not fill the whole month out at once, but this way if I run a contest, I can put the end date/announcement date down. Or I can see when i have too many guest bloggers or too many tutorials, etc. It allows me to see the big picture as I fill slots in.
Then on Sunday, I go through and make sure the upcoming week is filled and even start scheduling the posts that are done. Some need to get written the night before, but many can be done ahead.
This helps keep me organized. Things do sometimes get moved around a tad, but again – I can scratch and move or draw arrows. I thought of a spread sheet but I love having this nearby and I am online way too much anyway.
Jodi
MCP Actions
http://www.mcpactions.com
Kern
April 17th, 2009 10:30 pm
This is all important as we often are impressed with the folks that think ahead and post a holiday edition, right on schedule. Planing ahead is what I survivie with. Keeping a daily rythm of writing helps me also. I like to have several different pre-written posts to select from. It is like a saftey net.
ChristiaanH
April 17th, 2009 10:35 pm
This seems like getting more of a coherency in your blogposts.. getting more of a flow over time and not doing the on-off postings..
Great idea, getting right on it. Perhaps even making a whole line of posts dedicated to deepening a single topic within the realm of my blog.
On the off-topic side: ordered the problogger book, let’s see what little gems are hidden in there.
Lee Ka Hoong
April 17th, 2009 10:37 pm
Another task for us today. :D
Sometimes we have to push ourselves to do these because it might take us some times to complete it, right?
Between, I’ll take my time to do these. Thanks Darren!
You’re pushing us to work better on our blogs!
Regards,
Lee
Opinionated Ant
April 17th, 2009 10:45 pm
I try to stick to a monthly calendar on all my small posts, having them scheduled in advance keeps me from forgetting them later (except this month I really dropped behind :) that way I can focus on other pieces. and I always expect random posts to pop in my head.
I really liked #4 and will add that in, thanks
I can’t believe it’s 12 days already!!
lig tv izle
April 17th, 2009 10:57 pm
it’s really good article. i’ve used it and also i’ve shared this information to my friends too. thanks again.
Nicole (ThreeBySea)
April 17th, 2009 11:01 pm
This is such a useful thing to do- one that I’ve been working on for a while. I’ve got certain themes for each day of the week right now, but my problem is I have more themes I want to do and not enough time! I need to work on weeding out some of the less popular themes or find a way to combine theme. The thing I have learned so far about blogging- it’s a continuous work in progress!!
Julie
April 17th, 2009 11:08 pm
A wonderful tip, Darren!
My blog’s purpose is to feature different Etsy artists each day. To keep me organized, I implemented an editorial calendar on my blog two months ago. I actually display the calendar directly on my blog for my visitors to see! My calendar helps me in two ways:
1. It allows my blog visitors to see what types of items I plan to feature, and Etsy sellers can submit items for me to feature. That keeps me from having to hunt for the items . . .they come to me!
2. It keeps me motivated and excited about my daily/weekly themes. My calendar keeps me accountable and organized.
Here is this month’s calendar:
http://onthedotcreations.typepad.com/onthedotcreations/-otdc-monthly-calendar-.html
James Spinosa
April 17th, 2009 11:35 pm
Another great idea, by the end of the series my blog might actually be organized and get restarted :)
Still recovering from staying up until 3:30am for the Twitter battle, it inspired me to start working on my blog again.
James Spinosa
twitter.com/fourthfloor
Phraedus
April 17th, 2009 11:38 pm
Hi Darren,
I particularly like your idea of a spreadsheet rather than a calendar in order to make it dead simple to slot in a new post, rather than have to move 20 posts because of adding a new one.
Also, I’ve noticed you keep coming back to creativity as a process that requires, rather than a spark that may come along eventually (if your lucky).
Great to see such a successful Australian blogger. Champion effort.
P
Gayle
April 17th, 2009 11:50 pm
Thanks for this organizational tool. I’ll be trying this today for next week’s posts. I’m so enjoying your helpful info. Thanks so much for sharing it.
Dee Wilcox
April 18th, 2009 12:03 am
Great tip! I currently use the topic method – I write on specific themes on specific days of the week. However, all of my ideas were spread out between my mindmaps, drafts in Wordpress, my sketchpad from yesterday, and my Moleskine storyboards. Today I set up an editorial calendar using Google calendar. I’ve chosen to make it public because it seems that there may be an advertising benefit to that. If you’re interested, you can view the link here.
Two features I would like to add are interviews and tutorials. The few tutorials I have posted have been a major hit, and I think interviews would lend a lot of credibility. If any of you are artists/creatives, etc. and are willing to be interviewed, even by a novice, please let me know. I’d really appreciate it!
stephanerd
April 18th, 2009 12:06 am
Coming from a publishing background, I had immediately grasped how developing an editorial calendar for Freelancedom might be helpful in preventing last-minute content freak-outs. And so I’ve previously planned out the types of posts for each day — how-tos, coffee break, link love, product placement, book reviews, infinite wisdom of others — which makes that whole what-should-I-write-about-today question a whole lot easier to answer.
Planning specific posts, however, takes away even more of the stress! I should do this more often.
ITrush
April 18th, 2009 12:07 am
Great idea, this technique would surely make us more creative. Thanks for giving us examples too Darren.
EC (Lisa) Stewart
April 18th, 2009 12:14 am
Oh! I like this. While I post my thoughts in draft-mode, I like the idea of editorial calendars. I may take both & cross-pollinate them!
Rakesh Kumar
April 18th, 2009 12:17 am
Great Idea. I am new in Blogging and your challenge series is very inspiring for me. I have created a editorial calender with Google Docs based on your advice for posts.
Luke
April 18th, 2009 1:03 am
Great advice! I’ve also found through trial and error (mostly error), that when I schedule posts out for the week some topics flow better one after another. Some post topics are naturally great follow-ups to others, or build on something I posted earlier in the week. Without an editorial calendar, these things would not be so evident.
Sweet Serendipity
April 18th, 2009 1:26 am
This is a really helpful way to get organized. I generally jot down ideas on the fly in a notebook I carry, but never get around to actually planning a schedule. Great tips. Keep ‘em coming :D
Sharon Hurley Hall
April 18th, 2009 1:30 am
Great idea. I’ve forgotten which post it is, but one of the posts above led me to an editorial calendar download, which I am using for my planning,
venkat
April 18th, 2009 1:43 am
That’s great advice but part time bloggers don’t have time to plan that much as full time preofessional bloggers ,really thinking of blogging like you said can take blogging to another lovel.
Mdc
April 18th, 2009 1:44 am
At the moment, I have pending posts which I have created on a whim and without any planning. This is a great way to make sure I never sit down at the computer with a complete blank as to what to write about.
Thanks
Blog Expert
April 18th, 2009 1:44 am
Nice tactic but it could be another time consuming thing.
Aidil TipsGoda
April 18th, 2009 1:51 am
this is great and this is what im doing on my blog. since my blog focus on providing daily tips (dating/relationship related) i need to have some plan on how to manage my posting activities.
what i did is this:
- i always have a notepad document open when im surfing the net.so if i happen to found any interesting topics that gave me the idea to write a post,i’ll straight type it in the notepad.
-when i want to begin planning, i just open up Google calendar and also my notepad(of draft ideas).then just fill in the Google calendar on what the topic is going to be for each day.(you can use google calendar offline too,which is very convenient)
jan
April 18th, 2009 1:59 am
Ah, this is the weak point of my blogging daily routine. I have no editorial calendar. Some call this hand to mouth blogging. I find the challenge of beating post deadlines thrilling, but I look at it now as less of blogging as an extreme sports. It’s foolish and to go on with hand to mouth blogging is very unprofessional. I fear for the day some real life emergency takes me away from writing that post. Or I can’t attend a family gathering because I have nothing on queue to post. Not to mention when I might get sick, or there’s an extended power outage in my place. Anything can happen between now and that posting deadline.
Well, I should buckle down to work now. My work is cut out for me.
Harsh Agrawal
April 18th, 2009 2:00 am
Great idea Darren, I take help of mind mapping software first..
Build a structure of a series post either on any topic.
I try to mix two three topics when I schedule.
Since I have a tech blog so I try to consider covering different topics, and depending on the traffic of a particular series. I extend the posts in the series.
Basic idea is to give my visitors what they are looking for.
Bea
April 18th, 2009 2:02 am
I follow the topic method. I do this mainly because I post 3 times a week (I work full time and this is what my schedule allows). I don’t want to set myself up to be dissapointed if I can’t stick to a strict schedule. I want the blogging experience to be fun, and if I feel like I’m not meeting my post per week goals, blogging becomes more of a burden than I’d like it to be. Plus, I believe in quality over quantity, so if I make my goal just about numbers, I’m compromising my writing quality.
I know that I’ll get three posts out a week but I’m never sure which days of the week I’ll post. I always have a few draft posts that are ready to be proofread and published, so I’ve been able to have a looser schedule because I have a backlog of posts that ensure I keep up with 3 posts/week.
So, for this task, I’ve listed out my topics in a column (I used Google docs). Underneath a topic column I’ve written a blog post pertaining to the topic, and after I have 3 rows filled in for one week, I move on to the next row. I have more than 3 topics that I write about, so each week I’ll choose 3 and the next week I will choose 3 different topics. The result is a schedule for 3 posts a week on the topics I want to touch upon over a month period.
This tip has helped me gain some structure to my posting schedule, but still allowed me the ability to keep the post schedule goal attainable and enjoyable. I won’t be dissapointed if I have to rearrange posts, and I know I have a schedule for 3 posts a week that will keep me going for the month.
Thanks for the great tip, Darren!
Sonja Foust
April 18th, 2009 2:06 am
I am kinda Type A, so I LOVE this. I never thought of actually putting it in a spreadsheet instead of just keeping a semi-schedule in my head and in unfinished draft posts on my blog. Duh. I guess I just needed someone to point out that you can write this stuff down. ;)
Nikhil
April 18th, 2009 2:07 am
Good Post Darren,
I usually write link post on Sunday, as it is holiday so everyone can check the links I have provided in the post.
I am also thinking about the Interviews to be posted soon on my blog. For this I am looking for the right day so that the visitors would come and read it.
Your suggestions are great, I got some more ideas during reading this post. Now I have to work on those ideas.
Thanks for the Post.
Penny
April 18th, 2009 2:12 am
I am so on this!
Thankfully I can totally geek out in Excel. Last night I printed out 30 pages of my already-published posts so I can get everything organized.
Kayla
April 18th, 2009 2:13 am
Good idea, I’ve been leaning towards the second idea for awhile now. I haven’t gotten around to making any sort of schedule though. I might save this for when I have more time to create it, and to implement it. Great post, I’m looking forward to the assignment!
ria
April 18th, 2009 2:20 am
This is nice, but I wonder if I’d be able to keep up with it, since there’s so much to do. In my niche, i have to watch shows, post and crop screenshots, post and edit reviews, participate in forums, read other blogs and comment, add screenshots to flickr, keep up with twitter, etc. I’m bound to get derailed.
Momofsixteen
April 18th, 2009 2:24 am
I’m new to your blog and have been blogging since 10/2007 on my mom blog called Call Me Crazy… Life as a mother of sixteen children (http://callmecrazy-momofsixteen.blogspot.com/).
It had occurred to me that if I write about each child once per month, then I have half the month covered, so I chose the date of their birth as their blog day.
The empty days I filled in with the natural flow of our life, like family fun on Saturdays and Family Dinner on Sundays. That means I’ll have about 12 posts about each of the children per year, including birthdays, and special events like school concerts or sports. I just have to collect the pictures in a file, then save them until their day arrives and post!
The hard part is birthdays. Yesterday, #16 turned five and between the events of the day and a multitude of other daily activities, I didn’t get the photo’s uploaded. If I didn’t have to share the laptop with seven teenagers… well, that’s another post!
Team Nirvana
April 18th, 2009 2:49 am
Nice one there Darren. Will keep me busy for a while to come. Should actually check my schedule and plan accordingly.
Joel
April 18th, 2009 2:56 am
Darren,
Again, you take what should be an obvious (if somewhat imposing) idea and make it seem like the most natural thing in the world. I’m building my calendar as we speak. I’ve already adopted the practice of advance writing, so this will fit nicely in with my plan.
Thanks so much.
Carol
April 18th, 2009 3:33 am
I haven’t mastered spreadsheets, but I have a daily planner that I can carry in my purse to jot down ideas for future blogs. I put next week’s topics onto the calendar, and thought of one for the following week that will tie all those posts together.
Thanks for all the tips. I feel like I’m finally making progress with developing a useful blog for writers.
Angela Mills
April 18th, 2009 3:40 am
Thanks! I like the idea of having set days for my categories. Though I do have 7 categories, and I plan to post 4-5 times per week only, so maybe some categories will share a day.
For example, Monday could be devotions/daily walk
Tuesday: Homekeeping/homeschool
Wednesday: Fun ideas
and so on…
I am just not sure I will actually tell my readers this…what do you think about that? Is it something you keep in mind or do you announce the schedule?
steadymom.com
April 18th, 2009 4:10 am
I try to do one main/larger article or list post each week, one smaller article, one photo/shorter post, one Q&A post for my readers, and one inspiring quote post. Sometimes I do a weekend link post as well – all to help encourage and inspire mothers with small children.
I like the idea of brainstorming the upcoming week – it’s nice to feel that your blog has a rhythm to it.
Jamie
Raju
April 18th, 2009 4:13 am
Thanks you so much Darren, this is a wonderful idea.
Jennifer Heigl
April 18th, 2009 4:13 am
Oy! Sliding into the 31 Days at day 12! I need to catch up! Thanks for the great ideas, Darren!
JLibbey
April 18th, 2009 4:13 am
Once I started having an editorial calendar, I started to have many more ideas for posts. Having more structure seemed to spark my creativity.
Andrea_R
April 18th, 2009 4:30 am
There’s a great planner over here for the people who like the pen & paper approach:
http://www.productiveflourishing.com/april-2009-planners-available/
Heidi Richards Mooney
April 18th, 2009 4:50 am
Another winner, Darren! I am setting up my editorial calendar now. Just have to remember where I save it *SMILE
Heidi Richards Mooney
Larrie Campbell
April 18th, 2009 4:53 am
Thanks for this great idea. Every now and then, I feel like I’m not doing so bad because I already do something good on my blog.
I have a weekly rhythm that I usually follow.
I used today, then, to check in with my readers and see if there are posts they like more than others, which would they like to see go, which should I be more consistent with, etc.
Hope I get some good feedback!
http://larriecampbell.wordpess.com/
J.D. Meier
April 18th, 2009 5:08 am
I like your precision, routine, and details exposed.
It seems to me the big factors here are your production rate balanced with your users absorption and consumption rate.
Tommy
April 18th, 2009 5:18 am
I have been crazy busy with work for the past couple of days, couple that with getting taxes done and I have had no time for the last challenge or this one, yet. I hope to catch up this weekend.
LaTosha Johnson
April 18th, 2009 5:43 am
Yesterday’s challenge helped me win my battle with writer’s block! I have a lot more material than I initially suspected. I am truly enjoying this challenge. Thank you for sharing that site Andrea R.
Shantanu
April 18th, 2009 5:56 am
Hi Darren,
This is something I really identify with. I use the following tools for my editorial calender:
1. Google spreadsheets(so that we can collaborate on post ideas and lists)
2. Microsoft Excel
If you take a lot of ideas from Twitter, make sure your spreadsheet is open and active at all times to bundle up links.
Just saw Dee Wilcox’s calendar.. Will have to try Google Calendar now.
Again a very informative post.
Best.
Shantanu.
http://www.threetipsaday.com
@threetips(twitter)
Nicole/MadlabPost
April 18th, 2009 6:04 am
I found the process to be very useful in that it helps to layout the blog posting schedule so that it will be easier to manage instead of trying to automatically come up with post ideas on the fly, writing them and then posting them. Bloggers who have busy schedules outside of their blogging life can find an editorial calendar to be very helpful in maintaining their blog.
I have tried to use a spreadsheet but found that creating folders for each week worked better for me. I create a folder for “Monday” for example and then create documents that are post ideas for that day. Some I use and others I may decide to skip or move to another day. In these documents, I write the post title or at least a few ideas for the post title, which may be changed before publishing and then I go on to write topics that I want to cover within that blog post.
I also try to include URLs that are resources of information or places that I may want to link to when proving a point or providing an additional resource for my readers. I do this with each post idea and some make it to the publishing stage while others are left in draft mode or deleted.
Nicole/MadlabPost
April 18th, 2009 6:05 am
Yes, I do have next week’s calendar set up.
Rita
April 18th, 2009 6:10 am
I write 11 posts about consumer issues each week. There is so much to write about and so much news coming out all the time, especially with Twitter, it seems making a schedule doesn’t allow flexibility.
What do others think who are dealing with lots of fast-moving potential topics?
Rita at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide at http://boomersurvive-thriveguide.typepad.com
Jackie
April 18th, 2009 6:13 am
Wow these step by step pointers are the way to go. I applaud your sharing with us your knowledge in blogging. This is truly amazing stuff. I can definitely use these lessons with my web 2.0 strategy.
Thanks a million!
Jackie
http://creditrepairproject.com-seemore.info/
Heather Allard
April 18th, 2009 6:24 am
Hey Darren,
I just recently started doing a weekly editorial calendar AND scheduling all posts on Sunday and it has made my life so much easier. I have 3 small kids and trying to brainstorm & write posts every day was so time consuming and stressful. Now, I have guest bloggers, daily themes and spend a few hours each Sunday writing & scheduling.
Thanks so much for another great lesson!!
Heather
Claus D Jensen
April 18th, 2009 6:27 am
These steps are brilliant!
Not only in writing your blog. They are also useful to me in planning my other projects.
Thank you, Darren,
Claus,
http://www.clausdjensen.com
Laura Brandau
April 18th, 2009 6:28 am
I second (or third or fourth) that this is a great idea. I create editorial calendars in and out, mostly when I’m having trouble sticking to a schedule. I saw someone ask about writing ahead and scheduling publications. I typically do this…I find I get my posts get picked up by the search engines more quickly if I post at a regular time of day, so I schedule that to happen before I even get out of bed in the morning. It also relieves you from having to remember to publish “on schedule” and keeps things consistent for your readers…I publish Monday, Wednesday, and an occasional humorous post on Friday, unless, of course, something pops up that demands an immediate publication.
Laura
http://bridging-the-gap.com
Amy
April 18th, 2009 6:30 am
This is a great idea! I had already been doing content scheduling on some of my days, but then not keeping to the schedule. I will commit more to that. Loved the spreadsheet idea.
Amy
April 18th, 2009 6:31 am
is there a way to get the signature to also show up on comments like we have for the forum posts?
Make Money Online
April 18th, 2009 7:09 am
Darren, I am sure you use this technique because your posts are always well laid out and always on time. I have never seen you skip.
BTW cool Alexa 4444 probloggers got :)
Susan Keeping
April 18th, 2009 7:46 am
I already do this for my Literary Lunch blog. I have an entire month’s of ideas written out. Of course, since it’s author biographies I don’ t really have to worry much about titles.
Kimberly/Mom in the City
April 18th, 2009 8:16 am
Great post!
I have a yearly, monthly & weekly editorial calendar. I leave a little “wiggle room”, but I primarily stick to the following format:
Monday – Contests/Giveaways
Tuesdays – Life Update/Something about my family
Wednesdays – Monthly Focus Post
Thursdays- Reviews
Fridays – An “expert” feature and an “In Case You Missed It” roundup of odds & ends
I have a very full (in a good way!) life, so it helps me to have a plan…
Condo Blues
April 18th, 2009 8:31 am
I’ve been doing an editorial calendar of sorts. I’m really trying ot set aside a writing day so I can I sit down and draft several posts in one shot. Since most of my posts are “how to” posts I’ve been scheduling the revised versions of my prewritten posts to conside with a few of weekly blog carnivals like Works for Me Wednesday or Thrifty Green Thrusday when applicable.
A more formal process would probably save me a few headaches. Thanks.
Mandy
April 18th, 2009 8:44 am
I’ve mentioned before that much of the material from my blog comes from interviews. So I do sketch out my posts for the coming week or two to make sure I stay on top of scheduling interviews. I’ve been use pen and paper but I like the idea of a spreadsheet – it would allow you to add in content notes and also links either to existing blog posts or external links and as you say, images etc.
I have found that when I have planned out my posts, I am much more efficient writing – I don’t waste as much time panicking about what to write and it certainly makes me feel less pressured.
Peter Konz
April 18th, 2009 9:03 am
Darren,
thanks for the last couple of challenges. Though I am new to this, the process works great.
Brook Lenox
April 18th, 2009 9:33 am
I’ve been meaning to write an editorial calendar for a while. This helped. Thanks.
Midwest Guest
April 18th, 2009 9:46 am
I do this on a pretty informal basis. I normally post longer travel articles on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and participate in a “Photo Friday” blog carnival (usually one, or a few photos, with a bit of text).
I often open files in Word as I decide what to do in the coming weeks and maybe put a title on it with a few notes or a few links, so I have something to start with as I sit down to actually write the article.
I’ve really concentrated on trying to get at least a post ahead and schedule them for upload on my regular days. That’s made me plan a little more and taken the day-to-day pressure of coming up with entire articles on the day I want to post them.
Mario
April 18th, 2009 10:19 am
First I was considering a sheet with Google docs, then Google calendar came to my mind, as I used it in the past.
After reading Dee Wilcox comment I decided for the last one.
Good work, Dee.
Nice post, Darren!
Keep going, everyone!
Cindy
April 18th, 2009 10:21 am
I do this regularly.
I write for 4 blogs so organization and forethought is a must. I use a calendar for the month and write a rough outline for the month and then each week I flesh it out with the topics for my recurring themes-one blog has Tuesday Tips and Walt Disney World Wednesdays another has Monday Motivation. I also work in 2 giveaways and 2 product reviews a week on one of my blogs.
CGabriel
April 18th, 2009 10:43 am
Darren, on a certain level I agree with Rita’s comment earlier. While I have a master plan of sorts – rather, a master editorial calendar – I live in the world of radio/media. Things change moment-to-moment. So although I follow a writing/recording/shooting schedule and publish features on the same days every week, I cannot be so rigid that I don’t have room to flow where the current takes me with respect to topics.
That said, here is my Blog Harbor editorial calendar.
Monday – Eye on Monday (photo essay or video)
Tuesday – Post
Wednesday – Optional Post
Thursday – The Farmland Almanac with Harrison Beillor (audio satire)
Friday – Gabriel Theatre on the Air (every other week, audio satire)
Friday is also the day I record at the radio station. And the weekend is when I shoot a video.
Eye on Monday and The Farmland Almanac are the only features that absolutely, positively, always run on the same days. One is day-specific and the other (Farmland) coincides with the radio station it runs on here in Minneapolis.
Shelly Coe
April 18th, 2009 10:57 am
Thanks again Darren for the great info. I have so many “I should have thought of that” moments when I read your posts. So simple, so effective!
I would like to offer a suggestion to your readers that takes these last two challenges one step further. After finishing the brainstorming exercise, go ahead and write at least 5 or 6 of those posts if not more if you can.
I do this and from a creative standpoint it works really well for me. Whatever the topic is, it is fresh in my mind after finishing the first post. I may have had to do some research and that is also fresh in my mind. I may have come across other information while researching that pertains to one of the other posts that I want to write. It is much easier to keep on writing about the same topic. The creativity flows much easier. If I jumped from topic to topic every day, it would definitely slow me down.
From an SEO perspective, it also save me hours of time. Because all of those future posts I just wrote are on topic, I will want to link them to each other. I can go through older posts and decide which of those I want to link to/from as well. When I set up my calendar, I make notes beside each future post of exactly which pages to link to/from so that when it is time to publish most of my SEO is done already.
This really ends up being a great time saver as well as making writing easier.
Chase Roper
April 18th, 2009 11:35 am
Is anyone out there kind enough to share an already created editorial spreadsheet? I know, I know, I’m a bum. . . It’s not that I’m lazy, its just that between restarting my blog, writing for Punchline Magazine, and working on my freelancing, I don’t have time to create one. (also it is because I am lazy.)
Feel free to use my email or twitter to reach me (you don’t have to follow me.)
chaseblogger@hotmail.com
twitter.com/chaseblogger
Andi
April 18th, 2009 12:15 pm
This assignment helped get a jump on planning posts for my two week vacation – how nice! http://budurl.com/qszs
Andi
April 18th, 2009 12:17 pm
Cahse – Cathy at Desperately Seeking Wordpress made a google doc template, I blogged about it in my post and here is the link to Cathy – http://budurl.com/xakl
elizof
April 18th, 2009 2:21 pm
Thank you again for another terrific exercise. It reminds me of what one of my favorite teachers used to say: Prepare for everything; creativity lives there…
I like outlook calender for the annoying but quite effective reminders. Google calendar, I will go look at as I dont recall much about it.
I am pleased that I have finally pushed through some of my time/mind restraints and wrote 2 blogs for 2 of my sites. I still have the list post to complete and I am pleased.
This course is priceless!
Ark Lady
April 18th, 2009 2:44 pm
I write about five posts a week for two of my blogs. Lately, I have been attempting to write them in a couple of days and schedule them for the week.
Although I do have a loose idea for the editorial calendar for one of the blogs–I don’t yet stick to it since breaking news and similar time sensitive topics tend to move me off target.
I like the idea of a listing for the editorial calendar and will see if I can get that to work for me.
OzSoapbox
April 18th, 2009 3:43 pm
Something is broken Darren, I’ve received 10 identical emails so far about this topic.
Guillermo
April 18th, 2009 11:06 pm
Interesting…. I’ve just realized that my editorial calendar has been submitted in the comments by the readers request during the past week. Nice!
Keith Jenkins
April 18th, 2009 11:21 pm
Thanks Darren for another great lesson. I tend to organise my posts by topic or in series (for instance, I have the ‘Culinary Journey’ series, ‘Plane Views’ and the ‘Lone Traveller’ series). I scribble these down as headers and make a list of ideas for individual posts under each header. I don’t usually attach a timeframe of when these posts are going to be written/published, though maybe I should. Instead, I usually allow about a week to pass before publishing a post of a certain series or header. There are always ad-hoc posts in between which mixes things up nicely.
GlendaM
April 18th, 2009 11:34 pm
Thanks for the lesson. I have started to do this and it has been helping. I am tending to draft the weekly posts on weekend when I have a bit more time to research and plan. Then that day I just refine and add the details. Of course, you can still add an extra post if something comes up. Often I get more ideas – do more drafts for the coming week. I tend to organize by the categories that I post under, but this new blog is still so new it is a work in progress. I am finding the lessons very helpful! And like many this was the major problem I had with my last blog – planning ahead.
Lorraine Ball
April 19th, 2009 2:43 am
Day 10 and 11 combined was the perfect assignment for this weekend.
i actually sat out in the sunshine working on this and it didn’t even feel like work! I am excited because I feel like a plan I can work on over the next few weeks which will make the entire process easier
Donna Hull
April 19th, 2009 5:38 am
I use a monthly editorial calendar for My Itchy Travel Feet. And, I have a rhythm to my posts, alternating between lodging reviews, dining reviews, scenic drives, activities, cruise excursions, cruise destinations and making trip preparations. I also mix up my locations, alternating between international, domestic and southwestern locations. My goal is to appeal to a wide range of interests. I don’t want my blog to look like a travelogue. Also, holidays and major events are considered in my editorial planning. For instance, since next week is Earth Day, I’m posting something on green travel.
The Small Business Web Design Man
April 19th, 2009 9:58 am
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
This is a great idea Darren. Up until now my blog has been an on again off again kind of occurence for me. And I have good ideas for posts and by the time I sit down I have forgotten what I want to write about. This will definitely help keep me on track.
The Small Business Web Design Man
April 19th, 2009 9:59 am
Just had a thought. If you used Google calendar you could plan it straight in there and then you would get an email reminder to go and post to your blog at the appointed time!!
Ligtv izle
April 19th, 2009 2:27 pm
thank youJust had a thought. If you used Google calendar you could plan it straight in there and then you would get an email reminder to go and post to your blog at the appointed time!!
kk
April 19th, 2009 4:46 pm
Great advice, I’ve read through the other articles on your site and really appreciate the info as a noob in the blog world this really helps…thx
http://getfreefiles.blogspot.com
Stephanie
April 20th, 2009 4:25 am
Great idea. I actually set a theme for the day, so each day has one post guaranteed, however some days I write more than one post. I keep track of everything through Google Calendar
Jaye L
April 20th, 2009 8:45 am
My most recent blog post is at http://artquiltmaker.com/blog/2009/04/the-aha-moment/
My blog is about creativity and design with fabric.
I have a rhythm to my blog that acts as my editorial calendar. I want my readers to keep coming back, so I post Friday-Sunday without fail. Then I post at least Tues, Thurs during the week. Sometimes I will post inspiration posts, which is mostly just an intriguing photo to get readers’ creative juices flowing. You can see an Inspiration post at http://artquiltmaker.com/blog/2009/04/inspiration-tuesday-3/
My posts are dependent on the pictures that I take of projects in process. They act as my editorial calendar.
I prefer not to add to the to do list by creating a spreadsheet of what I want to write about next and on what day, though I do note down topics to write about.
Chasta
April 20th, 2009 10:07 am
I write about hockey and the Washington Capitals. I developed an editorial calendar. I enter all thoughts and ideas as they come to mind then develop stories. I scour headlines and research holidays, events and observations for suggestions. For example, January is National Book Blitz Month so I would recommend hockey books. I also publish articles around the NHL schedule, holidays, events and observations to make them timely.
Betsson24
April 20th, 2009 11:02 am
i’ve loved this article. thanks for everything.
outsourcing
April 20th, 2009 9:56 pm
Great idea.
The post about editorial Calendar for Blog is very helpful for me.
Thanks for posing this…
Amy
April 21st, 2009 6:15 am
It’s funny how after a couple of months of blogging the editorial calendar sort of became intuitive. I fell into a rhythm, realized I didn’t have time to blog every weekday, so decided to have dedicated days, three times a week, as in Recipe Mondays, This Just In (food news) and then a rotating roster of Eat Here and other ideas. Makes the planning, much, much easier.
gabybali
April 21st, 2009 6:59 pm
Using Day 11 task for 10 Post ideas, I’m using my 3rd Recent Post : 5 Tips to Enjoy Bali NOT as a Tourist http://www.beeamazing.com/5-tips-to-enjoy-bali-not-as-a-tourist/ , but so far I could only develop 3 new post ideas, and have created an Editorial Calendar, and found it VERY helpful to create new post, LOVE it so much!!!
Thank you, Terima kasih Banyak, Darren Rowse!! You have been very kidn to help all of us here. Whenever you come to Bali, I’ll show you some beautiful beaches here, or you probably have visited my island? It’s a second home for aussie here :) Cheers!
Inchirieri Masini
April 22nd, 2009 12:17 am
Hello people! This article was very usefull to me. I will come back frequently.
Inchirieri Masini
April 22nd, 2009 3:25 am
I like this idea. I will recommend this article to my friends. Thank you
Tony
April 22nd, 2009 6:39 am
Having a news background, I’m not sure why I didn’t think of this before. Another great idea!!! Now all I have to do is figure out how to create a spreadsheet on my mac.
Just kidding.
Sort of.
Chris Catania
April 22nd, 2009 6:40 am
thanks Darren!
Having a weekly rhythm to your blog posts is certainly a great idea. For new bloggers it’s kind of hard because you’re still finding your voice and vision. But once you find your groove and the ideas start flowing, having a weekly editorial plan is a complete necessity. I’ll be sure to pass this along!
dawnaurora
April 23rd, 2009 5:02 am
This exercise will definitely help me get more consistent with my posts. Some weeks I barely get one post out and some weeks I have 3 or more. I do not like doing that to my consistent readers.
Meikah Delid
April 23rd, 2009 2:00 pm
Darren, this is again another inspiring reminder (hope the phrase is acceptable ~ lol)! I actually do this in my blog and sometimes I just don’t follow. I especially like that part where you set a “theme” for each day, e.g., “Mondays might be ‘list post’ day, Tuesdays might be ‘link post’ day, Wednesdays might be ‘opinion/rant’ day, Thursdays might be ‘review’ day etc.”
Question: Do readers appreciate this? Like they also anticipate that day because they want to see your list post or review?
Carl Nelson
April 24th, 2009 5:47 pm
This is probably one the biggest things I struggle with. I’ve made one editorial calendar by using categories by day for one of my blogs that I co-author but for my own I haven’t.
Probably one of the soundest pieces of advice yet.
Laura
April 24th, 2009 10:19 pm
I’m a little behind on the challenge after a holiday but these planning tasks have been really helpful. All my planning and brainstorming sessions are linked to what I’m creating and this is the first time I’ve really sat down and planned my blog posts, has worked a treat as I have a big list of potential posts now! Cheers!
Chris Somers
April 25th, 2009 11:09 pm
We love the idea behind this task although it is challenging for us as some of our days can get very very hectic which leaves no time for blogging. Also, I can get inspired on a certain topic on one day which could mess up the “planning”. I love the idea though and we will do our best to incorporate it !
http://activerain.com/blogsview/1049739/Building-a-Better-Blog-Challenge-Update-on-3-Tasks
Conrad
April 28th, 2009 4:47 am
I already feel less stressed out about getting things to write about and when to post them. My editorial calendar has been made.
I like the idea of a different type of post for each day of the week. I’m listing the category next to each post in my editorial calendar in order not to do too much of one type of post.
أطياف مصر
April 30th, 2009 5:51 am
I like the second .. I think it gives changes types of blogging at the same table .. I think reader may like that
maggie madison
May 2nd, 2009 11:20 am
I just planned my posting through June! This is a great idea and I love the organizational aspect of it. Thanks, Darren!
Heathen Mom
May 4th, 2009 7:57 am
Woohoo, an idea I was already doing! I have been planning out my posts for each week as well as the geek side of blogging tasks that need done.
Elizabeth Kaylene
May 12th, 2009 1:46 am
Oh, you are a blogger after my own heart; I love making lists! I can’t believe I never thought of doing this. Since I have more than one blog, this is really going to save me some time (this and the mind mapping). (:
James
May 13th, 2009 12:08 am
Brandon,
Thanks for the great idea! I’ve been using Google Calendar to put what sites/writing I’m going to do each day, but needed a more refined plan for each one and this does the trick for me!
Cheers,
James
Alison Kerr, Earthonaut
May 15th, 2009 1:28 am
I use the weekly rhythm plan for my blog and it works really well for me. One thing I’m trying to avoid is burnout – I have a ton of article ideas, but I find that many of them are in-depth and require a lot of research.
After reading How to Develop a Niche Blog Content Plan I see that I need to do more small posts and less features. My editorial calendar task therefore is to come up with post ideas for each theme I write on and to have 2 lists, small posts and features, for each theme.
Great assignment as always :-)
Paula
May 16th, 2009 9:01 am
Wow, I love the idea of having a schedule of post ideas available.
I’ve downloaded Andy Wibbels Editorial Calendar spreadheet (from the editorial calendar and professional blogging post) and like the idea of an editorial timetable, although, I’m not sure I will stick to such a strict structure. I’m sure my own system will evolve over time.
Great suggestion, thank you.
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