Since starting this blog just under a year ago, I’ve learned so much about planning and scheduling posts, joining linkys, overcoming writer’s block and other things which have helped me along my blogging journey. I’ve gone from posting intermittently to posting daily, and have become much more organised about blogging as a result. Here are some of my tips for helping become more organised as a blogger: 
1) Use a blogging diary or calendar
I now plan ahead with my blog and use both a paper diary and the editorial calendar plugin in WordPress to help me plan my posts. Whilst the diary is useful for keeping track of regular features and guest posts, plus linkys that I join up with, I love being able to drop draft posts into the editorial calendar and move them about.
2) Schedule posts
I try to write posts a little ahead of time and schedule them – one advantage of this is that it gives me the chance to look over them again before they post and just quickly review them – I often miss spelling or grammatical errors when I first read through a post because I read what I think I’ve written rather than what I actually have written. Allowing time to walk away and look at it again with fresh eyes helps me see things more clearly.
Scheduling posts also means that if I have an off day and need to go offline for a bit, my blog doesn’t necessarily have to grind to a halt. This often works well at the weekends – I try and schedule the weekend posts ahead of time so I can focus on time with my family instead.
3) Using linkys to help with planning posts
I often will schedule my posts to fit in with specific linkys if there is one that they fit well with. I also find sometimes that linkys can help give me prompts on what to write about when I am struggling with writer’s block.
4) Having regular features
Having regular features helps to give my blog structure as well as helping provide me with a regular writing prompt. I have a post about something my children have said each Monday as part of my ‘From the mouths of babes’ linky and on Fridays, I sum up my week in my ‘Friday Focus’ and share five of my favourite reads in my ‘Friday Fabulous Five’.
5) Making a note of post ideas
I use the notebook app on my phone to quickly jot down post ideas and if I have time, I will also briefly write down some notes. I have a folder on my computer with various draft post ideas – this is another thing that is very handy for overcoming writer’s block – having a half-finished draft post as a starting point is a lot easier to work with than staring at a blank computer screen.
Do you have any tips which have helped you become more organised as a blogger?
Ok. I am going to pin this and I’m actually going to follow your advice. The editorial calander is next on my to do list. I like the idea if a regular feature too. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you found it helpful 🙂
Great advice, I have just started to use editorial calendar and it’s great .
I also wrote my first post of what I hope will be a regular feature last night!!
Really want to start using a paper diary too though, so much easier to keep track of for me and I like the idea of being able to quickly jot things down in it when I am out and about without my laptop.
Glad you found the tips helpful and I love your idea for your regular feature 🙂
Some great advice. Now if only I could find the time to write! I’m going to try using the editorial calendar – that might get me typing a bit more. 🙂
Thank you – glad you found it helpful 🙂
Fab tips huni x
Thank you Aby 🙂
I use the Editorial Calendar plug-in, love it! I also have exactly the same code in my paper diary and I also cross them off as I finish commenting… 🙂
Lol, glad it’s not just me! It definitely helps to keep track when you join several at once!
Hi fantastic help. Can I ask how you go about finding linkys. I currently use one but found it by chance. Also pinning so I can refer back. ☺
Glad you found it helpful. Aby at You Baby Me Mummy keeps an updated list of linkys on her blog which is very useful – it’s at http://youbabymemummy.com/ramblings/linky-list/
Great tips.
I started a blog diary but I’ve lost track for a few weeks leaving it all to my memory which isn’t great. I have had such a busy few weeks though I’m back on it now getting into the swing of things again.
Glad you found them helpful, good luck with getting back into the swing of things 🙂
I have my diary but I don’t have an online calendar yet and I don’t keep a track of linkys so thanks for two areas that I could improve on x
You’re welcome, glad you found it helpful 🙂
Fab tips – I completely agree with scheduling. I love being able to quickly re-read posts before the go live. #thelist
Thank you – I love being able to do that too.
Thanks for this! I read this while having 15 tabs open on my laptop and paper everywhere on my desk…. must get organized!!
Glad you found it helpful 🙂
Thanks for this, it’s something I am hopeless at! I do use the notes app on my phone but rarely have a ‘schedule’ as such. My life isn’t organised enough, never mind my blogging calendar! x
Glad you found it helpful 🙂
I love joining in with linkies as well. They give so much inspiration. I don’t use WordPress so I just keep everything stored in my head!
Ah I’m not always very good at remembering it if I just rely on storing things in my head!
Great tips. I write vague notes on my phone but don’t plan my time well at all. #thelist
Thanks Louisa – phones are great for writing notes on.
I love the editorial calendar plug in! I need to do more of this and get more scheduled in advance, I feel like I’m chasing my tail at the moment. Really useful post 🙂
So glad you found it helpful 🙂
Great tips, I really know when I’ve not planned, as I’m all over the place 😉
Sadly I don’t use WordPress, that editorial calendar looks really useful.
Visiting from #thelist xx
Thank you – glad you found it helpful.
This is a really useful post, I think I may pin it and save it for later. I like the digital calendar idea. 🙂 x
Thank you, glad you found it useful.
Love this! Thanks for sharing. It has inspired me to get organised – which at the mo is definitely lacking. I had no idea about this editorial calendar – looks great! I have plenty of half written posts and blog ideas…I just need to schedule some time to write them… #thelist
Thank you, so glad you found it useful 🙂
Planning posts is so important, especially if a school holiday is on the horizon. Love yourlost. Very organised. #TheList
Thank you John 🙂
Love this! Thank you for some fab ideas. As a newbie to this, it’s always good to learn! #TheLink
Thank you, so glad you found it helpful 🙂
I am the most disorganised blogger you’ll ever meet – I’ve never learnt from school and still do everyone as it’s due (including commenting on #TheList posts!!) – so I find this so interesting and inspiring. You make it sound so simple but somehow my brain takes this info and will make it really complex! Haha!
thanks for linking up love xxx
Lol, you never come across that way! Glad you liked my post, was lovely to link up to #TheList again 🙂