7 Time-Saving Tips for Blogging

Let’s face it– blogging can be VERY time-consuming; and if you are just starting out as a blogger and it’s not your only job, you probably don’t have a lot of extra time to devote to it! I was in the same boat before blogging became my primary job, and I’ve discovered some tips and tools along the way that have helped me become a more efficient blogger. I hope they can help you too!

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1. Commit to publishing on a regular schedule— one that you can really stick with. This is probably the most important tip I can give you. While it’s tempting to think you can publish a blog post every day of the week– trust me– you WILL get burnt out! It’s easy to get motivated when you first start out, but when reality and writer’s block set in, you will likely find it difficult to keep up with everyday posting. Start with one or two days a week and go from there. The key is to be consistent. Your readers will learn to come back on the same day(s) each week for fresh content. This will help you grow you traffic organically.
2. Close out of all of your other tabs when you sit down to write and put your phone and any other devices on silent. In order to really get stuff done (especially writing), you need to be able to work uninterrupted. You would be surprised at how much you can get done when you aren’t distracted! I can write an entire post and do the graphics in an hour if I don’t have to tend to anything else, and it feels SO good to get things done and on the editorial calendar. Do your best to tune out all other tasks when writing.
3. Automate whatever you can. I think it’s definitely worth it to automate time-consuming tasks. You can use the extra time you save to write great content and sponsored posts that will help you pay the bills! Some of the tools/services I use include Tailwind (for scheduling pins), ConvertKit (for handling e-mail sequences and subscriptions), and Honeybook (for invoicing clients, sending proposals, scheduling, etc.).
4. Set up an editorial calendar. Having a plan for your content will help you to focus on what posts you need to write and when they need to be published. Setting a deadline will motivate you to get your blogging done on time! You can find some free downloadable templates to create your own calendar or you can use the Editorial Calendar plugin for WordPress.
5. Outline, outline, outline. I can’t tell you how much this has helped me streamline my writing process. Having an outline will help you stay on track and organize your thoughts. You can also use your outline headings to optimize your blog post for SEO setting them as your H2 and H3 headings (you can find by clicking on the plus sign in the top left-hand corner of the WordPress editor above your post).
6. Have a notebook or app handy for jotting down blog post topics. No one likes having to deal with writer’s block, myself included! Ideas for posts can strike you anywhere at any moment, so don’t miss an opportunity to take note, so you can write the article later! You can even find notepads to write on in the shower if you get your best content inspiration there!
7. Make sure you have a good source of stock images or your own photos ready to insert into your posts. Sorting through images can be overwhelming (and frustrating when you can’t find the right ones!). By finding a couple of great sources for beautiful, professional stock photos, you won’t have to spend hours trying to find the right ones for your post!