Today's task builds upon yesterdays one of brainstorming post ideas and shapes those ideas into an Editorial Calendar. I'm looking forward to hear how you went with the exercise below!
ProBlogger, DPS & TwiTip
ProBlogger 31 Days to Build a Better Blog » Daily Tasks
Day 12 - Develop an Editorial Calendar
(68 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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Darren, could you share your spreadsheet with us perhaps? I like the idea but I do not think I would be able to stick with it after I close down the spreadsheet the first or second time.
Posted 1 year ago # -
actually I just deleted my last one (I don't tend to save them after the week finishes. Really though - it's just a list four columns:
1st one - date
2nd one - title of post
3rd one - basic intro/description
4th one - main points
Posted 1 year ago # -
Great! These are the tools and thoughts I certainly need to organize my blogging! Thanks and hopefully there are more to come!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Found a downloadable editorial calendar spreadsheet in this post from Andy Wibbels via one of Darren's links.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I've used a spreadsheet in Google Docs.
Day
Title Post 1
Notes
Title Post 2
Notes
Posted 1 year ago # -
I have created one for myself online with Google Docs.
1 column: Serial Number
2 Column:Date
3 column: Title of Post
4 column: Basic Intro/Description
5 column: main points
Posted 1 year ago # -
I've come up with this rough calendar template:
mon: Make it monday - DIY ideas for the home or whatever really
tues: greening it - i'm asking a guest blogger to write about going green; homemade recipes etc
wed: for the the home - anything home related (ie my to be awesome devils horns door knocker)
thurs: something blue - wedding related and how i'm getting over the bride phase. tips, advice ..
fri: coupon it - ways to save $$ in Toronto
sat: rock our staurdays - music, gossip, hot rocker wives, my rocker hubby
sun: water cooler - week in review: basic take snippets of weeks posts/comments and make it into a fun post
Yes, at this point I am looking at 7 days a week, but with Darren's brainstorming and planning ahead ideas, I'm confident I can keep up this pace.
Thanks, Alison
Posted 1 year ago # -
Posting every day is beyond me at the moment, but I'd still like to get a schedule up and running. I think 3 posts a week is achievable for me. Since I'm not posting every day, are some days better than others? Do you attract more traffic on weekends or week days, or does this depend largely on your readers?
Posted 1 year ago # -
I downloaded the spreadsheet and then uploaded it to a googe document and added 2 tabs - one for ideas that I don't know where or whether i even want to schedule them and also websites that I come across that give me ideas. thanks...
Posted 1 year ago # -
I definately think that there are special days and times to post. From my experience, in the Tech industry. Weekends are low. Tuesdays are normally peak days. Late afternoons and evening are big time for Gamers, so if you are not a gammer blog, you stand little chance. Between 08H00 and 09H00 for me seems to be a good time to post. And at 12H00, then at 16h30-17H00
I think this is because it appeals to Geeks in the office. Geeks searching for help and answers. Tea and lunch times.
But really it depends on your mrket and readers. Experiment. Document, Monitor. Use Google analytics.
Posted 1 year ago # -
This is a great idea for blogs that post timeless content, like problogger, but more difficult to implement for blogs that focus more on reacting to regular news and need to react to that news as it happens (politics blogs, for example).
One approach that news bloggers might find helpful is to think about what events are coming up, and plug those into your calendar. For example, if you know that during the coming week the following things are going to happen:
- Monday - President Obama will visit China
- Wednesday - Election results are due in Australia
- Thursday - verdict on trial of Oprah for being too nice is due
In a case like this, I'd plug those into my editorial calendar, knowing that I'll need to write something about those topics on those three days. That way, I can research and draft some of the post beforehand (for example, explain why Obama's going to China) and finish them off on the day.
The other days, I'd just react to whatever's happening in the news that day.
With my own blog, I combine news posts and more timeless feature posts. So I'll create an editorial calendar for the feature posts in advance. That usually covers a couple of days a week. I try to set out specific days for these posts (ie, my post about Russian history is to go out on a Tuesday), but am prepared to be flexible and shift things around if there is an important news story on the day I had planned to post my Russian history article.
I use Google calendar as my editorial calendar, as I have to check it everyday. I'd forget to check regularly if everything was held in a spreadsheet, but that's probably because I'm not naturally disciplined.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks for the advice, and for referring me back to my analytics for data. As I'm writing a mummy blog my readers don't usually work "office" hours! From the data it looks like Mondays and Wednesdays are good days for mums, so I'll aim to post on those days and see how that goes. Think I'll aim for Mon/Wed/Fri. I have NO idea what time of day to post as I have mums/moms reading from Australia, the US and the UK...
Posted 1 year ago # -
I made a spreadsheet but did not see point of main points and description so just kept main points.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I set up a themed editorial calendar for my blog about a month ago. http://www.inventingelephants.com/blog/2009/3/14/as-the-blogging-style-pendulum-swings.html And it was helpful for a couple weeks, but then I got frustrated because life intervened and I wasn't able to meet it.
I'm not sure where the balance is between the calendar helping me post regularly and the potential disappointment/implied breaking of contract from readers if I don't meet expectations. Of course, that's why Darren posted the mind-mapping first, but even if I have titles I haven't always been able to come up with a real post to fulfill them.
Hmm, I haven't always been able to come up with a post I feel is WORTHY to fulfill them might be more to the point.
thinking towards the whole at http://www.inventingelephants.com
Posted 1 year ago # -
I'd like to see an updated spreadsheet / editorial calendar than that from 2006! Of course that's just me. I usually just have a list of items I want to write about from over the weekend or the prior week and go from there.
Twitter: <span style="t
Posted 1 year ago # -
I've used Windows Calendar for mine. I just set up a different calendar for my blog. You can add your notes and even an alert.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I plan to use Ms Exel to create it.
My Blog: http://visablogging.blogspot.com/
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hi, Darren thanks for continueing your teaching. What do you suggest for news based blog? Suppose I am writing my blog on cell phone news which are based on different online newspaper such as NY Times, Washington post, CTIA, Business Week and others. In this case how can I set the time table or calendar?
Posted 1 year ago # -
I asked this in comments...but I will try here as well. Should you announce a posting schedule on your blog? I am afraid if I do this it will be hard to keep up! Some of my categories are more spur of the moment, inspired by life, but many are practical, so I think having a few ready for any moment is the key.
Yesterday after mind mapping, I wrote four posts! I am sick in bed or otherwise would not have had the time. My goal is to get a week ahead so that I will always have something to post!
I have appreciated being sick, usually I have only 1.5 hours in the mornings before my family gets up, then it is off the computer for the day!
Posted 1 year ago # -
These are all great ideas. I will set up an editorial schedule on Google Calender this weekend. I only have time to do 2-3 posts per week. But I think it will helpt to have a regular schedule to follow.
Just Chick Flicks
@ClarabelaPosted 1 year ago # -
There actually is a Blogging Agenda I created with a dynamic editorial calendar, categorical to do lists, and concept mapping. I am also constantly updating it with improvements and better features. You can find it at my blog Blogging Agenda.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I use a folder and document system instead of a spreadsheet because it helps to flush out more ideas for each post. I makes folders for specific days like one for "Monday" and then I create documents that are the title of my post ideas. Within these documents, I write down any topics, Links, Blog references, videos and extra notes that can be used to build my blog post. I use some of them and skip others but it's been a helpful way to organize my blogging schedule or editorial calendar.
Madlab Post Discover indie films and entertaining facts!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Like @Clarabela, I have been using Google Calendar, which helps for recurring posts, events like giveaways and a nice overview. I post links and resources in "Description" as I find info. I have been posting daily, and will continue to, but like some previous commenters, I will be focusing on feature posts about 3x/week. I was a day behind on the mind-mapping and just completed it; what a fruitful exercise!
Posted 1 year ago # -
I am a bit behind in the daily challenge because I took the Easter weekend off. But I'll be back on track bt this weekend. The editorial calendar is a great idea and I have a spreadsheet that I can use for it. The mind-mapping exercise will prove very useful and help me to be a bit more structued with my blog posts. Thanks!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hey Darren,
These are great easy to implement plans. I heartily agree somedays I am in the "zone" and those days I might write a week's worth of content in one day and/or several topics to write later. I also love the series thing.
Does anybody else have a investing blog? If so want to share ideas, do guest posts, etc.
Posted 1 year ago # -
@angelamills - I've been sorry I "announced" my schedule just by the very natue of the titles of posts.
Hot Sauce Sundaes - a weekly wrap-up of hot sauce news on "Sunday" of course
Food Blog Mondays - featuring a new foodie/food blog each monday
etc. It makes me feel locked in, and like you, I only have a few hours a day to spend on blogging. If that.
SOOO... I decided, ya know what? I'll still title those posts the same, and get around to them when I can.
I have yet to have anyone email me to ask "hey, it's sunday" or "monday, where's the post for today?".
I feel better now. Thanks!
Brian
Posted 1 year ago # -
I plan mine on Google calendar, shared with my cobloggers. It's easy to move things around if necessary. And I have 1 regular weekly type of post that comes out on a particular day, plus a couple that have to go up at the end of the month (reading challenges). The blog is mostly for book reviews, so I'm thinking of allocating different days for different genres. I'm not yet sure if we can sustain that kind of schedule.
Book Thingo - Reading (mostly) romance books down under
Posted 1 year ago # -
Hi Daren, This is great.
Everyone esle, too, just fantastic.
I'm a complete newbie, but this helps me with a new way of thinking about the content of my blog - to write the main points I want to share in different sections. I only started to learnin about blogging with Daren's 31dBBB.
Now, all I have to do is learn the difference in the kind of content that should go on pages, vs posts, vs categories, ... and I'll be set.
Daren today's assignment is as big a breakthrough for me as was the one you asked us to do on day 1. Many thanks.
Ravi
Regards, Ravi
Peace : The pursuit of increasing excellence in a world that works for allPosted 1 year ago # -
Hi Darren,
Excellent idea. I've had san unofficial rhythm to my first blog (I'm adding a second one soon focused more purely on specific business issues). I try to rotate three types of posts in a fairly steady rhythm:
1. A reflection on something from the news or the world at large, and how it applies to business - or life - or both
2. A photo from my Flickr account with a very brief commentary
3. A series of quotes selected to illustrate an idea, with a short intro commentaryI'd like to take your idea of an editorial calendar and use it to lay the topics out more specifically ahead of time.
Thanks for 31DBBB!
Jan
Posted 1 year ago #
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