If you’re anything like me… or a lot of fellow bloggers — prioritizing tasks for your blogging schedule can be quite the challenge. Rabbit trails are everywhere… Pinterest or Facebook anyone??
How do we know what’s most important when planning a blog strategy or schedule for each week? Most of us have two major goals: Helping our readers and making an income. Prioritizing regular tasks that will meet those goals, with limited time, is an art form.
When I started my blog (maybe you can identify), I naively thought if I could write one post a week — every week — I’d have a pretty good handle on this blogging thing. How hard can that be, right?
[Laughs while writing this…] Into my second year, I’ve discovered the other 300 things that go along with a blogging business… and that’s the challenge, right there!
Ignorance is bliss — just for a little while. But when reality sets in, overwhelm does too. That’s where prioritizing and planning consistent tasks into a weekly blogging schedule can ease the stress and ensure success.
Seven Tasks to Prioritize Your Weekly Blogging Schedule Like a Pro!
Blog Content Analyzing and Scheduling
(1) Make use of Google Analytics on a weekly basis
You may have heard this before, but it’s very important to see what’s working well with your audience so you can repeat that success! Google Analytics is the perfect tool for the job and should become a priority task for you.
Jump into your Google Analytics account once a week and see what’s driving the most traffic to your site. [I take 1/2 an hour on the weekend to see what’s doing well according to GA]
If you haven’t connected your site to GA yet, you’ll want to do that right away. Here’s Google’s Analytics help page to get you started.
If you need additional help based on your specific blogging platform, you can Google “set up Google Analytics for ____ blog platform”. Knowing which posts are driving traffic is invaluable information.
Find your top 2-3 blog posts and see if you can figure out what’s making them work well. If this is a particular pain point for your audience, can you write a second and third post to elaborate?
Or maybe you could break your popular topic/s down into a few more specialized and detailed posts.
You can also look for further ways to monetize those posts. If they’re already doing quite well, it makes sense to optimize your income from them, right?
Can you add a couple of related Amazon affiliate links or form an affiliate partnership to a product or service that’s relevant to that well-performing post?
It’s also a good idea to create a few new Pinterest pins for your popular posts. You can get another nice boost of traffic if the posts are doing well already.
(2) Work on your blog content schedule or editorial calendar each week
Take a little time each week to brainstorm and research new blog topic ideas that will resonate with your readers. This is where that valuable Google Analytics info can really come in handy.
Like I mentioned above, think of one or two detailed or related posts that can compliment those topics that are bringing in traffic. Or use these techniques to research more blog topics your audience really craves!
I like to use Google Docs to keep track of ideas that come to mind while I’m writing posts, reading other posts, or on Quora answering questions. It’s also a great way to manage your blog content scheduling.
You may want to create a document with all of your current posts as well as one for each category or topic you write about. Plan a content schedule with varied topics to keep your audience engaged.
Speaking of blog content — save yourself a ton of time by joining our FREE video blog topic planning workshop! You’ll have 25+ quality blog post ideas (tailored to YOUR audience) in just 5 days. That’s over five months of content if you post once a week!!
Creating Content and Pins
(3) Create at least one blog post per week
Once you have several quality blog post ideas (you’ll have at least 25 if you’ve joined the free workshop above), and you’ve added them to your Google Docs calendar, it’s time to create the content.
At the beginning of each week, I create a mind map or outline for my post with the various topics and details it will include. I can write much faster if I follow my little “road maps”.
This is my favorite place to keep blog post mind maps and outlines. Using different colored pens helps me see, at a glance, which topic the more specific details belong to (by using the same color). It also caters to my creative side and makes this process more fun. 😉
(4) Create 3-5 pins for each new post
Don’t stress about making several pins all at once for each new post you publish. But I do recommend making a few pins over the course of the week to offer different designs and titles that will draw Pinterest users to your post.
Avoid dripping the same exact pins through Pinterest all week long. Your followers have different tastes in design, and unique pin titles may appeal to their individual ways of thinking as well.
The most recent Pinterest updates have caused a total roller coaster for many bloggers. It’s been nearly impossible to figure out how to please the Pinterest goddess to regain favor.
I’m thrilled to have found a new Pinterest strategist who teaches stuff I’ve NEVER heard before… and it works like a charm!
One thing’s for sure, Pinterest has made it pretty clear that consistency and pinning “new pins” are vital to Pinterest success. Tailwind and Pinterest have a unique partnership that you’d be very wise to take advantage of with these tips.
Weekly Traffic and Community Building
(5) Head to Quora for 1/2 an hour each week (or an hour if you can spare it)
Quora.com is an excellent resource for discovering what your audience may need help with, plus establishing a good reputation. It’s worth your time for a quick weekly visit to Quora to find questions in your blog niche that need answering.
If you’ve never used Quora before, be sure to fill out a very thorough profile. Include your website and a nice keyworded description about your blog and the topics you’re knowledgeable about.
This is a traffic and link-building opportunity you don’t want to skip. Try to schedule this as a weekly task (or at least a couple times a month). There’s great potential for pulling in new readers to your site if you’re helpful on Quora!
(6) Take time each week to read posts and connect with other bloggers
Don’t view your fellow bloggers as competition. They can be an excellent source of encouragement and knowledge! Take time each week to read a few posts from bloggers in your niche who’ve been around for a while (or newer ones who are killing it!). Leave a nice comment to encourage them and tell them you appreciate their posts.
The support and camaraderie that comes from a learning-focused and encouraging mindset is priceless. I absolutely love Carly from Mommy on Purpose, Tracie from Penny Pinchin Mom, and Ms. DS from Defined Sight… and these are only a few of my online friends and mentors!
(7) Set aside weekly time for connecting/linking opportunities
This blogging schedule tip relates to #6. Build supportive relationships with other bloggers, and increase your traffic, by keeping your eyes open for roundup and guest posting opportunities.
Quality Facebook groups such as Blogging Like You Mean It and Blogger Education Network are fantastic places to find these connections and opportunities.
Join some blogging or niche groups and let people know you’re looking to collaborate on a post, host a guest post, or be a guest writer. Set a goal of weekly or bi-weekly round-up posts, featured blogger posts, or guest posting to increase awareness and traffic for your blog.
If You Need More Help with Your Blogging Schedule
These are only a handful of things that can be included in your regular blogging schedule. Depending on where you are in your blogging journey, use what makes sense for your goals.
If you’re totally new, and this list sounds overwhelming, let me help you with your first month of blogging. I’ve created a 31-day New Blogger Calendar just for you.
It will take some of the guesswork out of what to do first with your brand new blog. Use the sign up form below. And if you need further help and resources, don’t hesitate to contact me and ask!
I’d love it if you Pin and Share this post to help other bloggers! 😉
Great tips, Stephanie.
In the last month, I’ve started learning everything I can about blogging. It’s my focus for the next year to really grow my tribe.
And it seems like there is so much to do!
Thanks for putting it in order and making it easier for the newbies.
Debbie, my friend,
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m glad this post was helpful. There are so many tasks that go along with blogging…fighting the overwhelm is half the battle! Just keep putting one foot in front of the other; try working on one or two things at a time, at most, and you’ll do great!
Blessings to you!
Stephanie
Hey Stephanie,
First time here and love this post! Setting up a schedule and plan for your blog can be hard – especially when you’re doing this full-time. My twins now go to school and I have six or so hours a day to focus on my blog but I often get distracted easily! I find my bullet journal keeps me on track and having a schedule of the same tasks I do daily!
I like how you included blogger networking as a task to do in your day as a blogger. It’s super important and I’m seeing this more and more as a long-term blogger. You can’t blog alone; you need your own tribe of bloggers to collectively help you out!
Hi Elna!
It’s so nice to have you stop by and leave such a nice comment. Thank you!
It’s super hard to manage time and stick to a schedule… I agree. I’ve been doing this full time for a year and a half and it’s still so hard not to get distracted. I have a bullet journal and need to actually put it to use. Right now, I have a huge whiteboard on my office wall with tasks to do. Doesn’t mean I always look at it, but at least it’s there… LOL
Yes to the tribe of bloggers! I’m still working on connecting regularly, but I’m trying to prioritize it more. 😀
Great post! I’m so new at blogging I don’t think I can yet call myself a blogger. Nonetheless, I’m trying to be a sponge and soak up as much information on how to do this and that but, as you said, it can become overwhelming at times. This post has helped me slow down a bit and prioritize my tasks to be as successful as I can. I have yet to launch my blog (trying to add content before launch day). So I hope to use your post to get me further along on my blogging journey. Thank you.
Hi Kristina!
Thank you for the kind comment and I’m so glad it’s helping you to slow down and tackle a few important things at a time. Master one thing, and then go on to the next. Blogging is definitely a marathon, and it’s easy to burn out.
Congratulations on starting your blog! That’s the hardest part, actually… well done. And good luck on your blogging journey.
Stephanie