Keep a notepad or something handy to jot down ideas wherever you go:
Most of your best idea's for blog posts will likely come to you at random times. Which is why if you keep a notepad or something with you anytime an idea pops into your mind, you'll be able to put it down and think more on it when you have more time. It will also help, so you don't forget that great idea.
If I don't have my book handy, I almost always have my cell phone, so I also have a folder on it where I text myself ideas.
Brainstorm before you sit to write:
If you wait to brainstorm when you are sitting down to write your posts, you're already not doing so well in blogging time management. In fact, you are probably adding double the time to it.
If you keep an idea book, as your working throughout your days brainstorm on an idea or two ahead of time that you may want to write about later that day when you sit down to do so.
If you are worried about forgetting, make a quick note in your notebook to help you remember part of your brainstorm process.
I actually find the best time to plan my posts and what I'd eventually like to put together in them, are the times when I am doing other things like out on a run, driving or waiting in line at the grocery store and sometimes even when chatting with friends. The times where I can let my thoughts roam freely when they are not forced.
Writing your posts:
I hear all the time people say they get writers block, or can't think of things to write about when they have time to write posts. Well that's usually because they don't do the first two steps above. If you're constantly waiting to do the entire creative process when you sit down to write a post that may have only taken 30-60 minutes to write could easily take double or triple that.
Instead when you sit down to write, just write! Look in your notebook, and pick the idea that has been most recently on your mind and write straight non-stop typing.
I do a 20 minute non-stop writing process. I've heard other bloggers do 30-45 minutes a day. Where you just sit down and write, let the fingers flow as you put down everything you previously brainstormed on a subject.
Daily writing:
While blogging is a lot of fun, it's also a lot of work. Which is why I highly recommend writing 4-5 days a week 20-30 minutes at each sitting.
These are times you can put together previous brainstorm ideas, and begin formulating them, saving them as drafts to finish or continue another time. This also helps you form better blogging/writing habits, putting yourself on a schedule.
It allows you to enjoy the first love of bloggers, which is to create/write!
Editing process:
9 times out of 10 I will sit down and freely write posts, and then go back and edit them a few days to a few weeks later.
This does a lot of things. Gives you time to walk away from your posts and look at them with a fresh set of eyes.
It becomes easier to delete things, that originally you may have thought were important to include, but after going back and looking at it, realize a lot of things are unnecessary. (This is especially helpful for those of us who tend to be long winded.)
This really doesn't have to take much time, the better you get at it, you will find you can easily go in and fully edit a post ready to publish in 10 minutes or less.
Picture editing:
Personally, I prefer to have at least one image for each post. But at times 3-6 depending on the type of post. Editing and creating images take time, sometimes as much time as it takes to write post.
I suggest doing image/picture editing/creating once a week.
Go back and pick 3-5 posts that are in the finishing stages or ready for the editing stage, and create images for them all at once.
I find that if it's all done on a specific day, it's easier to get it all done and surprisingly ends up working out faster than if I only edited pictures one at a time for each post.
Don't be a blog snob:
If all your doing is promoting your own material all the time, then your not going to get as far as you would if you'd spend a few minutes each day helping promote others blogs as well. Blogging is a lot of give and take. If you constantly only take, you're going to run out of room to grow. But if you're giving when you can, others will help you take your blog to the next level. Plus, that is the fun part about blogging!
Accept guest bloggers:
If your running out of time to blog, then why not accept guest bloggers. As long as they have a writing style that you feel your viewers would like. Why not allow a few guest bloggers to help you out at different times of the year to give yourself a little break in the writing process.
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A few mistakes that add unnecessary time:
1. Ignore the numbers, don't check your stats often. Once a month is more than enough. Blogging is different than a regular website. Your return for your hard work can take a month or show to actually start giving you accurate numbers.
2. If you don't have anything to say, then yes it's okay to not say it. Don't post to post. Not only is it a waste of your time, but likely if you didn't have a plan, it's a waste of your viewers time. Remember to respect your viewers, and they will respect you!
3. Say NO, if you are overwhelmed and a company or program you are affiliated with wants you to run a post for them. If you don't have time, just say no. They aren't going to dump you, and they will respect that you don't have the time to put something quality together.
Those are my tips.
Granted if you are a "day in the life" blogger these likely may not help you much. Because generally if you are a day in the life blogger your writing and posting as your day goes.
However, if you are a content writer, scheduler, planner then some of these tips may help you.
I find when I do steps 1-2, when I sit down to write I've never had a time where the words didn't just flow. I never run out of content, in fact I have far more than I'll probably ever be able to use. Sometimes you may write something and end up saving it as a draft to use months down the road. Nothing wrong with that, in fact once you get into blogging and begin networking with others daily, you'll find steps 1-2 will save you hours of time each week!
Those are my time management tips for creating posts.
What are yours?
