Many bloggers out there are not doing it on a full-time basis. In fact, for the most part a blog is utilized as a value add or tool for increasing business. In other words, a blog is a small part of an overall marketing plan.
With that said, not every business has the time to manage and organize a blog on a regular basis. Many times, companies will do one of the followings:
- Spend a day writing blog content and then schedule them in their WordPress website to publish on specific days.
- Hire a copywriter or ghost writer to create content and then schedule them in their WordPress website to publish on specific days.
If you fall into this category, then I have a very simple tip to share with you. WordPress is known for its diverse array of themes and plugins in their directories. There is one plugin in particular that I want to talk about here. It is called Editorial Calendar, and does exactly what you might think.
The single purpose of the plugin is to help you quickly organize your blog content on a clean calendar, to keep you on track.
Zack Grossbart, one of the developers of the plugin, recorded the following screencast to walk you through the plugin.
As you can see, can you easily drag drafted articles on the calendar or reorganize scheduled articles. All of this can be done on one screen, without any back and forth.
Here is a list of what the plugin can do for you.
- Help you see all of your posts and publish dates/times
- Drag and drop to change your post dates
- Manage your drafts
- Quickly edit post titles, HTML contents, and times
- Publish or schedule posts
If you are wondering why such a simple plugin deserves an entire article written about it, then here is your answer. Photocrati develops a WordPress photo theme in addition to NextGEN Gallery. Recently we released a major update to our theme and a public beta of the upcoming NextGEN Gallery 2.0.
Both of which were large enough updates that it warrants many articles written about specific to features. In order to not overwhelm our customers and readers, we used Editorial Calendar to visualize the content.
Viewing the upcoming articles in a calendar format makes a few things very possible:
- The content is spread out enough to be absorbed by the majority of readers
- It keeps the writing team (mainly me) on track for publishing highlighted features
- It allows me to easily identify areas open to guest posts on our sites
If you maintain a WordPress blog that requires an editorial calendar, but one that is more comprehensive and feature rich, then there is one out there for you. Edit Flow came out a few years ago and continues to grow with each update. I recommend checking it out as that might suit you better than the simpler Editorial Calendar plugin.
Now it’s your turn. How do you maintain your blogging schedule? Are you using a plugin, an excel file, or a Google Calendar?
Please comment and share. Thanks for reading, Scott
Scott Wyden Kivowitz is the Community & Blog Wrangler at Photocrati, photographer, blogger and educator.
19 replies on “Save Time & Manage Your Blogging Schedule Easily”
Hi Scott and Okto, an interesting post and this plugin looks very useful. Scheduling and planning is very important when it comes to blogging and maintaining a WordPress site so this plugin is just what many people should use.
I still use paper schedules and plans and it leaves a messy desk and can soon cause their own headaches when things get lost. 🙂
Hi Andi,
Yup its the old style of blogging schedule that many still use I believe.
By the way, your comment was hit by akismet in my blog here, just found it in my spams, sorry for that
Hi Scott and Okto,
I’m afraid I’m rather disorganised when it comes to my posting schedule – I’ve tried planning ahead, but haven’t disciplined myself very successfully so far!
I just keep a rough list of proposed topics for the coming weeks in my paper diary – and I’ll often start them off as draft posts in WP. I’m not keen on using another plugin for this – I already have more than enough on my site and I’m not sure this is the kind of thing that really warrants it.
Sue
Well this is the best option when you are going on the vacation with no internet connection you can schedule your post for future publishing. This is the easiest way. But not applicable when your blog update on hour basis.
Thanks for sharing such an amazing articles. Would love to read more from you. Have a great week ahead.
Regards 🙂
I’m as guilty as anything when it comes to scheduling and doing the right thing as a blogger.
This was an interesting post!
Hi 2in1 (Scott and Okto)
I love this because I am an addict of what you have just said and as matter of sincerity all my post in the past month were scheduled. And I am still planing how to go about sceduling the forth coming post after the one I have scheduled. Thanks for sharing this .
Hi Adesanmi,
Great to know about your plan. All the best
Hi Sue,
I think it ever happen to everyone including me :).
Hi Emmanuel,
As I said to Sue above, it happens to everyone I believe :).
Hi Ashi,
Thanks for the feedback and have a great week ahead to you too 🙂
This is a great topic and one that is timely as guest blogging and multi-author blogs have become very popular as of late. In those cases it is important for blog editors and website owners to have a tool that will keep them organized and focused on both their content and their audience. Editorial Calendar and other plugins like it certainly fit the bill.
Hi Brian,
Good to see you here and thanks for the feedback. Tools are always great to ease the blogging activity.
Hello Okto,
Indeed the plugin sounds great and should indeed be helpful to people who writes longer to their dates.
I always write my post a day before publication, so it will indeed be difficult for me to use the plugin but as Brian said, it will be best for multi site.
Nice plugin and it is good you brought it out at this time. Do have a blessed weekend 🙂
Honestly not easy to become easy..it’s always hard..
Hi Babanature,
I don’t have any experience on multisite though, but thanks for your confirmation about it. Going to check for more :). Have a blessed weekend to you too my friend
Hello Sir,
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Again thanks Sir
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