The phrase “Work Smarter, Not Harder” often comes to mind when I think about way to streamline blogging tasks and make everything more manageable.
Blog Smarter Not Harder
When I started this blog, it was an outlet for me to ramble about whatever came to mind. As my readership grew, and I discovered that I loved this little blog that I created, I needed to have more structure. Smart blogging is about planning your day and your content. Today, I’m going to discuss ways to streamline the “daily tasks” that come along with blogging. Most days, I only have two solid hours of time to work on the blog.
The first thing I do each morning is check to ensure the site loads quickly – both desktop and Mobile versions. Then I move on to the fun stuff!
Check for Site Updates: I check for updates to plugins and WordPress itself. Before updating plugins, ensure the plugin is compatible with the version of WordPress that you are running. Make certain that you equip your blog with plugins that are going to help you long term.
Review your Content Calendar: If you write sponsored posts, product reviews, or host giveaways, these posts are time-sensitive and you don’t want to miss a deadline.
Respond to reader comments: Engaged bloggers have engaged readers. Treat each of your comments with care, and respond to them. Don’t worry if you can’t respond to everyone on the same day. Taking the time to respond shows that you appreciate them.
Check Social Media: Check your Twitter account, Facebook Page, and Instagram for any messages. Respond to those, too.
Completing those tasks takes about 30 minutes and sets me up for success. Investing a bit of time in the task portion of blogging enables me to focus on the content, layout, and networking.
How Do You Blog Smarter Not Harder?
I have a lot of work to do in the blogging smarter, not harder area. I really need to write things down more and find that one thing that will help me be more organized.
Once you take the Content Brew course, you’ll be in great shape!
I have a daily planner that I made to keep track of all of my daily tasks. I’ve only been using it for about a month. It has really helped!
For the first time, I color coded my Life Planner (each family member has a different color, family activities are another, important blog deadlines are another). I’ve only been using it since January 1, I feel like I really know what’s going one with everyone & everything. I wonder why I didn’t think of it sooner!
Have a great weekend!
I only wish I could that organized but right now things are very dead with my account. However, my best tool for this is my phone. Everything comes to one small hand held device. I then note if I have to answer anything.
Getting organized takes time and focus. Once you develop a system that works for you, you’ll wonder “why didn’t I think of this before?”
Thanks for stopping by!
I think these are great tips, especially responding to the reader. I get turned off when I don’t see a blogger comment on a question.
I’m working hard this year to respond to all of the comments I receive. Sometimes it takes a day or so, but I’ll get there!
Have a great weekend!
Totally my goal for this year! Work smarter not harder. Right now its about attacking my email and getting it synced to Outlook for faster filtering. Since everything is filtered I normally just use that to ck on how everything is going. Its a great service but an overwhelming one.
Uh…I currently have 814 unread emails. Perhaps I should consider giving Outlook a shot!
I’m not a blogger (although I do have a blog) but I would like to speak to this, if I may. I have been starting to follow more and more blogs in the past several months and started interacting on them. I found most of them through giveaways but I stay with the ones that I can get to know the writer of. So thank-you for your participation in giveaways and sponsored reviews but thank-you for keeping real and writing posts like ‘Parenting: The Most Exhausting Job I’ve Ever Had’ and ‘Dreams are what keep you going’! It makes me a bit sad when good bloggers feel they have to be constantly posting giveaways and reviewing products and then neglect what first got them writing/blogging. And, saying that, I also understand that the sponsored posts are how bloggers make it a job so I’m not saying they shouldn’t do those. Balance, that’s what I’m saying, I guess. And, yes, I also understand limited time means setting priorities on postings, comment replies, etc!
Viv – Thank you so much for your kind words. I think I speak for many bloggers when I say that we often feel unappreciated, that some of our followers tend to “be in it for the freebies and giveaways”. It is so nice to hear that a reader appreciates all the hard work that goes into operating a blog!
I shared your comments with a group of my blogger friends, as I know they will appreciate them too!
Happy Weekend!
those are all very good ideas. its a lot to think about!
I don’t have a blog. But I love reading all different types of blogs. I don’t know how you do it everyday. I just don’t think I am organized enough to have a blog. Plus I wouldn’t know what to say everyday. I love your blog. You have a variety of posts and your readers can tell that you really care.
Thanks so much for the compliment Tammy!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you for the reminder that I don’t have to make it hard to blog smart! I tend to take on way more than I can handle and then end up flopping. I really want to be a better blogger this year!
As bloggers, I think we all have a hard time saying “no” that we try to say “yes” to everything because of the fear we might get passed over in the future. This year, I’m focusing on opportunities that are genuinely important to me – and not trying to be a super blogger accepting everything that comes my way!
Thank you for the this I really need to do better with my blog. It is still in the hobby phase for me so I’m sure there is a lot I could do smarter, I just need to put my mind to it.
I am hoping that by writing this post – and hitting publish – that I’ll be reminded to blog smarter all the time. It’s easy to “fall off the wagon” In 2013 I want to be focused all year, not just in January!
This year I am striving for better time management. Hopefully that will keep on the right track for blogging smarter and not harder.
I color coded my Life Planner, our wall calendar & my blogging stuff. This should help me focus a bit more, too!
Good luck to you, what are you doing to better manage your time?
My biggest blogging goal for 2013 is organization – and I think it will lead me to working smarter rather than harder! Deciding what tasks to do first (and each day) will really streamline the process…and make sure I don’t forget anything. I’m going to work off this list to make my own “first things to do” list!
It’s really helped me out. I was so organized when I was in the corporate world, but now I feel disorganized in every aspect of my life. As I start thinking about this blog as my business – and how I am going to grow it – I hope that will help me be more focused everywhere!
This is eerie, I was just telling my husband the other day that I need to blog smarter, not harder–in those words. 🙂 I spend an insane amount of time on my blog, but a lot of the time is spent on things that I should be hiring someone else to do or things that just aren’t necessary. These are great tips, Emily!
I do wonder how much of my time is spent on unnecessary tasks. Perhaps I’ll make a list of all the “little” things that I “just sit down to do quickly” and see where my time suckers are.
I feel like I spend a lot of time on my blog, but don’t keep track of the actual time. I wonder if it is more or less than how much I used to devote to corporate America. Something to think about, certainly.
Thanks again for sharing that DELICIOUS soup recipe, so glad it popped up in my newsfeed when it did – and that I had most of the ingredients on hand. That never happens.
Ugh! I need to get more organized. My problem is that I tend to “flit” back and forth from one task to another without really completing any of them 🙂
Someone introduced me to the Pomodoro method, and this has been really helping with time management.
I just looked up the Pomodoro method, I think that would cause me to lose focus. Glad to hear that you’ve found something that works for you though.
Thanks for stopping by!
I love my content calendar. I check it first thing when I turn my computer on and refer to it regularly throughout the day. I color code each task as I complete it. It’s a lifesaver.
Color coding is the best! I color coded my Life Planner this year – only 12 days in and I’m loving the organization! Hope this feeling continues throughout the year.
I always forget to check for updates for my plugins and what not! Actually, I know there are updates, the little number next to “plugins” tells me so. It’s just that I forget to take the five seconds that it takes to actually install those updates. I really need to work on that, especially since I just did a series of articles on internet security for a client that basically said “if you don’t want your site to crash or get hacked, update your plugins regularly!”
Lately, I’m afraid to update anything! I’ve had such a hard time with the latest WP update, I’m scared!
Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy the weekend!
I keep reading about how I should have a content calendar but really I just blog about what inspires me, when it inspires me. I can’t get with the content calendar to save my life! 🙁
That’s great that you always find inspiration! Having a content calendar helps me stay organized and know what’s going on when. One goal I have this year, is to actually write about a holiday BEFORE it happens! I’d love to get to the point where I am THAT organized!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great weekend!
I have a planner so that I can keep everything organized, I also use the calendar on my phone.
Cheers to paper planners! I took a new approach this year and color coded everything. It’s so organized now, I find myself looking at it just for the beauty!
Curious – your email gives me the impression that you’re a Red Sox fan? If so, what do you think of the off-season changes? I’m excited to see what Farrell can do. {If you’re not, sorry to bother!}
I’ve been considering starting a blog and this article was helpful – thanks!
Best of luck to you if you do decide to start a blog!
Have a great weekend.
This is a great post. I’m not a blogger but since I have been reading a few different blogs lately, I have been throwing around the idea of trying to start one. This has at least given me an idea of how long you spend doing different things on your blog daily. Thanks.
Go for it! Starting a blog is a fun experience – there are so many things to write about – recipes, crafts, technology, painting, parenting, relationships, and so much more!
If you do start, good luck and be sure to always have fun!
I use that motto all the time! And I use a daily task list as well. I’m curious, how many hours per day do you work on your blog?
Great question, Gina, and thanks for stopping by! I work about 4 hours per day when my son is in preschool, that is 12 uninterrupted hours per week. And I probably get an hour or so the other 4 days? If I’m working on a recipe, then dinner prep is “working time” too. It’s hard to say how much actual time goes into the whole blog/networking. Perhaps I’ll keep track this week, because now I am curious.
I’m {trying} to be more active on Facebook and Instagram as I see a great opportunity for engagement there – and it is much easier to visit those sites via iPhone when you’re also trying to entertain a toddler.
What about you? How many hours are you spending on your blog and overall social engagement?
I was doing 2 hours each morning for writing/editing/etc and then checking social media other times during the day. I set a timer for FB, Twitter, and Pinterest so that I only spend 5-10 min or I’ll be there all day. I also try to “block” my work, like do a cooking day for my family, taking pics and writing up recipes gets me several weeks’ worth of posts done at once. Same for crafts, etc.
Good plan Gina! I think it’s important to block things and ensure you allow for time to realistically accomplish your goals for that day/week. It sounds like you have a plan! {I need to try the timer…especially for Pinterest!)
Love this post. It’s a good reminder to all of us bloggers for sure. Sometimes it’s hard to come up with good content usually. I have a review/giveaway blog, but I’m trying to get away from that as much as possible. I will still offer giveaways, but it used be be every post was a giveaway and I didn’t have time for other content.
I’m trying!!! It’s not always easy though.
It is hard to make the switch from sharing reviews and giveaways to more evergreen content, but if you’re determined it will happen! Best of luck on your transition.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I don’t have a lot of time to blog after work, so I respond to emails, then do daily tasks on fb or google + and write a post for the next day. On weekends I can sometimes schedule a few days in advance, and also work on blog improvements
It’s important to have a routine. That helps me stay on track. I’ve been sick for a while, and have fallen behind in my commenting. I’m looking forward to getting healthy and back to my routine!
Have a great weekend!