The time has come to set up a regular schedule for my blog posts

I’ve been aware for a long time that having a schedule in place for my blog posting would increase the likelihood of more frequency, and would quite likely have a positive impact on the quality of the posts overall.

I acknowledge I’ve resisted the idea. Part of my not completely sub-conscious rationalization has been that having a schedule might inhibit my creativity or my capacity to write more inspirationally. My conscious mind knew that was rubbish.

The decision

But today I decided it was time for a change, time for a proper schedule.

An online search showed there was no shortage of blog posts available on the topic. Some I found thought-provoking or helpful, or both. Some covered the bigger picture, including research for your posts, commenting on other blogs and so on. My focus was on getting clues for the more immediate process of drafting and publishing the actual posts.

The wisdom of others

The first post on this topic to catch my eye was Blogging Schedule by my friend Robyn Tippins. This was written just over four years ago and includes some includes some practicalities about blogging when people have daily responsibilities for young children.

Then from 2007 there was good advice from the blogging maestro Darren Rowse (Problogger) in Plan Your Next Week’s Posting Schedule

In May last year Jacob Stoops provided a detailed explanation for those interested in using Google Calendar for their schedule.

One post I found quite fascinating was from late last year by Alex, at 16 years of age indisputably in the “digital native” camp, who nevertheless finds paper works best to help him keep on track with his schedule. His post How to create a blogging schedule you will stick with is eminently practical:

So since apps aren’t “in your face enough,” I write down my daily tasks on a piece of paper and stick it onto my cork board by my desk. Now, my sched­ule is always in the corner of my eye when I work and I will know that I have things to do that day.

Organizing my schedule

So from all the advice I’d read, how will I schedule my posts?

As a start, I’m applying these five guidelines:

1. at least one post on each day Monday through Friday – weekend posts optional
2. a structure with a theme for each day of the week
3. aim for short posts (so as not to get stuck writing long ones – which a lot of people won’t read anyway!)
4. list each day’s topic in my paper diary and check off each day when done
5. track progress and monitor for any improvement in traffic, review at the end of the month

I have a topic list will share that in a separate post.

My own thirty day challenge

In just a few days over a month from now it will be six years since I launched the first version of this Thinking Home Business blog, on Typepad, so I’m taking a deep breath and committing myself to a one month blogging challenge. A thirty day challenge, although not a commitment to blog on each of the thirty days – rather to produce a blog for every week day over that period.

Do you use a schedule for your blog posting? Or perhaps you tried it and it didn’t work? Care to share what has worked (or not) for you?