I’ve been asked a few times how the heck I manage to blog (almost) every day. People give me credit or say “I don’t know how you do it” or complain that they hate blogging. I’ve even had someone ask me to blog for them! I can’t say that I am an expert blogger, but I have learned a few things that have worked for me since starting Capitol Romance in 2011 and I figured it couldn’t hurt to share my #1 tip. It’s so easy and simple and honestly I did it without even thinking twice back in 2011. Are you ready for it?
Capitol Advice: The Number One Tip for Blogging
Create an editorial calendar.
That’s it – I’m serious, it’s that simple. And you don’t even need anything fancy! Mine is in Google Docs (excel!) and literally just has the days of the week across the top and the beginning date of the week on the left. When I first started blogging I gave each day of the week a topic, so that I could plan out a few weeks in advance, what I would blog about. Mondays used to be “Wedding Music That Doesn’t Suck” days, Tuesdays were Local Finds & Venues, Wednesdays were DIY, Thursdays were Real Capitol Weddings, and Fridays were Vendor Spotlights.
I don’t keep to that topic per day structure anymore (based on submissions, a lack of music song suggestions, and the work that goes into vendor spotlights and venue posts), but funny enough, they still sit at the top of the calendar days in my editorial calendar. Proof? Here’s a screen shot of my editorial calendar – from the very first few months that I ever blogged!
I probably plan posts out anywhere from 1-3+ weeks in advance, but nothing is ever concrete. Sometimes I am awaiting details from a photographer or other times a giveaway pops in my inbox that shifts my schedule around, but at any rate, when I get an idea or a submission in my inbox, I go right to my editorial calendar and plan a date to blog about the topic.
I cannot express how easy this single document makes my life. It keeps me organized and is literally the #1 thing that makes blogging easier for me. If you are just starting out, and you don’t have content coming in like I do, then try to blog just 2-3 days a week and have some generic topics for each of your blogging days. It can be simple: inspirational quotes Monday, what I am wearing Tuesday, vendors who inspire me Wednesday …. and so on and so forth!
I hope this tip helps you guys like it helped (and continues to help me!). Now go get blogging!
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5 comments
What a great tip! I am going to try that! Thanks amazing daughter!
<3 thanks Mom! Happy to share and help! We can share more on our family business retreat next weekend!
That is something I’m still working on. Trying to be better at scheduling my time and sticking to the schedule. That’s the hardest part of blogging for me! (And just making the time, these days. Haha)
P.S. ^ You and your mom are cute. :)
<3 thanks Colleen!!! And yes, sticking to it is certainly a whole other exercise, but I find at least having the topics laid out, allows me to plan to type what I need, when I need it! Happy to have you back on the blogosphere!