Getting Down to Business: BLOGGING

Another one of my many goals for this year is to keep on top of this here blog. My blogging over the last couple of years hasn't been too bad, but I do usually start the year with a lot of enthusiasm and then tail off around autumn. In my attempt to keep the enthusiasm up I have taken a number of steps to combat blogging fatigue.

Blog CalendarI've downloaded a calender just for the purpose of scheduling blog posts. I've decided to follow a pattern of blogging twice a week, once on a Monday and once on a Thursday. Not the most demanding of blog schedules but it's manageable for me and means I have more chance of keeping it up along side a full time job and running Jolly Good. This is the calendar I use as it gives a good clear view by month or week and lets me cross posts off once they've been published (always satisfying). There are loads of other calendar apps available or a good old fashion paper one would work too.
Regular FeaturesI've come up with a number of regular features for the blog including Jolly Jewellery, Monthly Favourites and these here Business type ones. These regular posts give a consistency to the blog and also give me some structure to work to. I put these repeating features into my blogging calender and it lets me see where the spaces are so I can plan other posts.
PreparationI try and write my posts before the day I plan to publish them. This means I can look at them with fresh eyes on the day of posting so I'm more likely to spot (and fix) any mistakes. It also makes more sense for me to prepare posts at the weekend when I have a bit more time on my hands and more light for taking any photos.

Take Notes
Post ideas can strike at any time so I've started noting them down whenever I have any good ones. I do this in my sketchbook or on my phone so whenever I'm stuck for post ideas I always have a little stash of things I'd like to blog about. It is so much better than just trying to rely on my memory. I also jot down if I need to take any photos and plan when would be best to take them.
So these are the little changes that I've put in place since January to try and make my blog easier to manage and more pleasing to read. So far it's working, I look forward to writing my posts as I already have an idea of what I'm going to write and having specific publishing days has given me targets to work to. The real test will be seeing if I can keep it up through out the year. Watch this space...