There’s a big lesson I teach all of my clients that I want to share with you…
If you want to be successful in blogging, you need a system.
This is as true for accounting as it is for blogging. (You wouldn’t try to keep track of your business income and expenses without a bookkeeping system, right?)
So, today I’m sharing with you my exact system for blogging. No more guessing and scrambling around when it’s time to write a blog post.
Let’s get a system in place.
These are my favorite tools for blogging. I use these every week to write my blog, to help me stay strategic, consistent and on track.
Evernote
I use Evernote ALL the time. It’s a fantastic note-taking tool, perfect for spur-of-the-moment blog ideas (and, it’s free). I have the Evernote app on my mac, my iPhone, and my iPad. If an idea pops into my head for a blog post, I jot down some quick notes. This way, when it comes time to actually write a blog post, I have some great ideas already started. I don’t have to start from scratch or come up with an idea out of thin air.
TIP: if an idea strikes, don’t assume you’ll remember it when you’re at your computer later… if you’re anything like me, you’ll forget. So, write it down when you have the chance so you don’t miss any key points.
Excel (yes… Excel)
Do you have a file on your computer with all of your blog ideas and your blog schedule?
If not, create a simple Excel file right now. This is the simplest, yet the most effective tool I have for keeping my blog posts on track for consistent release. This spreadsheet keeps me organized and accountable.
Google Calendar
I also use Google Calendar to keep track of my blogging tasks and to stay consistent. I love Google Calendar because you can share it across all of your devices (and you can even share it with members of your team).
If you want to be a successful blogger, spread out your blogging tasks across a few days (and use a calendar to track your progress). If you’re cramming all your blog tasks into one day of the week, you’re likely not giving yourself enough time to properly research, write, edit and share your post. If you save everything for the last minute, it probably won’t get done (or, at best it will be short and sloppy).
Feedly
Feedly is an RSS feed reader that I use to collect the feeds of my favorite websites. I use my Feedly account to get marketing and social media news, new consumer psychology reports, market research findings, information about market trends and more.
Feedly is my main hub for content inspiration. It is a collection of all the websites that inspire me and teach me about marketing. If I’m ever at a loss for new content or new ideas, I check out articles on my Feedly account.
Do you have an RSS feed reader set up for your business?
If not, start a Feedly account (it’s free). No more bouncing around the internet looking for interesting information, set up your Feedly so you can have all your favorite, reliable websites in one place.
Flickr Creative Commons and PhotoPin
Now that you have some blog content, let’s spice it up with some pictures. Photos are tricky online, you always have to be aware of copyright rules and regulations. You can’t just post any picture to your blog, you have to get permission (particularly if you’re using your blog for business purposes).
You can purchase stock photos, but that can get cost you a pretty penny over time.
I prefer to use Flickr Creative Commons. Flickr users are able to adjust the licensing for their photos, and they can choose to release them under a creative commons license.
Flickr Creative Commons allows you to search millions of free photos for use on your commercial or non-commercial blog. You can also use PhotoPin, which collects high quality photos from Flickr Creative Commons, making your search even faster and easier.
Aweber
Now that you have a great blog post, share it with your followers through an email auto responder. I use Aweber to communicate with my readers. Visitors on my website can enter their email address to receive my blog posts in their inbox every week. This helps me regularly communicate with my audience and develop an ongoing relationship with them.
If you’re not sending your blog posts via email to your customers and prospects, start today. I use Aweber, but there are plenty of great options (MailChimp is even free!).
Hootsuite & Buffer
Now that you’ve shared your blog with your email list, it’s time to share your post with your social networks.
Hootsuite and Buffer are freemium (free + premium= freemium) services online that allow you to post your social media content on all of your networks at once. No more hopping from one social media profile to the next posting your links, you can do it in one click.
You can even schedule posts in advance, so you can literally be promoting your blog on social media while you sleep.
Both of these tools offer insights and analytics, allowing you to track your social media success. (Buffer will even adjust your posts to be sent at the most optimal time of day – amazing!)
So, there you have it- my complete system for blogging. I use these tools every week to keep myself on track and accountable.
If you’re having trouble blogging strategically and consistently, get these tools in place so you have a system to rely on.
No more stressful late nights banging your head on your computer trying to think of an interesting blog post to release the next morning. This is my exact system for blogging. Take it, use it and never scramble for a last-minute blog post again.
Do you use any of these tools for blogging? What are you favorite tricks to keeping your blog full of high-quality posts? Let me know in the comments below!
