If there’s one thing I believe in, it’s learning from mistakes and not doing the same stupid thing over and over again. Unfortunately, that’s harder than it sounds. It’s easy to get distracted by opportunities instead of craft a plan and stay with it. Earlier in the year I wrote about editorial calendars, and how effective they are at helping you with blog marketing. Then I promptly kicked mine to the curb.
Bad blogger. Bad, Bad!
Here’s the deal: I have planned out a new editorial calendar. I have seen the light about some really cool stuff (and I mean… really cool) that I’m going to share with you down the road, but first I have to let it do its thing so that I can use the example.
But aside from that, I figure I’d give you a heads-up on what’s going down in the near future:
- Mondays through Wednesdays: Regular ol’ blog marketing type posty-posts
- Thursdays: Audio posts (still with text, but there will be an audio file to stream or download)
- Fridays: Video posts (still with text, like yesterday’s announcement of my new blog consulting services).
So that’s the deal. Planning out this content in advance helps speed up the creation of it. My subconscious mind is working on posts for later in the month right now (only, you know, subconsciously, so you can’t see it) so that when I go to write, it will come easily.
But guess what else? I’m going to let you in on what’s coming up for the rest of the month. Or, another way to look at it: I’m going to tease you with this information in order to get you to subscribe and keep coming back for more (it’s all part of my evil plan). Here’s what’s in store:
- A week-long series called the Remarkablogger Manifesto.
- I’ll be talking about and asking for your feedback on some blog SEO stuff.
- Tomorrow, I’ll cover how to properly launch a blog so that when you launch, you’re not a tree falling in the forest with no one around to hear if it bothers to make a sound.
As you can see, this is gonna be some good stuff, so make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed,or you’ll miss out!
Here’s to your blogging success!
Michael Martine, Remarkablogger
Blog Marketing & Blog Consulting
Blog marketing is what I blog about, blog consulting is what I do.
15 Comments
Wow Michael - it looks like you are going to be keeping busy! I am looking forward to checking out all of the new content. Thanks for the nudge, I need to get my editorial calendars going!
Oh you evil plotter!!! It is an amazing thing the editorial calendar….I am using mine more and more. And it does set your mind to work subconsciously. Just keep raising the standards bar don’t cha? We’re on to you, oh clever one. Bwah ha ha
Can’t wait for the goodies.
I love this idea. I have a bunch of half-written articles, but I never really decide which one I’m going to polish and post which week/day. Now I think I should decide ahead of time, and just do it.
Plus I love how you tease us so cruelly.
I didn’t know what you were going to mean by “editorial calendar,” but I do something like this on my blog. Pretty much every other day there is a glossary entry of a financial term or a “frugal living” tip along with a couple of news stories, and in between those days there is a post about some aspect of financial planning .. investments, debt, whatever. It absolutely helps me get more done because even when I’m hitting a block on one level, I can go ahead and write on something else to post in the future and get ahead of the game, and sometimes doing the somewhat “mechanical” entries helps me get my creative juices flowing.
Andrea,
That is very interesting for me to hear. I do somehing similar in the studio when I am working in series. I’ll set up some more “mechanical” ( although still creative) tasks to do while the larger ones are gelling, then go back to the big thing. It’s kind of a right brain , left brain, tag team don’t you think?
Thanks for the comments, everyone. See, when you know what you’re going to create ahead of time, you can batch your tasks and get shit done (officially known as GSD, not to be confused with David Allen’s GTD or Getting Things Done) far more efficiently. For example, I can record all the audio for a month in one sitting, or do all the video over the weekend.
In other words, batching is bitching!
LOL–There’s a catchy ebook title.
I wrote the word “bundling” across the top of my editorial calendar last month ’cause I have an overwhelming bunch of, er, stuff to do…must go batch away as we speak.
I keep telling myself I’m going to get ahead, but I haven’t. I’ve been starting my posts when the children are in bed for a few straight weeks. I have to get better.
Tomorrow sounds great. When Writer Dad has a follow up, which he kinda sorta does soon, I want to make sure people hear.
Thanks Michael.
I am certainly looking forward to this. I am constantly struggling to come up with new posts in my blog. I’ll being looking forward to seeing all the angles you take.
Thanks!
Michael,
Hope you don’t mind, but you just got another subscriber. Your schedule sounds great to me, given that I have NO IDEA what your past schedule was!
Thanks,
Rita
@Rita - WHAT!? ANOTHER SUBSCRIBER? THAT’S THE LAST STRAW! Oh… wait… I want that. Um… nevermind. I mean, “No, I don’t mind!”
Thank you and welcome!
@Janice - “Bundling” is a good word, too. Makes me think of gathering kindling.
@Writer Dad - Yup, that’s what we call paving material for the road to hell, my friend!
I wish I had some great nuggetoid of advice to give you, but really it’s just a matter of finding your own way. We all have our ways of gathering material and transforming it into blog posts. I don’t believe there are any shortcuts to be found, only better ways to transform raw material into a stronger product.
@Chad - You need never lack for post topics as long you remember two things: what you’re trying to accomplish and what your audience wants.
Janice - Tag teaming is a good way to put it. Even creativity has it’s drone moments and if you can’t balance that with the creative stuff, you’re dead in the water. But really, it’s such a relief when I’m coming up on a busy day with work, school, kids, life, the universe, everything to look at what’s set to go for the day and think, “oh yeah - I forgot that I scheduled that post last week … one less thing.” (count ‘em, two book references in one sentence - 10 points to whoever knows what they were…). Plus, since the whole point of my particular spot on the web is about learning all aspects of financial planning in baby steps, having those little data bite posts are necessary anyway. It’s a win/win.
Since relaunching the blog, I’ve been sticking strictly to an editorial calendar and not only has it made it a lot easier for me, but people now know what to expect when, which is wonderful for everyone involved!
Andrea,
LOL. I don’t know which books you referenced, but as I read your comment, that “we can have it all, just not all at once” reminder just popped in to my mind. I am loving my EC. Even if I am imperfect at it , I can tell a difference.
oops back to work..
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[...] - Yesterday, I said today’s post would be about how to launch a blog. See, the thing about having an [...]
[...] is an audio post, which is now happening every Thursday according to my new & improved editorial calendar. I have some written notes that I’ve added some helpful links to, but the real meat is in the [...]