In the last post we discussed your reasons for planning ahead for your blog. In this post we will discuss how to do that.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Spec-ta-cles
In Darren Rowse’s ebooks Guide to Your First Week of Blogging and 31 Days to a Better Blog he discusses the most effective ways to plan for success. First, you should brainstorm for post ideas. Just get out a sheet of paper (or type it into a document on your computer) and just start writing down topics you want to talk about on your blog. Be sure not to limit yourself during this process. All ideas are golden. One of my most popular posts was nearly brushed away because I thought it was too simple. It seems there are many people who don’t know how to swaddle a baby.
A good rule to follow is don’t spend more than 10 minutes doing this. After writing down all of these topics do the following:
- look for a common thread. For example, let’s say you wrote down topics were something like this: date night with hubby; projects that strengthen marriage; books that help marriage; and intimacy in marriage then your common thread would be marriage. “Marriage” would be what you want to use to create some anchor posts and devise some marriage related tutorials.
- expand upon the list you made. Break down certain topics into series or a couple of different topics. A good example is I had “pantry staples” listed as an idea from my brainstorming session. I then realized that I could expand on that by doing a post for each pantry staple then once I had several of them I could create an anchor post on the overall topic and link to each of them. Then, as I made more posts on individual pantry staples I would just add them to that anchor post.
FYI: An anchor post (also called a “pillar article”) is a post that will always be relevant and helps solidify your blog’s authority in whatever your niche or common thread may be. It is typically longer than your daily posts and will contain lists and links to other posts you have written and/or it may contain several popular keywords that will bring others to that blog post via search engines.
Another great place to find inspiration for blog posts is over at Copyblogger’s. Read: Brainstorm Blog Topics.
Tutorials and project posts are great because most people do searches to find out how to accomplish something. You will also want to stay ahead of the game when it comes to seasons, holidays, and events. A good time frame to post is 6-3 weeks prior to the season, holiday, or event. This gives people time to take advantage of your ideas and advice.
Once you have your ideas for these posts you will use your editorial calendar (a free printable provided in the footer of my RSS feed) to schedule your posts. Most bloggers post a minimum of 3-4 times a week. Monday and Tuesday are the most popular days for readers to check in on you so you will definitely want to include those days. You will just have to decide what is best for you and your family then schedule accordingly.
Use your forms as a guide for posting but leave room for inspiration. It is also good to write several articles at once and simply schedule them to post on the appropriate days.
Find the rest of the series here: 31 Days to Online Ministry
This is AWESOME!! Thanks for the tips. This seems to be a little easier than the way we’ve been doing it. Again, thank you
Lots of love from Baby Pickel
Amy, thank you so much for sharing this idea, wonderful topic and so on target for what I need to hear. Thanks for always being such an inspiration.
Amy,
As someone toying with the idea of blogging, I appreciate your recent posts and links to blogging resources.
Since you mentioned pantry staples, I was wondering about guidelines for posting recipes in a blog that are not “owned” by the blogger. If you get it from a book or magazine, is it off limits or can you give credit to the the place you found it?
Also, how much time do you spend answering email and commenting on your blog articles?
Blessings,
Candy
Hi, Candy!
Good questions!
Recipes are considered ‘facts” and one cannot copyright or own facts or ideas. Some recipes are so simple that it is common knowledge as to how to piece them together so it is possible for many to “think up” a recipe that is similar or exactly alike. What can be copyrighted is the way it is written as long as you are incorporating your own expression into the post. Googling “can you copyright recipes” will take you to a myriad of information on the topic and give you more insight.
Now, with that in mind I think this is more of a moral issue than a legal one. If you find a great recipe in a magazine and you would like to share it then yes, you should give that magazine or the author credit. But, if you take similar ingredients and come up with a combination that you like and you want to share it then that is different. You used that recipe as inspiration and it is up to you as to whether or not to credit the person who inspired you. I think it is nice to give others credit.
Often times recipes are passed down and only slightly tweaked from person to person. It would be impossible to give each person proper credit in an instance like that. I would just say “passed down for generations” or something like that.
It is random at best as to how much time I spend replying to emails and comments. Right now I am holding my little one as he sleeps so it is easy for me to reply but most often during the day I am preoccupied. I admit that I am a slacker in this area. I simply get to it when I can. I always have to remind myself that family is first. If I had to guess though I’d say I spend maybe an hour or two a week doing those things. I know, not much at all!
I hope that helps and let me know when you get that blog going!