Blogging Tips: Organisation

I started giggling when I typed the title of this blog post mainly because I don’t classify myself as a very organised blogger although I am definitely better than I was a few months ago. For starters, I recently started posting everyday on my blog and it is by no means an easy feat,  if I do say so myself, especially if you work full time. Without being organised, there is absolutely no way I can pull it off especially with my demanding/busy job.  I've learnt a few tips that have helped me stay organised and I though it would be nice to share them. Many of these tips may not be new but nevertheless I hope they are helpful to you if you are looking to stay organised as a blogger..

1. Make a Blogging Calendar/List: I know this sounds super grand but honestly mine is just an old notebook where I have made a list of blog posts for the month. Although I have put in dates for these posts, I keep it really flexible. Blogging for me is meant to be enjoyable and not rigid so while I have a list to guide me, I can publish any post on any day I fancy. My blogging notebook really helps me stay focused and understand what I need to work and concentrate on. If you are not into notebooks, you can always use the notes section on your Phone, Evernote or just a simple Calendar on Google or your Computer. The list is endless; what matters is you understand your plan and it works well for you. I also have another random notebook where I just write likely blog posts which I need to start working on especially products that need to be photographed.

2. Take Photos in Bulk: I am sure this point has been made more times than anyone cares to count but it would have been impossible for me to have any posts without taking bulk photos. If you live in UK or any country with limited sunlight, you would know that getting decent lighting during A/W is a struggle.  If you work full time, just forget about taking photos during the week; it’s not happening so delete those fantasies from your mind. Instead, you need to aim for the weekend and take as many photos as possible. I seriously live for the sun and once it shows up, I jump up from my bed and start snapping away. I know that sounds very sad but I really enjoy taking blog photos and other photos in general. I also check the weather forecast for the weekend (sometimes it's accurate)  so I can plan my weekend better.  I sometimes arrange products that need to be photographed the night before so it’s ready to be snapped in the morning and I don't have to scamper around gathering them (that's also where my random blog notebook comes in handy).  If you have perfect studio lighting, (mind you I am very jealous of you), then you can opt to take photos any time you wish (even during the week). As we speak, I have photos for all my posts till mid February; that’s how much bulk photos I take at any given time. I have not written the posts yet but I have them planned.

3. Make Folders for your posts: I know this may sound very anal but I like to have separate folders for all my pictures because it makes it much easier for me to edit and organise them. This is not compulsory but it absolutely works for me. If I told you the amount of pictures I take on any given blog photography day; you would seriously smirk. I love to take multiple shots because sometimes pictures may look lovely on the camera but when it is opened on my computer, it’s a different story. Taking multiple shots has saved me so many times and all I have to do is delete the ones I don't need and save the rest for editing. Making folders also frees up space in my memory card and it helps me plan all my posts even better. I organise my pictures like so:  Folder 2015-Jan 2015-1 Jan 2015- Pictures. It does not matter if you publish a post on a different day, you can always change the folder name or store it under the name of the post if you like. This folder organisation makes it so easy to sort my photos and I no longer have to scour through my laptop or hard drive to find anything as it is all arranged and named accordingly.

4. Write whenever/wherever you can: I love to write and I find myself scribbling or making notes on my iPhone every chance I have. I already mentioned in this post that writing is the easiest blogging task for me and I usually write during my free time. I use Evernote and the Notes app on my iPhone and they are so brilliant because you can access them anywhere. I also write on my Blogger App on my phone but I prefer the other two. I write when I am on the bus or train on my commute to work/home and it really makes my journey shorter. I only write when I feel passionate and if I am not, I would do other things.  I also make little notes of products I am testing which has been really instrumental in making my product reviews in-depth and thorough (I hope). E.g. If I am trialling a new foundation, I would note how long the wear time is and if it oxidised while I am wearing it on the day, etc.

5. Set out a blogging time: I know many people can be flexible with their blogging time but I usually put finishing touches or edit photos for blog posts in the night between 8-10pm.  I just find that I am more productive/creative in the evenings especially after going to the Gym. During this time, I put on my favourite music/playlist on Spotify (Music makes me type, edit and take photos faster). I can either edit photos on Adobe Photoshop CS6 or Edit Draft posts I may have typed earlier in the day. You need to find your productive time and utilise it. If you love to blog during the day, you should by all means do so. Setting out a blogging time will help you manage your time and your blog so you can have a life and do other things you enjoy apart from blogging.

6. Scheduling: As much as I am a huge fan of experiencing the exciting adrenaline rush of clicking the “Publish” button on my Blogger Page, I have to resort to scheduling. I have been scheduling almost 90% of my posts since September and it has made such a massive difference to the frequency of my posts. I know many people argue that scheduling posts takes away the joy of blogging but honestly, I doubt if I could do it any other way. I still publish some posts every now and then without scheduling but that happens mostly during the weekend. Don’t be shy to schedule at all and don’t let anyone make you feel like less of a blogger because you schedule. You can also schedule posts on Twitter and Facebook using Tweetdeck or Hootsuite although I have not really used them but I hear they are amazing. You can even schedule your Instagram Posts using Latergramme and this is really useful for 9-5ers who don't have the chance to regularly access their phones. That’s it folks and I hope you have enjoyed this post and if you have any more tips on staying organised, leave them in comment section below...toodles!!..xx