Most of us blog part time, and many of us have found a blogging schedule that suits out life style. Some love social networking, whereas others love to write and read.
Some post once a week, whereas others post 3-5 times a day.
But, how do we actually spend our time? How do we prioritize?
Today’s Lesson
For me, this is “typical” day (aside from my unpredictable self employed work and personal life)
1) Read and answer my comments – an ongoing activity
2) Work on my blog post for the next day
3) Visit other blogs and comment
4) Check my emails and stats
5) Work behind the scenes of my blog
5) Social Networking (usually StumbleUpon)
Most days my time runs out while doing #3 (visiting other blogs and commenting). The next day I will pick up where I left off, and visit the blogs I missed the previous day.
I normally take the weekends off from blogging (other than periodic checks for new comments), however, if I don’t, that’s when I work behind the scenes educating myself on the technology/terminology of blogs.
My daily schedule has changed a lot from when I first started blogging. It used to look like this.
1) Work on my daily post
2) Check my stats
3) Continue working on my daily post
4) Check my stats
5) Publish my daily post
6) You guessed it, …check my stats 😆
7) Work behind the scenes of my blog (get frustrated)
8.) Visit other blogs.
9) Go Stumbling (w/StumbleUpon)
In the beginning I tried to post six days a week. That became too time consuming. (Probably because I was checking my stats too often. Hehe) 🙂
Today’s Assignment
How does your typical blogging day go?
Photo Credit: i_yudai’s photostream
I am fascinated by this account of your day as a blogger, Barbara. I can’t wait to read the “secret diaries” of some of my other favourite bloggers who, no doubt, will comment later.
I already had an inkling of the time demands of being a being a blogger but, lately, I’ve had a taste of it myself… though I don’t have any of the admin. tasks associated with having a blog of my own.
Finding a good, healthy ‘blogwork’ / life balance is, I would suspect, a key factor in remaining enthusiastic about blogging.
Hi Evelyn,
Thank you for your kind words.
Our blogging “life” does evolve, doesn’t it?
When I was posting on the weekends, I did like that my stats (there’s that word again) stayed up, but then I realized I was putting too much pressure on myself, so I stopped. My stats drop on Saturday and Sunday (which at first was discouraging), but the time off serves me well. The time away from my blog actually helps to spark more ideas, and probably helps to prevent burn out, as well.
Hi Chris,
I find it interesting that, like me, it becomes necessary to cut out the things we feel have the lowest priority.
Hi Scott,
Yes, it will be very interesting to hear how others prioritize their days. With there being no right or wrong way to blog, the answers will prove to be insightful.
Absolutely, balance is a big key.
Our to curiosity, how long did you spend writing your first post as a blogger without a blog?
Hi Linda Abbit,
Your schedule sounds typical of a new blogger who is juggling life, as well.
As time goes by, we do learn how to be more proficient, not only with blogging, but in our real life too.
It’s like having the best of two worlds. 🙂
Have a great week, too!
Barbara,
All in, I’d say four-ish hours.
Actually, during this time I wrote one mega post of two parts- Part 1 of which you read 🙂
Hi Scott,
Thanks for coming back and letting me know.
I’m looking forward to part two. It’s a great read.
Hi John,
I’ve been “testing” statistical programs for quite some time now. WordPress.com stats and Sitemeter will give you up to date numbers. What I find interesting is that all of them report different numbers, but I do like seeing which posts are getting read, if I’m getting search engine traffic, where my referral traffic is coming from and which search strings are being used to find me. I also test Google Analytis, AWStats, and Webalizer, but use those more for research/learning purposes.
Yahoo Answers is a great way to build your name in blogosphere, and with your helpful personality, I’m guessing your answers are often voted the best.
You’re right. In business, life and blogging, we can never finish all we set out to do in a day. It gives us something to look forward to.
Barbara, first I must commend you about your energy and dedication for this blog. It is amazing that you’ve got so many amazing ideas for discussion almost every day of the week!
Like you, I also used to check my stats. But that’s not what I do anymore when I first sit down on my table every morning. I also did very little stumbling or networking. Now this activity alone occupies much of my time on the web! It’s interesting how my life as a blogger has evolved!
At the moment, I am experimenting whether posting over the weekend makes sense or not. I’m just not sure how much additional traffic it can bring. What do you think?
Evelyn
My typical schedule:
1) Work on the days post. Actually this a two day event. I think about what I’m going to write and write it for the following day.
2) Visit and comment on blogs that I visit regularly
3) Visit and comment on new blogs.
4) Check e-mails and stat
5) Visit and comment on more blogs
I try to get all of this in on a typical day. When I’m busy, I usually cut-out #3, #4, and #5
chriss last blog post..How To Clean Your Arse: A Revelation
Hi Jamie,
Welcome to the BWAB community!
I “heard” my name being mentioned on your blog, so came by and read your current post. Great links!
That’s a great accomplishment to have your to do list done each day. I strive for that, but the need for my “beauty rest” usually wins the battle. 😆
Hi Barbara,
So far my blogging activities are checking comments and email, working on blog posts, visiting other blogs and commenting when appropriate.
While new to this world, I just love blogging and would love to do more, but also have a family and other commitments to keep. I hope to figure out a way to fit more blog-time in each day.
Have a great week!
Linda Abbits last blog post..Children Always Welcome Here
Hi Barbara
Well I’m sitting here writing this comment instead of getting on with my next blog post. I’ve decided to stop panicking that I’m way overdue with the post – I spent the day baby-sitting the piano tuner and reading and making notes from a book that will give me ideas in the future (i’ve figured I’m in for the long haul – I may as well see thinking ahead as a useful activity).
I have a family commitment that takes me out of Melbourne for 1 to 3 days a week, and while it’s not that much time, it unsettles my workflow. I prefer to write this here rather than on my blog, because the “family commitment” may start reading my blog soon (a scary thought) – especially as I am in the process of getting the internet on for her!
@John Hoff – StatCounter also gives live stats (it’s the one I use most – and look at FAR too often!)
Robins last blog post..Gratitude and Miracles
I’m curious, what stats do you use that give you current stats throughout the day. For example, I use Google Analytics and this only shows the previous day – so why would you check it multiple times (unless researching deeper maybe)?
I think it’s every blogger’s (and entrepreneur’s) motto to never be able to finish everything they have set out to do for the day. It just never happens, does it?
My schedule fluctuates depending on my wife’s work schedule (she’s a wedding planner and also owns a beaded jewelry business).
1. I wake up about 4:30am – 5:30am and check and reply to any comments and emails (also ongoing).
2. I then try not to get distracted by reading too many blogs and get to work on creating my own blog articles. Being that I only post 2 to 3 times per week I try to get them written and finished earlier in the week which then frees up my mornings for posting new information in my community forum.
3. I tinker with my website.
4. Read blogs, visit a forum I frequent, and/or browse on Stumble Upon.
5. If I get to it, I try to go on Yahoo! Answers and answer web hosting and design questions for people – basically just trying to round up some business. Or I might head over to Craigslist and post a few ads.
Like you, I rarely finish everything as there is so much in between each of these numbers which I didn’t want to bore you with (like you, I own a business).
My problem is, I really don’t read all that fast (and comprehend). So to me, reading 6 or 7 blog articles a day plus commenting on them takes up a lot of time for me.
John Hoff – eVentureBizs last blog post..50+ WordPress Plugins & Hacks Candy Store
I spend the first hour of each morning checking my stats for the day before, replying to comments and emails that came in over night, and reading new posts and commenting on new posts that came in to my reader over night.
I generally start writing my next post around 3pm. Before then, during the day, I read new posts in my reader and comment on them as and when they come in. I do the same with comments on my own blog. I usually go to bed with no unread posts and no comment left behind. 🙂
Jamie Harrops last blog post..Week 26 Link Love
you SO do not wanna know.
my blogging life is a tiny snippet in comparison to my POTTY TRAINING LIFE 🙂 right now…
Hi Barbara- This is my schedule-
Up at 4:30 to check email and reply to comments.
Then usual life and clinic commences around 6:00 am until 1-2 pm. I’ll then write a little and then go pick up the kids and mommy world starts again. After bedtime I come back to the computer and write for the following day.
I spend most of my time responding to my comments and writing my posts then I try to visit everyone but I usually run out of time.
Despite this my readership is growing. I think it’s the responding to comments that really helps and once or twice a week I really go for hours and visit a lot of blogs. And I mean hours. I grab something to drink and don’t get up!
(Sitting in the hotel in Hawaii it’s 8:42 pm Guam time but already very early am for everyone else. Tomorrow is going to be a coffee day!)
Dr.Casons last blog post..Can Someone Help with Me with the Bags?
Hi Barbara – This varies for me a lot. I used to write my post early in the morning, until I started this new medication. Now I’m finding I’ll write it later in the day and post it in the evening. And often, if I feel like writing a lot, I’ll try to write a few posts ahead.
Other tasks are just when I can fit them in. Reading other blogs is usually next on the list and respond to comments when I’m able to. I check stats once or twice a week.
Aside from that I don’t do a lot with my blog right now. I’m currently not doing any social networking or marketing, which is bad, but I’m trying to fit so many things into the day – especially as I’m planning to emigrate.
I think I’d forget to check my stats if other people didn’t remind me to!
I do most of my blogging-related stuff M-F. I generally try not to on the weekends, other than responding to comments.
My typical day is to read and comment on other blogs during the day, respond to comments in the evening, write a post in the evening (maybe 2-4 times a week), and check stats whenever.
I’m also usually reading a book or ebook that I can use or discuss on my blog, or writing an ebook of my own.
@ Evelyn, I don’t check my feeds on the weekend, so Monday morning I have a lot to catch up on, and posts are much more likely to be “marked as read” without actually being read. Of course, I’d definitely read all your posts anyway, but consider that posting on the weekend might give you less “bang for the buck” than posting on weekdays.
This does make interesting reading. I’m not sure I have a blogging routine anymore as I am trying to reduce the time I spend blogging and feeding my social media obsession.
I used to write lots of draft posts (I have too many ideas) and edit about 3 a week up to publishable standard (this is the hard part for me and my perfectionist streak). I would also spend ages visiting other blogs and commenting, then do my diggs and stumbling, check my stats, and reply to emails and comments. Of course this was shoved in between taking care of my son, the house, copywriting work, work emails, my fiction and off-line relationships. Oh, and I was also dabbling in internet marketing and studying that. All this got way too hard and the fun started to go out of it.
Now I’ve decided to refocus my life on what’s truly important to me and that means my son and my fiction and a new business idea I’m investigating. I love blogging but I do it for fun and connection so there’s no need to spend time actively growing it. I have only checked my stats on average once a month since April.
I still read a lot of blogs, but I drop this when necessary. I stumble less, but now I love twitter. I check my emails twice a day and not on the weekend until Sunday night. I reply to comments morning and night, but have cut my posting back to once a week. This will go up to twice now I’ve got my groove back.
Sometimes I think the best thing you can do for yourself and your blog is to interrupt your usual schedule, take a break, re- evaluate and then return with a new perspective. This blogging game can certainly eat into your life, if you let it.
Kelly
Kelly@SHE-POWERs last blog post..SHE-POWER Fiction: The Girl in the Window
I’m not sure I’m on a blogging schedule anymore. I used to wake up and answer any emails and blog comment, then visit a few blogs in the morning, yours being one of them, or when I get to work, I check on a few. I write or make a notation of any future posts in my head or on a sheet of paper until the rest comes to me, then I’ll slip it in drafts. When I get home before bed, I start surfing again, commenting and reading other people’s blog. I usually reply to my comments around the 8-8:30ish hour. I need a better schedule than this. I have been reading a lot of blogs this past weekend and leaving comments.
Naturals last blog post..High Priced Domain
I think my blogging schedule would surprise a lot of people who don’t read my blog or know me.
I do almost all of my writing offline on the weekends. I normally write a week’s worth of posts on the weekends and save them to a thumb drive. I then cut and paste these posts onto my blog every weekday.
During the summer I am limited to about an hour a day online. I always go to my blog before I do anything else online. I approve any comments that are waiting for me, post an entry, and then check my email.
I then read the Blogs to Check that I have on the sidebar and try to comment on them. Sometimes I have time to surf but most of the times I do not.
This routine works good for me. I enjoy blogging so much and spend so much time thinking about and writing posts. It’s surprising that I spend most of this time offline but that’s how it has to be right now.
Chase Marchs last blog post..My Top 5 All-time Favourite TV Shows
My schedule:
1. Write blog post.
2. Edit.
3. Give to my wife to edit while I social network – comment on other blogs, twitter, plurk, Digg
4. Find photo and post it.
5. More social network if I have time.
I’m learning to let go of checking my stats too often too. Blogging can get really frustrating if I get too caught up in trying to reach my outlandish goals.
Karl Staib – Your Work Happiness Matterss last blog post..Give It Your All, Not for Your Boss, But for Your Own Work Happiness
This is a fascinating thread. I think the best blogging schedule is something that suits the blogger best in her schedule and rhythm.
For me, I am most efficient when I follow a routine. My writing style is an outline first, flesh out later. I batch a lot of draft outlines on the weekend, but flesh them out as publishing time gets close.
I subscribe to nearly 200 blogs (!) so I read/comment/stumble them once in the day and once at night. If I don’t finish, I just mark all as read, or else they pile up.
Regarding stats, I check them daily but I think that’s too much. I’m planning to cut back to only weekends.
I’m trying to get into Twitter/Plurk, but that seems like yet another time sync. I’m curious to see how people specifically have Twitter/Plurk/Friendfeed, or whatever into their schedule?
Al at 7Ps last blog post..Which Superhero Blockbuster Movie Are You?
After three months, I still haven’t settled into a regular pattern. I write when I’ve got the bug, so it’s not every day. I do spend time every day reading and commenting. I try to balance that with behind the scenes stuff.
I keep trying to establish routines, but I just love letting life get in the way!
My only blogging routine is this: post something inspiring every other day!
Since I create for a living, my life and work intermingle, so I’m always in a state of looking for inspiring stuff, whether it’s surfing the net or taking photos with my iPhone while sitting in traffic. It’s impossible for me to schedule the blogging.
Mark – Creative Journey Cafes last blog post..Have You Seen ‘Smoke’?
After reading all this comment i think i should seriously think about time management and work on my blogging schedule.
right now am not following any particular routine. i check my stats when ever i feel like or read feeds i have subscribed. post only 4 new article (thats Max number) but 1 thing that i do without failing is checking Blogging without Blog and 7pProduction every day. 🙂
Sunil Pathaks last blog post..Pleas Help Me My Friends Are My Only Subscribers
@ Barbara & Robin – I actually have SiteMeter set up on my site, however I think I configured it wrong because it always sends me 0 activity. I just haven’t gotten around to fixing it.
I try not to look at those stats too often, however I do research how people find me.
This is a good post. I enjoy reading how others work.
John Hoff – eVentureBizs last blog post..A Glimmer Of Hope For Those With Bad Credit
My typical day consists of checking my stats… And on occasion, I find time to write an article and comment on other blogs.
One thing I do try to do, however… Is to write articles ahead of time. I do not post every day. The goal of my blog, at this time, is three posts a week.
Bamboo Forests last blog post..Be Embarrassed about Nothing
My typical blogging day goes something like this:
1) get to the office, read and comment… check back for responses…
2) if something strikes me start a blog entry.
3) if I’m lucky it will be quick and get posted, if not (such as my entry on bio-plastics which I started a couple weeks ago) it lingers in my drafts.
4) check back when/if someone comments and respond
That’s about as close to a schedule as I get. That can take place in the morning, afternoon, evening… whenever. I’m pretty casual with my blog at the moment.
Occasionally there’s also the photo’s I throw in. This happens whenever I come across something that I want to share. Usually when it happens (straight from the camera phone)… but I’m not sure if you can call that a true “blog” entry… more just a photo caption really.
hyrcans last blog post..My new neighborhood is always a party!
Hi Robin,
Time away can upset our (blog) work flow. Learning to adjust our schedules becomes the key – which is not always that easy to do.
Hi MizFit,
Welcome to the BWAB community!
I don’t envy you at all, but I’m sure potty training takes priority. Good luck! 🙂
Hi Dr. Cason,
It’s great to see your comment as I know you’ve in Hawaii for a few days. I pray you find an answer for Jake’s health condition.
Hi Catherine,
I do know you have a lot on your plate right now (with your plans for emigrating), but it sounds like you’ve been able to adjust your schedule to accommodate the changes.
Hi Natural,
I’m sure not having access to the internet threw a money wrench into your schedule too. That’s always a frustrating event.
Hi Karl,
That’s awfully sweet of your wife to edit your posts for you. Do you think we’ll see her guest posting on your blog?
Hi Hunter,
I’m guessing reading books that you’re going to review takes up a chunk of your time. Plus, writing ebooks isn’t an easy feat either.
BTW: I’m slowing making my way through your fascinating book about Japan. It’s a great read.
Hi Al,
I hear you. I, too, like some sort of “routine”.
I know what you and Hunter are saying about hitting the “mark as read” button, I do that a lot to the big name blogs I subscribe to. I just scan the titles.
RE: Twitter/Plurk/Friendfeed, personally, I do not have time for them, although I’ve read they are great ways to get more traffic.
Hi Kelly,
For you bloggers who have young children, I can imagine it’s difficult to have much of a routine.
I agree, life itself and those around us, should be our top priority. With blogging being an (additive) hobby, finding balance becomes most important. Putting undue pressure on ourselves sets us up for burnout.
Hi Sara,
You have the right idea; blog when the urge strikes, and enjoy life in the process.
Hi Chase,
From reading your blog, I know you’re at the library (for one hour a day), for blogging purposes. With a time frame of 5 hours a week, you’ve found a great way to be efficient by utilizing your time to the max.
Hi Mark,
As an artist, it sounds like you’re constantly being inspired. Your blog posts reflect that.
Hi Sunil,
Thank you for your kind words.
Keep in mind, although some bloggers prefer a blogging schedule, others do fine without one. If what you’re doing is working for you, keep doing it.
Hi John,
Double check where your code is entered. Mine is in my main index template php file. I’ll come by later and visit, and then you can see if your numbers change.
Hi Bamboo,
Writing posts ahead of time is a great idea. I’ve done some of that in the past, but often the time element prevents it.
Hi Hyrcan,
I actually enjoy blog posts that display photos with a caption or brief summary. It’s a great way to share favorite pictures. Many use that technique for their “Wordless Wednesdays”.
Hi Ann,
Congratulations again on your new job.
Anytime we start making major changes, like switching over to a self hosted blog or changing our themes, it becomes time consuming (and a learning lesson). Just hang in there, I have no doubt you’ll do just fine.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Hi Lance,
For new bloggers it’s often a question of what’s the most important. If you read about blogging (which I did a lot of), it can be overwhelming. That’s when you need to step back and ask, “what works for me?”. There’s no way we can do it all and still live a productive and happy life.
And yes, as the months go by, you’ll see your blogging patterns changing.
I’m not sure I have a typical day. because I have my family and my paid work to tend to. But I do try to read and comment daily, even if that means not posting daily.
I don’t spend any time to speak of on social media because I still don’t get it!
My posting has dropped off lately, partly because of my new job, and partly because I’ve been working on putting together a new self-hosted blog, and that has been challenging – and time-consuming!
I have no doubt that I could happily spend all day working on blogging if I had the time!
Ann at One Bag Nations last blog post..Wear Your Clothes!
I’m like Sara, where I don’t really have a well -established pattern to blogging yet. I’ve been at this only for a couple of months or so. Currently I am trying to blog in the early morning (it gives me a reason not to continuously hit the snooze button). And then I follow up on other blogs here and there throughout the day. At first I got to spending a little too much time analyzing statistics. Then I realized, that I should really spend this time either writing posts, or visiting other blogs. That has been much more enligtening that just viewing stats (although I still check them out regularly). So, also like Evelyn stated, there has been a process of evolving both in what I write and how I blog. It’s actually interesting to think back about it, and see where I came from and how things have changed (even in such a short period of time).
Lances last blog post..Family Time is Fun Time
Hi John,
As you know, I don’t mind “off subject” comments.
When I “go Stumbling” I will either hit the “Stumble” button (in the tool bar) and go from site to site (within my preferences), or I will go directly to my home page, check to see if anyone “friended” me, check what others are Stumbling, or else I’ll Stumble a great post.
Because I’m terrible about checking emails, I often miss messages I might have in my Stumble inbox.
Great stuff can be found on SU, but sometimes you have to spend time finding it.
Hi Davina,
It’s tough to put ourselves on a schedule when we’re not certain how much time we want to devote to blogging. What I found finally worked for me was growing my blog slow. That gave me time to adjust to the changes. I also tweaked my other work and home life schedules so I can get done what’s important to me.
YES, I noticed your avatar is working. What a beauty!
I’m glad I could help.
Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate it!
Hi John,
Don’t ask me why, but I ended up putting it in my main index page template php file and it works fine.
Hi Barbara. Sorry this is a little off topic but I was wondering, when you say you spend time stumbling, what exactly is it you do?
I only ask because I’m still somewhat new on SU and still trying to figure out what the normal stumble user does. I know how to use the tool bar, I’m just wondering what all you do?
Thanks
John Hoff – eVentureBizs last blog post..A Glimmer Of Hope For Those With Bad Credit
I still have to establish some kind of blogging routine. But I do check my stats way too much than required. What I still can’t figure out is how much time/% time should be allotted to each category of task. Writing posts, commenting on other blogs, using social media, increasing knowledge on own domain and blogging in general. There is so much to do. What is the best way to fit everything together.
Avani-Mehtas last blog post..Mind Power to Overcome Anxiety And Be Stress Free
@ Barbara – Sitemeter says to put the code in my sidebar template?
John Hoff – eVentureBizs last blog post..A Glimmer Of Hope For Those With Bad Credit
Schedule? Hmmm… don’t have one yet and THAT is driving me crazy! I’m usually a super-organized person, but life has dealt me a new hand and I haven’t learned how to play it yet 🙂
I love blogging, but don’t have an idea for my next post (which is overdue — boo hoo). The weekend was spent at a Coaching Workshop and now I’m proofreading for a friend this week who’s on holidays. I miss my blog and all of yours too… I’ll be back…
One thing that I like to do is revist the blogs where I have commented and read the reply.
Davinas last blog post..The Beauty Path
PS… notice that I DID find some time to get that avatar working!!! Thanks for your direction on that Barbara, and I agree with Evelyn about your dedication to this blog.
Davinas last blog post..The Beauty Path
1. First thing in the morning, drink espresso, check for and respond to comments that arrived over night
2. Go to work, and during my breaks (well, you know..for the most part during my breaks) write my next day’s post, read blogs I can access from work, write reponses and save to notepad (because I can’t post at work)
3. Upon arriving home, drink an iced espresso, respond to any comments that arrived during the day, copy and paste my comments to other blogs, and post the next day’s blog. Read and comment on the blogs I wasn’t able to access from work.
4. After all the household chores are done, drink espresso and eat dark chocolate, settle in for an hour or so, to work on technical blogging strategies with the Urbane Lion, and help him wordsmith his blog postings (Urbane Lion’s Den coming soon!), because he’s a Frenchman writing in English and by his own admission needs a little polishing.
I could dedicate a whole day to blogging, but my 9-5, well paid, benefits included, steady paycheque job seems to get in the way. Now if I could only win that lottery.
Urban Panthers last blog post..Santagati and the Great Canadian Beaver
Hi Urban Panther,
I’m guessing espresso and dark chocolate are faves of yours. 🙂
Like you, I too, could blog all day, but it doesn’t pay the bills, so I work……..
Win the lottery? How sweet would that be?
Hi Avani,
With you being a new blogger I would say to concentrate first on writing. It’s important to build your archives so that when people come and visit, they can experience as much of your writing as possible.
Commenting on other blogs is important too. That helps others to find you (which a lot of us have), and builds community.
Social media can help to increase traffic numbers, but often they are passer byes; not sticking around to join your community.
Knowing the back end of your blog becomes important when you want to make changes and/or add stuff.
How do you balance it all? Pick the most important (writing), and go from there. Add things as you have time. Be careful not to overdo it, as bloggers often burnout within the first six months.
Remember to enjoy the journey!
Hi Sara with an “h”,
Your comment reminds me of when I started blogging. I spent nearly all of my time on writing and working/learning the back end. I read blogs, but didn’t comment. In hindsight, I wish I had.
Because I didn’t spend time on building community, I now have over a hundred posts that sit dormant (some may never be read).
As much as most of us bloggers would love to write 24/7, in order to get our work found, we do need to put ourselves “out there”.
Barbara,
It really depends from day to day, ‘cos I am a SAHM with 3 litlte kids. 🙂 Typically, I TRY to get one blog post written before 10am but it doesn’t always happen that way.
I check my Google Reader once every other day or two. I am checking my stats less and less frequently. Sometimes I think I get overwhelmed with the other aspects of blogging and wish I could focus on the writing only, but I do enjoy the community and I do realize that if I didn’t stick my nose out there and participate, there would be no community for me to enjoy, so I just keep plugging at it when I can!
I’d love to have more time to just write though!
Hi Jennifer,
Now it’s just a matter of fitting in all of your favorite blogging activities in a manner that enhances your life.
Happy Blogging! 🙂
I’m in the process of totally reworking my daily activities/schedule so I can’t say what they will be at the time.
I can say it has been lots of reading other blogs, commenting, stumbling, digging, emails and a lot of time spent on my one post per week.
Barbara –
I do all of the tasks that you’ve listed but I don’t have a set time or certain sequence. When I write, I tend to spend entire day or two writing. I normally write long posts – 1500-2000 words. Once I finish writing and publish the article, I go around the blogosphere and make comments on the blogs that I like. Lately, social networking is also taking a great deal of time. It’s a juggernaut act of balancing your life and love for the blogging.
Shilpan
Shilpan | successsoul.coms last blog post..7 Habits to Master the Art of Winning against the Odds
Hi Shilpan,
You’re right, it can be a balancing act, but we do have to remember, life is for living. We certainly don’t want to miss out on the joys of our friends and families.
Hi John,
You had me shaking my head, saying WHAT? Then I realized you took my answer literally. 😆
Hi Evelyn,
That’s true. Blogging could end up being very exhaustive. I don’t think it’s worth putting ourselves is a position where it affects our health.
@ Barbara – oh, I’ll ask. And there’s nothin’ you can do about it 😉
well . . . except deleting this comment LOL 😉
John Hoff – eVentureBizs last blog post..A Glimmer Of Hope For Those With Bad Credit
Hey Barbara, thanks for your reply. I think I would have to agree with the “burn out” thing. I sure wouldn’t want to end up in hospital for exhaustion, due to an exerting life as a blogger! Gotta work out a balance somehow.
Evelyn
Evelyn Lims last blog post..Think Simple Now and Grow Rich
Nice to kind of pick the brain of another blogger. I have become more organized, trying to write posts the same three days each week, the same way (I write with pen and paper, then type up word doc, then add to blog page). I try to stay on top of comments and visiting other blogs, as you mention, but often get bogged down with the all the networking. As for weekends…it is a wonderful day when I ignore my laptop for most of it.
peace,
Mike
livelife365
Mike Fosters last blog post..This Spud’s For You
I’m late for the party but will add my 2 cents anyway. 🙂
I write in batches. I tend to write several posts once a week and pre-date them. The rest of the workweek, I spend about 2 hours per day reading other blogs + commenting +stumbling, and another half an hour reading and answering blog-related emails.
I check my stats once a day.
I publish 3 posts per week and am considering going down to 2 per week. It’s VERY important to me to find the right balance between blogging and other activities.
Hi Vered,
It sounds like you have your schedule well organized. Decreasing to two posts a week would free up more time, and I know with you having a family, that’s important.
Blogging can sssoooooo become an addiction that takes up a lot of time!!! I try not to worry too much about the stats but I can’t help myself. I mean c’mon, if it wasn’t for my readers, I don’t think my content would matter (and that’s just it…I WANT it to matter).
Anyway here’s my typical day:
– Check e-mail & respond to comments (if anyone is new to the site I usually send out an introductory e-mail to tell them how I appreciate that “anyone” is listening)
– Check Stats: I only check my stats after I look at my e-mail for any comments. I try and be observant of who’s reading what. In other words, what posts tend to stand out more.
– Work on New Posts: from there I go to brushing up any drafts that I have saved up. Currently I only manage to stay 1-3 posts ahead. I’d feel much more comfortable if I could do more so that I can adhere to a consistent posting schedule. But alas, you never know when inspiration will strike so I do what I can.
– Visit Regular Blogs: there are certain blogs that are my favorite. I visit them frequently…sometimes I comment, sometimes I don’t. But I”m reading them every day. I only try and comment if I have something constructive to say.
– Social Networks: I don’t participate as much as I used to in this area. I used to author an different blog and participated much more in these…
There ya have it. That’s a rough sketch of what some of my blogging consists of. I think I”ll leave it at that (I’d hate for my comment to take up half the page, LOL).
Ricardo Buenos last blog post..It’s "OK" to get Personal!
Hi Ricardo,
I don’t mind if you take up half the page 😆
It sounds like your schedule is similar to mine. We can only do so much in a day, and some things fall off.
It’s easy to become a stataholic, isn’t it. I try real hard not to waste too much time on those.