Organizing + The Business Side of Blogging - In My Own Style

I enjoy every aspect of blogging, but the business side of the job and keeping it all organized is the most time consuming part for me. I find this is also the hardest part as technology is constantly changing and you have to be on top of all of it so it all runs smoothly?? You see the creative side, but there is so much more involved when you are a blogger.

When you read most finished posts ? they sometimes look effortless, but? actually took hours toplan and complete and I am not talking about how long it took to make the actual project or take the photos.? It is the business side ? reading and responding to dozens and dozens of email requests and inquiries daily, the advertising, sponsored posts information, social media, server issues, hosting accounts, sponsor contracts, and more. Taking care of all of this is a full time job all by itself.? It is part of the job description when you become a ?Blogger?.

Up until now, I have been able to do it all myself, but as my blog has grown, so has the business side workload.? In the fall, I will be hiring a VA (virtual assistant) for a few hours a week to help me with the business aspects of blogging, so I can give 100% to the creative side.

To help me get it under control and be able to give an assistant a clear set of tasks, I need a plan of action.? I first have to plan out the creative and editorial side ? post ideas, post dates, sponsored posts, shopping lists, etc.

To help me see this big picture, I just completed making a pin board to place a large editorial calendar.? I put it on the wall next to my desk in my studioffice.

How to Make a Custom Size Pinboard

I made the board by taping 3 pieces of foam insulation sheets (sold in the lumber aisle at the home improvement store) together and covered it with fabric. I used? hot glue to attach the boards together side-by-side and duct tape over the seams and to secure the fabric on the back.?? I then used a glue stick to attach ribbon to the outer edge and spaced furniture tacks along the ribbon.? I bought the tacks at Lowes.

It is so lightweight that I hung it up with bank pins.? The calendar pages are cut from a wall calendar. I laminated each with self-laminating sheets that I bought at Walmart so that I can write on them with dry erase markers.

As the Editor-In-Chief, I am enjoying filling it out.? I like being able to see at a glance what I will be posting in December.? It is not set in stone, but if gives me an overall idea of what is ahead and hopefully will keep me on tract.? ? and maybe even get a few posts ahead of schedule.

This new editorial calendar complements my main source of keeping track of everything I do for my blog, both on the creative and business side. It is my Planner Pad. I call it my brain book.

Some sponsors for my blog come to me, but I sometimes go to them first.

This was the case with Planner Pad. Since I loved and used the product and wanted to share it with you, I asked the company if they would send me one to give away. That was over a year ago. When I had only one month left on last years Planner Pad, my contact at the company emailed me knowing I would need a new one and sent it to me along with more to give away.

While I try my best to get posts up in a timely manner, in trying to do it all ? I forgot about them until 2 weeks ago when I found them under a stack of fabric.

3 of them for 3 of you!

If you don?t know what a Planner Pad is and why I love mine, you can read the post I wrote about it here ? Happy New Year!? I could not live without it. It is the best planner I have ever used. I have tried many, but this is perfect for the way I work.

If you would like to win one ? just leave me a c0mment telling me what color ink you would use to write in it. I use a thin tipped black pen and a few markers in my fave colors.?? I will pick 3 winners at the end of the day on Tuesday July 2nd using Random.org.? US residents only.

Upcoming Post Preview:

Did you know that Michaels ? the craft store ? now sells fabric?? I was asked if I would like to receive some of it to make some projects with. Since I am at the store on a weekly basis ? it made sense for me to be a part of the promotion.

The pre-cut fabric, includes cotton, canvas, burlap, felt, faux fur, crushed velvet and tulle, and will be available in a variety of sizes from a half-yard to 2 yards.

I like the black and white chevron. I will show you what I make with it next week.??? I am planning a Fall project with the burlap. ? I already scheduled it and put it on my new editorial calendar

Now that the business week is coming to an end ? it is time for weekend fun to begin.? Tomorrow is my birthday ? looking forward to some downtime with my family.? No blogging, calendars, business, or posts to think about.? When Monday comes around, I will? be relaxed and be excited to get back work.

Speaking of the weekend ? Have you transferred your Google Reader blogs to a new reader yet?? Google Reader will no longer be available after Sunday.? You still have time to transfer your feed. Both bloglovin and feedly are free and will do it automatically for you, but you have to do it before July 1st.

I am using bloglovin and feedly. Can?t decide which one I like better yet. They each have their merits.? Do you read your blogs in a feed reader? Which one do you like best?

Happy Weekend!

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Source: http://inmyownstyle.com/2013/06/organizing-the-business-side-of-blogging.html

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