Keeping My Blog (and Myself) Organized #StaplesBTS

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Sharpie, but all my opinions are my own. #PMedia  #StaplesBTS http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Keeping My Blog (and Myself) Organized #StaplesBTS #PMedia #ad

I’ve been blogging for over two years now and I can tell you, it doesn’t get any easier. Since I have made this into my full-time job, I’ve put so much hard work and dedication, and countless hours into making it the best it can be. When I first started monetizing my blog and taking on sponsored content, I found myself flustered and very unorganized. I had a ton of deadlines to meet and finally thought to myself that it was time to get organized. Every blogger that I have spoken to has different ways of keeping themselves organized. Some like to have everything on their computer (calendars, spreadsheets, documents, etc.) Me, I’m a little old fashioned. I love the smell of ink and the feeling of taking my pen to paper. That is why I love my blog planner and my Sharpie markers.Keeping My Blog (and Myself) Organized #StaplesBTS #PMedia #ad

For all of my business and organizational needs, Staples is my go-to store. I always find great office supplies and paper products. I bought my blog planner notebook at Staples and I always buy my pens, markers, and highlighters from there as well. To keep myself organized, I first looked for a printable planner package. I purchased this one because it is laid out very well and it’s also very pretty 🙂 I then printed my planner pages and added them to a discbound notebook. I purchased the notebook because the color really caught my eye and when I stopped and looked through it, I really liked that it was easy to add/remove pages. I then decided to get some colored pens to help me organize and coordinate different tasks and events. I browsed the pen/marker aisle at Staples and after much research, I chose this set of Sharpie Ultra Fine Markers. The set has a bunch of great colors that were exactly what I was looking for. I also purchased some Sharpie Highlighters and some flags as well. I was now all set to get organized.

Keeping My Blog (and Myself) Organized #StaplesBTS #PMedia #ad

I added my planner pages to the notebook and used my Sharpie Ultra Fine Markers to write down important dates and deadlines. Every important email that I got with a new sponsored campaign or product review went right into my planner. I even ended up creating my own planner pages to monitor the income and expenses of my blog. I also started using my planner to create a meal plan each week so that I wouldn’t have to figure out what to make for dinner each night. I also have a place to jot down notes and write up crochet patterns. I love using my Sharpie Ultra Fine Markers to create color combinations for my patterns too!  It has all kept me super organized has kept me on track with my deadlines. I am also a big fan of Sharpie Highlighters. I use them to highlight important information in books and other materials that I use (yes I highlight my books…don’t judge!) They especially help me study for grad school. I absolutely cannot study unless I highlight key information in my notes. It’s almost impossible.

Keeping My Blog (and Myself) Organized #StaplesBTS #PMedia #ad

I’m not totally stuck in the dark ages. I do use an online editorial calendar for my blog to schedule posts and social media touts. However, I like the idea of writing things down in an actual notebook. It helps me to visualize and remember my tasks better. If you are like me and love pens, markers, highlighters, and paper, and you want to get organized, head over to your local Staples store and get your Sharpie Fine markers, Ultra Fine markers, and Sharpie highlighters on sale while supplies last

If you’re ready to get organized, here’s what you need to remember:

  • Get an editorial calendar – It does not have to be a paper calendar. If you’re more comfortable with an online calendar then go for it! Just make sure to have a place to organize and plan your blog posts.
  • Get a notebook or online note system – You should always have a place that where you can jot down quick notes and ideas for future blog posts. I also keep a list of tasks that I need to complete.
  • Color Code – If you are using pen and paper, try using different colored pens/marker for different tasks. Assigning a color to a task will help you quickly identify your types of tasks/posts at a glance. For example, my sponsored posts are written in purple ink, my crochet posts are written in pink, and my recipes are written in blue
  • Income/Expense report – If you are monetizing your blog, it’s a good idea to keep an income and expense report. That way, at the end of the year, you can have all of your earnings and expenses readily available for when you file your taxes. I keep an extensive list in my blog planner but I also have one in an Excel spreadsheet for my tech savvy hubby/accountant 🙂

I’m sure there are some other things that I am forgetting at the moment but these items are essential for keeping your blog organized and keeping all of those posts flowing! If there is anything that I forgot, leave me a comment and let me know! 🙂 I hope you will take some of these tips and maximize your blog’s full potential! Remember that not everyone works the same way. We all have different things that work for us so make sure to find what method works best for you.

 

 

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