Blogging productivity — How to plan 5 months of articles in a day

I love to have everything planned, especially when it concerns the things I want to do. Having a routine, knowing when things will happen, and having deadlines reassure me; I like to feel grounded in this way. My blog is no exception; planning is essential; it helps you have a fixed schedule. In the social media world, a fixed schedule is necessary; not only do your readers know that on this day you're going to publish something, but the algorithm will push you forward; you're regular, you're present, everything the algorithm likes.

Planning five months of blog articles in a single day requires organization, focus, and a clear content strategy, whether you have just started your blog or not.

First, set clear goals and themes:

Define your purpose: understand why you're creating this content. Is it to grow your audience, drive traffic, or establish authority in your niche? Knowing this will guide your topics and style.

Choose core themes: identify 3-5 key themes or categories that reflect your blog's focus. For a lifestyle blog, themes include wellness, home decor, travel, productivity, and personal development.

Before starting my blog, I took a paper and a notebook and listed everything I love to do. I've been doing these things for years, meaning I have enough tryouts and mistakes to give advice. But even though I chose to have many subjects, you can still have multiple subjects. You can focus only on one topic—it's okay!

Second, brainstorm article ideas by theme.

Spend time brainstorming topics for each core theme. Aim for 5-10 ideas per theme. Here is what I used to generate ideas:

1. Keyword research: I used Google Keyword Planner to find popular search terms.

2. Audience questions: look at FAQs from your audience, social media, or forums like Quora or Reddit to see what people are asking.

3. Competitor analysis: browse other blogs in your niche to see what's working for them, then adapt those ideas to your unique perspective.

4. Content format: Mix up formats to keep things interesting (for example, how-to's, lists, personal stories, interviews, tutorials).

For example, bullet journals. What do I love about them? Stickers! I love all the stickers, so I can make an article about all the websites I found cheap and beautiful stickers on when you're on a budget but still want to do one. I love the part about being organized. I can write an article about how I use my bujo to stay organized (which is coming).

Third, organize topics into a content calendar. Use a calendar or a spreadsheet: A visual tool like Google Calendar, Trello, or an Excel sheet can help you map out your content over the next five months.

Third, assign specific dates: Decide how often you'll post. For instance, if you plan to post twice a week, you'll need about 40-50 posts for five months. Space out your content ideas on specific days, ensuring theme variety. As I said earlier, you have to be regular. I chose a rhythm of an article every four days. This rhythm allows me to focus on other projects while writing the article, researching, and editing it.

So, when you think about your schedule, consider everything—what you have to do around your house, your job, and your family—and then set a schedule that fits it. If you put one that is how you wish it to be but can't keep up with it, the algorithm will shadow you.

Fourth, balance content types and themes. Alternate content types: Mix up different posts—how-to guides, personal stories, interviews, product reviews, or listicles —to keep your blog fresh and engaging.

Fourth, vary your weekly themes: For weeks, focus less on one theme and rotate between themes like wellness, productivity, and travel to appeal to different audience segments.

Five, pre-write working titles and briefs. For each article, write down:

1. A working title: Something catchy that conveys the topic.

2. A short outline or notes: Just a couple of bullet points about the main ideas, so you already have a structure when you write.

Example for a post titled "How to Stay Active Without Going to the Gym":

• Bullet points:

• Benefits of home workouts

• Five bodyweight exercises

• Walking and hiking tips.

Sixth, plan for seasonal or timely content. Consider holidays, seasonal changes, and relevant trends. For example, plan holiday-related posts for December or summer travel tips for June. Review upcoming events or trends that align with your blog and incorporate them into your calendar (example: "New Year's Resolutions for a Healthier You" in January.)

Seventh: schedule research days and writing sessions.

1. Set writing milestones: block off specific times for writing, research, and editing over the coming months. You don't need to write everything simultaneously, but having a schedule ensures consistent output.

2. Batch write: Try to write multiple blog posts in one sitting. For example, you could dedicate a day to writing three to five posts simultaneously.

Eighth, account for Flexibility. Leave room for adjustments if you are inspired to write spontaneous posts or react to trends. Keep a few gaps in your calendar for timely articles.

Ninth, plan promotional strategies.

1. For each blog post, plan how you will promote it (e.g., on social media, through email newsletters, or Pinterest). You can also repurpose blog posts into shorter social media updates.

Tenth, track, and adjust. After publishing, monitor the performance of your posts using Google Analytics or your blog platform's analytics. If specific themes or formats perform better than others, adjust future content.

Feel free to search for ideas on Pinterest! I created a board for this purpose. It's good to search for ideas, prompts, and so on!

Following this process, you can map out five months of blog content daily, ensuring your writing remains organized and relevant. Don't pressure yourself, though. It's my way of doing things; it's what I've found works for me; each individual has an organization that works out for them. Don't be afraid to try things, to make mistakes. We've all been there; you have to start somewhere, and one day, you'll be at a place where you'll be able to write your article about the mistakes you've made and help others to avoid them or recover from them! If you have more questions, don't hesitate to email me, and I will gladly answer them and help you further.