I wrote a post for PureBlogging, called 3 Ways an Editorial Calendar Improves Your Blog. It came out pretty good, I think. Go read it, because only then will you get the full impact of what I’m about to say next. I’ll still be here when you get back.
You’re back? Ok, here’s the deal. The post is about editorial calendars. Let me ask you a question: do you think that I wrote it according to an editorial calendar? It would seem so–the post leaves you with that impression, doesn’t it?
I wrote it in the middle of last night in less than twenty minutes.
This post you’re reading right now? I’m writing it in less than fifteen minutes before I leave for work this morning.
So much for my “editorial calendar,” huh?
So, I admit it. I am a big hypocrite. I do have an editorial calendar, and when I followed it, it did give me the benefits I described in my post on PureBlogging. But I’m doing a lousy job of following it… I just kinda sorta conveniently left that little fact out of it. Even though it’s great advice, I’m not doing a very good job of taking my own advice.
But one of the amazing things about blogging is that being real counts more in the end than almost anything else. I can take my worst mistakes and parade them in front of you and use them to help you. We learn infinitely more from our mistakes than we do from our successes. The best part is, you don’t even have to make the mistakes yourself–you can learn from mine.
When you’re reading advice on the web from anyone who’s telling you how to make money, how to blog, how to write, or how to do anything–you gotta wonder if they’re really walking the talk.
You know, if I really was sticking to my editorial calendar, this little off-the-cuff gem would never have been written, and that would’ve been the real shame.
Now it’s confession time. I dare you to spill your little inconsistencies in the comments below…
Michael,
Awesome. Hey, we all stumble and admission of it brings out the human side.
I don’t even have to list my inconsistencies here, I write about them on my blog…
My own screw ups provide ideas for blog posts!
(I knew there was a reason I subtitled it fail early, fail often)
I’m quite consistent blog wise, though I do advise people against placing Text Link Ads on their blogs when I have them myself.
I’ve taken the hit already, and weathered the storm.
Ohhhh, You would do this wouldn’t you? I heard about the editorial calendar from Sonia when she was at SOBCon08. “Ooh, what does it look like ?” I emailed her. She told me. I decided , absolutely the way to go. I would be lying if I said it is in full usage right now. But I have more posts mapped out than I did before.
Let me throw out this idea here: Successive approximation. We’re all tossing ourselves at one goal or another and wanting a practice of sublime and beautiful balance. Do we hit the target dead center each time? Do we have that perfected routine that allows us to be gods of the internet? Uh..sometimes yes, sometimes no, but if we move closer with each effort, I’m thinking we aren’t in bad shape. We do consistently show up and keep that bar up there for each other.
Now if I could just map out my workouts more consistently, maybe those few inches on my waistline would shrink too….any body got a map for that? Uh, oh, don’t tell Navarro.
Brett – Yup, nobody here but us human beings!
Rhys – Yeah, ouch. But now the storm’s over and you’re better for it.
Janice – “Successive approximation” just became my favorite new phrase! Thanks for that!
Ah, Janice, I like that. I am a person who has never really managed to do anything effective with goals. I write them down with dates and they’re measurable and all of that. I make up the list of milestones that lead to the goal. I create my next action list. I do some tasks. At that point, I’m so sick of the stupid idea that I stuff it in a drawer and go prune the roses.
My attempt at the editorial calendar lasted three days, I’m afraid. I might get better use out of it as a record of what’s been done than a plan for what is to be done. I coveted Chris Garrett’s so much, with its satisfying colored boxes for different kinds of posts.
Thanks, Michael. You are welcome. It ‘s a super useful concept.
Sonia, I hear you. LOL.
I’m still in that particular ring of hell called content strategy, so I haven’t gotten to the fun color codes and block arrangements, yet. I will haul out ical and have a blast when I do.
I like the idea of using it archealogically like you said too. At the moment though, I have to go pot some herbs before they croak. I may check the roses while I am out there…I so hear you. Thanks too.
So now the question is: does Chris Garrett stick to his own editorial calendar?
I think you should ask him… uh, go ahead we’re right behind you.
I’ve thought about this a few times.. I do write in advance, and I do let people know what’s coming up and when they might see it, but I’m apt to change things as I decide something needs more work or bump something else up because it seems like the right thing to put out today.. I dunno if that makes me hypocritical, but it certainly is unpredictable..
Ah scheduling. What a wonderful thing. If only we could decide what would happen. If only we were all powerful and had absolute control of others (and ourselves). Until then . . .
I do think a content schedule is a very helpful thing. I have one at the day job. It is very useful. We don’t hold to it rigidly, and there is always room for surprise, but it’s beneficial to do the “thinking up what content to produce” step separately from the “producing content” step.
I approach my blog differently than I do my day job, for which I know Naomi D. wants to kick my ass daily. Then again, I get very different rewards from my blog. I do have a little more of a calendar that I follow for Copyblogger. This is all apparently pointing to my being pitifully other-directed, which is, well, undeniable.
Harry and I always – hands down – promote stockpiling blog drafts and banking up posts for the upcoming days. In a big way. It’s the solution to all blogging woes.
Um, and for the past week, we’ve run our bank empty and are posting the night before to cover the next day. Today, I have no posts for tomorrow or any day after that.
Scrambling? Oh yes.
It’s not for lack of ideas or something to say. It’s simply that we had so much work that we used it all up and had none left to write posts.
Speaking of which, excuse me. I need to get something ready to cover tomorrow.
Hmmm… confessions?
How about this one:
I rely on my wife do catch most of my blogging errors. When she doesn’t read my posts before I publish them, I almost always wind up editing them after the fact.
I do better with other types of writing, because I know she’s not going to be reading them. I have to be more diligent.
I know I bang the dedicated self-editing gong, and I believe it, too. Even if I don’t always practice it.
Ok, so I posted on the intro article first about the editorial calendar being good in theory, but sticking to it was the hard part. Now that I read this seems like others agree and I am not alone …
I have found using a list of topics helpful, but with not necessarily a date attached to when they get posted. Now if I could only find the time to actually sit and write them ….
Thanks for coming forward. I read blog after blog telling businesses that posting takes a big commitment. blah!
I’m looking for a George Costanza clip Pitching the show about nothing:
George: What did you do when you got up today?
NBC Guy: Uhhh…I ate breakfast…
George: BAM! That’s your episode
Organizations engage with clients & prospects every day. They go to meetings and discuss products. All great blog “episodes” for business blogging.
Chris Baggott
CEO
Compendium Blogware
http://www.compendiumblogware.com
@Sonia – Yes the “thinking up content to produce” part of it is probably the most useful.
@James – Me, too. My stockpile has dwindled.
@Bob – Looks like you need her to edit your comments, too!
Oh yeah, my stockpile of posts is down to sticks & stems. I do have a few in reserve, but they’re all the oddballs that feel a little weird and risky. Maybe I should just throw ‘em on out there.
I did just confess on my own blog that despite my peace, granola, and oneness of the universe protestations, I drive too fast and curse a blue streak at slow people in front of me.
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