This year I made a goal to have better time management for blogging. A big part of having better time management would be to have a blog planner. I signed up to do a blog mentoring program with Amy at One Artsy Mama. The first week of the blog mentoring program was to write down your goals. Well, I have never written down any goals for my blog since starting it in April of last year. I have kept all my ideas for posts, projects, and goals in my head. I do know, that actually witting your goal down makes you commit to it more and it makes you more successful in reaching these goals. Now here lies that challenge, finding a planner that works. I decided not to spend my money on a pre-printed planner and find out they do not work for what I needed. So after a lot of searching and thinking, I laid out my own blog planner.
In my research for a planner, I did come across Beckie’s planner from Infarranty Creative. I loved her idea, but the pages were not exactly what I needed. I also came across another idea from The Blog Engenizer and I used her calendar idea for remembering to post to my social media sites. I started with a notebook that I already had on hand. I made my tab divider pages out of heavy scrapbook paper and made my planner pages using word and excel. Here is how I made my tab divider pages. I started with 12 x 12 scrapbook paper cut the width to 9 1/2 and the length to 11 1/4 and used my hole punch.
Using my straight-cutting tool, I started 2 inches down from the top of the scrapbook paper and a half-inch from the edge. This gave me a 2-inch tab. I continued with the next divider by cutting it down to 2 inches, lifting my blade and moving it to the 4-inch mark, and continuing to cut from there. I continued to do all the remaining tab pages in this same manner 2 inches down from the last tab divider.
I used my clear mailing labels and made labels for each of the tabs. Next was the outside cover for my blog planner. I cut my scrapbook paper to be 9 1/2 wide x 11 3/4 long. I used Cameron (my silhouette) to cut out the lettering. I printed my logo on a clear label and placed that on the front also. Now for the time-consuming details of planning my pages. The first section was for my calendar and my week of pages. I used Beckie’s planner idea of having a page that flips open so I can change my “week of “page and store my weekly pages without having to move them to another section.
Here are the measurements for the flip divider, 18 inches wide x 11 1/4 inches long. Use your hole punch and place the holes on the right side of the flip divider. Measure from the left edge to 8 3/4 wide and this is where you will fold for a crease to make the flip-out section. Once you have folded the divider, measure from the folded edge (left side) and place a mark 1/4 of an inch down from the top edge at the 2 1/4 inch measurement and the 6 1/2 inch measurement. This will be where you make holes to hold your calendar.
If you will notice, my calendar does not include Sundays, that is because I do not post blogs on Sundays. My monthly calendar has a small space to write my blog topic, and I used the idea from The Blog Energizer to keep track of when I schedule my post to my social media sites. You may also take note of the small box next to the month. I use a “-” (line) to indicate when a post project is done, a “Check mark” to indicate when the post is written and a “Circle” to indicate when the post is scheduled. This allows me to glance at my calendar and get a quick overview of what needs to be done. This quick system is what has helped me a tremendous amount in my blog posts.
Each of the above pictures is the divided sections I use in my blog planner. I have a Detailed Projects page, where I list my ideas. the supplies needed for the project and some links to other pages for inspiration. I have an Important Sites page, where I list all the sites I use with my username and password. I have a Blog Post page, where I list the post topic and have a checklist for step-by-step on that topic. I have a Projects Page, where I list all the house projects, craft projects, and shop projects that I have thought about. This page is my idea starter and a general to-do list. I chose the keep my pages plain and simple, as I did not want to waste ink when I printed them out. You can make your own blog planner using my free printable. You can print it on colored paper to give it that extra pizzazz and to save you some expense on ink. I am willing for a small fee to customize a blog planner page for you. Just contact me and we can discuss the options.
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Kim Fowlkes says
What is the price to order a blog planner? Please email me @ [email protected]
Diana Rambles says
You are so organized, DeDe! This is a great idea! Thanks for linking up at my Pin Me Linky Party.
Susie at Earning-My-Cape says
This is great! I sometimes struggle to stay completely organized with my blog. This would be a great help!
Congrats! I will be featuring you at Wednesday’s Super Link Party! I hope you come by and check it out! 🙂
Betsy @ Romance on a Dime says
Good job! this looks great!! Thanks for linking up at Romance on a dime!
Marti says
I love that! I’m going to have to make me one! Thanks so much for linking up at SHOW-licious Craft Showcase!!
Marti
Christine says
Great tips!!!
Thanks for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality! Can’t wait to see what you link up tomorrow evening!
Megan Maguire says
Hi, don’t forget as part of the ‘I Love My Post’ blog hop, you have to follow all the hosts and co-hosts(including me) to take part 🙂
xo
Christine @ Projects Around The House says
What a great way to get organized! Thanks for linking up to Hookin on Hump Day!
Randomly Fascinated says
Thanks for sharing! I am gathering organizational ideas because I desperately need to get organized. I am curious how did you get involved with a blog mentor?
I would love it if you would share this (and anything else you have been working on) at my party! http://domesticrandomness.blogspot.com/2013/01/friday-fascinations-9-everything-linky.html
Karyn - Pint Sized Baker says
For some reason your photos aren’t loading. I need some sort of system. I’m all over the place with ideas and keeping track of tasks. I need this!
Thanks so much for sharing at for Two Cup Tuesday!
Kathy Moody says
What a great idea!!! I need one of these badly! Thank you so much for sharing at A Bouquet of Talent this week. So thrilled to have you share. I’ll be back to link up at your party as soon as I finished my post. 🙂 Can’t get caught this week. Have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs
Kathy
[email protected] says
What a great idea, Dede! I wish I was so organized. love it and thanks for sharing!
Loretta | A Finn In The Kitchen says
I wish I was even a fraction as organized as this! Working on it though… 🙂
Emily says
Getting organized is so important to becoming a productive blogger. Your planner is well-thought out.
Thanks for sharing at this week’s Whip It Up Wednesday linky party!
Misty Kearns says
Love it! Pretty & practical! 🙂 Thanks for linking up at CEO of Me this week!
Jenni says
I find that a good blog planner is essential for keeping everything on track. I did the same sort of thing… creating a binder and my own sheets. I love that you did the weekly and monthly. The monthly sheets are fabulous for looking at things quickly, while you can plan things out a tad more with the weekly sheets! I found you through the Too Cute Tuesdays Linky Party!
June @ I will craft..... says
Great idea to keep blog posts organized.
Bonnie Way says
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing. I’m too lazy to create something for myself, so when I found a blog planner printable on another blog, I printed it. I already love it! So much easier to keep track of what I want to post and to write down ideas for future posts (even months ahead of time!) so that I don’t forget great ideas just because it’s not time for them yet. 🙂
Jen says
I love the idea of a blog planner, I need ways to stay organized when it comes to blogging!
Shaunna says
Thanks for sharing, I definitely need a place to jot ideas and plan future posts!
Shaunna @ Tempting Thyme
Daree Johnson says
I love the idea! I have a personal planner, a blog planner, and and excel file with all kinds of things I try to keep up with. Great Job. I like the pretty paper in it too!
Brandie Lyons says
I have been needing this! I have recently started to put together a home notebook but have desperately needed something for my blog alone (trying to keep track of my daily duties and my blog duties has been hard!). Thank you so much for sharing this!!!
Rosey says
What a great way to make organization pretty. 🙂 Thank you for sharing it!
Sofia says
Love your blog! It always is inspiring!
If you get a sec, check out me latest post… ‘ Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend.’ It was love at first sight when I saw this skirt. I would love to read what you think.
Be featured on Stylishly In Love: If you would like a chance to be featured on my fashion blog, then email me ([email protected]) a picture of your go-to outfit for Valentine’s Day. In honor of Valentine’s day I will be featuring 14 bloggers. Make sure to email me by February 11th.
Thank you.
Sofia
stylishlyinlove.blogspot.com
Rachael Henzman says
What a cool idea! I’m a new follower of your blog from the Monday Mingle Blog Hop! Would love if you could stop by mine. Thanks :0)
The Three Whiskateers
http://thethreewhiskateers.blogspot.com/
[email protected] says
Great organizational tool! It’s simple and covers everything you need. I’m going to go back and review my system now. Thanks for the ideas.
Holly @ Hmmm...Holly says
What a great idea to help manage blogging time wisely. I know I can waste away 3 hours doing 30 minutes of blogging…because I get distracted by helpful posts like yours lol.
Thanks for sharing, especially the printables!
Holly