Today I post the next part of the post “Time management tips for bloggers”.

Time management tips for bloggers. Part 1
Time management tips for bloggers. Part 2

1. Divide post writing process into several stages
Many of us think that blog post writing is a linear and indivisible process. According to this opinion, blogger must just sit and write all the nine yards of the post at once. In fact, the things are quite different. The process of post writing may be divided into several stages, starting from any point you like. Do not be afraid of making a pause in writing lasting up to several days – you can conveniently back to your work and complete the post later.

2. Create several “low-cost” headings
Rohit Bhargava recommends creating several headings, the regular keeping of which will not take much of your time, but will be interesting to your readers. As such headings you can use other bloggers’ posts regular review, advantageous bookmarks on Delicious, the posting of your personal photos, etc.

3. Entrust blog promotion to readers
As I have mentioned before, blog promotion is as time consuming as its keeping, and to make it more efficient, you may employ your readers. When making blog template, install the plug-ins, using which the readers will be able to add their own content to your page.

Install ReTweet plug-in to attract Twitter users, configure social bookmarks and social news services buttons. Install ShareThis plug-in for a reader could conveniently tell persons from his/her circle contacts about your post.

4. Make a reserve of posts
Perhaps, we all have lengthy periods that are hard for creative work. They may be triggered by overworking during the day job, season change or by some personal reasons. In such periods even the beloved blogging transforms into a severe duty. And if you still try to write, as a result you get only dull and unexciting posts.

Unfortunately, such situations are hardly avoidable. The only good think you can do here is to have certain reserves for such “rainy” days.

Keep a certain reserve of posts. Always have on your PC, and better on your admin page about ten reserve posts. Thus, if you are not in vein for writing but still have to update the blog, you will always be able to publish one of the reserve posts.

5. Choose the most appropriate blogging format
This recommendation is, of course, meant for those who is just going to start the blog. Being inexperienced in this sphere, you have to soberly evaluate your available time resources, writing skills and preferences, for example, if you are keen on concise writing or profound analysis, visualization or text form, from whence you may conclude which blogging format suits you best.
Below is the list of the most commonly used blogging formats:

• microblog;
• analytical subject-related blog;
• diary;
• news blog;
• photoblog;
• review blog.

6. Leave minor items for later times
When writing a post, always keep a record of the most important ideas making the foundation of the future post. Later you will have enough time to insert in the text all the stylistic devices and other ornaments such as speech tokens, metaphors, etc. The main thing here is to keep the essentials.

7. Use dictaphone or a special service
Good ideas are likely of occurring very unexpectedly. This is precisely why I recommend you always have any recording device with you not to miss such ideas. For this purpose you can use dictaphone, PDA, iPhone, or at least a ball pen and a note pad.

Besides, you can use special services allowing to record text using your cell phone.

8. Use Evernote
Evernote is a Web 2.0 service providing innovative capabilities of data storage and systematization. According to vendors, “Evernote allows you to easily save your data in any situation using the preferable device or platform and makes your data available and searchable wherever you are and anytime.”

Using Evernote blogger can:

• systematize all the data gathered for post writing, including notes made on the fly, photos and reference articles, dictaphone records and penscripts;
• write the posts;
• keep all the blog records, including topic list, posting schedule, etc.;
• divide all information using special tags.

It is no use to enlist here all the functional capabilities of Evernote, that is why I offer you to watch a more convincing video.

9. Ask your followers on Twitter
One of the blogging key elements is data gathering for future post. You are sure to have faced the situations when you lack reference materials for your next post and have to waste much time and effort searching for them. As a solution, I recommend you to ask for help your Twitter followers. Let them give you some tip or ask them a direct question on this or that subject: team spirit is inherent of Twitter where users are keen on helping each other.

For example, when writing this very post I asked my Twitter followers: “Tell me, please, what time management techniques you use when blogging?” I got about 30 responses, two of which I cited in this very article. I also got a lot of useful links to reference materials I lacked.

I hope that the aforementioned recommendations will help you to make your blogging more efficient. And what about you? Do you use any time management techniques when blogging?