10 Tips for Managing Multiple Blogs

A couple of weeks ago, I shared the benefits of having multiple blogs.  Now that I’ve touted it’s benefits (although, trust me – there are definitely drawbacks too), I thought I should offer up some tips for managing more than one blog at a time.

10 Tips for Managing Multiple Blogs

1. Set up a system for keeping track of scheduled posts.  Whether you’ve already written them or you’re just using it to schedule what you will write when, it can be vital to have some record keeping device with multiple blogs.  I find this to especially be the case on blogs with multiple contributing writers.

I use a Google Doc spread sheet for all of the posts here on Many Little Blessings, as well as The Homeschool Classroom and Catholic Mothers Online.  (I learned that tip when I took the Content Brew course.)

2. Set up a system for keeping track of writers.  I use that same spreadsheet (on a separate sheet) to keep track of writers and due dates.  Otherwise, I would never remember who turned in things or when they were due.

3. Have a posting schedule.  For many years, I just kind of published what I wanted when I wanted.  I have been more diligent about posting schedules lately though.  It helps me not feel so overwhelmed if I have a plan (even if it’s a loose plan).

4. Post on the same days of the week every week.  Again, this can help you get into a rhythm.  Maybe all of the blogs have the same days they post or maybe they’re opposite days.  I’m more strict on the days on The Homeschool Classroom and Catholic Mothers Online, whereas I get a little more loosey goosey with what days of the week things post here.

5. Use something to schedule your social media.  Whether you use something like HootSuite or Buffer (which is what I use) or you hire someone to take care of your social media for you, it would behoove you to have some sort of social media assistance.

This is not to say that you shouldn’t be active on social media.  By all means, I still talk to friends and the like.  But, it takes some of the work out of promoting my posts and the posts of others.

6. Keep a list of potential post ideas handy.  This was an area that I sometimes struggled with in the past.  But, once I started doing mind mapping during my Content Brew course, I was set.  I was shocked at how much it helped my brainstorming process, especially since I was skeptical about it all of the other times that I had heard about mind mapping.

Now, when a day comes up that I want to post and I’m short for ideas, I have a huge list of possible blog topics.  (Honestly – one long brainstorming session left me with hundreds of topic ideas.)

I have also used mind mapping for other times, such as my breakout talk at the 2:1 Conference:

7. Use the same blogging platform.  For easier maintenance and changes, I would recommend having all of your blogs on the same platform.

So, if you’re using self-hosted WordPress for one, consider it for all of them.  Heck – if you really love Blogger, use it for all of them.  It can just be difficult when you have one on Blogger, one on self-hosted WordPress, and one on Typepad.  Who could keep track of all that?

I would also recommend that if you’re on self-hosted WordPress that you consider having all of your blogs using the same framework or theme.  While that’s not necessary, it can also cut down on your workload and confusion.

8. Schedule ahead when possible.  For me, there is nothing like the creative freedom I feel when my posts are scheduled ahead of time.  When I don’t feel pressure to write, I am more apt to want to write.

Also, when the unexpected stomach flu or other illness happens, your blog doesn’t have to sit empty.  Or, like me, you won’t be sure that you’re blog while in Disney World only to leave it without any new posts for 10 days during our travels.  (We were beat!)

9. Offer something to your writers.  If you have a blog with contributing writers, be sure that you have something to offer the writers in return for their work.

This doesn’t mean that you have to pay writers, though they always love that.  You might have exposure to offer them from bio lines after their posts.  Or, you might offer to promote them in social media and throughout your own site.  It doesn’t have to be huge, but just keep in mind that their lives are busy, just like yours is.  They won’t want to write if they feel like they get nothing out of it.

10. Get help, if possible.  Whether you are able to secure someone as a volunteer or pay for a virtual assistant, there may be times when you need some extra help all the time or just on a particular project.

While I can’t normally afford to pay someone as a virtual assistant, I have done so for a couple of projects that I just absolutely didn’t have the time to do.

Do you have any tips for managing multiple blogs or questions about it?

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