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An Editorial Calendar for Purposeful Genealogy Blogging

6/5/2012

17 Comments

 
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If we're blogging with purpose [and I think we've determined that we are, indeed, blogging with purpose], then we need to have an editorial calendar that supports and guides our purposeful blogging.

Sure, it's nice to have a traditional calendar that has general topics listed for every day of the week. It's even nicer if the traditional calendar is pretty to look at. Who doesn't like pretty things?

However, we're blogging with purpose and unless our purpose with our blog is to be just like everyone else and to be pretty while we're doing it, then we're going to need an editorial calendar that helps us map out our blogging strategy for a certain amount of time in the future. And sometimes that's not pretty, but this strategy will definitely help you to be more organized, will help you to be more purposeful, and will help to distinguish your blog from all the rest in the search engines. [Oh yeah.]

So here's a 3rd Quarter Editorial Calendar. There are no topics listed. [Gasp!] There are no pretty pictures. [Another Gasp! And quite possibly a heart palpitation.] It doesn't even have a very creative name. [Disgrace.]

What it does have are points that just about every blog post you write as a genealogy blogger should have in it. All points I've covered or points I will cover here on BloggingGenealogy.com [just as soon as my Editorial Calendar says I should].

The following are the points it covers with some explanation:
  • Date to Publish ~  The date you plan to publish the blog post.
  • Topic ~ The topic you've chosen to write on for this particular blog post or for a series of blog posts.
  • Title ~  Yes, this needs to be done ahead of time. Can always revise later.
  • Question to be Answered ~  Remember: You aren't blogging for yourself anymore. You're blogging for your audience.
  • Call to Action ~ What do you want your reader to do after reading your blog post?
  • Cliffhanger ~ Preview of what's to come next on your blog. [Why should the reader come back?]
  • Format ~ Blog post, article, video, podcast, webinar, white papers, etc.
  • Share ~ How do you plan to share your blog posts with others? Other websites, Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, blog, email, Google Plus, etc.
  • Lagniappe ~ Do you plan to give a little extra gift to your reader? What? Examples: white papers, templates, worksheets, forms, etc.
  • Status ~ Planning, In Process, Complete
Additional Tasks
We could go on and on. For example, if we do webinars, then we might write up a blog post introducing it, and the blog post will be SO compelling that all our reader wants to do after reading our blog post is sign up for our webinar. So, in our editorial calendar we might want to have a column for extra work like needing to add the URL to sign up for the webinar to the blog post. Or we could add that in the Call to Action column.

Or we might want to make a Landing Page for our webinar and sign up. These are all extra tasks. Therefore, we might want to add a column for them. [I didn't because I'm trying to keep this doable for everyone ~ Cousin Hunters, Genealogical Societies, Professional Genealogists, and Genealogy-related Businesses.]

[And here's where I lose the proverbial mouse in my pocket.]

I use the word "column" because this Editorial Calendar is an MS Excel Spreadsheet [Stop groaning.], and my nod to "pretty" is that I added colors to differentiate between weekdays and weekends. Why? Because I don't blog on the weekends. [Usually.] But your blogging purposes might be [Read: Should be.] different than mine, and you can change that up if you like.

So. Are you currently using an editorial calendar? What kind of editorial calendar do you use? Is it helping you to write...like everyone else? Does it help you to write purposefully? [That's the Call to Action.]

And? Oh yeah. I almost forgot. If you'd like a 3rd Quarter Editorial Calendar in MS Excel format with an example sheet [just cuz I love ya'] then download it below. [That's the Lagniappe.]

And? Will you be going to Southern California Genealogical Society's 2012 Jamboree? Well, on Saturday I'll be one of the panelists on Thomas MacEntee's Blogger Summit Panel, Blog Your Ancestors: Read 'Em and Find 'Em. Come join us!! [Kind of a Call to Action. And kind of a Cliffhanger cuz I'll be blogging later about my experience. And kind of a Lagniappe. And definitely a warning. Oops, I mean an invitation. ;) ]

~Caroline

UIpdate: If you don't have MS Excel, then I converted it to Google Docs [which is now Google Drive], and here is the link to that version which is fully editable [That's editable, not edible. Though, I think it's delectable. ;) ]: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AsGGFtC_UviedFNZY0tSSmlQUy0xUnJ5NXVvcWtJa3c&hl=en#gid=0


editorial_calendar_template_with_example.xlsx
File Size: 19 kb
File Type: xlsx
Download File

17 Comments
Jenna Mills link
6/5/2012 01:13:33 pm

Thank you Caroline, this calendar could really help out with the "oh my gosh I need a post topic" situation. Thanks for the examples as well, very helpful.

Reply
4YourFamilyStory
6/5/2012 03:00:40 pm

You are so very welcome, Jenna. On any given day, any one can write a blog post. What sets blog posts apart is purpose. And I think this kind of editorial calendar can help bloggers achieve their blogging goals by focusing them on their purpose for their blogs.

Or, at least, I hope so.

Thanks for reading & commenting, Jenna. I appreciate it. :)

Happy Blogging!
~C

Reply
Pam schaffner link
6/6/2012 02:20:56 am

Great post. I will definitely use this!

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Jana Last link
6/6/2012 10:24:25 am

Thanks so much Caroline! This is awesome. I've already downloaded your excel template. I like to be organized, so I can see this being very helpful for my genealogy blog. I sometimes find my mind swimming with blog post ideas so your editorial calendar will be great to get my post ideas down on "digital paper," organized and fine tuned. By the way, I've already been utilizing OneNote since watching your tutorials and loving it too. Thanks again for these amazing blog tools!

Reply
Fi link
6/6/2012 03:36:37 pm

Another great idea, Caroline. Thanks for sharing! I'm also with Jana (above) as a OneNote convert since reading your post on that fantastic gadget. Love your work :)

Reply
4YourFamilyStory
6/8/2012 01:04:20 am

Thanks, Pam. I'm glad you find it useful. I know I do.

Thanks for commenting!

~C

Reply
4YourFamilyStory
6/8/2012 01:07:52 am

You're welcome, Jana. I think the calendar guides you to really think about what you're doing and why you're doing it. It focuses you.

And I'm glad you found the OneNote tutorials helpful. I think OneNote really does a good job at supporting our online workflow.

So glad you stopped by and commented. I really appreciate it.

~C

Reply
4YourFamilyStory
6/8/2012 01:12:56 am

Thank you, Fi! The editorial calendar isn't pretty, but I think it gives you a great foundational outline for your posts. It also puts you in the driver's seat for not just a single post, but for the purpose of your blog.

And I'm had you're enjoying OneNote! :)

Thanks for reading & commenting, Fi! :)

~C

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Andy Kubrin link
6/9/2012 07:57:21 am

Thanks for sharing this genealogy blog calendar, Caroline. It's just the tool I've been looking for. It's great the way the calendar helps you create and organize your ideas.

Reply
4YourFamilyStory
6/11/2012 12:49:52 am

Thanks, Andy. I'm glad you like it. I think it really helps to keep a blogger focused on their goals.

Thanks for stopping by & reading!

~C

Reply
Nancy Hurley link
6/11/2012 05:26:33 pm

Hi Caroline: I've been reading your other blogs and enjoying them a lot. Well tonight I also discovered blogging genealogy and have been backtracking on your posts, gathering tips about "blogging with purpose." I did set goals, but your explanations helped me to see things more clearly. I just wanted to say thanks for the editorial calendar that came just as I'm trying to form the plans for my new blog.

Reply
4YourFamilyStory
6/14/2012 02:01:13 am

Nancy,

What is it that they say about timing? LOL. I'm glad that you find the editorial calendar helpful. Definitely meant to be.

And I'm glad to have you as a reader over here as well. We're a quiet group pressing ahead one blog post at a time. So, welcome.

Thanks for stopping by. :)

Happy Blogging,
~C

Reply
Catherine Pendleton link
6/17/2012 05:53:09 pm

Thanks Caroline! Another great tool. I've tried making a list of blog post ideas, but sometimes I stare at the topic and don't always know where to begin. And sometimes, I even forget I have a list. I haven't been very consistent at when I post. I believe this calendar will help me stay focused. I'm a OneNote convert, too, thanks to your tutorials. I use it for work (do a lot of research) and genealogy now.

Reply
4YourFamilyStory
6/17/2012 09:41:22 pm

You're welcome Catherine. I'm glad you like it, and I hope it proves helpful for you. :)

Thanks for stopping by and reading!

Happy Blogging!
~C

Reply
Kylie link
7/21/2012 12:47:47 pm

Hi Caroline
I've just downloaded the spreadsheet and filled in four upcoming blog posts and was just wondering how far in advance your plan your blogging?
Kylie :-)

Reply
4YourFamilyStory
7/21/2012 01:09:22 pm

Kylie,

Very good question. I plan roughly 3 months worth of topics at a time. But I know that things will change month-to-month, week-to-week, and day-to-day. Therefore, I'm extremely flexible. Also, I don't write 3 months worth of posts at a time. I only plan them that far in advance for my 3 main blogs. :)

Thanks for stopping by and asking such a good question. :)

~C

Reply
Veggie Val link
10/21/2012 12:00:32 pm

Thanks for this, Caroline. Beth Saunders put this on our Wordsmith Studio group and I really appreciate it as I'm working on a relaunch of my website after five years. Even though it's a totally different topic (healthful eating), your insight gave me more to consider. For example, knocking out a draft title of each post in advance lets it stew in the back of your mind and then you can tweak it as needed. Continued success to you!

Reply



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