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Last updated on April 10th, 2022 at 10:05 pm
All right, this post is a little bit of a departure from my regular content. But not really. Because it’s still about organizing. Blog organizing. 😉
I go insane when things aren’t organized, so it’s no surprise that I scoured the internet looking for ways to organize my blog. And guys, I found some good stuff.
Having a blog is hard work. There’s always a huge to-do list. There are times I wonder if I made the right choice in doing this blogging thing. The hardest part is keeping it all organized so I know what the heck I’m doing.
I mean, how in the world does a single person manage to run a business while having to do ALL THE THINGS?
Fortunately, since there are so many solopreneurs out there, there are plenty of free resources to help you stay organized.
Today, I’m sharing my favorite resources for getting your blog organized. And the best part is, they’re free!
Updated on April 16, 2020
1 | The Blog Structure Blueprint from EBA
Trying to figure out how the heck to organize all the content you have ideas for? This blueprint can really help to get it figured out. It breaks down each topic into categories to get you brainstorming for the future.
How I use it: Narrowing down your subcategories and topics helps to figure out what kind of content you’re going to create. It gets you in your niche and writing about things that you actually like writing about while staying on topic.
2 | Monthly Content Planning Kit from Your Content Empire
There are so many moving parts to a blog …social media, email lists, admin work, plus the actual blogging part. Without a plan, things can get really murky.
This content planning kit is awesome. There is space to fill in every single thing you need to do for the month. From what you’re going to send to your email list to what you’re posting on Facebook, this kit has it.
How I use it: Truth be told, everybody has a content planner you can download. What I liked about this one was the Monthly Content Map and the Weekly Editorial Calendars.
The Monthly Content Map includes writing down a theme for the month so you can plan your blog posts, social media, and newsletter content around that theme.
The Weekly Editorial Calendar breaks down each week into more specific pieces. It gives you the freedom to use whatever you want in the blank boxes. For example, you can use one row for your Facebook page, another for your Facebook group, one for Instagram, one for YouTube …you get the picture.
The layout of this planner made the most sense for me. But everyone’s brain works differently and you might need a different one. Tweak it or go grab one from another expert you trust.
3 | Content Repurposing Planner from MelyssaGriffin.com
Melyssa Griffin has a lot of really great resources to download, but this one is fantastic. This Google Sheet shows you how to repurpose one blog post for Facebook, Instagram, Periscope, Facebook Lives, InstaStories, plus your email list.
Once I downloaded I thought, “Duh! Why didn’t I think of this?”
How I use it: I tweaked my file a bit, but it’s so nice to just have to copy and paste my copy to whatever social media I’m using. Plus, it gives me inventory of every single post I’ve ever written. I can scroll through and find any relevant posts to promote or backlink to.
4 | File Organization Cheat Sheet from Megan Minns
Do you use Google Drive? I do (you can see why right here). If you do, or you’re thinking about it, you definitely need to swipe this cheat sheet. Using this along with the company guidebook template will make you a pro at organizing ….wait …that’s my job, right?
How I use it: I don’t use every single folder Megan suggests, but this works as a really great guide to get started. It’s so nice to find things when you need them.
5 | Company Guidebook from Ashlyn Writes
I have nothing but good things to say about Ashlyn Writes since taking her Copywriting for Creatives course, but seriously, this board template is the bomb.
Ashlyn has everything about her company in this guidebook – from brand imagery to testimonials. It’s all in one convenient place so no one on her team has to dig around for some missing piece of information. So smart!
Use this along with the File Organization Cheat Sheet, and you have gold.
How I use it: It’s still a work in progress, but this is a quick way to find things instead of clicking through a million folders on Google Drive. Plus it keeps my mind going to “someday” when I will have to hire a team. Dream big, right?
6 |Asana
Since you’re on your computer all the time, you may as well plan everything there with free software like Asana.
I use to keep track of my blog posts and it’s home to my company Guidebook.
How I use it: I learned how to use Asana by playing with it, but it’s nice to pick up on a few new tricks. Especially making a color-coordinated calendar 😉
7 | Evernote
I love using Evernote as a place to store swipe files. I write down quotes and take notes in Evernote to create a copy bank. If I’m ever looking for a quote or inspiration for a piece of content, I have it at my fingertips.
How to use it: Created different notebook stacks to “bank” things like quotes and stories.
Seriously. Getting your blogging biz organized is a beautiful thing. Using these freebies have helped me narrow down a system that has my blog harmonizing like the Backstreet Boys in Vegas.
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