This week I am flying to San Francisco to film a class with Brit + Co, then to Denver for someone you might know's wedding in Steamboat, then staying an extra few days for another wedding in Colorado, then I'm back for 24 hours in Nashville. Then I drive the belongings that I have left from Nashville to Dallas. We are in Dallas for 2 weeks of which we are traveling around a bit to say goodbye to family and friends. OH, and then we head to Germany to live.
You can say my life is fairly hectic. But with all of that, I will make time for my blog. After-all, my blog is my business and I want to grow it and keep it up as much as possible. I think a lot of people tend to think they just can't keep up with their blog or that your blog will somehow be stagnant, but I can tell you, you can definitely keep it's momentum and even grow your blog.
Here are my suggestions for growing your blog while you're on the go. Whether vacationing, working remotely, or just traveling around, these tips will help your blog keep a steady momentum.
Schedule it
I have preached about scheduling before, but it makes a WORLD of difference. Carve out some time to think about upcoming posts. Set a timer for yourself, only 20 minutes. Then, carve out another 20 or so to further figure out your ideas. Then get to writing. This post on writing a book in 3 weeks or less has some great points on how to spend time writing. Whether if that's you want to write a novel or publish some blog posts.
Next up, use tools like Hootsuite or Buffer to schedule your social media content. I break down how to do all of that in my post on how to schedule blog posts like a boss.
Set up A Hot Spot
In this day and age, we can blog and access the internet from wherever. This means that no matter where you go, you can access the internet and your blog. This can help you keep up with your blog to-do's, emails, and posts. With XFINITY's WiFi hotspots you can stay connected. This helps me relax when I'm on the go, because I know I can always make changes if needed. Let's be honest, sometimes you need to update or answer an important email, with XFINITY's WiFi hotspots, you never have to worry that you won't be able to meet deadlines. This innovative technology is so easy to use, see how to stay connected right here. There are MILLIONS of WiFi hot spots you can connect to with XFINITY so it makes it super easy to find one near you.
You can get work done on trains, cars, wherever you are with WiFi hot spots- they are my secret weapon and change the game. Having the internet at my fingertips enables me to work from wherever and whenever I need.
Use Guest Posters
Not only does having a guest freshen up your blog and give a new perspective, it's great if you're totally slammed. Simply ask for guest posters or reach out (giving them ample time in advance) to people individually. This is a total win-win because you're able to still post and they get some new exposure.
Set Time Aside
When you're busy or vacationing, it's hard to figure out when to write or work. I like to either do it first thing in the morning or at night. I give myself a time limit and then stop. I try to get as much done and stay laser focused so I can really enjoy my time. Figuring out exactly how much time you'll have will definitely help you in the long run.
When I was at the beach recently, I went in during the heat of the day (because I don't want Cancer) to write posts and answer emails. This worked for me, but it differs depending where I am and what I'm doing. So I try to create a schedule and stick to it.
Use an Editorial Calendar
I like to think of myself as a lifestyle blogger, since I blog about everything. I like to write down post ideas on my notepad and then fill in my calendar about what to post when. This varies up my content and helps me to see when to post and what will work at that time.
Especially if I'm traveling, I like to vary my content up, since when I come back I know I'll want to talk about my trip. I try to organize this as much as possible and have rough outlines of posts. I find the more organized I am, the blog posts flow more quickly and easily.
Keep a list of to-dos and ideas while you travel
I adore Evernote. It's cloud based so that means whatever I write down is on my laptop, phone and iPad. It keeps everything super organized and easy to access. I once wrote an entire post on a train ride from Amsterdam to Paris. It was awesome. Sure, there were some spelling mistakes to fix and photos to add, but I had the feeling of the post and the excitement of the experience as I went along. That's something that can be hard to capture after the fact, so I try to always take notes as I go.
Get Help
There are people that you can pay for just a short amount of time to help you manage your tasks and to-dos. This can be a big help if you're really strapped for time but you MUST post or answer emails and you know you won't be able to get to it. A lot of people don't like scheduling their social content, so if you're that person, they can REALLY help you out.
If you need help managing your blog, I cannot recommend WordPress Help enough. I used them to move my blog and now if i ever have a question or issue that arises I have a dedicated real-life human that not only helps me solve it but shows me what to do in the process. Get 15% off using code “HELENE16” as your referral code. I specifically asked this for you guys because this has been GAME changing for me. Last week while I was traveling, my site feed wasn't updating. I contacted them and the issue was fixed within the hour. I have never even heard of service like that!
Share your experience
The fact that you are traveling or exploring is interesting to people. So, share your experiences on Instagram, Twitter, or Snapchat. People will better relate to you when you can share some of your life with them. Sharing on social along the way will help keep your blog top of mind, even if your aren't posting. Plus, you can use XFINITY's WiFi hotspots to quickly and easily share, then get back to having fun. Remember, you can also schedule social content ahead of time, too.
I definitely think it's important to make time to enjoy yourself and travel, that's why I think setting time aside and then getting back to living is so important. But I do like to keep up my blog and business. I think consistency is key with everything, so keep up your blog with a consistent schedule.
How do you blog and grow your blog on the go?
XFINITY partnered with bloggers such as me for this program. As part of this program, I received compensation for my time. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about any product mentioned in these posts. XFINITY believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. XFINITY’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.
