Last year, in an attempt to get myself more organized, I started using a posting calendar for my blogs. It really helped a lot, being able to plan things out each week. This year, I wanted to take that a step further, by creating a loose editorial calender with subject ideas, laid out for each month for the entire year.
Typically, I will be posting away each week, and all of sudden I realize that Valentine's Day is next week, and I haven't posted any Valentine's Day projects yet, or out of no where Thanksgiving is 5 days away, and I haven't posted photos of my Thanksgiving Mantel yet! You get the picture. The Seasons and Holidays tend to sneak up on me, and then I'm not prepared, like I would like to be. As a DIY Blogger it's important to push the Seasons a bit too, in order to get your projects out there early enough for your readers to recreate them in time, for use in their homes. Also, you will more likely be featured in Round Ups and blog posts, that are Seasonal/Holiday specific, if you have your posts on your blog early enough. Which can really help to increase your traffic!
I began by doing a bit of research and poking about to see what types of subjects other DIY bloggers were posting about each month, and I created a list of topics for each month of the year. If you happen to be like me, you may find this information useful, so I thought I would share it. And at the very least, I know I'll be able to find it when I need it, since it will be right here on my blog!
January
- Goals
- Trends
- Organization/Storage
- Winter Projects
- Valentine's Day
- Valentine's Day
- Winter
- Spring
- Spring
- Spring Cleaning
- Easter
- Garden
- Porch
- Outdoor Living
- Easter
- Spring
- Garden
- Mother's Day
- Spring Cleaning
- Wedding
- Mother's Day
- Spring
- Garden
- Memorial Day
- Coastal
- Graduation
- Patriotic
- Summer
- Summer
- Summer Garden
- Coastal
- Lavender
- Porch
- Summer Mantel
- 4th of July
- Outdoor Living
- Picnics
- 4th of July
- Garden
- Summer
- Outdoor Living
- Travel
- Summer
- Summer Organization
- Coastal/Beach
- Outdoor Living
- Back to School
- Fall
- Fall
- Fall Table
- Fall Mantel
- Labor Day
- Halloween
- Fall Porch
- Fall
- Fall Mantel
- Fall Porch
- Halloween
- Thanksgiving
- Fall
- Holiday Tablescape
- Thanksgiving Table
- Christmas Mantel
- Christmas Decor
- Holiday Decor
- Christmas Crafts
- Holiday Mantel
- Christmas Ornaments
- Christmas
- Year in Review/Best Posts
- New Years
Obviously these are just general guidelines,
nothing is set in stone and you can tweek it to fit your own life, your
family may celebrate different religious holidays then mine does, or
your may live in a milder climate where you can extend your "outdoor living" posts longer then I can etc. I left out non-seasonal posts, like room redos etc., since they can fit into any month. Also, I highly recommend Beckie Farrant's Printable Blog Planner , it's super cute and will get you uber organized!
Thank you so much for posting this. What a neat idea that will come in handy for a forgetful head like me! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, I'm glad you can use it!
DeleteHi Karen, I am a typical blogger. Yes, it happens to me, that I am late with the DIY projects. Thank for sharing your calendar, it useful for me. I have to modify some of the ideas to fit to my needs and our family holidays. Thanks. ... Renata
ReplyDeleteThanks Renata! It's nice to know that I'm not the only one that this happens to!
DeleteKaren,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this information. As a fairly new blogger I am in awe of those who find time to blog everyday. I have decided that this year I will be more pro-active about my blogging and this organization, especially the planner, will help with those goals. Thank you! Thank you!
You're welcome Crystal! I'm glad to hear that you'll be blogging more this year, you always have excellent information on your posts!
DeleteThis is super. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Linda!
DeleteThanks Karen this is so neat! We bought a house this last year and I'm telling you I have been dragging all year...I'm ready to get into making Christmas cards NOW, and it's over! hehehe! I used to be super organized and made all my family quilts for gifts... I'm embarrased to say, I even bought store cards this year! I'm off to check out Beckie's site. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Pendra
Thanks Pendra! I never even sent cards out, so you are actually way ahead of me! haha
DeleteWhat a great idea to put this list together, I'm printing it for use this year, thanks so much. Mary
ReplyDeleteThat's great Mary, I'm so glad you found it handy! Thanks for your comment!
DeleteAs a brand new blogger, I really appreciate you putting this list together! I've been flying by the seat of my pants, so it really helps to get tips like this from other bloggers! My #1 goal is to be more organized in 2013, so this is a great first step!
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome Kristi and welcome to the world of blogging!!
DeleteWow, you are the best Karen! :) Thank you so much for putting this together and sharing it. This is awesome info for all bloggers but I am especially grateful since I am so new. It will be super helpful to me this year!
ReplyDeleteNancy
Yay! I'm so glad you like it Nancy!
DeleteKaren, I'm going to start a blog (because you are so inspiring!) and I was so wondering what blog format you prefer? Thank you for the great organizational calendar!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're thinking about starting a blog, it really is fun! I like Blogger because it's free and so easy to use! You can always switch to a paid platform like Wordpress later, if you feel the need too. I've been on Blogger for 6 years though and I still really like it.
DeleteThanks for this great list!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Kristi!
DeleteThank you...it is nice to see the beautiful spirit behind The Graphics Fairy...you have helped me with several small project that I use with the street kids I work with for free on Wednesday nights. Have a great 2o13!!!!! Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart
ReplyDeleteHi Mary Helen,
DeleteWow, I'm so thrilled that you're using some of my graphics for such a great cause!!
xoxo
Karen, not only are you the Graphics Fairy, but a Blogging Angel, as well. Along with my Daughter n Law, I want to start blogging this year and also start a little DIY for friends/family and whomever may be interested. This will be so helpful while we are getting started. It will give us ideas and keep us on task for our first year. Perfect Timing so Thank You so much!!
ReplyDeleteHi Laura, That's wonderful, I'm so glad you have found this helpful! Congrats on your decision to start a blog this year, I think you will have a lot of fun with it!!
DeleteKaren, Thanks so much for posting this! I'm a newbie (5 months) and this will be a huge help to me. I'm going to pin it to my "blogging resources" board.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend!
Amy
www.homesweetthriftyhome.blogspot.com
Thanks for the pin Amy!! And congrats on your new blog!!
DeleteWow!! What a great list! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteAshley
www.simplydesigning.blogspot.com
You're so welcome Ashley! Thanks for your kind comment!
DeleteThank you for the great list and ideas! Alhtough I had a list going already it helps to fill it the wholes as to speak. Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteMegan
P.S. I just realized that I met you last year at SNAP! Believe it or not I am yet to organize my things from the conference. Hopefully I will be a little more organized this year. Happy New Year!
*holes not wholes...opps!
DeleteHi Megan,
DeleteYes, yes I remember you!! It's nice to "see" you again! I hope you are doing well. I will be going to Snap again next year, will you be there?
Happy New Year to you too!
xoxo
Karen
Oh, I wish but I am due with my second child right around that time. I am really bummed out but I will be there in 2014 for sure.
DeleteKaren this is absolutely fantastic. Thanks for doing all the legwork for all of us. I have only recently gotten into the blogging world. In an effort to get organized I have a separate digital calendar and physical one for my design team obligations and everything related to my blog(I'm not fortunate enough to have a cell phone or tablet to keep everything digital so I need a physical book for its portability). This will really come in handy as I look ahead.
ReplyDeleteI never realized that you you covered blogging aspects on your DIY Projects section (followed the link from your vintage graphics blog), but now that I know, I'll have to have a better look around.
All the best in 2013!
Lisa D.
Thanks Lisa, I'm glad you found it useful! This is my first blogging tip post. I wasn't sure how many of my readers are bloggers, so I thought I would test this out and see if it interested anyone. I plan on doing more in the future!
Deletethis is so helpful Karen! i'm always runnin' around at the last minute to get things posted! always thinking "i should have done this 2 weeks ago!" (heehee) thanks for compiling this for us to use! ♥
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome Jaime, I'm glad you liked it!
DeleteThank you! I made a makeshift editorial calendar for 2013 in an effort to stay organized, but I've been struggling with themes. This definitely makes it a lot easier!
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise! I'm so glad it helped you!
DeleteWow Karen! You are amazing! How do you do it? You blog, you take care of your family, you create you make all those beautiful transfers. And still make time to reply to everybody. God Bless you! You have inspire me to blog again. Thank you. I can't wait to do some of the beautiful projects you have posted.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you were inspired! I think that's the best compliment you could have given me! God bless you too, and happy blogging!!
DeleteI've just started working on my own editorial calendar, and this post was very helpful - thanks!
ReplyDeleteWe like your site! Lot of neat stuff...
ReplyDelete