Time Management and Multiple Blogging

Darren Rowse recently asked the question of how individuals with multiple blogs manage their time over at Problogger.net (Blogging and the Art [of] Time Management).

A few months ago, I wrote a short article on Time Management Tips for Bloggers. However, I didn’t address multiple blogging in that piece, as I was mostly addressing bloggers who only keep one or two blogs.

So, if I build on that article to address the multi and pro-bloggers group, I’d share 3 Top Tips that I use myself as someone who manages a network of blogs and maintains about 10 blogs at this time (including a video blog and a podcast):

1) Set Goals. Part of the beauty of blogging for most people is that there are no deadlines. You can update once a week or once a month… Sometimes, more. Sometimes, less.

But, if you’re trying to make a living off blogging, then it’s only natural to treat it as a job. It’s fun (most of the time), but it’s still work. So, setting daily, weekly and monthly (even yearly, if you can look that far) can be very beneficial.

It doesn’t have to be “official” – you can just keep your goals in your head, if you wish. But, I’m a fan of lists, so my approach is writing them down as much as possible.

2) Prioritise. Which blogs mean the most to me? I know this is where ‘sentimentality vs. profitability’ comes in for some people who keep several blogs.

Some blogs may not profit as much as the others, but you enjoy writing it the most. Some blogs may be the most profitable, but they’re the ones you may not enjoy as much. What do you then?

In my case, I make my call on which blogs to update the most by using these basic guidelines:

- Which blogs have the most number of visitors/subscribers? (Businesses must always take care of its existing customers and build from there.)

- Which blogs do I wish to grow? (Based on potential to earn money and to grow its following.)

- Which blogs are easiest to update? (If I have existing material or I’m busting to write about something, then it makes it easier to update a blog.)

- Which blogs have “timely� issues? (Who was it that said, “Old news is not news�?)

3) Get Breaks. Blogging becomes more effective if you get some breaks in-between. One advantage of having multiple blogs with different topics is that I get “mental breaks� when I write about blogging one minute and then create a travel video the next.

Apart from mental breaks, time-wise and physically, it’s important take breaks too. While I spend around 10 hours or more online on a daily basis, weekends are usually spent away from the computer as much as possible. Even throughout the day, I try to get food breaks, TV breaks, reading breaks, walking breaks, housework breaks, and of course, time-with-baby breaks (yes, I’m a full time mum too).

I find that taking time for different things in my life help me to avoid distractions and to keep me away from procrastinating too much.