One of the questions I get a lot about blogging is about what the process looks like. I’ll be honest: it’s more grueling than most non-bloggers realize. So today I’m sharing what goes into a blog post and sharing a breakdown of how the whole process works.
Wondering what goes into a blog post + how the promotion process works for bloggers? Click To Tweet{This post contains affiliate and/or referral links. I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through a link in this post. Thank you for your support of What Nicole Wore.}
Featured | What Goes Into a Blog Post:
What Goes Into a Blog Post | The Photoshoot
For me, the blog post process starts with the photos. At this point, I typically shoot outfits 2-3 times a month and then throughout the rest of the month I’m able to shoot tutorials, stock photos, flatlays, etc. In the past, I’ve shot outfits 1-2 times a week but found I was dealing with blogger burnout more frequently.
Ever wondered how bloggers shoot so many photos? Spilling the beans here: Click To TweetWhile doing the longer shoots can be irritating at times {y’all know I don’t mince words}, it’s really allowed me to have more time to devote to other portions of the blogging process and allows for stronger content all around. Shooting can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours.
What Goes Into a Blog Post | Photo Editing & Writing
After the actual shooting portion of photos is done, I select the best photos and edit them. This is one of the more time consuming portions of the process. When I first started blogging, I couldn’t understand how local photographers could charge so much for sessions but the time and effort that goes into editing photos quickly adds up. {No seriously, I occasionally will shoot for a few local bloggers and while the shooting isn’t bad at all; I pretty quickly realized I had to charge more for the time it took to edit.}
Sharing my process for shooting, brainstorming, and writing blog posts! Click To TweetOnce I’ve done my editing of photos, I upload them into the blog post’s draft and save them. At this point if I know what I’m writing about, I’ll switch over to Microsoft Word where I draft out and then edit my blog post. If I’m clueless as to what to write about, I’ll open the running Word document I keep of topics I want to write about and cover. I have a note on my phone for if I think of something while I’m on the go, but try to move those over to my Word doc each week.
Pro tip for bloggers: keep a running Word doc with blog post topics. Click To TweetWhat Goes Into a Blog Post | The Add Ons
After I’ve written the text of my blog post, I’ll go back into the WordPress draft and place the text, add sub headlines, and ‘Click to Tweet’ pull quotes. Then, I add my blog post signature, alternative text to each image – this allows a brief description as well as keywords to be found when I pin the images to Pinterest, and I’ll go through and strengthen the SEO {search engine optimization} where needed. This is also when I add links where needed as well as widgets and/or collages.
RELATED: Why You Need to Experience Your Own Blogging Journey
There's still a TON of work for bloggers after photos and writing a blog post. Learn all about it: Click To TweetWhat Goes Into a Blog Post | Prepping for Pinterest + Proof Reading
I create a featured image for posts and choose one photo to turn into an extra long pin for Pinterest. I’ve noticed that these typically get shared more by others, which in turn gets more eyes onto What Nicole Wore. At this point, I’ll preview my post, reread to make sure I haven’t missed any spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors in the actual blog post or in my pull quotes for Twitter. After this, I’ll save it until I’m ready to publish.
And that’s it!
What Goes Into a Blog Post | the Day of Promotion
Just kidding! A lot of people think that’s where the process ends, but it’s not at all. Now that the content is ready to be read and consumed, you have to promote it. After I’ve hit publish in the morning, I’ll share the post to two to three blogger groups on Facebook. This helps me to get feedback, comments, shares, etc. I’ll tweet out a link to the post and also share that I have a new blog post in my Instagram story and link to it so that followers can swipe up to read.
RELATED: How to Engage Your Audience Authentically through Instagram Stories
Wondering all the steps I take to promote a blog post? Breaking it down here: Click To TweetLater in the day, I’ll share photos from the post, a quick summary and a link on my blog’s Facebook page. I’ll also add pins from the post to my Tailwind queue so that they will automatically publish to Pinterest over time. Depending on if I’m sharing an outfit post or not, I may share a photo from the post in my Instagram feed. That night I’ll want to share photos and a link to Twitter again as the life of a tweet is super short.
RELATED: How to Boost Your Pinterest Game & Up Site Traffic
What Goes Into a Blog Post | How I Keep My Content Relevant
Then comes the follow up work: I preschedule shares of old content, other’s content, etc. to my Twitter and Facebook pages. I’ll want to make sure to schedule this post to be re-shared in the week or two following it’s publication and then further down the road when it may be relevant. Example: currently, I’m making sure to promote posts from last fall as many people are looking at what clothing pieces they may need for fall.
Bloggers have to keep sharing their content to get eyes on it. Read how to rock promo: Click To TweetTo be more efficient with this portion of the promotion schedule, I usually schedule out Facebook and Twitter shares for a week to two in advance so I don’t have to worry so much about the day-to-day upkeep.
What Goes Into a Blog Post | The Outfit
A fall staple worth scooping up if you don’t already have one? A field jacket. This one can be cinched in at the waist making it very flattering even when you throw it on over a sweater or flannel button up shirt. I knew I wanted to be able to wear this fall closet must-have into the season so I sized up two sizes for something that would be a little bit looser.
Ready to see the fall staple you need this fall? Click To TweetTo give the plaid some hop, I made sure to cuff the sleeves of my plaid flannel over the utility jacket when I rolled the sleeves. I went with dark rinse skinny jeans here, but you could also break out your white jeans. Finally, my new Lucky Brand olive green ankle boots from DSW look awesome with my olive jacket and are perfect for the summer to fall transition with the peep toe and side cut outs.
RELATED: How to Wear White After Labor Day
Sharing the best summer to fall ankle boots that you need! Click To Tweet
Maggie says
I love this post! Non-bloggers never know how much time and effort it takes to create content! Thank you for sharing!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Aww thank you Maggie! And yes, I get a lot of the “oh so you take pictures and write a few words” comments and it’s definitely more than that haha.
Cristina says
Sometimes I’m shocked when I realise it takes me 2 to 3 days to have a blog post fully written and all the strategies behind it done. There is a lot of work behind each blog post.
BTW, I love your shoes!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Thanks Cristina and yes! To really make sure a blog post is well written and promoted it takes a ton of time, something I really didn’t realize when I first started blogging.
Morgan Kathleen Smith says
I love this post, and your outfit!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Thank you Morgan! I hope you have a great Thursday!
Ashley Stephenson says
Girl I love your style! I also just bought some Steve Madden booties like these on sale on amazon for $49! I can’t wait for them to get here!!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Oooo can’t wait to see! I’ve been loving these so far!
Beth says
There is definitely a huge process into a blog post – especially a style post! And you are rocking it! I love this outfit, plaid is my absolute favorite for fall!
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Thanks Beth! It’s kind of crazy when you actually think of all the things that go into one blog post 😬😬
Rachel says
Super comfy and stylish look! Looks great!
http://chicglamstyle.com
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Aww thanks so much Rachel!
Ruthie says
Your outfit is so perfect for Fall!! I love posts like these! Such great insight for non-bloggers!!
Angelle says
yesss, love this post!! So many people ask how to start a blog. This gives all of the details that are involved. By the way, You are gorgeous!!
Xoxo,
Angelle
http://www.dashingdarlin.com
Jenna Colgrove says
love hearing about your process!
Laura Leigh says
What a fun post! I love this gal!! Love hearing about your process.
xo Laura Leigh
http://www.louellareese.com
Jenny says
Loving this outfit on you! Also you’re spot on with everything that goes into a blog post. It’s seriously more than you’d think.
kileen says
such a great post filled with amazing tips! i need to get better about promoting!
kileen
cute & little
April says
I love seeing other bloggers behind the scenes. You have to great tips here! People think blogging is so easy but it’s a lot of work!
April | http://www.thebluehydrangeas.com
Melissa says
This was really informative for me as a fairly new blogger. Sometimes there are little details that I don’t think of that are super important. Thanks for the reminders!
LuxMommy says
I love that bag!
La Shell says
Thanks for sharing! It really is a long process. I usually write my posts first, they find a picture to suit it. I guess that’s because I rarely if ever have fashion posts. I use pics of myself more for instagram. I need to work on taking self pics. THAT is alot of work.
Lauryn Hock says
I love posts like this that show just how much blogging and keeping up with social media is! Thank you for sharing.
Sami | The Classic Brunette says
First of all, this outfit is so cute! I love those boots! And yes to everything you said! There’s SO much that goes into blogging that not many people realize!!
xo
Sami
http://www.theclassicbrunette.com
Kileen says
This is such a great blog post girl! And I love your outfit, those booties are so cute!
Kileen
cute & little
Julie N says
Love this post! This is all so true. Every blog post requires a LOT of work. I don’t think people understand that…unless they’re bloggers. I love your outfit too! Field jackets are the bomb, and those booties are super cute.
whatnicolewore@gmail.com says
Thank you so much Julie! Yes, it’s crazy how much work and time goes into a single blog post.
ahhhsoneo says
I love how the content of your blog is more than just fashion styling and photos, but also includes helpful and insightful commentary! Especially liked the post on how representation (still) matters, I wasn’t able to leave a comment there, but felt it was worth mentioning. thanks for sharing.
http://ahhhsoneo.com
Kristin says
I love reading about other bloggers’ processes for doing their posts! It’s interesting to see where the similarities and differences are. I could definitely do more on the promotion side of the posts, and you seem to have that down pat. Also, agreed on the field jacket being a fall staple!