You want to keep your blog up to date but you are looking forward to a break from your blog work during the holidays. What can you do?
There are a few different choices you can make. What's right for one blogger will not necessarily be right for another. There is no right or wrong choice.
1. Continue Blogging As Normal Through the Holidays
This would be a good choice if you don't celebrate Christmas or if the holidays aren't that busy of a time for you or you just really love blogging! If your blog is your business, this may be your choice. You could still take a day or two off but you might not be able to afford more than that.
2. Stop Blogging for the Holidays
Some bloggers take a break of a week to three weeks and do not produce content during this time. The benefit is a large break from your work. The negative side is that you may lose readers during this time. The longer the break from your regular posting schedule, the more readers tend to be lost. If you are not blogging for profit or are not worried as much about readership numbers, this may be the right option for you.
3. Slow Down Your Blogging
Perhaps you might post the same amount but do less promotion or behind the scenes work. Or perhaps you will just post less often during the holidays. This option could be done in many different ways. If you have more than one blog, you might continue your regular posting schedule on one but take a break from the other(s)
4. Utilize Guest Posts
By accepting guest posts from other bloggers, you can have content for your blog without taking the time to write anything. You could even preschedule the posts to go up during the holidays. For this option you would want to think farther ahead. If it's close to the holidays though, you might still be able to get one or two as some people have guest posts written already and are just waiting for a home for them. Ask your blogging friends or post a request in BloggerLinkUp or in a blogging forum. Guests posts are also good for bringing another person's ideas and writing style to your blog for a time.
5. Preschedule Your Own Content
You can schedule a day where you produce many posts before the holidays and then schedule them to go up throughout the holiday so you have regular content that is yours but you don't have to do the writing during the holidays. It is up to you how much other blogging work you do during the holidays such as promotion, behind the scenes work, design work etc. This can be a lot of work at once but then you will feel relieved at having posts ready to go up.
Bottom Line
Remember there are no right or wrong choices and what you choose will depend on many factors such as why you blog, how many blogs you have, your personal beliefs surrounding the holiday and whether you monetize your blog or not.
What do you plan to do with your blog for the holiday season? Tell me in the comments.
Jennifer says
I am really struggling on what I should do with my blog for the holidays. Last year I did a huge giveaway (high value piece of jewelry) which started the day after Christmas and lasted through New Years. It helped with traffic, but I'm not sure that I want to do that again... I've pre-scheduled a few posts, but I'm always wondering - is it enough? Maybe I'll just do a few extra picture posts so there isn't a ton of writing to be done...I just don't know. And it doesn't help that my mom has a bad internet connection at her house (that's where we're spending the holiday). I guess I better figure it out since it's next week!
Kathleen Garber says
For me, less readers during the holidays is normal but it's in January that my numbers really go down. Perhaps do a big giveaway starting Jan 1 instead? To bring readers in January. For the holidays you could just preschedule a post or two so you don't have to worry about the poor internet connection.
Ellen Christian says
Great ideas! Haven't decided which I'm going to do yet.
Kathleen Garber says
You might want to decide soon! The holidays always seem to creep up fast!
Jaime Nicole says
I will probably slow down a little bit over this weekend as I finish up final prep! I have some airplane time to work on posts as well.
Kathleen Garber says
Travel time is perfect for writing posts. I don't travel much but have found the train a good time to write.
still blonde says
Excellent topic. One that many of us struggle over. KUDOS!!
Kathleen Garber says
Thank you. I was trying to decide what topic about blogging and the holidays isn't covered as much.
maria @close to home says
thx I am out of town and no internet so this is going to be challenging.
Kathleen Garber says
No internet does pose some problems. Ideally you would have planned for your blog before going out out of town. Really though, even if you are absent for a few days to a few weeks, while you will lose readers, you can work to get them back.
mel says
I am actually going to take some time off and enjoy the holidays!
Kathleen Garber says
Sounds good, Happy Holidays then!
lena says
I somehow still have a busy schedule - pre-scheduling now
Kathleen Garber says
I need to find time to schedule a few things if I can.
Tracey Black says
I will keep posting but take a break for Christmas and New Year's. Next year, I plan to line up more guest posts.
Kathleen Garber says
I say that I will do more with guests posts every year and I haven't done well with that. Hopefully you have better luck.
bre dale says
prescheduling seems to be the best idea to me
Kathleen Garber says
This would be my ideal way to handle it but prescheduling posts for 5 blogs just isn't possible for me!
Felissa says
I know that no matter what traffic will start to slow down by the end of the week but I will continue to post as normal or as close to normal as I have been. I have cut way down on daily posts from between 3 - 5 per day to 1 per day and just promote each post more. I think I might do a recap after the holidays though so that people who were to busy to visit don't miss any of the great content I put up.
Kathleen Garber says
That is a good idea. I used to do week in review on one of my blogs but it's a lot of work. Perhaps just during busy times though.
kristinnw says
Great question. I have NO idea. I will probably NOT post on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, but other than that, it'll be business as usual. Not full force blogging, but blogging, maybe once or twice a day.
Kathleen Garber says
If I post on Christmas Eve or Day, it would be just well wishes for the holiday season. I think my plan may end up being similar to yours.
Sandy a la Mode says
i am going to schedule posts and cut back by a day or two!
xo,
Sandy
Sandy a la Mode
Emily says
I seem to blog so sporadically based on what is going on in my life, that I will probably just continue on that way or prepost some...
Kathleen Garber says
It is recommended that you blog on a regular schedule, even if it's only once a month so readers know when to expect new content. That said, it's easier said than done. I'm sure keeping to your "regular" non-regularity will work for you.
@mamanycnet says
Great ideas 🙂 I've been scheduling posts ahead of time, but since I am having a baby mid-January, I've had to go even further nto the future. It's not easy, but I've scheduled posts sporadically from December 25-January 22nd in hopes that I'll have lots of posts when its baby time. As if this time of the year isn't difficult enough, I have to plan ANOTHER month ahead of time. Im doing well with scheduling for the baby, but still struggle (naturally) to keep up with what has to be done NOW. I know that I will go crazy knowing there's NOTHING being published, so its best that I get ready now! 🙂