Campfire Chic: How Do You Stay Organized?

While I am not on Formspring, I do have a Google Doc I use to track questions people would like to ask me/get answered. The question that appears most often is, "how do you organize everything?" and while that is a pretty vague question, the variations of this question pretty much ask how I organize all my sponsor information, schedule posts, track my orders, and follow up with emails.

I don't think there is one best way to stay organized, and while I've shared some of my methods in the past (How I Stay Organized, Using Data from Google Analytics When Scheduling Blog Posts, and Creating and Managing Labels in Gmail) I'm back with another post that combines the responses of several of this month's sponsors as well as those who responded to the question:

"How do you keep your blog/shop 'stuff' organized?"

I host the photographs for my blog posts on flickr and edit them using picnik. If the picture was taken specifically for a blog entry (like a recipe or recent purchase), I save it in the "blog" group so I can keep track of it. Other photographs are organized in flickr sets based on location or event. If I'm creating graphics or collages for blog posts, I also keep them in the flickr group. You have the option to keep these items private, even if they are posted to your blog.

I keep a physical notebook for blog ideas and lists and I frequently have several draft blog entries in progress. Once these are finished, I schedule them for automatic posting. I don't usually save a bunch of downloaded photos or graphics on my hard drive for blogging, I would rather create a draft post and store them in there. That way, I don't lose the source links and wonder where the photos came from later. If you don't like storing these things on the blog, photobucket is another free option.

For my photography shop, I keep an inventory of photographs and photo mailers in my office. I review it every once in a while and order new photographs when the inventory is depleted. I also keep a stack of moo cards to include in my packages in the same place. I check etsy periodically to make sure none of my listings have expired. When I receive an order or an address for a giveaway, I get the package ready to send out the next day, assuming I have the photograph in inventory.

To be honest, it's not all that easy. For me, the best way I found was to buy myself a mini planner and sort it all out on a calender. Seeing the full month gives you a great sense of time and spacing between repeating features and individual posts. I have a small separate notebook I have on hand for random ideas that could later become posts or are full projects all on their own. To do lists and schedules and working ahead of yourself are always a plus. If you're not scrambling to make your own blog more fun, you have lots of time to check out everyone else's and live your life OFF the computer. Hard to believe, right?

Hi Campfire readers! This is a great question, one I'm always trying to reevaluate depending on my shop and blog. In my opinion, organization is one of the biggest challenges for an indie business or blog. Most of the time we are the engine behind the production and running everything, from creating and marketing, to planning and advertising. And in addition to that, many of us have separate jobs like a day job or being a mom. Planning is key for success, and success is defined by what you want it to be. To stay organized with ideas and planning, I use Google Docs for both my blog and shop. I have separate folders for both. I organize by daily to-do's, then weekly and seasonal goals, and even planning for next year. Try to stay realistic but plan big. I also keep a little notepad for ideas when I'm out away from my laptop. I separate different folders for advertising, current projects, future projects, weekly blog posts and upcoming blog posts. I take a day out of my week to do planning. I evaluate my upcoming week, and then adjust what goals I've met or still need to meet, plan blog posts and what orders/emails/interviews I need to address. I've found that the rest of my week goes smoothly when I take the time to plan. Hope this helps you with your own small business or blog! Remember that success is what you define it as!

I'm quite new for this organizing thing, as I used to post more spontaneously in my old blog. But nowadays I have a planner dedicated to my blog only. In my planner there's a monthly section, where I mark down my guest posts, sponsored blogs and weekly features. Under the daily section I file down my to-do's and posts I wrote that day (for the record keeping). And then there are some note pages in the end, which I use for listing post ideas. As I love lists, planners and notebooks, this is the way that suits me best. However, I try not to plan too much. I want to keep up the spontaneity in my blogging, as that helps me not to get bored or end up in a massive blogging rut.

I'm notorious for having a bajillion sticky notes all over the place. I won't lie, I've mad sticky note lists of my lists. Lately though, I've been categorizing those stickies under tabs like 'blog', 'meal ideas', and 'to-do lists' in the back of my Filofax, that way I always have them with me, and can scratch out or make a completely new list if things change on the fly. As far as scheduling things for the blog goes, I like using Teux Deux- It's not automated or anything, but I just like to get a visual in my head of what posts are going where/when.

I am the most disorganized blogger you are ever likely to meet... I have a folder on my laptop that stores everything blog related all in one place. There are no sub folders just one big file dump, but (here comes my saving grace) I label everything very specifically so when I need a file I open the blog folder and type what I'm looking for into the search bar. And that's about as much organizing as I do, apart from keeping a list of goals as my desktop background to keep me on track.

I don't keep my stuff organized all the time, but when I do, I usually have lists that I follow very strictly of "things to do" and scheduling posts up on my blog ahead of time- and that helps me with my organization.

Due to the fact that my Etsy shop contains a wide variety of breakable items, I make sure to stay very organized. As soon as I photograph and list them, I bubble wrap the item. They I place them into open storage bins which are divided by shop categories. I have labeled them with washi tape so that when I receive an order, I can find my items easily to ship. I usually have between 40-60 listings, with another 15+ in reserve, so it is crucial that I take care of my inventory so it gets to my customers in one piece. As far as the paperwork goes, I was a corporate office manager for a number of years so I love spreadsheets

And now responses from some of my

other Tweethearts! If you would like

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Feeling a little glum about not being as organized as these ladies? Have no fear, you're not alone:

There you have it! Numerous organization ideas. Clipboards, sticky notes, desktop folders, Google products, and piles :) Test some of these out while you organize your blog during its next makeover or when developing a new line of products for your shop! It's never too late to get organized. And even if it takes a while, at least you're not alone.

Thank you to all of those who participated! I love your instant responses and willingness to be featured here for this semi-regular feature :)

What tips do you have to share with others?

Any of the tips here sound like they'll work for you?

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