Blogging is a creative work which requires much time to be invested. Time is very precious and has to be invested wisely. To get more things done in a limited time, we can utilize some tools that help to increase productivity. Automating tedious tasks is the best way to manage time efficiently. In the case of blogging, there are many tools that can be used to improve productivity.
To improve productivity there are many things that must be improved:
- Focus
- Writing Quality
- Organizing Work
- Social Media Elements
- Visual Elements
- Automation
Let us get familiarized with some interesting tools that help us improve the different characteristics of blogging.
Two tools that help to improve focus in the work are:
It is a simple tool that helps to set a timer to the browser. Once a time is set, one can focus on the work rather than the clock. When the timer expires, the clock notifies the user. The tool helps the blogger completely focus on what they have to do. Hence, the work will be accomplished well and on time.
Toggl is another desktop time tracker that saves the time along with the work you did. Using Toggl, the user will set a time and start the timer while working. Once the task is done, the timer is stopped and saved. This way, the work as well as the time taken to complete it is recorded. The tool is compatible with desktop, web and even mobile. The tool is effective to set up time for teams and to generate reports classified based on it.
Tools that help improve the writing experience and quality are:
The application is quite helpful for writers to stay focused on writing. The tool is compatible with Windows. Those who use Mac can even try Write Room, an alternative for the same tool. Both the tools help in distraction-free writing, removing unnecessary clutter. You have to download and install the tool as there’s no web version.
This is a cool web-based tool that helps to improvise your writing skills. The app is very informative and provides a suggestion about what needs to be edited. There is a desktop app also available for MAC and Windows wherein the user can copy paste the article, check for errors and correct them. In one way, the app saves time and polishes your writing skills. The web-based one is free but the desktop version is nominally charged.
Pocket is an effective bookmark that helps to save the content for further reference. The user can save the pages for viewing later. Even tagging can be done to organize the data. A variety of applications like email, browser, Flip board and more can be bookmarked using Pocket. The app has a minimal distraction and is also available on mobile. Even the readers who prefer to use mobile for writing can also use the application. The app is available for free as well as at a premium charge.
I’ve been using Cloudways since January 2016 for this blog. I happily recommend Cloudways to my readers because I am a proud customer.
Grammarly is an online tool to proofread the content. It helps to correct grammatical errors and help the writer to enhance their writing quality. Grammarly proofreads the writings and provides suggestions to correct it. The tool is a huge help for self-learning and hence, you need not wait for someone else to proofread what you write. The tool also provides reasons for changing it and the writer can benefit by learning more about the language to improve their skills. The basic web version is free and to add more features, payment is required.
Tools to stay organized in what you do
Cloud storage is an advanced method to store data and Drop box is one of the best cloud storage options available. What you need to do is to register to get a Drop box account and you can save the files on the cloud. It can be used on mobile and desktop. In a way, productivity improves as you get access to the files anywhere. The storage capacity is around +2GB and more can be obtained on payment.
This is a perfect way to create notes and to share them. The tool is compatible with Windows, MAC and mobile. Evernote is also available in Chrome extension and hence, can also clip directly from the web. The notes can be synchronized anytime. These notes can be at one place helping you to organize.
LastPass is a tool that can be managed from anywhere with a password. The tool can be accessed from any OS with any browser. The tool helps when you have multiple accounts.
Trello helps to create boards for your project. Attractive cards with notes, images, etc. can be made and widely used on any platform. The interface is simple and easy to use and eases project management. It is one of the widely used tools by content managers.
This is a tool that helps to maintain a To-Do list. It helps to organize your day-to-day activity.
Tools to improve Visual Content
Pablo helps to create eye-catching images that can increase the traffic to your blog. Since Pablo works through Buffer, sharing these images is quite easy.
Canva can be used to include trendy graphics, to make the blog more presentable.
It helps to create your own color schemes. It is particularly useful for image or photo blogs.
Some of the interesting Social Media tools are
The tool helps to find the right people and follow and schedule update on various social media platforms. It helps to save time on social media tasks.
Hootsuite
Hootsuite helps to schedule updates and also to find some amazing content to share. With a click of a button, one can share and exchange information.
Tools to automate
It stands for ‘IF This Then That”, helps to create connections with many online services and make channels facilitate sharing.
With Zapier, one can add many features like Eventbrite and Mail Chimp. Similarly we can add multiple things together that can be used without restrictions.
These are some of the interesting tools to improve the blogging productivity immensely. There are more free and paid tools available online for specific usages. If your blogs involve a specific category such as graphics or multimedia, you can find a good tool that helps in helping you get more productive with your blogs.
