I love blogging!
It’s the perfect creative outlet for me where I can share easy recipes, how-to tips for home projects and share my life and faith.
But there’s a problem.
Blogging takes a lot of time!
One post will take HOURS to complete. It takes time to write the post, more time to take photos, and then even more time to promote the post on social media. Promoting one post on Facebook, Google+, Twitter and Pinterest takes so much time that I’ve felt the need to be connected to my computer all.the.time.
Being a blogger means having a presence online. The problem is I don’t want to be on the computer all the time. I have a family to take care of and I’m not going to sacrifice time with them.
This post contains some affiliate links and referral links for your convenience. All opinions in this review are my own. My full disclosure can be seen here.
Then I discovered CoSchedule. Now I’m wondering how in the world I survived without it! CoSchedule allows me to streamline my blogging work so I can spend more time with my family.
What is CoSchedule?
CoSchedule is a social media editorial calendar that allows me to write a post and schedule all my social media updates on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Buffer, and Google+ all from my WordPress dashboard!
CoSchedule is a drag-and-drop editorial calendar plugin for your blog that allows you to manage all your posts and almost all your social media accounts all from inside your WordPress dashboard. What I love the most about CoSchedule is it allows me to promote my post as I’m writing it!
CoSchedule keeps everything organized. All the posts on the calendar can be dragged and dropped to a different date and all the social media promotions go with it!
How does it work?
CoSchedule is installed to your website through a plugin. It’s easy to install and the directions on how to use it are easy to follow (even for non-techy people like myself).
Once the plugin is installed, CoSchedule integrates WordPress, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Google+ pages, LinkedIn and Buffer–so all the information is all on the same screen making blog writing and promotion streamlined.
Here’s how it works: I write my post as usual. Directly below my post window, there is a CoSchedule window. From here I can schedule post promotions to my social media outlets. CoSchedule allows me to schedule unlimited social media posts at customized times. Having all the information right in my dashboard is so convenient!
Here is an example of what it looks like in the Edit Post screen:
Want to see CoSchedule in action? Here is a quick video showing the top 5 features of CoSchedule. Seeing it in action is what sold me.
Another feature I love about CoSchedule is it gives me the ability to schedule social media updates for future dates. This past week I went on vacation so before I left I scheduled a post and lots of messages on all my social media. CoSchedule allowed me to take a break from my blog because it did all the work for me. I spent quality time with my family and didn’t have to sacrifice traffic to my blog!
As you create a social media message in CoSchedule, you can see exactly how the promotion will appear on your social media once it is published. You also have the ability to set the exact date and time of the promotion.
How much does it cost?
I am very skeptical when it comes to paying for services for my blog. In fact, before this the only paid service I used on my blog was PicMonkey (to edit photos and graphics.) Most times for my blog I try to use free services but this is one of a few exceptions.
CoSchedule only costs $10 per month. I was so happy after my free trial, I decided it is worth every penny. And that means a lot coming from a cheap frugal person like myself! CoSchedule gives me the tools I need to easily drive more traffic to my blog, so the increased income potential quickly makes up for the cost.
Perfect for blogs with multiple authors
CoSchedule is a great tool for blogs with multiple authors. In this photo below, there are several people assigned to different tasks within the same blog. This means everyone can keep on the same page and stay organized! CoSchedule allows multiple people to view the calendar and work simultaneously.
Will CoSchedule be a good fit for you?
I honestly believe CoSchedule is the perfect social media tool for any blogger. This is especially true if you want to:
- Save time promoting your posts
- Gain more traffic without too much work
- Have the ability to post unlimited social media messages at customized times
- See your posts and social media schedule all in one place
- Keep your blog tasks organized
- Have a blog with multiple authors with different responsibilities
How I use CoSchedule
Pinterest is the number one traffic boost for my blog so it makes the most sense for me to be spending time pinning a lot during peak times. Being able to schedule pins as I write the post is a huge time saver. I can schedule pins during peak usage times–giving my posts huge exposure without being glued to my computer.
The calendar gives a great visual of what’s going on with my blog all in one place. I can make the most of my blogging time by seeing it all in one screen. Then when I’m with my family CoSchedule does all the work for me! CoSchedule has allowed me to be successful with my blog and gives me more time with my family. It’s a win-win!
I also like to use the CoSchedule calendar to promote older posts. I just click on a day on the calendar, input the blog post URL, photo, and description and then CoSchedule does the work for me!
What I think
CoSchedule has been a life saver for me. It’s allowed me to promote my blog at a low cost, streamline my blog work, all while saving me time. CoSchedule allows me to spend more time with my family and less time blogging without sacrificing my blog’s success.
Start a free trial
If you like what you’re reading, go ahead and start a free trial. There’s nothing like trying it out for yourself!
This post linked to Whimsy Wednesday, Lovely Ladies, The Weekend Re-treat, Inspire Me Please, Serenity Now, The Weekend Wind Down, Saturday Sharefest, Skip The Housework, DIY Sunday Showcase, In and Out of the Kitchen, Tutorials and Tips, The Makers, Snickerdoodle Sunday, Moonlight and Mason Jars, and Hit Me With Your Best Shot.
I’m a little late to this party, but first I’ll say… Yes, Co-Schedule is brilliant.
Second, I found this by searching for “blogging takes time” I’ve been a bit obsessed with this topic lately, partly because we just finished surveying 1000 bloggers (Carrie, I wish I’d known you last week, I would have asked for your input!) …and we discovered how much time people are putting in to their posts. Ready for the answer? The average post takes about 2.5 hours to complete. BUT, 5.5% of bloggers are spending 6+ hours per post on average. I’m one of them…
If you’d like to see all the survey data (there’s a ton) you can find it on the Orbit blog…
Enjoy!
I’m one of those people who spend at least 4 hours on each post! It looks like your research is right on! Thankfully over time I’ve discovered a couple ways (like using CoSchedule) to cut down on that time.
Thanks for sharing! I love this…especially the Pinterest part. Pinterest is my biggest struggle right now. I love hootsuite for the others, because I really like being able to throw a quote or question in there, and this looks to be just for blog posts. I definitely see it could be handy for pinterest. I love how we can all work together and share information like this! Love your blog, Carrie! xo
Thanks so much, Topaz!
Great tips! Pinned. Thanks again for being a part of our party. I hope to see you tonight. Lou Lou girls
Thanks so much for pinning this Kimberly!
sounds like a great plugin! WOW!! Will check it out, appreciate your sharing with us! Millie
I think I’m in love. You just turned social media marketing from a nightmare into a dream. I can’t wait to get to know this app! I already have it installed and running and had to stop myself for singing its praises all over everywhere before I even tried it for a day. It won’t be long though, because from what I’ve seen so far I LOVE it! Thanks for sharing!!!!
I had to keep myself from jumping up and down when I discovered CoSchedule, so I totally understand! I’m so glad it’s been helpful!
I really appreciate you writing this post. I am on day one of the trial and I live it already. It seems to make it all easier and I’m sure I’ll be a better blogger after this. Thanks again
Glad to be of help, Makeda!
Thank you Carrie for sharing about this tool! I’m going to check it out 🙂 I’m not great at promoting my posts, sounds like this would be really helpful.
You’re welcome! It’s really helped me get better about promotion!
I think you are about to start an epidemic! Such a great tool for bloggers to get their lives back!
It’s helped me out a great deal so I’m happy to pass it along to my blog friends!
Oh… I wish this worked with blogger 🙁 It sounds heavenly! Did you start on WordPress or upgrade after blogging for awhile?
I started on WordPress from the beginning. I had several people tell me that was the way to go. I had no clue what I was doing but I’m glad I took that advice because it’s really paid off. I know a lot of people in your situation & they had good results after making the move.
Man… I was hoping you started on blogger too lol
I know I’ll need to take the leap… It is just a constant balance trying to balance the budget and what I need for blogging.
I know–it’s a hard balance!
Thanks for this! I really need to switch to Word Press from Blogger. This would save me so much time!
It will save you time! It will be ready for you after you make the big switch!
I’m so glad I found this post! I have been wondering if there is anything like this available. I recently began scheduling my posts to be published at a certain time each day, but then I still have to promote them, so if I cannot be at the computer that is a problem!
Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like this will work for me as I am on blogger. I’m going to look for something like it that works there – or consider the scary thought of switching to word press!
Thanks! Pinning this!
A lot of people are in the same situation you are! This plugin alone would probably make the switch worth it. Thanks so much for pinning this!
That’s pretty handy. I have Viral Tag and I share an account with 3 others for about $9 a month. It just pins to Pinterest, but it’s nice because I can re-pin an entire board in some step. I don’t have Word Press (yet! Thinking about it) But if I do switch, I’ll keep this in mind. #SITSSharefest
That’s one thing I love is that the $10 a month goes towards most social media outlets so it’s a great use of money. Thanks for stopping by!
This is so awesome that I am choosing you at a Featured Blogger from this week’s WWDParty!
Thank you so much Antionette! You just made my day!
This sounds like something that I need to check out. I enjoy blogging but it does take a lot of time and effort. This past week I kept up with my posting but took a break from link parties and promoting things on pinterest and facebook and I had a lot more time to be creative and do some things I wanted and spend time with my family.
It’s worth taking a break so you can get your creative juices flowing! Now you can schedule promotions ahead of time and concentrate on your creativity!
What a great little thing. I schedule all my posts a few days in advance. I think it’s easier and I can enjoy more. I’m stopping by from SITS & I hope your having a great day!
I agree–scheduling posts ahead of time helps me so much!
This sounds great. I have been spending a lot of hours writing and promoting my posts in addition to all the other social media stuff. I am going to seriously look into this. I especially like that it schedules my Twitter posts too!
Yes–this is the only plugin I’ve found that does it all! I hope you enjoy it!
I’m always looking for ways to save time when it comes to blogging…love this idea!
Thanks Julie!
I’ve been hearing a lot about CoSchodule lately, it seems like it could really be a time saver. Thanks so much for sharing such great detailed information.
You’re welcome Tiffany!
Oh, I’m glad I saw this (from #SITSgirls) I had tried the free trial, but didn’t really focus time on learning what all it does. Going to check out the video now. Thanks! 🙂
I’m so happy to hear this was helpful! I’m a visual person so seeing the video really helped me see how it works.
I’ve been tempted to switch to WP so many times…and this alone looks like it would probably be worth it. By the time I finish writing a post and socializing with other bloggers, I basically have no energy left to promote on other social media platforms. This tool really sounds so helpful. Thanks for the tip and have a great weekend!
I agree CoSchedule would be a great solution for you!
O.M.G. I am so glad I found you through the SITS Sharefest! Seriously, i am going to start my trial in like, 5 minutes. I have a FT job and I blog about 4 times weekly. I don’t promote on Pinterest or Google+ because I don’t have time. Well, this fixes that problem. I will be following you for more great info.
http://wwwLivingHappierAfter.com
I was really excited when I found out about CoSchedule too! You are one busy woman and this would be a great way to have a presence while you’re at work! Thanks so much for the follow!
Never heard of this before, definitely excited to check this out! Thank you for sharing.
Visiting from SITS.
I’m hoping to spread the word so other bloggers can benefit just like I have! Thanks so much for stopping by!
I LOVE Co-Schedule! It’s been the best thing to happen in my blogging life! It’s totally changed everything about how I market and share my posts and in the 3 months I’ve been using it, my traffic has been steadily growing.
That’s great Kelly! It’s changed how I promote my posts too. Wish this would have been around when I first started blogging!
Thanks for the breakdown! I’ve seen co-schedule around before but didn’t know all it allowed one to do.
You’re welcome Lisa! It does a lot more than I expected and it seems like they do a good job coming up with new useful features.
Thanks for this review! The top item on my blog todo list today was to look into programs that schedule Pins, and CoSchedule does that and all the other platforms! I am so glad that I clicked over from your link up at Best Blog Recipes.
I am new to blogging (only a few months) and all the social media had been the hardest part for me to master. I can’t wait to start the trail today!
You’re right–managing social media time is one of the biggest challenges of blogging. Good thing for you is you discovered this early into your blog adventure! I would have been much better off had this been available 2 years ago!
Carrie, UPDATE!!!
I have been using coschedue for 48 hours now (2 days) and I have seen a 300% increase in my blog traffic!!! Now remember that isn’t much since I have only been blogging a few months but it is a pretty big deal for a little blogger like me!!
I am going to see if I am able to maintain this type of traffic but I am 99% sure that I will start paying the $10 monthly fee after my free trail runs out.
Thanks again for the review on the product. Cant wait to see how I’m doing in a week!!
Ashley @ LeavingTheRut.com
That’s awesome Ashley! Thank you so much for the update. I’m so glad to hear this is working well for you!
Such great information, Carrie! I’ve heard of Viral Tag to schedule pins, but can’t really afford the cost right now, or at least until I can find a group to join that shares the cost! It’s pretty cool that this plugin does EVERYTHING! That is much easier. How long is the trial period for? I think I might give it a try!
I love that it does everything and only for $10 a month. It’s crazy what other programs charge and that was just for one social platform! The trail period is for two weeks–long enough to see how it works and how it will help your blog. I hope that answers your question!
It sounds like a really neat service, Carrie! One more reason I need to switch to WordPress. 😉 I agreed with all your points about how much time it takes to promote the posts once you’ve spent hours getting them ready. I need to research some alternatives for a service like this for Blogger. Ever heard of any? Have a great weekend!
Blessings,
Nici
Unfotunately I haven’t heard of any services like this for Blogger–but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. I know the switch to WordPress can be a big challenge but I’ve heard so many people are happy after making the switch. I hope it is for you!
This is awesome! I don’t think a lot of people realize just how time consuming blogging and social media is.
You’re right Kerri. It doesn’t take long for those little tasks to add up in time!
Wow Carrie, what a great review! I love how you broke things down for everyone. I also love hearing that CoSchedule helped you enjoy a “blog free’ vacation with your family. That is exactly why we do what we do.
Also, if you don’t mind, I might borrow your list of reasons to use CoSchedule. That was so well said.
Thank you for sharing CoSchedule with your audience. More than anything, thank you for using CoSchedule!
Thank you so much Garrett! CoSchedule really did let me have a blog free vacation! It was a great way to connect with my family but still know my blog was in good hands. Yes you can borrow my list!
Garrett,
I don’t know if you go back and read the comments but above I was just telling Carrie that in the 48 hours that I have been using coschedule I have seen a 300% increase in my traffic!! That isn’t much when you know how small my blog is (only been at this a few months…) but it is a relay big deal to me!! If my traffic continues to increase i will definitely be purchasing the full version. Can’t wait!!
Ashley @ LeavingTheRut.com
Thanks for sharing those information with us! It´s really useful! X Sophie
You’re welcome! I love sharing tips that are helpful to others. It’s so fulfilling knowing I can help others through this little blog of mine!
Love love this! I don’t have WordPress, wonder if it will work for blogger? I need something like this!!
Thanks so much Carrie for this great post 🙂 Visiting from the lovely ladies link party!
Cathy
it looks like this is just a plugin for WordPress. Wouldn’t it be great if you could use this on blogger? Keep this in mind in case you ever convert your blog over to WordPress. This would be the perfect solution!
Wow this is the answer to my dreams but of course I am on blogger! Google has really dropped the ball with Blogger! Ugh!
Wow, I had no idea there was a plug-in like this. I am going to try it out! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
It’s really worth the try–I hope you get as much out of it as I have!
This sounds pretty awesome! But is it only available for wordpress users?
I believe it is only for WordPress users. What platform are you on? I’ve had great results with their customer service so it might be worth asking if they make it for your platform.
Awesome! I am doing the free trial.
Great! I really think you’ll love it! Let me know if you have any questions!
Amazing information!!! Pinned!!
Thank you so much for pinning this Selene!
Ok. Just started the free trial and might already be in love! My one question is, since FB is so picky about scheduling through other means, do you find that people still see your FB posts or is it still better to schedule directly on Facebook?
That is a really good question. So far I haven’t noticed a difference, but that is probably because so few people see my Facebook updates anyway 🙂 I think the convenience is worth it!
I’ve been considering trying this for a few weeks and now I’m sold Carrie! I don’t like to pay for services either, but I just can’t keep up with all of it. This sounds like it will help me be organized and streamline my time. I still refuse to be glued to the computer too, which means a slower growing blog at times. But this sounds like I’ll get the best of both worlds and not be so preoccupied when I’m supposed to be playing with my sweeties! Thanks for the info Carrie!
Great! I’m glad this was helpful Corey! This plugin was made for bloggers like you. It’s allowed me to stay away from the computer a lot more and I’m so thankful! Now if they could only think of a plugin like this for linky parties!
All I can say is ~ Sign. Me. Up!
I have been waiting for a scheduling service like this! Thank you so much for recommending CoSchedule!
~ Ashley
You’ll love it Ashley! It’s perfect for bloggers like you! I just wish I would have discovered it a long time ago!
Glad to hear about this, Carrie! I’m going to check it out! Thank you 🙂
Great Kendra! Let me know if you have any questions!