I have found the best blog planning and organizational tool so far. No, it’s not a planner (I know this shocks you with my love for planners), no it’s not pen and paper, it’s not even a calendar (though I will still use that). This little tool I am talking about is EverNote. I have actually had this app on my iPhone and iMac for quite some time but never really took much of a look around it. My what I have been missing!
Today I decided to explore and get into EverNote just because I have seen a few people mention it here and there. I had the app I may as well try it right?! It did take me a few minutes to find my way around but once I did, impressed I was! I started off by making a “notebook” for each of my blogs as you can see in the top part of this photo:
I focused on A Daily Dose of Toni first. After playing around with putting all my posts and due dates on one sheet, I figured it worked out much better if I actually made a new “note” in the DDOT notebook for each post I had coming. I started off by titling the note and adding the preferred due date so at a glace I would know what was coming. After that I figured out that I could add little check boxes for social sharing (I often post and forget to do this, so the accountability of checking it off will be a big help), as well as when I added the draft to wordpress and checking off when it went live.
You may be thinking “Why do she need a check mark for drafts, it auto drafts in wordpress”….this is where the AHA moment caught on…I could WRITE MY POST right there in EverNote (right under the check box area) so every single thing from start to finish was in one place! GENIUS. Then all I do is copy the text over, add images (though you can do this in EverNote too), and save as a draft for a later date or get it live right then. Just today I noticed a big leap in my productivity as I scanned what I had to do, when items were due, what needed to be shared….seriously the best tool as a blogger I have come across in a LONG time.
One little random feature I love is the ability to find out where notes are from locationally which is just a fun little feature if you have collaborators in different areas. Speaking of collaborators, one thing I wondered…can you share notes with others or can they edit them?
Why yes, yes you can! You have the options to them them view notes, view notes and activity, modify notes, or modify and invite others. This is a great feature, as I said, if you are working on a project with others or if you have a site with someone else. For instance, I have Two Traveling Moms with Mellisa and being able to start that notebook and share it with her, as well as give her the option to put notes in there too makes sure we are on the same page. Please note, to have the modify option when you share you do have to go with premium which is 4.99 a month or 49.99 a year.
As a blogger I do host giveaways, and in the past it was easiest to just move all giveaway happenings to a created folder in my email. Thanks to EverNote I have a much better way of keeping track of my giveaway happenings, check it out:
With this program I can have one page (in each notebook, so blogs don’t get mixed up) with current giveaways. I can make sure I have drawn and contacted the winner, sent their info over and check in to make sure they received their win. This is such a great way for me to keep my giveaways in order, if it isn’t checked…it needs to still be done. If you can see at the top of the photo above there are some extra little things, some of the other features not highlighted in detail but included on EverNote are:
- Voice Notes…it doesn’t all have to be written out.
- Attach something to your note.
- The little circle opens a camera so you can take a snapshot for your notes.
- You can build tables and numbers lists.
EverNote is impressing me so much and I know that it is going to definitely help me plan more and get more organized when it comes to blogging. I know I haven’t even scratched the surface but I hope these tips will help you like they are me and as I learn more…you know I’ll be back to share!
Do you use EverNote…what are some of your favorite things about it?
Toni Patton
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I’ve been using Evernote close to a year and love it. I also have been playing around with Springpad. These programs help me to stay organized and I have access to all my information from anywhere I’m at on any device!
Wooo hoo! I see such awesome opportunities for this that I haven’t considered.
This helps with doing curated type posts as well when you use the Evernote bookmarklet. Just browse and then bookmark them to your notebooks – so easy.
Thanks for sharing Toni!
Yes it really does look like it is going to be such a big help!!!
i have it on m phone and use it there.
I too JUST started using this! My husband ordered me a Mac for Valentine’s Day and so I’ve been transferring all my Windows One Note things to Evernote to get ready for the transition. It is SO handy to have everything in one place, but still separated and I love that I can retrieve it from the web, my iPad, iPhone, and my computer! I love how you actually see little notebooks on your Mac screen – I haven’t seen how to do that on the web based portion…can’t wait to get my Mac!
I’ll have to try this out.
I’ve never heard of it I will have to give it a try.
sounds awesome I definitely could use more organization!
Hmmmm — I completely thought Evernote was a different tool. I haven’t tried it.
I do have to start using this app.
This is the first time I’m hearing about Evernote but I am most definitely going to look into it.
Wow, this does sound like an amazing blogging tool.
I love evernote, I never that using it as a blog planner. I need to!!
This is just what I have been missing! I’m going to have to do this right away!
Neat! Ill have to look into Evernote!
I’ve heard a ton of great things about it but have never really played with it. I’ve been struggling to get more organized so this may just do the trick!
Pinned it to my blogging board!
Hey thanks 🙂
So, I downloaded the app Thursday after seeing your post. I still feel a little lost though!
I find it easier to add things on the desktop version on my iMac but I can on the app. The app definitely takes some more getting used to than the version on my iMac.
I have this app on my phone. Awesome app!