Can A Blogging Work Flow Tool Help Me Be More Productive?

I recently discovered a blogging work flow tool called Zemanta, that according to its web site will save you time and increase traffic.  It works on a number of different blogging platforms, including the one I use, typepad.  It recommends links and photos while you write.  (Sarah Peretz, Read/Write Web has a more detailed description of how it works and the features.)

Bringing traffic and saving time were attractive enough lures to get me to install it.  I took it out for a test drive, initially writing about Zemanta.   

I found a few features annoying, most notably the lack of flexibility with the templates.  I also didn't like the photos it recommended (and in fact one it suggested was all rights reserved).   In some ways, I found using it counter-intuitive to my thinking and reflection process.  I was about to ditch the whole experiment when Zemanta recommended two excellent posts by Chris Brogan, "A Sample Blogging Work Flow" and David Peralty on Organizing a Blog Post.

Ah, ha ... maybe it is suggesting that I should write a post about my blogging workflow!   That way I can really understand if this tool would help me save time or bring traffic.    I also wondered "Can a blogging work flow tool really help you improve the quality of your blogging?" 

I created a mindmap of Peralty's step-by-step framework to help me reflect on my steps.   I follow something very similar, although I am very reiterative about the process until I publish and similar to Chris Brogan - very organic about the first three steps. 

For example, I might not start with a specific a topic in mind.  I might instead read through some blog feeds or find interesting links from people I follow on FriendFeed or Twitter and then bookmark posts on topics (within my "beat") that I have an opinion about, something to add, or that I just find interesting.   Sometimes I get an idea based on a pattern analysis or connecting several seemingly unconnected posts/ideas together. Many times ideas for topics come from reader comments. (thanks everyone!)

Sometimes I have a specific topic I want to write about and start there.  That usually isn't the case.  Maybe I should be more proactive in my topic selection and brainstorm a list of topics, pick one, and then go research it.   

I also select a visual early on because it helps me think.  I might spend a few minutes brainstorming on flickr by typing in combinations of keywords related to ideas to come up with a metaphor. (Usually while listening to Mozart)   I guess this could be called research, but it is also idea generation.

After I've written the post, I may leave it in draft for a few days to marinate if I'm not happy with it.  I have way too many posts in draft.

The call to action - asking a question at the end to generate discussion is a technique that is integrated into my writing process unless I am doing an interview - but that is a very good point to remember and a useful tip to share with new bloggers.

I think of the publishing and connecting step as what happens after I click the "publish button."   If it is a post where I am hoping to get a lot of conversation, I might compose a question for Twitter, my Facebook or LinkedIn status line,  add the link to flickr photo illustrating the post, and/or share in the appropriate room on FriendFeed.

How do you get your inspiration or ideas for blog?  Do you follow a framework like this?  Are you using Zemanta or similar tool? Why or why not?

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Comments

[greenskeptic]

Wow, thanks, Beth. This looks like just what I need. I will try it over the next couple of weeks and let you know if my productivity improves. I hope so, it's been hard to keep up these past few weeks.

[Chris Brogan...]

The way I'm using Zemanta is just to find other posts that might be of interest to people reading the post I've written. I don't use the photos feature, nor do I use the other features. But I like it for what it does, and I'm happy it's installed.

My flow is probably a lot more organic than most because my blog isn't really built to serve a business solution. It's basically there to educate, communicate, and share. But I could see a flow being more useful to people who have more professional needs.

I might blog something about that.

[Concetta]

Thanks for the tips on your blogging flow. I follow a similar process and I too have heaps of stuff in draft. I use Zemanta as a sort of addition - sometimes it takes me in a new direction, sometimes it provides a bit of extra reading. I also really like that for the names of businesses it just lets you click to link, same for wikipedia info.

[Mike Sansone]

I use Zemanta in several ways, especially for links to related posts. I've also noticed clients appearing in some of those related choices. Good for audience, good for author. The image choices are also a time saver!

[Tristan]

Hi Beth! Great post about how the z tool affects the blogging workflow. I'm curious what you'd think of Apture, which also affects the workflow but offers a more user-directed approach to finding media you might want to link, and make it one-click easy to pick the best stuff. Take a look at the demo at http://www.apture.com/tour/4 and let me know what you think. (Disclosure: I am a co-founder of the company... I just thought you'd find it interesting).

All the best,
Tristan

[Jure Cuhalev]

Beth, it seems that you are trying to use Zemanta differently as we envisioned. Our vision is of a tool that transparently suggests things to you while you write. We don't try to suggest what to write, but instead try to say "these things might enhance your post", through links, images or tags. Related articles work a bit differently, one way is to provide additional pointers to your readers, but they can be also used as a brainstorming tool while writing.

I'd be also interested in hearing what you mean by lack of template flexibility? If you mean image insertion, we're working on improved image gallery with multiple-image insertion, easier alignment and similar.

Regarding copyright of the images, we make sure that we only suggest you images that should be OK for your blog. This means that when showing images from Wikipedia or Flickr, we make sure we select only Creative Commons and other free images, together with clear description of license. In case of Getty images via Daylife, we made sure these images are licensed for use on blogs, as long as proper attribution is set. If you worry about any specific image, I'm happy to take a look and I'll then work with out team to make sure we either filter these kind of images or to label them differently, if it seems as non-free.

Hopefuly, this clarifies the questions you raised regarding Zemanta. I'd love to continue this conversation on how we could change the tool to help you with your blogging. Either in private - [email protected] or publicly on our forums getsatisfaction.com/zemanta (or just through comments/blog posts).

Jure Cuhalev, Zemanta

[Hilary Mason]

Just came across your post and found it interesting. I haven't yet tried Zemanta so will give it a go to see if it helps at all. I find that as I am writing predominantly about my work experiences and social policy I tend to write about the everyday that I am experiencing. ( I am still relatively new to all of this.) I am finding as I progress that I mull over some topics in my head and then work out which ones might be of more interest to my professional community. However, thanks for the ideas and I will try and incorporate some of them in the future.

[Web Design Company USA]

Great post. However, I prefer writing my blog posts first in word, spell check them and then copy paste them in the blog. I am not comfortable with using tools as I feel they will hamper the flow of my thoughts.