Scheduling blog posts in WordPress is a game-changer. It allows you to plan content in advance, maintain a consistent posting schedule, and free up time to focus on other tasks. In this post, we’ll show you how to schedule your WordPress blog posts step by step and share tips to make the most of this feature.
Why schedule blog posts?
- Consistency: Regular posting keeps your audience engaged and improves SEO.
- Flexibility: Write when inspiration strikes and publish at the perfect time for your readers.
- Efficiency: Batch-create content and schedule it to go live over time.
How to schedule a blog post
- Create your post
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Posts > Add New.
- Write your content, add images, and format it as needed.
- Set the publish date and time
- On the Post Settings panel (usually on the right-hand side), find the Publish section.
- Click the Immediately link next to the Publish option.
- Select your desired date and time for the post to go live. Make sure to set the correct time zone in your site settings under Settings > General.
- Schedule the post
- Once you’ve set the date and time, the Publish button will change to Schedule.
- Click Schedule, and WordPress will handle the rest!
How to manage scheduled posts
- View scheduled posts: Go to Posts > All Posts. Scheduled posts will be marked with the word “Scheduled” along with the date and time.
- Edit a scheduled post: Hover over the post title, click Edit, and make your changes.
- Reschedule or cancel: Adjust the publish date/time or change the status back to “Draft” to cancel scheduling.
Tips for scheduling like a pro
- Post at the right time
- Use analytics tools (like Google Analytics) to determine when your audience is most active. Schedule posts for those times to maximise engagement.
- Plan with a content calendar
- Keep track of upcoming posts and avoid last-minute scrambles by using a content calendar plugin, such as Editorial Calendar or CoSchedule.
- Use automation tools
- Combine scheduling with plugins like Jetpack to automatically share your posts on social media when they go live.
- Review your drafts
- Before scheduling, double-check spelling, grammar, and formatting. Preview the post to ensure it looks great on desktop and mobile devices.
Troubleshooting scheduled posts
Sometimes a post might miss its schedule due to server issues or plugin conflicts. To fix this:
- Install a plugin like Scheduled Post Trigger to force missed posts to publish.
- Ensure your WordPress time zone matches your local time under Settings > General.
Scheduling blog posts in WordPress is a powerful way to take control of your content strategy. By planning ahead and using these tips, you can publish consistently, engage your audience, and focus on growing your site.
Ready to master more WordPress features? Don’t miss the next post in our WordPress 101 series!