CoSchedule, My Favorite Blog Tool

Hi Guys!

Today I want to share with you a new blog tool I began using last month. It's called CoSchedule. I've seen a lot of buzz across the blog world about CoSchedule, but had never looked into using it. There's so many options available now it can be overwhelming figuring out what are the best tools when it comes to blogging. A few weeks ago, I attended a blogging conference. One of the topics discussed was harnessing social media and developing a strategy. I was using another tool for 3 months (the free service), but it wasn't fully meeting my needs. I didn't have time to search out and try other tools. Once you're familiar with a tool, it's tough to break the habit.

CoSchedule is an editorial calendar online that helps you plan your blog posts and social media. You can see everything in one calendar, in one place. The tool I was using previously I had to swivel between my blog to see what posts were scheduled and the tool to see what social media I had planned. That forced me to swivel between WordPress and the tool to schedule social media. Not having to swivel between two sites is a huge plus! This makes it easy because I can see what posts I have scheduled and plan my social media right in one place. I love easy!

I can also drill into any one of my blog posts from the calendar and make adjustments to the title, status, schedule, categories as needed or hyperlink to my blog to edit or view the post. I can also schedule social media here. Something I really like about this feature is that it provides social analytics. I can see how many social shares my post had and via which platform.

The dashboard provides overall analytics too. Although I just began using CoSchedule recently, the tool is smart enough to look back at all my previously published posts, compile the stats and provide me with all encompassing analytics. I had no idea my GF Chocolate Hazelnut Muffins were pinned this much until I reviewed this. 

Truthfully I wasn't looking for a calendar option in a tool, but I must admit this is one of my favorite features. I've always used a calendar to plan my blog schedule by hand. I'm old school!  What I really like about CoSchedule is that the calendar integrates directly with my blogging platform. No coding or plugin installation required. When you sign up for CoSchedule on their website, it automatically finds your blog with the website you enter and installs itself into your blog platform. You will see "calendar" in your blog menu. It's the same calendar with the same functionality from their website right inside your blog. It's easy and I'm all about easy!

Another feature of the calendar that sold me was the integration of CoSchedule within a blog post. After I'm done writing a post, I can scroll to the bottom and schedule my social media. I can schedule the day and time of day I want the post to be shared on my social media. 

I really like that CoSchedule provides recommendations for promoting your post on social media within the blog post. As a newer blogger, this was something I've been trying to figure out for months. They recommend promoting the day of, the day after, the week after, a month after and you also have the option to select a custom future date. This is a huge timesaver for me. I don't have time to schedule all my posts on social media this way and even if I did, I would never remember to do it. Unfortunately many of my older posts and recipes that are really great content may never have reached my followers. With CoSchedule, I can go back to that great content and schedule it with the tool. 

CoSchedule is a paid service. Now I know what you're thinking. I'm always reluctant to sign up for the paid blogging tools. There's so many free ones available it makes it really hard to justify spending the money. At the blogging conference I attended, CoSchedule was raved by other bloggers as "the must have blogging tool" and by a social media expert herself. That same day I signed up for the free 2 week trial and began using it right away. I was immediately hooked. I absolutely love it! I honestly can't imagine blogging without it. It has made blogging and sharing my posts so much easier and convenient. 

I definitely encourage you to sign up for the free two week trial to check it out. You can sign up HERE. It's $10 per month or you save $20 if you sign up for the year. Although I was doubtful paying for the service before I tried it, I discovered after using the tool the money's worth it. I'm sure many of my fellow bloggers would find it to be a great tool as well!

Disclaimer. All opinions stated in this post are 100% my own. This post was not sponsored, but does contain affiliate referral links. I will receive a small credit if you use my link. I so very appreciate your support of this blog!

About Megan

Megan is a certified nutrition practitioner, author, freelance food photographer and fitness instructor living in Phoenix, Arizona. On her blog, Skinny Fitalicious she shares EASY, gluten free recipes for weight loss. Follow Megan on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates.