Scheduling vs Publishing Instantly – What Really Works?
This question has been asked by many people on several platforms, hence I decided to talk about it.
For some people, like me, it doesn't really matter whether to schedule the posts or publish them instantly, as I give enough time when it comes to my blog (where I give tips on how to make money blogging).
But that might not be the case with many others, including you. So the answer is – Watch the video! Let's discuss the factors which influence this discussion.
As I promised in the video, here's the link to the infographic. All the data in the infographic is based on Eastern Time (EST). Hence, if you're from another region, just like me, you might want to convert it into your time. (So if you choose publishing instantly, you might have to wake up at 3:00 AM – Just Saying)
The video was short, but I tried to speak about the important factors that I consider to be influencing the discussion of scheduling vs publishing instantly.
Let's Hear From You
Speak out loud and say which one you prefer:
Scheduling or publishing instantly?
Or would you just be like me and say – It Depends!
Hi Raaj,
I hope it hardly matters for your blog. But more consistently, if you look through then would prefer publishing as it is more important for your blog to get visitors. Isn’t it??
The more you publish with unique and fresh content, the more visitors you would get at your blog. This is all I think. Thanks for the share!!
Hey Aditi. I don’t seem to understand the fact when you say “prefer publishing as it is more important for your blog to get visitors”. I mean, scheduling is publishing after all. Or maybe just the word “Automatic” before publishing?
Thanks for being the first one to join the discussion!
Yes Raaaj,
Yes, you are correct. Automatic publishing is the correct word which I didn’t mention.
Actually, It’s quite simple really.
You either like to keep to a strict posting schedule or you do not.
Everyone is different and hence the difference in what other bloggers do, but what impact does this have on the end user?
Nothing much.
Hey Raaj,
Excellent video dude! Good to see you in a video! 🙂
Thanks Khaja! That’s the first one. Let’s see if I can make it more better next time! BTW, what your thoughts on the topic being discussed?
Excellent work Raaj!
I’ve never scheduled my own posts.. So I can’t speak much about it..
For me the process goes like this..
Writing the headlines first {and making them drafts}
I fill them whenever I’m in writing mode
I’ll instantly publish after the completion of each post. And it’s working really well for me.
And I wish I’ll digest those timings to promote ‘effectively’ 🙂
Thanks Rahul!
Yeah, you might forget the great topic you thought about anytime, so it’s better to draft it down!
No harm! Keep up what you’re doing. All the best! Cheers
I prefer to schedule a post just for convenience. I do like certain times of the day or week better than others, which is why scheduling is great. Occasionally I will manual post though too. It just depends on what is going on. I would say usually 90%+ I schedule with WordPress anyway. Some other web site scripts I use don’t have that feature. In these cases I manually post usually on during the week, but I don’t specifically do so at a certain time of the day.
That’s good to hear Ray. Finding out that best hour/time duration to post is one of the toughest thing to experience. Maybe you could share your tips on the same?
All the best and hope it gives it much more success! Cheers
Cool! It’s really great to see you speaking on YouTube, Raaj! Getting inspiration. 🙂
Hey Abhi! Thanks for the appreciation! No I wasn’t speaking on youtube, it was my iPad 🙂 Jokes aside. Do you have any plans for video posting? Or you want to stick great photos you share on Facebook huh? Hahah 🙂 Cheers
LOL! I don’t post photos on Facebook, I just share it when I see something nice on my wall.
About videos, yeah I am planning, Ileane knows about it. I did some videos already. Didn’t you see my channel? youtube.com/balaniabhi93
I am still learning how to make proper videos, to speak clear and better and a bit more. 😀
Can’t listen your voice my headphone is not working. Btw i made scheduled when i start my blog but couldn’t follow the schedule due to laziness
Hey Guppu. Maybe you could just remove the headphones and listen it through your main speakers? Doing so will help you understand the topic better because you seem to make out something else from the content 🙂 Look forward to hear from you once you check out the video. Cheers!
Great Video!
As for me, I normally don’t schedule my posts. I just publish after finishing them- proofreading and all that stuff.
Maybe I’ll give scheduling a try as I think it can be a good way of covering the time ahead.
Thanks Norbert!
It’s great that you have enough time for the same. Keep it up!
Do share the changes, if you see any. Regards
If you ask me, I would also say that it depends on the situation. But I do publish instantly after completing the post, but If It’s not complete I put it on draft for later work.
BTW, nice video Raaj. Keep it up 🙂
Hey Ehsan. Thanks! Yeah, it does depend on what sort of blog you’re running too.
Hey, Raaj! Great topic! It never crossed my mind this could be a serious detail for a blogger. Your video was interesting too. I don’t like scheduling, I tend forgetting things 🙁
Hey Cristian! Thanks.
You tend to forget things? Try Almonds! They work great 🙂
:)) Thanks, Raaj, but I’m allergic to nuts. I’m not risking my chances with Almonds. I’ll find other solution 😛
according to me scheduling the post is much better because when i was new to blogging i always post my articles any time but then my friend recommended it me that make a fixed time for posting a article and it has worked for me….
Your friend was right Mohit. Keep up what you’re doing. No harm! Cheers
According to me publishing just after you write is better then scheduling
Okay Rajkumar. But have you ever tried scheduling? You might just want to give it a try huh?
and ya i dont follow any shedule i often publish after 1 or 2 days
Hi Raaj,
I always publish the posts instantly. I rarely schedule posts on my blog when I have examinations or a planned visit.
Hahah 🙂 That’s so true! Examinations always spoil the mood, don’t they? Cheers Naser.
Yeah Raaj, I never feel to post an article during examinations as my mind will be in screwed condition…..
I do a mix of both; too much pressure to always schedule. And like to do new ones when something of relevance breaks too. Nice video!
That’s pretty much like me Lisa. Thanks for that! It’s my first one actually, so let’s see if I can make it better next time!
Both things work for me. On my tech blog the instant thing works perfect. But, on my time based website, I publish only when US people are online. Actually it’s all dependent on what type of visitors you’re targeting.
That’s really smart of you Vikas! Keep up what you’re doing! Cheers
Thanks for the nice complement…! 🙂
Well for understanding this is too much but I think many people who are new need some time to understand your tips but anyways cool this is cool.
hey Raaj, great to see you video blogging.
good work on the edits too, no umming and arring.. quick switch to the content, great!
thanks for the mention too, I have to schedule everything because I get so many guest posts coming in. I’ve normally got a few weeks of guest posts in the buffer so I couldn’t do it any other way!
btw.. I think I should make you a video intro vid.. I’ll see what I can come up with..
Hey Andy! Thanks Mate!
Yeah, credits to Camtasia Studio for that!
Of course, your blog is fantastic and it deserves a mention from everyone! I was just doing my bit!
Our email conversation is already on lol 🙂
Well Hello Raaj
You certainly make some great points and the beauty of scheduling comes into its own when you have ways to release this content in front of your target audience automatically, whether that is via RSS feeds or pings that connect with social media.
If you do not have this then manual posting and engagement is the way to go but ultimately you want your blog to set you free not become a mill stone around your neck so the schedule should suit your desired lifestyle whether that involves guest authors to increase the output is your decision.
igor Griffiths
Hi Igor
Exactly, and in today’s time, mostly all bloggers have automatic posting at some point where scheduling can help a lot.
And yeah, when the ‘busy-ness’ plays its role, we know how hard it is to get on the blog right? 🙂
Cheers
Hi Raaj,
I believe it all depends. For instance, I live in Norway and close to 98% of my readers live in a different time zone. So, my best times to publish is not when I am actually writing the posts.
I have tested various times to publish posts, and usually the best times are either very early in the morning or late at night. But, the problem with scheduling are the comments, and that’s why I am not the fastest to reply to the comments, but I always do it within 24 hours.
Hi Jens.
Nice to see you share your story. I have something to say on it –
You said that almost all of your visitors live in a time zone which is totally unsuitable for you to interact with. I highly recommend you to automate your posting everywhere – your blog (Of course), Social Media and any other platform which you use. Your latest posts will at least be visible to the people who’re awake.
And it’s not a must to “reply within 24 hours”. Just use a plugin like “Comment Reply Notification” so that the commentator knows that he/she has received a reply!
Hope it all goes well with you! Cheers
Really Nice explanation… Really Nice explanation… I loved the video part because it helps me to understand better…
Dont get the problem. How will they know that the post have been scheduled or not? They will not. I never schedule myself because I am always online. But people that have a life should schedule.
So you mean to say that you don’t have a life? C’mon Jake!
It’s good that you’re always online, but a majority of bloggers are not and scheduling for them could really prove to be effective.
Actually what I consider the most important is to get targeted traffic. Now I want most of them to become my subscribers. Now in-order to get more traffic I have to keep posting unique and good articles on regular basis.
And the part of scheduling or publishing it instantly really doesn’t bother to me. I might publish my article which I have written today, after 3 days if I think I am publishing too many ” on same topic “. Or I may publish my article instantly once I complete my editing.
That’s good for you Vivek because you know you’ll be on your blog anytime you want. But there are many out there who have most of there regular readers from a different time zone, and scheduling for them proves to be good.
Thanks for passing by! Cheers
Hey Raaj! its depends on the blogger writer to schedule or publish immediately, as far for me if you scheduling the post and later you decided to make some changes that’s the best of doing scheduling and the other one is that soon you got the time and idea for writing a blog post when scheduled it you got some time still to make some edits later on.
Hi Ayaz. That’s true but doesn’t matter A LOT because you can even make small changes even after the post is published right?
Hi Raaj.
I think scheduling or random publishing depends so much on the blogger as for me i would prefer to schedule even though sometimes it is difficult to track and keep the schedule but its good way to go about it .
thanks
Steve
Hi Steve. Okay, why don’t you some calender like thing just to pin down your posts scheduled? I’m sure it would work well!
Thanks for sharing your brief part Sam.
I recommend you get into it! It’s indeed a great thing!
Hi Carl, that’s true. Like if I have a news site and I schedule today’s news to be posted 3 days later, I’m the stupid one.
Thanks for passing by. Cheers
It depends on the circumstances to publish or to schedule. Scheduling will be a good option, if one doesn’t have to time to publish, for instance going on a vacation or so. Thanks for sharing and by the way video is really good.
Exactly Nizam! Hahah 🙂 Thanks for that! It’s my first video, by the way 🙂
Hi Raaj,
I like your video, i like your accent….
You have highlighted a very valid topic bro…..I am following a schedule to post the articles as my reader expect it on specific days from me.
Scheduling the tasks increase the chances of getting it done as well.
Hey Sandeep! My Accent? Well, it’s just normal isn’t it? LoL!
That’s great to hear! All the best!
I have never done scheduling but if you are getting lots of guest posts then you can set and forget. Also if you plan to go on a long holiday then its a good idea to upload a few posts and schedule it. In the future I might use it but at the moment its instant publishing for me.
That’s true Shalu. And scheduling always comes out well when one is not able to give enough time to the blog. Yeah, for your blog, publishing instantly will surely be working great!
To me it doesn’t matter either, but I know some people find it really usefull for say going on holiday and they want to schedule a few posts while there away.
That’s the point Matthew. But when it comes to me, I HARDLY stay away from the internet lol!
I think that publishing instantly would be the best way for bloggers, although I know that it is sometimes really hard to manage it. Scheduling could be a great way for busy bloggers, but I haven’t tried it before. Maybe I should…
Hey Eszti. If I talk about me, I fall into both the categories you mentioned above. But I’m mostly busy, hence I prefer scheduling personally.
I have on’y scheduled when I know I am going to be out of town or in a situation that I know I’d like to post but won’t be in a position to do so.
Instantly works best for me.
That’s nice to here Joe! All the best with your blog!
Hey dude,
Good to see and hear you.
Your first official video blog post? I think posting it here is a good decision.
BTW, right now, I do manual posting and that works for me. I might switch in the days ahead.
Hey there!
Thanks for that! Yeah, it’s my first official one.
Keep up with what you’re doing Enstine! Cheers
That’s what I mentioned in the article. Do you have any experience trying both? If so, do share your story. Cheers
I choose to publish instantly that way I can update all of my social networking websites at once.
From a readers perspective though if the blog updates daily at the same time is the best as I usually check the blog at the same time ever day.
Thanks for the post.
Exactly Eyern. And if you’re giving enough of your time to your blog, well and good! Keep it up! Cheers
I usually (actually, that should be “always”) publish posts right away after writing and proofreading. It’s interesting that when you publish an article might make a big difference!
Thanks for sharing this!
It does, for that particular day, at least Rich (I like your name! Inspires me lol!).
Cheers!
Hi Appreciate your this valuable Discussion for Scheduling vs Publishing Instantly actully most of people be in confusion but you share the right direction & with a help full video !
Thanks Steve! Yah, it was my first video and I tried to make it normal 🙂
Hi Raj!
I did never sheduled the post but i just published my post.watching your video now i seem that i should be try it and feel how it feels.
thanks to joining this blog………….
Hi Anshul! Glad that I this video made you think of something. All the best!
First of all, great video, Raaj. I am sure that there is much room for speculation and opinions with regard to scheduling vs. publishing instantly. I believe most persons will agree that with excellent content a blogger should be successful no matter what.
Thanks Rob!
Yeah, as I said that “It’s YOU who has to make it work” 🙂 Cheers
i always publishing my entries instantly but sometimes i also use schedule option, i dont really know the different
Hi Lewis, there’s not any difference on the blog. It’s all about your schedules and how busy you are. Thanks for passing by!
Yeah Raaj great video. Good to see you in a video and you should do it more often.
In my opinion scheduling the post is smarter than submit instantly, if you are going to be busy for next two or three days and you will suddenly loose your continuity. On the other hand if you are a regular guy who wakes up 7 o clock in the morning and goes to bed at 12. Then you should be fine with instant submission. So for me it mainly depends on my schedules.
Hey Rowan! Thanks for that! BTW, have we been interacting anywhere? If not, we should lol 🙂 Shoot me a tweet at @raajtram.
I fall into both the categories – I’m free when I’m free and I’m damn busy when I’m busy lol! Same is the case with me – It DEPENDS! 🙂
Thanks for passing by! Cheers
My pleasure Raaj and I love to read your blogs 🙂
I schedule my posts most of the times
when i come back I will see how many are commenting
And what about social media Reeja? Any comments on that?
in the same way Raaj
Scheduling posts is one of the biggest, most commonly-used tools in my blogging arsenal! I usually try to get at least a couple of posts done in one go (sometime much more than a couple!), and put them on schedule so that they can be published at a later time and day. However this usually works for specific blog types, a friend who manages a sports blog cannot do this because things happen and news comes out at such a frantic rate, he has to publish what he’s written immediately otherwise the post just becomes irrelevant once its old.
Exactly Mike! As I said in the viddy, that it all depends. And same is the case with a news blog – You can’t publish today’s factory strike 3 days later lol! 🙂
Thanks for the info Raaj, while it seems that many commentors have their own style and process in their writing it is great to get everyone thinking about how their posts are received. Certainly we are all looking to get the most eyeballs on our work, if your posts are syndicated to some of your list members, it could be very important that you deliver them at a time they would likely be checking their email or your content could be buried with the rest of the overnight spam and daily deals that seem to fill up inboxes these days.
Exactly Ryn. If we’re linked to services which automatically share on our behalf, it’s better we schedule on a good time (see that infographic I shared).
Hi Raaj,
The post is of great value as in some other cases of IM I have seen how small things when accumulated together can grow unimaginably big. So one must check for the convenient scheduling time to take the most benefit of a newly published post. This when termed in multiple posts, it can really work wonders. by the way the info-graphic was very useful.
Hi Anubhab
Thanks! Yeah, the infographic was really helpful to check the correct timing of posts.
Let us know your brief stories if any! Cheers
As much as I want to schedule my post to automatically post on a certain time, I can’t help but do it manually because I always share them to my social networking accounts once I posted the entry on my site. Anyway, that’s just me.
Not a problem at all Adam! Continue what you’re doing! Cheers
Hello Raja,
Nice dude. You are doing superb.
Regards
Hello Santosh. Maybe you want to swap the positions of a couple of letters in that name you’ve called me? 🙂
Thanks for passing by! Cheers
Hello Raaj Trambadia , I read your article “2 Basic thing we can learn from a Road side begger”. That was a great article and this article is also awesome. Thanks Raaj Trambadia for publishing such a great article
Hello Md. Glad you liked the articles! Keep passing by my blog to have more of those! Cheers
Thanks for passing by Neha! Cheers
No right or wrong answer, finding what works for you is the key as we are all different and have different program schedules
So what do I do when I have a schedule but the schedule consists of nothing but work and school i mean I don’t have enough time for anything else as someone who also doesn’t like living this way any tips?
hi raj, i liked your video it’s great buddy it’s helpful for me to when the article post.
thanks bro.
For me, it’s better to schedule the posts. Because the most important thing is make sure that your blog always update. By scheduling update your blog, visitors know that we maintain our blog professionally.
But sometimes we need to publish instantly. For example if there is big news (trending topic) that we have post as soon as possible, do it instantly to generate more traffic.
Thanks Raaj for great posting
Excellent Raaj, I likes your video.
I will also share my personal experience,
I had a bad results with the schedule post, I see the Google seems to index the schedule post longer than if I publish the post instantly. I also noticed it seems the SERP is bad with schedule post, because I just got very few visitors to my blogs. Since then I have never done 🙂
Most of my posts just go instantly live.
Hello Raaj
I preferred publishing in a scheduled way .I feel it good as it works on a strategic way.I think which is a very important factor.Being a strategic is always beneficial for you.Thanks for the post.