Blogging 101: Using Gdrive for Blogging

When it comes to blogging I often switch up my style of working because my life keeps drastically changing. At the moment, I’m still adjusting to working full time and with this I’ve been using Google Drive a lot! This is because it’s super easy for me to create content on the go with my phone using Google Docs, which I can then see on my laptop when I get home. I can also use Google Sheets for tracking (which I’ve used for a lot longer) and Google Forms for sporadic admin stuff. 

But when I’ve spoken to other bloggers, they’ve not really understood how easy it is to use GDrive or how I use it for blogging – so it’s easily dismissed as a storage place for blog photos and that’s about it. So here’s a quick run down for how each of Google Drives functions help when blogging.

Google Docs

Specifically for my Blogging 101 series, I’ve been using Google Docs as it let’s me continue writing on the go. It means all my content is available at all times on my phone, but I can also write with my laptop too. Having all my posts in one place but across all my devices means that I can blog on the train, at home or even on my lunch break. It’s also super helpful when I’m at work events and so don’t have my laptop for a few days.

I use Google Docs differently depending on what content I’m writing. For Blogging 101 I have a folder on GDrive and each doc is a different post with titles already there for planned posts. GDrive shows a preview of each doc, so I can easily see which ones need writing or ones that need posting. 

I’ve also used one Google Doc to write multiple posts in. This is normally when I have a long period of time just for writing… and when I’m just trying to write my ideas rather than focusing on perfecting the writing. Plus if I’m working away from wifi, you can set Google Docs to work offline so you’ll always have access.

Whilst you could use the WordPress app to write posts – Google Docs just feels more intuitive to use. From the offline mode meaning you won’t lose your work when you have bad signal, to the easier ways of simple formatting. 

I usually fully format the post in WordPress anyway, but using the app can be overly complicated compared to desktop. So instead I just write my posts without adding formatting in Google docs, and when I post I use my laptop. This also means I waste less of my time trying to perfect how the post looks when I should be writing!

Another thing I love about the desktop version of Google Docs is that it can be distraction free. Use F11 and use the little arrow on the top right and you have a full screen Doc to write in. 

Google Docs are also super easy to share with other people! If I want a second opinion on a post I can just drop a link and ask for feedback or additional thoughts from other bloggers. This helps me to refine my content and to make posts like this one much more helpful!

Keyboard Shortcuts

Google Sheets

On top of Google Docs, I also use Google Sheets. I love a good spreadsheet, so I have quite a few on the go for my blog but also my personal life like my budget tracker. For my blog I use Sheets for blog audits, blog stats tracking and also compiling stats on a case by case basis (E.G. for specific campaigns I work on). These help me to understand what content works well, what doesn’t – and to judge what direction my blog goes for the long-term.

My audits often helps me to improve my blog in multiple different areas. Whether it’s an SEO audit, or a focus on making everything ‘prettier’ by ensuring I have images – a spreadsheet helps to organise my mind and create a specific to-do list for these improvements. Then stats for campaigns help me to have quantifiable proof if I’m working with other brands in the future, that I can stats to back me up. 

Using Google Sheets is nearly exactly the same as excel and if you want to use it to its full ability – you should definitely learn how to use different functions and formulas to get things done faster. 

Organisation

The great thing about folders in Google Drive is that you can organise all your docs and sheets into easy to navigate folders. All of my blogging work comes under a ‘Uptown Oracle’ folder to keep it separate from other aspects of my life such as work, budgeting, and copywriting. 

You can split out your folders into dated folders to organise your content on, for example,  a month by month basis so you know which posts you’re writing for each month. Not only can you save your content here, you can store your photos, Instagram ideas, and anything else blogging related!

Another way to organise your blog content is by blog category – so my ‘Blogging 101’ series acts as a category of posts which I have a folder for. You can also use folders to create a workflow – from ‘To Write’, ‘Review’ and ‘To Publish’. For Blogging 101, I included a ‘Completed’ folder which I move all scheduled posts into once written. 

Swap between devices

On top of organisation – Gdrive means I can easily swap between my devices whilst working on the same blog post. I can start writing a blog post in bed before I’ve braved the cold of getting up! But then I can grab breakfast, coffee, and my laptop to continue writing it straight away. 

Another thing is that whilst I prefer typing on my laptop – sometimes I just don’t have it with me. And what is worse than having an amazing blog idea… and then not being able to write it up straight away? With GDrive I can immediately start work on a blog post. Plus this means I have less chances of forgetting great ideas. 

Save Photos

Whilst I dismissed the perception that Gdrive is ‘just a storage place for blog photos and that’s about it’ at the start of this post… I do find it super helpful to get my images from my phone to my laptop and vice versa. When I take photos I often use my DSLR and then need to get them on my phone for Instagram, so I use Gdrive. Sometimes I need to use a photo from my phone and need it on my laptop – so it works really well! Plus as it’s on Gdrive, I don’t need to give too much space on my phone or laptop for photos.