24 Printable Blogger Planner | Half-Size (Filofax A5)

Update: this planner is temporarily not available for free download since Facebook updated it's policy. Stay tuned for further updates.



Since last Tuesday, I’ve been dropping hints about this ginormous post. Ok it’s not ginormous in length (at least for Miss Chatinista over here) rather what’s in store for you!! You’ve been getting bits like a S.M.A.R.T. Goals Worksheet and how to DIY your own Covers, Tabs and Dividers. Today’s the last piece… the planner.

Like I mentioned Monday, I’ve been searching for the perfect blogger planner to consolidate my unorganized blog thoughts (since sticky notes JUST weren’t cutting it). Which is why I designed one to fit the needs of a blogger.

UPDATE 1/16/14 (early morning): for the Six of you who downloaded the printable (thank you by the way!!) hopefully I'll catch you before your big print. There was a teeny, tiny typo in the word "Photography." It has since been fixed and everything is set for a re-download. My apologies, guess my fingers move too fast across the keyboard sometimes! A huge thank you to Danielle for your eagle eye!!

Tour the Planner

Features:

Let me start off by saying this planner is fill-able!! So if you’re like me and had a late start to your year- or run your calendar like a school year, you can start anytime of the year. Oh and I’m on this geometric kick so you’ll notice a bunch of polygons strewn throughout- they even match my DIY’d planner cover!!

1. Intro section: the S.M.A.R.T. Goals Worksheet which you may recognize from here, the year-at-a-glance, US Holidays, and a place to notate all important days (birthdays, etc.).
2. Calendars: both a monthly view and weekly view. This is where I keep my editorial calendar.
3. Records: A section to track giveaways, guest hosts/contributor, sponsors, statistics (from google Analytics, Alexa, etc.), and ‘other’ keyword searches and referrals.
4. Ideas: a place to jot down blog topics, branding ideas, shop stuff, website fixes, photography (angles, settings, creative shots, etc.), advertising and giveaways. The best part there’s 15 brainstorming worksheets to help you through a post.
5. Notes: a section to write down random stuff. Could be grocery lists, house tasks, etc. You could even bring your planner to a blog conference and jot all your notes down there!! Maybe I’ll see you there and we can make up some super-secret hand shake- or cheers our organizers… hmm, too weird?

Bonus:

Two Checklists; a post checklist and a monthly checklist. These are not double-sided friendly. However, 8 fit per page.

The checklists can be neatly paper clipped to each month/week. Those folders I made for the planner? They came in handy to store the extra print-offs.

Assembly

Supplies:

• Approx. 75 sheets of 8x10 paper
• Decent Printer with ink
• Paper cutter (optional)
• Binding

Instructions:

1. Cut approximately 75 sheets of 8.5x10 inch paper in half. The final 8.5x10 inch page count is around 66, the excess is for printer/user errors and/or testing your printer settings.
• If you have a paper cutter, you may find cutting smaller batches work best to avoid blade slippage. It doesn’t take long, promise-- I cut mine while watching the first half of Dexter.
• Otherwise, Office Supply stores have the ability to cut paper for a small fee.
2. Open each of the four PDFs (your download is below).
• The batches range from 24-36 double sided half sheets of paper.
3. Adjust your printer (see below photo).
• My printer had specific “A5” adjustments, so be sure to adjust your printer tray as necessary.
4. Change your print settings.
• See below for my printer settings & suggestions.
5. Print each batch.
• While each batch printed, I started sorting and ‘stuffing’ the planner by topic.
6. Bind.
• I took my entire planner to my local Office Supply store and had them bind it. Since the cardboard and paper made it so thick- I had to go with the largest size binding which came in at about $4.25 with tax.

Adjust Printer Settings:

Look for "A5" or "Half Size."

Printer Settings:

It helps to jot down your proper print settings since you have to change them during each printed 'batch.' Here are the printer settings which vary by printer:

• Fit to page
• Odd Pages (could be called double sided printing)
• A5 (could be called half size on your printer)
• Manual Tray

Alternative Solution:

You can totally bring this file with you to your office supply stores and have them do it all: cut, print, and bind. It shouldn’t be more than $20-ish… don’t forget to print off any applicable coupons before you go!! Oh and be sure they select the correct settings (fit to page + A5 + double sided printing).

Update: this planner is temporarily not available for free download since Facebook updated it's policy. Stay tuned for further updates.

Alright, so now I’ve simply MUST ask… what do you think?! Are you going to give it a shot and organize your scatterbrain sticky notes?

P.S. I’d love you to pieces if you dropped a few suggestions below for next year’s planner! If you wanna talk about how you’re using them to fit your needs, feel free to chat away my friends!! Your feedback below or via email will earn you a chance to WIN ONE next year when they're launched on ETSY!! 

Want to check out more freebie downloads created by yours truly? Click here. 

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