As I promised last month, here are some tips, tools, and plugins that I have found to save me time or headache as a blogger.  Keep in mind that I use WordPress as my blogging platform (and I host it myself; I don’t use WordPress.com), so if you use something different, some of these might not apply to you.

1. Use your scheduling feature. Learning how to use this was the first time-saving tip I learned, and it was huge.  It probably doesn’t save a lot of time, overall, but it can make a big difference in when you have to spend that time.  Write the post when you have time, and set it to post later, when you need it to go up but don’t have the time.
2. Batch your posts. Once you have the scheduling feature figured out, you can also write a number of posts at once.  Some bloggers even write their posts (or most of them) for a whole month at a time!  Keep in mind that you can still tweak them the day they post, if you want/need to, and that you might need to link them to something at the last minute.  But this way the bulk of the writing can already be done.
3. Plan (most of) your posts ahead of time. Even if you don’t actually write your posts in advance, having some idea of what to write when can save lots of “writer’s block” at blogging time.  You can schedule every post, or leave some blanks for spontaneity, whichever works best for you.  I use this form.  The far left column is for the dates; the third column is for recurring blog carnivals or themes, and the right column is for the topics I intend to blog about.  I try to fill that last column in, in pencil, so I can rearrange it as time goes on.  I also find it helpful to note other things, like holidays, that might provide ideas or opportunities for posts.
4. Install the “Article Templates” plugin. If you ever add the same content to multiple posts, this one can save you some time.  Do you ever participate in blog carnivals/Linkys?  Do you use a byline, or a recurring disclaimer?  This plugin allows you to set that recurring content as a template, and start from there when you need that in a post.  For instance, the Works for Me Wednesday button was pre-inserted in this post, saving me the time of finding and formatting it.
5. If you don’t often use your own photographs, install the “Freebie Images” plugin. This adds a sidebar option which allows you to search for and insert a free stock image to “brighten up” your post.  (Honestly, I’m not a big fan of the default formatting it uses, and always have to go in and tweak it.  If you can recommend something better, please let me know!  In the meantime, this has enabled me to keep my blog from looking so “dry,” without spending numerous extra hours just searching for and inserting images.)
6. Install the “Ultimate Google Analytics” and/or “WordPress.com Stats” PLUS “WP-Stats-Dashboard” plugins. When speaking with companies about reviews, etc., I was constantly chasing all over the internet trying to track down stats.  Monthly visitors and/or page views were one place, Google PageRank somewhere else, Alexa ranking somewhere else…and on and on.  This way, I can see all of these statistics (and more!) from within my WordPress dashboard.
7. Use the “Yet Another Related Posts Plugin” plugin. This one doesn’t necessarily save me time, but it does help me optimize my blog (without adding any time!).  There are a number of other related post plugins, and many of them are great.  I have found this one to be simple and to choose posts well, but you might find something else you like better.

And a bonus tip, because I almost forgot to include it!  Automate the sending of your RSS feed to Twitter and/or Facebook. I use Twitterfeed to send my feed to Twitter, and Networked Blogs to send my feed to Facebook.  (You can send the feed to your blog’s Fan page and/or to your personal profile page.  I recommend knowing your Facebook friends and not auto-posting to your personal profile if this is going to annoy them.)

Do you have any timesaving tips or tools, or efficiency plugins to add?  Please leave a comment!  I’m sure I have a lot to learn!