How to prepare your blog for vacation

We are coming closer to the summer vacation and to the well-deserved rest and I’m really looking forward to it this year!

The last couple of years I’ve approached the blogging during vacation the same way, preparing blog posts for the period that I was away traveling. When I came back from my vacation I just continued from where I had left. While this worked perfectly for me, there are other options during summer.

Let’s take a look at pros and cons with the different summer blogging approaches.

1. Prescheduled blogposts – these are easy to implement with a little preparation. Maybe you already have an idea bank or some swatches that haven’t been published on the blog during the year. You know how it is! Sometimes you produce a surplus of swatches, nail art or ideas that just doesn’t get published. Always have a list of ideas to add new ideas to.
   Pros: The visitors will get the blogposts the same way they are used to. No blog paus here.
   Cons: This will require some preparation and it could be time consuming
2. Guest post series – Invite your favorite blogs to write guest posts for you for the period you are away. This is a great way of connecting with other bloggers, while you get the regular posting going on while you’re away.
   Pros: The visitors will get blogposts with the same regularity that they are used to. They will also be introduced to some of your favorite bloggers. This method is less time consuming than the prescheduled blogposts.
   Cons: The guest post series should be prepared in advanced so the contributing guest post bloggers should have time for preparation. If you aren’t organized, this won’t work.
3. Blog paus – This is the easiest way to prepare your blog for vacation. Remember though to write a few words on the blog letting people know that you will be away for some time. Decide when you’ll be back and announce the date on the blog for your readers to know when to return for fresh content.
   Pros: Easy to implement. You will hopefully get back with lots of fresh new ideas.
   Cons: Your readers will be left without content for a period of time.

I’m already in full preparation for my summer vacation prescheduling blogposts but I think next year I’ll be mixing a few guest posts among my summer vacation blogposts. I’ve just realized while writing this blogpost how great that would be :D

So, what’s your approach to the vacation period? I would love to hear your thoughts about that!