The perfect webmaster’s dream is to have a blog running on AutoPilot – with smart tools making things ticking away nicely in the background. Leaving a blogger with just the job of churning out posts – Perfect world.

Let’s face it, the WordPress back-end is an interesting place to be.
There is so much to fiddle with, Comments to moderate, Stats to check, Plugins to update, Source code to tweak and so on. But these things eat into your time.

Don’t get me wrong these tasks are essential, but wouldn’t it be better if most of it were automated? That is why I love Askimet spam blocker – one less admin task to do and more time to provide value to my readers.

Blog Tools

Saving valuable time as led me to list 5 of my favorite AutoPilot tools.

WordPress Database Backup

This backup plugin automatically backs up data on a regular basis.

Available options

Ability to specify back-up frequency

Option to choose where to save back up file

Select and choose tables to backup.

Get it here

Posts

Yes, the actual WordPress post functionality.
Generally, I tend to write a number of posts in one go, so I have them sitting in a queue waiting to be published at my specified time.

Available options

Schedule a publish date and time.

Update services

Update services is a feature within WordPress that automatically notifies submission directories of my new blog post. – It saves me a lot of time.

To locate, go to Settings – Writing – Updates Services

Aweber

Aweber automatically handles all my email distributions, campaigns and subscriptions on YourBlogTools.com

XML Sitemaps

This cool plugin automatically notifies Google wherever there’s a new post on YourBlogTools.com Get it here

Which auto-pilot tools are you using?

Do you have any questions about these tools?

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Tags: Plugins, Tools

About the Author

John Lufadeju

http://www.integralwebsolutions.co.za/Blog.aspx Robert Bravery

Would'nt it just be great for more automation. But be carefull, too much automation takes the humanity out of it. It's that human element that makes blogs interesting. Yes make life as easy and simple as you can, but never be too robotic that you loose the human connection with you readers.

Although I do not use WordPress, you make some valuable points here.
http://www.yourblogtools.com/ John Lufadeju

Hey Robert,

Thanks for your comment

You have highlighted a very good point there.
Human interaction is indeed KEY, especially when it comes to blogging.
It is always reassuring to know there’s a real person behind the system.

However, being a “WordPress” webmaster, there tendencies to find yourself spending more time at the back-end (tweaking plugins) at the expense of time spent engaging and interacting with readers.

So the point here is, leave those tools alone to run in the background and while you invest time on providing value to readers.

Great input…
http://www.integralwebsolutions.co.za/Blog.aspx Robert Bravery

Would'nt it just be great for more automation. But be carefull, too much automation takes the humanity out of it. It's that human element that makes blogs interesting. Yes make life as easy and simple as you can, but never be too robotic that you loose the human connection with you readers.

Although I do not use WordPress, you make some valuable points here.
http://yourblogtools.com/ Johnluffa

Hey Robert,

Thanks for your comment

You have highlighted a very good point there.
Human interaction is indeed KEY, especially when it comes to blogging.
It is always reassuring to know there’s a real person behind the system.

However, being a “WordPress” webmaster, there tendencies to find yourself spending more time at the back-end (tweaking plugins) at the expense of time spent engaging and interacting with readers.

So the point here is, leave those tools alone to run in the background and while you invest time on providing value to readers.

Great input…
http://www.mikeslife.org Mike CJ

Nice post John. I think the key is to automate as much of the back room stuff as you can – leaving you free to concentrate on the reader facing things like posting and interacting via other social media.
http://www.mikeslife.org Mike CJ

Nice post John. I think the key is to automate as much of the back room stuff as you can – leaving you free to concentrate on the reader facing things like posting and interacting via other social media.
http://www.shoutmeloud.com/ Harsh Agrawal

I can't think is starting my blog without XMl sitemap
http://www.shoutmeloud.com/ Harsh Agrawal

I can't think is starting my blog without XMl sitemap
http://www.flippachick.com/blog Flippa Chick

My best autopilot tool would have to be: drip feeding content through WordPress. There are times when I have tons of ideas in mind for a blog post so I simply sit down and write them all out, making sure to post them at intervals. This prevents me from forgetting to update my content, which I am guilty of on quite a few blogs.
http://www.flippachick.com/blog Flippa Chick

My best autopilot tool would have to be: drip feeding content through WordPress. There are times when I have tons of ideas in mind for a blog post so I simply sit down and write them all out, making sure to post them at intervals. This prevents me from forgetting to update my content, which I am guilty of on quite a few blogs.
http://www.yourblogtools.com/ John Lufadeju

That's a great tool Flippa In fact, it's a blogger's first and most important tool.
You are centainly going about it the right way – Get them down as soon as they come.

Thanks for your comment
http://www.yourblogtools.com/ John Lufadeju

That's a great tool Flippa In fact, it's a blogger's first and most important tool.
You are centainly going about it the right way – Get them down as soon as they come.

Thanks for your comment
http://yourblogtools.com/ Johnluffa

That's a great tool Flippa In fact, it's a blogger's first and most important tool.
You are centainly going about it the right way – Get them down as soon as they come.

Thanks for your comment

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