Managing clients, socials, creating content, your website, messages and everything else that comes with being a creator can be tough. If you haven’t already, we’d recommend creating a content calendar so you know when each task must be ready by.
Do you find yourself struggling to keep up with your content creation schedule? Maybe you forget to post on social media or publish blog articles consistently? It’s important to stay consistent as a creative. A content calendar could be just the solution you need!
A content calendar helps you plan and organise your content in advance, ensuring you stay on track and maintain a consistent online presence. In this article, we’ll walk you through creating a simple content calendar in a few easy steps. Anyone can do it.
Step 1: Define your goals and audience
Before diving into creating your content calendar, take some time to clarify your goals and identify your target audience. What do you hope to achieve with your content? Who are you trying to reach? Understanding your objectives and audience will help you tailor your content.
You can then plan your calendar to meet their needs and interests. Ensure you refresh your target audience often. By this, we mean, check in to ensure they still have common interests and needs that align with your branding. Otherwise, you might need to make changes.
Step 2: Choose your platforms
Next, decide which platforms you’ll be using to distribute your content. This could include your website or blog, social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, or any other relevant platforms. Knowing where you’ll be posting will inform the type and format.
Remember, not all social platforms have the same formatting. You’ll need to post 9:16 on Instagram, whereas their sister company, Facebook, allow you much more freedom. It isn’t one size fits all. You don’t want your work to look distorted.
Step 3: Determine your content themes and topics
Now it’s time to brainstorm content ideas based on your goals and audience. Think about the themes or topics that align with your brand and will resonate with your audience. Consider mixing up your content with a variety of formats.
These formats can be things such as blog posts, videos, infographics, or polls to keep it interesting. Having a good variety will ensure that no one gets bored. Including yourself. You don’t want to keep creating one type of content over and over.
Step 4: Create a calendar template
You can use a simple spreadsheet or calendar tool to create your content calendar. Divide it into weeks or months, depending on your posting frequency. Along the top, list the dates, and along the side, include the platforms you’ll be using.
This will give you a clear overview of what content needs to be created and when it will be published. You can then plan around each week. Plan ahead so you’re prepared for holidays and other big events that need covering.
Step 5: Plan your content
Start filling in your calendar with the content ideas you brainstormed earlier. Assign specific topics or themes to each day or week, making sure to vary your content to keep your audience engaged. The more variety, the better.
Consider factors like seasonal trends, holidays, or industry events that you can tie into your content calendar. This gives you content without you having to think too much into what to post. You can shift ideas around to different days to find what works.
Step 6: Create your content
With your calendar in place, it’s time to start creating your content. Write blog posts, design graphics, record videos, or whatever else is needed to bring your content ideas to life. Be sure to allow yourself enough time to create high-quality content that aligns with your brand.
You need enough time to check all content before scheduling it. Are there typos? Did you include all the information needed? Is there anything missing? Will the content stand out? Ensure everything is perfect before scheduling it.
Step 7: Schedule and publish
Once your content is ready, schedule it for publication according to your calendar. Most social media platforms offer scheduling tools that allow you to plan your posts in advance. For other platforms like your website or blog, use the scheduling features available.
You will be able to find these features in your content management system. Your posts can then automatically upload to each platform on the selected date and time. Saving you the job of having to manually upload each post.
Step 8: Monitor and adjust
Keep an eye on how your content performs once it’s published. Monitor engagement metrics like likes, shares, comments, and website traffic to see what’s resonating with your audience and what’s not. Use this feedback to refine your content strategy.
Make adjustments to your content calendar as needed. If something hasn’t worked, perhaps figure out why. Was it the type of content? Could it have been the timing of the post? There are so many factors that you might never know, but it’s important to try and find out.
By following these steps, you can create a simple yet effective content calendar that will help you stay organised and consistent with your content creation efforts. Remember to regularly review and update your calendar to ensure it continues to align with your goals.
With a well-planned content calendar in place, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your content marketing objectives. You’ll be able to grow your social following and reach, which could then lead to your company growing overall.
