Ideas for Building Your Content Calendar

A content calendar is an essential element for any business that wants to keep their audience and customers informed. The content calendar, also known as an editorial calendar, helps you plan and schedule content so you can publish it on time. There are different types of content you can include in your content calendar such as the following types.

  • Editorial Content – You’ll want to include all the content you’ll be publishing on every platform you use, such as blogs, podcasts, social media posts, or videos you’re going to publish on YouTube or elsewhere. This type of content is considered “editorial” content. If you can schedule at least two quarters ahead, you’ll be in good company, but a year is best.

  • Publishing Platform – On the calendar template, include the name of the platform at the top, so you can separate the content creation process internally. You may want to add sections such as the title, description, format type, the website name and URL, as well as the URL of the published work.

  • Promotional Content – Add promotional content you need to create or buy. For example, when you publish a blog post and the corresponding YouTube video, decide when, where, and how you will do the following: post a blurb, add an image with the video link. Note everything you’re going to do, as well as when, where, how, and why you will do it. Also identify what audience segment should/would will see it.

  • Content Ideas – Finally, you’ll want a section on your calendar that shows future and newsworthy content ideas. For example, as you were working on the YouTube video, you got an idea for a related blog post or a newsworthy event has happened that you need to mention. Go ahead and put that idea in your calendar, so you don’t forget.

There are numerous tools you can use to develop and build your content calendar. Try different tools to find out what works best for you. Many people successfully use Google Sheets, MS Excel, MS Word, Google Calendar, and paid platforms like CoSchedule.com, Monday.com, or Airtable.com to build their content calendar.

A content calendar helps you internally, but it can also be a big help to your affiliates and other stakeholders, if you make it available to them. People like writers and other contractors, who contribute to your content, need the information to stay on the same page as you. Plus, you can use the content calendar after the fact by adding links to the published work once it’s finished.

 

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