Last Updated on May 8, 2023 by SERP Kingz
The content calendar—that mythical beast all business owners all heard of, but few have ever encountered, let alone conquered.
It’s the white whale for entrepreneurs and marketers alike, a fabled creature that promises untold success if you can tame it.
Today, I’m here to guide you on this perilous journey to tame the beast and create an effective content calendar for your business.
Are you ready? Well, either way, here we go!
The Content Calendar Conundrum
What to Include
Before embarking on our grand adventure, let’s make sure we’re packing the right gear. No, I don’t mean a grappling hook and a ball of twine (though those may come in handy for dealing with your competitors). I’m talking about the essential elements that make up a content calendar.
- Content Types: You know what they say: variety is the spice of content calendars. Mix it up with blog posts, social media updates, newsletters, videos, podcasts, and interpretive dances (TikTok only) for your audience.
- Posting Frequency: Frequency is key, and consistency is even key-er. Plan out how often you’ll be posting each type of content, and stick to it like glue—or, you know, like those newsletters from digital marketing gurus you don’t remember subscribing to, that are always in your inbox, no matter how many times you hit “unsubscribe” or report them as spam. Channel that same unrelenting persistence into your content calendar (minus the annoyance factor and casual CAN-SPAM Act violations) and watch your audience grow.
- Themes & Topics: Brainstorm ideas for engaging, relevant content. Consider monthly or seasonal themes to help guide your creative genius. Consider the big holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Arbor Day, but don’t forget about all the lesser-known, made-up holidays like International Day-Old Bear Claw Day and National Talk Like a Grizzled Uranium Prospector Day.
- Deadlines & Accountability: Components of any effective content calendar. Assign due dates for each piece of content and assign responsibility to your team members (or yourself, if you’re a one-man operation).
Suggested Tools
There are a variety of tools available to help you create and manage your content calendar. Some popular options include Trello, Asana, Google Calendar, and CoSchedule. Each tool offers different features and benefits, so it’s important to do your research and choose one that best fits your business needs and budget.
Trello and Asana are both great for team collaboration and project management, while Google Calendar is a simple and user-friendly option. CoSchedule is a comprehensive content marketing platform that includes a content calendar, social media scheduling, and analytics.
No matter which tool you choose, make sure it’s got your back and aligns with your content strategy, so you can crush your goals like the boss you are.
How to Create a Content Calendar Step-by-Step
Now that we’ve got our supplies in order, let’s get down to brass tacks here.
- Choose Your Weapon: Will you use a digital tool, like Trello or Google Calendar, or are you more of a pen-and-paper digital marketing kind of person? Either way, choose the method that works best for you and your team and forge ahead.
- Plot Your Course: Using the content types, posting frequency, themes, and topics you’ve identified, start plotting out your calendar. Leave room for flexibility, as life has a nasty habit of throwing curveballs when you least expect it.
- Assign Your Crew: Distribute tasks and deadlines among your team members, or divvy them up for yourself if you’re flying solo. Make sure everyone knows their role and is on board with the plan.
- Monitor and Adjust: Keep a close eye on your content calendar as time goes on. Make adjustments as needed to keep your content fresh, relevant, and in line with your business goals.
The Bottom Line
And there we are, the keys to the content calendar kingdom.
Creating an effective content calendar won’t happen overnight (no matter how much coffee or Red Bull you drink) but if you follow these steps you’re on the right track. By implementing a calendar system, you’ll be able to streamline your content creation process, eliminate unnecessary stress and chaos, and ultimately, increase your reach and engagement with your audience.
Don’t let the hard work deter you—with planning, creativity, and persistence, you can create an effective content calendar that (coupled with a solid inbound marketing strategy) could propel your business to new heights. At the very least, it’ll make your life marginally less chaotic.
In the words of the great philosopher Shia LaBeouf, “Just do it!”
