Whether you’re working as a content marketing specialist or social media manager, you’ll need to work with content constantly. In this process, you will get the help of other professionals, including content writers, designers, and sometimes influencers. However, coming up with new content ideas is a complex process and can scare away a lot of industry experts. But if you plan and organise that content, you can sit back and enjoy the process.
In this case, a good content calendar will come to the rescue. This guide will provide three simple methods you can use to build an effective content calendar for your brand.
Three easy ways for creating a content calendar
While you may have a lot of resources for creating great content, you can’t get anywhere without proper planning. Here are three steps to get started.
1. Find or create a template
Nowadays, with the rapid growth of digital technologies, every task can be easily done through various online tools and platforms. No brand has to hire specialists for small tasks such as creating a simple content calendar template. As you have defined your business goals regarding content marketing, you can create a template based on those goals. One of the simplest methods to achieve this is by using Google Sheets which is shareable and simplified in many ways.
What information should your template include? You can add the preferred topics and types and finish off with deadlines and the people responsible. Consider the type of content you should publish; make sure to write in your niche, and don’t forget to add inclusive language to attract and engage wider audiences.
2. Define your content marketing channels
You may want to write engaging and informative blog articles about your services which you can leverage through email newsletter marketing. Or maybe you have thought of a great social media campaign that will bring brand awareness and increase sales. Whatever you pick, clearly define where your content will be used. What marketing channels are the most suitable for that type of content, and what kinds of content should you share?
Prioritize those platforms and content types to help out with your content calendar creation. Later, you can reorganize your calendar and repurpose your already shared content. For example, a long blog article about how to design a CV can turn into a video you can share on your YouTube channel.
3. Set deadlines and frequencies
When sharing your content, you don’t want to be too active or too passive. Setting deadlines is essential as you build your content calendar and organize what and how you’ll share it. It will help you visualize the process and understand how often you should be posting. Maybe you’ve shared content about the same topic twice per week, but if you have an organized calendar at hand, you will easily spot this issue and resolve it quickly.
Moreover, this will help increase productivity of managing your workforce and project resources. Your team members will be able to plan their work separately and execute tasks more efficiently.
Conclusion
In the end, make sure to research your data, find any gaps and issues you’ve faced before, and avoid them while planning your content in the future. Eventually, you’ll understand your audience’s preferences and organize a more productive content calendar. Don’t forget to track and measure results so that you can make better business decisions.
