So you know you need to create content, and do it regularly, but does the thought of creating a plan and implementing it fill you with dread? If the whole idea is overwhelming, don’t panic. There is a simple first step that makes the rest of the process much easier and that is creating a content calendar. By planning everything in advance, you can sit down without the ‘blank page’ fear, get content created quickly, and actually get positive results from the work you put in.
Full disclosure, I run a course on content creation (which is amazing, by the way…) and it teaches you the whole process in detail. In fact, you leave with 12 months of content planned, and the first month ready to go – but I thought I’d give you all a quick overview of the first step. If you like what you read, and want to learn more, you know where to find me.
Creating a Content Calendar
Step 1: Know Who You Are Writing for
Imagine you’ve been asked to give a talk on your favourite subject – it could be wardrobe organisation, dog wedding planning, easy car maintenance – who knows. You are given the date and time, and how long it’s to be, but if you don’t know who you are talking to it’s not an easy task to create a great presentation. Are you teaching car maintenance to a room of mechanics, new drivers, or at an accessibility conference? Those are 3 very different presentations.
The same goes for creating content for your business. When you know who you are talking to, your content gets better. So first of all, write down who you are talking to and what they want to know about.
Step 2: Set a Goal
Are you looking for new leads? To increase customer loyalty? To create a knowledge bank? Again, knowing this helps you to tailor your content to reach your objectives. For instance, with this article, I want to give my audience a taste of how easy it can be to plan content so that they sign up to my Content Creation Masterclass – I’m not teaching other copywriters how to do the process, so my language and advice is geared towards DIY Marketers like you!
Step 3: Pick the Platforms
What are you creating content for? By identifying the platforms where your target audience is most active, you’ll reach more of them. You could be planning content for social media, blogs, newsletters, a podcast or a combination of these. It’s always a great idea to create content you can repurpose easily, but that’s a topic for a different day (or, of course, a very wonderful masterclass…)
When you know where your content is going, that will help to dictate the frequency, length and approach you take to creating it.
Step 4: Create a Posting Schedule
Is it a monthly newsletter, a weekly podcast, or a daily TikTok video? When you know how often you are posting, you’ll know how much content you need to create. Start with one month, draw up a schedule, and see how many blank spaces you need to fill with content.
Step 5: Fill in What’s Happening
Let’s use next month as an example. For February there is Valentine’s Day, Pancake Day, and this year, a Leap Day. There’s three things that should be in your content calendar already. Fill in any other days or events that are relevant to your audience and you’ll see the spaces start to fill up quickly. If this step is overwhelming, get in touch and I’ll point you in the direction of some great resources to help you see what’s happening in the world each day of the year.
Step 6: Brainstorm Content Ideas
There are a few ways to come up with content ideas – you can use the Jasmine Star approach which is what I used to teach, or my process of creating monthly topics, and weekly content pillars. If you are new to it all, the best first step is to brainstorm. You can do this on your own, or try ChatGPT for some smart support! Set aside 30 minutes to come up with as many content ideas as you can that will resonate with your audience and align with your brand message. Remember to consider seasonal trends, industry updates, and evergreen topics to ensure a diverse content mix.
Step 7: Fill In The Blanks
Now go back to your blank spaces and spread your content ideas out across the month. Still have gaps? Look at competitors, ask ChatGPT, or brainstorm some more. If you can, look at previous posts that got good engagement and consider reworking those topics.
Creating a content calendar each month for your small business is a game-changer. It not only ensures a consistent and engaging online presence but also allows you to strategically align your content with your business goals. If you’re eager to take your content creation skills to the next level, consider signing up for my upcoming “Content Creation Masterclass.”
I teach you strategies and actions you can implement to take the dread out of your Content Creation. Find out more here.
