How many times have you found yourself scrambling to come up with a topic for a blog post that needs to be posted in a couple of hours? It happens to all of us probably more times than we care to admit.
Producing a steady stream of valuable content is one of the best inbound marketing tactics businesses can use. But, ideas (and content) don’t happen overnight. Creating good quality content can be a tough and exhausting job.
As a content marketer, a content calendar can help save you time and energy—and, get you organized. Here’s how:
It acts as a vault for your brainstorming/ideas.
After you’ve chosen a calendar template that works for you, you can begin filling it with important dates throughout the year. Different holidays, industry events, campaigns, launches of new product/services, annual promotions, and busiest/slowest periods of the year are all important to keep in mind as a content marketer.
By brainstorming important content ahead of time, you’ll never have to scramble to find something valuable to write about again.
You’ll publish and promote content on time.
After you’ve brainstormed all of the important content in your calendar, publishing dates for all of the content need to be scheduled in as well. And, don’t forget to include any supporting activities that promote each piece of content. For example, if you’re promoting each blog post by posting a link on social media, include that in the calendar, too. Promotional activities are extremely important and deserve the same level of attention as the content they’re pushing.
You can schedule months in advance.
The more content you add to your calendar, the more likely you are to have a steady flow of relevant pieces that can be produced and published quickly. To avoid scrambling at the last minute, schedule at least one month in advance. But remember, flexibility is important when it comes to creating content, as well. If unexpected opportunities pop up, you don’t want to overlook them simply because you already have content planned. The great thing about a content calendar is that you can always go back later for an idea you don’t use right away.
Creating a content calendar isn’t difficult, but it does a little time, effort and brainstorming. However, all of the effort you put into it will be rewarded when you’re able to consistently produce valuable content. Need some help with your content? Let’s talk.