We get it—planning every detail of your content strategy can feel overwhelming, but it's also one of the best ways to set your company up for steady growth.
Let’s dive into what a content calendar is, why it’s worth your time, and how to get started. And if you’re ready to create a winning content strategy for your business, just give us a call at (916) 223-0367!
What is a Content Calendar/Editorial Calendar?
A content calendar is your go-to tool for streamlining, organizing, and even automating your content publishing schedule. Think of it as your content’s roadmap for the month (or whatever time frame you choose). It’s where you plan out what content goes live and when, down to the exact day and time.
You can create content calendars for all kinds of content—whether it’s a blog post schedule, a social media posting plan, or a master calendar that oversees every type of content your team produces.
Why You Should Use a Content Calendar
To keep your content strategy on point, you need a clear, big-picture view of what you’re publishing. A content calendar gives you that perspective, helping you deliver varied, consistent, and high-quality content to your audience. As your website or business grows, managing content creation can quickly turn into a juggling act.
Content calendars make it easier to stay on top of things. They push you to stay organized and give you a bird’s-eye view of your entire content plan. By setting up a calendar at the start of each month, you can easily spot if you’re overloading on one type of content, if your publishing frequency is on track, and whether your posts are going out consistently.
These might seem like small details, but they’re crucial to your website’s success. Building and retaining an engaged audience depends on consistent publishing with a well-balanced mix of topics and content types. A content calendar is your best ally in making sure you nail that balance.
Plus, content calendars are a game-changer for team collaboration. Even a simple calendar can help eliminate miscommunication and overlap, keeping your marketing team running like a well-oiled machine.
How to Create a Content Calendar
Creating a content calendar is a flexible process that can be tailored to fit any type of website or content strategy. Whether you’re running a small blog or managing content for a large corporation, the benefits of a content calendar are undeniable.
Decide on Your Content Calendar’s Format
1. The Classic Physical Calendar
Believe it or not, pen and paper still have their place in today’s digital age. One effective approach is to use post-it notes on a large paper calendar, where each note represents a piece of content. This method makes it easy to rearrange content as needed—just peel and stick! Plus, having a physical calendar prominently displayed can help keep deadlines top of mind. If you’re working in a team, a big physical calendar can be a great focal point for your office, ensuring everyone stays in sync—and the post-it note method adds a bit of fun to the mix!
2. The Digital Calendar
Digital content calendars are popular for a reason—they’re incredibly shareable, easy to edit as a group, and accessible from anywhere. Tools like Google Calendar make it simple to create and maintain a team-wide content calendar, with everyone having the ability to edit and stay up-to-date.
But while tools like Google Calendar are convenient, they might not be the best fit for every team. Here at Blumoo Creative, we’re big fans of using customized spreadsheet templates as the backbone of a robust content calendar. While setting up a spreadsheet might take a little more time upfront, the payoff is huge. The customization possibilities are endless, allowing you to track everything from how many pieces you’ve published to date to your monthly goals—all in a format that works perfectly for your team.
Using Google Sheets as the platform for your content calendar template also means it’s just as shareable and editable as a Google Calendar, but with way more functionality.
Ready to Build Your Content Calendar?
If you’re not fully convinced yet, try using a content calendar for just a month. By day 30, we’re confident you’ll see the difference. A solid content calendar can lead to increased productivity, better efficiency, and a more polished online presence.
If you’re eager to get started, check out the Google Docs content calendar template we’ve created! We’ve done the heavy lifting with formatting and formulas, so you can dive straight into planning your content.
Need some help getting your content calendar up and running? Or maybe you’d like some guidance on content planning and creation? We’re here for you! At Blumoo Creative, our team of expert marketers is ready to streamline your content creation process. From copywriting to scheduling, we’ve successfully executed countless content strategies for our clients. Let’s get started on yours!
Contact Blumoo Creative today for more information, or for free consultation!
