Here’s How to Create a Content Calendar for Busy Bloggers!

Are you struggling to keep up with blog posting deadlines while juggling a full-time job? Are you constantly stressed and anxious, wondering how to grow your blog while managing your daily responsibilities?

If so, then you’re in the right place. Let’s face it; inconsistent posting can hinder blog growth and lead to burnout. Statistics show that companies publishing 16+ blog posts/month received about 4.5X more leads than those publishing between 0-4/month.

But here is the good news: there’s a solution to your problem that can reduce your stress levels and help you create consistent, high-quality content.

Enter the content calendar! In this step-by-step post, I will show you how to create a content calendar and take control of your blogging schedule while enjoying life. You might also enjoy reading: Blogging for Beginners: Here’s How to Start a Blog on a Budget in 2023.

Steps to Create a Content Calendar for Busy Bloggers

With so many things to handle, including writing, editing, and posting blogs and social media posts, every second counts for a blogger.

But this section is where the magic begins. We show you all you need to know to create a workable content plan.

So, if you’re ready, let’s dive into step 1.

Step 1: Define Your Content Goals And Target Audience

Your content goals should align with your overall business goals and reflect the needs of your target audience.

As the famous American author Zig Ziglar once said, “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.” The same goes for creating content.

But how do you define your content goals? Here are some questions to consider:

What is the purpose of your content? Is it to inform, educate, entertain, or inspire your audience?
What topics are you passionate about?
What topics align with your brand?
What types of content do you want to create? Will it be blog posts, videos, social media posts, or a combination of all three?
How often do you want to publish content? Daily, weekly, monthly, or on specific dates?

Once you have defined your content goals, it’s time to understand your target audience.

But what does knowing your target audience involved? It involves creating a buyer persona, a fictional representation of your ideal customer.

Here are some questions you could ask when creating your buyer persona:

Who is your customer demographics (age, gender, location, etc.)?
What are their pain points and challenges, and how can your content solve them?
Where do they spend their time online, and what social media platforms do they use?
What content do they consume, and how can you create content that resonates with them?

Defining your content goals and target audience is the foundation of your content calendar. So, take your time at this stage before moving on to the next step.

Step 2: Determine the Frequency and Type of Content to Publish

Now that you’ve defined your content goals and target audience, it’s time to determine the frequency and type of content you want to publish. This is where the rubber meets the road, folks!

First, let’s talk about frequency. How often do you want to publish content? Now, I know what you’re thinking. “I’m already busy enough! How am I supposed to find time to create content every day?”

Well, fear not, my friend! It’s not about quantity; it’s about quality. While consistency is crucial in building a loyal following, don’t bite off more than you can chew. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, so start small and work your way up.

But what about the type of content you want to publish? Determine if you want to create blog posts, videos, social media posts, or a combination of all three.

Blog posts are great for SEO and building authority, while videos are great for engaging your audience and showcasing your personality. And social media posts are great for building relationships with your audience and driving traffic to your website.

It is up to you to choose which types of content align with your goals and resources.

Once you’ve determined the frequency and type of content, it’s time to create a content calendar that reflects your goals. Use a content calendar template that works for you, and remember to leave room for creativity and spontaneity.

Without spilling the beans, let’s move on to step 3.

Step 3: Choose the Right Content Calendar Template or Tool

What can I use to create a content calendar? You can choose from various tools and templates, from simple spreadsheets to complex software.

Here are some popular options:

1- Google Sheets

Google Sheets is a great place to start if you’re looking for a simple and free content planner. You can use the columns for the date, content type, topic, keywords, and status.

Carlos comments on this tool:

|“Google Sheets has been a lifesaver for me, allowing me to collaborate with 2 or more team members. The best part about Google Sheets? It keeps records of my processes and creates reports automatically! Google Sheets is a great tool for collaboration…”|

Here is a content calendar example.

2- Trello

Although Trello is a project management tool, you can use it as a content calendar. With this content calendar planner, you can create monthly boards and use cards to represent each piece of content.

We use this tool to plan content for this blog site.

3- Asana

Asana is another project management tool you can use as a content calendar. It allows you to create monthly projects and use tasks to represent each piece of content. Moreover, the tool will enable you to add due dates, attachments, and team members for each task.

4- CoSchedule

CoSchedule is a paid tool specifically designed for content marketing. It includes a content calendar, social media scheduling, and marketing automation features. It’s ideal for larger teams or bloggers who need more advanced features.

Kinga, the owner of Brainy Bees, said this about CoSchedule:

|“We found CoSchedule extremely useful in WordPress, and it also supported our search engine optimization processes with the intuitive stats it provided. We could plan the whole content distribution using just one platform, and I find that the biggest advantage of CoSchedule.”|

We recommend choosing a content calendar planner that best suits your needs and preferences. Remember, the goal is to stay organized and make planning and tracking your content accessible.

Let’s move on to step 4.

Step 4: Brainstorm Content Ideas and Create a Content Plan

Now that you’ve set content goals, defined your target audience, set frequency, and established the type of content, it’s time to jog your creativity.

Brainstorming content ideas and creating a content plan may take a while, but you can use AI writing tools to help you generate trendy blog topics.

Besides AI tools, you can think about your audience and ask yourself these questions:

What questions do they have?
What challenges are they facing?
What topics are trending in your industry?

Once you’ve generated trendy blog ideas, organize them into categories or themes. This will help you cover various topics and improve your credibility.

For example, if you run a food blog, your categories could include recipes, cooking tips, restaurant reviews, and food news.

Now that you’ve figured out your categories, creating a content plan is time.

This involves inserting the ideas on your content calendar template and assigning tasks and deadlines if you work with a team. Ensure you include content type, topic, keywords, due date, and status.

Remember, the plan doesn’t have to be set in stone. Leave room for flexibility and creativity, and adjust based on feedback and new ideas.

Enough material for step 4; let’s dive to 5.

Step 5: Assign Tasks and Deadlines to Team Members (If Applicable)

As a busy blogger, you’ll sometimes contract freelancers to help write and edit your posts. In that case, assigning tasks and deadlines is essential to keep everyone on the same page.

How does a content calendar help you with assigning tasks? With a content planner template, you’ll identify which tasks to delegate. You can assign tasks based on each team member’s strengths and areas of expertise.

For instance, if you have a team member who is great at video editing, assign them to create video content.

You can use project management tools such as Trello or Asana to assign tasks and track progress. This will help you stay organized and ensure everyone meets their deadlines.

And remember, communication is key! So communicate regularly with your team members and provide feedback and support when needed.

Step 6: Publish and Track Your Content on the Calendar

Whether you hire freelancers or write yourself, consistently publishing your blog posts on time is crucial for meeting your content goals.

Tracking your content will also help you identify types of content that resonate with your audience and adjust your strategy accordingly.

So, follow your content plan and publish the first few blogs. Use the content calendar to track each post. Include metrics such as page views, social media engagement, and conversions to evaluate your success.

But remember, consistency is key! One study by HubSpot shows that websites publishing 16 or more blog posts per month get 4.5 times more leads than companies that publish 0-4 blog posts per month.

Of course, you should also promote your content on social media and other platforms. Encourage your followers to share your content and provide feedback on what they want to see more of.

A content calendar can help you reduce stress and create consistent, high-quality content that resonates with your audience.

But the benefits don’t stop there! Let’s explore other advantages of using a blog content calendar.

Benefits of Using a Content Calendar

Using a content calendar offers many benefits for bloggers and content creators. Here are some of the key benefits:

1- Increased Productivity And Efficiency

Planning and organizing your content in advance can streamline your workflow and increase productivity.

Moreover, planning and organizing your content can help you eliminate the need to constantly generate new content ideas, thus freeing up more time for engaging with your audience and promoting your content.

2- Improved Organization And Planning

A content calendar helps you stay organized and on top of your content goals. It also makes planning and tracking your content easy, so you can see what’s working and what’s not.

3- Consistency in Posting Schedule

We know that consistency is vital to building a loyal following, blog traffic, and engagement. A content calendar planner will help you create a consistent posting schedule.

4- Higher Quality Content

Since you plan your content, you can research, brainstorm, and create high-quality content that resonates with your audience.

5- Improved SEO And Search Engine Rankings

Sticking to a content calendar means you can consistently post high-quality content. This will improve your search engine rankings and increase your visibility online.

Take Control of Your Blogging Schedule and Enjoy Life

Life is busy, and many bloggers struggle to balance their daily responsibilities and produce consistent, high-quality content.

You might be thinking, “I’m already stretched thin as it is.” But creating a content calendar can be a game-changer. It may seem like another task to add to your to-do list but trust us; it’s worth it.

With a content calendar, you can:

Take control of your blogging schedule and reduce your stress levels.
Plan and avoid the last-minute rush to produce content.
Improve productivity and efficiency of your work.
Create high-quality content that improves your search engine rankings and increases your online visibility.

So take a deep breath, put on some inspirational music, and let’s do this. Follow the steps outlined in this article, and you’ll be on your way to creating a successful content calendar in no time.

Remember, consistency is critical, and the benefits of creating a content calendar are worth the effort. Now go out there and create fantastic content to inspire, inform, and engage your audience.

FAQs On Content Calendar Templates

How Do I Create a Blog Calendar For Content?

Here are some steps to help you create a blog calendar for your content:

Define your goals.
Determine your frequency
Choose your topics.
Create a content calendar template.
Assign deadlines
Track your progress.

How Do I Create a Content Calendar For SEO?

Here are some steps to help you create a content calendar for SEO:

Keyword research: Start by conducting keyword research to identify relevant keywords and topics for your blog using Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush.
Topic selection: Consider the searcher’s intent behind the keywords and create relevant blog posts.
Content calendar creation: Use a content calendar planner or template to organize your blog posts around your target keywords and topics.
On-page optimization: Optimize your blog posts for the target keywords by including them in relevant places of the blog.
Tracking and analysis: Track your rankings and traffic for the target keywords and topics using tools like Google Analytics or SEMrush.

Does Google Have a Content Calendar?

While Google doesn’t have an official content calendar platform, you can use Google Sheets to create your content calendar.

What Software Do You Use to Create a Calendar?

Some popular software like Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, Apple Calendar, and CoSchedule can help you create a calendar, depending on your needs and preferences.

How Do I Create a Content Calendar in Canva?

Follow these steps to create a content calendar in Canva:

Log in to your Canva account and click the “Create a design” button.
In the search bar, type “content calendar” and select a template that fits your needs and preferences.
Customize the template to reflect your branding and content strategy.
Add your content to the calendar. You can do this by clicking on the text boxes and typing in your blog post titles, keywords, and other relevant information.
Add images or graphics to your content calendar to make it more visually appealing.
Save and export your content calendar as a PDF or image file.