Keeping up with a self-imposed work schedule can be exhausting for most people. Life has a way of getting in the way of the best-laid plans. Over the last two months, I’ve been priding myself on doing so well in updating all six of my websites – only to realize today that it’s been over a week since I’ve added anything to this site.
Many experts say that writers should use editorial calendars to stay on schedule with posting. During my twenty years as a freelance writer, small business owner, and entrepreneur, I’ve explored using several formats of editorial calendar templates.
I’ve also used content calendars for managing my websites. Planners and editorial calendars don’t just help me manage my websites and social media but also product creation. For instance, while it’s been a bit since I’ve added a post here, I have added several new products to my inventory. So, I’ve still been productive and busy with building my Sarandipity’s brand.
Let’s look at the difference between an editorial calendar vs a content calendar and some of the best editorial calendar template versions.
What is an Editorial Calendar?
Many new bloggers and even some long-termers have the same question about how to keep up with a consistent content creation schedule. They also frequently wonder how to come up with ideas to fill up their work calendar – content creation calendar.
An editorial calendar is a schedule that outlines the content that will be created and published on a website, blog, or social media platform over a specific period of time. It is a planning tool used by content creators, editors, and marketers to keep track of upcoming content and ensure that it aligns with their goals and objectives.
An editorial calendar typically includes information such as the date of publication, the type of content to be published (such as blog posts, videos, social media updates, or email newsletters), the topic of the content, the author or creator responsible for producing it, and any relevant notes or deadlines.
By using an editorial calendar, content creators can ensure that they are regularly producing high-quality content that engages their audience and supports their marketing goals. It can also help prevent last-minute scrambling to develop content ideas or missed opportunities to capitalize on timely events or trends.
Some of the most popular editorial calendar examples I’ve tried over the years include:
- CoSchedule
- SmartBlogger
- WordPress PlugIn
- WebFX
- OptimizeBook
- Content Marketing Institute (CMI)
- HubSpot
- Investis Digital
- Curata
What to Include in an Editorial Strategy?
An editorial strategy is a comprehensive plan that outlines the goals, target audience, content formats, publishing frequency, and distribution channels for a website, blog, or social media platform. Here are some key elements to include in an editorial strategy:
Goals and objectives:
Start by defining the purpose of your editorial strategy. What do you hope to achieve through your content creation and distribution efforts? Your goals may include increasing website traffic, generating leads, improving brand awareness, or positioning your brand as an industry thought leader.
Whatever your goals may be, ensure they are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
Target audience:
To create content that resonates with your audience, you need to understand who they are, what they care about, and what problems they need help solving. Develop buyer personas representing your ideal customers and use them to guide your content creation.
Conduct research to understand your audience’s demographics, interests, and online behaviors, and use this information to create content that speaks directly to their needs.
Content formats:
Decide on the types of content that will best engage your audience and achieve your goals. This may include blog posts, videos, podcasts, infographics, social media posts, or email newsletters.
Consider the preferences of your target audience and the resources and expertise available to you when choosing your content formats.
Publishing frequency:
Determine how often you will publish new content and create a publishing calendar that helps you stay on track. Be realistic about your resources and capabilities, and ensure that your publishing schedule is sustainable in the long term.
Consistency is key in content creation, so aim to publish content regularly to keep your audience engaged.
Distribution channels:
Determine the channels you will use to distribute your content and reach your target audience. This may include social media platforms, email marketing, search engine optimization, or paid advertising.
Consider where your target audience spends their time online and choose the channels that are most likely to reach them.
Brand voice and tone:
Develop a consistent brand voice and tone that reflects your brand’s personality and values. This should guide your editorial efforts and help create a cohesive brand identity.
Use language and imagery that resonates with your target audience and aligns with your brand values and messaging.
Metrics and analytics:
Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) that you will use to measure the success of your editorial efforts. This may include metrics such as website traffic, engagement rates, conversion rates, or customer acquisition costs.
Use analytics tools to track your progress and make data-driven decisions to improve your content strategy over time. Regularly review your metrics and adjust your strategy as needed to ensure you achieve your goals.
How to Create an Editorial Content Calendar
There are several benefits to using an editorial content calendar to keep up with your work schedule. The biggest benefit is that you’ll always know what to work on for a given day. This advantage makes research and content creation faster and more streamlined – an absolute must if you manage multiple sites.
Use these steps to create a reusable editorial content calendar.
Define Your Content Strategy:
Before creating an editorial calendar, you should clearly understand your content strategy. This includes defining your target audience, identifying your content goals, and determining the types of content you will create. Your editorial calendar should reflect your content strategy and be aligned with your goals.
Choose a Format for Your Editorial Calendar:
Decide on a format for your editorial calendar. You can use a simple spreadsheet or specialized software tools designed for content planning and management.
Determine Your Content Categories:
Identify the categories or themes that your content will fall under. This will help you ensure that your content is diverse and covers various topics.
Decide on a Publishing Frequency:
Decide how often you will publish new content. Be realistic about your resources and capabilities, and ensure that your publishing schedule is sustainable in the long term.
Assign Tasks and Deadlines:
Assign tasks and deadlines to team members responsible for creating and publishing the content. This ensures that everyone knows their responsibilities and that deadlines are met.
Fill Out Your Editorial Calendar:
Begin filling out your editorial calendar by adding the content categories, topics, content formats, publication dates, and assigned team members. Include details such as keywords and calls to action, if applicable.
Review and Update Your Editorial Calendar:
Regularly review your editorial calendar to ensure that it is up to date and that deadlines are being met. Adjust as needed to reflect changes in your content strategy or publishing schedule.
By following these steps, you can create a comprehensive editorial calendar that helps you stay organized and on track with your content creation and distribution efforts.
Organize Your Content Ideas into Categories for Easier Bunching
If you run a blog targeting freelancers and small business owners, there are several different higher-level categories that you might consider using.
Blogging calendars make developing topics and relevant keywords easier, and stick to a consistent posting schedule. While editorial calendars can vary by user, most editorial calendar templates include several of the same categories.
Here are a few examples:
Business Planning:
This category could include articles and resources related to business planning, such as writing a business plan, creating financial projections, and setting business goals.
Get this Business Start-Up Planner to help you map out a detailed business planner for your new venture.
Marketing and Branding:
This category could include articles and resources related to marketing and branding, such as creating a marketing plan, developing a brand identity, and building a social media presence.
Financial Management:
This category could include articles and resources related to financial management, such as bookkeeping, invoicing, and tax planning.
Productivity and Time Management:
This category could include articles and resources related to productivity and time management, such as managing a to-do list, staying focused, and avoiding burnout.
Business Growth:
This category could include articles and resources related to business growth, such as expanding a business, hiring employees, and scaling operations.
Legal and Regulatory Issues:
This category could include articles and resources related to legal and regulatory issues, such as registering a business, understanding contracts, and complying with labor laws.
Freelancing:
This category could include articles and resources related to freelancing, such as finding clients, setting rates, and managing contracts.
These categories can help you structure your blog content and make it easier for your target audience to find the information they need. You might also consider using subcategories or tags within each category to further refine your content and make it more searchable.
Ultimately, the key is to focus on providing high-quality, informative content that meets your audience’s specific needs and interests.
Breaking Content Down into Relevant Subcategories
Subcategories are a great way to further organize and refine your blog content within the higher-level categories. Here are some relevant subcategories that you might consider using for a blog targeting freelancers and small business owners:
- Business Planning:
- Market research
- Writing a business plan
- Financial projections
- Business goal setting
- Product creation
- Product brainstorming
- Marketing and Branding:
- Social media marketing
- Content marketing
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Brand identity development
- Freelancing:
- Finding clients
- Setting rates
- Managing contracts
- Time tracking and invoicing
- Financial Management:
- Bookkeeping and accounting
- Business expenses management
- Tax planning and preparation
- Financing and funding
- Productivity and Time Management:
- Prioritization and time management
- Productivity tools and apps
- Managing distractions and interruptions
- Avoiding burnout and managing stress
- Business Growth:
- Scaling operations
- Hiring and managing employees
- Customer acquisition and retention
- Business partnerships and collaborations
- Legal and Regulatory Issues:
- Business registration and licenses
- Contracts and agreements
- Intellectual property protection
- Employment and labor laws
These subcategories can help you create a more focused and targeted editorial calendar and ensure that your content is relevant and useful to your audience. You can also add subcategories as needed based on the topics you cover on your blog.