How to plan your next month of content
So, you've decided it's time to get ahead of the game and plan your content for the next month. Excellent choice! Pull up a chair, grab a cuppa (mine's a tea, thank you very much), and let's make content planning as painless as possible.
Why plan ahead?
First things first—why bother planning your content in advance? Well, imagine knowing exactly what you're going to post each day without the last-minute panic or staring blankly at your screen. Sounds like a dream, doesn't it?
Planning ahead:
Saves you time and stress
Ensures consistency in your posting schedule
Helps you align your content with your business goals
Allows for more creativity and better quality content
Step 1: Set your goals
Before you get into the nitty-gritty, let's think about what you want to achieve with your content this month.
Increase brand awareness?
Grow your audience?
Promote a new service?
Engage more with your audience to help build your community?
Drive traffic to your website?
Choose one of these objectives for the month ahead. Having clear goals will guide your content creation and keep you focused.
Step 2: Choose your themes
Now, let's pick a few themes or topics for the month. This makes it easier to brainstorm content ideas.
Industry insights: Share the latest news or trends in your field.
Behind the scenes: Give a peek into your day-to-day operations.
Tips and how-tos: Provide valuable advice that showcases your expertise.
Client testimonials: Share success stories from your clients.
Personal stories: Let your audience get to know the person behind the business.
Service spotlights: Let your audience know how they can work with you.
Step 3: Create a content calendar
Time to get organised! A content calendar is your roadmap for the month.
Grab a calendar template: You can use a digital tool like Google Sheets, Trello, or good old pen and paper (my all-time fave!).
Mark important dates: Note any holidays, events, or special occasions relevant to your business.
Schedule your themes: Assign your chosen themes to specific weeks or days.
Step 4: Brainstorm content ideas
Under each theme, jot down specific post ideas.
For example, if your theme is Tips and how-tos:
"5 ways to stay productive when working from home"
"How to use [your service] to achieve [desired result]"
"Common mistakes to avoid in [your industry]"
Step 5: Decide on content formats
Variety is the spice of life - and content!
Images and graphics: Eye-catching visuals created with tools like Canva.
Videos: Short clips or Reels that engage your audience.
Blog posts: Longer content that provides in-depth information - like this one!
Polls or questions: Encourage interaction and gather insights.
Quotes or testimonials: Share words from satisfied clients.
Mixing up formats keeps your content fresh and interesting.
Step 6: Batch create your content
Set aside some time to create multiple pieces of content in one go.
Efficient use of time: Get into the creative flow and produce more without constantly bouncing between jobs in your business.
Consistency: Ensures you have content ready to go, even on your busiest days.
Less stress: Eliminates the daily scramble to come up with something to post.
Step 7: Schedule your posts
Use scheduling tools to automate your posting.
Facebook and Instagram: Use Meta Business Suite to schedule directly.
LinkedIn: Use the native scheduler or tools like Metricool or Hootsuite.
Set and forget: Well, not quite forget, but you get the idea.
Step 8: Engage with your audience
Planning content isn't just about broadcasting; it's about building relationships.
Respond to comments: Show your audience you value their input.
Ask questions: Encourage discussions and get to know your followers.
Monitor feedback: Adjust your content based on what works.
Step 9: Review and adjust
At the end of the month, take a moment to reflect.
What worked well?
Which posts got the most engagement?
Did you achieve your goals?
Use these findings to plan your next month's content even better.
Tips to keep in mind
Be realistic: Don't overcommit yourself. It's better to post consistently three times a week than to aim for daily posts and burn out.
Stay authentic: Let your personality shine through. Your audience wants to connect with the real you.
Have fun: Content creation doesn't have to be a chore. Enjoy the process!
And finally…
Planning your month's content might seem like a big task, but with a bit of organisation (and perhaps a biscuit or two), it's entirely manageable. You'll thank yourself later when you're sipping your tea, knowing your posts are all set and your audience is engaged.
So, shall we get started? Put the kettle on, grab your notebook, and let's make this month your best one yet!
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