Bitesize Blog: Content/ Editorial Calendar - Do you need one?
Jul 24, 2017
A content calendar is a shareable document that marketing teams can use to plan all upcoming content ahead of time. They are a way of visualising your content for the year and how it will be distributed throughout, instead of keeping a long list of ideas.
They sound like a great idea – but are they really worth it for your business?
Why are they good?
In many cases, small businesses will write a tweet off the cuff, or post a Facebook status randomly on the odd day that suits them. Many businesses that struggle with keeping their blog consistent along with their social media channels do find an editorial calendar to be the best solution in helping to solve consistency. So, what about you?
The answer going round in your head right now is most probably- yes! There are a number of ways you can build your website traffic, but, one in particular, is organisation. Followers of your business will appreciate consistency, as will Google, especially if you are updating your website on the regular. Google will pick this up and continue to keep checking your site for changes, in turn boosting your Google ranking.
However, a lot of businesses still struggle with knowing exactly how to set up and use a calendar effectively!
Where you need to start…Choose your media!
It really does depend on what works for you; some businesses find it easier to hand write on paper, whereas prefer to have a digital copy. There are no shortages of free editorial calendar templates online, which you can print out if you want. Although we do suggest sticking to a digital version for ease of editing- you never know when events and national days can pop up!
What do I need in my content calendar?
You may think it depends solely on your field of industry, for example, if you’re a Digital Agency (like us!) your calendar will feature more design and digital events more heavily than say fashion events like the Met Gala. However, it may be a good idea to include major events that happen in other industries as it can help speak to a wider audience and if you are a creative company it may spark an idea!
Something else to mention is National Days- in recent years they have become more and more talked about on Twitter. There seems to be a national day for everything from #NationalEmojiDay to #NationalHammockDay – these can sometimes be completely ridiculous and not remotely relevant to your company so be careful which ones you choose to include in your editorial calendar.
Here is a list of major industries you should pay attention to:
- Politics
- Travel
- Fashion
- Technology
Extra Tips!
- Split your calendar into industries- colour coordination is a good idea!
- Allow yourself room to edit and add things!
- Think about how you will plan- regular meetings?
- Make sure everyone in your marketing team understands the process
- Only include things that you think are relevant – don’t tweet on every national day!
- Decide how often you want to post and stick to it – consistency is key.
Editorial calendars aren’t a new idea, but you’ll be surprised at how many businesses don’t use one. Businesses that are dedicated to great planning go a long way, and you’ll be able to see the changes!
Here at The Creation Lab, we offer content writing and SEO packages for companies that want professional assistance in ensuring their website is kept full of fresh new content on a regular basis, including regular social media planning and posting. If that is something you would like to pursue, give us a call on 0800 644 7070.
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