What is a content calendar and do I need one?
What to include
A basic content calendar lists the publish date, the post title, the main keyword or topic, the status and the due date for each draft. You can use a spreadsheet, a notes app or a project tool. Keep it simple enough that you will actually update it. A calendar you open every week is far more useful than a fancy one you ignore.
Plan in batches. Choose a few weeks of topics at a time, then block out writing sessions on your schedule. A calendar also helps you spot gaps in your topics or seasons you want to cover.
- Publish date and title
- Target topic or keyword
- Draft status and due dates
- Notes on related posts to link
Keep the calendar realistic
Plan fewer posts than you think you can write. A calendar that you consistently meet is more useful than an ambitious one that you abandon. Leave room for updates, since refreshing older posts also counts as publishing work.
Review the calendar at the end of each month. Move unfinished posts, drop topics that no longer fit and add ideas from reader questions.
- Plan fewer posts than your best case
- Leave room for updates
- Review it at the end of each month
Common mistakes
- Planning more posts than you can realistically write each week.
- Keeping a calendar you never update.
- Filling the calendar with random topics that do not connect to your main focus.
