Don’t just write random stuff for your blog!
There’s a better way to plan your blog posts (also called an editorial plan) than just picking a number and scrambling for ideas. Instead, focus on what you want to achieve first.
Here’s the idea:
- Start with goals: What do you want your blog to do? Do you want to sell more products? Teach people something new? Get more people to sign up for your email list? Once you know your goals, it’s easier to figure out what to write about.
What do you want to achieve with your blog or website?
Before you start creating content, think about your goals. Do you want more people to visit your site (traffic), get more subscribers to your email list, or make more sales? Once you know your goals, you can start planning what kind of content you need to create to reach them.
Here’s an example:
Let’s say you want to be the ultimate resource for new bloggers, especially those wanting to learn “How To Start A Blog.” Here’s how you might plan your content:
- Main article: Create a comprehensive guide titled “How To Start A Blog.” This is your “top-level” content.
- Supporting content: To make your main article even stronger, you could create 3 sub-pages and 3 blog posts for each sub-page.
Imagine a pyramid! The main article is at the top, and the sub-pages and blog posts all support it and lead readers to the main topic. This structure is called a “Content Pyramid” (sometimes called a skyscraper or other things).
Once you have one pyramid planned out, think about what your next one will be about! The more pyramids you build, the stronger your overall content strategy will be.
Turning your content plan into action!
A big plan can feel overwhelming, so let’s break it down into three smaller parts to make things easier:
- Content Rules: This is like your content rulebook. It outlines things like quality standards, what kind of content works best for your brand, and what makes your content special.
- Content Workflow: This is all about how you actually get things done. It includes things like who does what task, the steps involved in creating content, and the tools you’ll use to keep everything organized.
- Content Team: This is about your amazing content creators! It details the roles each person plays, the skills they need, and how to keep them motivated and productive.
By focusing on these three areas, those big tasks on your content plan will become much more manageable. It’ll be like building a well-oiled content machine!
Don’t forget to schedule your content!
We’re talking about planning how often you’ll publish new content. This is important, but let’s be realistic about how much you can actually create.
- How often can you write something new? Think about your time, resources, and how motivated you feel.
- The more you publish, the better! The more awesome content you have on your website, the faster people will find you through Google searches and other websites.
- Here’s a cool fact: A study showed that most blogs and businesses needed over 50 pieces of content before they really started seeing a big boost in traffic, leads, and sales.
- So, how often should you publish? Traditionally, people say once a week is good. But if you can handle it, publishing more often might help you grow faster. Are you okay waiting a year to see results?
The key is to find a schedule that works for you and that you can stick to. It’s better to publish consistently, even if it’s less often, than to burn out and give up entirely!
Getting started with your blog content
Ready to write amazing content for your website or blog? Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started!
- Find keywords people are searching for: Imagine the questions your customers might type into Google. These are called “long tail keywords” and they’re usually 3 or more words long.
- Craft a catchy title: Use those keywords you found to create a title that grabs people’s attention and tells them what your content is about.
- Sprinkle in extra keywords: While you’re writing, include some other related words throughout your post, images, and even the description under your post (called the meta description). These are like backup keywords that help people find your content.
- Structure your content: Think about how you’d like your content to flow. Start with a subheading to introduce your topic, maybe include a cool quote, and find an image that goes with your content.
- Write it out! Use your subheadings as a guide and fill in the gaps with your awesome content. Don’t worry about being perfect, the more you write, the better you’ll become!
- Keep your audience in mind: Think about how your ideal reader likes to consume information. Do they prefer short paragraphs with bullet points? Long, detailed explanations? Structure your content in a way that keeps them engaged and wanting to read more!
Remember, everyone starts somewhere! By following these steps, you’ll be on your way to creating content that people love to read.
Don’t ditch your content calendar!
Now that you know how often you can publish and what kind of content you need to create, it’s time to make a schedule. This schedule is called an “editorial calendar” and it will help you stay on track.
- Think of it like a planner: You can find planners online or in stores that are specifically designed for creating an editorial calendar. They’ll help you set goals, brainstorm topics, and structure your content into a perfect schedule.
- Use the tools you already have: If you have a WordPress website, you can use their built-in editorial calendar to organize your content. This is a great way to keep track of everything and link your new posts to older ones.
- Plan ahead and save time: By creating a calendar for the whole year, you’ll know exactly what you need to be working on and avoid scrambling at the last minute. This will save you a ton of time in the long run!
An editorial calendar is your secret weapon for consistent content creation. By following your plan, you’ll be publishing great content regularly and keeping your audience happy!
Create an Editorial Plan
Feeling overwhelmed by your content plan? Don’t worry, there’s a free and easy way to keep yourself organized: Google Calendar! Here’s how to use it for your editorial calendar:
- Make a separate calendar for each blog you manage. This keeps things clear and easy to find.
- Create an “event” for each piece of content you plan to publish. Think of it like a reminder with details.
- Use the event details to write a quick “brief” for each post. This is like a mini instruction manual for whoever will be writing it. Here are some ideas for what to include:
- Title: A draft title for your post.
- Blog Name: The name of your blog (this helps your team find things easily).
- Who’s Writing? The person responsible for writing the post.
- Details, Details! Here’s where you can explain what the post is about, why it’s important, and anything else the writer might need. This could include:
- Links to helpful resources
- Contact information for interviews
- A sample introduction or even an outline for the post
- Attachments like images, PDFs, or even a document explaining why you’re assigning this topic (think of it like a cheat sheet)
- Break down big projects into smaller tasks. If you’re doing a series of posts that requires interviews, create separate tasks for each interview with deadlines.
- Use tasks to manage your team. This is a great way to track things like approvals, edits, or anything else that needs to be done by someone else. Add your team members, co-workers, or anyone who can help to the tasks section.
Bonus Tip
If your team is on board, they can even log in, add content, or share your posts on social media!
The key is to create helpful content that keeps your readers coming back for more. By following these steps and using Google Calendar, you’ll have a free and easy-to-use editorial calendar that keeps your content creation on track!
