How to Start a Blog Content Calendar

When you started as a blogger, the drive and the passion was there, you could generate blog topic ideas in a few minutes without stress, but now your motivation has reduced drastically. You now struggle to make at least one blog post per week due to your lack of ideas or content calendar.

Your challenge can even be that you have a 9-5 job or are a caregiver and because of that, you're tempted to give up and call it quits. You are not alone! And you are not the first, nor are you going to be the last to experience this. Yes, you heard me!

No one cares about what you have to go through to show up daily. The world is interested in results, and that's why you need to stay strong for your viewers. Today, many bloggers maintain their rank in Google search and generate traffic daily and still have other tasks that keep them busy all day. 

Have you tried to ask yourself the secret of their consistency in showing up on their blog despite their busy schedules? Well, I am here to unveil those secrets.

When you want to write a blog post, what do you do first? Jump into your browser to search for blog topic ideas or quickly go to your content calendar and get your topic? So, what if you didn't find any ideas online that day? Does that mean no blog post for that day? That is the wrong approach, now hear me out.

One of the biggest challenges most bloggers face is a lack of proper planning and consistency. This could be traced to not working with a content calendar. In this article, I want to provide you with a comprehensive guide to understanding content calendars and how to start using one if you haven’t already. 

What Is a Content Calendar?

A content calendar, also known as an editorial calendar, is a file containing topic ideas on what to write about. You can build a content calendar using Google sheets or Excel spreadsheets, or even android apps like CoSchedule etc.

Why You Need a Content Calendar

Have you ever had an experience where you can't think of anything to write for your blog? At this point, you were tempted to push it to another day. If this is you, then you need a content calendar. 

I have provided five solid reasons why you need a content calendar

1. Helps You Plan

A content calendar helps you plan your blog posts ahead of time. That will help relieve the pressure of not knowing what to write about.

2. It Helps You Build Consistency

A content calendar will help you become more consistent because when you are working with a plan, you're more likely to stick to it. I believe you don't want to leave your viewers hanging, especially when your last post should connect to the next.

3. It Keeps You Well Organised

A content calendar keeps you well-organised and right on track. It will save you from scattering your blog post ideas as you will have a separate calendar for your content. You can effortlessly plan and track your deadlines, topics, and graphics in your content calendar.

4. You Know What to Write About at Every Stage

You don't want to move from one blog to another, searching for topics or even trawling Quora. Your ideas are down and already waiting to be developed. 

5. It Helps You Smoothen Your Content Marketing Plans

If you're still confused about branding and identifying your niche and target audience, a content calendar can easily help you understand them. For instance, you discover you have more engagement when you make posts on "productivity toolkits" than your usual series on "savings."

Based on that finding, you can structure your content calendar to include more content around ideas on productivity. This way, you maintain your audience as you always serve them with what they need.

What Makes a Blog Content Calendar Effective

To produce a steady stream of high-quality material, you must manage the process of creating it so that your authors can focus on their work without any distractions.

Here are some valid key points on planning an effective content calendar:

• Due Date: This marks the deadline for submitting a previously written blog post for editing. If you have someone on your team who is good at grammar, they can help you with that.

• Publication Date: This highlights the dates to publish your edited final content to the public. 
• Topics: Keep your topics interesting and dynamic. It's important to keep your content fresh and interesting to draw in new readers and keep the ones you already have on board.
• Target Keywords: List the SEO keywords you want to cover here. List only the keywords associated with the topic you are covering. Assign relevant keywords to each article to keep things organised.

How to Start a Blog Content Calendar

I have unveiled four easy steps to create your professional content calendar.

Identify Your Goals

This should be the first step in planning an effective content calendar. It affects the whom, where, and how often you publish your content. Pushing out content without a clear purpose will only lead to failure and frustration. You should be able to have a clear idea of the results to expect as you are working on the ideas in your content calendar.

Use The Calendar Year as A Base When Starting

Take note of all the important events like holidays, celebrations, workshops, and seminars around which you want to build your content. That will help you become aware and prepare ahead for the kind of content you are expected to create in that season.

Do Keyword Research

You are wasting your time if your content isn't keyword-based. Focus on keywords that will turn visitors into consumers—research keywords related to your target market and stick with them.

Source for Ideas and Organise Your Thoughts

Brainstorm some content ideas for your calendar and write them down. It is needed when forming a schedule. They shouldn't just float in your head; otherwise, you will not write the content. You must repeat this process regularly and follow a consistent plan for time management.

Plan Your Monthly Blog Post Ideas On Your Calendar

Plan your blog posts for the month ahead of time using a content calendar. You can start by writing them down on a separate piece of paper, after which you organise and fix them into your calendar. You can spread it out weekly or monthly; ensure you stick to the plan.

How To Improve Your Blog Content Calendar

To enhance your blog content calendar, consider the following steps:

• Assess your current process and identify areas for improvement.
• Streamline your content planning by using a digital content calendar tool.
• Set specific goals and objectives for your blog content.
• Research and plan your blog post ideas in advance, ensuring a consistent schedule.
• Incorporate SEO strategies to optimise your blog content for search engines.
• Regularly review and update your blog content calendar to stay organized and on track.

By implementing these steps, you can effectively manage your blog content and ensure a consistent and engaging publishing schedule.

We know that writing blogs takes time let alone scheduling them. The Digital Hub SEO Sydney works with many clients writing SEO optimised blogs and scheduling them at the right time. Being local in Australia we can quickly jump on a zoom call at a time that suits you. Contact us now to find out more.