How many times have you told yourself you’ll post to your social media later? Or you’ll send that email to your list this week and then it just doesn’t happen. If your hand is raised then this episode is for you! I’m going to walk you through how you can create your content calendar so you can be consistent and strategic with your marketing. 

 

If you don’t have a content calendar, then you’re setting yourself up to fail because let’s face it, life gets crazy when you’re an entrepreneur! As well intentioned as you may be saying, “I’ll post on social media later today.” it’s so easy to let it slip your mind and then you’re at home later saying oh shoot I forgot to post. 

 

A content calendar is essential for a successful marketing strategy. Your content calendar will keep you on track and hold you accountable to make time for your marketing. It will also allow you to be more strategic because it will give you a birds eye view of what’s coming up and you can double check that you’re communicating everything you need to.

 

So let’s walk step-by-step through how you can set up a content calendar that can run on autopilot so you can spend more time focusing on running your business. I know you may not love marketing like I do, but by making marketing a regular habit you’re creating more freedom to focus on the other things you love in your business.

 

1. Map out your topics:  Decide what and when you’ll be posting and emailing, i.e., events, promotions, new products/services, etc. Brainstorm way ahead of time!
2. Write your content: You can do this in Word, Google Docs, or a content management system (I recommend AirTable). I strongly recommend setting a regular content creation date for yourself whether it is weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. I’ve found it typically takes me about an hour to an hour and 15 minutes to plan, write, and schedule a week’s worth of content. 
3. Create visual content to go with written content: Don’t disrupt your creative writing flow. Include notes as you write content about the image you’ll use or a graphic you need and then go find it or design it. Personally, I love Canva for designing graphics!
4. Schedule your content: I love using Sprout Social as it has all the social media platforms (except TikTok) and Google MyBusiness integration. Sprout Social is a paid scheduling tool though, so if you’re not in a place to invest in one and use Facebook and Instagram, Creator Studio (desktop) and Facebook Business Suite (mobile) are great free options. Keep in mind that no scheduling tool is perfect. 

 

Prioritizing your marketing is no easy task and I’m so proud of you for doing it. If you’re going to start making a content calendar, tag me on Instagram @marathonmarketingbranding so I can give you a shout out for taking that step to master your marketing!

 

Don’t forget to check out a free guide you may find helpful along with resources mentioned above! The guide dives into even more detail about how to create an effective marketing system, and includes some helpful bonus tips that I’ve learned through years of trial and error. Until next time, keep running your race!

Resources:

Download the free guide: Create Your Marketing System in a Day

Canva

Sprout Social

Creator Studio (desktop)

Facebook Business Suite (Apple Store)

Facebook Business Suite (Google Play)