Building A Content Calendar 101

by Isabella Avila and Sophie Best.

Content creation can lead to busy schedules and an overflow of work. But there are ways to keep organized and on track: content calendars! A content calendar is an essential tool for managing social media, ensuring consistency, organization and strategic content planning. By planning content ahead of time, creators can effectively manage time and push out thought out and dynamic work while preventing last-minute chaos.

Our top platforms for making a content calendar

Content calendars are super easy (and fun) to make! Get creative with the design and even tailor it to your personal brand!  Here are some of our favorite platforms to use when making a content calendar:

• Canva– Canva offers a ton of free templates for content calendars made by other users, but you can easily make your own! Select from thousands of elements, fonts, backgrounds, colors, the list goes on! Upload your own images for that personalized touch and get to brainstorming!
• PowerPoint– Trusted old friend. While you may love it or hate it, PowerPoint is the OG and similarly to Canva, allows you to be super creative and dynamic with your content calendars
•  Buffer– Buffer is an online content management program that can automatically queue your content based on your best engagement practices!
• Google Slides
• Google Sheets
• Good Notes

How to Make a Content Calendar

1. Design the template
2. Brainstorm content for the next month (to start)- Going month by month is a super easy way to plan out content.
3. Pick dates and posting times based on engagement stats- You know your audience best! Take advantage of your analytics on your platforms and learn the best days and times to post to maximize KPI’s.
4. Develop a purpose and goals for each post- Why are you posting this? What is your goal? What type of engagement are you hoping to get out of this?
5. Write captions- Captions re a great way to add to the story that your post wants to get across. Make them conversational for an even more relatable approach!
6. Develop hashtags for each post- Hashtags are not a thing of the past; they work! Tailor your favorite 5-7 hashtags to garner an audience from other parts of the platform!
7. Organize- Get all your ducks in a row: order your content calendar and add any other details you may want to add to stay as organized as possible.
8. Gain approval or do an internal review (if needed)- Make sure everything is in order and good to go with whomever you may need to; you want to make sure you’re putting out the best version of content!
9. Plug in content- Schedule your content on the platforms you’re posting to. Here is a list of platforms where you can directly schedule content:
   • Instagram
   • Facebook
   • TikTok (online)
   • Buffer (covers a bunch of platforms like Instagram stories, Pinterest, Twitter and more!)
   • Meta Business Suite

It’s super simple. Whether you choose Canva, PowerPoint, Buffer or other tools, the key is to find a system that works best for your workflow and brand. They are the key to staying organized and accountable. So, take the time to create a content calendar that fits your needs—it’ll make all the difference in managing your content strategy effectively!