One of the issues that many businesses, startups, and marketers face is how to properly develop a content plan. Creating content and publishing it is one thing, but how do you effectively create a schedule that is both organized and reaches your audience?
Content writing is more than just pumping out different types of posts whenever you feel like it, or whenever you have the time. There are ways in which to maximize the effectiveness of your content, and that is through strategic content planning.
So, let’s take a look at four important steps of coming up with an effective content plan.
Content Planning Steps
Find A Project Management System That You Love
A very important piece of advice is to find the perfect project management system for you. While there are many different options to choose from, the idea is to find one that best suits you and your business, because the best project management system is one that you continue to use.
If you’re in the early stages of content planning, this will help you stay organized and on track. It’s an important step to developing content more consistently and planning a proper schedule around that.
Create A Monthly Plan
Thinking ahead is crucial when it comes to content creation. You need to constantly be thinking of different ideas, and a great way to do this is by creating a monthly plan. You can accomplish this by thinking about a focus, theme, or topic for the month.
By doing this, you can think about several different ideas that all stem from the topic that you’ve chosen for the month. Of course, you’re going to mix in brand-oriented, and fun behind-the-scenes-type content, but this will give you a general guideline for your thought leadership content.
Once you find the topic that aligns with your business goals, it will make it easier to create educational, or thought leadership content. The ideas will begin to flow once you know the general direction of your content.
This will not only help you develop stronger content, but it’ll also position you as a thought leader in your industry as well.
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Create Content At Least A Week Before It Goes Out
By creating the monthly content plan, you’re organizing yourself. This is a great thing to do, but it isn’t the only important factor, another one is being flexible. Depending on the industry that you work in, you might find yourself pressed with breaking news. News that could affect potential and current customers.
These types of events are going to require content creation from you and your team. This is why having all of your regular content already written for the week is important. This flexibility will allow you to spend time on the breaking news, rather than sweating about your regularly scheduled content.
Sometimes it isn’t possible, it all depends on the type of content that you’re creating. It won’t work for everyone, but for those that can do it, it will be beneficial.
The reason you should choose a week in advance for specific content is that content can become irrelevant quickly. You don’t want to spend countless hours creating content only to have to scrap it or edit it significantly.
Use A Scheduling Tool
Creating a content plan is one thing, but sticking to it is another. In order to ensure that you stick with your monthly content plan, you should use a scheduling tool. A scheduling tool is an essential piece of mind. You create a piece of content, get it to review approved, and then stick it in your schedule.
Once your content is in your schedule, it’ll get posted at the time that you’ve set, and you no longer need to think about it. A scheduling tool is essential for you to keep on task and keep content production moving forward.
These tips will help you in your journey of creating and putting out a more consistent stream of content. This will help you build your content calendar, get better with your content, and create a consistent stream of strong content that will please and help grow your audience.
It will take some time to properly develop this strategy, but with some effort, you can accomplish it. Once you figure out the best content planning strategy for you and your business, you’re going to realize the positive impact it can make.
