How to make a successful content calendar (2023)

Have you ever logged in to your social networks and your mind went blank? Come on, don't feel bad, it has happened to everyone at some point, and it is not easy at all. However, if you learn how to make a content calendar you will forget about this problem forever. 

It's true that some people love to improvise, but in the world of digital marketing and social networks this is not a good idea. 

The best thing to do is to have everything organized and there's nothing better than a calendar that tells you what you have to publish, on what platform and at what time. Believe us when we tell you that this will save you a lot of headaches. 

Would you like to learn how to create content without any spelling mistakes or brand tone? Get comfortable and find out below.    

What is a content calendar?

The content calendar is a document that summarizes the upcoming content that you will publish on your social networks by date, format and website. 

This way, with a good calendar you can plan your posts in advance, manage all the company's campaigns and track the metrics they show you. 

The most interesting thing is that a content calendar can be represented in different ways, from an excel document to an interactive platform that shows you what you need in a more fun way. 

Therefore, this tool will show you: 

• Time and date of publication

• Specific text and multimedia files

• Tags and links that the post will carry. 

Steps to create a content calendar

Do you want to optimize the content creation process in your business? It's definitely time to learn how to create a content calendar to take the leap you need for your project. 

Let's see what you need to do to achieve it: 

Step 1: Audit all your social networks and content.

First of all, you have to do a thorough audit of all your company's social networks. 

Yes, we know it will sound tedious and even pointless, but you can't start working if you don't first detect the status of your accounts. 

There you will note important elements such as: 

• Profiles that are obsolete.

• Security level of each network

• Indicators of each account

• Audience characteristics, consumer habits and where they are located.

• Work team

• History of publications and campaigns

• Oportunities for improvement

Step 2: Choose the right channels and content mix

Once you have audited your social networks, it is time to choose the right channels where you will promote your project. 

Basically, it's a matter of deciding what types of content you will use. The good news is that in recent years some formulas have appeared that help you a lot. 

One of them is the one-third rule, which in a nutshell is to divide your posts into three parts. You will dedicate a third of your posts to promote your products, another third to create content already curated from referents in the area and the last third to trigger interactions in the account. 

You decide which strategy and type of content to use. 

Step 3: Decide what to include in the calendar

The most striking thing about the content calendar is that no two calendars are identical, so don't waste your time looking for examples on the Internet, because the idea is to create the one that fits your needs. 

It's not the same to create a calendar for your family's restaurant than for a company with 5 branches throughout the country. 

In this sense, you can add details such as:

• Date

• Time

• Social network

• Type of visual material

• Geographic target

• Type of publication (Reel, story, interview, live, post).

• Organic or paid post.

Step 4: Show your team the work plan and get feedback.

To carry out content marketing for your business you will most likely have a support team to help you on a day-to-day basis. 

You know what they say, two heads are better than one, so once you have your calendar it is a good idea to share it with all the members so they can give their opinion about it. 

This is not a one-time event, you need to constantly ask for feedback to determine that you are on the right track. 

Why you should create a content calendar

Still have doubts about the benefits of a content calendar for your business? Don't worry, you are not the only one, and it is a tool that many entrepreneurs ignore. 

Maybe with the following list you will change your mind. Let's see: 

1. You save time

Creating content takes more time and dedication than it seems. It's not only about making a nice post, but also about creating harmony with your community to encourage them to buy your company's products and services. 

Thus, a content calendar is positioned as a key tool to manage all the strategies you have in mind. 

With it you will be able to organize your work, write down all kinds of ideas and manage the dates to publish at the right time. 

2. You post frequently

As in life, the key to success in social networks is discipline. No matter what time you post, the idea is to post regularly to create affinity with users. 

It's true that there are sites that have a range of hours in which there are more interactions, but if you only publish once a month you will not get results. 

The good news is that with the content calendar you will already have programmed the day and time you will publish, so it's just a matter of entering the site and uploading the content that is already pre-established. 

3. You really rest

There's something we haven't told you, and that's that with a content calendar you can automate most of your posts. Just as you read it, you only have to use a particular program and indicate the time, date and content to be uploaded. 

This way you will put your business to work on autopilot, so you will have the possibility to dedicate yourself to other activities that are important to you. 

4. You reduce the margin of error

Working with a content calendar is like having an emergency cushion, you know that sooner or later it will save you. 

So, if you work in advance you will have enough room for maneuver to edit all your content, from the copys to the bio that you present in your instagram account. 

Forget about those typos and spelling mistakes that cost so much money. Focus on your calendar and watch your networks level up. 

5. Higher impact content and campaigns

Creating a valuable post on social networks is something that requires time, money and effort to achieve great results. 

In this sense, a content calendar helps to create higher quality content because you have enough time to gather the resources that are necessary. 

It's not the same to ask your team to make a reel today than to ask them to do it a month in advance.

Leave improvisation aside and use a content calendar. 

6. You synchronize content with the most important dates of the year.

How many times have you found out about an important date on that same day? This happens with particular celebrations such as World Men's Day or Pizza Day.

The detail is that these dates are of great relevance for some people, so you can use them to create posts that increase engagement with your community. 

The best part is that the content calendar will show you all the dates you need to create the most accurate strategy possible.

7. Collaboration opportunities

Having a content calendar helps you clear your mind to think of strategies that can improve business numbers. 

One of these strategies can be collaborating with other brands or relevant people. This way you will have enough time to choose the right company and the right budget to dedicate to the campaign. 

8. You monitor what works and what doesn't

There is no doubt that what gets measured gets improved, and to interpret the results you have to create a content agenda. 

For social media managers, there is nothing more valuable than the metrics that the platforms produce. It could be the very gold dust that will allow you to find mistakes that you are making and that you need to fix in order to be successful. 

The good news is that nowadays many tools already give you detailed information about your networks, so you can analyze everything in real time. 

Tools to develop a content calendar

Have you already decided to use a content calendar? Well, it's time for you to know which programs will help you create it without the need of great knowledge in graphic design. 

Get comfortable and find out below: 

1. Hootsuite planner

Everyone at some point has used a spreadsheet, and its benefits are impressive. Now, the most striking thing is that you can use a sheet of this type to organize everything you want to do with your social networks. 

Hootsuite planner is a perfect example, as it allows you to visualize, create, publish and schedule your posts no matter what platform you are working on, as it has the ability to synchronize with Youtube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin. 

Plus, we love the fact that it gives you very specific tools like Bulk Composer for you to schedule hundreds of posts on any social network. It's also interactive or flexible, so you'll work in a much more enjoyable way.

2. Google Sheets

Okay, it's true that we are not making new discoveries, but Google Sheets is a program that is on the market and helps you create content calendars, so we have to talk about it. 

It's free and it's in the cloud, so if you think about it carefully you will realize that it's a more than valid alternative. 

The best part is that on the internet you will find many free templates that will help you shape your calendar, so it's time for you to pay attention to it. 

Do I really need a content calendar? 

This question is asked by many people, and despite all the advantages of a content calendar, few feel the need to use it until it's too late. 

We still find professionals who are just starting out in the world of social networks and do not understand the magnitude of these platforms. 

Managing networks is a very delicate process, it's about building and managing a brand's community, so you have a huge responsibility in your hands. 

Thus, one way to respond to this challenge is with a content calendar. As you may have seen, you don't need to invest a lot of money to get started because there are free options that give you everything you need. 

No matter how many followers you have, 1 or 1,000,000, all users deserve respect and with this tool you will keep track of every step you take. 

That is why we encourage you to take the leap and decide to use a content calendar. Currently we have encountered people who don't consider it relevant because their networks are not yet large. The truth is that you don't need to have thousands of followers to use it. 

We hope that with this information you have been convinced that it is an ally for your business, both in good times and bad. Decide to professionalize yourself and you will see how social media will start to report the results you dreamed of. 

Do you know of other tools to create a content calendar? Tell us about them!