Social media is an indispensable tool for businesses to connect with an audience, build brand awareness, and drive engagement. However, managing multiple social media platforms can be overwhelming and time-consuming. That’s where a content calendar comes in handy!
At EZY Marketing, we’re passionate about helping businesses and nonprofits optimize their social media efforts, and one of the key strategies we recommend is the use of a content calendar.
Start with an Annual Editorial Calendar
Before you get to the nuts and bolts, it’s essential to align your business and marketing goals by starting with an annual editorial calendar. Think of it as a Year-at-a-Glance. This calendar should outline important dates such as holidays, events, sales, and product launches.
Consider incorporating monthly themes into your editorial calendar. Whether it’s the start of summer, National Volunteer Month, or a trending topic relevant to your industry, themed content can help keep your social media strategy fresh. Even deciding to focus on a particular product category or service each month can help keep your content relevant and engaging.
By planning ahead, you can ensure that your social media content aligns with these key dates and themes, maximizing reach and engagement.
Create Monthly Content Calendars
Next comes the monthly content calendar. If you’re asking yourself, “Does my business really need a content calendar?” the answer is yes! EZY Marketing uses content calendars for all our social media clients to plan, organize, and streamline the content process.
A content calendar is a written schedule of when, where, and what you plan to publish. Content calendars include the specific posts, reels, stories, and other content you plan to share as well as the date, time, platform, caption, hashtags, and images for each.
If you’re stuck on what to publish, start by defining your goals. What is it you want to accomplish with your social media? Is your primary goal to produce leads, sell products and services, or gain brand visibility? Your answer will help determine which format and channels to use.
Benefits of Using a Content Calendar
1. Time and Resource Efficiency: One of the primary benefits of using a content calendar is the ability to batch your work. By planning and creating content in advance, you can save time and resources in the long run. Rather than scrambling to come up with content on the fly, you can dedicate focused time to creating high-quality posts that resonate with your audience.
2. Strategic Scheduling: With a content calendar, you can schedule your posts in advance to ensure they go live at optimal times when your audience is most active. This strategic scheduling can significantly increase your reach and engagement, as your content will be seen by more people when they’re most likely to be online.
3. Consistency: Consistency is key to building a strong presence on social media. A content calendar helps you maintain a consistent posting schedule, which is essential for keeping your audience engaged and coming back for more.
Tools for Creating a Content Calendar
There are many calendar templates available out there – including some that are free. EZY Marketing recommends you choose one that is best suited to your company’s needs.
- Google Calendar: For a simple and free option, consider using Google Calendar to plan and organize your social media content. You can easily create calendars for different platforms or campaigns and collaborate with team members in real-time.
- Meta Business Suite: If you’re active on Facebook and Instagram, the Meta Business Suite is a powerful, free tool that allows you to manage and schedule posts simultaneously on both platforms. This approach can save you time and streamline your social media workflow.
- Paid Tools: For more robust features and platforms outside the Meta-verse (like X, LinkedIn, Pinterest or TikTok), consider investing in a paid tool like SocialPilot, Hootsuite, or Buffer. With features such as content curation, analytics, and team collaboration, these tools can help take your social media strategy to the next level.
Start Planning Today!
A content calendar is a valuable tool for businesses and nonprofits looking to streamline their social media efforts. By starting with an annual editorial calendar and leveraging tools like Google Calendar, the Meta Business Suite, or SocialPilot, you can save time, maximize your reach, and maintain consistency in your social media strategy.
So why wait? Start planning and scheduling your content today to up your social media game!
To learn more about how content calendars can help small business and nonprofits use their social media effectively, watch our YouTube video or contact us for a free consultation.