Summer Stress? Not With a Content Calendar!

Summer Stress? Not With a Content Calendar!

If you’re not working off of a content calendar yet, we’re not judging, but we are a little worried, friend! This game-changing tool allows you to take control of your strategy and create content confidently in advance, so you always know what's coming and never have to frantically plan marketing content at the last minute. Not convinced? Here are 5 benefits of a content calendar and our best tips on how to maximize the use of one. 

Keeps you consistent

Implementing a content calendar is a GENIUS move if you struggle to stay consistent with your content. Coming up with the ideas and planning when to post is more than half the battle so getting it on the calendar is important. At Mango, sometimes we’re planning as far as a year in advance but we suggest that you try a few timelines and see what works best for you. Some business owners prefer to plan quarterly, others monthly. Planning in 6-month increments is a great option too! If you’re not using a content calendar, we challenge you to start with 30 days! Create a non-negotiable time block in your schedule during the last week of each month and take an hour or so to plan out the next month’s content and decide when you’ll create it. Consider all channels, including your website updates, emails, blogs, social posts, and any other communications. 

Ensures alignment 

Using a content calendar keeps you aligned and on track because you’re not creating content out of urgency or in a panic. Using a calendar keeps you from going off plan and dragging your audience through every trend on your for you page. Instead, you’ll find yourself with the space to create more targeted content that’s impactful and highly relevant to your particular industry or niche. Our suggestion? During planning, make note of notable holidays, product launches, seasonal campaigns, and important events to ensure you’ll plan content that supports these moments in your business. 

Alleviates stress

Having a plan removes SO much pressure from content creation. As creatives, we can promise you that we are not always on. Some days, the inspiration just doesn’t flow. When you have a plan in place, you’re less likely to become a victim of your lack of inspiration. All you have to do is follow the plan!

Tracks results

As you execute your content plan, you’ll find that it’s so much easier to track your results. Keep notes about what type of content is getting the most traction. Are your reels going viral, but no one is opening your emails? Observing the patterns of your audience will help you adjust your strategy and tailor your efforts accordingly. Perhaps you’ll find that you need to leverage one platform to grow another one. On the flip side, you may find that certain channels are simply not worth the effort. While we like to review analytics monthly, we suggest that you review them at least quarterly and adjust your content plan as needed based on your findings. 

Gives your time back

Last, but possibly most important, working from a content calendar saves you so much time! Although it can feel labor-intensive to batch create or plan in advance, it takes far less time to create and distribute content with a plan in place. Taking 3-5 hours a month to plan and create all your content is FAR more efficient than stressing for 45 minutes every day of the month about what to post, when to send an email, and how you’ll squeeze doing it into every day. Trust us! Plan content days into each month and knock it out. Your schedule will thank you!

If you need support, we at Mango Marketing Co. are here to help! Don’t get stuck in overwhelm, reach out to us for help with strategy and content.