When I’m trying to think about what to write, sometimes I get an idea that’s so obvious and perfect that it practically writes itself. Other times, I can’t come up with anything. This is not an uncommon problem, and one that even the most seasoned of writers struggle with.
When writing is not your forte, but rather the necessary evil you must do so people know what it is you do, then being stuck sucks. It’s like when my second grader comes home from school with a homework assignment to write about something interesting that happened over the weekend and he throws himself on the floor whining that he doesn’t know what to write about, he has no ideas, and doesn’t like any of the ones I suggest. (Imagine this drama with violin music and a lot of kicking and screaming going on in the background.)
This doesn’t have to be hard.
Creating an editorial calendar helps you:
- keep your content organized
- align your content with events and opportunities
- prospect for content based on conversations and what’s currently happening in the news
Here’s how to create an editorial calender in six easy steps.
Choose your calendar platform
There are literally millions of ways you can do this, from a calendar program to an Excel spreadsheet. I use Google calendar because I can assign different colors to my content depending on where it will be published (For example, Today’s Innovative Woman posts are in pink.), I can share it if I need to, and it’s free! Choose whatever works best with your style. If you need to access it from anywhere, make sure it’s optimized for mobile devices, or if you need to access it even if you don’t have an internet connection, choose one that doesn’t require a connection.
Schedule your content
The best way to guarantee that you’ll build a consistent and loyal following is if you post consistently. It doesn’t matter whether you post every day or every other week, just make sure you do it when you say you will. On the fourth Monday of the month, I write all the posts that I need to submit for TIW. If that sounds like a lot of work for one day, I usually work on it over the weekend. Also, I sometimes use content that I wrote for another publication that hasn’t been seen by my blog audience, so it’s just a matter of rewriting a few sentences to make it relevant.
Do themed posts
Readers like knowing they can count on when an article will post. Choose themes for certain days of the week and put them on your calendar. One of my goals for 2014 was to do themed posts on my Facebook page. I just started this, but the idea is that every day has a certain focus so if it’s Media Monday, I feature an entrepreneur that has been in the news, Trending Tuesday, I write about what’s trending that day, 5W Wednesday (Who, What, When, Where, Why) is for events, Thursday’s Tips are cool tools and tips that make your job/life easier and #Follow Friday is someone I think is worth following. Not only does this give me the opportunity to engage with my readers, but it encourages them to provide me with content by promoting themselves. (Send items to robin@studio4pr.com with the day it’s for in the subject line, e.g. Media Monday).
Think out of the box
A reader who comments on a blog post could become a post itself, so think of ways the topic can be expanded or narrowed to serve your purposes. Schedule it on the calendar so you know what’s coming up
Give yourself assignments
Pretend an editor is giving you these writing assignments with a deadline and make sure you don’t miss them!
Update the editorial calendar frequently
Update the calendar as often as you need to, but at the very least, do it monthly, so you can catch any opportunities you may have missed.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.
Thanks for sharing this space with me!
Are you looking for more in-depth help? Check out Get R.E.A.L in 90 Days: The Ultimate PR Bootcamp
Sign up for my mailing list and you’ll receive a complimentary 30-minute consultation to help you Get R.E.A.L about finding your ideal client.
Robin Taney, (aka the “Get R.E.A.L Girl”) is the owner and founder of Studio 4 PR. She works with creative, independent, and “kitchen table” entrepreneurs who are highly motivated to be found by their perfect client. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, and sign up for her newsletter, Get R.E.A.L. You are welcome to use this post on your blog, provided you do not alter it in any way and include a link to this blog.