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Content Planning like a BOSS

content planning like a boss

At the beginning of each year, I like to take some time to do a little content planning. 

 

Let’s chat #LadyBoss business.

 

Do you plan your content?? Whether for blogging, social media, or marketing? Are you overwhelmed with all the things, swimming in your head??

 

Here’s an easy way to create a month’s worth of posts, in just a short amount of time. You may even end up with a few months planned out! Content planning is super, SUPER helpful in the long run, when you spend an hour doing the work.

 

Post Brain Dump: set a timer for 15 minutes. Write down (or, use a google docs, etc) any post that comes to mind. Don’t stop until 15 minutes is up. I like to use real paper and pen — and preferably, my Sweetpea Moleskine. This has been SUPER helpful over the years to look back through content brain storms and see what I haven’t posted, but keep writing down over and over. It’s also helpful for when you want to use colors to circle like topics and series, etc. It can get messy — but, that’s part of the process!

content planning like a boss sweetpea lifestyle

Once the timer has sounded, look over your topics. {If the timer sounds and you’re still furiously writing, set it again!} Move them into categories. Within each category, can one topic become a series? Do several post topics correlate, and could be made into a mini web series? I like to use Google Drive now. I type each post topic into the correlating topic doc. {Each topic has its own document — I just add the posts there after I’ve brainstormed.} I use two columns — this helps if you want to print out a hard copy — it keeps it neat and tidy, without too much paper.

content planning like a boss

 

content planning like a boss

Flesh out each topic, and cover every base. Usually from each topic I write down, I have two or three (or more!) topics that follow. This is where you can really drive your topic in ONE post. If I am talking about a dinner party I hosted, I’ll share a couple of the recipes, the table decor, and the invitation — but! Not in one post — this would be spread out over 4-5 posts!

 

ONE TOPIC PER POST, y’all!! ONE.

 

Plug each of these into your calendar: both on physically on paper, and on a calendar that will send you reminders; such as google calendar, ical, etc. 

 

Get a jump start on the content by typing as much as you can in a document. I start a Doc for each post — all within Google Drive. I have a Chromebook that I take with me most places, but I also have an iMac, iPad and my phone… this gets very confusing, very quickly! It’s more efficient to have everything in ONE place, and be able to access it wherever.

 

After you have photos ready, copy and paste everything into a post.

 

Pre schedule as much as you content as you can — it’s kind of like a crock pot for blog posts! Like everyone, my time is limited. So, I use one day a week to “bulk blog” which means, I make a few recipes, photograph them, then photograph any other things I need. I edit these as they come up, and just plug in the photos. I like to have my posts scheduled WAY ahead of time… But! Don’t do this until the post is absolutely ready to go! You don’t want to forget to add in photos, copy, social graphics, etc…

 

Something to do regularly: check your stats. Keep track of what content gets the most eyes each week, month, year; and create content that is relevant to top viewed posts. Checking these analytics can make you more valuable, by giving your readers exactly what they want!

 

A few tips:

  1. Each blog post needs to cover ONE topic — if you need to cover more than one topic, make that a second, third, post.

  2. Create mini series that you can later use for email sequences. These are great for growing your email list — just copy and paste into your email service, set the sequence, and create an opt in for you site. Add this to as many relevant posts!

  3. Try to keep in mind the months/holidays/seasons, etc. Work ahead of schedule — Halloween in August, Thanksgiving in September, etc. Work ahead so you have time to promote properly on social media, and it gets shared adequately BEFORE the holiday is a week away!

  4. If you miss a post from your content calendar, plug it in somewhere else, or move it to “the bank.” This is great for when you need a last minute post idea, or you are getting back into the groove after a sabbatical.

  5. Don’t burn out — take it slowly enough that you don’t burn out quickly!! Blogging is a lot of hard work!

 

How do you plan your content?! I would love to hear in the comments! Here’s a graphic for you to save to your favorite blogging board. You can follow my Helpful Blogging Tips here!

content planning like a boss with sweetpea lifestyle

 

XOXO,

sweetpea lifestyle

 

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13 Comments

  1. Thanks for the content planning tips, Ashley. I’ve made a tentative schedule of blog post ideas for the next couple of months, but I like your ideas for “crock-pot” blogging. I’ll give it a go. By the way, I found your blog through #WWBlogHop.

    Cheers!
    Christie

    1. Yay! So glad you found me! Cheers to planning ahead, and working that plan! Have a great weekend, Christie!

  2. Ashley, I am going to do this!!!!!!!!!! I can see how productive this process could be. Can hardly wait to sit down and do it. ♥

  3. There’s some great ideas in here. Keeping on top of content and marketing of it is something I know I need to work on. I’ll be implementing some of these tips ?

  4. Great info! I need to get better at this! Thanks for sharing in the To Grandma’s House We Go DIY, Crafts, Recipes and More Link party! Hope to see you again next week!

  5. Very well written information. It will be valuable to anyone who utilizes it, including me. Keep doing what you are doing – can’r wait to read more posts.

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