An effective content plan is essential for executing a successful content strategy, regardless of the types of content or platforms you use. A well-organised plan helps you prioritise tasks, streamline the creation process, and monitor progress efficiently.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to building a content plan for your business:
1. Start with a Clear Content Strategy
Your content strategy defines your goals, audience, and distribution channels, serving as a roadmap for your marketing efforts. For instance, if you own a café, your strategy might include publishing five videos weekly, featuring behind-the-scenes looks, new menu items, and customer testimonials. Your content plan, on the other hand, outlines the specifics, such as posting a barista’s favourite seasonal recipe on Instagram on a set date.
Begin by setting SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Examples could be boosting organic blog traffic by 50% by December 2024 or increasing café sales by 20% in Q4 with engaging Instagram posts.
2. Understand Your Audience
Knowing your audience is crucial. Conduct research to discover their preferences, interests, and the platforms they engage with. Use tools like Google Analytics to get insights on your audience’s demographics, or gather feedback through surveys.
3. Create Your Template
You can use a simple spreadsheet to manage your content plan or a project management tool like ClickUp to simplify the process. At a minimum, your plan should include key details like the title, format (video, blog, etc.), the person responsible, publication date, and status.
For social media posts, include captions, hashtags, image or video files, and any tagged users. If you’re creating blog articles, add the title, keywords, meta descriptions, and CTAs. For podcasts, list the title, guest details, and recording schedule.
Tools like ClickUp help assign tasks, set deadlines, and monitor progress, ensuring your content is published on time and aligned with your strategy.
4. Find the Right Topics
Struggling to find engaging topics? Here are a few tools and methods to help:
- Google Trends: Enter keywords to discover trending topics.
- Customer Feedback: Use surveys and polls to learn what your audience wants.
- Content Repurposing: Adapt successful content into new formats, like turning a blog post into a social media series.
5. Assign Tasks and Set Deadlines
Assigning clear tasks and deadlines to your team is essential for smooth content production. For instance, if you’re launching an Instagram video for a free shipping offer, assign the scriptwriting to the social media manager with a set deadline. Allow time for internal reviews and buffer days to ensure everything runs smoothly.
6. Schedule in Advance
Proactively scheduling content avoids last-minute stress. Tools like Meta, Hootsuite, or Mailchimp allow you to schedule posts and emails in advance, ensuring consistent posting even for time-sensitive material.
7. Measure Results
Monitoring and analysing performance is critical for refining your strategy. Track metrics such as engagement, follower growth, page views, click-through rates, and conversions. Regularly reviewing these metrics will help you see what works and allow you to optimise future content.
By following these steps and regularly refining your content plan, you can stay organised, keep your audience engaged, and ultimately drive better results for your business.