Do you have many ideas for what types of content you’d like to create but are unsure how to get started? Creating a content calendar might be the perfect solution to help you organize your ideas in one place. Content calendars can make you feel less intimidated to start producing content, help you plan, and provide an easy way to share your marketing team’s actions to make your plan happen. Here is how to get started:
Step #1- Brainstorm
The first thing needed to create a content calendar is ideas. Schedule a 30-minute session devoted to brainstorming different ideas you’ve wanted to make but haven’t yet completed. Reach out to your marketing team to see if they have ideas too.
Pro tip: You may want to schedule a bi-weekly or monthly content check-in call to discuss your team’s new ideas. Encourage them to discuss what they’re currently working on or industry trends if they’re at a loss for content topics.
Step #2- Put your ideas in action
Creating a shared document for listing your ideas and tracking progress is essential. It may help to see everything presented visually to help prioritize ideas, plan, delegate tasks, and more. The shared document can be as simple as an Excel spreadsheet; make sure everyone involved has the link to view and edit! You may want to include document categories such as:
- Topic/title
- Business unit/segment
- Context
- Assigned subject matter expert
- Targeted SEO keywords
- Project status
Another idea is to consider using a project management tool to facilitate projects like blogs, videos, or infographics. Using a project management tool is a great way to streamline tasks with several people working on them simultaneously. It also helps keep everyone on track by identifying where a project may have gotten stuck. There are several project management tools available; find the one that works best for you and your team!
Step #3- Create the content calendar
Once you have your ideas written down and projects started, you can start planning when you’d like each item to be published. Try using a calendar tool like TeamUp to plan out your month and see where you may have potential content gaps. A calendar tool is a great way to share your projects with your team and those interested outside of your department.
Getting started
Are you having trouble producing regular, high-quality content? Let us help. Questions? Reach out to us, and don’t forget to keep an eye on our blog for more tips to jump-start your financial content marketing strategy.
