An editorial calendar is a detailed plan used by marketers and content creators to manage the release of their content into the public domain. It forms the backbone of a content marketing strategy, allowing a team to create content in a systematic way and easily manage its publishing schedule.
At its core, an editorial calendar is a helpful instrument for creating and organizing topics, content pieces, and various channels of distribution. It is used to ensure that the content being published is aligned with business objectives, seasonal activities, and other brand events.
What is an Editorial Calendar?
An editorial calendar can be described as a schedule or plan that outlines what type of content will be created along with when, where, and how it will be distributed. This detailed plan can also be used to align content to business objectives, seasonal activities, and other brand events. It is an organizational tool that can help a team to create content in an organized, timely way.
The editorial calendar is a tool that helps content creators and marketers manage the publishing of their content. It allows them to plan content topics for the upcoming weeks and months and make sure that their published pieces fit their overall content marketing strategy.
By using an editorial calendar, content creators and marketers can focus their efforts on the topics and content pieces that will best achieve their planned objectives. This provides them with the structure and direction that their content plans need.
What are the General Guidelines and Best Practices for Editorial Calendars?
Every editorial calendar should be tailored to the needs of the team and the business objectives they are trying to achieve, but there are some common best practices that can be applied to ensure that the content calendar is being used effectively.
Become a Sales & Marketing Rainmaker
Learn valuable skills to win more customers, grow your business, and increase your profits.
1. Define Content Goals: As with any task or project, setting the right goals is essential to success. Before creating an editorial calendar, marketers should take time to understand what their team is ultimately trying to achieve through content.
2. Choose the Right Tools: It is important to select the right editorial calendar tool so that it fits with the workflow of the team and the goals of the business. Popular calendar tools include Google Calendar, G Suite, Trello, and Asana.
3. Map Content to Business Objectives: Content should be mapped to the team’s overarching objectives. This should include topics, timings, channels, and content formats.
4. Create an Editorial Calendar Template: An effective template should include fields for topics and meta information, such as authors, channels, publishing deadlines, and objective tracking.
5. Track Performance and Measure Results: An effective editorial calendar should include an automated or manual tracking system to measure performance. This will help to ensure that the content is having a good impact on the business.
In conclusion, an editorial calendar is a vital tool for any content marketing team, as it helps to ensure that their publishing efforts are in line with their objectives and are working towards their desired outcomes. Best practices and guidelines should be applied to ensure that the editorial calendar is tailored to their needs while also helping them to remain organized, structured, and results-driven.