Alright, content creators and social media mavens, gather ’round! We’re about to dive into the wild world of content calendars. Trust me, it’s not as boring as it sounds – unless you find organization and stress-free content creation boring.
In that case, maybe stick to your chaotic approach. For the rest of us mere mortals, let’s get this content calendar party started!
Tips and Tricks (That Won’t Make You Want to Quit Social Media)
- Embrace the “Oh Crap” Buffer
Let’s face it, life happens. Your cat might decide your laptop is the perfect place for a nap, or you might accidentally delete an entire week’s worth of posts (don’t ask me how I know). That’s why you need to build in what I like to call the “Oh Crap” buffer.
Pro tip: Always have a few evergreen posts ready to go. These are your content lifesavers when the unexpected strikes. According to Buffer, having 10-20% of your content as evergreen can save your bacon in a pinch.
- Theme It Up, Buttercup
Themes aren’t just for parties and WordPress. Assigning themes to different days can make your content creation process smoother than a freshly waxed surfboard.
For example:
- Motivation Monday (because we all need it)
- Tech Tuesday (geek out time!)
- Wisdom Wednesday (show off those big brains)
- Throwback Thursday (nostalgia never gets old)
- Fun Fact Friday (impress your followers with useless knowledge)
HubSpot suggests that themed content can increase engagement by up to 23%. Not too shabby, right?
- Ride the Trend Wave (But Don’t Wipe Out)
Staying relevant is crucial, but jumping on every trending hashtag is like trying to eat every item at an all-you-can-eat buffet – you’ll just end up sick and regretful.
Use tools like Google Trends or TrendSpottr to identify upcoming trends that align with your brand. Just remember, forced relevance is about as cool as your dad trying to use slang. Don’t be that guy.
- The Content Recycling Program
No, I’m not talking about separating your plastics and paper. I’m talking about repurposing your top-performing content. Did a blog post go viral? Turn it into an infographic. Got a popular tweet? Expand it into a full-blown article.
According to Copyblogger, repurposing content can save you up to 60% on your content creation time. That’s more time for Netflix, folks!
- Collaboration Station
Your content calendar doesn’t have to be a solo mission. Get your team involved! Use tools like Trello or Asana to create a collaborative content calendar. It’s like a potluck, but instead of questionable casseroles, you’re bringing ideas to the table.
Teamwork makes the dream work, and according to a study by Salesforce, 86% of employees cite lack of collaboration for workplace failures. Don’t be part of that statistic!
- The “Future You” Favor
Here’s a mind-bending concept: do future you a solid. Spend one day a month batch-creating content for the upcoming weeks. It’s like meal prepping, but for your social media diet.
Buffer reports that batching content creation can increase productivity by up to 25%. Your future self will thank you, probably with a well-deserved nap.
- Flexibility is Your Friend
Lastly, remember that your content calendar is a guide, not a straitjacket. Be ready to pivot faster than Ross from Friends moving a couch. Breaking news, surprise product launches, or the sudden virality of sea shanties on TikTok might require you to adjust on the fly.
Sprout Social found that brands that quickly adapt their content to current events see a 41% increase in engagement. So keep one eye on your calendar and one on the world around you.
There you have it, folks! A guide to creating content calendars that won’t make you want to throw your computer out the window. Remember, the goal is to make your life easier, not to create another task you’ll procrastinate on (we see you, unfolded laundry).
Now go forth and calendar like a boss! And if all else fails, just post a cute cat picture. The internet always needs more of those.