Effectively managing the content workflow for social media channels is a source of constant struggle for many entrepreneurs and businesses.
With many businesses expanding their social media portfolios to embrace multiple platforms (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Instagram) the need to better streamline the production of engaging content and publishing it in a timely manner has become increasingly vital.
By organising and planning your content in a content calendar, you are able to increase your day-to-day productivity, make content distribution more effective and reduce the need to scramble for content at the last minute.
Planning content in advance also allows you to be more strategic about what you post and hence can boost online engagement.
A content calendar should include the posts, dates, times, themes, blog posts and the type of social media channel. You may find it useful to use a spread sheet or Google calendar.
Here are a few ways that having developing regular content calendars will improve your social media strategy.
Improve time management
Blocking out one day each week or month to create a content calendar will ultimately save you time. This will allow you to shift your focus to monitoring, interacting with online audiences and measuring to better optimise your social media content and strategies.
Be more strategic
Planning ahead allows you the time to optimise content to align with business goals and current trends while still targeting the right audience.
It also provides you with an opportunity to identify key business events (i.e. conferences, launches) and post about the events in the lead up or to source available resources such as images, videos and blog posts to share.
Trying to come up with ideas and write content on the day of posting can often lead to writers’ block or procrastination which can result in missed deadlines. With a content calendar, you know exactly what to post on any given day.
More creative and interesting posts
A content calendar is a great way to avoid repeating the same message too frequently or posting incorrect information. Planning your activities and updates will enable you to share fresh content and ideas with your audience.
So take the leap and block out time to plan your content to make sure you are taking full advantage of your social media channels.
About the author
Catriona Pollard is the author of From Unknown To Expert, a step by step framework designed to help entrepreneurs develop effective PR and social media strategies to become recognised as influencers in their field. www.unknowntoexpert.com
Catriona is also the director of CP Communications, which merges traditional PR tactics with cutting-edge social media strategies that engage consumers as well as business. www.cpcommunications.com.au
Follow Catriona:
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