Google loves when you write blogs. It gives the search engine good content to pull for its users. And being the search engine optimization guru that you are, you already know this.
It’s the reason why you spend your hard-earned time and money creating content for your blog. But for anyone who’s ever maintained a blog, it’s not the easiest thing in the world to do. You start a blog because you have a subject you want to talk about. But after a while, you run out of things to say. In time, it becomes more and more of a challenge to find a topic every week, or however often you choose to update your blog.
If you’re waiting until it’s time to sit down in front of your computer to come up with a topic to write about, you’re under pressure before you even type the first key. I’ve been there; I know. It’s not a fun place to be. But now, as a seasoned blog writer, I know the importance of a content calendar. Now, I know what I’ll be writing about weeks in advance. A content calendar not only takes the pressure off, it allows ideas to stew on the back burner, making you more prepared when you do finally sit down to write.
Here’s some help on how to create your own content calendar.
Write it down
This step can be as low key or as high-tech as you want it to be. You can grab a piece of paper and pen or create a spreadsheet; it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you’re making a record of what you plan to do.
I suggest including categories such as when the post is to be finished, when it’s to be published, what the topic is and whose job it is to write it (if you share the duty with someone else, of course).
Brainstorm
Even if you don’t share the writing workload with someone else, this is a good time to bring another person into the mix. It’s easier to bounce ideas around if you’re not the only brain in the conversation.
The plan for the brainstorming session should be to discuss what would make good topics for your blog. Don’t put the pressure on here; rather, just treat it like a conversation. If it interests you enough to discuss for a minute, you have yourself a blog idea to record in your content calendar.
AN EXTRA TIP: A good idea is to make a line for notes on what you discussed regarding each topic. When a topic finally comes up in the schedule weeks later, you will likely need some reminders about what your thoughts were for the post.
Stay flexible
The content calendar should be a guide, not a required plan of action. If you sit down to write and this week’s post isn’t flowing, be open to switch things around. If the next topic on the calendar isn’t speaking to you, write another week’s post instead.
What is set in stone are the writing deadlines and the post date. Those are the areas you need to make sure you follow. Once you fall behind, it’s hard to catch back up. And worse yet, you’ve let down the regular reader expecting to hear from you.
AN EXTRA TIP: Make your writing deadline a week ahead of your publication date. Having your post done a week before it’s due? Talk about talking the pressure off.
Thanks for reading,
