Creating a content plan doesn’t have to be super difficult or overwhelming. You can start slow and build on your efforts as you get used to each new platform you use while creating systems that make it easier. To make a workable content schedule follow these steps.

6 Steps to Develop a Content Plan

Understand Your Sales Cycle

How often do you plan to launch new products or services? This is an important factor in determining how much content you should create and when you should publish it. If you have just one product or service then you’ll be able to create an entirely different type of calendar than someone who continuously launches new products each week.

So for example if you do just have one service that you launch once a month such as a challenge or group event schedule this out on your calendar first. Then you can reverse engineer your content to lead up to that event.

Know the Platforms You’re Using

Each platform you use has different content publishing preferences. For example, on Twitter, you will want to share things more often and repeatedly than you will on Facebook. Although, with Facebook you actually have a few different platforms to use: your personal page, your business page, and your groups. You will want to use them differently as well.  Look for analytics on the different platforms that will tell you the best times and frequency to post.

Identify Your Audience for the Content Plan

Of course, you should know your audience before creating any content but you should think of your audience as you create your schedule too. That way you will understand their tolerance for content. You’re better off creating more content than less,  but that does not mean you need to blast sales posts or even invite posts several times a day.

As a matter a fact I suggest saving these type of posts to one week out of the month. If you have ever heard of Gary V and his book  Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook I have started a strategy in my Health and Wellness business that goes along with this. I jab my audience with value and social proof for 3 weeks then do right hook posts about my program or offer that 4th week. There has bee a much better ROI by doing it this way. Test it out to find out what happens in your business.

Determine Your Topics

When you know that information you’ll want to choose the topics that you’ll create content for based on your launch schedule. If you only have one product then the best thing to do is start from the beginning and work on creating pillar content from which all the rest is derived.

Schedule Publishing, Due Dates & Promotion

When you determine a topic go ahead and schedule due dates for research, creation, outsourcing, publication, and promotion. Look at each day on your calendar to find out what you need to do that day. Make sure to build in time for outsourcing, you can’t do everything. Be realistic when you schedule to ensure that you really can meet your goals.

Track & Tweak

Nothing is ever complete until the tracking and tweaking is done. Once you’ve published give the content some time to start getting results then look at your analytics. When you notice anything amiss you can correct it on the fly. Maybe you need to tweak the headline or the images to get a better response.

When you create your content plan if you’ve ensured that the goals you’ve created are realistic you shouldn’t have much problem reaching your goals with content marketing. Use a spreadsheet and a good naming convention to keep track. Remember to utilize cloud storage so that you never lose all your hard work. Trust me on this one I’m still recovering from a loss of content on a flash drive I broke.

If you love these tips be sure to join my Content Creation and Marketing Workshop going on in my private Facebook Community (and by email) with the link below!

I bring my Business blogs live to my Facebook community group first in addition to offering a space to collaborate, empower, support, and balance building a business in the cracks of time in mom life. You are welcome to join here: Moms Mastering Business Community 

Did you miss the other blogs in this workshop series? Check them out here:

Day 0: What is Content Marketing
Day 1: 6 Reasons a Content Strategy is Important for Your Business
Day 2: Why You Need A Content Marketing Plan
Day 3: Who Is Your Target Market?
Day 4: Where Is Your Target Audience?
Day 5: Duplicate Content Your Website vs. Other Sites
Day 6: What’s Your Goal for Each Type of Content
Day 7: 9 Different types of media formats for creating content