Monthly content plan: 7 steps to get started

Lorraine Mandiveyi posted on 25 November 2022

Planning is the key to success. This mantra is not only true in life but also for social media success! Did you know that one of the most important factors in your social media strategy is content planning?

 Yes, we said it! Creating a monthly content plan goes beyond scheduling social media posts ahead of time. Regardless of how good your social media marketing strategy is, if your content isn’t planned properly, it won’t be as effective. 

But, before we get started, what exactly is a content plan?  Put simply, it is a written strategy that outlines the who, what, when, where, why, and how of your content marketing campaign. Having a plan avoids miscommunication and keeps everyone on the same page. As opposed to creating a post on the spot, you’ll have that content already scheduled and ready to go, allowing you to spend more time focusing on your other social media goals.

We want you to thrive in your social media marketing efforts. Here’s what you can do to plan effective, goal-crushing social media content. 

1. Audit your existing strategy 

When it comes to social media, you can’t move forward without looking back. Identifying what works (and what doesn’t) about your current strategy is the first step to implementing a new one. Avoid fixing what isn’t broken! If you have elements of your existing strategy that are working, consider including them in your calendar. For example, if posting reels on Instagram with a particular theme worked last month, consider sharing more of the same next month. 

2. Know your audience 

Understanding your audience is key for social media success. What kinds of content resonate most with your followers? By knowing what kind of content is resonating with your audience, you can plan to focus more on that type and consider what similar posts might be interesting to them

3. Adapt content to each social platform

On social media, one size doesn’t fit all. Don’t believe the hype. You don’t have to be on all platforms. It’s important to find the one that works for you. You might want to narrow your focus to platforms that will work for you. Content will also perform differently on each platform. You’ll be able to recreate your success as you build out your calendar if you note what works best on each platform.

4. Establish a goal

The goal of your social media calendar should be to move toward a variety of smaller goals. Would you like to gain a certain number of followers every week? Do you want every post to get a certain number of likes, shares, or comments? Be sure to set benchmarks and metrics so you can track your progress and redirect if needed.

5. List the kind of content you want to publish on your channels

Your goals will determine what kind of content you post on your channels. For example, blogs are a good way to increase traffic to your website. Depending on what you analysed earlier, you might want to be educational on LinkedIn and light-hearted on Twitter. Regardless of what kind of content you choose for each platform, consistency is key to building a presence on social media.

6. Get a workflow in place

Depending on your own data analysis, decide how often you want to post to each channel. Distribute the work among team members. Having decided on your workflow, write it down in a shared document, so everyone can review and edit it.

7. Map out your calendar 

Now it’s time for real fun! It’s now time for you to fine tune and finalize your posts for the month. It is important to consider any holidays you may want to craft special content and images for if you plan on posting on those days. 

At the beginning, putting together a social media calendar may seem like a lot of work, but you will reap the benefits all month long. A lot can change in a month, so planning your content monthly will ensure that your content stays current and relevant. Besides, it gives you more flexibility when it comes to creating time-sensitive posts!