Building your business brand comes with a lot of effort that needs to be precise, and laser-focused on your business goals and achievements. Every piece of marketing effort put out by your brand needs to be carefully constructed and tailored towards achieving the mission and vision of your business. Ensuring that your business message projects a clear message and every test that fails to achieve the goal should be taken down and reset.
Secondly, business approaches are often like a dartboard, and like the players, there are many possibilities that might come up while you are at it. The beautiful thing about building a successful business brand is that all your marketing efforts keep throwing different challenges at you. More so, as you try to implement different strategies things would stick while some would fall by the wayside.
Of course, some other business owners find it very interesting to just go with the flow when it comes to their marketing plans, and brand building. But the other mind would always spring up saying who knows what would work for your business?
With your efforts and understanding of how best to present your message to your targeted audience, you have to do things the right way and forever stick to what works for your brand.
John Wanamaker had it right when he said: “Half the money I spend on marketing is wasted; the trouble is I don’t know which half.”
What Is A Content Calendar?
Simply put, a content calendar can be described as a document that shows plans, ideas, the content strategy of what relates to your business, and how to keep your users engaged. It provides details of what would be shared week after week, and sometimes when the information would be uploaded on the social media platform or preferred platform.
For a larger business, they have a larger content calendar which is prepared against the marketing effort, the social media maintenance as well.
Generally, a well-prepared content calendar helps your business keep track of the trends and information that should go online while you keep your users and targeted audience glued to all your activities. Besides, the content calendar helps businesses analyze data, gather insight, and understand how well they are performing.
Why Should Your Business Invest In Content Calendars?
Speaking from my experience, I have realized that most business owners just go with the flow post whatever they feel is right. Besides, some other business owners go emotional and post personal information on their business platform which doesn't help their brand grow.
One of the primary benefits of using a content calendar is to easily plan all your marketing effort, strategize how to take your business to the next level, and as well stay relevant. The content calendar helps you stay organized, focused and as well push out relevant content relating to your business.
Your business becomes more relevant and your marketing efforts are centralized more importantly the dates and activities you carry out on the internet would also reflect on your efforts. Additionally, a content calendar helps business owners and managers realize what their weaknesses are while giving you a chance to modify, improve and become a better business.
Think of how you would learn about your business activities, and performance on the internet while you combine your strategy on email marketing, social media post, video content, and blog content. This major aspect helps build your business online reputation and also showcase your campaign efforts, advertising effort, and brand building. The inclusion of your content calendar in all aspects works together.
There are some questions your content calendar would help you answer which include How does the content calendar work? Are you on the right track with content strategy? Is your content calendar in sync across all platforms? Are you sharing useful content?
The trick that has always been working for me is that you compare your content calendar side by side to see how in sync they are and see the advantages of content calendar A over that of B. More so, you can understand a better approach for you to make the calendar work better in your business favor.
A content calendar is more than just a tool that can help you push content about your business on the internet, but also a tool that can help you grow your business, make life easier for you, and portray your business as reputable brand other should associate with. It is also a tool that can help you boost partnership and finally it is more than a marketing piece but an all-encompassing information directory for your online audience.
As you are preparing next month's social media content calendar or email marketing calendar, you need to put into consideration all the necessary important tricks and points that would help you stay on top of your game and differentiate you from the competition.
What Should Your Content Calendar Entail?
To create a content calendar isn't rocket science as most people think it is. You only need to include some information, make use of simple tools like the google spreadsheet. The next steps would guide you on how you can craft an interesting content calendar.
1. Thinks Through On Content That Resonates With Your Brand.
The best way to craft a content calendar that works and also fits your brand is through proper brainstorming. Put yourself in the shoes of the customers, what would they love to learn about your business? You have to find answers to these questions which includes;
What question should my content calendar answer about my product and services?
What questions do customers often have about my business industry
What issues should my content solve for customers
Are there any recent changes in the industry that my content calendar should address?
Your answer would be a simple guide on what your content calendar should contain this information. You can include details like case studies, webinars, infographics, whitepapers, success stories, international days, and other interesting details like memes.
2. Create A Short Term Content Calendar
One of the mistakes most business owners make is that they often want to get done with a content calendar and move on to the next important things in their business. However, based on the experience I have realized that developing a long-term content calendar for about three months upwards isn't an effective approach. Schedule out your content calendar in advance for a month or two incorporating the latest trends and happenings in your industry.
3. Test Your Content Calendar And Grow With It
Here is where to implement your content calendar by implementing your plans. Do not be static with your content. You might not see immediate results initially but consistency is the key. Keep your eyes on the current mix and add things to the schedule and also impact your industry by all means. Aside from this, you should offer value for your targeted audience and focus on how it relates to your content.
4. Build A Brand That Is Color-Coded.
Color code your content post with your brand color, and a predefined font. Ensure you are consistent with the branding and always share posts on the social media platform where the audience would be engaged daily.
Links To Content Calendar Samples
To help you get a better understanding of what a content calendar looks like, here are some resources on the content calendars and samples that can guide you appropriately. Here is a directory to editable content calendar templates that can be used for your business. Download here