A content material calendar is an effective way to visualise your publishing schedule. From weblog posts and social media content material to e-mail campaigns and YouTube movies, retaining monitor with out one is a ache to say the least.
It will get much more difficult if you’re publishing throughout a number of platforms and managing a workforce of creators, editors, and producers.
These are a few of my favourite content material calendar templates for staying organized.
monday.com: A multi-purpose content material calendar template
On the lookout for a versatile and highly effective solution to handle content material and different kinds of work in a single place? monday.com is likely one of the high mission administration options I’ve used.
The free plan is nice for as much as two customers and is greater than sufficient to attempt monday.com’s free content material calendar template. Nevertheless, paid plans include much more performance and are higher fitted to groups needing automation, formulation, integrations, and dashboards.
Be taught extra about monday.com: monday.com overview | monday.com’s latest options.
This content material calendar template is nice for groups that want a solution to plan and execute content material alongside different kinds of tasks.
It’s nice for high-level or short-term planning, but it surely actually shines if you use it as a solution to assign duties and get work completed. With tons of inbuilt mission administration performance, you possibly can simply set due dates, set off notifications, and monitor progress too.
It really works simply as nicely for any sort of content material, from social media and movies to long-form weblog posts.
You may view all the work as a easy desk, Kanban view, calendar, timeline, or interactive dashboard (relying in your plan).
Though the template itself is comparatively easy, the extensibility of monday.com as a instrument means you possibly can add on or mix it with different templates to create a complete enterprise operations system that runs your total division or firm.
Notion content material calendar templates
Though Notion has mission administration options, it will probably do a complete lot greater than that. It’s primarily a clean slate with the flexibility to create any sort of system or workspace you want. It really works notably nicely for issues you could hold monitor of.
In our context, it really works nice for content material. Nevertheless it’s additionally wonderful for notes, budgeting, HR, finance, and extra.
When you’re a solo consumer, the free plan will get you by for a very long time. Groups can attempt Notion with the free plan, however you’ll should improve to a paid plan to proceed utilizing it.
Be taught extra about Notion: Notion overview | Notion vs monday.com | Notion vs Confluence.
A primary content material calendar template and Kanban board
Notion’s primary content material calendar template is a superb place to begin as a result of it requires zero effort to arrange. Out of the field, you’ll get pre configured calendar and Kanban views you possibly can add content material to instantly.
The calendar is nice for making certain a constant publishing schedule whereas the Kanban board makes it simple to maintain monitor of manufacturing alongside the way in which.
You may brainstorm concepts utilizing the inbuilt “idea” standing and transfer objects to “in progress” if you’re able to get to work. Don’t like an thought? All you must do is delete it. Every merchandise enables you to connect media recordsdata so you possibly can collect the whole lot you could publish in a single place.
This template works simply as nicely whether or not you’re working by your self or with a small workforce.
A Notion template for managing social media content material
Notion’s easy social media content material calendar works rather well in case you repurpose present content material throughout a number of channels. Slightly than creating 4 objects for a single video, you possibly can create it as soon as and tag the merchandise for YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok.
Like different Notion templates, you possibly can simply arrange a variety of views, considered one of which is a calendar that makes it simple to see each bit of content material and the platforms it’ll go on.
As quickly as an merchandise has a date, it reveals up in your calendar. That is true even when it’s nonetheless within the means of being created.
However colour coding on the calendar view relies on every merchandise’s standing, supplying you with an instantaneous visible of what’s on monitor or operating behind.
As a result of Notion is so versatile, you possibly can simply replace both template or increase on them to make them be just right for you and your workforce.
ClickUp content material calendar templates
ClickUp isn’t as versatile as monday.com or Notion, but it surely has extra inbuilt performance. As an alternative of constructing what you want, it already exists and can be utilized proper out of the field.
On high of that, the free plan is much extra beneficiant. You may have a limiteless variety of customers plus you get limitless duties, collaborative docs, workforce chat, customized fields, and a number of mission views.
Superior options, like automations, Gantt view, calculations, time monitoring, objectives, workload administration, and superior permissions are all obtainable on paid plans if you’re prepared.
Be taught extra about ClickUp: ClickUp overview | ClickUp vs monday.com | ClickUp vs Notion.
A complicated all-purpose content material administration template
ClickUp’s advertising content material calendar template is likely one of the most fully-featured and versatile choices on my record. It’s versatile sufficient for solo entrepreneurs and mid-sized groups alike, Plus, you don’t should do a lot to get began.
It comes with eight distinctive statuses, ten customized fields, and workforce collaboration instruments so you possibly can assign duties and monitor the progress of all of your content material.
Relying in your plan, the template consists of eight views, giving everybody in your workforce the chance to see their work in a manner that works finest for them. Customers can simply swap between calendar, board, record, timeline, and Gantt chart views with out impacting anybody else.
On the calendar view, color-coded content material sorts make it simple to remain organized and see what’s happening throughout totally different platforms at a look.
As a bonus, ClickUp’s collaborative doc creator additionally makes it simple to create an organization wiki, doc your processes, plan campaigns, and take notes as a workforce.
A easy editorial calendar template
This editorial calendar template is ideal for bloggers and editors. It comes with 4 totally different views — calendar, board, record, and timeline — making it simple for your entire workforce to view big-picture planning whereas additionally specializing in their particular duties and to-do lists.
The template consists of seven inbuilt statuses, together with in overview, scheduled, and printed. As a result of it’s arrange for running a blog, you gained’t should customise it to match your wants.
The entire inbuilt statuses are colour coded, so it’s apparent the place the whole lot stands, even from a excessive stage.
You may take issues a step additional by categorizing your content material and importing all the digital property you want for publishing. As soon as a submit is stay, there’s additionally a customized subject for the URL so you possibly can rapidly entry it sooner or later.
Between the 2 templates, this one is much less complicated and simpler to begin utilizing on day one. Nevertheless, it will probably really feel cluttered and overwhelming in case you’re utilizing it for extra than simply weblog posts.
Airtable editorial calendar template
Airtable is by far probably the most highly effective instrument on this record, particularly in case you have a whole lot of knowledge you could join collectively. My workforce makes use of it for all kinds of issues, together with income, content material manufacturing, service supply, and extra.
Like Notion, it requires a big quantity of labor up entrance. However you’ll find yourself with a customized setup designed round the way in which you’re employed in case you’re prepared to place within the time.
In case you have fewer than 5 collaborators, you can begin utilizing Airtable totally free. You’ll get limitless bases, 1,000 data per base, 1 GB of storage per base, and 100 month-to-month automation runs.
Be taught extra about Airtable: Airtable overview | Airtable vs monday.com | Airtable vs Notion.
Airtable works rather well in case you have a whole lot of knowledge. It’s an incredible answer for reporting, analytics, content material administration, workload administration, and anything that accumulates a whole lot of knowledge factors. This template presents a very good place to begin in case your present focus is on planning, organizing, and managing high-volume manufacturing.
Like different templates, you’ll get a number of views — grid view, calendar view, and creator workload come pre configured.
You’ll additionally get particular person tables for managing content material, planning content material, and retaining monitor of your workforce (together with their roles, capability, and availability).
Though this template is easy, you gained’t have to fret about deleting a bunch of stuff you’ll by no means use. As an alternative, it’s a place to begin you possibly can construct on as you get snug and your wants change.
Airtable’s largest disadvantage can also be its largest benefit.
The software program’s flexibility means there are dozens of the way to perform the identical factor and it will probably take a whole lot of time to determine what works finest for you.
However in case you want one thing that’ll by no means impede your progress, it’s value studying the fundamentals.
Asana social calendar template
The entire instruments we’ve coated to date are extremely versatile. If you would like one thing that requires much less setup and has far much less room for error, Asana’s a more sensible choice.
Though it’s extra inflexible, there’s normally one finest solution to set issues up so that you don’t have to fret about doing it improper, doing it improper once more, after which doing it improper another time earlier than determining the very best answer.
Its free plan can also be very beneficiant, permitting for limitless tasks, duties, messages, and storage. It’s an incredible choice for small groups or bigger groups who need to attempt earlier than they purchase.
Be taught extra about Asana: Asana overview | Asana vs monday.com | Airtable vs Asana.
Technically, this template is for managing social media content material. However you should use it for any sort of content material from movies and podcast episodes to free downloads and case research.
It consists of the whole lot you’ll have to ideate, strategize, prioritize, and assign work throughout each channel you utilize. Plus, you possibly can add new tasks and tie them to high-level milestones or objectives to remain aligned.
With each bit of content material, there’s a spot for the content material itself, key phrases, and recordsdata so you possibly can simply collect the whole lot in a single place.
The template even consists of built-in approval workflows to regulate high quality at each stage and job dependencies if you wish to use the vital path methodology.
Regardless of being extremely feature-rich, it’s comparatively simple to get began. All you must do is add all the channels you submit on, add a bit of content material, fill out all of its data, and set a date. From there, you realize the whole lot you could know to make use of it.
You may simply flip your calendar into totally different mission views, together with record, Kanban view, Gantt chart, customized dashboards, and extra.
In contrast to different content material calendar templates, Asana’s calendar view is clear and aesthetically pleasing, at the same time as you add a number of objects per day. It’s additionally colour coded by no matter subject you select, making it simple to visualise progress at a look.
A content material calendar you should use with Google Sheets, Excel, or Phrase
In case your wants are easy otherwise you need one thing acquainted, you should use a spreadsheet to maintain monitor of your manufacturing schedule as a substitute. When arrange nicely, you’ll be capable of keep organized and on schedule with out having to make use of mission administration software program.
There are tons of of free content material calendar spreadsheets, however this one from Smartsheet is considered one of my favorites as a result of it presents a streamlined solution to handle content material on a number of platforms.
Smartsheet’s easy content material calendar template is free to obtain for Excel, Google Sheets, Phrase, PowerPoint, and PDF.
It has area to plan for the following week, so it’s much more restricted than different choices on the record. Nevertheless it’s a really clear solution to hold monitor of content material throughout a number of platforms with out getting overwhelmed. Plus, you can also make a replica to plan forward.
The setup could be very simple. Days of the week are throughout the highest and totally different advertising channels are down the left.
Say you may have an thought and need to submit it on Fb. Simply choose a day of the week and add your thought within the acceptable row. You may add a number of concepts in case you’re undecided.
That is about so simple as it will get. Nevertheless, it doesn’t seem like a standard calendar and it’s difficult to plan forward. You’ll have to begin with a brand new sheet each week and there’s no solution to hold monitor of the content material creation course of.
That mentioned, it’s a simple solution to plan forward at low quantity.
Methods to create your personal content material and editorial calendar
You may create your personal content material calendar template utilizing spreadsheet software program, relational database instruments, mission administration options, and even pen and paper. If nothing above works for you, you will get artistic and use one thing you have already got.
Excel and Google Sheets, for instance, have built-in calendars you can begin with. Or you possibly can draw one on a whiteboard, use a bodily calendar, or construct one in Google Docs.
When you resolve, it’s only a matter of including content material and selecting dates.
Whereas which will work for quite simple wants, a extra superior content material calendar ought to have a spot to maintain monitor of:
- Content material sort.
- Publish date.
- Channel.
- Standing.
- Recordsdata and pictures.
- Notes.
- Proprietor.
- Assigned to.
If the concept of including all of that sounds intimidating, you possibly can all the time begin with one of many templates from this record and customise it to match your wants.
What can I monitor with a content material calendar?
Content material calendar templates are actually versatile instruments. They’ll work nicely for particular person use and high-level planning to monitoring total manufacturing schedules and full-scale content material groups with editors, strategists, writers, and extra.
You should use a content material calendar to:
- Set up and plan content material advertising actions.
- Construct out quick or long-term campaigns.
- Produce and publish social media content material.
- Write, edit, and publish weblog posts.
- Replace or repurpose present content material.
- Guarantee constant publishing for various audiences.
That is actually simply scratching the floor with what you are able to do with a content material calendar, particularly in case you’re planning to leverage the built-in mission administration options.
Do I really want a content material calendar?
When you’re publishing one or two items of content material per day or week, you don’t want something fancy.
A easy calendar that permits you to drag and drop, alter dates on the fly, and collect property in a single place is greater than sufficient. My workforce used a easy Kanban board for years with no issues.
We did ultimately improve to one thing else however elegant and easy can get you a large number additional than you assume.
That mentioned, you in all probability don’t want a content material calendar (or can get by with a easy spreadsheet) in case you don’t want to stay to a constant schedule or solely publish a number of occasions per thirty days.
Something past that and also you’ll doubtless begin to really feel overwhelmed with out a centralized place to visualise dates, statuses, property, and technique in a single place.
