Yesterday I talked a bit about some of my blogging goals for 2012. What I didn’t get into was the detail level.
One of the tools I am implementing to help me meet my 2012 goals is an editorial calendar. Have you tried using one?
What is an editorial calendar?
In case you’re not sure, an editorial calendar is simply a content plan that follow’s a basic publishing schedule. Magazines, for instance, have monthly editorial calendars that start out as a broad list of key topics and eventually evolve into highly detailed outlines of each issue’s content.
Interested in learning what your favorite magazine will be talking about in two months? Check their editorial calendar (this is also a great way to pitch publications, but that’s a story for another day).
Here are a few fun examples: Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart and Real Simple.
Why is an editorial calendar important?
Not only will an editorial calendar help me to remain focused throughout the year (and reduce writers block), it’s also great for sharing with potential partners.
For creatives interested in participating in a guest post, it indicates what type of material may be a good fit for the site. It also shows potential sponsors that the site has a plan and allows them to see where they might best fit in.
How to create an editorial calendar
Editorial calendars do not have to be pretty or overly-complicated. Whatever format works for you, works. I like to use a spreadsheet style format.
- Set aside an hour or two that you will have to focus (isn’t this the most difficult part for most of us?).
- Determine how far out in advance you would like to plan (I prefer to work with six months to a year, but you can work with any amount of time).
- Pull out your notebook or open up your computer and write down as many post ideas as you can come up with.
- Add regular, reoccurring features.
- Organize posts into themes or monthly series.
- Consider seasonal changes and holidays (i.e. New Year’s Resolutions, Wintertime, Spring Cleaning, Graduation, Summer Vacation, Back to School and specific holidays).
- Determine how frequently you’d like to post (be realistic here, you don’t have to post every day, you have to post consistently).
- Begin layering your themes and posts over seasonal events and then schedule to specific dates.
- Utilize a calendaring system. If you’re on WordPress, I’d encourage you to use the Editorial Calendar plugin. It’s great for scheduling posts in advance. If you’re not on WordPress, try the Win Calendar. It’s highly customized and allows you to create calendars for Excel and Word, months in advance and import Google Calendar information as well.
- Determine how much information you want to share with the public and post it!
I have developed an editorial calendar for SNAP! that I will be posting on our “About” page, but I am going to share it with you here first!
So what do you think? Do you like some of the topics we will be covering? I’d love to have you get in touch with me about scheduling a specific guest post if you’re interested.
You can see that my online calendar is pretty basic. I am sharing the topics, but I don’t get into more specific detail – this allows me greater flexibility.
Here’s the thing. As much as I love working online, I still adore paper! For my weekly series and day-to-day calendaring I am using this gorgeous planner from Laurel Denise.
I adore it!
I would love to know what tools you’re utilizing to plan out your blogging, or maybe you just wing it?
Oh, speaking of calendaring and goals…this week’s Twitter #SNAPChat will be all about blogging goals. Join us online Thursday at 10:30 a.m. MST
Ashlee says
Love it! I just finished mine for the year, it’s still in a rough format, but I just know it’s going to help so much! Thanks for the great reminders!
Catherine says
This post is total synchronicity for me. I’ve pretty much hated my blog for awhile now and teeter between deleting it and going whole hog. During one of my “I’m going to do this!” moments, I read a post somewhere else about setting up a calendar. The advice was to go one month at a time and make each day super detailed. I tried it, became horribly overwhelmed, forced ideas, and burned out. Your calendar example is awesome, though. I love the idea of theming a month and then breaking it down…but not into too much detail — just enough to be organized. Then, you can let that organization help guide your inspiration. Wonderful!
Looking over your calendar, I always love craft & studio space tours and promised myself that I’d learn to can this year, so those things jump out at me as interesting.
Thank you for the links, too. I’m checking out Win Calendar & the planner.
Tauni says
You know Catherine, I think that when we try to force it things just don’t work. In fact, it just makes me stressed and worried and unable to come up with anything that is any good at all.
They way I roll is to set up this broad editorial calendar and then fill in the days about a month out. Here’s the honest truth though. If I miss a day? Oh well. I just skip it. Not a big deal. It can’t be.
I just adore your blog. If there is anything on the calendar you’re interested in guest posting about, let me know 🙂
xoxo
Rebecca Cousins says
One of my goals for the new year is to be more intentional with my blog. The learning curves of starting a blog this past year caused me to be a little scattered with my posts. I love your advice of setting up an editorial calendar to stay on track, and I think this will help to streamline my posts and make blogging much easier! Thank you!
Tauni says
Rebecca, I think that you’ve set a lovely goal. A nice broad editorial calendar will help you to blog “more intentionally” and still give you the freedom to be spontaneous!
xoxo
McKenzie Guymon says
I have wanted to to get more organized with my blog! I have tried a few different things, but never this! This is a great idea! Thank you!
Tauni says
McKenzie, I’d love to hear how the editorial calendar works out for you!
xoxo
Tauni
Jessica @ Decor Adventures says
Hi Tauni,
I actually just did this over last week’s break from work. I have post ideas that I put into about 5-7 categories and I space them out per month. One of my pitfalls is having photography ready so I made a column for that, so I can see at a glance what I have to photograph. And as soon as the sun comes out, I grab the camera!
Thanks for the tips!
Tauni says
Jessica,
Sounds like we’re sort of on the same page. I took advantage of my time off work to do my planning for the year as well. I think it’s going to be a big blessing for me – I will not feel so far behind all of the time.
I hear you on the photography. It’s been a big downfall for me here on the SNAP! site…having relevant photos. I am actually posting a bit on my photography goals for the new year tomorrow! You will have to let me know what you think.
xoxo
Tauni
Gloria @Potentially Beautiful says
I love this. One of my goals for my blog is to plan my post more. My “winging it” has me feeling like its a little scattered and I’m forgetting to follow up on certain subjects or posts. I’m going to work on a calendar tonight! Thanks for the inspiration!
Tauni says
Gloria,
Thanks so much for your comment! I appreciate hearing from you! One of the nice things about the calendar I’ve set up for SNAP! is that it is defined enough to provide me with some accountability, but open enough to allow for spontaneity. I’d love to see what your calendar “looks” like when you’re done!
xoxo
Tauni
Gloria @Potentially Beautiful says
Oh, and I had no idea magazines published their calendars like this. Awesome!
Tami @ ThisMomsDelight.com says
Thanks for this post. You’ve helped me with two things I’ve been contemplating:
– Having a blogging schedule
– Having a visual calendar for my posts
Kitty Pearl says
Table looks great! Much better plan-at-a-glance than my calendar and post-it notes of blogging ideas. Inspiring way to organizie the new year, thanks!
Tauni says
Thanks Kitty! I really enjoyed putting my editorial calendar together this year. I am glad that you liked it!
xoxo
Tauni
Joanna Meyer says
I am almost done making my editorial calendar! I work in Marketing so this should’ve been top-of-mind when planning for my website in 2012, but I guess it takes a little reminding sometimes. Thanks; I am totally overly inspired now. 🙂
Tauni says
Joanna, I think you’re right. We can always use a little reminder now and then…I should have had an editorial calendar since day one and yet this is the first time I’ve actually taken the time to sit down and prepare one.
I am excited to hear more about yours!
xoxo
Tauni
Kimberly says
I just wing my blog posts. However I’m taking some time this year to take my blog to the next level and this will be a great tool to help me focus. Thanks!
Elisabeth says
Tauni,
This is the best post I have seen about an editorial calendar. Everyone talks about organizing your posts using an editorial calendar and I had a general idea but I like to see it (visual learner 🙂 ).
Also, looking at the different ways magazines set up their editorial calendars was hugely enlightening.
I’m new to your blog but have become a follower through Blog Lovin’.
Tauni says
Elisabeth, thank you so very much for your kind comment. I appreciate it! I am a visual, tactile learner myself so just reading things? Not that helpful.
xoxo, Tauni
Amy @ The Happy Scraps says
Wow, after the chat and seeing this today, I feel like I’ve been doing blogging all wrong. I bet this would help in SO many way!! Thank you for sharing!
Amy
Lee G V says
Such a great idea! I like how it makes for an easy overview, while sticking to subject you like and are comfortable with. I’m not sure yet how to incorporate the idea into my informal blogging, but I think it would help with keeping me writing and taking photos consistently. Thanks for the inspiration!
Priya says
I was looking to set up an editorial calendar for my blog and bumped into this page. Love your blog and thaank you for this post. Cheers!!