Creating an Editorial Calendar For Your Blog

Posted by Michele McGraw on Feb 17, 2012 in Tech | 8 comments

This year I have trying very hard to be more organized in all aspects of my life. The biggest place where I’ve lacked organization is my blog. So, the first thing I’ve done is create an editorial calendar.

Why An Editorial Calendar?

My purpose for the editorial calendar is not to stifle my creativity or to plan all my blog posts a year in advance. Rather, the purpose is to avoid the “I don’t know what to write about today” scenario. I try to plan out about 2 weeks. If something else comes up and I don’t follow the plan exactly, that is alright.

I also add reviews to my editorial calendar because it helps me see whether I can take on another review or giveaway. Anytime I am working on a project for my blog with a due date, it goes on my editorial calendar. It is definitely a “work in progress” document and I write in pencil.

How Do I Fill My Editorial Calendar?

Blogging about timely subjects will also help your SEO. Here are a few ideas to keep your blog posts consistent and current.

1. Plan ahead for major holidays. We all know when the major holidays are during the year, but how do the holidays affect planning in your niche? If you are a craft blogger, you will need to think about your Valentine’s projects needs in advance of Valentine’s Day.
2. Check for special days in your niche. In addition to the holidays, there are special observance days and there are probably a few that you could celebrate in your niche. If you blog about coin collecting, you wouldn’t want to miss National Penny Day on May 23.  MyDailyPlan-It.com lists holidays by day, week and month.
3. Search your niche keywords. Type in a few of the main keywords in your niche and see what shows up in Google, Bing or Yahoo. If nothing triggers ideas, try searching in Delicious, Diigo and StumbleUpon. For more current ideas, search news sites for your keywords.
4. Check book and movie release schedules. The release of new books or movies will often create discussions surrounding the movie or books topic. These topics may be in your niche. Instead of responding to the discussion, create the discussion. You can find release schedules for movies on ComingSoon.net. If you search Amazon for books in your niche and sort by “Publication Date,” you will see future book release dates. (While you are Amazon, look at book titles for ideas too.)
5. Look at your snail mailbox. Your magazines, junk mail and catalogs are a great resource for ideas. Retailers and publishers are always trying to be ahead of the trends and news.

Using the above ideas, you should be able to fill your editorial calendar for the year.

Editorial Calendar Template

I created a 2012 editorial calendar for my blog and I had so many people ask about it, I decided to offer a blank one for anyone who wants it. It is an Excel spreadsheet with 2 options (year calendar on 1 page or a month per page calendar.)

Do you have an editorial calendar for your blog?

Michele McGraw, a tech mom, blogs at Scraps of My Geek Life about technology, fitness and digital scrapbooking and is @ScrappinMichele on Twitter.