Hello, and welcome back to this week’s Content Classroom! This week, I want to talk about how to plan your content calendar for your entire year. I know the thought of this can be daunting – it certainly is for me. I’m not a big fan of strategy and planning, especially when things can change in just a few months. So, how do we get to where we need to be?
The answer is relatively simple, yet many overcomplicate it to procrastinate. But trust me, getting that content strategy in place – at least the themes and topics you want to cover – is crucial for converting your audience. Otherwise, you’re just aimlessly making videos. I’ve been guilty of this too, so I understand the struggle.
Click on the image below to see the video I recorded for you about this.
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Start with the Journey
Think about the journey you want to take your audience on over the next year. Consider the topics they’re worried about and whether there’s a season for those topics. Some of you will have seasonal content, and some won’t. The idea is to map out the themes and topics that align with your audience’s needs.
Video-First Content Strategy
For those not using video at the top of their content pyramid, things can get complex. My advice is to use a video-first content strategy. Here’s how:
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Record Yourself: Focus on two to three different topics each month. Record about 20 minutes of video discussing these topics. Do this ahead of the month to give yourself time to edit.
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Edit and Transcribe: Use tools like Descript to edit your videos and get the transcripts. Now, you have two to three main topics that can be turned into longer YouTube videos where you discuss industry-specific trends, events, and your expertise.
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Create Micro-Content: Break down these main videos into smaller, micro-moments – 90 seconds to two and a half minutes long. These are perfect for social media. Repurpose them into square, landscape, and portrait formats to cover all your social media channels.
Simplify Your Posting
Most people post around 12 times a month. If you have three videos ready each week, each containing a micro-topic you’re an expert on, you’re set. When it’s time to write the accompanying post, just play the video and draw inspiration from what you discussed.
Extend Your Content
With the full-length videos, you can create detailed newsletters. Break the topics into two or three newsletters, or stretch them into four. For blogs, you’ve got three or four pieces ready to be written.
As you can see, it’s easy to create a large amount of content from minimal input. The key is not to overcomplicate the initial strategy. Have a theme and two to three main talking points. Record yourself discussing these for 20 minutes. You don’t have to use the video – it can serve as inspiration for written posts and copy.
Execution is Key
The most important part is getting the content out of your head and into your social media. That’s where many struggle. If you follow this simple idea, it can transform how you create and manage content.
I hope you find this useful. If you put it into practice, I’d love to hear about your experience. Drop me a line ( Paul Banks) or email (paul@javelincontent.com), and if you post on LinkedIn, give me a shout and tag me.
I’ll happily respond where I have a moment, and share my thoughts!
See you next time on the Content Classroom!
