This is a guest post by Anita Campbell, CEO of BizSugar.
Maintaining a Content Marketing Calendar
You've heard content is king, right? Well, it is. You may have the most fantastic product on the planet, but no one will know what it is unless you describe it to them. And no one will know it exists in the first place unless you get the word out. Both of those tasks are accomplished through content marketing.
Your Own Blog
Flickr
Guest Posting
- Try not to overwhelm the people who follow your business by bombarding them with content too often.
- Space out your posts, tweets, and shares so that your content distribution is evenly spaced, but still done on a regular basis. Just like you don't want to go overboard, you also don't want any long periods of quiet that may allow people to forget about you. You want to stay fresh in their minds and keep their attention.
- Remember, the information you post, tweet, and share doesn't all have to be created by you. By distributing information from other sites and blogs, you establish yourself as a reliable, go-to resource.
- Always respond to those who contact or engage you. But you can also set aside a specific amount of time to do that each day.
- Track results and responses to your content. How many blog comments did you get? How many retweets? How many likes? Over time, you'll be able to see trends, and learn what content resonates with people so you can give them more of what they want.
James Welch
Hi Anita, I have created my own social media content calendar which should be useful:
http://www.jameswelch.net/seotools/twitter-content-calendar-generator.php
Thanks
James
savvymarketers
Thanks for this great post. It highlights that we’re doing some things right, but missing out on the benefits of Guest Posting (love the good will graphic). Now we know what to focus on this year – thanks again:)
Melissa Breker
Great post! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Here’s three other tips I have found useful:
1. Build an idea sheet.
I use a spreadsheet to build out ideas for content for my site. I find having an “idea” sheet helps me schedule and pick topics on a timely basis. I can do a brainstorm based on research and put in in a single sheet for review when I’m looking to schedule ideas. Having it in one place gets me focused.
2. Create an Industry Trends section
My other suggestion is to include a “Industry Trends” section. I have found sharing your thoughts about the industry and how it relates to other industry professionals can help build community.
3. Track results … (No really, track results!)
Often we have a sense of how well our posts are performing, but really look at what happens as a result of your posts. It will help you create content that is relevant and timely for your audience.
Hope this helps!
DeniseWakeman
Thanks for stopping by, Melissa, and thanks for adding your tips. I really like #2 and think that including info about industry trends is often overlooked. Blog on!
Marcie_Hill
This is very timely as I have an editorial schedule for my blog, but I have been trying to figure out how to squeeze in LinkedIn and more guest blog posts. And my Facebook page is pretty much dormant. So, thanks for this gentle reminder of what I need to do.
DeniseWakeman
If you keep in mind that you don’t need to be on every site, every day, then it seems a little less overwhelming. Good luck, Marcie!
Cameron Carter
Great ideas in your post! I recently offered up some tips
for setting up a social media editorial calendar that may help your readers http://venpop.com/2011/5-tips-for-setting-up-a-social-media-editorial-calendar/
DeniseWakeman
Thanks for sharing your tips, Cameron.
Ivan Walsh, Media Writer
Good post, Anita.
I feel the key is to setup a calendar that’s low maintenance to manage but effective in controlling how you control the content flow.