How to Use an Editorial Calendar

One thing people always seem to forget when they’re starting businesses is the marketing that they must do to get paying customers.

Your business isn’t a magical kitchen appliance where you can simply “set it and forget it!” Unless you are selling kitchen appliances…

No, you’ve got to be actively involved in driving traffic to your website! And one of the best ways to do that is to publish engaging and helpful blog posts about your field, your products, and what makes you stand out.

If you’ve been slacking in the blogging department, I’ve got a tool that will help you blog regularly and attract your ideal clients and customers.

It’s called an Editorial Calendar, and it’s your blueprint for designing a blog that makes your business look professional. And that means more sales—woo hoo!

Here’s how to create your Editorial Calendar so that you never ask yourself, “What should I write about next?”

Get Started With Your Editorial Calendar

  • Keep a list of possible blog topic ideas. You can use a notebook, Word document, Evernote, or whatever system works for you. You don’t need to come up with snazzy headlines yet, but write down any topic that you think of whether you think it’s exciting or not. With the proper angle, you can make any boring topic interesting. Think about what problems your ideal customer is facing. How can you help them?
  • Organize your blog topic ideas by category. If you already have a framework for your business, such as my Life Editing Process, then this is easy. Otherwise, figure out what similarities you see in your topic list and come up with 3-5 categories. For instance, a jewelry designer might write about fashion, how to construct a piece from scratch, or how to choose quality materials. A coach might write about fear, productivity, or motivation.
  • Determine how many times a week you’ll publish a blog post. Ideally, you’ll publish a blog post at least once per week. Consistency is key for your blog. Posting at least once a week shows your readers that you’ve got your sh*t together. It demonstrates your stability and that you’re not some flaky jerk who’s going to disappear right when they need you.
  • Plug your blog topics into your Editorial Calendar. You can use a wall calendar, Google Calendar, your planner, or my worksheet below that’s included in 7 Days to an Edited Blog. Alternate blog topics from different categories so you’re not talking about the same thing all the time.
  • Add your marketing tasks to your calendar. This way, you’ll remember to share the links to your blog posts with your social media followers and to comment on other blogs.

Need your own Editorial Calendar?

This Editorial and Marketing Calendar is one of 14 brand-new worksheets in my latest digital product, 7 Days to an Edited Blog, which you can find in the Life Editor Clubhouse.

7 Days to an Edited Blog is your no-nonsense guidebook to help you clean up your messy blog in a single week.

With the help of the 5-step Life Editing Process, you’ll find ways to feel grateful for your blog, delete the negative influences that are driving away your readers, add the special touches that have been missing, find time in your schedule to write and market, and learn to embrace your imperfect but fabulous blog.

Click here to join the Life Editor Clubhouse and get your copy of 7 Days to an Edited Blog.

This post focuses on Step 4 of the Life Editing Process, Rearrange Everything Into a Perfect Flow. For more about life editing and what it can do for you, click here.

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