Race to Year-End Better with a Marketing Content Calendar

It’s November already, and you know life is only going to get busier. Take some of the pressure off by planning the next few months of marketing with a digital content calendar.

Instead of facing a blank computer screen or just winging it, a content calendar helps you visualize and keep track of the marketing content you want to share over the next few months. There are many kinds – just search online for “content calendar.“ You’re bound to find one that works for you. The key is to choose one really simple so that you’ll actually use it.

When creating a digital content calendar, we like to keep in mind a modified version of Stephen Covey’s rocks, pebbles, and sand story. Decide what your Big Rocks are – the most important things your business is doing that must be on the calendar. Those should be put in first. The Pebbles go in next and easily fit around the Big Rocks.  Last, you fill in the gaps with Sand. 

If you’re scratching your head over this metaphor, let us explain further:

• Let’s say your business provides a service. There are two months left in 2025, add January for recovery, and that’s your calendar, laid out in twelve weeks.
• Next, pick a monthly theme to inspire your content writing. November is Thanksgiving month, December is Holiday month, and January is all about the New Year, so that’s easy! Use these themes to inspire your marketing content, such as blog articles, newsletters, and social media posts.
• Schedule all the Big Rock items first. That could be special sales, limited-time offers, networking events, mailings, and so forth.
• Plan the marketing for each Big Rock item next. These “Pebbles” in the calendar help build anticipation for your Big Rocks and provide follow-up. For instance, you can talk about an event you are looking forward to hosting or attending beforehand, and afterward talk about what a great time you had.
• The “Sand” fills in the days in between. This could be industry news, content shared from complementary businesses, employee anniversaries, or other bits of information.

Keep the plan as simple as possible and be flexible in case something important comes up that skews your calendar. By identifying just a few “Big Rocks” every month and planning “Pebbles” around them, you will easily complete your digital marketing calendar through January!

Taking just a short time now for planning will make it so much easier to keep up during the busy weeks ahead. How many times have you put off writing any marketing content because you just didn’t have the energy to face that blank screen? With a content calendar in hand, you’ll know exactly what to write on any given day. You can even pre-write posts because you will know what’s needed next.

Even more efficient is planning the Big Rocks on your own and then delegating the Pebbles and Sand! The Sprocket Websites team can be your digital marketing partner and take on the tasks of scheduling, monitoring, and measuring your digital content. Call today to learn more about how we can work together!

Photo by punlob

This article is an update to “Finish 2016 Strong with a Content Calendar” dated 8/29/2016.

Kate GingoldKate Gingold

I have been writing a blog with web marketing tips and techniques every other week since 2003. In addition to blogging and client content writing, I write books and a blog on local history.

Other posts by Kate Gingold

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Full biography

I have been writing a blog with web marketing tips and techniques every other week since 2003. In addition to blogging and client content writing, I write books and a blog on local history.

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