Why Every Blogger Needs an Editorial Calendar

It took way too long for me to hop on the editorial calendar train. I knew I needed one for a long time, but for some reason, I had a hard time getting one started. I like to have a plan (in most cases). But the idea of adding one more to-do with the blog seemed unnecessary. I get an editorial calendar isn’t a huge “to-do” really, but I was struggling with the idea of getting it all organized ahead of time.  Probably because I had fallen into a horrible habit of posting on the fly. I would vaguely know what I wanted to post with no real plan on how to get there. So, when I read a post by Dana at The Champagne Edit where she shared her editorial calendar template, I ran out of excuses. I downloaded the template and I’ll be honest – it sat in my files for a few weeks.

I definitely resisted at first – opening the Excel doc and promptly exiting. Nothing against Dana’s stellar template – she rocks – I was simply resisting this amazing tool for no good reason. Then one day, I sat myself down and allocated the time it deserved. Guess what? I’ve never looked back. Now, I have no idea how I was surviving without.

Which is exactly why I’m sharing my three reasons why every blogger needs an editorial calendar. I won’t be offended if you don’t believe me, or if you resist like I did. I totally get it. However, if you’re serious about your blog and want to get organized, I highly recommend getting started.  Read on to find out why.

It makes a crazy schedule turn into a manageable one

Prior to editorial calendar implementation, I would have told you I managed a blog and a full time job perfectly fine. Because I honestly thought I did. Maybe I had embraced the crazy, but I’m telling you, life with a nifty post-planning calendar sure is sweeter and has made life less hectic. As I mentioned above, I was posting on a whim – always knowing what I wanted the end result to be, but never having a plan to get there.  I’d be up late editing photos or scrambling for ideas on my next post, or even not posting at all. Now, I plan weeks in advance (in writing) and can manage my time around what needs done.  Have a free hour?  Start drafting that post due in a couple weeks.  Have an open Saturday?  I’ll think ahead to have ingredients ready to shoot a recipe.  My time is used better and more efficient and I’m way less stressed.

Planning ahead helps organize content

I began to notice almost immediately how much more organized my blog content became.  Since I’m seeing the schedule written out ahead of time, I avoid any weird timing for posts.  I like to have a certain rhythm to what I’m creating and even though I thought I had one going, I was highly mistaken.  Now I can clearly see what will come when and how that will look as people scroll through my website.  Obviously it’s not always perfect or sometimes my schedule changes last minute, but it’s organized.  If I have a weather-related delay for a shoot, I don’t have the panic attack as usual.  I visit my handy-dandy editorial calendar and rearrange until something works.

Overall content improves

Now this is not about the scheduling of said content – I’m talking the actual, followers-will-read written content. I’m surprised by this most, by far.  Did I expect a simple change in my planning to have a profound effect on my writing, photos, everything? No. Not at all. But it has honestly been the best thing to happen to me creatively. Now that I’m not worried about last minute posting and scheduling, I have more time to think about writing and photography. The stuff my readers come to read and see. I look at my editorial calendar every day and as a result, I’m thinking about the architecture of posts more thoroughly.  What will I talk about besides my favorite denim shorts?  How can I loop in what I’m currently struggling with or having success with?  Which is how this post and my recent Pinterest post originated. I personally believe I’ve come a long way in a short amount of time, so I’m excited to see how the next year improves even more.

All of the points above are possible because of what I put in my editorial calendar. I make sure to plan post titles, post subjects, photography ideas, keywords for SEO and of course, the days the content will go live. If you’re into making your own, go for it! But if you need a little kick in the butt, I definitely recommend visiting The Champagne Edit & downloading Dana’s template. Fast, simple and… zero excuses.

Do you use an editorial calendar?

xoxo.  B