Episode 5 - Three Simple Fields for Creating George's Content Calendar
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Note: This episode and all episodes of the Super Space Robot Podcast pre-dated the current podcast on this site, The Rock and Roll Content Show. Though the format is new, these episodes have been collected and archived here as the content is still relevant.
George, if that is his real name, summons Super Space Robot because he’s been having trouble meeting deadlines and keeping his content marketing process organized. Super Space Robot’s content calendar simplification method helps you create a content calendar that you can actually keep updated.
Episode 5 Companion Guide: Content Calendar Simplification
The content calendar. It's an integral part of any content creator's system. Content marketers swear by them. You need one if you're going to keep track of what you're doing. When used in context with personas and the other tactics we've discussed on this podcast, they can make your life easier.
Is Your Content Calendar Up To Date?
If it is, congratulations! You’re ahead of most of us. I've seen a lot of content calendars. One thing that has tied just about all of them together is that they don't get updated nearly as much as they should. Sometimes they’re updated for a few days or weeks, and then abandoned. There are high functioning, organized people that can keep up a content calendar. I'm not one of those people. I suspect if you're here, that you may not be either.
If you're on a team and you share responsibility for a calendar, then, by all means, make that calendar as complex and custom as you need it. For most of us who are out here making content by ourselves or are on very small teams: just do what you can. That's what Super Space Robot shares with George in today's episode.
Simplify Your Content Calendar with 3 Simple Fields
You need to document and plan what you're doing, but you also need to do the work of creating content. There are only so many hours in the day. Don't beat yourself up about it. Simplify. Make it easy on yourself. The three fields that Super Space Robot would like you to put into your content calendar are almost too simple. They seem like common sense - yet they're the core of what you need to make a content calendar functional. Get good at keeping these three fields updated, and then you can expand it if you need to.
Asset Name: It’s the name of the content. You don’t have to keep this name, but make it something that’s descriptive so you can easily identify it.
Publish Date: This is the absolute date that you really must have this content published. It’s not the date that it needs to be proofread, or approved. It’s not the date you need to have graphics done by. This is the date that you hit publish and send it out into the world.
Notes: Everything else goes here. Have an idea for a social media campaign? Put it here. Have something you must remember to include, or someone you must remember to get approval from? Put it here.
Sounds too simple, right? Remember that this is a starting point. It’s merely a tool to help you keep track of what you’re doing. Most content calendars die by being too complex. Isn’t it better to keep it simple and build from there? If you find yourself continually missing something, add a fourth field. Just don't go crazy. The more times you leave your calendar empty because there's too much to fill out, the sooner you'll abandon it.
Use Your Main Calendar for Reminders
Remember those milestone deadlines like approval dates or graphic design deadlines we mentioned above? Add them to your personal calendar, with the name of the asset listed within it so you can easily cross-reference. This way you can keep track of those important dates somewhere that you're already trained to check, and you won't forget them as easily.
Important Timestamps
[0:00 - Super Space Robot Audio Play]
[6:18 - Closing Message from Mark]
Episode Credits
Super Space Robot: Mark Dauner
George: Mark Dauner
Announcer Voice: I worked with a great voice actor named Joy for the announcer narration as well as a few other voices in previous podcasts. If you liked what you heard and would like to work with her, send me an email and I’ll send you her link.
Thank you for joining us today. I wonder who Super Space Robot will bother next time?