I’ve been a participant in the #ContentChat community for several years, including a couple of special guest slots. Originated by Jenise Stout Fryatt of Smarter Shift, and handed off to Lucy Rendler-Kaplan at the beginning of this year, the chat has become a place for content creators and content marketers to share their tips and best practices (not to mention their favorite GIFs). Two weeks ago, Lucy handed me the reigns of the chat, as her new work schedule and other commitments didn’t leave her with the time to dedicate to planning and hosting the weekly chats.
I’m incredibly excited to have the opportunity to keep this dynamic twitter community’s mojo flowing, and am working on scheduling special guests on a range of topics suggested by our regular participants. If you have a topic suggestion, or would like to be a guest on a future chat, reach out to me on twitter @sferika, or email me at erika[at]erikaheald[DOT]com.
Note: this recap was originally published through the now-defunct Storify platform so formatting is inconsistent with our current recaps.
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June 20 #Content Chat Recap: Editorial Calendars and Process Best Practices
On June 20, the #ContentChat community shared their tips, tools and best practices for editorial workflow management. Participants shared how they’ve implemented editorial calendars as a key way to keep their content on-topic and on-schedule.
Q1: What is your process for managing a piece of content from idea through to publication? #ContentChat
- I like @DivvyHQ a lot. We have to hand off to Jira though for production & publishing workflow. #ContentChat https://twitter.com/SFerika/status/744971620939268096 …
- A1 Lots of listening from different people to start, then ideas are brought in about where we can help, with what content/where #contentchat
- A1: Brainstorming -> Validating -> Researching -> Writing -> Editing -> Publishing -> Promoting -> Evaluating for us #Contentchat
- A1: we think about who needs to hear the message and when. Then collaborate to determine channels. #contentchat https://twitter.com/sferika/status/744969645048766466 …
- A1: I outlined my editorial process in a blog post for @RedboothHQ: http://bit.ly/UgiahL #ContentChat
- A1: Outlining & breaking the idea down into 3-5 different points works for me. #ContentChat https://twitter.com/SFerika/status/744969645048766466 …
- A1: Content management is a collaborate process. From our designers to strategist to SM manager, everyone keeps in contact #contentchat
- A1: We allocate time every day to do a #thinkinghour, where we discuss all our digital platforms, strategies, and content #contentchat
Q2: Do you currently use an editorial calendar for your content marketing program? #ContentChat
- A2: Content calendars are key to aligning with our SEO department and keep track seasonal topics that keep us relevant! #ContentChat
- I have a crazy editorial cal that includes what students are doing at various times throughout the year+content possibilities #ContentChat
- @SFerika @carmenhill I liken editorial calendar to a road map. Have planned route but a detour or course change may be needed. #ContentChat
- A2 I have teams use @SproutSocial and my own form for the editorial calendar – Rivvu also has an easy review calendar #contentchat
- A2: we use @SproutSocial as well, but still trying to figure out how to leverage the power of the new calendar feature #ContentChat
- A2: I’m building a calendar to plan cross-platform posting and to vary topics #contentchat.
- A2: I always use an editorial calendar for my content marketing programs. Even my personal projects. #ContentChat
- A2: YES! All our plan and designs are put in @google docs #ContentChat
- A2. We are getting a little more organized with it. Personally, I am working on building one. #ContentChat https://twitter.com/SFerika/status/744971364700823552 …
- A2: For my work with @WhyISocial, it’s a flexible editorial calendar, which allows me to better flex my content. #contentchat
- Can you share how that works, Chris? Do you have broad topic areas then flex w/ the specifics? Or…? #ContentChat https://twitter.com/CBarrows/status/744971892856086529 …
- @SFerika In short – Every Tuesday – there’s an episode, a link to guest’s LI page and a ICYMI post #Contentchat
- @SFerika Throughout the week I also align alums activities/achievements with sharing of episodes #contentchat
- @SFerika To summarize. I don’t plan too much content out specifically – but more so – around themes w/ social news in btw #ContentChat
- @CBarrows That feels very flexible and replicable. I like it! #ContentChat
Q3: If you don’t use an editorial calendar, why not? #ContentChat
- Although I see a number of folks sharing that they are using an ed cal, I have a feeling not everyone is, hence our next Q. #ContentChat
- A3: One of the cons is the lack of flexibility. We might miss interesting industry news if we only stick to the calendar. #contentchat
- @ISODevelopers I like to think of the calendar as a guideline; I’m willing to bump evergreen content for something more timely. #ContentChat
- @andreamfuller1 That can make it hard to keep yourself organized as a consultant or freelancer. What do you do w/them instead? #ContentChat
- @SFerika I use Org Mgt techniques, & keep showing them data, which proves out when they use a calendar they have +ROI vs. not #ContentChat
- @SFerika A3: What, no editorial calendar? That’s crazy talk! #contentchat pic.twitter.com/V9iCim4hpS
- @elizadwrites A3 sometimes its nice to let your content develop organically. But it takes being dedicated/organized #contentchat
Q4: What are the main benefits of using an editorial calendar? Why should we create one instead of just winging it? #ContentChat
- @SFerika yup. It is necessary. Gotta know what your audience is up to. Or what you want to drive them to… #Contentchat
- Forcing myself to be more organized, learning to use or steps to using it. #ContentChat https://twitter.com/SFerika/status/744974956631449600 …
- @pjervis I agree – writing discipline is key when it comes to blogging. #ContentChat
- A4: I like balance: Winging = organic content. Schedule = consistency. Both benefit your audience. #ContentChat https://twitter.com/SFerika/status/744976015366074371 …
- A4
-Understand depth/diversity of content planning
-Distribution of tasks
-Fuel for further development
#contentchat https://twitter.com/SFerika/status/744976015366074371 … - @SFerika A4: Ed calendars make it easy to plan via topic and not repeat yourself! #ContentChat
- @andreamfuller1 this is important. It can get easy to over-create on a fave topic, leaving out other much-needed content. #ContentChat
- A4: Having a content calendar creates the environment of being proactive rather than reactive. #Contentchat
- A4. Aligning content to broader mktg calendar, visibility across org, structure for getting sh*t done. #ContentChat https://twitter.com/SFerika/status/744976015366074371 …
- A4: It’s important to us to have a scope and keep our contents coherent and relevant! #contentchat
- A4. It killed the drama of the guessing game or knowing what you are going to post, organized. #ContentChat https://twitter.com/SFerika/status/744976015366074371 …
- A4: Always have a plan – even if it’s a flexible one – you’re setting up a stronger foundation for success. #contentchat
- A4: An editorial calendar ensures you create content that covers your audience needs + funnel stages, provides accountability. #ContentChat
Q5: What technology tools do you use for your editorial calendar and process? #ContentChat
- A5 Don’t 4get 2use automation tools 2streamline ur content calendar duties i.e. https://ifttt.com/recipes/190381-social-media-content-calendar-facebook-googlecalendar … #contentchat https://twitter.com/SFerika/status/744977994280640513 …
- A5: I keep it simple – a block calendar I found in Google Images. I update and refer to it daily. #ContentChat https://twitter.com/SFerika/status/744977994280640513 …
- A5. Google Sheets, Excel on a shared drive & Trello are ones that are easy to use & have low barrier of entry @SFerika #ContentChat
- A5: I’ve used @kapost, @RedboothHQ, google sheets, and @basecamp for editorial process management. #ContentChat
- A5 I found @kapost and @RedboothHQ to be my best editorial calendar tools when there was a longer process/more people involved. #ContentChat
- A5 I also use @evernote as a place to keep research and content idea-starters. #ContentChat
- A5: Google sheets get the job done but I am looking at @CoSchedule. #ContentChat
- YYYAASS. I’m a huge fan. So helpful and easy to assign info. #ContentChat https://twitter.com/TheKyleMurray/status/744979580784615424 …
- A5: What I use/have used: @SproutSocial @Zoomph (has scheduling now), Google Docs, @Wunderlist (for ideas) #contentchat
- @MaureenOnPoint We haven’t really messed with @marketo so we’ll take a look into it. Thank you, Maureen! Wonderful suggestion. #ContentChat
- @YellingMule They just have a template you can use… @HubSpot does too. Free tools are free! #ContentChat
- A5) Basecamp is great just for project management in general. I use it occasionally for content, but mostly for web issues. #contentchat
- A5 I really like the ease of using google sheets when you have multiple collaborators needing to update. #ContentChat
Q6: What is your biggest struggle with your current editorial calendar and process? #ContentChat
- A6: Trying to keep it doable. I get the “Ooh that would be good to do” feeling often. #ContentChat
- A6 – I’m sure this was mentioned, my big issue is time mgmt. Content creation/curation is there. I need extra 12 hrs in a day! #contentchat
- A5: The best time of day to post. I RT/RP, but when’s the best time to launch new content? #ContentChat https://twitter.com/SFerika/status/744979827124363264 …
- @SFerika Organization. Content calendars also free you up to LISTEN to your audience & respond accordingly. #contentchat
- @SFerika Sticking to it. Approvals often slow down the publication process, so I have to double up the week after. #contentchat
- How do you deal w/ a perpetually lagging reviewer/approver? One tactic I’ve used is putting a mtg on the cal for their review. #ContentChat
- Join us for the next #ContentChat twitter chat on Monday, June 27, at noon Pacific, 3:00 p.m. Eastern as Anne Janzer @AnneJanzer, author of “The Writer’s Process: Getting Your Brain in Gear” shares her secrets for creating a more effective writing process.
Join us for the next #ContentChat twitter chat on Monday, June 27, at noon Pacific, 3:00 p.m. Eastern as Anne Janzer (@AnneJanzer), author of “The Writer’s Process: Getting Your Brain in Gear” shares her secrets for creating a more effective writing process.
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