The landscape of marketing in a digital world is dynamic and continually evolving. Imparting effective sales messaging can feel a little like a game of Whac-A-Mole, with constantly moving targets and ever-changing online environments.
But your marketing efforts should never seem like a reactive carnival game. Instead your marketing efforts should be anchored to an actionable plan with intentional goals. It should include well-thought messaging that is mapped out and organized in a content calendar.
In this post we’ll show you how a content calendar can improve marketing strategy, then help you get started on creating your own content calendar.
Think Before You Speak is Still Good Advice
We’ve all heard this advice since childhood, and we have probably all experienced the wisdom of it in our lives. But how does it apply to marketing?
Communication today tends to be quick, brief, and maybe a little too spontaneous because we are addressing an audience that is short on time and attention. The problem with going “off the cuff” with your sales communications, whether it’s LinkedIn posts or email blasts, is that your overall marketing plan will lose its focus and effectiveness.
So how do you establish and execute a marketing plan in this chaotic digital arena? Start with a well-thought out content calendar.
What is a Content Calendar?
Your content calendar is a mapped out plan based on your specific marketing objectives and selected communication channels. It’s an essential tool that can serve as the backbone of your marketing plan and ensure that your messaging is cohesive and aligned with your business objectives.
Develop Interactive Communication with Your Prospects
Nothing rings more hollow than a canned, or generic sales message. Establishing a thought-out content calendar allows you to develop:
- A natural flow of communication that builds a trusted relationship with your audience.
- Content to attract and engage those who are interested in your offerings.
- Guide prospects through the sales funnel from awareness to conversion.
Always Be Consistent and Stay On Message
Your content calendar assures that your marketing messaging is always consistently aligned with the right topics across various mediums and channels. By thoughtfully planning your content in advance, you can ensure that your marketing pieces:
- All contribute to your overall marketing objectives and reinforce your brand messaging.
- Include multimedia content such as videos in blog posts, emails, and more.
- Are coordinated across different platforms to support the same overarching objectives.
Drive Lead Generation Through Relevant Content
High-quality, relevant content is a powerful driver of lead generation. A well-planned content calendar allows you to research and identify the topics and issues that resonate most with your target audience, ensuring that your content is both relevant and valuable. Follow a content calendar to:
- Add quality and usefulness to your content
- Include topics that address pain points
- Offers solutions to your buyer’s needs
Relevant content will allow you to establish credibility and trust, ultimately converting visitors into customers. Don’t overlook SEO. It is essential for ensuring your content ranks well in search engine results to improve your visibility and attract organic traffic.
Create Your Own Content Calendar Now
Ultimately, a content calendar keeps your marketing efforts fine-tuned, focused, and subsequently more effective. Serving as the foundation of your integrated marketing program, your content calendar brings together your various marketing tools such as social media, email marketing, blogging, and more into a cohesive and intentional plan.
The first step toward developing an effective content calendar is getting started. The Upright team is here to assist your efforts by providing you with a content calendar document. Simply follow this link to make your own copy of the calendar below.
Need help with content ideas? Contact us to schedule a call.