You might be wondering why your organization needs a content calendar. Are they really that helpful? Why should you even bother? Content calendars are essential for making your content marketing strategic, consistent and effective.
Without a content calendar, your content outreach is scattered. Who knows the next time a newsletter or blog goes out? What about social media? Website updates? Soon, you’ll find yourself scrambling to create content. There’s no clear plan, no sense of direction. Without that direction, content will take a long time to create. No agenda means no roadmap, and creating content will be a massive chore.
Posting can also become inconsistent, as whatever comes in the moment is what gets posted. This results in your content failing to be relevant to your audience. You might have finally gotten content into the world, but unfortunately, your audience won’t feel connected to it. And if your audience isn’t connected, they won’t engage with your content—or your nonprofit.
Without a content calendar:
With a content calendar, you set your nonprofit up for success. By having a visual reference of your content at-a-glance, your content will be more organized.. You’ll be able to see how all your different pieces of content work together and identify any potential gaps in your content marketing.
You’ll also have a clear strategy, as you’ll be able to focus on topics relevant to your audience. You’ll be better able to integrate your content campaigns across several channels, such as your blog, emails, and social media.
Efficiency is also a bonus of a content calendar, as you’ll be able to plan and schedule content in advance. By giving structure to your calendar, it’s easier to create new content. You’ll also be able to repurpose content easily, and your entire team can contribute to the calendar. TIP: Small teams, or even a one-person marketing department, can greatly benefit from a content calendar as well.
Once you determine a weekly or monthly posting schedule, you’ll have the consistency and a clear plan for posting consistently. BONUS: you’ll maintain regular communication with your audience while making more genuine connections with them. Consistent content = thought leadership and increased visibility!
Content calendars also help keep your content relevant, as you won’t miss a holiday, month, or occasion that is important to your nonprofit. Your topics will be timely and appropriate, giving your audience another way to relate and engage.
Finally, consistent content will resonate with your audience and make an impact. They’ll feel seen and understood and inspired to take action. They’re more likely to come back for more if you’re posting regularly, and not only that, but you’re likely to attract a larger audience if your content is regular and relevant.
At a glance, with a content calendar:
In a nutshell, having a content calendar is key to exciting and dynamic content that connects with your audience.
Building a Nonprofit Content Calendar That is Effective and Simple
What Type of Nonprofit Content Calendar Should I Use?
To learn more about creating a content calendar for your nonprofit organization, or if you’re interested in our Google Sheets or Trello templates, please visit lsvdesign.com.