How good would it feel to have a simple blog content plan for 2024 without feeling overwhelmed? Imagine having 12 blog posts already outlined, ready for you to repurpose on different platforms.
No more struggling for inspiration or getting caught on the hop. Let me help you streamline your content creation process with my free 2024 blogging content planner.
When you nail down blog post ideas to focus on each month, you have time to go deep and create an ultimate guide that really helps your people, instead of just dashing off the first thing that comes into your head.
It’s time to avoid the pain of doing a content audit and discovering that you didn’t hit your blogging goals because you’d no real blog marketing strategy.
In this article, I’m going to cover the benefits of creating a blog content plan, why it should be flexible and how to make sure it’s strategic and matches your 2024 business goals. So if you’re ready to make your content creation a whole lot easier, let’s get started.
Why Bother Creating a Blog Content Calendar?
Do you usually plan your content or do you find yourself scrambling to come up with ideas at the last minute?
When you have a blog content plan, you have the time to go deep and create valuable content that truly helps your audience. Instead of rushing to publish the first thing that comes to mind, you can create an ultimate guide that provides real value.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I have great intentions about posting on social media or writing blog posts but my brain and creativity are faster than my capacity to actually get it done!
Some months I’m busier than others or feel less creative and it’s harder to create content. Or sometimes I spend too long trying to make content for different platforms and it all feels really overwhelming.
It can feel like you’re stuck in a content rut and trying to churn out a post or Reel for the sake of it. People pick up on that and it doesn’t feel good.
So I’ve been thinking about how to work smarter not harder and how to streamline the content creation process in a step-by-step guide so that it actually gets done!
Here’s my super simple content creation hack:
Creating an editorial calendar sounds a bit intimidating, doesn’t it? But this whole thing really doesn’t have to be all that complicated. Here’s how to simplify your content planning:
- Outline 12 blog content ideas or themes with the aim of creating one blog a month
- Choosing some evergreen themes (topics that don’t date) and some seasonal ones that I know people will be searching for online
- Repurpose the 12 blog posts on Linkedin, Facebook, etc.
And if you’re already doubting your ability to nail down your blogging strategy, because you can’t think of anything to write about, never fear, I’ve got your back. (And if you’re in my Tech Membership, you have access to even more support).
2024 Blog Content Idea Generator
If you’re struggling to come up with blog post ideas, don’t worry, I’ve got your back. Click the button below to use my blog content idea generator and you’ll never run out of ideas again. With a steady stream of topics, you’ll always have something to write about.
Sounds doable right? And there’s still room for flexibility and creativity, which I love.
Benefits of Creating an Editorial Calendar
Creating an editorial calendar may sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, there are numerous benefits to having a blog content plan.
First, it helps you focus on creating effective posts that resonate with your target audience. By pinpointing the topics they’re interested in, you increase the chances of ranking higher on search engines like Google.
Having a content plan allows you to stay on top of key dates and events in your niche. No more scrambling to create seasonal content at the last minute. With a plan in place, you’ll be more organized and prepared.
Having a content plan can help reduce burnout. Instead of constantly feeling like you need to do more, you’ll have a clear strategy to follow. This not only reduces overwhelm but also boosts traffic to your website as you’ll be more focused on creating valuable content.
Reduce overwhelm
If you don’t normally plan content you might sometimes find yourself caught on the hop.
Creating a (loose!) blog content strategy helps you to focus on creating effective posts that will benefit your target audience and reduce overwhelm.
When you nail down blog post ideas to focus on each month, you have time to go deep and create an ultimate guide that really helps your people, instead of just dashing off the first thing that comes into your head.
Get Loved by Google
A search engine such as Google is more likely to rank your content near the top if you pinpoint the topics your target audience is interested in.
Never forget a seasonal topic
It gets you thinking about the year and means that instead of forgetting about key dates in your niche, you’ll feel more on top of things because you’ll have your content strategy mapped out in advance.
No more scrambling to put together something seasonal because it just snuck up on you!
Streamline content creation
It could help to reduce burnout because instead of feeling like you “should” be doing more, you’ll have a simple content creation plan to stick to.
Boost SEO
A bonus benefit is that more than likely you’ll boost traffic to your website because you’ll actually write your blogs as you’ll be more focused, instead of feeling overwhelmed and struggling to narrow down what to write about.
Creating your 2024 blog content plan can be easy
Now that you understand the benefits of having a blog content plan, let’s dive into how you can put together a strategic plan for 2024. The process is simpler than you might think.
- Start by jotting down ideas for your blog topics. Don’t worry about crafting perfect blog posts right away. The goal here is to outline the topics you want to cover throughout the year.
- Align your content with your business goals and upcoming workshops or courses. By doing this, you ensure that your blog content supports your overall business strategy.
- Be flexible and allow for changes in your plan. While it’s important to have a content strategy, it’s equally important to leave room for inspiration and magic. Sometimes, you might be inspired to write about a new topic or receive feedback from your audience that leads you in a different direction. Embrace these opportunities for growth and adjust your plan accordingly.
Creating 12 blog outlines is as simple as jotting down ideas and tuning into what your audience needs help with. If you have a rough idea of your business goals, you can align your content to upcoming workshops, courses, etc. (instead of frantically scrabbling to pull together something to share on social media lastminute.com)!
Why You Should Make Your Content Plan Flexible
It’s important to strike a balance between having a structured plan and being flexible. While a detailed and rigid content calendar may seem appealing, it’s not practical in a world where unexpected events can occur. You can’t predict everything that will happen in 2024, so it’s essential to give yourself some wiggle room.
Flexibility allows you to adapt to changing circumstances and seize new opportunities. It also allows for creativity and inspiration to flow. By being open to change, you can ensure that your content remains relevant and engaging.
Put it this way, I bet anyone who created a very detailed rigid content calendar in 2020 had to quickly pivot! Unless you’re psychic, you’re not going to be able to predict world events that haven’t happened yet, so it’s good to give yourself some wiggle room.
The other thing is that if you’re creative, you have to allow for switching your plan because you’re inspired by a new topic or maybe you have to go in a different direction based on feedback from your people. So map out a content plan, but don’t be too rigid, leave room for magic and inspiration 🙂
This is about creating a content calendar that works for you and your business, not being rigid and stifling!
How To Put Together Your Content Strategy For 2024
Now that you know the importance of flexibility, here’s a step-by-step process for creating your content strategy for 2024.
- Start by understanding your audience. Who are they? What are their pain points and interests? By knowing your audience, you can create content that resonates with them.
- Set clear goals for your content. What do you want to achieve with your blog? Do you want to increase website traffic, generate leads, or establish yourself as an industry expert? Define your goals to guide your content creation process.
- Research keywords and topics. Use tools like Keywords Everywhere to identify relevant keywords and topics that align with your audience’s interests. This will help you optimise your content for search engines and attract organic traffic.
- Create an editorial calendar. Outline your blog topics for each month, taking into consideration important dates and events in your industry. This will ensure that your content remains timely and relevant.
- Plan your content promotion. Don’t just create content and hope for the best. Develop a strategy for promoting your blog posts across different platforms, such as social media, email newsletters, and guest blogging.
- Monitor and analyse your results. Regularly review your content performance using tools like Google Analytics. This will help you identify what works and what doesn’t, allowing you to refine your content strategy over time.
Here’s your step-by-step guide to content planning:
Remember why you’re doing this: you’re giving your people a reason to visit your website and making sure that there’s helpful content that’s timely and relevant.
You’re also making your life easier by creating a bank of content inspiration that you can use for other platforms, such as Instagram. You only need to map out 12 blog topics or themes, so this isn’t going to be draining and time-consuming.
Now that you know the benefits of creating a blog content strategy and how important it is to make sure it’s flexible, let’s jump into how to put together a strategic plan for 2024.
Blog Calendar Planning Prompts
To help you get started with your blog calendar planning, here are some prompts to spark your creativity:
- What are the top challenges your audience faces?
- What are the latest trends in your industry?
- Are there any upcoming holidays or events you can tie your content to?
- What questions do your audience frequently ask?
- Can you share personal stories or case studies that illustrate your expertise?
- Are there any industry reports or studies you can analyse and share insights from?
- Think about themes relevant to your industry – look up key dates e.g. starting school if you teach Mindfulness to young children.
Remember, the key is to create valuable and engaging content that resonates with your audience. By planning ahead and staying flexible, you can ensure that your blog remains a valuable resource for your readers.
Jotting down these ideas means that you’re no longer staring at a blank page, struggling to come up with topics.
Remember, this is about outlining topics, you’re not trying to craft 12 stellar blog posts all in one go!
Learn from a Life Coach Blog Strategy Example
Let’s take a look at an example to illustrate how a life coach can use a blog content strategy to attract clients and promote their services.
M. is a life coach who specialises in helping women prioritise self-care and recover from burnout. She wants to use her blog to attract potential clients and nurture her existing email list. Here’s how she can create a blog content strategy for 2024:
- Identify her target audience: Stressed-out women who are looking to prioritize self-care and overcome burnout.
- Set goals: Increase website traffic, generate leads, and establish herself as an expert in self-care and burnout recovery.
- Research keywords and topics: Explore topics like self-care tips for busy mums, overcoming burnout in the workplace, and mindfulness practices for stress relief.
- Create an editorial calendar: Outline blog topics for each month, focusing on different aspects of self-care and burnout recovery. For example, May could be about setting intentions for the summer holidays, while September could focus on self-love practices once the kids are back to school.
- Plan content promotion: Develop a strategy for promoting her blog posts on social media, through her email newsletter, and by guest posting on relevant websites.
- Monitor and analyse results: Track website traffic, engagement, and conversions to assess the effectiveness of her content strategy. Adjust her plan as needed based on the data.
By following these steps, M. can create a blog that attracts her target audience, positions her as an expert, and ultimately helps her grow her coaching business.
Blog content examples:
- 6 Self-care Tips for Busy Executives
- 3 Must-Read Books on Self-care
- The Ultimate List of Self-care Tips for the Time Poor
You get the gist. At the end of each blog, she adds a simple call to action to book a complimentary call and she repurposes the content on YouTube and in her weekly newsletter.
Pro Tip: Use isitwpheadlineanalyzer to write catchy headlines that hook the reader in.
Key Takeaway
Having a simple blog content plan for 2024 is essential for any business owner who wants to create valuable content and attract their target audience. It could also make your life a whole lot easier!
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can streamline your content creation process and ensure that your blog remains a valuable resource for your readers.
Remember to be flexible and open to change. Allow room for creativity and inspiration to flow. And most importantly, create content that resonates with your audience and helps them overcome their challenges.
Download my free 2024 blogging content planner and start creating a blog that you’re proud to share.
Good luck with the blog content plan template and I’d love to hear how you’re getting on with this, so please do keep me posted!
P.S. If you feel like you need more help with your blog content strategy, try this post for inspiration.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
😎 Grab the Free Blog Planner so that you can generate a year’s worth of blog content inspiration without overwhelm.
This is an amazing blog post Marie. The tools you have provided are so helpful. Thanks for sharing.