Creating Your Social Media Content Calendar: A Small Business Owner’s Guide
Are you staring at your phone wondering what to post on social media today? Trust us, we’ve been there. As small business owners ourselves, we know the struggle of maintaining a consistent social media presence while juggling everything else. That’s why we’re sharing our tried-and-true method for creating a social media content calendar that actually works.
Running your social media by the seat of your pants isn’t just stressful; it’s inefficient. A content calendar helps you:
Plan content strategically around important dates and launches
Maintain a consistent posting schedule
Save time by batching your content creation
Ensure your messaging aligns with your business goals
Reduce daily decision fatigue
Not sure where to start? Continue below.
STEP 1:
Choose Your Planning Period
Start by deciding how far in advance you want to plan. We recommend beginning with a monthly calendar, as it gives you enough runway to be strategic while remaining flexible. Once you’re comfortable with monthly planning, you can expand to quarterly if desired.
Step 2:
Audit Your Current Social Media
Before planning future content, take stock of what’s working now. Look at your insights across all platforms and note:
✔ Which posts got the most engagement? ✔ What times of day perform best? ✔ Which content types (photos, videos, carousels) resonate most? ✔ What topics drive the most meaningful interactions?
Use these insights to inform your future content strategy.
step 3:
Define Your Content Pillars
Content pillars are the main themes or categories your posts will fall under. For example, a jewelry store might have these pillars:
✔ Product showcases ✔ Behind-the-scenes content ✔ Styling tips ✔ Customer features ✔ Educational content about gemstones ✔ Personal brand/owner stories
Aim for 4-6 pillars that you can rotate through consistently.
step 4:
Set Up Your Calendar Structure
Now for the practical part. Create a spreadsheet or use a planning tool with the following columns:
✔ Date and time ✔ Platform ✔ Content pillar ✔ Post type (photo, video, carousel, etc.) ✔ Caption ✔ Hashtags ✔ Visuals needed ✔ Call-to-action ✔ Status (planned, created, scheduled, published)
step 5:
Plan Your Content Mix
Here’s where the magic happens. Start filling in your calendar using this framework:
1. Mark important dates first: ✔ Holidays ✔ Product launches ✔ Sales or promotions ✔ Industry events ✔ Local community happenings
2. Fill in regular features: ✔ Weekly series ✔ Monthly themes ✔ Regular promotional posts
3. Add content from your pillars: ✔ Aim for a balanced mix ✔ Alternate between promotional and value-adding content ✔ Leave room for timely or spontaneous posts
step 6:
Create Content Batches
Instead of creating posts one at a time, set aside dedicated days for:
This approach is much more efficient than trying to do everything on the fly.
step 7:
Review and Adjust
At the end of each month:
✔ Review what performed well ✔ Note any content gaps ✔ Adjust your strategy based on insights ✔ Plan for the next month
Remember, your content calendar should be a helpful tool, not a rigid constraint. Leave room for spontaneous posts and trending topics while maintaining your overall structure.
Need More Help Getting Organized?
We’ve taken everything we’ve learned about content planning and created done-for-you templates that make this process even easier in our Thrifty Shoppe. Join now for free for:
Our bestselling Social Media Content Calendar Template
Monthly Content Pillar Workbook
Hashtag Strategy Guide
Caption Templates Bundle
Social Media Audit Worksheet
Each template comes with detailed instructions and examples to help you hit the ground running. Visit Your One Stop Shop For Entrepreneurial Tools to grab these resources and transform your social media strategy today!
Remember, consistent content is key to building an engaged audience, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right tools and systems in place, you can create a social media presence that feels authentic, engaging, and manageable.
Happy planning!
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Don’t have time to plan out your social media? Let us do the work for you. Visit our social media page for a list of our package. So you can free up mental space by having us do the work for you.
