5 Reasons You Need an Editorial Calendar for Your Blog

I hail from the world of magazine publishing, so I am intimately familiar with editorial calendars—along with the value of having one. And let me tell you, if you think you can just “wing” it with blog content, you’re wrong (seriously…). Creating an editorial calendar will not only save you time, but it is certain to improve the quality of the articles you post on a regular basis. I promise. Trust me. Have I ever led you down the wrong path?

Okay, so we don’t know each other very well, but you really will have to go with me on this one. If you do one thing this week, create an editorial calendar. You won’t regret it.

Need more proof that I’m right?

Here are five more reasons –beyond the time and quality convo we had above—you need to create an editorial calendar TODAY.

1. The quantity of your blog posts will increase. By building a schedule of posts, you won’t be sitting in front of the blank screen for hours, wondering what you should be blogging about today.
2. You will increase your search traffic. The search engines love, love, love new content. By posting more often, you’re feeding them. They give you points for that. It’s good SEO. Post quality content – on a regular basis – and Google just might have to take you to dinner. Yes. It’s that good. So do it.
3. You can map your content to key events and themes. Creating a calendar will give you a way to create content that directly relates to events or holidays that are important to your business. Hosting a conference in May? Blog about relative topics in April – driving traffic to the event. St. Patrick’s Day a big day for your business? Schedule in some posts about shamrocks and leprechauns and free up your time today for a swig or two of green beer.
4. Your readership will increase. If you’re blogging randomly, without a schedule or content plan, your readers will catch on – quickly. Posting regularly sets the expectation for the reader, and keeps them coming back. Consider a weekly “roundup” post or feature like “Technical Tuesday” or “Monday Madness” to engage readers and have them coming back to see what’s on deck for the week.
5. You can leave the building. If you don’t have an editorial calendar in place, you will have a hard time blogging from your (tiny) cabin in the Caribbean. Put together a calendar, write the posts, lock and load them into your blog BEFORE you board the plane for that exotic vacation (you deserve!).

I know I said there was only five, but I lied. The thing I like most about an editorial calendar is that I can see – at a glance—what I’ve posted, and what’s coming up in the next month. Makes me less redundant, I think. I give that to you as a bonus.

And if you’re looking for a plugin for WordPress, check out this one.

So what do you think? Do you have an editorial calendar for your blog? Will you create one? How do you stay on track? Share in comments below!