Top 5 Reasons to Use an Editorial Calendar

I would like to share a little secret of mine. It's my best friend when it comes to content planning: editorial calendars. Here's how they can also help you in your content journey.

A calendar with red push pins to mark key dates.

1. Track Due Dates - The most obvious reason for creating an editorial calendar is to track your deadlines. But beyond that, an editorial calendar can also help you plan the steps you need to take before critical due dates arrive.
   

2. Coordinate with Colleagues - In your weekly leadership meetings, your content lead can remind everyone about upcoming editorial calendar topics to keep them abreast about what's going on. The discussions are likely to spark ideas from others who may want to contribute to the common goal. It will likely go something like this. "I'm glad you mentioned that. I think I have a related topic that your team might want to cross-promote. I'll send you the link." In addition to discussing your editorial calendar with your colleagues, you might also consider sharing it on your intranet for easy access.
   

3. Assign Responsibility - Depending on your organization, you may have many hands in the pot when it comes to managing your content. Using an editorial calendar can help those involved (e.g., writers, designers, editors, producers, publishers) understand what role they play in the process to make sure the team doesn't miss a deadline.
   

4. Repurpose Content - I don't know about you, but we have a presence on several social media and blog platforms. What we have learned throughout the years is that what might work well on one platform might not work as well on another. Something that worked well on our LinkedIn feed might not be as appealing on Instagram, X, or TikTok audience. The good news is that you can repurpose content to make it work for your target audience.
   

5. Review Metrics - At the end of the year, it's always a great idea to reflect on what content worked well and what didn't. Taking a look at the numbers can help you plan for next year once you have a better understanding of your users' goals.