9 Ways To Build a Social Media Content Calendar

As of 2021, there are 3.78 billion people that use social media. 

Facebook still leads with 68% of the US market using this platform. Every day, social media is used by 84% of people aged 18-29, 81% of people aged 30-49, 73% of people aged 50-64, and 45% of people aged 65 and up. 

These statistics prove how relevant social media is in our every-day lives, and of course, it has a huge impact on business. In order for your business to thrive, you need to put it on the map using Facebook Paid Ads , Instagram Ads, LinkedIn Marketing, YouTube Ads, and TikTok ads. 

Not only should you consistently post sponsored ads, but you also need to post regular content on a consistent basis to achieve brand awareness and conversions. 

This is where a social media content calendar comes in, and this article shows you how to build an effective one that will work for your business.

1. Use one of the Social Media Calendar Tools

One of the easiest ways of simplifying the process of creating a social media content calendar is by using a social media calendar tool. There are many out there such as:

• Sprout Social
• Oktopost 
• Hootsuite
• ContentCal
• Sendible

2. Implement a Social Media Strategy

Collaborate with your team and figure out what your social media content objectives are. Initially, are you just looking for brand awareness, or do you desire quick conversions? Plan according to your main objectives. Also know your target audience, it’s highly important to know the demographics of the audience you want to target.

3. Choose Your Social Media Channels

According to your business, your social media needs will vary. If your business is mainly B2B focused, then LinkedIn and Facebook will be your best social media channels. If your business is based on health and fitness, as well as accessories and makeup, then Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are the best social media channels for you to use.

4. Create a Content Library

The initial stages of creating a social media content calendar are usually quite easy as you should have a content library of all your assets that you can use immediately. These are all the blogs, videos, and media coverage you already have on your site that can be published without the need for too much editing.

5. Create Interesting High-Quality Content

Even if you have a content library, you will need to create more content that the public can engage with. These include:

• eBooks
• Images
• Infographics
• Blogs
• Links to External Content
• Videos
• Live Videos
• Video Stories
• Testimonial & Reviews
• Contests
• Announcements

6. Mark Important Calendar Dates

It’s important to note all calendar dates that stand out, such as important holidays such as Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Rosh Hashanah, Ramadan, Diwali, and so on. Sports events are also important such as the NBA playoffs, Super Bowl, Rugby World Cup, Cricket World Cup, and soccer events. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are important too. 

Special content needs to be created for public holidays, such as Australia Day and Anzac Day, and finally content needs to be made for the “ultimate sales events” Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

7. Best Time to Publish and Schedule Posts on Social Media

It’s very important to be on top of things and post and schedule posts consistently, preferably at the same time each day. This is where social media tools like Sprout Social come in. They make life much easier for you, and this help you with your scheduling. 

Note that it may take between one to three days to create a month worth of scheduled social media posts, it all depends on the amount of content you have to share. The times you post your content is also highly important. 

According to Sprout Social:

The best time to post on Facebook in 2021

The best time to post on Facebook is between 9:00 and 13:00 on a Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, with the worst day being Saturday.   

The best time to post on Instagram in 2021

Instagram’s best posting day is Tuesday between 11:00 and 14:00 and after that Monday through Friday at 11:00. The worst day to post is Sunday.

The best time to share a post on Twitter in 2021

Twitter’s best posting day is Wednesday at 9:00 to 15:00, followed by Tuesday through Thursday between 9:00 and 11:00. The worst day to post effectively on Twitter is Saturday. 

The best time to share a post on LinkedIn in 2021

LinkedIn’s is a bit different to the above as it is purely for business professionals, and it reflects this in the posting days and times. The best times to post are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 until  00:00, with Tuesday and Wednesday having the biggest impact, while Sunday trailing off as the worst day to post.

8. Measure Your Social Media Analytics

Your social media tool will have an analytics feature showing you what is and isn’t, working with regards to your social media posts. When analyzing the information, you need to look at engagement metrics such as clicks, shares, likes, and comments. You also need to take note of the impressions and reach you are creating. Of course, your ROI is one of the main objectives of your entire social media campaigns, and you will need to take a look at both referrals and conversions. 

9. Take Control of Customer Care

It goes without saying that once your posts are out there, you must be on top of customer care both with response rate and time. This just adds to the user experience and repeat business. 

Conclusion

Building your social media content calendar will be a breeze once you follow the above guidelines. Not only will it become easier to have all your social media material under control as time passes, but you will be able to fulfill your objectives more effectively than you could ever imagine this way.

If you want to drive sales and push your business forward using the best social media strategies, contact one of our expert Digital Strategists today!