Tips in Organizing Editorial Calendars
Content writing is a dynamic and multidimensional field. It caters to a variety fields such as in the sphere of business, academe, information technology, and many more. The power of content writing ranges from its ability to capture the interests of individuals and allowing the latter to know more about the developments of certain products, services, persons, events, and the like. However, little do we know that at the heart of content writing is a well-made editorial calendar samples.
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Editorial calendars promote the development of a comprehensive content marketing plan. It is widely utilized by writers, editors, bloggers, publishers, content analysts and any other job post that observes the nature of a content writing industry. They are primarily used to manage the development of the content of specified write-ups and ensure that they are relevant and of high-caliber.
Understanding the Dynamics of an Editorial Calendar
An editorial calendar is used by writers through the application of different media in determining and mapping out the content creation and management processes. Publishers make use of them to ensure that the designated content of the articles and journals they are working on and about to publish are at par with the set qualitative and quantitative standards.
In addition to this, the content creation processes vary considerably depending on the nature of the business of a publisher, content creation companies, or individuals. Nonetheless, the following stages are some of the stages of content creation and publication:
- Discussion of possible topics and what medium to use;
- Determining what are the specific breakdown of topics to be supplied with content;
- Coming up with a publication schedule;
- Actual writing of the designated topics;
- Proofreading and editing; and
- Publishing of approved and finalized works.
However, the details of the process will truly vary. It is important for you to have a deep understanding of your company’s content creation, marketing, and development processes before coming up with an editorial calendar.
Key Points to Consider
There are other pertinent factors that you need to take into account when establishing an editorial calendar. Consider the following:
Goals, Objectives, and Priorities
The structure and form of editorial calendars vary across companies and organizations. This is because organizations have their own subjective goals and editorial priorities. Before coming up with an editorial calendar, it is highly suggested that you identify your priorities and respective purpose of the proposed content creation. Furthermore, you should also factor in the brand and standards of your organization or company.
Structure and Formatting
The calendar’s structure must be comprehensive and holistic. Aside from the usual inclusions of a content calendar such as the subject matter and the deadlines, you should also consider the varying workflow status and your strategies in disseminating the published content to the public.
In terms of formatting, it would depend on the nature of the content. You need to consider the preferences of the targeted audience and readers.
Human Resources
When discussing content creation, human intervention cannot be ignored. The tools, applications, and devices will not work their magic without the application of human knowledge and performance. You need to meet regularly with your staff and conduct professional training for them to fully comprehend the designated tasks.
Essential Elements of Editorial Calendars
After outlining the pertinent considerations, it is about time that you familiarize the basic elements of an editorial calendar.
Content Lists
This would refer to the relevant information about the proposed content. The calendar must provide a break down of the different topics and keywords that will be used for preparation, creation, and development purposes.
Titles
A well-written, concise, and eye-grabbing title can boost the credibility and efficacy of a certain article, blog post, or any published document. Hence, be clever in the selection of titles.
Bylines
The name of the writer or author of the article must also appear in the calendar. In order for the editor or the content manager to oversee and monitor the progress of the written output.
Schedules and Deadlines
This is one of the critical section of an editorial calendar. All write-ups must be finished before or within the due date. The writer or author should know about the proposed date of publication.
How to Enhance the Quality of Editorial Calendars
We all know that writers and editors try their very best to provide quality and engaging content and write-ups for their readers. Editorial calendars play a key role in attaining this goal. To ensure that your calendars’ efficacy and quality, here are some tips and points that you may ponder upon:
Consider the current mood and interests of the target audience.
The structure and form of any basic calendar must adhere to the current trends and preferences of society. In line with this, conducting extensive research can help you come up with engaging and timely topics that can hook the attention of your readers. Your calendar becomes more effective if its content is well-researched and well-planned.
Make a flexible calendar.
Your calendar must be designed in a way that makes it susceptible to change. It should be flexible enough to respond to unforeseen changes. Rigid calendars can be very difficult to modify and manage. Moreover, flexible calendars make it convenient for the team to make possible changes specifically whenever things don’t go their own way.
Every idea and suggestion matters.
For those who are assigned to manage the calendar, they must be opened to ideas and suggestions from their colleagues. Building a calendar that is a product of participatory and cooperative undertakings and the forum is more comprehensive and holistic compared to other calendars.
Make a timely breakdown of ideas.
Timeliness is a critical concept that your team must consider. A well-made calendar gives emphasis on special dates and schedules. Time management must be evident to ensure that everything gets done on time without comprising the overall quality of the chosen topics.
Hence, editorial calendars make it easy for editors, writers, publishers, bloggers, and other members of the content team to draft and observe a systematic and goal-oriented plan of actions.
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