Blogging & Content Plan

 
Blogging & Content Plan
  
1-Year Blog Strategy & Content Plan

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Website
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Statements to Define Your Blog

Can you identify three (3) statements or positions your BLOG will focus on or stand for this YEAR?

These can be things, causes, people, or initiatives that you want to support or even just 'threads' you want to weave into your content throughout the year.
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Position #1
Position #2
Position #3
What are the three (3) promises or commitments you're making to your BLOG community this YEAR?

These can be in terms of the content you intend to provide, goals you intent to accomplish, a level of transparency you want to initiate, or even just a community you plan to foster.
Promise #1
Promise #2
Promise #3
What are three (3) questions that you intend to answer for your readers/community via your BLOG this YEAR?                                                                   
Question #1

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Question #2

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Question #3

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Blog Branding Overview
Target Audience

Who do you hope to reach with your BLOG? Who are you speaking to? What is their age, gender, employment status, location, etc...

Who do you hope to reach with your BLOG? Who are you speaking to? What is their age, gender, employment status, location, etc...
BLOG Content Categories/Topics

What content you will be creating to help your BLOG audience? What major categories will you cover? Will you be providing tips, instruction, opinion, etc...

What content you will be creating to help your BLOG audience? What major categories will you cover? Will you be providing tips, instruction, opinion, etc...
How will your BLOG content help your Audience?

What will your audience receive by reading your BLOG? What will make them want to come back and read more or leave a comment?


What will your audience receive by reading your BLOG? What will make them want to come back and read more or leave a comment?
Vision and Future of your BLOG

Write a short statement about the future of your BLOG, where you see it going, and how you hope readers and your community view your BLOG.

Write a short statement about the future of your BLOG, where you see it going, and how you hope readers and your community view your BLOG.
Desired BLOG Culture

Write a short statement about the type of \'culture\' you envision creating with your BLOG and how you hope to see readers and your community interact with your BLOG. This can include tone, appearance, personality, and special customs.

Write a short statement about the type of \'culture\' you envision creating with your BLOG and how you hope to see readers and your community interact with your BLOG. This can include tone, appearance, personality, and special customs.
 
Blog Content Strategy

Blog Categories:

Categories are the various topics that your content can be divided into. These are usually general topics that often relate back to your business and the services or products that you specialize in. These are the areas that you hope to be considered an expert in and build a following around.

The difference between categories and tags - 'Food' would be a category, where 'rice' or 'chocolate' would be a tag on a post in the 'food' category.

We recommend planning around your content categories in order to keep a healthy mix.

For example: if you have 4 categories and plan to post once a week, you may find that 1 post per category is a good mix.
Content Categories: List the major categories that your content falls into
Content Tags: Brainstorm potential tags that you may use for your content
Content Styles:

Another consideration is the writing style(s) that you plan to incorporate. Styles might include; instructional, informational, opinion, personality, video, audio, guest posts, etc...

Determining your ideal style mix will also help you in planning out your content calander.

For Example: If you post weekly and your goal is mostly opinion, with some informational and instructional content, then you might choose a strategy of 2 opinion posts per month, 1 informational post, and 1 instructional post.Content Styles:

Another consideration is the writing style(s) that you plan to incorporate. Styles might include; instructional, informational, opinion, personality, video, audio, guest posts, etc...

Determining your ideal style mix will also help you in planning out your content calander.

For Example: If you post weekly and your goal is mostly opinion, with some informational and instructional content, then you might choose a strategy of 2 opinion posts per month, 1 informational post, and 1 instructional post.

Content Strategy: Outline your potential style types and mix for your content

 
Blog Content Calender


 
Quarterly Content Focus

Take a few minutes to note any major topics of interest for each quarter of the year. This should line up with your income goals and any launches or programs that you are running as well as seasonality and topics of interest for your target market.

1st Quarter (January - March)

What initiatives, launches, programs, or interests might you be focusing on for the first quarter of the year?
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What initiatives, launches, programs, or interests might you be focusing on for the first quarter of the year?
2nd Quarter (April - June)

What initiatives, launches, programs, or interests might you be focusing on for the second quarter of the year?


What initiatives, launches, programs, or interests might you be focusing on for the second quarter of the year?
3rd Quarter  (July - September)

What initiatives, launches, programs, or interests might you be focusing on for the third quarter of the year?


What initiatives, launches, programs, or interests might you be focusing on for the third quarter of the year?
4th Quarter (October - December)

What initiatives, launches, programs, or interests might you be focusing on for the fourth quarter of the year?

What initiatives, launches, programs, or interests might you be focusing on for the fourth quarter of the year?
 Monthly Content/Theme Ideas

Taking into consideration your frequency objectives, categories, and style mix, spend a few minutes to note any major topics of interest and content ideas for each month of the year. Keep in mind any industry specific topics as well as seasonality, holidays, etc...
Also list the acompanying actions that you will encourage your readers to take based on your content ideas.
 
Ideas for January:
New Years Day
Martin Luther King Jr Day
Trivia Day 
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
National Mentoring Month
National Braille Literacy Month
National Blood Donor Month
National Hobby Month
Human Trafficking Awareness Month
National Thank You Month

January Theme and Content Planning Ideas

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in January?


What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in January?
 January Call To Action(s)

What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.


What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.

 
Ideas for February:
 Groundhog Day 
Superbowl Sunday 
Random Acts of Kindness Week 
Valentine’s Day 
Presidents’ Day   
American Heart Month 
Black History Month 
Canned Food Month 
Great American Pie Month National 
Children's Dental Health Month 
National Weddings Month

February Theme and Content Planning Ideas

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in February?
What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in February?
February Call To Action(s)

What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.

What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.
 
Ideas for March:
 Dr. Seuss's Birthday 
Mardi Gras International Women’s Day 
Daylight Savings Begins 
St. Patrick's Day 
International Day of Happiness 
First Day of Spring  
World Water Day 
Ash Wednesday  
International Ideas Month 
Irish American Heritage Month 
MS Education and Awareness Month 
National Craft Month 
National Nutrition Month 
Red Cross Month 
Social Work Month 
Spring Training, MLB 
Women's History Month 
End of the First Quarter

March Theme and Content Planning Ideas

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in March?


What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in March?
March Call To Action(s)

What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.

What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.

 
Ideas for April:
April Fools Day
World Health Day
Passover
Tax Day
Earth Day
National Honesty Day
Alcohol Awareness Month
Autism Awareness Month
International Guitar Month
Lawn and Garden Month
National Humor Month
National Poetry Month
National Volunteer Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Stress Awareness Month
Start of the 2nd Quarter

April Theme and Content Planning Ideas

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in April?
What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in April?
April Call To Action(s)

What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.
What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.
 
Ideas for May:
 Star Wars Day 
Cinco de Mayo 
National Teachers Day 
National Nurses Day 
Mothers Day 
National Small Business Week 
Memorial Day 
National Barbecue Month 
Arthritis Awareness Month 
Mental Health Month 
National Bike Month 
National Foster Care Month 
National Photo Month 
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month 
Older Americans Month


May Theme and Content Planning Ideas

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in May?

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in May?
May Call to Action(s)

What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.


What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.

 
Ideas for June:
 D-Day 
Flag Day 
Fathers Day 
World Refugee Day 
World Environment Day 
Anniversary of the First American Spacewalk (1965) 
National Doughnut Day 
Gay Pride Month 
Great Outdoors Month 
National Adopt-a-Cat Month 
National Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Month 
National Rose Month 
National Zoo and Aquarium Month 
Student Safety Month 
End of the 2nd Quarter 


June Theme and Content Planning Ideas

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in June?
What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in June?
June Call To Action(s)

What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.

What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.
 
Ideas for July:
 Canada Day 
Independence Day 
Bastille Day 
Parents Day 
Amelia Earhart Day 
Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month 
Cord Blood Awareness Month 
National Blueberry Month 
National Cell Phone Courtesy Month 
National Grilling Month 
National Hot Dog Month 
National Ice Cream Month 
National Picnic Month 
National Vacation Rental Month 
Park and Recreation Month 
UV Safety Month 
Start of the 3rd Quarter 

July Theme and Content Planning Ideas

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in July?

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in July?
July Call To Action(s)

What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.

What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.
 
Ideas for August:
 Friendship Day 
Book Lover's Day 
International Left-Handers Day 
World Humanitarian Day 
Women's Equality Day 
International Bacon Day 
Cataract Awareness Month 
Family Fun Month 
National Golf Month 
National Eye Exam Month 
National Breastfeeding Month 
National Immunization Awareness Month 
Psoriasis Awareness Month 
Water Quality Month

August Theme and Content Planning Ideas

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in August?

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in August?
August Call To Action(s)

What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.


What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.
 
  
Ideas for September:
 Labor Day 
9/11 Day 
World Suicide Prevention Day 
International Chocolate Day 
National Coffee Day  
Baby Safety Month 
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 
Classical Music Month 
Hispanic Heritage Month 
Hunger Action Month 
National Courtesy Month 
National Preparedness Month 
National Recovery Month 
Self-Improvement Month 
End of the 3rd Quarter

September Theme and Content Planning Ideas

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in September?

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in September?
September Call To Action(s)

What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.
What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.
 
Ideas for October:
 World Smile Day 
Child Health Day 
Canadian Thanksgiving Columbus Day 
Blog Action Day 
Dictionary Day 
Halloween  
Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month 
Breast Cancer Awareness Month 
Domestic Violence Awareness Month 
Fair Trade Month 
LGBT History Month 
National Apple Month 
National Book Month 
National Energy Awareness Month 
National Bullying Prevention Month 
Sarcastic Month 
SIDS, Pregnancy, Infant Loss Awareness Month 
Substance Abuse Prevention Month 
Start of the 4th Quarter

October Theme and Content Planning Ideas

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in October?
What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in October?
October Call To Action(s)

What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.
What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.
 
Ideas for November:
 Daylight Savings Ends 
Election Day 
Veterans Day 
Great American Smokeout 
U.S. Thanksgiving 
Black Friday 
Small Business Saturday  
American Diabetes Month 
American Indian Heritage Month 
Movember 
National Adoption Awareness Month 
National Blog Posting Month 
National Epilepsy Awareness Month 
National Novel Writing Month 
Peanut Butter Lovers Month

November Theme and Content Planning Ideas

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in November?

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in November?
November Call To Action(s)

What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.
What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.
 
Ideas for December:
 Cyber Monday 
World AIDS Day 
#GivingTuesday 
Hanukkah 
Winter Soltice 
Christmas 
Kwanzaa 
New Year's Eve 
Bingo Month 
National Eggnog Month 
National Fruitcake Month 
Safe Toys and Gifts Month 
Write a Friend Month 
End of the 4th Quarter


December Theme and Content Planning Ideas

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in December?

What would you target audience find most useful, interesting, or pertinent in December?
December Call To Action(s)

What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.
What actions do you want to encourage based on your BLOG content? Consider your quarterly initiatives, income sources, and monthly themes. Please include links if you have them.
 
Blogging Goals

What is your CURRENT frequency? How often do you currently publish new content on your blog?
   

Select...
What is your frequency GOAL? How often would you like to publish new content on your BLOG?
Select...
Use these frequency goals to help ensure you have enough ideas to accomplish your goals.

For Example: If your goal is to publish 2-3 times a week, then you should have 8-12 content ideas per month. Alternately, you could plan 4 content series per month, as long as each series will allow you to post 2-3 times per topic.

Using your BLOG, what are your priorities over the next 3 months?
Select...
Describe how you intend to accomplish this and stay on target.

Be specific. Include a timeline and deliverables. 


Be specific. Include a timeline and deliverables. 
Describe how you will measure this and what your measures of success will be

Consider what it would look or feel like if you accomplished your goal(s). What would you see as a result?

Consider what it would look or feel like if you accomplished your goal(s). What would you see as a result?
Using your BLOG, what are your priorities over the next 6 months?
Select...
Describe how you intend to accomplish this and stay on target

Be specific. Include a timeline and deliverables. 

Be specific. Include a timeline and deliverables. 
Describe how you will measure this and what your measures of success will be

Consider what it would look or feel like if you accomplished your goal(s). What would you see as a result?
Consider what it would look or feel like if you accomplished your goal(s). What would you see as a result?
Using your BLOG, what are your priorities over the next 12 months?
Select...
Describe how you intend to accomplish this and stay on target

Be specific. Include a timeline and deliverables. 

Be specific. Include a timeline and deliverables. 
Describe how you will measure this and what your measures of success will be

Consider what it would look or feel like if you accomplished your goal(s). What would you see as a result? - Remember this is a long-term goal...
Consider what it would look or feel like if you accomplished your goal(s). What would you see as a result? - Remember this is a long-term goal...
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Use these priorities to ensure you outline the appropriate action items to accomplish your goals.
For Example: If your primary goal is to grow your email subscriber base, you should have at least 50% of your CTAs each month going to an opt-in form for your newsletter. That opt-in could be for a lead generator incentive (free report, ebook, etc...) that is related to the content in your post or just a general call to join your community for updates and announcements.

 Congratulations! You have completed our 1-Year Blogging Strategy and Content Planning guide. Click submit and your submission will be emailed to you at the address entered above.
We recommend that you take note of (at least) your average website views before you make any changes or initiate this new plan. Then we recommend reviewing those statistics each month to see if there has been any improvement in traffic to your site. It will also be helpful for you to note which posts and categories are getting the most traffic and engagement (comments, shares, etc...), for future planning efforts.