If you’re looking to organize your social media posts more effectively, creating a content calendar in Google Sheets can be really helpful. It might sound a bit techy, but it’s actually quite straightforward and can make your life a lot easier when planning what to share on your social accounts.
What is a Social Media Content Calendar?
A content calendar is like a schedule for your social media posts. It helps you see what you’re posting and when, which is super handy for staying organized. Instead of scrambling each day to think of something to share, you can plan ahead and make sure your posts are consistent and engaging.
Step 1: Open Google Sheets & Setup Your Sheet
First, go to Google Sheets and start a new spreadsheet. Name something clear and easy to remember, like “Social Media Content Calendar.”
Step 2: Fill in Dates
Begin by entering ‘1’ in the cell where the month starts. Then, use a formula to automatically calculate the next date. For instance, if your starting date is in cell B3, the formula to use in the next cell would be: =B3 + 1
Copy and paste this formula across the row until the end of the week or row. Once you’ve completed one row, simply repeat this process for each subsequent row.
Step 2: Define Your Calendar Structure
Your calendar should have columns for each important piece of information. Here’s a basic structure to get you started:
- Platform
- Due Date
- Content Pillar (e.g. Curated Content Post, Q&A, Tips & Tricks, User Generated Content)
- Topic
- Format
- File Link
- Image/Video to Use
- Status
- Notes
Once you’ve added the information you want on your content calendar, it’s useful to keep the calendar visible on the side as a reference for dates.
Note: These are just starting points. Feel free to add or remove columns based on your needs.
Step 3: Fill in Your Content
With your structure in place, start planning your posts. Think about upcoming events, product launches, or holidays you want to highlight. Fill in each section with your planned content, staggered across different times and platforms for maximum reach.
I suggest creating two sheets for this purpose: one detailed sheet for comprehensive calendar information including platform, date, content pillar, topic, file link, images and notes. The other sheet serves as an overview of the calendar, allowing you to easily see which topics are scheduled for each day.
If you have multiple posts scheduled for one day, make sure to include all the topics in both the detailed sheet and the calendar overview. For instance, on 1/1/2024, you might list posts under the Product Launch and Educational Content pillars. Make sure to specify the corresponding topics in the topic column as well.
You might choose different colors for each social media platform or indicate post status (for instance, green for “Published” and yellow for “Scheduled”).
To color a cell, click on it, then choose the “Fill color” icon in the toolbar and select your color.
If you’re working with a team, Google Sheets makes it super simple to share your calendar. Just click on the “Share” button in the upper right corner and enter the email addresses of your team members. You can assign them viewing, commenting, or editing permissions based on their roles in the content creation process.
Get a copy of the free Social Media Content Calendar Template.
Enhance Your Calendar with FileDrop
FileDrop is a sidebar app for Google Sheets, Docs and Slides. It has a feature that is particularly useful for attaching various types of files to your content planning process, keeping everything organized and easily accessible.
Step 1: Install FileDrop
If you don’t have FileDrop yet, you can get it in Google Workspace Marketplace.
Step 2: Drag and Drop Files
Open the FileDrop sidebar in your Google Sheet. You can drag and drop files into specific cells or use the Drive tab to get your files from your Google Drive account.
You can upload images from your computer through the Upload tab.
On the Drive tab, you can easily access the photos from your Google Drive account without opening a new window, downloading the image, and uploading it again.
Step 3: Access File History
FileDrop keeps a history of your uploaded files, making it easy to reuse files without uploading them multiple times. Click the “Library” tab to see your uploaded files.
Video Tutorial
Final Thoughts
Making your content calendar in Google Sheets with FileDrop features helps you stay organized and easily access important files for your planning. Whether you’re scheduling posts or reviewing content this simple integration keeps everything efficient and on target for your social media strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Consider adding columns for engagement metrics, target audience demographics, post themes, or campaign hashtags to enhance your planning and analysis.
It’s generally recommended to plan your social media content calendar at least a few weeks to a month in advance. This allows for ample time to brainstorm ideas, create content, and schedule posts strategically around key dates and events relevant to your audience.
Use hashtags that are relevant to your content and audience. Mix popular hashtags with niche-specific ones to reach a broader audience while targeting your ideal followers. Avoid overly generic hashtags and choose ones that are trending or regularly used by your target community.
A good social media posting schedule depends on your audience and the platform you use. Generally, consistency is key. For most platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, posting 3-5 times per week is effective. However, it’s important to monitor engagement metrics to determine the optimal posting times and frequencies for your specific audience.
A social media planner or content calendar helps you stay organized and consistent with your social media posts. It ensures you maintain a cohesive brand voice, plan ahead for promotions and events, and optimize your posting schedule for maximum engagement. Whether you’re a small business or a large organization, a social media planner can streamline your content strategy and save time.
