Content material plan templates make it doable to trace content material concepts from brainstorming and creation to design, publishing, and packaging. Utilizing a template (or full on system) makes it doable to align these low-level plans with overarching enterprise objectives.

Nevertheless, “content material plan” is a fairly broad class and means various things to completely different folks. For some, this implies a easy editorial calendar.

For others, it’s a full-scale challenge administration and content material operations system.

I’ve used dozens of various instruments, configurations, and templates to handle content material through the years. Listed here are my favourite templates that span the spectrum from easy to superior.

monday.com: Content material planning templates for one of the best challenge administration answer

monday.com is an all-in-one challenge administration answer constructed on relational databases that make it extremely customizable and versatile if you wish to put within the work to customise it.

It’s free to enroll when you have one or two folks however you’re restricted to a few tasks. That’s greater than sufficient to strive the template out, but it surely received’t get you so far as different free plans on the market.

Extra monday.com protection: monday.com overview | Notion vs monday.com | Asana vs monday.com.

Template 1: Plan full tasks and content material work in a single place

monday.com’s content material planning template comes with every part you must brainstorm, handle, overview, and schedule your whole content material. Whether or not you’re working a weblog, getting ready movies on YouTube, creating social posts, or a mix of all these, you’ll get all the weather you want.

Whereas it does require extra customization than others, it provides you full management to make the template work the way you do.

Template options:

• 30+ column sorts.
• Drag-and-drop editor to customise your board.
• Add recordsdata and fix hyperlinks to particular duties.
• Integrates with Slack, Google Drive, Google Calendar, and extra.
• Means to plan content material months prematurely.
• Superior collaboration capabilities.
• Automated notifications.

You’ll be able to simply change between board, desk, Gantt, and calendar view (relying in your plan) to see the best stage of element for what you’re doing.

Need to perceive general timelines at a look? Gantt chart or calendar view will work properly. Must see what duties are assigned to you and once they’re due? You’ll be able to arrange a filtered view that exhibits your whole work throughout your complete board in a single place.

With a full suite of automations on increased tiers, you’ll be capable of arrange absolutely automated workflows that replace statuses, assign the best folks, alter due dates, and extra.

One of many extra distinctive features of this template is the power to add and set up recordsdata.

Template 2: For Website positioning-focused content material planning

This template isn’t as broad as the primary — it’s targeted on Website positioning content material. Apart from that, this one was created by a monday.com consumer reasonably than the software program supplier itself. I like user-contributed templates as a result of it normally means they have been created out of necessity.

Template options:

• 1,260+ downloads.
• Limitless free use with a monday.com free plan.
• Website positioning briefs for content material plans.
• Standing column to trace plans by execution.
• Constructed-in AI assistant.
• Superior search and filtering for content material planning at scale.
• Crew tagging and collaboration options.

Apart from being created out of necessity, it’s extra seemingly consumer templates have been used and improved in actual world eventualities. As such, you find yourself with a template that displays precise workflows.

Because the cherry on high, you continue to get all the options and advantages that include monday.com. So for those who’re planning Website positioning content material together with your workforce, you’ll be capable of map out your goal key phrases and execute your Website positioning plan from begin to end.

My favourite half about this template is that it comes with an Website positioning temporary. That is one thing you’ll be able to reuse for your whole content material. You’ll be able to simply connect a short to every project, giving the author and editor every part they want.

I’ve used this very same technique to generate thousands and thousands of clicks throughout a number of web sites with my content material workforce. They are often extremely efficient for those who use them persistently.

One downside is that monday.com doesn’t embrace calendar views with its free plan or entry-level paid plan. It’s solely provided on the mid-tier Commonplace plan and better. So that you’ll both have to stay with out it, improve for entry, or use a distinct content material calendar template.

Content material plan templates for ClickUp (the runner up)

ClickUp, like monday.com, is a challenge administration and process administration software program with a complete free plan you should use to get began. It has a whole bunch of free templates you can begin with and you may customise nearly every part to match your wants.

You need to use it to collaborate together with your workforce and handle every stage of the content material planning and manufacturing course of — from brainstorming and assigning to creation and publishing.

Extra ClickUp protection: ClickUp overview | ClickUp vs Notion | Smartsheet vs ClickUp. 

Template 1: A template for tying content material and subtasks to high-level objectives

Should you’re something like me, you like every part from goals and objectives to content material and subtasks to be linked. That’s precisely what this ClickUp template helps with.

It permits you to begin with broad content material objectives and different big-picture goals. You’ll be able to lay out every part you need your content material to perform and all the time have that shut by in case you or anybody your workforce forgets.

Template options:

• 9 customized fields.
• Constructed-in time monitoring.
• Dependency warnings.
• Means to create subcategories for added group.
• Coloration-coded tagging for enhanced visualization.

After excessive stage planning, you’ll be able to add content material concepts and subtasks for each. This allows you to get extremely granular whereas conserving every part tied collectively.

There are a number of views, together with calendar, Kanban, record, grid, extra. Everybody from managers and editors to writers and uploaders can view their work in no matter method works finest for them.

You’ll additionally be capable of arrange content material pillars and observe progress for each.

Template 2: A beginner-friendly social media content material planning template

Want a easy method to preserve observe of social media content material? ClickUp’s free social media template is nice for people or companies that need assistance managing social content material at excessive volumes throughout a number of channels.

This template makes it simple to plan from the highest down. After the preliminary arrange, you’ll know what to publish, which channel it’s occurring, and when to push it stay.

Template options:

• Straightforward content material prioritization.
• Set due dates and assignees.
• Customized statuses.
• Gantt chart and calendar views.
• Nested subtasks.

Inside every bit of content material, you’ll be able to assign subtasks to completely different workforce members as wanted. Say you want a copywriter to place collectively a couple of traces for a LinkedIn publish however you additionally want a designer to create customized photographs.

With this template, you are able to do each and observe progress for your complete piece at the next stage.

It additionally features a built-in prioritization subject and the power to reschedule content material or shuffle priorities at a second’s discover.

Notion content material planning templates for those who respect flexibility

I consider Notion as a clean slate that may be was absolutely anything so long as you’re prepared to place within the time. It doesn’t come preconfigured for challenge administration like ClickUp and it’s extra customizable than monday.com.

For some, that’s thrilling. For others, it’s debilitating. Should you’re the previous, you’ll love having the ability to tweak each setting and format your system to match your preferences.

Just like the others, it has a free plan you should use to strive it out. Should you’re a person, it will seemingly be greater than sufficient for fairly a while. For groups, the free plan is extra of a free trial to see if it’ll work for what you are promoting.

Extra Notion protection: Notion overview | Coda vs Notion | Notion vs OneNote. 

Template 1: A bare-bones content material plan template with Kanban and calendar views

Should you’re at present utilizing handwritten notes or a clean Phrase doc to prepare your content material concepts, this content material planner template is the improve you’re in search of.

Regardless of Notion’s flexibility, it retains every part easy and is made for absolute newbies.

Template options:

• Constructed-in search to shortly discover what you want.
• “Aspect peak” to see an expanded view with out switching screens.
• Pre-built customized channel tags.
• Add captions and hashtags to content material playing cards.
• Retailer a backlog of recent content material concepts.
• Extremely customizable and expandable.

The content material inbox is a good way to maintain observe of recent content material concepts whereas Kanban view makes it simple to maneuver concepts by your publishing course of, all the way in which from ideation and the primary draft to publishing.

It additionally has a calendar view with week and month-to-month choices to simply see what’s forward for every channel.

These two views plus a typical record view are highly effective sufficient for people and small groups who publish throughout a couple of completely different platforms.

Any greater than that and also you’ll need to use the following template as an alternative.

Template 2: A extra superior content material template for every part from objectives to to-do lists

This template has quite a few options, together with detailed views of various platforms, standalone to-do lists, content material objectives, notes, audiences, and a content material calendar.

There’s additionally an space to dump new content material concepts and several other views to see content material by month, week, or platform. It may well really feel overwhelming at first look, however remember the fact that you’ll be able to customise it to match your wants.

Template options:

• To-do lists for easy duties that don’t require full challenge monitoring.
• 6 content material calendar views.
• Means to add recordsdata and fix hyperlinks.
• Visible publishing schedule.

It has a variety of parts you’d in any other case must create from scratch. You’ll be able to reorganize every part and lay it out another way for those who desire.

You can too change the colours for those who’re not a fan of pink.

I additionally like this template as a result of it’s set as much as work for a number of channels straight away and it permits you to create separate to-do lists, which don’t essentially must be about content material.

This easy addition may be nice for those who’re an entrepreneur with different issues occurring.

Easy content material plan templates for Google Sheets and Excel

Should you desire the familiarity of spreadsheets, you are able to do some fairly highly effective issues with out having to make use of challenge administration software program.

These templates are significantly helpful for solo customers, small groups, and low quantity manufacturing environments as they don’t embrace as many process administration, workforce collaboration, or automation capabilities.

Though these templates have been created by Smartsheet, neither truly works inside the software program so you should use each without cost.

Extra spreadsheet protection: Excel alternate options | Be taught Microsoft Excel | Use Bard with Google Sheets.

Template 1: Plan and handle video manufacturing in Excel

The entire templates thus far are geared in the direction of blended media content material planning and manufacturing. This one is particularly for managing video in several codecs.

From how-to tutorials, buyer success tales, and product demos to explainers and YouTube shorts, it permits you to observe manufacturing at each stage. And since these levels are completely different from weblog posts and commonplace social media content material, this one requires much less customization because it’s constructed for movies out of the field.

Template options:

• Begin utilizing it straight away.
• Columns to handle and assign work.
• Rows for every stage of video manufacturing.
• Easy and streamlined one-page planner.
• Straightforward to choose up for anybody acquainted with spreadsheets.
• Further board views obtainable if used inside Smartsheet.

You’ll even be capable of tie movies to completely different purchaser personas all through the buying journey to make sure you’re creating sufficient of the best sorts of movies.

The true great thing about doing so is having the ability to zoom out and see information for every phase. You’ll must arrange your individual calculations and information visualizations, however the underlying information is all there so that you can use nonetheless you’d like.

Template 2: Annual content material planning in Google Sheets

Managing extra than simply movies? This easy content material plan template for Google Sheets is the higher alternative if you wish to keep on with a primary spreadsheet.

It permits you to plan content material month by month for a whole 12 months.

Template options:

• No additional software program required.
• Main holidays are already included.
• Separate sheets for all 12 months.
• A spot to record your most vital dates at a look.
• Plan forward for subsequent month’s deadlines with out switching tabs.

It even comes preloaded with main holidays so that you don’t have to regulate your publishing schedule when these dates pop up unexpectedly.

For every bit of content material, you’ll be able to set a date, related occasion, title, standing, description, and proprietor, letting you keep on high of essential particulars with out being slowed down with too many irrelevant fields.

There’s a fundamental sheet that exhibits your whole content material, together with titles and customized statuses. It’s a fantastic place to brainstorm concepts and add these subjects to your calendar if you’re prepared.

Every month has a separate sheet which makes it simple to dig deeper into the weeds as wanted.

Easy methods to create your individual content material plan

Content material plans are available all flavors. Beginning with a template might help steer you in the best route, however you’ll be able to all the time customise them or create your individual.

I’m a giant fan of customizing templates because it makes them hyper-relevant to your scenario. It additionally forces you to consider your processes and the way they’d work in an ideal world. Don’t be afraid to mess around, strive new issues, and tweak every part over time.

Should you’re extra interested by creating your individual, it’s best to take into consideration:

• Your content material or enterprise objectives and goals.
• The sorts of content material you need to create (blogs, social posts, movies, and so forth.).
• The place you’re planning to distribute your content material.
• Your content material advertising technique.
• Publishing frequency throughout completely different platforms.
• Totally different segments of your viewers.
• Your content material creation course of.
• The info and stats you must make choices.

All of those parts work collectively to create an efficient content material plan. I strongly recommend considering by all of these items even for those who determine to start out with a template as an alternative.

This may be sure that you don’t miss something.

How to decide on a content material plan template

No two content material plan templates are the identical. As a result of the time period is so broad, it will possibly imply something from a easy record of content material concepts to a full fledged challenge administration system that covers content material creation and different advertising actions.

Right here are some things to remember when deciding which one (and which platform) to make use of.

Solo content material planning vs. workforce collaboration

Should you’re planning content material by yourself, go along with no matter feels good. Check out a couple of completely different platforms and templates to see what works finest with the way you suppose.

For groups, try to be extra considerate in your resolution. You’ll be able to nonetheless check out completely different choices, however attempt to keep away from bringing workforce mates right into a system for those who’re not going to proceed utilizing it. This will really feel a bit like whiplash.

I recommend actually considering by what you need the method to appear to be, how workforce members will notify one another, the place recordsdata will stay, and who will do what.

It’s additionally vital to contemplate the tech savviness of your workforce. Some folks might just like the infinite potentialities with Notion, others may match higher with one thing acquainted, like a spreadsheet.

Degree of customization

This part is extra about selecting a platform that permits you to do every part you need to. If you wish to make a variety of customizations, a spreadsheet in all probability received’t do. If you would like one thing that’s inconceivable to interrupt, one thing like Notion isn’t a good suggestion.

By way of customizability, Notion has probably the most flexibility, adopted by monday.com, then ClickUp, then spreadsheets.

The additional down that record you go, the much less you’ll be capable of tweak.

There’s nothing flawed with both route, simply remember the fact that sure platforms are higher for sure preferences.