If you\u2019re creating content without an editorial calendar you\u2019re setting yourself up for stress, inconsistency, and missed opportunities. Been there, done that, got the \u201cI meant to do more\u201d t-shirt.<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re part of a major brand, a small team, or it\u2019s just you wearing all of the hats, without a centralized plan, things get messy fast.<\/p>\n But if the words \u201ceditorial calendar\u201d make you itch, hear me out. This doesn\u2019t have to add a dozen levels of complication to your process.<\/p>\n Whether you use HubSpot\u2019s built-in marketing calendar or an option like Google Calendar, spreadsheets, or project management software \u2014 you can<\/em> create an editorial calendar that fits your goals, needs, and brain without making yourself crazy. And I\u2019m going to show you how.<\/p>\n Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n How to Create an Editorial Calendar in Google Calendar<\/a> Before you whip out your paper calendar and start adding dates, let\u2019s take a step back. Your editorial calendar is<\/em> a schedule, but it represents so much more.<\/p>\n When I consult with businesses on how to develop a content strategy and what to include in an editorial calendar<\/a>, dates are typically the last thing we consider. I like to start by reviewing upcoming goals and plans:<\/p>\n What are our big picture goals or initiatives? If you\u2019re reading this and thinking \u201cI just need a structure that works for me,\u201d or \u201cNone of that is relevant to me right now\u201d \u2014 totally fine.<\/p>\n Most people don\u2019t start with a full-fledged strategy-driven plan. But if you do have anything coming up or going on, the last thing you want is a last-minute scramble<\/em>.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve thought through the big picture, it\u2019s time to start thinking about the content itself. Start by asking:<\/p>\n What types of content is your audience interested in? That last one is the clincher. If you only have bandwidth for one high-quality blog, podcast, or video \u2014 plan accordingly. If you put 4 on the calendar, you\u2019re setting yourself up for failure \u2014 and if you\u2019re like me, endless guilt.<\/p>\n Whatever your answers, they\u2019ll give you a solid idea of what makes sense for your audience and your capacity.<\/p>\n If I ever got into the \u201cLive. Love. Laugh\u201d sign craze, I\u2019d probably have one that says \u201cYou don\u2019t have to be everywhere for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n You only need to show up where your audience hangs out and in a way that you enjoy. If you hate creating a specific type of content, you\u2019re always going to put it off \u2014 or you\u2019ll have to hire someone to do it for you. EIther way, it\u2019s a big factor in how you plan content.<\/p>\n I recommend choosing a primary content type that fits with your natural strengths:<\/p>\n Written (blog) From there, you can repurpose as needed to different platforms. Since I\u2019m most comfortable with the written word, that\u2019s where I start, then adapt to email and LinkedIn.<\/p>\n If you show up best live, then start there and adapt to other content types. The only right way is the one that makes sense to you. Use that as the basis for your editorial calendar.<\/p>\n This is where a lot of people get stuck \u2014 because they\u2019re trying to match someone else\u2019s pace.<\/p>\n Let me be extremely clear: most businesses do not need to publish three articles a week, two podcasts, and manage five social media platforms.<\/p>\n Larger ones with full-time content teams? Sure. But that\u2019s not 90% of the companies out there. Not to mention that with AI making it easier to churn out mediocre content, quality matters more than ever.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what I ask clients (and myself) at this stage:<\/p>\n What kind of content can you realistically<\/em> create right now? For some people, one post a week is doable. For others, one per month or one per quarter feels best.<\/p>\n Whatever that is, we can work within the bounds of your<\/em> bandwidth, but it\u2019s so important to be honest with yourself here. Otherwise, you\u2019ll just be overwhelmed.<\/p>\n Once you have a cadence in mind, think about the big-picture categories<\/a> you can speak to, and your content goals. From there you can prioritize your ideas, focusing on the mission-critical stuff first, and the nice-to-have or lower priority content later.<\/p>\n Here are a few ways you could map out your content repurposing framework.<\/p>\n 1x week: Blog (Tuesdays). 1x month: Publish Blog (week 1) You can create and flesh out your editorial calendar using the above examples more easily. The less frequently you publish, just make sure every post is meaty enough tto support repurposing.<\/p>\n Now that you\u2019ve got a sense of what you\u2019re creating, how often you\u2019ll publish, and where it\u2019s going \u2014 it\u2019s time to decide where all of this planning will live.<\/p>\n The truth is, the \u201cbest\u201d platform is the one you and your team will actually use<\/em>. Fancy tools are great, but if they add friction or require too many clicks to see what\u2019s going on, they won\u2019t get used consistently. I\u2019ve seen beautifully built project boards go completely stale because no one wanted to open or manage them.<\/p>\n The most popular options are spreadsheets, online calendars, or project management tools like Trello, Asana, or ClickUp. I\u2019ve tried them all, and for most clients, a simple spreadsheet is the way to go.<\/p>\n Keep in mind: the more complex the organization and as quantity increases, a more complex tool may be needed.<\/p>\n No matter which format you choose, I recommend tracking the following basics:<\/p>\n Publish date:<\/strong> When it goes live <\/p>\n Due date:<\/strong> When the draft needs to be ready <\/p>\n Title or topic:<\/strong> Working title is fine <\/p>\n Assigned owner:<\/strong> Who\u2019s responsible for delivery <\/p>\n Call to action (CTA):<\/strong> What do you want the reader\/viewer to do? <\/p>\n Keywords (for SEO):<\/strong> So you knows what phrases to optimize for <\/p>\n Status:<\/strong> Idea, drafting, editing, scheduled, live <\/p>\n Links:<\/strong> To both the draft and final version for easy reference <\/p>\n You can always build from here. But keeping these core elements in your calendar makes it easier to track progress, spot bottlenecks, and repurpose content without digging through old folders.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n I\u2019ve built editorial calendars in everything from fancy enterprise platforms to color-coded notebooks. But when it comes to simplicity, flexibility, and team visibility, Google Calendar still holds up nicely<\/strong>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s free, it plays nicely with Gmail, and almost everyone already knows how to use it. Plus, you can layer it with other calendars (like launch schedules or social campaigns), share it with your team, and set reminders to stay on track \u2014 without adding a new tool to your stack.<\/p>\n Below, I\u2019ll walk you through how to use Google Calendar to set up a content calendar that keeps you organized and focused \u2014 whether you\u2019re a solo creator or working with a team.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll be using a downloadable template to make the setup easier, but feel free to start from scratch if you\u2019d rather build your own.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Download Now<\/a><\/p>\n First, download the calendar templates above (they\u2019re free.) By doing this, you\u2019ll have three editorial calendar templates on your computer (or in your Google Drive).<\/p>\n Blog Editorial Calendar Here I\u2019ll go over how to use the Google spreadsheet with Google Calendar. There are ways to upload the Excel version into Google Calendar \u2014 it just requires a few more steps.<\/p>\n With your Google Sheets calendar open, it\u2019s time to make it work for your process.<\/p>\n It already includes these columns:<\/p>\n Publish date:<\/strong> When the content will go live <\/p>\n Due date: <\/strong>When the draft or final version needs to be ready <\/p>\n Author:<\/strong> Who\u2019s responsible for creating or finalizing the content <\/p>\n Topic\/Title: <\/strong>A working title or quick summary of the piece <\/p>\n Content\/Details:<\/strong> Notes, links, outlines, or context for the post <\/p>\n Keywords:<\/strong> SEO phrases to include or focus on <\/p>\n Target persona(s):<\/strong> Who the content is for (audience segment, buyer type, etc.) <\/p>\n Offer\/CTA: <\/strong>What action you want the reader to take, or what offer this content supports <\/p>\n This gives you a solid mix of strategic clarity and practical execution. You\u2019ll know what\u2019s going out, why it matters, who it\u2019s for, and how it ties back to your larger business goals.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be afraid to tweak or hide columns you\u2019re not using right now \u2014 but I recommend keeping them in your template at least as a \u201cdefault\u201d tab, so they\u2019re easy to bring back when your content plans get more complex.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve filled in a few important dates, it\u2019s time to connect it with Google Calendar.<\/p>\n Before you connect your editorial calendar to Google Calendar, you need a Google Calendar to sync to.<\/p>\n No brainer here, but don\u2019t skip this step. Just go to Google Calendar > Other Calendars > Create New Calendar.<\/p>\n\n Then find your Calendar ID.<\/p>\n\n From here, you can load it into your Google calendar. There are a few catches:<\/p>\n 1. <\/span>It won\u2019t update automatically and everything must be manual.<\/p>\n 2. <\/span>Google Calendar only supports CSVs with specific column headers, so you\u2019ll need to rename and reorganize your column headers to the following and may not have the level of data you want:<\/p>\n Subject<\/p>\n Start Date<\/p>\n Start Time<\/p>\n End Date<\/p>\n End Time<\/p>\n Description<\/p>\n From here, you\u2019ll need to export the sheet as a CSV then go back to Google Calendar. You\u2019ll then click Settings > Import & Export, select your CSV and then choose the calendar you want to import into.<\/p>\n This is best only if you need quick visibility into your calendar. Otherwise I recommend option B \u2014 the auto-magical route \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n Now that your editorial calendar lives in a Google Sheet \u2014 and you\u2019ve created a dedicated Google Calendar to map your content dates \u2014 it\u2019s time to connect the two.<\/p>\n I\u2019m obsessed with using Apps Scripts to automate things in Google Workspace. This process will help you automatically create a calendar event for each row in your sheet, based on the publish date and title. Keyword: automatically!<\/p>\n And my favorite way to do it is by using ChatGPT to help me create and troubleshoot the scripts.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the prompt I used:<\/p>\n \u201cI want to connect a Google Sheet to my Google Calendar that automatically updates so I don\u2019t have to manually update calendar with editorial plans. What is the App Script I need? Please walk me through it step by step.\u201d<\/p>\n Then I followed these instructions;<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>Open the Apps Script editor: Extensions \u2192 Apps Script<\/p>\n 2. <\/span>Delete any placeholder code and paste this in:<\/p>\n function createCalendarEvents() {<\/em><\/p>\n const sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet();<\/em><\/p>\n const calendar = CalendarApp.getCalendarById(‘your-calendar-id@group.calendar.google.com’); \/\/ \u2190 Replace this<\/em><\/p>\n const data = sheet.getDataRange().getValues();<\/em><\/p>\n for (let i = 1; i < data.length; i++) {<\/em><\/p>\n const publishDate = data[i][0]; \/\/ Column A<\/em><\/p>\n const title = data[i][3]; \/\/ Column D<\/em><\/p>\n const details = data[i][4]; \/\/ Column E<\/em><\/p>\n const keywords = data[i][5]; \/\/ Column F<\/em><\/p>\n const author = data[i][2]; \/\/ Column C<\/em><\/p>\n const cta = data[i][7]; \/\/ Column H<\/em><\/p>\n const posted = data[i][8]; \/\/ Column I (Posted to Calendar?)<\/em><\/p>\n if (title && publishDate instanceof Date && !posted) {<\/em><\/p>\n const description =<\/em><\/p>\n `Author: ${author}n` +<\/em><\/p>\n `Keywords: ${keywords}nn` +<\/em><\/p>\n `Details:n${details}nn` +<\/em><\/p>\n `CTA:n${cta}`;<\/em><\/p>\n calendar.createEvent (title, new Date(publishDate), new Date(publishDate), {<\/em><\/p>\n description: description<\/em><\/p>\n });<\/em><\/p>\n \/\/ Mark the row as posted<\/em><\/p>\n sheet.getRange(i + 1, 9).setValue(\u201c\u2713\u201d);<\/em><\/p>\n }<\/em><\/p>\n }<\/em><\/p>\n }<\/em><\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>Replace: your-calendar-id@group.calendar.google.com<\/a> with the calendar ID you just found.<\/p>\n 4. <\/span>Save and run the script by clicking the floppy disk icon to save and clicking the run button. If it prompts you to authorize access, follow the steps.<\/p>\n 5. <\/strong>Set it to run automatically using the clock icon \u201cTriggers\u201d by creating a new trigger:<\/p>\n Choose which function to run<\/strong>, select: syncEditorialCalendar<\/p>\n Event source<\/strong>: Time-driven<\/p>\n Type of time-based trigger<\/strong>: Hourly, daily, or custom<\/p>\n Click Save<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Once it runs, you should see your content show up in the new calendar you made, complete with title, author, and details. And since mine is set up to run every 2 hours, I\u2019ll see those changes at that frequency. You can make this more or less frequent, as needed.<\/p>\n If you get any error messages, just feed them into ChatGPT and keep updating the script. Sometimes it takes a few tries, but the payoff down the road is awesome!<\/p>\n Once your editorial calendar is set up \u2014 whether you\u2019re using the Google Sheet alone or syncing it with Google Calendar \u2014 make sure the right people can see it.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re collaborating with a team<\/strong>, this step is what keeps things moving without endless follow-up messages or missed deadlines.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve probably shared a million Google Sheets and Docs using the blue share button in the top right. However, if you\u2019ve never shared a calendar with someone before, you have a few options. All can be accessed in Calendar, by choosing \u201cAccess permissions for events\u201d.<\/p>\n\n You can control whether the calendar is publicly available, available only to those on your domain, or share the link with anyone you choose. You also control the level of event details. Though, for an ed cal, I\u2019d recommend all event details.<\/p>\n This one\u2019s pretty straightforward \u2014 just choose a person and share the calendar with their Google address.<\/p>\n And there, you have your editorial calendar on Google Calendar!<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n If you\u2019re a spreadsheet superfan, oh hi\u2014 me too! I\u2019ve built entire editorial calendar<\/a> content systems in Sheets and Excel. They’re flexible, easy to share, and perfect for tracking all the moving parts of an editorial calendar, especially if you have a small volume.<\/p>\n The best choice is whether your organization uses Google Workspace or Microsoft Teams.<\/p>\n The editorial calendar template bundle you downloaded includes links to Google Sheets editorial calendar files and an Excel blog editorial calendar template you can adapt to your company.<\/p>\n To use the Google Sheets option, open the link in the included pdf and select \u201cMake a Copy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n This will automatically save to your Drive. From there, you can adapt to your schedule\/needs and share with team members for easy collaboration.<\/p>\n Save the Excel file to your Teams folder and share it with the appropriate team members.<\/p>\n Pro tip: <\/strong>Regardless of which spreadsheet you use, only provide \u201cedit\u201d access to people who need it.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re using Google Calendar, Outlook, or iCal to manage your personal and work schedules, you can easily use your online calendar as an editorial calendar<\/a> . It\u2019s simple, visual, and a great way to stay on top of content without adding another tool to your tech stack.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how to make it work:<\/p>\n Start by creating a separate calendar just for content planning. This keeps your editorial schedule from getting lost among meetings and personal reminders.<\/p>\n Google Calendar<\/strong>: Go to the left-hand sidebar, click the +<\/strong> next to \u201cOther calendars,\u201d and select Create new calendar. I shared the steps for that above. <\/p>\n Outlook<\/strong>: Select Add calendar \u2192 Create blank calendar iCal<\/strong> (Apple Calendar): Click File \u2192 New Calendar<\/strong>, and choose iCloud if you want it to sync across devices <\/p>\n Regardless of which app, you can name your calendar \u201cEditorial Calendar\u201d and add events.<\/p>\n Choose a date and time on the calendar, name the event \u201cBlog Title,\u201d \u201cEmail,\u201d \u201cInstagram Post,\u201d etc., and choose how often you want it to recur.<\/p>\n Then you can go into each instance and fill out details like Title, Content Outline, and any other information.<\/p>\n You can then also share that calendar with other people on your team so they can plan accordingly.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n My background in project management is coming out here because I LOVE a good workflow. Apps like Asana, Monday, or ClickUp make great editorial calendars because you can view the content in multiple ways and can get all the visibility you want..<\/p>\n Each content item becomes a \u201ccard\u201d or task that can hold everything you need:<\/p>\n Deadlines and assignees I\u2019ve found that most allow you to toggle between List, Board, or Calendar views. You can also assign a variety of tasks and subtasks with different deadlines.<\/p>\n And because they\u2019re usually drag and drop, updating your editorial calendar as things change is easy.<\/p>\n Of all the tools out there, I personally love ClickUp and Monday the most because of how much I can customize.<\/p>\n I\u2019m sure others can do similar things, but these work best with my brain and can flex around my<\/em> process instead of forcing me into something rigid.<\/p>\n And if you\u2019re not sure what\u2019s possible? ChatGPT is your best friend. I\u2019ve used it more times than I can count to build workflows, clean up data fields, and write automations that save me hours.<\/p>\n My point isn\u2019t to use the fanciest tool out there or over-engineer your process. In fact, I\u2019d consider all the potential touchpoints and combine as many as you can to keep things simple.<\/p>\n That said, my biggest goal here is to share some of the best options and then turn you loose to choose one that actually makes your life easier and helps you avoid a million Slack messages asking, \u201cHey, what\u2019s the status on this?\u201d<\/p>\n Regardless of which option you choose, it\u2019s a good idea to ensure your team understands your content calendar<\/a> and how to use it to keep your process moving smoothly.<\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n
\n How to Use Excel or Google Spreadsheets for Editorial Calendars<\/a>
\n How to Use Online Calendars for Editorial Calendars<\/a>
\n How to Use a Project Management Platform for Editorial Calendars<\/a>
\n Why Using Google Calendar as an Editorial Calendar Works<\/a> <\/p>\nFollow Along With These\u00a0Free Editorial Calendar Templates<\/a><\/strong>
\n<\/h3>\nHow to Create an Editorial Calendar<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n What\u2019s going on that we\u2019ll need content for?
\n What does our audience know already \u2014 and what do they need to know?
\n Do we have existing content we can adapt?
\n What do we need<\/em> to create from scratch?
\n How can we repurpose anything new? <\/p>\n
\n Where do they hang out online?
\n What types of content is your competition using, and how often?
\n How often can you commit to creating something? <\/p>\nStep 1:\u00a0Choose your platforms.<\/h3>\n
\n Audio (podcast)
\n Video (YouTube or Livestreams) <\/p>\nStep 2:\u00a0Determine content guidelines and frequency.<\/h3>\n
\n What cadence feels sustainable for the next 90 days?
\n What categories or themes matter most to your audience?
\n What\u2019s the goal behind each piece \u2014 awareness, engagement, sales? <\/p>\nBlogging Weekly<\/h4>\n
\n 2x week: Email (Tuesdays, Thursdays).
\n 2x week: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube (Wednesdays, Fridays). <\/p>\nBlogging Monthly<\/h4>\n
\n 1x week: Email
\n 2x week: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube (Wednesdays, Fridays) <\/p>\nStep 3:\u00a0Choose an editorial calendar platform.<\/h3>\n
How to Create an Editorial Calendar in Google Calendar<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Step 1:\u00a0Download HubSpot\u2019s free editorial calendar templates.<\/a><\/strong><\/a>
\n<\/h3>\n\n
\n Social Media Calendar
\n Content Planning Template <\/p>\nStep 2:\u00a0Customize your template and prepare it for import into Google Calendar.<\/h3>\n\n
Step 3: Create a Google Calendar for your content plan.<\/h3>\n
Step 4:\u00a0One-time upload into Google Calendar (Option A).<\/h3>\n
Step 5: Automatically create calendar events with Google Apps Script (Option B).<\/h3>\n
Step 6:\u00a0Share your editorial calendar with your team.<\/h3>\n
Option 1: Event View Availability<\/h4>\n
Option 2: Share Calendar with Specific People<\/h4>\n
How to Use Excel or Google Spreadsheets for Editorial Calendars<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Google Sheets<\/h3>\n
Excel<\/h3>\n
How to Use Online Calendars for Editorial Calendars<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Step 1:\u00a0Create a new calendar.<\/h3>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\nStep 2:\u00a0Rename your calendar.<\/h3>\n
Step 3:\u00a0Set up your calendar.<\/h3>\n
How to Use a Project Management Platform for Editorial Calendars<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n Content goals and assets
\n Draft links and status updates
\n Notes, checklists, subtasks, and even review stages <\/p>\nWhy Using Google Calendar as an Editorial Calendar Works<\/strong><\/h2>\n