Creating an editorial schedule is a crucial responsibility for every content producer or marketer. It aids in strategizing, structuring, and arranging content in an effective manner. In this article, I will walk you through the steps of developing an editorial schedule with the use of Trello, a well-known project management platform.
Why Trello?
Trello is a versatile collaboration tool that allows you to create boards, lists, and cards to visually represent your tasks and projects. It provides a user-friendly interface and integrates seamlessly with other tools, making it a great choice for building an editorial calendar.
Step 1: Set Up Your Trello Board
The first step is to create a new board in Trello dedicated to your editorial calendar. Give it a descriptive name such as “Content Calendar” or “Editorial Schedule”. You can also customize the background and add a cover image to make it visually appealing.
Next, create lists to represent different stages of your content creation process. Common lists include “Ideas”, “To Do”, “In Progress”, “Review”, and “Published”. You can also add additional lists based on your specific workflow.
Step 2: Create Cards for Each Content Piece
Now it’s time to create cards for each content piece you plan to publish. Start by clicking on the “Add a card” button in the relevant list and enter the title of your content piece. You can also add a description, due date, labels, and attachments to provide more context and details.
One of the great features of Trello is the ability to add checklists to your cards. Use this feature to break down your content creation process into smaller tasks and track your progress. This helps to ensure that no important steps are missed along the way.
Step 3: Assign Due Dates and Labels
Assigning due dates and labels to your content cards is crucial for staying organized and prioritizing your tasks. Due dates give you a clear timeline for each content piece, while labels can be used to categorize content by topic, format, or any other relevant criteria.
For example, you can use labels like “Blog Post”, “Video”, “Social Media”, or “Email Newsletter” to quickly identify different types of content. This makes it easier to filter and search for specific content pieces based on your needs.
Step 4: Collaborate and Communicate
Trello allows you to collaborate with team members, stakeholders, and freelancers by assigning them to specific cards and adding comments or attachments. This fosters communication and ensures everyone is on the same page throughout the content creation process.
You can also use Trello’s “@mention” feature to notify team members about specific updates, ask for feedback, or request approvals. This streamlines the workflow and reduces the back-and-forth communication via email or other platforms.
Conclusion
Building an editorial calendar with Trello can significantly enhance your content creation and management process. Its visual interface, customizable boards, and collaboration features make it an ideal tool for staying organized and efficient.
By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create a well-structured editorial calendar that helps you plan, track, and publish your content with ease. So why not give Trello a try and see how it can revolutionize your content workflow?