If your blog has been sitting untouched for months…
If you’ve got “write a blog post” on your to-do list every week—and every week it gets bumped…
If you’re posting when you remember, hoping something sticks…
It’s not that you’re doing it wrong.
It’s that you don’t have a solid blog content strategy.
A blog content plan takes you from “what the hell do I write?” to “done and dusted”—with content that actually brings people to your site, positions you as the expert, and supports your offers.
With the right plan in place, you’ll:
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Know exactly what to post and when
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Stop wasting time writing random posts that don’t go anywhere
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Build steady, sustainable traffic to your website
Because blogging doesn’t need to be complicated. But it does need to be strategic.
So, if your next question is – how to plan blog content? I gotchu.
Let’s get you sorted.
What Is a Blog Content Plan?
A blog content plan is exactly what it sounds like: a simple, strategic outline of what blogs you’re going to write, what keywords you’re going to target, when you’re going to post it, and why it matters to your business.
Think of it like a sat nav for your blog, and a central tenet of your overall content marketing plan.
Essentially, a blog content calender means you don’t have to wing it every week or post whatever comes to mind. When you create a content plan, you’ve got a clear direction.
A good plan helps you:
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Choose topics your audience actually cares about
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Stay consistent with your content marketing efforts (without writing on the fly)
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Make sure every piece of content supports your bigger goals—whether that’s growing your email list, selling an offer, or boosting your Google rankings
It’s not about being rigid or robotic. It’s about writing with purpose—and making sure your blog pulls its weight in your business.
Let’s get into it!
Step-by-Step Guide to Create a Content Calendar
Creating a blog content plan might sound like a big job, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, with a little structure (and a sprinkle of strategy), it becomes so much easier to stay consistent, write with purpose, and actually see results.
Here’s how to create a blog content plan, step by step.
Step 1: Set Your Blogging Goals
Before you even think about what to write, you need to get clear on why you’re writing in the first place.
Ask yourself:
What do I actually want my blog to do for me? What is my why behind this content marketing strategy?
Because spoiler alert: blogging for the sake of it is a fast track to burnout.
But blogging with intention? That’s where the magic (and traffic) happens.
Here are a few common goals to spark your thinking:
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Build trust + authority in your niche
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Attract dream clients through Google search
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Grow your email list with juicy lead magnets
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Support your product or service launches
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Educate your audience and answer their burning questions
You don’t need all of these. Just pick 1–2 that make sense for where you are right now.
Everything else in your content plan will stem from this—so be honest, be specific, and be strategic.
Step 2: Understand Your Target Audience
Nope. Still not writing yet. Before you write a single word of a new blog, you need to know who you’re writing for.
Because if you’re just throwing content out there, without knowing who’s on the other end? It’s not a content strategy. It’s a guessing game.
Think about your ideal reader:
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What do they care about?
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What keeps them up at night?
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What are they Googling when they land on your blog?
This isn’t about making assumptions — it’s about getting specific.
💡 Start here:
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Talk to past clients or customers (what questions do they ask you again and again?)
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Check what blog posts, Reels (or any social media post), or newsletters get the most engagement
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Use tools like Google Search Console, AnswerThePublic, or Pinterest Trends to see what your audience is already searching for
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Stalk yourself (seriously) — what kind of content do you click on when you’re in their shoes?
The goal? To create the type of content that makes your reader think:
“Wait, how did she get inside my head?”
That’s when the magic happens. That’s when they read every word. That’s when they click the link, join your list, and eventually — become a customer.
Step 3: Brainstorm Content Marketing Ideas
Now that you know why you’re blogging and who you’re talking to, it’s time to come up with the what — aka the juicy blog topics that’ll get your people clicking.
Now, to get you past that blinking cursor, try this:
Start with your FAQs
What do your clients or customers ask you all the time? If it comes up in emails, DMs, or discovery calls — it deserves a blog post. Don’t have anyone asking questions? Not a problem. Head on over to PeopleAlsoAsked, and type in your keywords (if you know them) and wait for a beautiful circle of FAQs to magically appear.
If that isn’t helping. Simply Google your industry, your business (if you’re well known), your services, your products, whatever it is that you do, and check out the People Also Ask box.
This is LOADED with questions for you to answer….
Think about your offers
What do you sell, and what do people need to understand before they’re ready to buy it? Do you already have a FAQ section on your service or product pages? If so, pick one and expand on it.
Use your blog to build that trust and authority.
Check your competitors
No shame in seeing what’s working for others in your space — then doing it better or adding your own spin. Why reinvent the wheel?
Use free idea tools
Try:
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AnswerThePublic (for questions your audience is already asking)
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Google auto-suggest (start typing and see what pops up)
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Ubersuggest or AlsoAsked (quick keyword inspo)
💡 Hot tip: Jot everything down — don’t edit as you go. Aim for 20–30 rough ideas at this stage. You’ll refine later.
This part should feel creative, not clinical. You’re gathering the raw ingredients so you can start building out a strategy that works for you and your goals.
Step 4: Conduct Keyword Research (Without Melting Your Brain)
Once you’ve got your content ideas, it’s time to do a little digging.
Why?
Because if you want your blog posts to actually show up in search results, you need to use the words your ideal audience is already Googling.
This is where keyword research comes in.
But don’t panic — you don’t need fancy tools or an SEO degree.
Start with something free and beginner-friendly like:
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Ubersuggest – Pop in a topic and get keyword ideas, plus search volume and difficulty scores.
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Google itself – Use the autocomplete suggestions and “People also ask” section to find what real people are searching for.
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AnswerThePublic – Great for question-based keywords that can spark blog ideas.
You’re looking for:
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Keywords that are relevant to your topic
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That have some search volume (people are Googling it)
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But not too much competition (you want a chance to rank)
Want to see how this fits into your overall strategy?
I’ve broken it all down over here: How to use keyword research in your content strategy
💡 And if you’d rather not deal with any of this? My done-for-you content plan includes all the keyword research done for you — easy.
Step 5: Organise Topics into Categories
Once you’ve got a list of blog ideas, it’s time to make them make sense.
Instead of publishing random posts every week like you’re pulling them out of a hat, start grouping them into categories or themes (also called “content pillars”).
This keeps your blog balanced, helps readers find what they’re looking for, and makes Google go “ooh, she’s an expert in this.”
Think of it like this:
If you’re a coach, you might have categories like Mindset, Marketing, and Money.
If you’re a designer, maybe it’s Branding, Web Design, and Client Experience.
💡 Pro tip: Organising your ideas like this doesn’t just help your audience—it also helps you build topical authority, which is a fancy SEO way of saying “Google trusts you to talk about this.”
Start with 3–5 key categories and drop your blog ideas into whichever one fits best. Boom. Now you’ve got structure and strategy.
Step 6: Create an ‘Editorial Calendar’ (aka a Blog Content Plan template)
Now that you’ve got your topics sorted, it’s time to give them a home on the calendar.
An editorial calendar is your blogging bestie. It helps you stay consistent, organised, and ahead of the “oh no, I was meant to post something today” panic.
No more winging it.
You don’t need anything fancy. You can start with a simple Google Sheet, a Notion board, or even your paper planner if you’re that girl.
The goal? Know what you’re posting, when, and why.
✨ A basic content calendar might include:
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The blog post title or topic
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The publish date
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The category/pillar
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The target keyword
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A status column (planned, in progress, published)
Start your content creation with a manageable rhythm. Once a week is fab. Twice a month? Also fab.
Just make it realistic for you and commit to it.
Remember: consistency builds trust—with your audience and with Google.
Step 7: Outline Each Blog Post
Here’s where your future self will thank you.
Take 10 minutes to sketch out a basic structure for each post. Think of it like building the scaffolding before you decorate the house.
Your outline doesn’t need to be fancy.
Just map out:
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A working title (you can finesse it later)
- A few keywords you want to target
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A clear intro (what’s the post about + why it matters)
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3–5 key points you want to cover (these can become your H2s)
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A conclusion (sum up, add a CTA, link somewhere useful)
💡 Pro tip: Keep a consistent structure across posts—it makes them easier to write, easier to read, and easier for Google to crawl.
Outlining is the secret you didn’t know you needed. Honestly, it’s a real timesaver. It also helps you avoid that dreaded “what was I even trying to say here?” moment mid-draft.
Step 8: Set Deadlines and Assign Tasks
A plan without a deadline? That’s just a wish.
Now that your content ideas are mapped out and outlined, it’s time to get serious about when everything is getting published—and who’s doing what.
If you’re flying solo, be realistic about what you can manage. No need to promise three blogs a week if you’re already spinning a million plates.
Working with a team or outsourcing content production? Make sure everyone knows:
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Who’s writing each post
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When the draft is due
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Who’s editing, uploading, and hitting publish
Use your editorial calendar to track it all and keep everyone accountable.
Editorial Calendar Templates (That Actually Make Life Easier)
You could keep all your blog ideas scattered across sticky notes and random docs…
Or you could streamline the chaos with a simple, beginner-friendly editorial calendar that keeps you organised, consistent, and feeling like the CEO you are.
Here are three totally free templates you can swipe and start using today:
Google Sheets
A no-fuss spreadsheet for planning blog topics, keywords, publish dates, and more.
👉 Download this Google Sheets Editorial Calendar Template
Best for: Spreadsheet enthusiasts who prefer a clear, editable plan.
How to use it: Click the link above, select ‘File’ > ‘Make a copy’ to save it to your Google Drive. Fill in your blog titles, categories, keywords, publish dates, and assign tasks as needed.
Notion
A versatile workspace that’s perfect for visual planners.
👉 Use this Notion Content Calendar Template
Best for: Creatives who appreciate drag-and-drop organisation and a comprehensive overview.
How to use it: Click the link above, then select ‘Duplicate’ in the top-right corner to add it to your Notion workspace. Add each blog post as a new entry, tag it by status (idea, writing, published), and include outlines, keywords, and deadlines.
Trello
A kanban-style board for managing your blog workflow with clarity.
👉 Grab this Trello Editorial Calendar Template
Best for: Visual planners who love a good to-do list and a “drag it to done” moment.
How to use it: Click the link, hit ‘Create board from template’, and customise your columns (like “Ideas”, “Writing”, “Scheduled”, and “Published”). Each card becomes a blog post where you can add checklists, outlines, deadlines, and links.
Ready to Take the Guesswork Out of Blogging?
You’ve now got the step-by-step framework to plan your blog content like a pro.
No more winging it. No more last-minute “what should I post?” spirals.
Whether you’re aiming to boost traffic, build authority, or just stay consistent, a clear blog content plan is how you get there.
But if you’re staring at this thinking, “Love this, but I do not have time to create content” don’t stress.
I’ve got you.
Want Me to Build Your Blog Content Plan for You?
If planning quality content still feels like a full-time job (on top of your actual full-time job), let me take it off your plate.
With my Done-for-You SEO Content Plan & Topical Map Service, you’ll get:
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This is the shortcut to long-term traffic and visibility—without the burnout.
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