Guide to Easy Social Media Content Scheduling and Creating.
Introduction
21% of brands say it is difficult to find influencers, yet 78% of marketers plan to increase their marketing budget. Now is the time to make the time to make extra money on social media!
(Sources: Influencer Marketing Benchmark Report 2024; Meltwater State of Influencer Marketing Report 2023)
Content creation requires time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create content because you don’t have 6 hours a day. Managing social media can be complex, but this article will make social media content creation an automated yet authentic process that can bring in income at a part-time hourly commitment.
What This Article Will Cover and How To Use This Article
Social Media Platforms:
This article will cover six social media platforms; as a creator, you must determine which are best suited for your niche and target audience. If there is a specific social media platform you would like more information on, comment on it below. You should choose two social media platforms until you understand and can stay consistent on them before adding more. The platforms we are going over are:
- TikTok
- X (Twitter)
- Youtube
Social Media Aides and Reports for Content Creation:
It would be best to have an excellent social media strategy to manage your content creation schedule. We will review a basic posting schedule, content plan, and time-based schedule for creating your content. I will also provide a link to templates that can be used.
Content Creation Apps and Software
The following types of software will assist you in creating the most seamless content schedule.
- Canva - Creating graphics for your social media content will be much easier, and social media posts can be scheduled through Canva.
- Video Editing Software—CapCut is an affordable, easy-to-use video editing app. Other options include Movavi and Adobe.
- Affiliate Marketing Network (for creators) - Affiliate networks will give you access to a platform for creating affiliate links for hundreds, if not thousands, of brands. They also make it easier to get paid and track your rates.
Reports that are vital to creating a content planner and strategy
- Analytics—Use analytics to determine what content is best and when your audience is active for active social media platforms.
Brand Strategy- Goals, Target audience, and vision help create content.
- Brand Style Board—A guide for the brand logo, typography, icons, voice, color palette, and other photography or branding guidelines. Even content creators should create a brand-style board representing their brand.
Template Recommendations
Graphics
Canva has many templates for any graphic needed on social media. Etsy also has templates for social media that can be purchased for a reasonable amount. Some Etsy sellers will even customize the templates to fit the brand aesthetic. Pinterest and Instagram have many posts using templates as freebies when signing up for a newsletter.
**Tip: In Canva- Make a folder for each of your platforms and set up your. This way, you will have a variety of graphics and can add new pictures and text to create a new post. **
These are the graphics that are used for these social media platforms:
- TikTok Video Cover
- Instagram Stories - mobile video and flat
- Instagram Reel Cover
- Instagram Posts
- Instagram Carousel
- Youtube Thumbnail
- Pinterest Pin - mobile video and flat
- Linkedin Carousel
- Linkedin Article Cover Image
- Linkedin Post
- Twitter Post
- Twitter Video
Having extra templates makes creating and publishing the content a breeze.
Captions
Using a template or an outline makes the captioning on content a lot easier. If you decide to use an outline or template you want to make sure that you are not being repetitive in the caption.
Here is an example of my caption outlie that I use for Instagram reels and TikTok videos. If you would like to read the full version you can access it here.
Social Media Caption Template
Social Media Content Planner
Creating an outline of what content should be posted to which platform and at which time. Using basic themes for the content can assure the main points are included and it creates consistency on your social media platforms. This is an example planner that was created for a mentee creator. Again, all of the social media platforms are listed but not recommended to utilize six until your planning and scheduling becomes routine.
Example social media content Planner. Click the link to download your own copy.
Parts of the Social Media Schedule
Social Media Platform
When trying to be consistent with social media quality always trumps quantity for every platform. It is important to determine which platform is best suited for the type of content you want to create, your niche and your target audience. If you are able to post consistently on a social media platform and the quality of content is good, trying a different platform may be a simple solution.
When in complete confusion on which platform, determine:
- What is your goal?
- What type of content do you want to post? (written, art/photography, video, etc)
With those answers then:
- Facebook: builds community, great platform for businesses, best performing content are pictures and video, great for local events and promotions
- Youtube: brings in new customers, best performing content is video, how-to videos and educational content
- Instagram is great for connecting with existing customers, best performing content are videos and images that are artfully done, best for creativity and visual brands
- Linkedin is great for networking and connecting with other businesses. Best performing content are carousels, links and image with text style posts that share important field-related content
- Twitter is great for connecting with other creators or businesses, twitter posts that are threads, have images or short videos do the best when covering conversational topics, news and public relations
- Pinterest is for driving traffic, best performing posts are aesthetically please flat pins with a keyword rich description, Pinterest is great for shopable content, affiliate links, infographs and photography.
- TikTok is very entertainment focused but also for getting sales and attracting new customers. Videos are the best performing content on TikTok that are demonstrating or entertaining.
Pick Your Platform.
Content Creation Documentation
This schedule will include:
1. Content recording - Using your phone and try getting as much raw footage with the content
2.Photography - Also with your phone getting 3-4 different angles and change of lighting
3.Editing - Using whatever software (Capcut, Adobe) editing dead spaces, adding captions, cropping if need be and adding a title and ending
4.Graphics - Using Canva or another software to create all the graphics from covers to the actual posts. Re-using the exact same graphic multiple weeks in a row can hurt your performance, instead change the colors and photos. Preferably having a month’s worth of templates is the most convenient.
5.Captioning and scheduling - Using a caption template or just writing your own for each post and scheduling/posting. You are able to schedule all of these platforms ahead of time through their app except for Twitter, the posts can be posted in real time or using a platform like Buffer may help.
6.Planning - I made this an umbrella to include reviewing post performance and seeing what content is working and what is not. Based on the analytics you can determine where changes need to be made and if the timing needs to change.
7.Engagement - There are a bunch of different ways to engage with your audience but creating a little engagement to do list can be helpful. I will add ones that I have used.
Here are a few examples of content schedule planners, they can be found through google sheets, notion, Pinterest or some just write it on a printed calendar. Whichever way is manageable is the correct way.
Google Sheets Social Media Content Calendar Schedule. Click the link to download one for yourself.
Notion Template for Content Creation Planning
Another Notion Template Example for a Content Planner
Daily Content Creation Schedule
Monday: Themes Motivation and Meet Me (1 hour 50 minutes)
- Edit: GRWM for Instagram (45 sec) and TikTok (1-3 min)
-Photos: Morning Look and Nail Shots
- Graphics : 2 Instagram Reel Covers for Monday Reel and Wednesday Reel; 3 Instagram Stories: 1 - Morning Look with Pic, 2- Affiliate Link, 3- Motivational Quote; Youtube Thumbnail for GRWM video; 2 Pins: 1- Affiliate Link, 2-Nail Photo
-Caption & Post: 3 Instagram Stories; 1 Instagram Reel; 4 Twitter Posts; 1 Youtube Video; 2 Pinterest Pins; 1 TikTok
-Engagement: TikTok at post time; Instagram at post time; Twitter throughout the day - if able to see when audience is most active then that is the best time; Pinterest with no time preference.
Tuesday: Themes Tips and Vibes (1hr 35min)
-Record Vlog by recording 10 parts of your day for 2 minutes.
- Edit : Vlog content into 10-15 minute Youtube video, 1-3 minute TikTok
-Photos : Tuesday vibe photo, photo related to your hack, photo for Youtube thumbnail, photo of hack, photos related to tips or use stock
- Graphics : 1 Instagram Post ; 3 Instagram Stories: 1 -Tuesday vibe , 2- Affiliate Link, 3- Poll; 1 LinkedIn Carousel ; 2 Pins: 1- Affiliate Link , 2- Hack;
-Caption & Post: 3 Instagram Stories; 1 Instagram Post; 4 Twitter Posts; 2 Pinterest Pins; 1 LinkedIn Post
-Engagement: TikTok - Instagram - Twitter - Pinterest - Linkedin
Wednesday: Themes Wisdom (1hr 27min)
-Record: Story Time
- Edit: Story Time for Instagram Reel (45 sec) and TikTok Video (1-3 minutes)
-Photos: Selfie
- Graphics: 3 Instagram Stories: 1 - Quote, 2- Affiliate Link, 3- simple routine; ; 2 Pins: 1- affiliate link, 2- simple routine
-Caption & Post: 3 Instagram Stories; 1 Instagram Reel ; 4 Twitter Posts; 2 Pinterest Pins; 1 TikTok; 1 LinkedIn Article on story time;
-Engagement: TikTok - Instagram - Twitter - Pinterest - Linkedin
Thursday: Themes Throwback & Grind (1hr 27min)
-Photos: Throwback
- Graphics: 1 Instagram Post ; 3 Instagram Stories: 1 - Thursday thought, 2- Affiliate Link, 3- Throwback ; 1 Youtube Thumbnail for Vlog ; 2 Pins: 1- Affiliate Link, 2- Thursday Thought; 1 LinkedIn Carousel - Reviews or Throwback Progress
-Caption & Post: 3 Instagram Stories; 1 Instagram Post; 4 Twitter Posts; 2 Pinterest Pins; 1 TikTok; 1 LinkedIn Carousel; 1 Youtube Video
-Engagement: TikTok - Instagram - Twitter - Pinterest - LinkedIn - YouTube
Friday: Themes Fun & Favorites (1hr 15min)
-Record: Either Favorites of the week or “things ___ Said”
- Edit: Favs or Fun video for TikTok (1-3min)
-Photos: Favorites and FunFriday Picture
- Graphics: 1Instagram Carousel - Favorites; 3 Instagram Stories: 1 - Fun Friday (game or giveaway), 2- Affiliate Link, 3- Favorite thing you heard this week; ; 2 Pins: 1- Affiliate Link, 2- Favorite Infograph
-Caption & Post: 3 Instagram Stories; 1 Instagram Carousel; 4 Twitter Posts; 2 Pinterest Pins; 1 TikTok Video;
-Engagement: Tik Tok - Instagram - Twitter - Pinterest
Saturday: Analyze (1hr 20min)
-Record: Get Ready With Me 15 minutes with intro and outtro - meet me monday themed
- Plan: Pull analytics and analyze post performance & adjust content plan as needed
- Pictures: GRWM photo
-Engagement: TikTok - Instagram - Pinterest - Twitter - Youtube
Sunday: Schedule (1hr 10min)
-Plan: Create Content Schedule for the week
- Edit: GRWM video for 1 Youtube video (5-10 min), 1 TikTok Video (1-3 min), 1 Instagram Reel (45 sec)
-Engagement: TikTok - Instagram - Twitter - Pinterest - LinkedIn (only responding to comments & messages)
Example Engagement Schedule
Conclusion
There we have our content creation plan that won’t take you more than two hours per day. Remember that the method that is manageable, effective and enjoyable is always the correct way. Consistency is the most vital part of success in social media. Posting twice a week with posts that are high quality will grow your account more than posting 10 times a week with crappy content.
Implimenting this structure of content creation will give positive results and create an easier process. Comment down below what you want to see next!