Creating an editorial calendar in WordPress can be a simple task, but it’s important to use it effectively. An editorial calendar is essential for both individual and multi-author blogs, as it helps keep track of scheduled articles and ensures that deadlines are met. In this article, we’ll discuss the best editorial calendar plugins available, how to install them, and how to use them effectively.
Choosing the Right Editorial Calendar Plugin
There are a limited number of editorial calendar plugins available, making it easy to choose the one that suits your needs. Here are some of the most popular options:
1. Editorial Calendar: This plugin is completely free and easy to use. It provides a clean, basic editorial calendar without any advanced features or reminders.
2. CoSchedule: Although this plugin requires payment, it’s worth the investment. It offers a headline analyzer, Chrome extension for content curation, reminder system, and options for scheduling social media and emails.
3. PublishPress: This plugin is free, but some of its useful add-ons require payment. It offers notifications and comments for team members, as well as custom statuses.
4. Edit Flow: This free plugin offers user groups, comments, custom statuses, and a story budget.
5. WP Content Calendar: This less popular plugin offers drag-and-drop tools and a full calendar.
Our top picks are the Editorial Calendar Plugin and CoSchedule. The Editorial Calendar Plugin is minimalist and easy to use, while CoSchedule offers more advanced features for those who need them.
Installing the Plugin
Once you’ve chosen your preferred plugin, install and activate it on your WordPress site. Make sure you know where to find the calendar, as this is essential for using it effectively.
For example, the Editorial Calendar Plugin can be found by searching for it in the backend of your WordPress site. Once installed, go to Posts > Calendar to access the full calendar. This setup works well because it’s located in the Posts tab, which is where you’ll be creating new blog posts anyway.
Using the Calendar
To create a new post, click on a day in the calendar and select “New Post.” Fill in the title, content, time for publishing, and status (such as Draft). Save the post in the calendar for future editing and publishing.
Remember to change the Draft status to Scheduled when you’re ready to publish the post.
Developing Your Posting Schedule
Stick to a hard schedule to ensure that you don’t forget about your calendar. Choose a day of the week and stick to it. For example, plan to post every Friday at 10AM. At the beginning of each month, plan those four Fridays with blog titles and any extra notes.
Finding Blog Post Ideas
Keep an eye out for new blog post ideas by following blogs and publications related to your blog. Mark down interesting topics and create your own spin to make them unique. Add the title to your calendar so you don’t forget about it.
Other places to find blog post ideas include Google Trends, Google Alerts, Reddit, Quora, and industry forums.
Completing Simple and Advanced Edits
Use the Quick Edit button in the calendar to make simple edits quickly. All major edits should be done in the regular Post page.
Making Notes for Later or for the Editor
Communication is key for an editorial calendar. Use an extra program like Trello or try out more advanced plugins like CoSchedule and Edit Flow to add comments and reminders.
Good luck with your editorial calendar! Use these tips to stay organized and efficient with your blog. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments.
