Many people confuse a content plan, a content calendar and a content strategy for the same thing — but the truth is that they are inherently different things. And when you confuse them, your content process just becomes … chaotic.

Simplified, a content strategy is your "why" and your "what," your content plan is your "how" and your content calendar is your "when."

 

Content Strategy

A content strategy is an all-encompassing plan designed for creating, publishing and overseeing your content. It offers direction for each phase of the process, including:

  • writing 
  • curating 
  • designing 
  • publishing, and 
  • engaging with your audience.

Your content strategy needs to answer the following questions:

  • Who is your target audience?
  • What topics are you going to cover?
  • What are you hoping to achieve?

 

Content Plan

A content plan is a strategic framework that directs the process of creating, publishing and managing content across different platforms and team members. So, in essence, your content plan takes your strategy and works out how you will achieve it.

Your content plan answers:

  • How often will you post content?
  • What types of content will you be creating?
  • What will your content focus on?

Keep in mind that without a content plan, you will ultimately struggle with consistency.

Content Calendar 

A content calendar is a schedule that you will create that lets you know when and where you are posting content.

A content calendar answers:

  • What day is a post going out?
  • Who is responsible for each task?
  • What are the key trends / events to align with?

Without having a content calendar, you will feel unorganised.

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*Image courtesy of Canva

**Information sourced from LinkedIn