The Freedom of Calendarless Content 🤫

Hello Reader,

Before we get started, enrollment for Hit Refresh, my month-long program to get your blog up and running once and for all is open. Space is limited.

One of the things that shocks my clients the most is that I don't use a content calendar. 😱

The horror, right?

Now, that doesn't mean I don't follow a strategy. And it certainly doesn't mean that I don't have a plan.

I have both—and they work well.

You see, the way my brain works, if you slapped a calendar in front of me and said, "Publish this on the day, publish that on that day," I would be very resistant to doing it. (I'm self aware, okay!)

I used to not share this with clients because I didn't want them to think I was somehow unprofessional or what have you. After all, I've seen the fancy dictionary-sized content strategies that other people use.

But then, when I'd have conversations with clients, a lot of them felt the same way: They'd see a calendar that said what/when and it suddenly felt like a heavy lift. What if there was a time-sensitive issue that popped up, or they saw a story that had to be shared, or simply didn't want to tackle that subject right then? It felt like a set up for failure.

So I'd nervously share my "buckets" approach to content strategy, in which I created a menu of items that would go into my blog and newsletter, organized in my content "buckets." I could visit those grouped topics and create that content when the time was right. I could match them to themes throughout the year, depending on what services I was emphasizing in my marketing at any given time. But it wasn't rigid. And, most importantly, it worked for how I think and work.

It turns out a whole lot of the people I work with found this approach much more spacious and approachable than a series of due dates.

Here's the thing: A list of tasks with due dates is not a content strategy.

If you love a content calendar, more power to you—do what makes sense for the way you think and the way you work. But, if you're one of those people who hates a content calendar, do not for a moment believe you're doing marketing "wrong" if your approach is more relaxed. Mine sure is! And I've been in this marketing game for two decades!

My lesson here is that if you're avoiding committing to content because a content calendar is not your jam, I'm not going to make you do it. Do not set yourself up to fail. What I'm teaching in my Hit Refresh program next month, in fact, is how to develop achievable goals based on your capacity—not anyone else's template for the right way.

I hope you enjoyed hearing about my dirty not-so secret about how content calendars turn me into a disobedient brat and the freedom and joy of a calendarless approach to content creation. I bet I'm not alone—as always, hit reply if you see a bit of yourself in this story.

Warmly,

Sarah

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