---
name: content-calendar
description: |
  Content calendar creation and editorial planning including content pillar strategy, editorial templates, content type mix, publishing cadence, social media scheduling, content repurposing, seasonal planning, content briefs, and performance tracking. Use when the user asks about content calendar or needs help with related topics. Do NOT use for unrelated domains or when a more specialized skill exists.
license: Apache-2.0
metadata:
  author: foundry-skills
  version: "1.0.0"
  tags: "content-marketing marketing planning"
  category: "marketing-sales"
  subcategory: "marketing"
  depends: ""
  disclaimer: "none"
  difficulty: "intermediate"
---

# Content Calendar

## When to Use


## Process

1. **Gather requirements.** Ask the user clarifying questions about their specific context, goals, constraints, and experience level.

2. **Analyze the situation.** Review the information provided and identify key factors, challenges, and opportunities relevant to content calendar.

3. **Develop the framework.** Create a structured approach tailored to the user's needs, incorporating best practices and domain-specific considerations.

4. **Deliver actionable output.** Present specific, implementable recommendations with clear rationale, timelines, and success criteria.

5. **Address edge cases.** Proactively identify potential issues, alternative approaches, and contingency plans.

**Use this skill when:**
- User needs guidance on content calendar
- User asks about content calendar best practices or techniques
- User wants a structured approach to content calendar

**Do NOT use this skill when:**
- A more specialized skill exists for the specific subtopic
- The request is outside the scope of content calendar
## Questions to Ask the User First

1. **What is your business and what do you sell?**
2. **Who is your target audience?** (Be specific: roles, industries, demographics)
3. **What channels do you publish on?** (Blog, social media, email, video, podcast)
4. **How often do you currently publish?** (And how often do you want to)
5. **What is your content team size?** (Solo, 2-5, 5+, with freelancers?)
6. **What are your top 3 business goals for content?** (Traffic, leads, brand, SEO)
7. **Do you have existing content?** (How much and where?)
8. **What is your content budget?** (Monthly: writing, design, tools, promotion)
9. **What is your planning horizon?** (Monthly, quarterly, annually)
10. **What tools do you currently use?** (CMS, scheduling, project management)
---
## Step 1: Content Pillar Strategy

### Defining Content Pillars

Content pillars are the 3-5 core topics that everything you publish relates to.
```
CONTENT PILLAR FRAMEWORK

PILLAR DEFINITION WORKSHEET:

Business mission: {{mission}}
Target audience: {{audience}}
Core expertise: {{what_you_know_better_than_anyone}}

PILLAR 1: {{pillar_name}}
  Why this pillar: {{connection_to_business_goals}}
  Target persona: {{primary_persona}}
  Keywords: {{keyword_cluster}}
  Content ratio: {{pct}}% of total content
  Content types: {{blog, video, social, email}}

PILLAR 2: {{pillar_name}}
  Why this pillar: {{connection_to_business_goals}}
  Target persona: {{primary_persona}}
  Keywords: {{keyword_cluster}}
  Content ratio: {{pct}}% of total content
  Content types: {{blog, video, social, email}}

PILLAR 3: {{pillar_name}}
  Why this pillar: {{connection_to_business_goals}}
  Target persona: {{primary_persona}}
  Keywords: {{keyword_cluster}}
  Content ratio: {{pct}}% of total content
  Content types: {{blog, video, social, email}}

PILLAR 4: {{pillar_name}} (optional)
  ...

PILLAR 5: Company/Brand
  Culture, team, behind-the-scenes, company news
  Content ratio: 10-15% max
```

### Content Type Mix
```
CONTENT MIX FORMULA

Recommended ratios (adjust to your audience):

EDUCATIONAL CONTENT: 40-50%
  How-to guides, tutorials, explanations, tips
  Goal: Build trust, SEO traffic, establish expertise

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP: 15-20%
  Industry analysis, opinion pieces, trend predictions
  Goal: Brand authority, earn links and shares

ENGAGEMENT CONTENT: 15-20%
  Polls, questions, memes, interactive content, stories
  Goal: Audience growth, community building

PROMOTIONAL CONTENT: 10-15%
  Product updates, case studies, offers, launches
  Goal: Drive conversions and revenue

COMMUNITY CONTENT: 5-10%
  User-generated content, customer stories, team highlights
  Goal: Trust, relatability, social proof

YOUR CONTENT MIX:
  Educational: {{pct}}%
  Thought Leadership: {{pct}}%
  Engagement: {{pct}}%
  Promotional: {{pct}}%
  Community: {{pct}}%
```
---
## Step 2: Editorial Calendar Template

### Monthly Calendar View
```
EDITORIAL CALENDAR: {{MONTH YEAR}}

THEME OF THE MONTH: {{monthly_theme}}
KEY DATES: {{holidays, events, product launches}}

| Date | Channel | Content Type | Topic/Title | Pillar | Status | Owner |
|------|---------|-------------|-------------|--------|--------|-------|
| {{}} | Blog    | How-to      | {{title}}   | P1     | Draft  | {{}}  |
| {{}} | Twitter | Thread      | {{title}}   | P2     | Idea   | {{}}  |
| {{}} | Email   | Newsletter  | {{title}}   | P1     | Review | {{}}  |
| {{}} | IG      | Carousel    | {{title}}   | P3     | Done   | {{}}  |
| {{}} | Blog    | Case study  | {{title}}   | P2     | Draft  | {{}}  |
| {{}} | LinkedIn| Article     | {{title}}   | P1     | Idea   | {{}}  |
| {{}} | YouTube | Tutorial    | {{title}}   | P3     | Script | {{}}  |
| {{}} | Email   | Promo       | {{title}}   | Promo  | Review | {{}}  |
| ...  | ...     | ...         | ...         | ...    | ...    | ...   |

STATUS DEFINITIONS:
  Idea -> Brief -> Outline -> Draft -> Review -> Edit -> Approved -> Scheduled -> Published

MONTHLY TARGETS:
  Blog posts: {{count}}
  Social posts: {{count}} (across all platforms)
  Emails: {{count}}
  Videos: {{count}}
  Total pieces: {{count}}
```

### Quarterly Planning View
```
QUARTERLY CONTENT PLAN: {{Q# YEAR}}

QUARTERLY GOALS:
1. {{goal_1}} -- Metric: {{target}}
2. {{goal_2}} -- Metric: {{target}}
3. {{goal_3}} -- Metric: {{target}}

MONTHLY THEMES:
  Month 1: {{theme}} -- Tied to: {{business_event_or_season}}
  Month 2: {{theme}} -- Tied to: {{business_event_or_season}}
  Month 3: {{theme}} -- Tied to: {{business_event_or_season}}

MAJOR CONTENT PIECES (high-effort, high-impact):
1. {{title}} -- Type: {{}} -- Channel: {{}} -- Publish: {{date}}
2. {{title}} -- Type: {{}} -- Channel: {{}} -- Publish: {{date}}
3. {{title}} -- Type: {{}} -- Channel: {{}} -- Publish: {{date}}

RECURRING CONTENT:
  Weekly: {{what_publishes_every_week}}
  Biweekly: {{what_publishes_every_2_weeks}}
  Monthly: {{what_publishes_monthly}}

CAMPAIGNS:
  Campaign 1: {{name}}
    Launch: {{date}}
    Content pieces: {{list}}
    Channels: {{list}}
    Goal: {{metric}}
```
---
## Step 3: Publishing Cadence

### Recommended Cadence by Channel
```
PUBLISHING CADENCE GUIDE

BLOG:
  Minimum: 2 posts/month (for SEO momentum)
  Recommended: 1-2 posts/week
  Optimal posting days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
  Optimal posting time: 9-11 AM local time for your audience

EMAIL NEWSLETTER:
  Minimum: 1/month (to maintain list engagement)
  Recommended: 1/week or biweekly
  Optimal send days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
  Optimal send time: 10 AM or 2 PM local

SOCIAL MEDIA:
  LinkedIn:
    Frequency: 3-5 posts/week
    Best times: Tue-Thu, 8-10 AM
    Content types: Text posts, carousels, articles, video

  Twitter/X:
    Frequency: 1-5 posts/day
    Best times: Weekdays 9 AM-12 PM
    Content types: Threads, quotes, images, polls

  Instagram:
    Frequency: 3-7 posts/week + daily stories
    Best times: Mon-Fri, 11 AM-1 PM
    Content types: Reels, carousels, stories, static posts

  TikTok:
    Frequency: 1-3 videos/day (consistency > volume)
    Best times: Varies (check your analytics)
    Content types: Short-form video (15-60 seconds)

  Facebook:
    Frequency: 3-5 posts/week
    Best times: Wed-Fri, 1-4 PM
    Content types: Video, links, images, events

  YouTube:
    Frequency: 1-2 videos/week (consistency is key)
    Best times: Friday-Saturday for views
    Content types: Tutorials, reviews, vlogs, shorts

YOUR CADENCE:
| Channel     | Frequency       | Days           | Time      | Owner |
|-------------|----------------|----------------|-----------|-------|
| Blog        | {{frequency}}  | {{days}}       | {{time}}  | {{}}  |
| Email       | {{frequency}}  | {{days}}       | {{time}}  | {{}}  |
| LinkedIn    | {{frequency}}  | {{days}}       | {{time}}  | {{}}  |
| Twitter/X   | {{frequency}}  | {{days}}       | {{time}}  | {{}}  |
| Instagram   | {{frequency}}  | {{days}}       | {{time}}  | {{}}  |
| {{other}}   | {{frequency}}  | {{days}}       | {{time}}  | {{}}  |
```
---
## Step 4: Content Repurposing Workflow

### The 1-to-10 Content Multiplication Method
```
CONTENT REPURPOSING WORKFLOW

Start with ONE pillar content piece (e.g., a long-form blog post or video).

ORIGINAL PIECE:
  Title: {{title}}
  Format: {{blog_post / video / podcast / webinar}}
  Length: {{word_count / duration}}

REPURPOSED INTO:
  1. BLOG POST (if original was not a blog)
     Summarize key points into a 1500-2000 word article

  2. EMAIL NEWSLETTER
     Pull the top 3 insights, link to full piece

  3. LINKEDIN POST
     Share one key insight with personal commentary (300 words)

  4. TWITTER/X THREAD
     Break into 5-10 tweet thread with numbered insights

  5. INSTAGRAM CAROUSEL
     Create 8-10 slide visual summary of key points

  6. SHORT-FORM VIDEO (Reels/TikTok/Shorts)

  7. INFOGRAPHIC

  8. PODCAST SEGMENT

  9. QUORA/REDDIT ANSWER

  10. SLIDE DECK

REPURPOSING TIMELINE:
  Day 0: Publish original piece
  Day 0: Share on primary social channels
  Day 1: Email newsletter featuring the content
  Day 2: LinkedIn post with personal take
  Day 3: Twitter thread
  Day 4: Instagram carousel
  Day 5-7: Short-form video clip(s)
  Day 7-14: Infographic (if applicable)
  Week 2-4: Answer related questions on Quora/Reddit
```
---
## Step 5: Seasonal & Event Content Planning
```
SEASONAL CONTENT CALENDAR

ANNUAL EVENTS TO PLAN FOR:

Q1 (January - March):
  January: New Year, goal-setting content, "Best of" lists
  February: Valentine's Day, Black History Month
  March: International Women's Day, Spring planning

Q2 (April - June):
  April: Earth Day, April Fools (if brand-appropriate)
  May: Memorial Day, Mother's Day, Mental Health Awareness
  June: Pride Month, Father's Day, Summer kickoff

Q3 (July - September):
  July: Independence Day (US), mid-year reviews
  August: Back to School
  September: Labor Day, Fall planning, industry conference season

Q4 (October - December):
  October: Halloween, Breast Cancer Awareness
  November: Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday
  December: Holiday content, Year in Review, predictions for next year

INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC EVENTS:
  {{event_1}}: {{date}} -- Content plan: {{plan}}
  {{event_2}}: {{date}} -- Content plan: {{plan}}
  {{event_3}}: {{date}} -- Content plan: {{plan}}

PRODUCT/COMPANY EVENTS:
  {{product_launch}}: {{date}} -- Content plan: {{plan}}
  {{company_anniversary}}: {{date}} -- Content plan: {{plan}}
  {{conference}}: {{date}} -- Content plan: {{plan}}

LEAD TIME FOR SEASONAL CONTENT:
  Blog posts: 2-4 weeks before event
  Social media: 1-2 weeks before event
  Email campaigns: 2-3 weeks before event
  Video content: 4-6 weeks before event
  Major campaigns: 6-8 weeks before event
```
---
## Step 6: Content Brief Template
```
CONTENT BRIEF

BASIC INFORMATION:
  Title: {{title}}
  Content type: {{blog/video/email/social/etc.}}
  Pillar: {{which_content_pillar}}
  Target persona: {{persona_name}}
  Author/Creator: {{name}}
  Due date (draft): {{date}}
  Publish date: {{date}}

SEO DETAILS (for blog/web content):
  Primary keyword: {{keyword}} (volume: {{vol}}, KD: {{kd}})
  Secondary keywords: {{kw2}}, {{kw3}}, {{kw4}}
  Search intent: {{informational/commercial/transactional}}
  Target word count: {{count}} (based on SERP analysis)
  Competing articles: {{url_1}}, {{url_2}}

CONTENT OBJECTIVE:
  Goal: {{what_this_piece_should_achieve}}
  CTA: {{what_action_should_the_reader_take}}
  KPI: {{how_we_measure_success}}

OUTLINE:
  H1: {{title}}
  Introduction: {{hook_and_context}} (100-150 words)
  H2: {{section_1}}
    Key points: {{bullet_points}}
  H2: {{section_2}}
    Key points: {{bullet_points}}
  H2: {{section_3}}
    Key points: {{bullet_points}}
  Conclusion + CTA: {{summary_and_next_step}}

VISUAL REQUIREMENTS:
  - Featured image: {{description_or_source}}
  - In-article images: {{count}} needed
  - Screenshots: {{if_applicable}}
  - Charts/infographics: {{if_applicable}}

INTERNAL LINKS TO INCLUDE:
  1. {{page_url}} -- anchor text: {{text}}
  2. {{page_url}} -- anchor text: {{text}}

DISTRIBUTION PLAN:
  - Publish on: {{channel}}
  - Share on: {{social_channels}}
  - Email to: {{list_segment}}
  - Repurpose into: {{formats}}

REFERENCE MATERIALS:
  - {{source_1}}
  - {{source_2}}
  - {{source_3}}
```
---
## Step 7: Team Coordination & Workflow
```
CONTENT WORKFLOW
ROLES:
  Content Strategist: Plans calendar, defines briefs, reviews performance
  Writer/Creator: Produces content from briefs
  Editor: Reviews for quality, accuracy, brand voice
  Designer: Creates visual assets
  Publisher: Schedules and publishes content
  Promoter: Distributes across channels
WORKFLOW STAGES:
  1. IDEATION (Strategist)
     - Generate topic ideas from keyword research, customer questions, trends
     - Add to content backlog with priority score
     - Assign to editorial calendar
  2. BRIEFING (Strategist)
     - Complete content brief template
     - Assign to writer with deadline
     - Share reference materials and examples
  3. CREATION (Writer/Creator)
     - Draft content following brief
     - Self-review against checklist
     - Submit for review by deadline
  4. REVIEW (Editor)
     - Check accuracy and completeness
     - Check brand voice and tone
     - Check SEO elements (if applicable)
     - Provide feedback or approve
  5. DESIGN (Designer)
     - Create featured image and visuals
     - Format for target platform
     - Review brand consistency
  6. APPROVAL (Strategist/Manager)
     - Final review
     - Approve for publishing
     - Confirm publish date and channels
  7. PUBLISHING (Publisher)
     - Format in CMS
     - Schedule or publish
     - Verify all links, images, formatting
     - Submit to search engines (if applicable)

  8. PROMOTION (Promoter)
     - Share across social channels
     - Include in email newsletter
     - Distribute to communities
     - Paid promotion (if budgeted)

  9. MEASUREMENT (Strategist)
     - Track performance at 7, 30, 90 days
     - Document learnings
     - Optimize underperforming content

TOOL RECOMMENDATIONS:
  Planning: Notion, Airtable, Trello, Asana
  Writing: Google Docs, Notion
  Design: Canva, Figma, Adobe Creative Suite
  Scheduling: Buffer, Hootsuite, Later, Sprout Social
  CMS: WordPress, Ghost, Webflow
  Analytics: Google Analytics, social platform analytics
```
---
## Step 8: Performance Tracking
```
CONTENT PERFORMANCE DASHBOARD

TRACK THESE METRICS FOR EVERY PUBLISHED PIECE:

AWARENESS METRICS:
  - Page views / impressions
  - Unique visitors
  - Social reach
  - Search impressions

ENGAGEMENT METRICS:
  - Time on page / watch time
  - Scroll depth
  - Social shares, likes, comments
  - Email open rate and click rate
  - Bounce rate

CONVERSION METRICS:
  - Click-through rate (CTA clicks)
  - Lead generation (form fills, signups)
  - Revenue attributed
  - Assisted conversions

SEO METRICS (for blog content):
  - Keyword rankings
  - Organic traffic
  - Backlinks earned
  - Featured snippets won

MONTHLY CONTENT REPORT:
  Total published: {{count}} pieces
  Total traffic from content: {{sessions}}
  Top 5 performing pieces: {{list_with_metrics}}
  Worst 5 performing pieces: {{list_with_metrics}}
  Conversion from content: {{leads_or_sales}}
  Content ROI: Revenue attributed / Content cost = {{ratio}}

QUARTERLY CONTENT REVIEW QUESTIONS:
  1. Which content pillars are driving the most results?
  2. Which content types get the most engagement?
  3. Which channels deliver the best ROI?
  4. What topics does our audience want more of?
  5. What should we stop creating?
  6. Are we hitting our publishing cadence targets?
  7. How does content performance trend over time?
```
---
## Content Calendar Checklist

- [ ] Content pillars defined and aligned to business goals
- [ ] Content mix ratio established across types
- [ ] Publishing cadence is realistic for team size and budget
- [ ] Editorial calendar covers at least 4 weeks ahead
- [ ] Seasonal and event content planned in advance
- [ ] Content briefs completed before creation begins
- [ ] Workflow and roles clearly defined
- [ ] Repurposing strategy maximizes each piece of content
- [ ] Performance tracking is set up with clear KPIs
- [ ] Calendar is reviewed and updated weekly


## Output Format

Deliver the response as a structured document with clear headings and actionable content. Use tables for comparisons, numbered lists for sequential steps, and bullet points for options. Include specific examples where applicable.

```
[Content Calendar deliverable]
1. Context and objectives
2. Analysis or framework
3. Specific recommendations with rationale
4. Action items with timeline
```


## Example

**Input:** "Help me with content calendar for a mid-size project."

**Output:** A complete content calendar framework tailored to the specific context, with actionable steps, relevant considerations, and measurable outcomes.


## Edge Cases

- **Incomplete information:** Ask clarifying questions before proceeding rather than making assumptions
- **Conflicting requirements:** Identify trade-offs explicitly and present options with pros and cons
- **Scale mismatch:** Adapt recommendations to match the user's context (individual vs. team vs. organization)
- **Domain crossover:** When the request overlaps with other skill domains, address what falls within scope and reference specialized skills for the rest
