Do you know when we mark our activities on a calendar template, then we have consistent results? Furthermore, this also helps in preparing or changing our strategy.
In addition to this, when all of our activities are added to the calendar then we are clear about our next task. The same is true for small businesses where we have limited time and money.
For instance, take a look at a social media calendar strategy for a small business.

Here, we listed five different activities for three different platforms for Monday – Friday. Meanwhile, one activity is to be performed daily.

Note – Modify the activities based on your business requirements. Remember, the mentioned activities are only ideas or an example for you.

Meaning of social media calendar

In simple words, it is an overview of upcoming events organized by date. A social media calendar can have the form of a Google calendar, spreadsheet, or interactive dashboard. For each post, it includes some combination of these elements-

• The month or date it will go live
• Creative assets required (i.e. photos or videos)
• Tags and links to be included

Creating a social media calendar template for small business

For creating an impressive social media content plan, these simple steps are to be followed.

1. Audit social networks and content :- Before building a social media posting calendar for you, have a clear picture of your social media accounts. A trusted social media audit template helps to keep a record of outdated profiles, account security, demographics of the audience, who is responsible for which work, your successful posts and opportunities for improvement.

2. Select your social mix and content channel :- As discussed earlier, what to post and when to post is an important part of social media strategy. Two of the popular standard content mix formulas to get started are – the 80-20 rule and the social media rule of thirds.

3. Decide what is to be included in your social media calendar template for small business owners :- A social media calendar of different people and brands is unique. Meanwhile, unlike a large brand, the calendar template of a small business owner looks simpler. It is good to start with details like platform, date, time, copy, visuals, link to assets and link to a published post.

4. Use the feedback of your team to improve :- Your calendar template is useless if it doesn’t make sense for the targeted users. Ask your stakeholders for feedback and make the suggested improvements.

Some of the free social media calendar templates

Creating attractive content is the foremost responsibility of a social media manager. However, it is not easy when you have numerous clients with different needs.
Hubspot’s Excel content template is free of cost. It can be opened in Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel to draft up social media posts. Likewise, ContentCal’s social media template takes social media planning to a next level. Moreover, it also asks the questions like why and what are you doing to keep you on track
Last but the most trusted template is ClickMinded’s Perfect content calendar template. It is best for those who prefer simple things in their life

Tips and tricks to use a social media calendar template for your small business

From a wide list, here we will discuss the top 5 tips in detail.

1. Customize to fit your small business :- Download a version of the suitable social media calendar template. Remember, every business has its unique needs and expectations. So, keep an eye on the requirements of your small business.

2. Start slow :- If you need to stay in the market for years then start slow. It is suggested to increase the activities only after getting adjusted to social media platforms.

3. Suggested activities are only idea starters :- Never try to do everything suggested on the social media calendar template. After seeing the suggested activities, wisely think about possibilities

4. Assign responsibilities :- It is to be decided who will manage social media calendar templates for your small business. For this task, some business owners hire an independent contractor or virtual assistant.

5. Automation is to be used without apology :- Nevertheless, if you automate some tasks or activities, you have sufficient time for engagement. When you mix personal engagement with automation, you seem approachable.

Why do small business owners need a social media calendar template?

Nice question, but there is no specific answer for this. It keeps you organized and helps to pre-plan topical content in advance. Furthermore, the social media calendar template makes you consistent, this quality is important in social media marketing.
Imagine, you shared multiple posts on Monday and then failed to contact your followers for a month. Will it leave a good impression? No, this shows your unpunctuality and it will reduce your followers. A social media calendar template helps to spread quality posts daily.

FAQ About Social Media Calendar Template for Small Business owners

Q1. Who can use the social media calendar template? :- It is used by all willing to carry out their social media marketing efforts.

Q2. What is included in the social media calendar template for small businesses? :- Post content type, post description, post URL, campaign names, location targeting, date, day and time.

Q3. What is the main goal of the social media calendar template? :- Its main objective is to document what is happening across the organization.

Final Thoughts

No wonder, this social media calendar template is a lifesaver for business owners. Besides helping you to plan an impressive content mix, it makes your day less stressful. Consequently, it is mainly used by small business owners rather than big brands. Here, we discussed everything about a social media calendar template.
I hope you got my point about why I suggested ‘this social media calendar strategy for small businesses is for You!’. Am I Right? I can hear your big ‘yes’