Your “10 Step – Get Ready” Autumn Content Plan
We all know that it’s full throttle now up to Christmas Eve and decorating the tree. But autumn is such a productive time and you really do need to hit the decks running with your content. I hope you spent your summer holidays planning your strategies and writing your content but if you didn’t (really?) here’s a quick check list to give you a kick start up the whatnot and then guide you through until Santa calls:
1. What writing and marketing activities are you doing or planning to do? A newsletter, blog, some advertising? Anything else? Why have you chosen these?
2. How consistent have you been so far and what sort of results have you got (you are monitoring your activities aren’t you?)?
3. Bearing in mind your answers to the above, do you need to revisit your activities? Can you blog more frequently, do you need help to ensure you’re more consistent or do you need to try something in addition? How is your social media for example?
4. OK this is the big one …what do you want to achieve with your content in the run up to Christmas? Be specific. More followers or subscribers? How many? Or perhaps you want to raise awareness of a new product, service or event? The more specific you are, the more focused your writing will become.
5. Now that you know what you want to achieve, start planning what you need to do to achieve it? 
Is a newsletter really the best way or would blogging be better? Do you need to start posting somewhere different? In other words, what do you need to write, how often and where do you need to post it so that your target audience finds it? Nail this and you’ve nailed your autumn strategy but make yourself accountable; you’ll be so much more likely to achieve your goals. If you have no one to tell, tell me and I’ll add you to my CRM and send you a gentle (not) reminder when your content is due.
6. What about your target or your avatar (call them what you will)? They are of course the most important part of what you do. What problems have they got, that you can help with? You should always focus on them not you! So make sure you’ve got a clear idea of who they are and what makes them tick? I’ll be blogging about this soon but meanwhile, spend a little time putting together a fact file about them.
7. And what about you, have you got a clear idea of your writing style and brand personality? I’ll cover this too in a blog coming to you soon but again, start putting together a fact file.
8. Think about any imagery you need. I personally hate stock images but occasionally needs must and it is worth making sure you have an easy to access source at the outset. Otherwise, it can become a reason not to hit publish. You might want to use your own but make sure they are good quality (ha ha not like mine!).
9. Check your website. Is it up to date or could it do with a freshen up? It’s amazing how quickly they date and don’t forget to include any new products or services.
10. You’re nearly ready. Spend a little time jotting down some ideas and topics or email me if you need some inspiration for what to write about. Now just start writing. You can edit later. I’ll be blogging about writing habits and hacks soon but for now…just start and the rest will follow!
Good luck, you have begun! Next week I’ll be blogging about planning your actual content but I promise, all this planning really pays off. And I also promise not to mention Christmas again!
