Plan Your 2020 Video Content Calendar For Social Media

Escaping the week to week content creation cycle can be challenging. After burning out last week, I decided to put my thinking cap on and discover a method to PLAN AHEAD so that I can avoid burnout in 2020.

The goal of this exercise is to pinpoint potential roadblocks before they arise so you aren’t reacting in the moment. Then you’ll be scheduling your batch recording dates so you never fall behind. Only once we’ve done that, we can brainstorm topics.

Step 1: Outline the number of weeks in each month

Let me shortcut this process for you. Copy and paste the following and put this into a Google Doc.

  • January: 4 weeks

  • February: 4 weeks

  • March: 5 weeks

  • April: 4 weeks

  • May: 4 weeks

  • June: 5 weeks

  • July: 4 weeks

  • August: 4 weeks

  • September: 5 weeks

  • October: 4 weeks

  • November: 4 weeks

  • December: 5 weeks

Step 2: Under each month, write out any potential personal roadblocks

Go through the year, month by month and add bullet points for any personal roadblocks you might face during that month.

Consider…

  • Is there a month where your lease is up and you’ll need to move?

  • Are you planning to take a vacation?

  • When is your birthday, will you take time off?

  • What holidays fall into that month?

Step 3: Under each month, write out any potential business roadblocks

Go through the year, month by month and add bullet points for any business roadblocks you might face during that month.

Consider…

  • When are your heavy seasons for business?

  • Do you have a promotional you’re planning for?

  • What conferences do you plan to attend?

Step 4: For each quarter, brainstorm the mindset within your industry

This can be helpful for planning content ideas.

Consider…

  • The emotional feelings throughout the year (ex. January = excitement, by April people are burned out)

  • Your local mindset (typical travel periods, big conferences or festivals, etc.)

  • Business trends in your industry

Step 5/6: Analyze the remaining days & mark batch recording days

I’m combining these steps because I think it makes more sense to do this. Your goal in this step is to CHOOSE the dates where you will film 4-5 videos in one sitting. This way, you are only having to record content once per month instead of once per week. It helps make weekly content much more sustainable and also allows for efficiency in the editing process.

Once you’ve chosen your dates, put them into your Google Calendar so you don’t accidentally overlook them. If you have a time conflict later, MOVE the date, do not just cancel or else you will fall behind.

Step 7: Troubleshoot when batching seems impossible

When reviewing your calendar, you might find that some months are insanely hectic and there is no way you can create content at that time. If this is the case then you’ll need to plan to mega batch content the month before. This means that you’ll need to film 8 videos in one sitting, or within a 2 day period.

Step 8: Mark your editing deadlines

Filming isn’t the only thing you need to consider, editing can be extremely time-intensive so there needs to be a plan for that as well. Do you plan to outsource or do-it-yourself? Either way, you must have a deadline for when the videos will be completed. I would recommend aiming for a due date of 1-2 weeks after filming. And give yourself about a 2 week grace period before you need to post your first video.

So if you’re planning to release a video on February 25th then your editing due date would be two weeks before that on February 11th. Then your batch recording date would be two weeks before that on January 28th.

Step 9: If hiring, consider your budget

Under each month, write down the dollar amount you will need to pay for a local videographer or outsourcer to help you execute on the videos you need to create. This is going to vary depending on who you work with so start doing research and finding someone.

Planning ahead is a great way to ensure they will be available. Consider raising their rates every quarter so they are incentivized to keep working with you. There is nothing worse than relying on someone to help you create something and then they quit.

This is another potential roadblock that you might consider. You could avoid this by consistently meeting new videographers and editors so you don’t have one point of failure in your system.

Step 10: Brainstorm your video topics

Yay! Now that your content calendar is laid out, it’s time to brainstorm your topics. Consider adding topics that fit for the month you’re creating it in. For example, will you create a Christmas episode? Or maybe there is a big conference you’re planning to attend - plan to make a recap video from that conference.

As the year goes on, you’ll naturally think of new ideas as you go. As you do, trade out the titles so that you can continue to stay on track. Keep everything in your Google Calendar so you never miss a deadline.

Let’s make 2020 the best year yet

I’m very excited to do this activity myself. I truly believe it’s going to be a game-changer for staying on track! I’m planning a weekend retreat where I spend one day focused on my content calendar. If you can, I highly recommend doing the same!

Have any other ideas to add? Drop them in the comments below!

Are Digital Cameras Still Worth Buying?

My jaw dropped.

"I run all of Topo Chico's social content," says Giovanni, "and for the first three years, I only used iPhone footage."

I met Giovanni this last week at Social Media Week after hearing about him for over a year. He is the man behind Topo Chico's social content.

He explained to me that when he first started, he mounted an iPhone atop a DSLR camera, and made it look like he was using it as a monitor. Meanwhile, he never hit record on the DSLR.

He did this for a while and his clients never caught or cared about the iPhone quality video. Eventually, he clued them in and ditched the DSLR entirely.

Going Beyond iPhone

Having said this, there are brands that need higher quality footage than a smartphone can offer.

I believe that this decision all comes down to audience preference combined with the right time, place and budget.

In this week's video, we dive deeper into last week's analysis of iPhone vs. Mirrorless camera footage and chat about the pros and cons of upgrading.

Should you upgrade? Watch the video to find out.

How to Take Better Videos With Your iPhone

I Don’t Know Where To Start

Video is a black box that you may not understand -- and that's okay! When I first entered into the world of online marketing, I knew NOTHING. I started listening to a few podcasts and over time, I began to get familiar with the terms.

Each podcast I listened to gave me insight into specific "how-tos", but the cumulation of all those episodes eventually led me to see the bigger picture.

One Tutorial At a Time

If you're overwhelmed by the idea of video then I want to re-assure you ... you're doing exactly what you need to be doing by reading this email and watching the video.

It doesn't take big action to get started, just focus on learning to start. Then when you're ready to test, pick up your iPhone and do a few test shots. Follow the steps in this video to grab your shots. Edit a short sequence together in iMovie. You don't have to release the video, just practice.

When you're ready for the next step, record and talk to the camera when no one else is around. Watch it back -- you're going to recognize all the terrible things you do (ums, ahs, not knowing what to say, looking dorky, etc.) We are certainly our worst critiques! But keep trying and watching and over time you'll start to like what you see.

I'm giving you permission to just watch and wait for inspiration to strike.

One day you'll hit record and realize "Wow, I know a lot more than I thought! This isn't so bad!"

How To Make a Vlog with Your iPhone (Part 1)

Vlogging was a stretch

When I first started vlogging, I had no idea how or where to start. I researched the best tactics for shooting and editing, but there was little info that was valuable... (other than everyone trying to be Casey Neistat)

So I had to learn by trial and error. 7 months later, I quite enjoy the freedom of vlogging. It's been liberating to step out from the "promo" style filming and switch up the tactics. I've picked up several tricks along the way that I'd like to share...

Story above tech

A vlog without story is just a crappy video. The trick to vlogging is to keep it fast, engaging and constantly moving forward in the narrative. The second the video slows, you loose your audience. NOTE: This has NOTHING to do with what camera you use. 

Freedom

So I decided to test my own theory and challenge myself to vlog using my iPhone X... I used only my phone -- no external accessories added, except for a tripod (no extra lenses, mics, lights, etc.). This lightweight set up allowed me to capture shots that I couldn't do with my regular rig ... capturing unique angles, discreetly filming in public, etc. 

But how much quality do you lose?

I was super impressed with the output. The audio continually amazes me, specifically it's levels and how much it cuts out background noise. I could have shot this video in 4k (super HD), but I kept the resolution at 1920 x 1080 to prove that 4k isn't even necessary.

You can too

The main difference between me and you at this stage is my ability to craft the story and edit it together. In this video, I give tips for crafting your story and next week, I'll walk you through how to edit it. The more and more you practice (and watch examples), the better you'll become. 

So with that ...