The best way to create an editorial calendar: the final secret
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2025 6:54 am
A big part of effectively managing your editorial calendar is knowing how and how much to allocate work to your team. In fact, the Project Management Institute found that 21% of projects fail due to resource constraints or pricing, and inadequate resource forecasting accounts for 18% of failed projects. Without a doubt, resource management is critical .
Valdellon says prioritization is key here, to ensure the most important content is tackled first and by the right team members. What items are deemed less important? Outsource or postpone.
Rachel adds that another tool for effectively managing your resources is to make the most of your team members’ areas of expertise. “If I know someone is really good at writing a certain type of content or is really interested in a particular topic, I do my best to assign it to them,” she says of her team. “I also employ the 80/20 rule. I schedule them at 80% of their armenia phone number data capacity to leave room for unexpected projects.”
Calendar management
When creating an editorial calendar, the work doesn't end there. You need to check in with your team regularly to assess progress, communicate important information, address changes, and update the calendar. Here are some tips for successfully managing your editorial calendar:
High visibility. For example, every piece of content on the publishing calendar Rachel Serpa’s team uses is tied to an overarching Wrike project—and these projects are managed on a shared dashboard that clearly shows where each task sits in the team’s workflow . “So if something gets stuck in a certain state or something is delayed, the dashboard will show that,” she says.
Walker adds that over time, you should be able to accurately predict project timelines based on what you already know about your team’s performance. “When you have that visibility, you’ll be ruthless about sharing responsibility for deadlines,” she says. That way, you’ll stay on track and on schedule.
Automatic updates. Many digital tools and templates will automatically notify team members when there are updates to the editorial calendar or specific tasks assigned to them. For example, whenever Rachel Serpa’s team changes the status or due date of a task, the team members assigned to the task receive an automatic notification, ensuring that “everyone is always on the same page.”
Address delays directly and quickly. Walker notes that discussing delays or schedule changes in an open environment (such as a weekly team meeting) fosters transparency and allows for group problem-solving that works seamlessly. “Plus, it shows that you’re in it together—when big projects are completed on time, everyone wins,” she says.
Use comments. Avoid sending emails to document changes to tasks, according to Valdellon. Instead, consider leaving comments on tasks. This keeps a record of all communication regarding the task and ensures visibility and transparency.
Valdellon says prioritization is key here, to ensure the most important content is tackled first and by the right team members. What items are deemed less important? Outsource or postpone.
Rachel adds that another tool for effectively managing your resources is to make the most of your team members’ areas of expertise. “If I know someone is really good at writing a certain type of content or is really interested in a particular topic, I do my best to assign it to them,” she says of her team. “I also employ the 80/20 rule. I schedule them at 80% of their armenia phone number data capacity to leave room for unexpected projects.”
Calendar management
When creating an editorial calendar, the work doesn't end there. You need to check in with your team regularly to assess progress, communicate important information, address changes, and update the calendar. Here are some tips for successfully managing your editorial calendar:
High visibility. For example, every piece of content on the publishing calendar Rachel Serpa’s team uses is tied to an overarching Wrike project—and these projects are managed on a shared dashboard that clearly shows where each task sits in the team’s workflow . “So if something gets stuck in a certain state or something is delayed, the dashboard will show that,” she says.
Walker adds that over time, you should be able to accurately predict project timelines based on what you already know about your team’s performance. “When you have that visibility, you’ll be ruthless about sharing responsibility for deadlines,” she says. That way, you’ll stay on track and on schedule.
Automatic updates. Many digital tools and templates will automatically notify team members when there are updates to the editorial calendar or specific tasks assigned to them. For example, whenever Rachel Serpa’s team changes the status or due date of a task, the team members assigned to the task receive an automatic notification, ensuring that “everyone is always on the same page.”
Address delays directly and quickly. Walker notes that discussing delays or schedule changes in an open environment (such as a weekly team meeting) fosters transparency and allows for group problem-solving that works seamlessly. “Plus, it shows that you’re in it together—when big projects are completed on time, everyone wins,” she says.
Use comments. Avoid sending emails to document changes to tasks, according to Valdellon. Instead, consider leaving comments on tasks. This keeps a record of all communication regarding the task and ensures visibility and transparency.