How to Plan a Month of Social Media Content in 5 Simple Steps

If you’ve ever stared at a blank content calendar wondering what to post, you’re not alone. Social media can feel overwhelming and never ending—but with a bit of planning, it doesn’t have to be.

A solid content plan keeps your messaging consistent, aligned with your brand goals, and saves you hours of last-minute scrambling. Whether you’re a small business owner, a marketer, or building your personal brand, this step-by-step guide will help you map out a full month of content with ease.

Step 1: Set Your Goals

Before you create any posts, get clear on what you want to achieve this month.

Are you promoting a product or service?
Driving traffic to a website or blog?
Growing your audience?
Building community or engagement?

Your goals will shape the kind of content you need—informational, promotional, inspirational, or interactive. Choose 1–2 primary goals to focus on, so your content stays purposeful.

Pro Tip: Write your goals at the top of your content calendar for reference.

Step 2: Pick Your Content Pillars

Content pillars are the 3–5 core themes your posts will revolve around. These should reflect what your audience cares about and what your brand stands for. For example:

A health brand might focus on: Nutrition Tips, Mental Wellness, Recipes, and Client Spotlights.
A tech startup might focus on: Product Features, Industry Trends, Behind-the-Scenes, and User Tips.
My social media revolves around: Book Reviews, Comms Tips, and Camping Resources.

Once you have your pillars, brainstorm 3–5 post ideas under each one. That gives you 15–25 potential posts right off the bat.

Step 3: Choose Your Posting Frequency

Decide how many days a week you want to post—then multiply that by four to know how many posts you’ll need.

Example:

Posting 3x/week = 12 posts/month
Posting 5x/week = 20–22 posts/month

Not every day needs a new post. Mix in stories, resharing user content, or using one post across multiple platforms to get more mileage out of your efforts.

Step 4: Map It Out on a Calendar

Now it's time to schedule your posts! Use a simple spreadsheet, Google Calendar, Notion, or a dedicated content planner. Here’s a basic structure:

Mondays: Educational/Value-based content
Wednesdays: Behind-the-scenes or story-based post
Fridays: Call-to-action or community engagement post

Make sure to vary the formats (image, carousel, reel, quote, live video) and check that your messaging is balanced between giving value, building trust, and promoting your offer.

Step 5: Batch Create & Schedule

Set aside 1–2 focused sessions to write captions, design graphics, and prep visuals. This is where planning really pays off—once it’s all created, you can schedule your posts using tools like:

Meta Business Suite (for Instagram & Facebook)
Buffer, Later, Planoly, or Hootsuite
Canva Scheduler (if you’re already designing there)

Batching your work not only saves time, it keeps your tone and message consistent throughout the month.

Bonus Tip: Leave Room for Spontaneity

Even with a plan, leave some wiggle room. That way, if something relevant or timely pops up—a trend, a customer shoutout, a great photo—you can weave it in without feeling like you’re going off script.

Planning a month of content doesn’t have to be complicated. With clear goals, repeatable themes, and a simple system, you’ll stay organized, consistent, and confident in your social media game. Because when you plan ahead, you create with intention—not pressure.

Want a free content calendar template to help you get started? Find what I use here.