Considering launching a profitable online course in 2023? You're on the right track! The virtual chalkboards are buzzing and eclassrooms are filling up as the digital education sector grows at an exhilarating pace. The time is ripe to cash in on your expertise. 

With the right resources, you can make serious money from your knowledge. But, you might be asking yourself which topics will make me the most bank?

The good news is, there's a whole load of lucrative ideas for online course niches waiting for you to choose from. 

So, what gets your gears turning? Be it technology, art, or personal development – your enthusiasm can be your currency. With your unique skills and the right set of digital tools, you're already ahead of the curve.

In this article, we'll look at why now’s a great time to start an online course business and what to consider before you start. 

Plus, we'll unveil an extensive list of over 199 suggestions to inspire your course creation journey. 

So get your notebooks ready, class is in session!

Why is Now a Great Time to Start an Online Course Business?

Before we delve into the Ivy League of top-performing online courses, let's chalk up some compelling reasons to set your sights on this digital educational venture.

The online course industry is skyrocketing, and now’s the perfect moment to make your mark. 

To illustrate, let's open the financial yearbook: in 2022, revenue from Learning Management Systems (LMSs) alone reached a staggering $18 billion.

Top-of-class players in the online education domain include platforms like Coursera, Skillshare, and EdX.

Successful online courses aren’t just the realm of  large corporations or conventional educational institutions like schools and colleges. If you have valuable knowledge in a particular area, you can don your virtual tweed jacket and step into the role of a teacher.

Moreover, with an intuitive Content Management System (CMS) such as WordPress, there's no need to rely on third-party platforms to market your courses. 

You can showcase them directly on your personal website, cutting out the middle man, and granting you full authority over your material.

Starting an online course business paves the way for consistent revenue streams, positioning it as a dependable and minimal-risk avenue to capitalize on your skills on an already established website.

The time is ripe for turning your wisdom into wealth.

Essential Preparations for Your Online Course Launch

Before you embark on your online course journey, let's pause for a study break to discuss some essential prep work.

Pop Quiz Q1: Have You Set Up a Website?

First on the syllabus: setting up your digital campus. You need a website. WordPress stands out as a free, open source content management system. It can help you create any type of website, including one specifically designed for an online course business.

Additionally, its user-friendly design is perfect for beginners. To get started, you’ll just need to register with a web hosting provider, secure a domain name, and install WordPress. Once done, you're all set to craft and create your website.

Pop Quiz Q2: What Course Structure Would You Like To Adopt?

A popular strategy is to have students pay for each individual course. The student pays upfront for the entire course, and can access each lesson on demand.

This method can pose a financial burden on your students. They may be hesitant to fork out on a big initial payment. 

It’s also not ideal for you, the course provider. A single payment strategy lacks the predictability and regularity of a subscription model, making it trickier to forecast your cash flow and make smart investments for your business.

A good alternative is to think about creating a membership or subscription-based business. This way, you can drip course content to your students, and they can spread their payments over a longer period. 

This approach also enhances course engagement. With the on-demand approach, some students may feel overwhelmed by the amount of course content ahead of them if they see it all at once. Or they may binge and burnout before course completion. 

By dripping your course content, you’re helping your students pace the race through to graduation. 

Pop Quiz Q3: What Learning Management System (LMS) Will You Use?

You'll want to choose an LMS that's both robust and user-friendly, one that offers the customization you need without compromising on ease of use. 

Enter WishList Member, a WordPress plugin designed specifically for creating and managing membership sites and online courses.

WishList Member: The Versatile Solution

WishList Member is the perfect option for entrepreneurs and businesses who want full control over their online course offerings. 

It’s a membership and subscription plugin with all the features and capabilities of an LMS.

Unlike standard LMSs that can be restrictive in terms of customization, WishList Member offers unparalleled flexibility. Set up multiple, membership levels, protect course content, and create a dynamic and interactive learning experience for your students.

Simple and Secure Payment Integration

One of the standout features is its seamless integration with various payment gateways, providing you with multiple options to handle transactions. Whether you're using Stripe, PayPal, or other payment methods, WishList Member makes it simple.

CourseCure: Your In-House Course Builder

Embedded within WishList Member is CourseCure, a robust course builder designed to streamline the creation of your online courses. 

This tool eliminates the need to rely on third-party applications for course creation, offering you an all-in-one solution for your online education business.

• User-Friendly Interface: The intuitive design ensures that even those without technical skills can easily navigate the course building process.

• Drag-and-Drop Functionality: Crafting a syllabus is as easy as dragging and dropping course elements into place.

• Content Scheduling: CourseCure allows you to schedule the release of your content, giving you full control over the learning pace of your students.

• Interactive Quizzes and Assessments: Easily create engaging quizzes and assessments to monitor student progress and increase engagement.

• Gamification: Use points and badges to enhance student engagement and increase course completion rates.

With WishList Member and CourseCure, you not only gain a reliable LMS but also an integrated course builder that simplifies the technical aspects of offering an online course. 

This combination provides a comprehensive, low-risk solution for your online educational venture, making it easier for you to focus on delivering quality content.

Over 199 Profitable Ideas for Online Courses in 2023: Top-Performing Subjects Unveiled

Now that we've laid the groundwork, it's time to explore our comprehensive list of over 199 profitable online course ideas for 2023.

To make your search easier, we've sorted these potential subjects into major themes and niches that we’ve seen grow in popularity over the years.

Self-Improvement Digital Course Suggestions

Let’s start in the realm of personal growth. Here are some promising ideas for online course for you to explore:

1. Mastering interview techniques
2. Effective study strategies
3. Art of public speaking
4. Navigating career progression
5. Addressing and resolving conflicts
6. The science of negotiation
7. Building resilience in challenging times
8. Enhancing emotional intelligence
9. Promoting positive psychology
10. Understanding and practicing ethics
11. Courses addressing anti-racism
12. Exploring diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
13. Boosting productivity
14. Efficient time management techniques
15. Leadership skills and development

As you can see, the self-improvement category is HUGE and offers many subjects to consider.

Online Course Ideas for Personal Finance

Next, let’s explore the realm of personal finance. 

People with a keen interest in this area often possess significant capital (or at least hope to!). This makes them great candidates for investing in online courses, as long as you showcase your expertise and credibility.

Here's a curated list of course topics tailored for the personal finance domain:

1. Foundations of personal finance
2. Mastering the art of budgeting
3. Strategies for effective savings
4. Navigating interest rates and debt management
5. Highlighting personal investment avenues
6. Introduction to micro-investing
7. Insights into real estate investment
8. Planning for a comfortable retirement
9. Managing and optimizing employee benefits
10. Comprehensive guides to personal finance software
11. Financial roadmap for young adults
12. Exploring the world of cryptocurrency
13. Achieving financial well-being
14. Stock trading techniques and strategies
15. Tailored financial planning (e.g., preparing for a new baby, home acquisition, etc.)

This is another big niche, allowing you to either provide a holistic overview or provide niche-specific financial objectives, such as saving up for a vehicle or home purchase.

Digital Music Course Ideas

For those blessed with musical talent, the online space offers many opportunities to share and teach. Here's a compilation of potential music course topics:

1. Understanding music theory
2. The art of music composition
3. Techniques in vocal training
4. Piano mastery
5. Guitar essentials
6. Rhythms in drumming
7. Bass guitar fundamentals
8. Violin virtuosity
9. Cello craftsmanship
10. Clarinet clarity
11. Trumpet techniques
12. Insights into music production
13. Journey through music history
14. Exploring concert technology
15. Improvisational Jazz

The beauty of this field lies in its depth and breadth. For instance, if you're passionate about music history, you could curate a series exploring the evolution of various genres or the legacy of iconic rock bands.

Digital Culinary Course Ideas

As highlighted by GlobalNewswire, the online culinary domain is projected to reach an impressive valuation of nearly $486 million by 2027. 

For culinary enthusiasts, be it professionals or home chefs, this presents endless opportunities. We’ve cooked up these profitable ideas for courses related to food and drink:

1. Culinary basics for novices
2. Economical cooking techniques
3. Plant-based and vegan culinary arts
4. Mastery in pastries
5. The art of bread crafting
6. Comprehensive baking sessions
7. Mixology and cocktail crafting
8. The joy of jam creation
9. Delicacies from Italy
10. Flavors of Mexican cuisine
11. Exploring Japanese gastronomy
12. French dessert specialties
13. Chinese culinary delights
14. Indian culinary traditions
15. Classic American dishes

Given the unique touch every chef imparts, this niche is especially promising for those with an established audience or followers.

Some food for thought!

Guidance for Parenting: Online Course Suggestions

With the millennial parenting sector now estimated at a whopping $46 billion by Forbes, there's immense potential in this area. Here's a curated list of course topics tailored for this segment:

1. Preparing for childbirth
2. Guidance on lactation and breastfeeding
3. Techniques for baby sleep routines
4. Nutrition essentials for infants and toddlers
5. Newborn care basics
6. Fostering early parent-child bonding
7. Exploring the science behind parenting
8. Tailored courses for parents navigating divorce
9. Support courses for single parenting
10. Guidance for parents raising bi-racial children
11. Specialized courses for parents of children with ADHD or ADD
12. Insights for adoptive parents
13. Navigating the challenges of parenting teenagers
14. Enhancing child-parent communication
15. Parenting strategies in today's digital world

Given the inclination of new parents towards community-building, this niche perfectly aligns with the idea of introducing a membership model alongside your course offerings. 

Digital Course Ideas for Artists

The realm of arts and crafts is a treasure trove of potential online course topics, teeming with creativity and diverse areas of interest.

Consider these artistic course themes:

1. Fundamentals of drawing
2. The art of painting
3. Mastering calligraphy
4. Capturing moments: Photography
5. Crafting with papier-mâché
6. Mastering jewelry creation
7. Educational craft projects
8. The cozy world of knitting
9. Techniques in crocheting
10. Sewing essentials
11. The magic of sculpting
12. Creating unique stamps
13. The craft of bookbinding
14. Designing handmade dolls
15. Embroidery techniques and patterns

The versatility of this niche is its strength. Whether catering to parents seeking engaging activities for their children or adults pursuing a creative outlet, the possibilities are endless.

Health, Wellness, and Fitness Digital Course Suggestions

The health and wellness market is currently valued at over $4 trillion! This gives you nearly infinite opportunities to carve out your own niche. If you possess expertise in fitness or sports medicine, this area could be a goldmine for you.

Here's a list of potential course topics within this niche:

1. Guided meditation sessions
2. Nutrition-focused programs
3. Regimens for weight management
4. Strategies for effective meal preparation
5. Training guides for half-marathons or full marathons
6. Yoga practices
7. Pilates routines
8. Insights into herbal treatments
9. Comprehensive guides on natural healing
10. Exploring vegetarian and vegan lifestyles
11. Introduction to Reiki
12. Mastering sleep routines for better health
13. Focused courses on women's well-being
14. Men's health insights
15. Understanding gut health and its importance

It's crucial to note that content within this sector can influence an individual's mental and physical well-being. Meticulous course design and showcasing your qualifications are critically important in this niche.

Digital Marketing Course Ideas

The realm of digital marketing is vast and brimming with opportunities for lucrative course offerings. Here's a compilation to kickstart your brainstorming:

1. Digital marketing fundamentals
2. Strategies in social media marketing
3. The art of content marketing
4. The essentials of affiliate marketing
5. The world of influencer marketing
6. Harnessing video for marketing
7. Email marketing techniques
8. Strategies for ecommerce marketing
9. Blogging essentials
10. Mastering the craft of copywriting
11. Unraveling the nuances of Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
12. Marketing through podcasts
13. Exploring AI's role in marketing
14. Deciphering digital marketing analytics
15. Ethical approaches in marketing

The dynamic nature of digital marketing ensures it's always in flux, introducing fresh concepts and strategies. This ever-evolving landscape means any of the aforementioned subjects could be molded into a top-tier online course offering.

Online Course Ideas for Business & Entrepreneurial Ventures

While the digital marketing domain is ripe with course opportunities, the sphere of entrepreneurship is equally promising and expansive.

Here's a curated list of course topics tailored for budding entrepreneurs:

1. Foundations of entrepreneurship
2. Harnessing creativity and innovation in business
3. Step-by-step guide to crafting a business website
4. Essentials of business management
5. Building a compelling personal brand
6. Strategies for generating passive income
7. Affiliate blogging for beginners
8. Navigating the world of investor relations
9. Comprehensive guide to essential business tools
10. Building and nurturing business partnerships
11. Mastering the art of business writing
12. Principles of sustainable business practices
13. Cultivating a growth mindset
14. Tailored insights for startup ventures
15. Enhancing business communication prowess

This arena is vast and offers dozens of unique angles. So, let your creativity flow and design courses that resonate with your target audience.

Ideas for Online Course About Gardening & Home Life

For those blessed with a knack for nurturing plants or adeptness with home tools, there are a ton of online course ideas to dig into, including…

1. Gardening 101: An Overview
2. The world of flower cultivation
3. Growing your own vegetables
4. Crafting a herb sanctuary
5. The science of aquaponic gardening
6. Techniques in plant propagation
7. Exploring viticulture
8. Basics of home maintenance
9. Transformative home renovation
10. Step-by-step guide to deck construction
11. Art of landscaping
12. Efficient irrigation methods
13. Flooring essentials
14. Navigating household electrical wiring
15. Mastery in carpentry

If you’ve got a green (or calloused) thumb to show for your gardening and DIY skills, share your pro tips with the world!

Digital Language Learning Course Suggestions

Possessing proficiency in a foreign language and having the knack to teach it places you in an advantageous position. Online language courses are a promising avenue for those looking to venture into the elearning domain.

Here's a curated list of languages that could be potential course offerings:

1. Business English
2. Speaking Spanish for Beginners
3. French fundamentals
4. Immersion in Italian
5. Grasping German
6. Exploring Portuguese
7. Introduction to Chinese
8. Mastering Mandarin
9. Journey through Japanese
10. Rudiments of Russian
11. Hindi essentials
12. Arabic articulation
13. Korean comprehension
14. Venturing into Vietnamese
15. Pursuing Punjabi

While the list emphasizes potentially high-demand languages, teaching a niche or less prevalent language could also carve out a unique space for you in the market.

Digital Course Ideas for Eco-Conscious Living

With a growing emphasis on eco-friendly choices, sustainable living has emerged as a prominent niche in the online course domain, reflecting the consumer shift towards sustainable products and packaging.

Here's a compilation of potential course topics tailored for this domain:

1. Foundations of sustainable living
2. Eco-friendly gardening techniques
3. Embracing a zero-waste lifestyle
4. Sustainable fashion choices
5. Harnessing renewable energy for households
6. Mindful consumption practices
7. Eco-conscious transportation methods
8. Waste minimization and recycling strategies
9. Going plant-based for the environment
10. Techniques for water preservation
11. Eco-tourism and sustainable travel insights
12. Advocacy for climate change
13. Effective sustainable waste handling
14. Principles of ethical investment
15. Raising eco-aware children: Green parenting

Given the interdisciplinary nature of sustainability, this niche offers a diverse range of topics, catering to a wide audience with varied interests.

Digital Course Concepts for Beauty & Cosmetics

The beauty sector is undeniably lucrative, with the beauty and personal care industry in the U.S. alone boasting a valuation exceeding $92 billion this year.

Here's a curated list of course topics tailored for this domain:

1. Makeup basics: A beginner's guide
2. Train in theatrical makeup
3. Advanced techniques in theatrical makeup
4. Bridal makeup essentials
5. Exploring color palettes in makeup
6. Ensuring makeup hygiene
7. Techniques in eyebrow microblading
8. Courses on eyebrow tinting
9. Mastery in lash tinting and curling
10. Nail care: Manicures and pedicures
11. The art of facials
12. Waxing essentials
13. Tailored skincare routines for varied skin types
14. Embracing natural skincare
15. The world of clean beauty

Given the specialized tools and equipment some of these courses might require, this niche is particularly apt for those already in the beauty business, seeking to diversify their offerings.

Digital Course Ideas for Home Aesthetics & Design

Finally, let’s consider the realm of interior design, a sector boasting multi-billion dollar valuations, and home decor, here are some curated course themes:

1. Introduction to the world of interior design
2. The role of color in shaping interiors
3. Techniques in home adornment and styling
4. Mastery in interior wall painting
5. Home staging for real estate appeal
6. Principles of Feng shui in design
7. The art of flower arrangement
8. Crafting restaurant interiors
9. Designing productive office spaces
10. DIY projects for home decor enthusiasts
11. Embracing minimalist design aesthetics
12. Design solutions for compact spaces
13. Illuminating homes: Lighting techniques
14. Retro and vintage decor insights
15. The simplicity of Scandinavian interiors

This concludes our compilation of potential bestsellers in the online course arena for 2023!

Final Thoughts

Now’s a fantastic time to start your online course venture. When you equip your virtual classroom with stalwart tools like WordPress and WishList Member, your pathway from chalkboard to profitable online courses becomes a walk across the graduation stage.

Ready for your homework assignment? Pinpoint a high-demand course subject that matches your field of expertise, and get creative with your course content!

Whether you're an authority on health and wellness, a guru to guide parents, or a maestro of personal finance, our carefully curated list of over 199 ideas for online courses is your study guide to success.

Class participation counts! We're eager to read your comments, questions, and insights about the profitable online courses spotlighted in this academic journal, ahem, article. So, grab your virtual pen and jot your thoughts down in the comments section below.

If this syllabus, er, article has enriched your knowledge, connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. And for extra credit, don't forget to subscribe to keep up with our future lectures!

Welcome to the thrilling world of content marketing, where deadlines approach faster than a sprinting cheetah on an energy drink.

Imagine navigating this high-octane environment without a guide, a sense of direction, or even a vague idea of your end goal. Sounds daunting, doesn't it?

That's exactly what it feels like to curate and manage content without a content schedule. 

A content schedule is a visual timeline detailing what you're going to post, where it's going to be posted, and the precise timeline for its release.

But it's more than just a sophisticated organizer. It's the heartbeat of your content strategy, ensuring your marketing objectives stay on course and your audience stays engaged.

Stay tuned as we share our top tips, and how to create a content schedule in Google Sheets, that’ll keep your team on task and on time!

Benefits of a Content Calendar

Here are some reasons why you should plan ahead with an organized schedule:

Streamline Your Team’s Process

A content schedule consolidates all crucial information for your creative team and any external contributors.

It outlines: 

• What needs to be achieved, 
• Deadlines, 
• Other important details (such as references and keywords)
• And the person responsible for each task.

This clarity can significantly reduce confusion, last-minute rushes, and miscommunications.

With everyone crystal clear on their roles, they can concentrate on delivering their best work. Now, that's a perfect formula for efficiency!

Strategically Organized Content

With a content schedule, you're not just throwing content out there and hoping for the best. Every piece of content serves a purpose and contributes to your broader content strategy.

It ensures that your content has a purpose, sticks to themes, and is consistent to with your brand’s messaging. You can also ensure that each content type and topic gets its fair share of attention, ensuring nothing gets overlooked.

Schedule Content Ahead of Time

You're up late, the deadline is looming, and you're frantically trying to put together a blog post or come up with a clever caption for your social media post. If this sounds familiar, you need a content calendar!

With a content schedule, these stress-inducing situations can be avoided.

You can plan your content weeks or even months ahead, giving you ample time to gather resources, conduct research, and create more engaging, dynamic content.

Additionally, it allows you to coordinate content around important dates or events relevant to your business or industry.

Diversify Content

A content schedule provides a clear overview of your content landscape.

You can easily check if you're maintaining a good mix of different content types, whether it's blog posts, social media updates, podcasts, or videos. Colors are a great way to check this visually.

This ensures your content stays varied and engaging, so your audience doesn't get bored with repetitive content.

Those are just a few of the advantages of taking the time to schedule your content in advance.

Building an Efficient Content Schedule

Let’s break down a step-by-step guide to help you propel your strategy to success.

Step 1: Understand Your Content Marketing Goals

There’s no point in creating content just for the sake of it. If you truly want to maximize your content's potential, you need to identify your goals and the direction you're headed.

Identify “Why” and “Who”

Why?

What's the reason behind your content creation?

Are you trying to drive more traffic to your website? Maybe you're focusing on boosting brand awareness or building a stronger connection with your audience. Or perhaps you're primarily about promoting product sales or generating leads.

Who?

Once your goals are clear, it's time to get intimately familiar with another crucial player in your content game – your target audience.

These are the individuals you're aiming to connect with through your content. The more you understand their needs, interests, and challenges, the better your chances of creating content that genuinely resonates.

Use This Information Each Time You Create Content

Your content marketing goals and your target audience should be top of mind each time you conceive or create new content.

These elements will dictate the kind of content, the topics you'll tackle, and even which channels to distribute your content.

Step 2: Planning Your Content Strategy

Now that we've nailed down the foundations with your objectives and target audience, let's dive into the fun part: planning your content strategy.

This is where strategy and creativity merge, and where your content schedule begins to take shape. So, grab your favorite drink, put on your creative hat, and let's get started!

Generating Ideas for Content

Get brainstorming your content ideas. And when we say content, we mean all types of content.

• Blog posts,
• Social media posts,
• Newsletters,
• Targeted emails,
• Podcasts,
• Webinars,
• Videos,
• Infographics
• Quotes
• Customer testimonials
• Demos

Don’t hold back! Think about every media type your customers consume, and what motivates them to purchase.

For example, imagine you're an online learning platform targeting professionals seeking career advancement and your goal might be to empower them with new skills and knowledge despite their busy schedules.

Your content schedule could include quick tutorial videos, easy-to-follow learning guides, and inspiring success stories to be shared on platforms where career-focused individuals are most likely to engage, like LinkedIn and Twitter.

TIP I: Use ChatGPT for Content Ideas

Everyone is looking for ways to incorporate ChatGPT to streamline their processes, and this is a great example of how you can do just that.

Leveraging the power of ChatGPT is great for brainstorming ideas. As an AI language model, it's adept at providing diverse and creative suggestions that you might not think of. 

Start by outlining the content goals and target audience (as you did in step 1), then engage with ChatGPT as if in a conversation.

Here is how to create the perfect prompt:

1. Explain your company and target audience

“We're a start-up specializing in organic skincare products targeting health-conscious consumers aged 20-35. 

2. Explain your goal

We're launching a new line of vegan, cruelty-free face serums and our goal is to boost our online sales by promoting the unique benefits of our products. 

3. Ask ChatGPT what content ideas you’d like it to produce

Can you help generate some persuasive content ideas or strategies to highlight the advantages of our serums and convince our target audience to make a purchase?.”

Here’s what GPT-4 generated with this prompt:

From there, you can ask it to give you blog title suggestions, blog outlines, or suggest questions for your interactive quizzes.

The key is interaction – the more specific your prompts, the more focused and useful the responses.

Tip II: Find Keywords for Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Keywords are the actual key to SEO for online content. Including powerful keywords is the difference between getting lost in a sea of online content and appearing in the search results of your desired customers.

It’s also a neat insight into how your audience searches for products like yours online. With the help of keyword research, you have the power to create content that addresses their queries or meets their desires.

SEMrush or Google Keyword Planner are great tools for discovering these invaluable gems. Embed these keywords into your content to boost your SEO and push your pages further up the search engine results ladder.

Step 3: Create a Master Content Calendar In Google Sheets

After you've got a clear idea of the kind of content you'll be delivering, the next step is figuring out when and where to unleash it. 

Perhaps you've got a real-time video lined up for your website, an email newsletter queued up, a product presentation, and a social gathering all scheduled for the same month. 

Not to mention, your regular blog posts and everyday social media engagements. 

 Your posting timeline is entirely up to you, but remember, consistency is key for each of your content channels to truly thrive. 

 That's when a master calendar becomes indispensable. The goal of a master calendar is to have a bird's eye view of your content strategy and establish a timeline for the publication of each bit of content. 

And this it how to do it:

From your Google Drive account, click New towards the top left of your screen, then hover over the arrow next to Google Sheets, and click on From a template

Scroll down and select Annual Calendar. This will produce an annual calendar in the current year. 

Click on the Customize your calendar tab to choose from different styles. Once you’re done, you can delete that tab to make more room for useful information.

Then click on the tab for the month you want to edit. 

Enter the type of content you want to deliver on that day, and color code it to make it clear at a glance what type of content is scheduled for that day. This will ensure you have a healthy mix of content.

Individual Content Calendars

Once your overarching monthly schedule is established, it’s time so figure out the finer details: 

Who's the author? How much lead time do you need to edit and format the post? Who's taking care of social media posts and what exactly will they be posting? No stress—we've got a schedule for these things as well!

First, a quick shout out to Strive Content Calendar, which is what we use at WishList Member to schedule our blogs. We’ve written at length about why we love using Strive for WordPress. 

 However, this is how to create a blog schedule in Google Sheets:

• Click the (+) icon at the bottom left of your Google Sheet to add a new tab.
• Drag the new tab next to the corresponding month.
• Create a Blog Schedule sections with columns for
  • Publication Date
  • Blog Post Topic/Title
  • Writer
  • Deadline (give yourself plenty of lead time to edit and format the blog post before the publication date)
  • Keywords
  • Additional information

• Depending on the style of your blog, you could introduce extra columns such as “Blog Category” (long-form, short, infographic, etc.).

• Copy and paste the information from your master calendar. 
• Assign the task to another content writer by right-clicking on the cell and hitting Comment. 
• @ tag the team member or write in the full email address of the assignee
• Ensure all contributors have access to the calendar.

Now, onto social media schedules.

You can either create a new tab or, to keep things centralized, enter the information below your blog schedule. 

For all social media schedules, you should include:

• Social Media Platform
• Post Time
• Day
• Content

For a more comprehensive schedule, consider incorporating relevant hashtags, links, images, photographs, and even the actual text for your post. 

As with your blog schedule, you could also assign the author and have a column indicating if it's been queued up in your social media management tool (like Hootsuite or Buffer).

In Conclusion

From enabling you to map out your content strategy, to ensuring that all your marketing goals align, a content schedule serves as your trusty companion in the dynamic world of content marketing.

With Google Sheets as your platform, creating a content schedule is as easy as it is effective. 

From master calendars to detailed blog and social media schedules, you've got all the tools at your fingertips to streamline your process, diversify your content, and stay on top of your game.

So why wait? Start harnessing the power of a well-planned content schedule today and watch your content marketing efforts thrive. 

Remember, success in content marketing is not about who shouts the loudest, but who plans the smartest. And with your new content schedule, you're already on the right track. Now, let's get planning!

With six distinct blogs on different websites, each catering to a unique product, staying on top of things can get pretty intense. And let's not forget about the talented group of writers who contribute their brilliance to our blogs, there are a lot of cooks in the kitchen, spinning a whole load of plates.

At least that's how it used to feel until we discovered a game-changing WordPress editorial calendar. And let me tell you, it's completely transformed our content management experience.

It's called the Strive Content Calendar, and I couldn't wait to share its magic with fellow content creators and blog managers like you.

After using Strive for the past few months, I've come to realize just how invaluable it is for streamlining the content management process.

Ready to rev up your content game? Let's go!

Here's why you probably need Strive

If you're immersed in the world of content creation or blog management, you understand the vital role played by blog content calendars. These invaluable tools serve as the backbone of your operations, enabling you to:

• Track and organize topics
• Structure ideas
• Assign tasks
• Schedule posts
• …and so much more!

Now, if you're as organized as we are, you know that your blog content calendar is just a piece of the puzzle. Enter the mighty main content calendar, where you manage not only blog posts but also a myriad of other content types, such as guides, infographics, ads, and PDFs, all neatly organized by topic.

At WishList Member, we rely on Asana to construct and maintain our colossal main content calendar, which effectively captures the bigger picture. However, we encountered a couple of challenges along the way:

1. The sheer size of our main calendar made it too cumbersome for a practical working blog content calendar.
2. Not all our esteemed writers are housed in our office premises, granting them easy access to Asana. This led to a time-consuming cycle of back-and-forth emails and Google Docs exchanges when assigning topics to external writers.

Thankfully, our salvation arrived in the form of the Strive Content Calendar, which swiftly resolved these hurdles and presented us with a seamless solution. Allow us to shed light on how Strive effectively transformed our content management woes.

Now onto the best part: the Strive Content Calendar

The Strive Content Calendar is a remarkable WordPress plugin, just like WishList Member. This means it seamlessly integrates into the WordPress backend, creating your very own blog content calendar right where you need it most.

This ingenious solution directly tackles my two primary concerns:

1. By housing the blog content calendar within the WordPress backend, each of our six blogs has its own dedicated calendar, distinct from our main calendar. This streamlined approach simplifies the management and organization of topics, ensuring an efficient workflow. (Curious about how we amalgamate all the blog calendars into our Asana main calendar? Keep reading, we'll reveal our secret!)
2. Each of our writers has access to the WordPress backend. With Strive, our blog content calendars are now nestled within WordPress itself. As a result, it's now a cinch to assign, review, and process posts for all involved! No more back-and-forth Google Doc sharing. (We'll delve into more details about this later on!)

Plus, Strive's drag-and-drop functionality just adds to its overall incredible ease of use:

Want to change the date of your post? No problemo! Strive lets you effortlessly rearrange posts to your heart's content, swiftly moving them between scheduled slots and the unscheduled drafts sidebar. Each relocation instantly triggers automatic scheduling within the WordPress editor for seamless organization.

This feature stands out as a personal favorite, but the Strive plugin boasts a whole array of other impressive offerings. Let's take a look at some more.

More of Strive's great features

In addition to its user-friendly setup and seamless integration, Strive is tooled up with impressive features designed to save you valuable time. Such as…

Effortless content revisions

Getting your blog to rank highly and stay there requires regular content revisions. However, the revision process can be a real headache. You certainly don't want to disrupt the SEO performance of a live post that already has substantial value.

Enter Strive's Revisions feature, the ultimate solution to streamline your revision workflow. Upon installing the plugin, you'll notice a “revision” option linked to each published post. Accessible via the frontend admin bar in WordPress or your list of posts in the backend.

This feature works its magic in two simple steps:

• Clicking the “revision” link generates a new draft of the post, separate from the published version.
• As you make updates and hit “Publish,” Strive seamlessly merges the revised version with the original. The result? An optimized article without the hassle of confusing redirects. Your SEO juice remains intact, while you save precious time.

Notably, the Strive calendar view prominently labels revisions, allowing you to easily track the ratio of new-to-updated content.

Alternative Pipeline view

While the Calendar view serves as my primary workspace, the Pipeline view gives you a big-picture perspective. By clicking the Pipeline tab, you get visibility into the statuses of all your posts in a single, organized space.

This prevents any posts from slipping through the cracks, providing a holistic snapshot of their progress. Whether they are scheduled, in progress, ready for editing, or not yet started, you can easily identify and manage each post's status. Additionally, you have the flexibility to toggle between row and column layouts based on your preferred workflow.

Customizable Checklists

Crafting a well-structured blog post involves juggling numerous details, from grammar and style to meta-data and image settings. This challenge becomes even more pronounced when working with new writers.

Strive's Checklists feature comes to the rescue, eliminating any guesswork and ensuring consistency. Simply compile your list of essential details under the Checklist tab, and you're ready to go.

Whenever someone works on a post, they can access the checklist directly from the WordPress editor, and check off items as they progress. This not only streamlines practical writing tasks but also serves as a valuable tool for your process.

Clear Post Statuses

Post statuses play a vital role in organizing your content workflow. How do you know if a post is in progress, ready to edit, or edited and ready to go? Strive's Post Statuses feature offers unparalleled clarity in this regard.

Unlike the default WordPress setup, where it's challenging to differentiate between posts requiring edits and those ready for publication, Strive introduces a crystal-clear solution.

The Strive plugin enriches your WordPress environment with the following intuitive post statuses:

• Not Started
• Writing
• Editing
• Complete
• Published

Each status is associated with a distinct color, providing a visual cue throughout the Strive Calendar. Updating a status in the WordPress editor triggers an immediate reflection in Strive, and vice versa. This feature enables efficient organization, ensuring that you never lose track of your posts' progress.

These are just a few of the remarkable features that make Strive an indispensable asset for optimizing your content process. Now, let's delve deeper into how Strive can revolutionize your blog workflow management.

Streamlining Your Blog Workflow with Strive

In this section, I'll walk you through how the WishList Member Content Team effectively uses Strive to manage our blog post workflow. With several writers contributing to our six distinct blogs, maintaining an organized and controlled workflow is super important.

Thankfully, Strive provides two great features that simplify the process and ensure seamless organization. Let's explore how we leverage these features:

New Drafts

Located on the right side of the Content Calendar page, the “Add New Draft” is your launchpad for your next blog.

When clicked, it opens a pop-up window where you can effortlessly input all the essential details required for a post.

We make use of the Title field to indicate the assigned writer by including their name before the post title.

The magic happens when you click the Add New Draft button at the bottom of the window.

Strive automatically creates a new draft in WordPress, populating all the entered information into the WordPress Editor. This integration between Strive and WordPress eliminates the need for time-consuming data transfer, ensuring a smooth and efficient workflow.

When you create a new draft, Strive auto-generates a dedicated box in the Unscheduled Drafts column, conveniently displaying all pending assignments for our writers. This feature enables clear visibility and easy access to ongoing tasks.

Streamlined Workflow with Color-Coded Progress

Strive's vibrant color system not only adds visual appeal but also serves as a powerful tool in our blog post process.

Each color represents a specific stage in the workflow, allowing us to effectively communicate the next steps and responsible individuals. Here's how we utilize these colors:

1. Not Started (Red): When I create a New Draft, it automatically adopts the Not Started status with a striking red color. This signals to the assigned writer that the blog post is ready to be written.
2. Writing (Orange): Once the writer begins working on the draft, they transition the post status to Writing, accompanied by an eye-catching orange hue. This change lets me know that the post is in progress.
3. Editing (Yellow): When the draft is completed and ready for review, the writer updates the post status to Editing, represented by a vibrant yellow shade. This notifies me that the post requires my attention for further review and revisions.
4. Complete (Green): After I finish the edits and consider the post ready for publication, I switch the status to Complete. The post box promptly transforms into a reassuring green color.

Green plays a vital role for us, as Strive offers an optional setting that automatically publishes any Complete (green) post according to its scheduled date and time in the WordPress Editor. This feature significantly saves time. However, it necessitates diligent checking of dates and times whenever we “go green.”

Finally, once a post is successfully published, it transitions to black, indicating that the entire process is complete.

By employing this color-coded system, we maintain an organized workflow, ensuring clear communication and seamless progression throughout the content creation process. Let's explore more valuable features and benefits that Strive brings to the table.

Seamless Integration with Your Main Content Calendar

Strive's individual blog content calendars simplify our blog workflow tremendously. However, what about our main Asana calendar, where we track all the deliverables associated with our topics?

Transcribing each WordPress post into Asana would be a tedious and time-consuming task. Luckily, our remarkable Dev Team devised an ingenious solution using Zapier.

Through a custom Zap, triggered whenever a new draft is created in WordPress, the draft seamlessly transfers into our Asana content calendar, specifically the “New Blogs” section I established.

The Zap automatically assigns the corresponding task to me, ensuring I receive an alert about the presence of the draft. From there, I simply navigate to Asana and effortlessly drag the post into the appropriate topic section.

It's an absolute triumph, streamlining our workflow and eliminating the need for duplicate efforts.

The Takeaway

The Strive Content Calendar is an invaluable asset for creators. It offers a wealth of features and benefits that can revolutionize your content management process all at a very reasonable price.

For only $7 per month, you gain access to all the remarkable features we've discussed and more. Not to mention, the first two weeks come free of charge.

Consider the value of your time, which is estimated at around $100 per hour. With Strive, you'll be paying less than half a cent per hour, making it an incredibly cost-effective solution. Factor in the time-saving advantages it provides, and it's an absolute steal.

Ready to experience the power of Strive firsthand? Click the button below and embark on a test drive that will transform the way you manage and organize your content.

Start optimizing your content process with Strive today!

TRY STRIVE CONTENT CALENDAR FOR FREE FOR 14 DAYS

We value your feedback and would love to hear about your experience with Strive. If you decide to give it a try, please share your thoughts and insights in the comments section.

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