How I Plan My Content as a Freelance SEO Copywriter & Social Media Manager

Send cold emails, network, build a personal brand, create content, hop on video calls, these are some of the things freelancers do to market their services. While these methods are effective in gaining clients, they require a lot of time and effort. I'm all for choosing one to three methods you're comfortable with and mastering them. For me, it's the content marketing game all the way. LinkedIn has been a major source of leads for me since I started using it strategically, even when I had no idea what I was doing or if people would buy the services I offered.

Years later, I've overcome those hurdles and it's time to apply my content marketing prowess to new platforms. I'm casting a wider net, and I'm sharing my strategy with you.

Creating a Content Calendar for My New YouTube Channel

I'm lowkey excited to be starting from scratch again. I get the rare opportunity to work through my content strategy roadmap workbook. I mean, it's one thing to give advice, it's another to follow your advice. So, for this new leg of my adventure, I'm using my workbook to plan my content calendar for my YouTube channel.

Step 1: Setting a Goal

Since YouTube is a brand new medium for me, video, my goal is simple — Post 2 videos a month for the next three months. It's probably not the best posting schedule for a new channel, but the point is to show up consistently. I already have a tone of content to create for LinkedIn (not to mention client work and all the other things one needs to do when marketing one's services) so I don't want to overwhelm myself. First and foremost, consistency is key.

Step 2: Create Rules Upfront

Okay, not major rules, but guidelines for myself. I'm thinking something along the lines of:

• Post every other Friday at 6 p.m.
• Stick to formats that eliminate editing as much as possible.
• Batch creates 2 videos at a time.
• Use visuals and graphics sparingly but effectively.
• Keep it simple. Less is better when you're learning.

It's important to set these guidelines upfront so that I can stay organized and focused on creating quality content. Plus, it will make the process more efficient.

Step 3: Planning Content Ideas

I've got a long list of potential video topics that I've been wanting to explore for a while now. But instead of diving into them all at once, I'm going to prioritize and plan my YouTube content in 6-episode cycles similar to a podcast or TV show. I can then play around with series throughout the year, gauge audience interest and feedback, and refine my topics as I grow. So, what are the types of videos I want to make?

• Work with me live streams. These are low effort and allow me to interact with viewers in real-time. I can also share my screen and talk through the project I work on in the video. This adds value to the content and gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at my process. Plus, I already have 4 co-working videos on my channel, so the algorithm can easily start to pinpoint my content.
• Mini-webinars/face-to-camera explainer videos. These require a bit more effort but are still relatively simple to produce. AND, I can repurpose my best-performing articles and carousel posts into a script. I have the visuals from the slides and can embed the video in my website articles for added value. I also have many free email courses that could be reformatted into a series of bite-sized explainer videos. I do want to keep these short, though — three to six minutes, max.

Now that I have two formats, I simply need to create three of each for six pieces of video content:

• 3 explainer videos — 1 based on a LinkedIn for business article, 1 based on a carousel post.
• 3 co-working videos — For now, I'll do these with music and I'll talk and share my screen if I feel like it.

Season 1

• Week 1: Explainer video - How to get more clients using LinkedIn In 2024
• Week 2: Work with me - 45 minute focus sprint
• Week 3: Explainer video - What content should you post on LinkedIn?
• Week 4: Work with me stream - 3-hour session with 2 x 90-minute focus sprints
• Week 5: Explainer video - Boost your LinkedIn views with just 15 minutes a day
• Week 6: Work with me - Create a week of LinkedIn posts with me

That's the plan. Now, I just have to execute. Wish me luck!

What do you think?

Join my journey @robynleesamuels