If you’re a beginner, you need to understand various tools and applications that are widely used across the content writing industry in order to succeed. In this blog, we will cover how “Google Sheets” can be used to create a content calendar.
What is Google Sheets?
Google Sheets is a cloud-based spreadsheet application developed by Google. It allows users to create, edit, and collaborate on spreadsheets online in real time. It is part of Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) and is accessible via a web browser or mobile app.
We recommend Google Sheets as it is available for free as part of Google Drive for personal use (Storage Limit: 15GB (shared across Drive, Gmail, Photos)). Anyone with a Google account can use it without any cost. However, if you’re a small business/ start up, Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) can be a great suite to run your firm.
(Little Secret: We use Google Workspace to manage our content writing agency and we like it very much 🙂 In upcoming blogs, we will be sharing why we like Google Workspace so much.)
How to create a content calendar using Google Sheets?
To use Google Sheets as a Content Calendar, you need to create certain templates that can manifest information. Some commons fields that you may use:
Content Title – Name of the blog, article, social post, or video.
Content Type – Blog, video, social media post, newsletter, etc.
Topic/Category – Assign relevant topics or tags (e.g., SEO, SaaS, Cloud ERP).
Author/Assigned To – Person responsible for content creation.
Draft Deadline – Due date for the first draft.
Publish Date – Scheduled date for publishing.
Platform – Where the content will be published (Website, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.).
Status – Use drop-down options like “Draft,” “In Review,” “Scheduled,” “Published.”
Links – Add links to Google Docs, images, or relevant resources.
Basic Template
- Take a blank Google Sheet.
- Insert Fields in the header. Here, we have used Dates, Topics, Target Publishing, Status, and Live URL as header fields.
- You can add additional information (such as Author Name Column) also if required.
Advance Template
Here’s another template, an advanced version of the above-mentioned template. Here, information is depicted more clearly.
Benefits of Using Google Sheets as a Content Calendar
Real-Time Collaboration – Multiple users can edit, comment, and update content schedules simultaneously.
Customizable Layout – Unlike rigid tools, Google Sheets allows you to design a calendar that fits your content strategy.
Easy Accessibility – Access your content plan from any device with an internet connection.
Automated Tracking – Use formulas, filters, and conditional formatting to track deadlines and progress.
Integration with Google Apps – Easily link Google Docs (for drafts), Google Calendar (for deadlines), and Google Drive (for asset storage).
Cost-Effective – No need to pay for expensive content management tools—Google Sheets is completely free! (The Google Workspace is available at low monthly subscription and it will not break your bank.)
Version History – Restore previous versions in case of accidental changes or errors.
Conclusion
Google Sheets is an efficient, cost-effective, and customizable tool for managing a content calendar. Whether you’re a blogger, marketing team, or social media manager, it helps you stay organized, collaborate effortlessly, and track content performance with ease.
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