13+ Free Social Media Calendar Templates to Help You Plan Your Content

Create your individual social media calendar with a step-by-step information, or use this free calendar template to get planning straight away.

I gained’t bore you with a lecture about why you want a social media content material calendar. You already know you do.

You probably landed right here since you’re on the lookout for a content material calendar template, a fast start line for mapping out your content material plan for the approaching weeks or months.

I’ve labored as each a social media supervisor and content material creator and reside by my social media content material calendar.

My present favourite instrument is (clearly) Buffer, however there are a great deal of fast and soiled choices. When you’re on the lookout for one thing lo-fi to get began, I obtained you.

Here is a listing of 13 calendar templates that can assist you get extra environment friendly, plus easy methods to use them.

This isn’t a downloadable template, per se, however Buffer is really easy to plug and play, it would as effectively be.

I am undoubtedly biased right here, however take it from somebody who has tried each instrument and template on the block — I genuinely, wholeheartedly imagine Buffer has the very best social media calendar out. Here is an outline of simply among the cool issues you are able to do.

Let’s begin with the fundamentals: Buffer’s content material calendar encompasses a weekly and month-to-month calendar view. You may drag and drop posts to simply change publish dates and instances in actual time.

These views may be filtered by platform, so you’ll be able to see all of your posts in a listing in the event you want. You may even optimize your posting schedule (or queue) in line with the finest time to publish on every platform (extra on this under).

The tags characteristic permits for customized social content material classes and colour coding (my private favourite characteristic). You may set up your posts by standing, content material technique pillars, audience, advertising targets, or kind of content material — no matter works finest on your content material technique.

The advantages of mapping out your content material in Buffer go means past simply planning — Buffer is a social media scheduling instrument, not simply social media planning instrument.

Buffer can robotically schedule your social media posts, images, and movies to go reside at exactly the time you need them to.

It is a wonderful choice for each solo creators and social media groups, with helpful collaboration options like approval workflows and good permissions.

Not like the remainder of the calendars on this checklist, there’s no must cross-reference a number of instruments or methods or manually publish each single content material piece on a number of platforms.

Buffer connects with Fb, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Pinterest, Mastodon, and extra.

When you’re sharing the identical posts on a number of social media platforms, you’ll be able to schedule the posts in a single go (and make minor tweaks to every platform if want be). I can’t even start to let you know how a lot of a time-saver that is.

Exterior the calendar, there’s the Create Area that can assist you brainstorm and set up your concepts, engagement instruments that can assist you handle replies to feedback and the analyze instruments to verify in on metrics at a look.

Tips on how to use this calendar

1. Click on on the Get began with Buffer’s calendar hyperlink under.
2. Create your Buffer account.
3. Click on Join Channels (you’ll be able to join as much as three at no cost).
4. Select the platform you need to begin with and observe the steps.
5. Click on on Publish on the highest left.
6. Welcome to your social media content material calendar! Click on New Submit on the highest proper to begin scheduling posts or New Channel on the underside left so as to add one other social platform.

⚡️ Get began with Buffer’s calendar

2. Social media calendar template with the very best instances to publish

Timing your publish good can have a optimistic influence on each your attain and engagement in social media advertising — which is why we dove into the info from thousands and thousands of social media posts in Buffer to uncover precisely that.

Because of this evaluation, we’ve pinpointed a number of posting instances for every social media platform throughout which posts get extra engagement or views. I’ve highlighted these instances for Fb, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Twitter/X on this downloadable PDF calendar.

Tips on how to use this calendar

1. Click on on the Get the ‘Finest Time to Submit’ calendar template button under.
2. As soon as downloaded, proper click on on the file and open it with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
3. Click on Fill & Signal.
4. Click on inside the time slot you need to use to begin typing.
5. Alternatively, you’ll be able to at all times print these pages and use good old style pen and paper to fill yours out.
6. Get planning! The social media content material calendar template is yours to edit as you see match.

⏰ Get ‘Finest Time to Submit’ calendar template

There’s an entire lot extra nuance in determining the very best time to publish on your viewers. I’d suggest trying out these assets:

This free content material calendar template options the identical format because the one above, with publishing schedule time slots from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., simply with out highlights for the very best instances to publish on every platform.

Tips on how to use this calendar

1. Click on on the Get the easy weekly calendar button under.
2. Open with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
3. Click on Fill & Signal.
4. Click on inside the time slot you need to use to begin typing.
5. Alternatively, you’ll be able to at all times print these pages and use good old style pen and paper to fill yours out.
6. Get planning! The social media content material calendar template is yours to edit as you see match.

🗓️ Get easy weekly calendar

If you wish to map out a whole month at a look, this content material calendar template is for you. Consider this calendar as your big-picture view — it may be useful to map out the month in broad strokes by publish date utilizing a format like this one, that can assist you prioritize duties.

Tips on how to use this calendar

1. Click on on the Get the easy month-to-month social media calendar button under.
2. Open with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
3. Click on Fill & Signal.
4. Click on inside the time slot you need to use to begin typing.
5. Alternatively, you’ll be able to at all times print these pages and use good old style pen and paper to fill yours out.
6. Get planning! The social media content material calendar template is yours to edit as you see match.

📅 Get easy month-to-month social media calendar

When you’d prefer to customise the ‘easy calendars’ above to higher swimsuit you, listed below are the editable variations in Canva. You’ll want a free Canva account to tweak them.

Tips on how to use this calendar

1. Click on on one of many Get calendar hyperlinks under. A preview will open in Canva.
2. Click on the Use template button. An editable model will seem in your Canva workspace.
3. Get planning! The social media content material calendar template is yours to edit as you see match.

⏰ Get finest instances to publish calendar

🗓️ Get easy weekly calendar

📅 Get easy month-to-month calendar

Notion is a splendidly versatile mission administration instrument, the place, not like among the easy content material calendar templates above, you’ll be able to simply retailer the textual content, captions, and media you propose to make use of for every publish within the calendar itself.

It’s also possible to view all of your posts in several views, like a listing, desk, Kanban board, or Ghant chart, which may be helpful in planning. It’s an ideal alternative for a content material advertising or editorial calendar template too, as you’ll be able to map out newsletters, weblog posts, and different digital advertising campaigns.

Tips on how to use this calendar

1. Click on on the Get Notion template hyperlink under
2. Click on on the Duplicate button (the juxtaposed squares icon) within the prime proper nook
3. Create a free Notion account in the event you don’t have one already
4. Get planning! The social media content material calendar template is yours to edit as you see match.

🤖 Get Notion template

I’ve by no means been an enormous fan of utilizing Sheets for something exterior knowledge wrangling. However now that Google’s added a dropdown lists characteristic, Sheets is rising on me as a company and planning instrument. It makes for an ideal social media planning calendar, too.

I significantly like the way you’re ready to make use of particular customized colours for the checklist choices, too — I like my content material calendars to be fairly.

This free content material calendar template is, together with Buffer and Notion, some of the customizable on this checklist. It’s additionally appropriate for storing total posts and captions, slightly than simply making notes, as you’ll have accomplished within the easy calendar templates above.

Tips on how to use this calendar

1. Click on on the Get Google Sheets template hyperlink under.
2. Click on Make a duplicate.
3. Learn the directions on the ‘Begin right here’ sheet. If Microsoft Excel is your spreadsheet instrument of alternative, click on File > Obtain > Microsoft Excel.
4. Get planning! The social media content material calendar template is yours to edit as you see match.

📊 Get Google Sheets template

Social media calendars are fairly private — and what works for one marketer, creator, or entrepreneur won’t work for one more.

With that in thoughts, I turned to our neighborhood, which graciously turned their real-life calendars into templates you need to use and obtain.

8. Simon Heaton’s kanban calendar

Buffer’s Director of Progress Advertising, Simon Heaton, leans on Buffer’s Create Area to plan his content material and the calendar to schedule it.

He’s organized the Create Area kanban columns into content material standing like progress (there’s an enormous distinction between ‘In progress’ and ‘Precise in progress,’ he says).

Simon used Tags as one other layer of group in his social media planning calendar, with every color-coded tag akin to one among his content material pillars (notice the coloured bars on his publish calendar above.)

As a part of his social media technique, Simon has outlined Buffer Promo, Basic Progress Suggestions, Progress @ Buffer, Distant Job Postings, Posts with Knowledge, and Posts about Social Media as his content material pillars.

“I double them up some instances as issues can overlap,” he says. “For instance, ‘Posts with Knowledge’ overlaps with ‘Progress @ Buffer’ so much.”

Tips on how to arrange your Buffer like Simon

1. Click on on the Get began with Buffer hyperlink under.
2. Create your Buffer account in the event you don’t have already got one, and click on Join Channels (you’ll be able to join as much as three at no cost). Select the platform you need to begin with and observe the steps.
3. Click on on ‘Create’ on the menu on the highest left to navigate to the Create Area.
4. Toggle on ‘board view’ on the highest proper. Select ‘Create Group’ to begin a brand new column, and select your required column names.
5. Click on on ‘Tags’ (additionally prime proper) and the settings cog image to create your tags.

🌱 Get began with Buffer

9. Gina Sapien’s calendar for solo creators

Founder on the Distant Marketer Gina Sapien depends on her content material to develop her enterprise — and that progress all begins with a calendar.

“I exploit it to plan all my content material, LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram,” she says. “Every thing’s in a single place so I can keep on observe, hold visuals aligned, and really see how the week and month is shaping up.”

The Notion-based system works effectively for solo creators who need one thing easy and versatile, she provides. “When you like having full management with out getting overwhelmed, this simply works.”

“This calendar is my mind on paper, it’s the one system I truly keep on with. It retains me centered, inventive, and means much less burdened when posting week to week.”

Tips on how to use this calendar

1. Click on on the Get Notion template hyperlink under.
2. Click on on the Duplicate button (the juxtaposed squares icon) within the prime proper nook
3. Create a free Notion account in the event you don’t have one already
4. Get planning! Gina’s social media content material calendar template is yours to edit as you see match.

✍️ Get Notion template

10. Sabreen Haziq’s one-a-day calendar

Sabreen Haziq, Senior Model and Group Supervisor at Buffer, depends on Buffer’s posting targets and predetermined time slots to stay to her purpose of posting every single day.

“Even when I don’t publish precisely inside my chosen slot, seeing it there on the calendar — and all of the content material I’ve already shared to date — is actually motivating,” she says.

✨ Sabreen depends on a number of intelligent methods to assist her keep constant on LinkedIn and construct her social media presence. Examine them right here.

Tips on how to arrange your Buffer like Sabreen

1. Click on on the Get began with Buffer hyperlink under.
2. Create your Buffer account in the event you don’t have already got one, and click on Join Channels (you’ll be able to join as much as three at no cost).
3. Select the platform you need to begin with and observe the steps. Once you join a brand new channel, you’ll be prompted to create a posting purpose.
4. If you wish to create a posting purpose you have already got linked, select your channel from the channels checklist on the left-hand aspect, then click on on ‘set posting purpose’ proper under the channel title.
5. To set posting instances to seem in your calendar, click on on the cog icon subsequent to the channel title (additionally seen within the picture above). Scroll all the way down to ‘Posting instances’ so as to add or take away slots to your calendar.

🎆 Get began with Buffer

11. Aiza Coronado’s e-mail x ChatGPT calendar

Aiza Coronado, Marketer and founding father of The Glimmer Code, has a very distinctive strategy to her social media content material planner. She has it despatched straight to her e-mail!

Bonus: It doesn’t simply assist her plan when to share the content material; it additionally helps her plan what the content material shall be.

She prompted her AI instrument of alternative, ChatGPT, to generate concepts for her, then arrange a ChatGPT job to have them despatched straight to her e-mail inbox.

“The immediate is tremendous easy,” she says. “I used one thing like, ‘From our previous conversations, discover and checklist e-mail advertising insights, doable content material concepts, and Substack matters I wished to put in writing about’.”

I’ve created a extra generic immediate you might use for a similar function, under.

“The titles are tacky, nevertheless it works as concept sparks,” she says. “I simply want to recollect what I did. And ask AI to uncover hidden insights I might need missed.”

Right here’s among the output it generates:

Tips on how to create this technique

1. When you’ve landed on an output you’re pleased with, you’ll be able to create a job in ChatGPT at a cadence that fits you. Immediate in the identical chat: “Ship me one among these content material concepts each morning,” or related. Right here’s extra data on easy methods to create a job in ChatGPT.
2. You’ll obtain the duties in your e-mail inbox. Click on on them to return to ChatGPT and make modifications earlier than posting by way of the platform or social media scheduling instrument.

In ChatGPT, use a immediate like this one to begin the dialog: “I’m a [job title/creator] who creates content material about [X,Y,Z]. My audience is [demographic]. I create [X] posts per week on [platform/s]. Discover doable content material concepts for me.”

💡

Professional tip: The extra element you add to this immediate, the higher. You may embrace examples of previous posts which have carried out effectively, or concepts from different creators or manufacturers that you simply love, for instance.

12. My easy calendar for TikTok consistency

Like Sabreen, I depend on predetermined time slots and targets to remain constant on TikTok.

Utilizing the data from our Finest Time to Submit on TikTok research and analyzing my very own video efficiency, I’ve pinpointed the very best instances for me to share a video on TikTok every single day.

I’ve arrange my Buffer content material calendar to replicate these timeslots, so when the time involves schedule social posts, I do not even have to consider it.

Eradicating that late-stage friction has been a game-changer for serving to to remain constant. My posting purpose is 3 times per week, however I’ve slots arrange for every single day to present me flexibility.

Bonus: This works for any social channels, not simply TikTok!

Tips on how to arrange your Buffer like me

1. Click on on the Get began with Buffer hyperlink under.
2. Create your Buffer account in the event you don’t have already got one, and click on Join Channels (you’ll be able to join as much as three at no cost).
3. Select the platform you need to begin with and observe the steps. Once you join a brand new channel, you’ll be prompted to create a posting purpose, as proven under.
4. If you wish to create a posting purpose you have already got linked, select your channel from the channels checklist on the left-hand aspect, then click on on ‘set posting purpose’ proper under the channel title.
5. To set posting instances to seem in your calendar, click on on the cog icon subsequent to the channel title (additionally seen within the picture above). Scroll all the way down to ‘Posting instances’ so as to add or take away slots to your calendar.

✨ Get began with Buffer

13. Kiran Shahid’s calendar for private brand-building

Kiran Shahid has constructed a powerful private model on LinkedIn — and she or he’s seeking to department out to Instagram too.

Because of the strong system she created on Notion whereas rising on LinkedIn, she’s discovering her new Instagram mission an entire lot smoother.

“I’ve these methods in place, I’m discovering it really easy to begin and have a content material financial institution prepared earlier than I launch,” she explains. “If an concept pops into my head, I can notice it down on Notion and develop it later after I sit all the way down to plan my weekly content material.”

The system is nice for anybody who desires to be intentional about constructing a private model, she provides.

“Other than ensuring I by no means run out of concepts, having them multi functional place makes repurposing a breeze too. On days I’m feeling a bit lazy, I can merely copy-paste an outdated concept to ensure there isn’t an enormous hole in my scheduling.”

Tips on how to use this calendar

1. Click on on the Get Notion template button under
2. Click on on the Duplicate button (the juxtaposed squares icon) within the prime proper nook
3. Create a free Notion account in the event you don’t have one already
4. Get planning! Kiran’s social media content material calendar template is yours to edit as you see match.

🚀 Get Notion template

Social media content material calendar FAQs

When you’re new to utilizing social media calendar templates — or simply making a social media content material planner usually — here is some helpful steering from somebody who lives by them.

Why do I want to make use of a social media content material calendar?

If you’re on the fence about establishing a social media calendar — with a template or from scratch —  here is a fast overview of the advantages. A social media calendar is a key a part of constructing your social media technique. It’ll allow you to:

1. Keep on prime of a number of social channels.
2. Sustain with the content material pillars in your social media advertising technique.
3. Follow a constant posting schedule.
4. Schedule posts upfront and automate your content material creation workflows.
5. Work with workforce members (in the event you’re on a Advertising workforce or social media groups), collaborators, or stakeholders.
6. Keep on prime of product launches, advertising campaigns, occasions, and even holidays.
7. Streamline a system of approvals earlier than posting.
8. Save time with content material batching.
9. Repurpose content material.
10. Preserve observe of content material concepts.

Why do I want to make use of a social media calendar template?

As a result of winging it solely works for therefore lengthy. A social media calendar template provides you construction with out stifling your creativity. It frees up psychological area, helps you propose round launches and social media campaigns, and makes positive your content material aligns along with your total technique — not simply what you’re feeling like posting that day.

Plus, it helps you keep on with your social media technique and keep constant (which, in my expertise of social media advertising, is half the battle).

What ought to I embrace in my social media calendar?

Your calendar doesn’t have to be fancy — it simply must work for you. Right here are some things most calendars embrace:

• Posting dates and instances
• Platform and publish format (Reel, Story, textual content publish, and so forth.)
• Captions and visuals (or at the very least notes)
• Content material pillar or class
• Standing (drafted, scheduled, revealed)

Some folks go all in with hashtags, CTAs, social media marketing campaign labels, viewers segments, and all the mandatory particulars on their advertising calendar — but when that feels overwhelming, begin with a easy social media planner and construct from there.

How do I create a social media calendar?

Decide a instrument, decide a format, and block a while to plan. You can begin with a template (like those above) or construct your individual within the instrument of your alternative — Notion, Google Sheets, Buffer, no matter you’re most certainly to really use. Then set a recurring time every week or month to map out your content material.

Even simply planning three social posts upfront could make an enormous distinction in your workflow.

How do I make a social media calendar template work for me?

The key phrase right here is template. It’s a place to begin, not a strict algorithm. Tweak the format, add colour coding, rename columns, or delete sections you don’t want. When you’re not a morning poster, shift your recommended instances. When you publish extra on TikTok than LinkedIn, prioritize that.

It’s your calendar — make it replicate your social technique or advertising technique, targets, viewers, and precise capability.

What options do you have to search for in a social media content material calendar template?

Search for flexibility and readability. An important template ought to be:

• Simple to navigate
• Suitable along with your planning fashion (visible? list-based? Kanban?)
• Customizable to suit your social or advertising technique
• Shareable (in the event you work with a workforce or purchasers)

Bonus factors in the event you can filter by platform, observe publish standing, or embrace media recordsdata and notes immediately within the calendar.

As a content material author at Buffer, I spend an excellent chunk of my time poring over the (typically cryptic) algorithm updates from the varied social media platforms. We have now a great deal of nice weblog articles (if I do say so myself) breaking down the algorithm for each single platform, which we replace repeatedly.

Whereas a variety of the steering for social media success modifications in these assets fairly typically, there’s one tip that at all times, at all times stays in them: be constant. Whether or not you’re a content material creator, social media marketer, or small enterprise proprietor, be as lively in your social community of alternative as doable. It’s the very best path to success on any given platform, whether or not you’re posting to Instagram, TikTok, Fb, YouTube, Mastodon, you title it.

And what’s one of the simplest ways to make sure you are constantly posting on these networks? A social media content material calendar! Acquired your template? Congratulations. You’re on the street to success.