Top 9 Free Content Planning Templates

Content planning is essential for maintaining a consistent and strategic approach to creating and distributing content. It helps ensure that your content aligns with your goals, reaches the right audience, and is published at the optimal time. A Content Planning template in Notion can streamline this process, providing structure and organization to your content strategy, making it easier to manage and track your content's lifecycle from ideation to publication.

Before you dive into creating your own Content Planning system, take a look at these Notion templates designed to simplify and enhance your content planning efforts. They offer a range of features to suit different needs, from basic scheduling to comprehensive editorial management.

What Should Content Planning Templates Include?

Choosing the right content planning template in Notion can streamline your workflow and enhance your content strategy. Here are key components to look for in an effective template:

Editorial Calendar: This should provide a clear overview of scheduled posts, deadlines, and publishing channels, helping you stay organized and on track.
Content Repository: A section for storing ideas, research, and reference materials that can be easily accessed and updated.
Workflow Status: Tracks the progress of each content piece from conception through to publication, ensuring transparency and accountability in the creation process.
Analytics Section: A place to record performance data for each content piece, which aids in measuring success and planning future content based on results.

With these components, a Notion content planning template can transform your content management process, making it more efficient and effective.

What Should Content Planning Templates Avoid?

When selecting a content planning template in Notion, it's essential to be aware of certain features that might complicate or hinder your workflow rather than streamline it.

Overly Complex Structures: Avoid templates with too many nested pages or intricate tagging systems. These can make navigation confusing and slow down your content planning process.
Fixed Content Categories: Steer clear of templates that limit flexibility with pre-set categories. Content needs can evolve, and your template should be adaptable to accommodate different types of content.
Excessive Automation: While some automation can be helpful, too much can make the template rigid and difficult to customize according to your specific needs.

Choosing the right template involves looking for simplicity, flexibility, and just the right amount of automation to enhance productivity without imposing constraints.

1Basic Content Calendar

Use this content calendar to schedule and track all the content you're putting out — from blog posts to podcasts to tweets. Every item on the calendar is a project, where you can designate the author (or who's assigned), the type of content (article, event, etc.), and its status (scheduled, in progress, complete). Each one is also its own Notion page, where you can stash all related notes, research, multimedia, and do all your writing in one place.

A template preview for Basic Content Calendar

2Content Planner

Be it YouTube, Instagram, Blog or your own website, a smooth, easy-to-use and versatile content planner can make your life 10x easier. This planner makes working on multiple projects at once much more seamless.

3Blog Editorial Calendar

Use this template to plan and write all your marketing content with a database that lets you track each project’s status, audience, author, reviewer, publish date, and more.

A template preview for Blog Editorial Calendar

4Content Creation Dashboard

Best suited for an individual content creator, this template will keep you organized from brainstorming to publishing your content. The dashboard holds a content planning calendar and task list that are related to one another to make planning seamless.

Social links and space for creators to map out their finances, branding, and mission statement are also included. Make your content creation system more efficient.

A template preview for Content Creation Dashboard

5Editorial Calendar

The success of a content strategy often hinges on effective planning and organization. Our Editorial Calendar template serves as a dedicated space to write, strategize, and coordinate all your content pieces. It empowers you to methodically map out your content strategy, schedule publication dates, assign tasks to team members, and monitor the progress of each content piece in a single, unified location.

The interactive database tabs provide flexibility, enabling you to create and switch between different views for a tailor-made content planning experience. Take control of your content production process and keep your team aligned with this comprehensive Notion template.

A template preview for Editorial Calendar

6Notion's editorial calendar

Usually marketing teams have separate tools for planning and writing content. At Notion, we do all of that in one database. Using a calendar view, we can see our monthly publishing schedule and move pieces around to avoid traffic jams. That way, everyone in the company knows there's only one place to look for any editorial project.

A template preview for Notion's editorial calendar

7Content Engine: Youtube, Instagram, Newsletter - Manage all in one place

As freelancer or agency, you can use it easily organise ideas and plan them for all social media platforms, all in one place.

8Content Planner

The Notion Content Planner is your go-to tool for optimizing content creation. Track progress with the Content Status Board, ensure consistency using the Posting Schedule, and plan ahead with the Upcoming Content Section. The dynamic Content Calendar/Timeline visualizes your schedule, while the Platforms Database and Tags/Categories Database streamline information for effective content management. A holistic solution, this template empowers content creators with efficiency and strategic planning.

9Content Planner for Brand

Revolutionize your social media content planning with our dynamic Notion template. Tailored for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and more, this versatile template accommodates diverse formats. Streamline your planning process, from brainstorming ideas to scheduling posts, ensuring consistent and engaging content across all platforms.

Closing Thoughts

Utilizing these templates streamlines your content creation process, ensuring consistency and efficiency. They help in organizing ideas and tracking progress, making your workflow smoother.

Start by choosing a template that aligns with your goals. Customize it to fit your specific needs and begin populating it with your content ideas. This proactive approach will save you time and enhance your productivity.

What is an Editorial Calendar?

An editorial calendar is a schedule that helps content creators plan their topics, manage publication deadlines, and coordinate with team members.

What is Content Curation?

Content curation involves gathering and presenting digital content that revolves around a specific subject matter, enhancing a brand's message and value.

What is SEO Targeting?

SEO targeting refers to the practice of optimizing content with specific keywords and phrases to improve visibility and ranking on search engines.