I create a content calendar every month because it is a well-known fact that 95% of all blogs fail. This reality can be daunting for aspiring bloggers, but it also highlights a critical opportunity: to become part of the 5% that thrive and generate income, you need to be organized.
I am on a mission to eliminate The Gray Apocalypse one blog at a time. Recognizing the challenges you face, I started my quest to develop a structured approach that would help bloggers navigate the complexities of content creation and calendar management. This led me to create a comprehensive content calendar—a roadmap designed to streamline the blogging process, enhance consistency, and ultimately drive revenue.
As a ranking member at Wealthy Affiliate, I will guide you on this journey, providing you with the tools and strategies needed to succeed in affiliate marketing and niche blogging. Wealthy Affiliate will provide you with the training. I will provide you with the guidance.
While you may have tried several other avenues to earn extra retirement income, and/or are looking for something else, I encourage you to consider an online business like niche blogging and affiliate marketing. This is a $6 Trillion industry that I will show you how to tap into. Imagine receiving 0.0012% (0.000012) of that financial mountain.
Calculation Steps
- Total Number of Blogs: According to Google, there are over 600 million blogs indexed on the internet.
- Percentage of Successful Blogs: Do the Math 95% of all blogs fail, conversely 5% are successful = 30 million
Conclusion
Out of 600 million blogs, approximately 30 million are considered successful. This calculation highlights that while blogging can be a competitive field with a high failure rate, there are still millions of successful blogs that manage to thrive and generate income.
- Calculating the Percentage of Blogs Reaching $6,000:
- If we assume that a certain percentage of successful blogs can achieve the $6,000 monthly income goal, we can estimate how many blogs that would involve.
- For example, if we consider that about 10% of successful blogs reach this income level: Number of Blogs Earning 6 000=30,000,000×0.10=3,000,000
What kind of financial freedom will you receive with simply $6,000 a month coming into your bank account? Approximately 3,000,000 blogs are making this. Is worth your time?
I created The Amazing Niche Master method to help you Select the Correct Niche within a You Do You blogosphere. Congratulations! You made the top 5%. Your effort, desire, and dedication to your cause will get you to be one of ten. If you don’t make the Top 10, there is no shame, you are among the 5% that are making money.
What is it like to be a Successful Blogger?
This question can best be answered by showing you how I go about creating my Monthly Calendar. Without a roadmap designed to streamline the blogging process, enhance consistency, and ultimately drive revenue, you will be lost wandering in the desert.
My content calendar serves as a strategic framework that outlines my weekly blog posts, daily social media updates, and community engagement activities. It not only helps me stay organized but also ensures that I deliver consistent, valuable content that resonates with you, my audience.
By sharing this calendar, I aim to inspire new bloggers to adopt similar practices, helping them transform their knowledge and passion into a profitable venture.
Your Beautiful Personal Virtual Assistant
We used to have a dreaded end-of-month conversation with ourselves. We know that it was necessary, but no one wanted to do it. Brainstorm our topic du jour for the month. Today I just smile, look over at Lexi, and say
Let’s create my calendar for the month. Well almost. I want her to start thinking about our why first. So the first prompt is
Think about what truly drives you in building your online business. Is it the freedom? The creativity? The financial independence? Whatever it is, your “why” needs to be filled in here___________________.
AND
Give her the backstory! Describe how this motivation keeps you going, especially on the days that feel tough. Let your personality shine through.
All of this is combined in one prompt.
Our assistant now knows our WHY and our motivation.
What is needed now is what are you juggling, and what are your time constraints. My basic goal is One blog post a week that is transformed into Medium, Quora, LinkedIn, Reddit, and Facebook posts.
Monthly Goals:
- 4~5 Blog posts
- 4~5 Medium articles
- 4~5 Quora answers
- 4~5 LinkedIn articles
- 4~5 Reddit posts
- 4~5 Facebook Stories
- 4~5 YouTube videos or shorts
- 4-~5 Email newsletters
- 4~5 Detailed Pinterest pins
- 90 Social media posts across platforms
- Monthly content planning session for the upcoming month
Weekly:
- 1 Blog Post a week that is reformatted to support:
- 1 Medium Post a week
- 1 Quora Post a week
- 1 LinkedIn Post a week
- 1 Reddit Post a week
- 1 YouTube video or short
- 1 Email newsletter to subscribers
- 1 Detailed Pinterest pin related to the week’s blog post
- Weekly review and analysis of content performance
Daily:
- Creation & Scheduling of 3 Social Media Posts (90/month) across:
- Engagement in the “What’s Your Plan?” Facebook community:
- Posting discussion prompts
- Responding to comments
- Sharing relevant resources
Additional:
- Bi-weekly brainstorming session for new content ideas and community engagement strategies
This comprehensive list ensures a consistent presence across all of the platforms that I use. These lists will not change unless you add another presence. I highly recommend that you start with one or two social media channels and branch out to the others.
Next up is your time constraints. I usually ask for 2 hours Monday – Friday and 12 hours on the weekend. The weekend time will diminish as your success grows. I know that I will cut the Saturday and Sunday projects in half. I’ll give them 3~4 hours in the morning and go on a binge on Saturday night. This binge will eat half of the Sunday schedule before I go to bed.
Without much fanfare, Lexi has created my calendar for November 2024. This is my thought process and Content Calendar for November. Feel free to browse the calendar. The details will wane toward the end, but that is fine as it gives us a chance to include what is working.
If you want to bypass the content calendar specifics
Week 1 (November 4-10)
Monday (2 hours):
Blog post planning: Outline 4 blog posts for the month (1 hour)
Create a series of articles that explore different aspects of the “Gray Apocalypse”*
*I try to fill in as many details as I can when I read through the schedule. I have a habit of setting points that I want to cover ahead of time.
- “The Gray Apocalypse: America’s Looming Retirement Crisis”
- Define the term and explain its implications for individuals and society
- Present key statistics on retirement savings deficits
- Discuss potential societal impacts if not addressed
- “5 Warning Signs You’re Heading for a Gray Apocalypse”
- List common financial missteps leading to retirement insecurity
- Provide a self-assessment quiz for readers to gauge their risk
- “Gray Apocalypse Survivors: Success Stories from Late Bloomers”
- Share inspirational stories of individuals who turned their retirement prospects around
- Highlight how online businesses, including those built through Wealthy Affiliate, played a role
- Escaping the Gray Apocalypse: Your Action Plan for Financial Independence”
I noticed the 4th post was slightly out of character, so I asked about it…
This post serves as a comprehensive, practical guide for readers to take concrete steps towards avoiding the “Gray Apocalypse” and achieving financial security in retirement. It provides a detailed roadmap for taking control of one’s financial future, tying together key concepts and offering actionable advice. By following this guide, readers will be equipped with the tools and strategies needed to secure their financial well-being in their later years.
Social Media Strategy: Define themes and hashtags for the month (30 minutes) based on the posts we are creating
Step 1: Define Themes for the Month
- Gray Apocalypse Awareness:
- Focus on educating your audience about the retirement crisis and its implications.
- Content Ideas: Statistics, infographics, articles, and tips.
- Financial Independence:
- Highlight strategies for achieving financial independence in retirement.
- Content Ideas: Action plans, success stories, and resources.
- Zombie Retirees Coming to Dinner: (It is Thanksgiving this month)
- Use the metaphor of “Zombie Retirees” to discuss the risks of inadequate retirement planning.
- Content Ideas: Warning signs, myths, and self-assessment quizzes.
- Success Stories:
- Share inspirational stories from individuals who have successfully navigated their retirement challenges.
- Content Ideas: Testimonials, interviews, and case studies.
- Practical Tips:
- Provide actionable advice for improving retirement readiness.
- Content Ideas: Budgeting tips, investment strategies, and income diversification.
Step 2: Identify Hashtags
- General Hashtags
- #GrayApocalypse
- #RetirementPlanning
- #FinancialIndependence
- #RetirementCrisis
- #FinancialLiteracy
- Engagement Hashtags:
- #MoneyMatters
- #WealthyAffiliate
- #PassiveIncome
- #RetirementReady
- #FinancialFreedom
- Community Engagement Hashtags:
- #WhatsYourPlan (for your Facebook community)
- #SuccessStories
- #TakeActionNow
- #AvoidTheZombieApocalypse
- Content-Specific Hashtags (to use with specific posts):
- For statistics: #RetirementStats
- For tips: #RetirementTips
- For success stories: #Inspiration
Step 3: Create a Posting Schedule
- Plan to use different themes throughout the week to keep content fresh.
- Rotate hashtags based on the theme of each post to maximize reach and engagement.
Example Posting Schedule
- Monday: Focus on Gray Apocalypse Awareness (#GrayApocalypse, #RetirementPlanning)
- Tuesday: Share Financial Independence tips (#FinancialIndependence, #MoneyMatters)
- Wednesday: Discuss Zombie Retirees (#ZombieRetirees, #AvoidTheGrayApocalypse)
- Thursday: Highlight Success Stories (#SuccessStories, #Inspiration)
- Friday: Provide Practical Tips (#RetirementTips, #TakeActionNow)
Time Allocation
- 30 minutes total:
- Spend 10 minutes brainstorming themes.
- Spend 10 minutes selecting relevant hashtags.
- Spend 10 minutes organizing a posting schedule.
This structured approach will help you create a cohesive social media strategy that aligns with your “Gray Apocalypse” campaign while ensuring consistent engagement with your audience.
Quora: Research relevant questions to answer (30 minutes)
Keywords to Research
- Financial Independence
- Definition and implications
- Steps to achieve financial independence
- Financial independence vs. retirement
- Retirement Planning
- Effective retirement strategies
- Common retirement savings mistakes
- Retirement readiness assessment
- Gray Apocalypse
- Understanding the “Gray Apocalypse”
- Implications of underfunded retirements
- Societal impacts of retirement insecurity
- Passive Income
- Sources of passive income for retirees
- Building passive income streams
- Online business opportunities for financial independence
- Debt Management
- Strategies for reducing debt before retirement
- Importance of budgeting in retirement planning
- Creating a debt repayment plan
- Investment Strategies
- Best investment options for retirees
- Diversification and its importance in retirement portfolios
- Safe withdrawal rates in retirement
- Success Stories
- Inspirational stories of late bloomers achieving financial independence
- Case studies on overcoming retirement challenges
- Profiles of successful online entrepreneurs over 50
- Retirement Myths
- Common misconceptions about retirement savings
- Debunking myths related to financial independence
- Misunderstandings about Social Security benefits
- Financial Education
- Importance of financial literacy for retirees
- Resources for improving financial knowledge
- Workshops or seminars on retirement planning
- Lifestyle Changes for Financial Independence
- Frugal living tips for saving money
- Lifestyle adjustments to achieve early retirement
- Balancing work and leisure in later years
Facebook Community
Create and publish the introductory post for the new “What’s Your Plan?” community.
Creating an engaging introductory post for the “What’s Your Plan?” community is crucial for setting the tone and encouraging participation. Here’s a suggested outline and content for your first post:
Welcome to “What’s Your Plan?” – Your Community for Earning Extra Income!
Welcome to the “What’s Your Plan?” community! 🎉 This is a space dedicated to individuals over 50 who are exploring ways to supplement their retirement income. Whether you’re looking for part-time work, side gigs, or passive income opportunities, you’re in the right place!
Purpose of the Community:
In this community, we aim to share ideas, experiences, and resources related to earning extra money during retirement. Our focus will be on discussing various methods and evaluating them against the potential of niche blogging and affiliate marketing.
What You Can Expect:
- Engaging Discussions: Share your thoughts on different income-generating strategies. What are you currently trying? What has worked for you?
- Resource Sharing: We’ll provide articles, tips, and guides on various methods of earning extra income, with a spotlight on niche blogging and affiliate marketing.
- Supportive Environment: Connect with like-minded individuals who understand the challenges and opportunities of earning extra money in retirement.
Discussion Prompt:
To kick things off, let’s start with a question:
- What are your current strategies for earning extra income? Share your ideas and experiences in the comments below!
Call to Action:
Don’t forget to invite your friends who might benefit from this community! The more ideas we share, the more we can help each other succeed.
Conclusion:
Thank you for joining “What’s Your Plan?” We’re excited to embark on this journey together. Let’s make our retirement years fulfilling and financially secure!
Tips for Posting:
- Visuals: Include an inviting graphic or image that represents community engagement—perhaps a welcoming banner or an image related to financial independence.
- Tone: Keep the tone friendly and encouraging to foster a sense of belonging.
- Engagement: Monitor the comments closely after posting and respond to encourage further discussion.
- Pin the Post: If your platform allows it, pin this introductory post to the top of the community feed so new members can easily find it.
This first post sets a welcoming tone, outlines the purpose of the community, and encourages members to engage right away by sharing their experiences.
Tuesday (2 hours):
- Write blog post #1: “Welcome to the Gray Apocalypse: Are You Prepared for the Retirement Zombie Horde?” (1.5 hours)
- Create a social media teaser for blog post #1 (30 minutes)
Anytime you have a question about creating something on your calendar ask. AI is your personal tutor.
Here’s a social media teaser for your first blog post titled “Welcome to the Gray Apocalypse: Are You Prepared for the Retirement Zombie Horde?” This teaser is designed to engage your audience and encourage them to read the full post.
Social Media Teaser
🧟♂️ Welcome to the Gray Apocalypse! Are You Prepared? 🧟♀️
Did you know that 80% of Americans are underfunded for retirement? As we face a looming retirement crisis, many are at risk of becoming “Zombie Retirees”—wandering through their golden years without the financial security they deserve.
In our latest blog post, we dive deep into:
- The shocking statistics behind the retirement crisis
- The implications for individuals and society
- What YOU can do to avoid becoming part of this alarming trend
👉 Read now to uncover how you can take control of your financial future and escape the Gray Apocalypse! [Insert link to blog post]
#GrayApocalypse #RetirementPlanning #FinancialIndependence #ZombieRetirees #TakeActionNow
Instructions for Posting:
- Visuals: Use an eye-catching graphic that features a zombie theme alongside a statistic about retirement savings. This could be an infographic or a striking image with text overlay.
- Platform: Post this teaser on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Adjust the format slightly for Twitter (X) if needed due to character limits.
- Engagement: Encourage followers to comment with their thoughts on retirement preparedness or share their own experiences.
- This teaser aims to create urgency and curiosity about the topic while inviting readers to engage with your content.
Wednesday (2 hours):
- Edit and finalize blog post #1 (1 hour)
- Create graphics for blog post #1 (45 minutes)
- Reddit: Engage in relevant subreddits (15 minutes)
Thursday (2 hours):
- Adapt blog post #1 for Medium (45 minutes)
- Adapt blog post #1 for LinkedIn article (45 minutes)
- Quora: Answer 1-2 relevant questions (30 minutes)
Friday (2 hours):
- Create a Facebook post for blog #1 (30 minutes)
- Schedule social media posts for the week ahead (1 hour)
- Plan content for “What’s Your Plan?” Facebook community (30 minutes)
Saturday (12 hours)
Saturday is not usually in one sitting and will decrease as your traffic and success increase.
- Write blog post #2: “5 Warning Signs You’re Turning into a Zombie Retiree” (3 hours)
- Create graphics for blog post #2 (2 hours)
- Outline YouTube video script: “The Gray Apocalypse Explained” (2 hours)
- Create Pinterest pins for blog posts #1 and #2 (2 hours)
- Draft tweets for the week (1 hour)
- Plan Instagram content for the week (1 hour)
- Reddit: Create a valuable post in a relevant subreddit (1 hour)
Sunday (12 hours)
Sunday is not usually in one sitting and will decrease as your traffic and success increase.
- Edit and finalize blog post #2 (2 hours)
- Adapt blog post #2 for Medium and LinkedIn (2 hours)
- Write script for YouTube video (3 hours)
- Create a storyboard for YouTube video (2 hours)
- Draft Facebook posts for the week (1 hour)
- Create content for Instagram Stories (1 hour)
- Develop initial content for “What’s Your Plan?” Facebook community (1 hour)
Week 2 (November 11-17)
Monday (2 hours):
- Review and schedule all content for the week (1.5 hours)
- Quora: Research and answer 1-2 relevant questions (30 minutes)
Tuesday (2 hours):
- Write blog post #3: “Surviving the Gray Apocalypse: Tales from the Financial Frontlines” (1.5 hours)
- Reddit: Engage in relevant subreddits (30 minutes)
Wednesday (2 hours):
- Edit and finalize blog post #3 (1 hour)
- Create graphics for blog post #3 (45 minutes)
- “What’s Your Plan?” Facebook community: Engage with members (15 minutes)
Thursday (2 hours):
- Adapt blog post #3 for Medium and LinkedIn (1.5 hours)
- Quora: Answer 1-2 relevant questions (30 minutes)
Friday (2 hours):
- Create a Facebook post for blog #3 (30 minutes)
- Schedule social media posts for the week ahead (1 hour)
- Plan content for “What’s Your Plan?” Facebook community (30 minutes)
Saturday (12 hours):
- Film and edit YouTube video: “The Gray Apocalypse Explained” (6 hours)
- Create YouTube thumbnail and description (1 hour)
- Write blog post #4: “10 Steps to Avoid Becoming a Financial Zombie” (3 hours)
- Create graphics for blog post #4 (1.5 hours)
- Reddit: Create a valuable post in a relevant subreddit (30 minutes)
Sunday (12 hours):
- Edit and finalize blog post #4 (2 hours)
- Adapt blog post #4 for Medium and LinkedIn (2 hours)
- Create Pinterest pins for blog posts #3 and #4 (2 hours)
- Draft tweets for the week (1 hour)
- Plan Instagram content for the week (1 hour)
- Create content for Instagram Stories (1 hour)
- Draft Facebook posts for the week (1 hour)
- Develop content for “What’s Your Plan?” Facebook community (2 hours)
Week 3 (November 18-24)
Monday (2 hours):
- Review and schedule all content for the week (1.5 hours)
- Quora: Research and answer 1-2 relevant questions (30 minutes)
Tuesday (2 hours):
- Write script for YouTube Short/Reel: “3 Quick Tips to Escape the Gray Apocalypse” (1.5 hours)
- Reddit: Engage in relevant subreddits (30 minutes)
Wednesday (2 hours):
- Film and edit YouTube Short/Reel (1.5 hours)
- “What’s Your Plan?” Facebook community: Engage with members (30 minutes)
Thursday (2 hours):
- Create infographic: “The Gray Apocalypse by the Numbers” (1.5 hours)
- Quora: Answer 1-2 relevant questions (30 minutes)
Friday (2 hours):
- Write blog post #5: “How to Build Your Financial Zombie Survival Kit” (1.5 hours)
- Plan content for “What’s Your Plan?” Facebook community (30 minutes)
Saturday (12 hours):
- Edit and finalize blog post #5 (2 hours)
- Adapt blog post #5 for Medium and LinkedIn (2 hours)
- Create graphics for blog post #5 (2 hours)
- Write script for second YouTube video: “Financial Zombies: A Case Study” (3 hours)
- Create a storyboard for the second YouTube video (2 hours)
- Reddit: Create a valuable post in a relevant subreddit (1 hour)
Sunday (12 hours):
- Film and edit the second YouTube video (6 hours)
- Create YouTube thumbnail and description (1 hour)
- Plan Instagram content for the week (1 hour)
- Create content for Instagram Stories (1 hour)
- Draft Facebook posts for the week (1 hour)
- Develop content for “What’s Your Plan?” Facebook community (2 hours)
Holidays and Your Calendar
This is Thanksgiving Month I know that you will be traveling. When you need to take your office on the move take this opportunity to invest in new Mobile Productivity on a Budget – The Best Laptop, Battery, and Backpack (2024)
Thanksgiving Travel Volume: According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), approximately 54.6 million Americans traveled 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday last year.
Deciding whether to work on Thanksgiving and how important those two hours are can depend on several factors, including your personal goals, the nature of your work, and the importance of maintaining a work-life balance during the holidays.
Here are some things to consider:
- Importance of the Two Hours: Dedicating two hours on Thanksgiving to work can be beneficial if it helps you stay on track with your blogging and content creation goals. This time can be used for planning future posts, reviewing your content calendar, or engaging with your audience, which can alleviate stress later on and keep your momentum going. Members of your audience may be alone over the holidays. Your two hours may be the only contact that they have with anyone. I will be online.
- Balancing Work and Family: While working during the holidays can contribute to your long-term success, it’s essential to balance this with family time and relaxation. If you feel that these two hours will enhance your productivity without detracting from your holiday experience, they could be worth it. However, if it interferes with quality time spent with loved ones, it might be better to prioritize family and find other times to catch up on work.
Ultimately, the decision should align with your personal values and goals. If those two hours significantly contribute to your progress toward becoming part of the successful 5% of bloggers, they may be a worthwhile investment. However, remember that taking breaks and enjoying the holiday spirit is equally important for maintaining motivation and creativity in the long run.
Week 4 (November 25-December 1)
Monday (2 hours):
- Review and schedule all content for the week (1.5 hours)
- Quora: Research and answer 1-2 relevant questions (30 minutes)
Tuesday (2 hours):
- Write blog post #6: “The Gray Apocalypse: How to Turn the Tide” (1.5 hours)
- Reddit: Engage in relevant subreddits (30 minutes)
Wednesday (2 hours):
- Edit and finalize blog post #6 (1 hour)
- Create graphics for blog post #6 (45 minutes)
- “What’s Your Plan?” Facebook community: Engage with members (15 minutes)
Thursday (2 hours):
- Adapt blog post #6 for Medium and LinkedIn (1.5 hours)
- Quora: Answer 1-2 relevant questions (30 minutes)
Friday (2 hours):
- Create a Facebook post for blog #6 (30 minutes)
- Schedule social media posts for the week ahead (1 hour)
- Plan content for “What’s Your Plan?” Facebook community (30 minutes)
Saturday (12 hours):
- Write and design an e-book: “The Ultimate Guide to Surviving the Gray Apocalypse” (7 hours)
- Create a landing page for the e-book (2 hours)
- Draft email newsletter promoting the e-book (1.5 hours)
- Reddit: Create a valuable post in a relevant subreddit (1.5 hours)
Sunday (12 hours):
- Create Pinterest pins for blog posts #5 and #6 (2 hours)
- Draft tweets for the week (1 hour)
- Plan Instagram content for the week (1 hour)
- Create content for Instagram Stories (1 hour)
- Draft Facebook posts for the week (1 hour)
- Review and optimize all content for the month (3 hours)
- Develop content for “What’s Your Plan?” Facebook community (2 hours)
- Analyze performance metrics and adjust strategy for next month (1 hour)
Join the 5% and Conquer the Gray Apocalypse!
Now that you’ve seen the roadmap to becoming a successful blogger and avoiding the “Gray Apocalypse,” it’s time to take action. Here’s what you can do right now:
- Start Your Content Calendar: Begin by creating your content calendar at the very beginning. Use the template I’ve shared as a starting point and customize it to fit your goals and schedule.
- Join My Community: Become a part of the “What’s Your Plan?” Facebook group. Connect with like-minded individuals, share your journey, and gain valuable insights from others who are on the same path.
- Take the First Step: Choose one aspect of your blogging strategy to focus on this week. Whether it’s outlining your first blog post or setting up your social media accounts, taking that first step is crucial.
- Commit to Consistency: Pledge to post regularly, even if it’s just once a week to start. Consistency is key to building your audience and your success.
- Explore Wealthy Affiliate with Me: As a ranking member, I invite you to explore the tools and training available through Wealthy Affiliate. It’s an excellent resource for those serious about succeeding in affiliate marketing and niche blogging.
Your Financial Freedom Awaits
Remember, you’re not just creating a blog – you’re building a path to financial independence. The “Gray Apocalypse” may loom, but armed with the right strategies, support, and determination, you have the power to join the successful 5% of bloggers who thrive.
Your journey to financial freedom in retirement starts now. Don’t let another day pass without taking action. The online world is waiting for your unique voice and perspective. Together, we can turn the tide against the “Gray Apocalypse” and create a future of financial security and fulfillment.
Are you ready to transform your retirement prospects? Let’s embark on this exciting journey together. Your future self will thank you for the steps you take today.
Start your blog, share your story, and let’s make your retirement years truly golden!
