Organization For The New Year Can Be The Key To More Success

How To Develop An Editorial Calendar For A Monthly Action Plan

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By Dorothy York, President and CEO of North American Precis Syndicate (NAPS)

Timing is crucial for a successful editorial outreach program.  Reaching the right influencers at the right time requires careful planning and consideration of varying lead times, often several months in advance of deadlines. 

To keep on track with a monthly plan, using realistic timelines, and to take advantage of commonly used themed seasonal tie-ins, you need to take several steps to get your content noticed and keep it relevant.

Here are ideas for developing a monthly series of articles, to make the most of seasonal opportunities for timely media relations:

January:  For the new year, stories about making resolutions, such as those related to nutrition, weight, exercise, or financial goals, will get the most attention. 

February:  Romantic articles for Valentine’s Day, or patriotic articles for President’s Day will work well.  February is Black History Month, making it a great time to do some multicultural marketing outreach to the audiences of Black and Spanish language media.

March:  Outdoor home improvement stories for the spring will be needed for special sections, including gardening, tools, backyard furniture, entertaining and barbecue ideas. 

April:  Celebrating Easter, Passover or spring break can help get attention for your stories, including travel, recipes, entertaining ideas and safety suggestions.  Earth Day is a great time to get the word out about recycling, energy efficiency, water or air quality, and climate change.

May:  Gift giving ideas for Mother’s Day can be a great opportunity for promoting jewelry, clothing, perfume, flowers, books, and so much more, to attract audiences who want to honor their Mom’s big day.  Many people move over Memorial Day Weekend, when people need advice about how to pack, rent trucks or hire movers, and set up in a new home. 

June:  Dads, grads and wedding celebrations are the most popular seasonal topics, offering opportunities to tell stories about gifts, education, food and fashion.

July:  Many people plan for the Independence Day celebration by booking travel plans.  Advice stories about travel destinations, hotels, airlines, luggage, clothing to pack, sunscreen, bug repellent, and pets, will be needed to fill special sections. 

August:  Back to school planning stories including stories about electronics, gadgets, clothing, and preparing the garden or home for fall weather, including disaster preparedness, will be in demand. 

September:  This is a great time for fall home improvement stories, including roofing, windows, doors, energy efficiency, decorating, organization, remodeling, DIY projects and home maintenance ideas.

October:  Spanish Heritage Month is a great time to tap into the growing Hispanic market with multicultural marketing efforts, reaching black and Spanish language media.

November:  Advice for preparing for entertaining family and friends for Thanksgiving celebrations is in need to fill special holiday sections.  Include your best recipes, nutrition and cooking tips for the best results.

December:  Entertaining ideas or stocking stuffer and gift giving ideas for Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza will help create an awareness of your message among millions looking for good advice and tips. 

Let your imaginations and your creativity be your guide to writing great stories.  For more information, or a proposal from our experts, contact us at info@napsnet.com or visit https://mynewstouse.com/ .