If you’ve ever felt under pressure to constantly churn out content to keep your business visible, you know what we mean by “content overwhelm” – it’s a common state of frustration for small business owners who are juggling multiple hats. 

But you know that giving up on content creation isn’t an option. High-quality content is the lifeblood of attracting customers online. It’s how we connect with our audience, build brand awareness, and achieve business goals.  

We believe the process shouldn’t be draining for your energy reserves or your mental health.

So today we’re sharing practical strategies and time-saving hacks so you can more easily get into a state of flow and get more done in less time and with less stress. 

First, let’s talk about the main reasons content creation leads to burnout:

  • Lack of Strategy: Without a roadmap, even the most brilliant and creative minds get lost 
  • Lack of Time: Fitting content creation into a busy schedule is incredibly challenging
  • Writer’s Block: When you’re just not feeling it, it’s impossible to force 
  • Idea Fatigue: Squeezing every last drop out of your brain is exhausting mentally and physically.

We’re going to address all of these common culprits so creating content can be something you look forward to without sacrificing your sanity or time you can’t afford.

So grab your coffee (or beverage of choice) and let’s dig in!

#1 Start with a Content Strategy, Not Just Content

If your approach to content creation is like throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks, you’re setting yourself up for wasting tons of valuable time. It’s all about working smarter, not harder.

Starting with a plan is key to creating a workflow that’s sustainable and content that’s effective. A strategy ensures your content is targeted, cohesive, and focused on meeting your business objectives.

In a nutshell, a content strategy is a high-level plan that outlines your:

  • Business Goals: Build brand awareness? Generate leads? Drive traffic or sales? 
  • Target Audience: Who are you creating for? What content will resonate with them? 
  • Content Pillars: The core topics you stick to that position you as an expert 
  • Content Formats: Blog posts, videos, stories, or a mix?
  • Content Calendar: A plan you can follow to ensure consistent content publishing

A content strategy gives you the “why” behind what you’re doing and helps you focus on what you need to create to get results rather than just posting content for the sake of it. 

Recommended:

Which brings us to… 

#2 Use a Content Calendar & Idea Library

Overwhelm happens when you don’t have a plan before you sit down to create content.

A content calendar and content idea library will help you be more consistent and with less stress because it holds space for your ideas and the content you need to execute during your work sessions.

A content idea library can be as simple as a Google spreadsheet or doc. and trust us when we say it’s a total game-changer. Rather than letting your brilliant “aha moments” rattle around in your brain where you’re likely to forget them, you have a place to capture and categorize them.


Our Google Sheets Content Planner (click here to grab it) goes a step further and lets you sort those ideas into the content buckets all small businesses need to be sharing. 


Having your content already planned out eliminates much of the stress in the process because all you need to do is focus on executing the posts – no creative block to worry about, and no wasted time scrambling for ideas. 

You’ll get into a state of flow faster where creativity is turbocharged and time seems to fly by because you’re getting so much done. ✨

#3 Content Batching: Create Content in Dedicated Time Chunks 

Speaking of getting into a state of flow…

Once your brain is able to focus on content creation and ideas start flowing, you want to stay in that zone for as long as possible while you’re still feelin’ it. This is “deep work” and it’s where you’ll be able to get exponentially more done in the same amount of time spent. 

It takes time to get into the zone, but once you’re there, you’re off to the races. 🏇

Content batching is a time-saving technique where you create multiple pieces of content in one focused session. 

  • First, set a goal for how frequently you want to publish.
  • Then, aim to create enough content in one sitting to give you a bit of runway in your schedule. 

For example, if I want to post 3 Instagram stories per week and I can create 18 stories in one batching session, I can schedule them to go out for six weeks in advance. 

Then, repeat that process with other types of content like Reels, blog posts, or emails in the next batching session. 

As you strike content off your list, the pressure you feel will be replaced with a sense of accomplishment, making it even easier for you to get into a state of flow for the next batching session. 

#4 Use a Social Media Content Scheduler 

Using a scheduling tool goes hand-in-hand with content batching because part of that process is to schedule your posts to be published automatically and in advance.

Automating as much as you possibly can means you’ll enjoy more days to not even worry about content. Think of your scheduler like an employee whose job it is to make sure your posts get published to the right channels at the right time while you’re focused on other things. 


There are lots of great social media scheduling tools out there like Buffer, Hootsuite, SmarterQueue, and Planoly that vary in their interface, features, and pricing. You’re sure to find one that fits your needs and budget. 

Our favorite these days and the one we use is Metricool (affiliate link) because it has everything you need for a really affordable price and is intuitive to figure out so you can just dive in and start using it.

We love to recommend it because you can have access to all the important features (with the exception of posting to LinkedIn) on their free plan and you may never need to upgrade unless you publish more than 50 posts per month or need access to enhanced analytics.

It’s free to try it out either way, so definitely check it out. 

#5 Avoid Context Switching – The Sneaky “Productivity Tax” You’re Already Paying

If you group similar tasks in your batching sessions – like focusing on content creation first before moving on to scheduling it – you avoid “context switching” which happens when you switch between different tasks or separate apps. 

This way of working is something we all do, but we don’t always realize the “productivity tax” we pay for it. That is: 

It can take several minutes to get back into a productive flow just by switching between different tools.

Imagine multiplying those minutes by the number of times you do switch back and forth every single day and it’s no wonder you feel overwhelmed. It costs you lost time, decreased focus, and increased mental strain (and even physical exhaustion!).

Constantly switching gears = no bueno. 😩So here are a few easy ways to reduce it it:

#1. Consolidate – If you find yourself switching between two similar apps that serve the same purpose, choose one. For example, if you’re checking messages on all the different social media platforms, look to see if your social media scheduler allows you to check and respond to messages for the apps you have connected to it. 

#2 Integrate – Explore integration options that exist with the apps you use. For example, using the app integration feature in Canva we can schedule our social media posts to Metricool directly from there without needing to launch Metricool. Similarly, if we’re working on a social media post in Notion, we have the MetriCool planner embedded into our page templates so it’s right there and handy.

This reduces the steps it takes to complete a task which helps you stay focused which helps you get more done in less time. 

So take an inventory of what apps you use and see what integrations are available. 

#3 Automate – We’re obsessed with finding new ways to automate what we’re doing. For example, setting up automated email sequences to welcome new subscribers or delivering a free gift to people who fill out a customer feedback survey. 

Check out Zapier to see what automations are available for the apps you’re already using!

#6 Ditch the Fluff: Choose Strategic Topics

Many creators fall into the trap of choosing topics they’re interested in without considering their audience, or spend tons of energy creating super valuable content that doesn’t match their audience’s needs or level of awareness. 

As an expert in your niche topics, it’s easy to forget what it feels like to be a novice.

Even if you know it’s something they need, if they don’t know they need it, they’ll just keep scrolling. It’s about meeting them where they are with topics that are relevant to their problems and desires today. 

Remember… 

Content creation efficiency isn’t just about “speed” or “productivity”. It’s about creating content that hits the target. 🎯 

When you take the time to understand your audience’s pain points, dreams, frustrations, and burning questions, and when you get clear about the ways your business helps them get what they want, creating content that breaks through the noise and gets their attention is much easier.

It takes a little extra work upfront, but it’s the best way to hit that bullseye predictably. 

👉When you know what your audience is thinking, you can respond with your content. 

👉When you know what questions they have, you can answer. 

To them, it’ll feel like you’re reading their minds and they’ll notice. 

Think about your the problems your business solves and the questions, problems, and limiting beliefs your audience has and store that information in a document you can reference when you’re generating topic ideas. 

We keep a spreadsheet like this for every product we sell so we can reconnect with the way our audience is feeling when writing copy. Getting into their minds and really empathizing with them goes a long way to creating content that sounds like you’re speaking directly to them like a friend. 

Click here to open up this example and view it in Google Sheets  
(Feel free to make a copy of it.) 

You can use ChatGPT to get audience insights to help you fill out your reference document – it’s for internal use only and AI is actually super helpful with tasks like this.

Once it’s done, it’s done, and you can use it over again to spark fresh ideas your audience will love.

Now let’s talk about…

The types of content you can ditch:

  • “Me-Centric” Content: It’s great to share personal stories, but it needs to be about you as it relates to them. Your audience doesn’t care about the terrible experience you had at your last dentist appointment if it’s not relevant to their lives in some way.  
  • Trend Chasing: If you can relate a current trend to your niche it may be worth doing, but chasing every fleeting trend is a recipe for exhaustion. Focus most of your efforts on evergreen content that stays valuable over time that you can repurpose and reshare. 
  • Creating content just for “content’s sake”: Every piece of content needs a clear goal. If you can’t articulate its purpose, it’s probably not worth creating. Always ask yourself, “What is it I want my audience to do after they read/watch this content?” and “What business objective does this content serve?” 

If your content doesn’t relate to the things you offer, or if it isn’t relevant to the audience you want to attract, ditch it. It will only confuse your existing audience and attract the wrong people who will never be interested in what you sell.

#7 Keep These Brainstorming Techniques in Your Back Pocket

You’ve taken the time to get clear about your audience needs – check! ✅
And you’re diligently capturing content ideas as you go in a content idea library – check! ✅

But there may still be days when inspiration dries up.

For times when you get really really really stuck for ideas, here are some strategies to keep in your backpocket and the #1 biggest mistake you want to avoid… 

Brainstorming Strategies to Spark Great Topic Ideas: 

  • Revisit Past Hits: Analyze your top-performing content. Can you expand on these themes or create spin-offs?
  • Dive into Your Data: Look at your analytics! What kind of content consistently performs well? What topics spark the most engagement? Use this data to identify winning themes and formats and make more similar content. Note: If you ever feel like a broken record leveraging the same topics over and over with different twists and formats… you’re doing it right. 😉
  • Be an Audience Question Detective: Find out what questions your audience is searching for by looking at the “people also asked” section on the Google results page or search your content topics on AnswerSocrates (it’s like AnswerThePublic when it was still free to use) to generate a list of related questions you can answer with your content.
  • Leverage Industry News: Get caught up on industry news, trends, or research. Share a statistic or the latest development and offer your unique perspective and insights.
  • Competitor Intel (The Ethical Way): It’s okay to peek at what your competitors are doing, but resist the urge to fall into a comparison trap. Instead, focus on what their audience is asking in the comments. This can spark ideas for content that addresses similar pain points but with your own unique spin.
  • Use AI as Your Brainstorming Buddy: Utilize AI writing assistants like ChatGPT to help you brainstorm content ideas. Feed it keywords or a central theme, and let it generate prompts or outlines to spark your creativity.

Supercharge Your Brainstorming Sessions:

  • Pomodoro Power: Use the Pomodoro Technique to combat creative slumps. Set a timer for focused 25-minute work sprints followed by short breaks or bookmark a tool like the Tomato Timer. 🍅⏲️This focused work style keeps your momentum going and helps you avoid getting overwhelmed. 
  • Freewriting Frenzy: Unleash your inner wordsmith with a freewriting session. Set a timer for 5-10 minutes and write down any content ideas that come to mind, no matter how strange or offbeat they seem. You might be surprised by the hidden gems that emerge from this free-flowing exercise.
  • Mind Mapping Magic:  Tap into the power of visual brainstorming with mind maps. Start with a central theme related to your audience’s needs, and branch out with keywords, subtopics, and potential content formats. This method helps you visually connect ideas and spark new content possibilities.

❌ What NOT to do: Get Social Media Ideas on Social Media

Hear me out….

The most counterproductive thing you can do is compare yourself to others and wind up in a social media shame spiral, so resist the urge to go out on social media looking for inspiration when you’re stuck. 

Instead, get inspiration from your competitors’ content on days when you’re not desperate to come up with ideas for your own content. 

And remember, your brand voice and unique perspective are what set you apart. You’ve got this!

#8 Stretch Your Existing Content Further 

Remember that awesome blog post you poured your heart and soul into? Don’t let it languish in the archives! Repurposing is your secret weapon for maximizing the reach of your content and squeezing every drop of value out of your content creation efforts.

Repurposing involves transforming your existing content into different formats for different platforms. For example, turning an email into a social media post or turning your text-based Instagram posts into short-form videos. 

By doing so as a matter of practice, you’ll: 

  • Reach a Wider Audience: By repurposing content, you can reach new audiences who might not have found your original piece. 
  • Save Time: Repurposing is a fantastic time-saver. You’ve already done the hard work of creating the core content, so transforming it into a different format takes a fraction of the time and effort.

Recommended:

📌Watch Sandra’s tutorial on YouTube for how to set up your own content repurposing system that’s easy and works!

📌Or check out our Content Calendar System. It comes with a repurposing bank for Google Sheets so you can easily store and access your best content, making it a breeze to adapt it for different platforms.

Refresh & Reshare Your Best Content 

Most people miss most of your content most of the time. Social media algorithms prioritize fresh content, and audiences are bombarded with information they mostly filter out. That’s why you need to reshare your top-performing content regularly, choosing pieces that best represent your brand.

By strategically refreshing and re-sharing your top-performing content, you can reach a whole new audience without starting from scratch. Think of it like dusting off a hidden treasure and putting it back on display.

Won’t my audience get annoyed seeing the same content again?

Not likely! Social media feeds move fast, and chances are, a significant portion of your audience missed it the first time around. By refreshing elements like the headline, graphics, or lead-in hook, you can pique their curiosity and entice them to engage.

How to Refresh & Recycle Like a Pro:

  • Switch up your graphic: Visuals are key to stopping the scroll. Swap out the original image or video with something new and eye-catching that complements your content.
  • Change up the hook: The first sentence is crucial. Rephrase your lead-in hook to pique curiosity and entice readers to dive deeper. Sometimes just taking a new angle captures the attention of a whole new audience!
  • Revamp the headline: Use a different angle to grab attention.
  • Tweak Subject Lines: For email content, refresh your subject line to spark interest. Highlight a new benefit or use a question format to encourage opens.

Remember, you’re not reinventing the wheel, you’re just giving it a fresh spin!

#9 Use AI Tools Strategically (No Rabbit Holes!)

Tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and WordTune (Chrome browser extension) are powerful sidekicks in the content creation process if you know how to use them strategically.

They’re great for things like brainstorming topics, suggesting multiple headlines to see which one grabs your attention the most, and getting past stuck points when a turn of phrase is on the tip of your tongue.

But it’s important to remember content creation is a human endeavor at its core. 

⚠️You can very easily end up down the rabbit hole spending even more time trying to get it to produce something that sounds like you than had you just written it yourself. 

While AI is a helpful tool, you still know your brand, voice, and audience best.

Recommended:

📌To learn our 3-step method for using ChatGPT to get predictably amazing first drafts in seconds, check out The Unconventional Way to Use ChatGPT for Social Media 

#10 Use Content Templates

Pre-written content templates for social media captions, blog posts, and emails are your secret weapon for jumpstarting your creative process. 

What are content templates?

They’re pre-written pieces of content based on proven content formats, types, and categories for building awareness, earning trust, and getting conversions. You can find templates for social media captions, video scripts, blog posts, email promotions, value emails, email sequences – you name it! 

Content templates prompt you to fill in the details about your brand, offerings, and audience rather than starting from scratch. 

In other words, content templates act as a launching pad for your own creativity, providing a framework to ensure you cover key points relevant to your audience and niche.  

If you get stuck personalizing the templates for your brand? No worries! We recommend checking out our ChatGPT tutorial which demonstrates how you can use content templates as “AI prompts on steroids.”  

But don’t take our word for it… 

Starting with a strong foundation (the template) and then adding your personal touch (using ChatGPT if you want to) is our favorite way to leapfrog over the uncomfortable blank page and start with a solid rough draft ready for a quick polish before publishing.

If you want to give this a try, here’s a breakdown of the ConversionMinded content templates we offer: 

  • Social Media Posts: Inside our Content Calendar System, you’ll have a content library featuring a whopping 730 pre-written captions categorized into 6 different content buckets relevant for all businesses. These captions are perfect for streamlining your social media batching sessions.
  • Marketing Emails: Activate Your List provides a system of pre-written broadcast emails based on those same 6 essential content categories. This ensures you have a steady stream of nurturing content to cultivate your audience and turn them into loyal customers. Our Monetize Your List Seasonal Sales Promo Builder streamlines crafting high-performing email campaigns for seasonal promotions.
  • Blog Posts: The Blog Post Vault is a treasure trove of 52 blog post templates categorized into 3 stages: Foundation, Authority, and Domination. Simply choose your topic, and the templates guide you through proven post formulas with clear prompts to follow.

#11 Keep a Content List & “Copy Snippet Vault”

Resharing your best content is a great way to stay visible, get more reach with content you’ve already created, and stay consistent, but you still have to write the copy to promote it… 

  • Writing emails to promote blog posts
  • Creating social media captions to promote freebies 
  • Writing pin descriptions for fresh pins
  • And so on…

It can be a time-consuming hassle just to keep track of it all. But leveraging copy you’ve already written for your evergreen content frees up precious hours!

We recommend maintaining a list of all your evergreen content URLs and keeping a vault of copy snippets related to that content. 

Rather than starting from scratch, you can use things you’ve written in the past as a starting point to drive traffic to your landing pages.  

What You Need:

  • A trusty spreadsheet
  • A few minutes of your time

Step 1: Create Your Content List in a Spreadsheet

Think of your spreadsheet as a one-stop shop for all your content. List out each piece of content you have, categorized by type:

  • Blog Posts
  • YouTube Videos
  • Freebies
  • Products

Then, link to your landing pages for each of these right in the spreadsheet for handy access to the URLs you want to be sharing over and over again. 

Step 2: Build Your Copy Snippet Vault

For every piece of content on your list, you want to create a link to a separate document. 

(If you’re a Notion user, you can set this up as a database and create an entry for each piece of content with a property for your URL. Then, you can store copy snippets in the page that’s automatically generated for each entry.) 

This document (or page) will store things like:

  • Metal descriptions
  • Emails you’ve written about this content 
  • Social media captions you’ve written about this content
  • Ad copy
  • Pinterest Descriptions
  • And so on… 

Step 3: Use previous content you’ve written to write new copy: 

Now when you need to promote existing content, you never have to start from scratch. Just grab something you’ve already written and reformat it. 

You can even use your copy snippets as a way to train ChatGPT what your content is about and ask it to help you turn it into a new piece of content. For example: “Turn this email into a social media caption [paste email copy]” 


Not only does this save you oodles of time never needing to start from scratch, it streamlines your workflow making it much less stressful. 

That’s a wrap!

Phew! We’ve tackled the content overwhelm beast head-on, and we hope you’ve found inspiration to help you transform content creation into a process you can look forward to and one that fuels your business growth. 

May you have many more days when inspiration flows freely and fewer days when the well runs dry! 

Before you go, here are a few of the blog posts, freebies, and products mentioned in this post and a few more we think you’ll find helpful:

by

Are you ready to bloom your business this March? 🌸

Because we’ve got a treasure trove of content marketing ideas for you tailored specifically for the start of the spring season, perfect if you need a bit of inspiration for boosting audience awareness, engagement, and sales. ✨

Using seasonal celebrations, trends, and occasions is a great way to connect with your audience and spring is the perfect time to focus on themes relating to renewal and growth. 

With the right strategies, you can make this month a marketing powerhouse. So let’s dive into 100+ marketing ideas for you to help you plan your content for the month of March! 

March Social Media Post Ideas

We’ve divided the content ideas for your social media posts into seven strategic categories that every small business owner needs to be sharing to ensure the right mix of content to engage, inspire, educate, and convert your audience.

Be sure to download our FREE content marketing calendar so you can save the ideas (according to each category) that resonate with you the most and then plan out your social media schedule for March with the calendar template. 

INSPIRE: March Inspirational Social Media Ideas

Motivate your audience with uplifting quotes that resonate with the season’s themes using the prompts below.

Inspire Content Prompts for March:

#1. Recollect a memory of springtime joy and how it inspires you

#2. Share how you are preparing for new beginnings and growth in your business this spring

#3. Discuss the ways you’re “blooming” in your life or business despite obstacles/setbacks

#4. Showcase a photo of springtime nature that inspires you

#5. Share a personal motto that’s helping you move closer to your goals in March

March Inspirational Quotes

#6. “March winds and April showers bring May flowers.” – English Proverb

#7. “Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party” – Robin Williams 

#8. “Bloom where you are planted.” – Alexander Pope

#9. “There are always flowers for those who know how to see them.” – Henri Matisse

#10. “Spring is the time of plans and projects.” – Leo Tolstoy

Inspire Caption Template for March: 

Spring is in the air! Feeling that fresh energy and the urge to make things happen? ☀️
This season is all about growth and new beginnings, just like nature blooming right before our eyes. ✨
What “seeds” are you planting this spring? Is it learning something new, finally tackling that project, or just adding more good vibes to your life?
Let’s all bloom together this season! 🌸 🌼 🌺 🌻 🌷

marchmotivation #newbeginnings #springvibes #growthmindset #bloomwhereyouareplanted #inspiration #positivevibes #selfimprovement #mindsetmatters #letsbloom

ASK: March Engagement Social Media Ideas

Use questions like the ones below to encourage your audience to engage, share their experiences, and connect with your brand this March. 

Ask Content Prompts for March:

#11. What area of your life or business are you looking to “spring clean” this March?
#12. It’s International Women’s History Month! Who is the woman that most inspires you?
#13. March is National Craft Month. Do you have any crafty hobbies you’re passionate about?
#14. What springtime tradition brings you the most joy?
#15. As we head deeper into the year, are you on track with your personal or professional goals? 

Ask Caption Template for March: 

Spring cleaning isn’t just for your home anymore!  March is the perfect time to “spring clean” any area of your life.

What’s on your list this year? Maybe you’re looking to:

🌼 Declutter your routines and make space for new habits
🌼 Revamp your workspace for a productivity boost
🌼 Refresh your goals and set intentions for the coming months
🌼 Detox your digital life and reclaim your focus

Let’s inspire each other to bloom this March. Share your “spring cleaning” plans in the comments below!

#springclean #newbeginnings #growthmindset #marchmotivation #letsbloom #inspiration #personalgrowth #goals #productivity

📌 If you want 730 more ideas like these all planned out for you in a 2-year calendar with pre-written captions you can adapt for your niche – be sure to check out our bestselling The Content Calendar System. It starts at just $49 with no on-going fees!

CONNECT: March Relatable Social Media Ideas

March offers a perfect opportunity to deepen your connection with your audience by sharing personal stories that resonate with the season’s themes. 

Connect Content Prompts for March

#16: Share the story of a new product, service, or initiative your team is launching this spring.
#17: Describe how you’re revamping your approach to work this March.
#18: Highlight your growth journey – sharing milestones and challenges overcome
#19: Feature a female team member’s inspiring journey for International Women’s History Month.
#20: Post a photo of you or your team participating in a springtime activity or event.

Connect Caption Template for March: 

This week, I’m reflecting on my growth journey. It’s been full of wins and challenges, and I’m feeling grateful for both. 🙏 ✨

A big win for me was [mention specific milestone]. It wasn’t easy, though. I had to [mention challenges overcome] to get there, which taught me [mention lessons learned].

Growth is an on-going process, and it’s so important to embrace the challenges along the way. These challenges help us grow, adapt, and get stronger. 💪

What about you? What milestones and challenges have shaped your growth? Share your story in the comments below! 

#growthmindset #reflection #neverstoplearning #letsgrow

EDUCATE: March Authority-Building Social Media Ideas

March is a great time to educate your audience and establish yourself as a thought leader. Use the prompts below to share valuable content that resonates with the season’s themes and your brand expertise.

Educate Prompts for March

#21: Offer practical tips on organizing, decluttering, and revitalizing specific areas of life or business, like finances, marketing strategies, or workspaces.
#22: Share insights and actionable tips on planting “seeds for success” in your field, whether it’s marketing trends, personal development advice, or industry news relevant to your audience.
#23: Share the personal/professional benefits you’ve experienced by practicing gratitude.
#24: Discuss the importance of resilience in overcoming challenges and achieving goals.
#25: For International Women’s History Month, share historical contributions of women in your industry or field or the achievements of female leaders within your community.

Educate Caption Template for March: 

Make your goals blossom this March! 🌸🌱

This month, we’re all about planting the seeds for achieving your goals in [your niche area]. Whether you’re aiming to [desired outcome] or [another desired outcome], these actionable tips can help you cultivate success:

🚀Level Up Your Skills: Invest 15-30 minutes daily in learning a new [relevant skill] or expanding your knowledge in [specific area within your niche]. Read an industry article, watch a tutorial, or work through an online course like [mention your course or one you recommend]. 

🤝Connect & Grow: Join an online community or attend a relevant event focused on [niche area]. Connect with others who share your goals to [benefit of connection, e.g., share experiences, learn from each other, stay motivated].

🎉Celebrate Wins (Big & Small!): Acknowledge your progress, even the small victories. This keeps you energized and builds confidence on your journey towards achieving [desired outcome]. 

Remember, consistency is key! By diligently tending to these seeds throughout March, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your goals.

Is there an area where you’re feeling stuck or facing a specific obstacle in your [niche area] journey? Leave a comment below, and we’ll be happy to help! 💬🌟

#MarchGoals #GoalSetting #ConsistencyIsKey #GrowthMindset #AchieveYourDreams

CONVERT: March Leads & Sales Generation Social Media Ideas

Fuel your sales and conversions this March by inspiring your audience to take the next step on their journey to becoming your customer. 

Convert Prompts for March

#26: Provide a free consultation related to a “spring cleaning” aspect of their business, like website optimization, marketing strategy refresh, or financial planning review.
#27: Offer early access to a new product, service, or workshop related to growth and development.
#28: Provide a discount on a product or service that helps customers achieve their goals or improve their lives
#29: Showcase a successful client story demonstrating how your product or service helped them thrive.
#30:  Provide a valuable resource like a checklist, guide, or template related to optimizing or organizing a specific area of their lives or business. 

Convert Caption Template for March

March is blooming with success stories, and [client name]’s is one we’re proud to share. ✨

[Client name] was struggling to [desired outcome – e.g. land high-paying clients] because of [describe the challenge or problem the client faced – e.g. limited online presence and difficulty showcasing her work effectively].

That’s where [your product/service name – e.g. our social media management services] came in! By [describe how your product/service helped the client – e.g. helping her develop a captivating social media strategy and manage her online presence], we helped [client name]  [describe specific result – e.g. reach thousands of new potential customers and increase her online orders by 30%].

“[Quote from the client expressing their satisfaction and the positive impact your product/service had on them],” – [client name].

[Client name]’s success proves how [mention the key benefit or value proposition of your product/service – e.g. the right social media strategy] can help you reach your goals faster.

Ready to cultivate your own success story? DM me to learn how [your/your company name] can help you bloom this March!

#successstory #clientspotlight #inspired #growthmindset #[your brand hashtag]

EVERGREEN: March Timeless Social Media Content Ideas


Don’t forget to build your online presence with Evergreen content – this is content that blooms all year round. These timeless pieces engage and educate your audience consistently, providing a fantastic foundation for your brand identity. Here are five evergreen content prompts to share this March (and beyond):

Evergreen Prompts for March

#31. Share a comprehensive guide or resource that explains everything your audience needs to know about your core product or service. This could include its benefits, features, how it works, and how it can solve the audience’s problems.

#32. Identify common challenges or mistakes your audience faces related to your industry or expertise. Offer solutions and guidance on overcoming these challenges. 

#33. Showcase the positive impact your product or service has had on real clients or customers. Share their inspiring stories and the results they achieved through your offering. 

#34. Delve into a relevant industry topic but make it accessible for beginners. Explain key concepts and terms in a clear and concise manner. 

#35. Offer valuable free resources, such as ebooks, checklists, templates, or webinars, that help your audience achieve a desired outcome related to your field. 

Evergreen Caption Template for March

When you’re first starting out with [niche topic – e.g. Astrology], it can sound like a whole new language sometimes. But the good news is that understanding the basics is actually pretty straightforward if you can navigate the jargon. 🤓

That’s why we’re tackling 3 must-know concepts that often trip up beginners:

💡#1 [Jargon term – e.g. Retrograde Planets] This might sound like [humorous comparison – e.g. a cosmic puzzle], but it simply means [simple explanation – e.g. certain planets appear to be moving backward in their orbits.]

💡#2 [Jargon term – e.g. Natal Chart] This might sound intimidating, but it simply refers to [simple explanation – e.g. a map of where celestial bodies were at the exact time of your birth.] 

💡#3 [Jargon term – e.g. Transits] Don’t worry, deciphering this doesn’t require cracking a secret code. It just means [simple explanation – e.g. the ongoing movements of the planets and how they interact with your birth chart.]

Translation complete!  Now you’re ready to level up your [industry topic – e.g. Astrology] skills and [achieve a desired goal – e.g. gain insights into your personality, relationships, and purpose].

To learn more, be sure to check out our link in bio for our FREE beginner’s guide to [Topic], packed with more jargon translations just like this and loads of actionable [Topic] tips.  🔗🚀

#Simplified[IndustryTopic] #[Topic]101 #[Topic]forbeginners

March Social Media Holidays

March is a vibrant month filled with diverse observances and holidays and many hold universal themes of human achievement, environmental awareness, and celebrating life’s simple joys.

Use these prompts as a starting point to create relevant and engaging content that resonates with your brand voice and target market. 

March Monthly Observances:

#36. National Women’s History Month (March): Share stories of female entrepreneurs, highlight female leaders in your industry, or partner with a women-owned business for a collaboration.

#37 International ideas month (March): Share your favorite work or life hacks showcasing creative solutions you’ve come up with for common problems. 

#38. National Reading Month (March): Share your favorite business or self-improvement books with your audience or host a giveaway for your favorite “game-changing” read. 

March Weekly Observances:

#39. National Procrastination Week (March 2nd – 8th): Share “procrastination-busting” tips.

#40. International Women’s Week (March 8th – 14th): Share a story of inspiring women in your life/work.

#41. Global Entrepreneurship Week (March 20th – 26th): Share inspirational stories of successful small businesses you love to support.

#42. National Small Business Week (May 1st – 7th): Highlight what makes small businesses special, share customer testimonials about their experience with your business, or offer a “shop small” promotion to support local businesses in your community.

March Daily Holidays: 

#43. World Compliment Day (March 1st): Tag someone and give them a compliment. Encourage your followers to tag someone they appreciate and share a compliment in the comments.

#44. National Day of Unplugging (March 1st): Encourage followers to disconnect from technology and reconnect with the world around you.

#45. Employee Appreciation Day (March 1st): Show your employees how much they are valued/feature a photo of a happy employee.

#46. Dr. Seuss’s Birthday (March 2nd): Host a Dr. Seuss trivia challenge related to his books and characters.

#47. World Wildlife Day (March 3rd): Ask your followers a question to spark discussion: “What’s your favorite wild animal and why?”

#48. International Women’s Day (March 8th): Highlight the achievements of women in your niche or industry.

#49. National Pi Day (March 14th): Poll your audience and ask them to vote on the best pie.

#50. St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th): Share a photo of you wearing something green or your favorite St. Patrick’s Day food/drinks.

#51. Spring Equinox / First Day of Spring (March 19th): Share photos showcasing the beauty of spring in your community. Ask your followers what they’re most excited about as the days grow longer and warmer.

#52. International Happiness Day (March 20th): Feature quick and easy tips for incorporating happiness boosters into your daily routine.

#53. National Puppy Day (March 23rd): Share a photo of your dog as a puppy and invite your followers to share theirs with you too.

#54. World Storytelling Day (March 20th): Highlight a story behind your brand, a product or a service.

#55. Easter (March 31st): Extend Easter holiday greetings to those in your audience who celebrate.

Holiday Caption Template for March 

Celebrating the Power of Women this #NationalWomensHistoryMonth 🌸

This March, we shine a spotlight on the incredible women who inspire us.  

Today, we’d like to shout out [insert name of prominent female entrepreneur in your industry] who is a leading [title] that [briefly describe their achievements and contributions, e.g., “revolutionized the way we approach [area of impact]” or “built a thriving business while advocating for [cause]”].

Her [qualities – e.g. dedication and innovation] are truly inspiring! 💪✨

We believe in the power of women to lead, innovate, and create positive change.

Join us in celebrating the amazing women who shape our world and tag a woman who inspires you to share her story in the comments!

#NationalWomensHistoryMonth #WomensHistoryMonth #EmpoweringWomen #EqualityForAll #TogetherWeRise #[Industry Hashtag]

March Email Marketing Ideas

📌If you’re building your list but stuck on what you should be sending them, be sure to check out Activate Your List for 2 years of pre-written emails that guide your subscribers along their journey to become a customer. 

Inspire:

#56. Share a relatable story of a challenge you overcame in your work.
Email Subject Line: 💪 How I Crushed [challenge] like a Boss 

#57. Highlight the positive impact your business has on the community.
Email Subject Line: 🤝 Your Support is Made a Real Impact

#58. Feature your favorite business mantra and why it inspires you to keep going.
Email Subject Line: 🌟 My Go-To Motto for Making Progress

#59. Tell your audience what keeps you going when you feel like giving up.
Email Subject Line:  😩Real Talk: Sometimes I feel like giving up

#60. Share a book or list of books that shifted your mindset and inspired you.
Email Subject Line: 📚 Must-read books if you want [desired outcome]

Ask:

#61. Conduct a survey to gather feedback from your audience.
Email Subject Line:  🙏Have 30 Seconds to Take This Quick Survey? 

#62. Run a poll to gauge interest in a new product or service
Email Subject Line:  📊 Your Vote Counts! Help Us Shape Our Next Big Thing.

#63. Encourage subscribers to ask any questions they have about a niche topic
Email Subject Line:
❓This is Your Chance to Ask Me Anything!

#64. Prompt subscribers to share their challenges within your niche.
Email Subject Line:
 😓 What [Topic] Struggles Are You Facing? Let’s Solve Them!

#65. Inquire about their specific interests within your niche to tailor future content.
Email Subject Line: 🤔 Which of these [niche] topics intrigue you most

Connect:

#66. Share behind-the-scenes content showcasing a project that’s in the works.
Email Subject Line: 🤫Exclusive Sneak Peek – What’s Coming this March! 

#67. Feature a customer story & testimonial highlighting a positive experience.
Email Subject Line: 🌟 How [Customer Name] Achieved [Result] in [Timeframe]

#68. Share a relatable limiting belief that used to hold you back
Email Subject Line:💪Overcoming Self-Doubt: The Limiting Belief I Left Behind 

#69. Share the biggest mistake you made before you achieved success
Email Subject Line: 🚀 The Transformative Power of Mistakes

#70. Offer an “aha” moment that helped you get unstuck
Email Subject Line: 💡The “Aha” Moment that Changed My [niche goal] Game 

Educate:

#71. Share a valuable blog post you’ve written
Email Subject Line: 🚀 Want the fast track to [result]? My latest post will help! 

#72. Offer a free resource covering a specific topic.
Email Subject Line: 🆓 NEW! Get Your Hands on this FREE [resource]!

#73. Share your top 3 tips to overcome a common challenge your audience is facing
Email Subject Line:  💪 My Top 3 Tips for [Common Challenge]

#74. Share the steps they need to take achieve a goal
Email Subject Line:  🌟 X Steps to Achieve Your [Specific Goal]

#75. Share your top resources for a specific niche topic
Email Subject Line:  🌐 Must-Have Resources for [Niche Topic] 

Convert:

#76. Offer a limited-time discount or promotion on your products or services.
Email Subject Line:⏳ Limited-Time Offer: Save [Percentage]% on [Product/Service]!

#77. Share a blog post that addresses common objections
Email Subject Line: 🤔Is [Product/Service] Is Right For You?  

#78. Answer FAQs about your product/service
Email Subject Line:❓Why Choose [Product/Service]? All Your Questions Answered.

#79. Showcase social proof through customer testimonials and case studies
Email Subject Line:  🌟 Real Results: 3 Incredible [Niche] Success Stories 

#80. Share the story of why you developed your product or service
Email Subject Line: 🌱The Real Reason Why We Created [Product/Service] 

Evergreen:

#81. Share your #1 tip for achieving a desired result
Email Subject Line:  💰 I could charge for this advice…

#82. Segment your audience and send links to blog posts/freebies based on interest
Email Subject Line: 🎯 Just for You: Top Resources for [Niche Topic Interest]

#83. Invite your email audience to follow you on social media
Email Subject Line: 🤔 Are we friends?

#84. Promote your latest blog post
Email Subject Line: 🎉 New Post! [Title of Blog post]

#85. Offer a valuable resource like a downloadable guide or template.
Email Subject Line:📥Download the Free Ultimate [Niche Topic] Guide

Holidays:

#86. Send greetings for a specific March holiday like Easter.
Email Subject Line: 🌷 Hoppy Easter from [Company Name]! 

#87. Offer a holiday-themed promotion discount.
Email Subject Line: 🍀 Luck of the Savings: St. Patrick’s Day Discounts Inside!

#88. Invite your audience to participate in a spring-themed hashtag
Email Subject Line: Share Your Favorite Spring Photos with Us! #DiveIntoSpring 🌼

#89. Host a holiday-themed contest or giveaway.
Email Subject Line: 🎁 [Holiday] Cheer: Enter to Win [Prize]!

#90. Express your gratitude to your customers during a holiday like International Women’s Day Email Subject Line: 🌸 Celebrating YOU on International Women’s Day!

March Promotion Ideas for Your Email Campaigns:

The following are ideas for special promotions and email campaigns you can run in March to bring in a surge in sales! 

#92. Hello Spring! Flash Sale: Announce a limited-time sale centered on the theme of “spring refresh.” Encourage customers to “rejuvenate and update their lives” for the new season with relevant discounts on your offerings.

#92. “Lucky You!” St. Patrick’s Day Sale”: Leverage the festive spirit of the holiday by offering a special bundle or special discount on St. Patrick’s Day.

#93. “March Madness Sale”: Capitalize on the excitement surrounding March Madness, a popular college basketball tournament in the United States. Adapt the “madness” aspect to your deal or discount. 

#94. “March into Savings”: Use a play on the word “March” to tie into a promotion for the month. Example: “March into savings with 20% off your first purchase this month!”

#95. “Happy Day Sale” (International Day of Happiness – March 20th): Celebrate International Day of Happiness by promoting a deal that will make your customers happy! 

📌If you want to generate sales from your list month after month, check out the Seasonal Sales Promo Builder It’s a system of 160 pre-written sales emails that work together to build email promotional campaigns that drive sales whenever you need them. 

Bonus Marketing Ideas to Try in March

#96. Create a meme by combining a funny or relatable image with a clever caption to capture attention and entertain your audience.

#97. Run a “caption this” social media contest: Spark audience engagement by posting a fun or quirky image related to your brand and encouraging followers to participate with a caption. Offer a small prize or discount for the most creative entry.

#98. Give a personal tour: Offer a behind-the-scenes look at your workspace or office through social media videos or live streams. This fosters a sense of connection with your audience and allows them to see the human side of your brand.

#99. Go live: Host an “Ask Me Anything” session on Instagram Live or Facebook Live to connect with your audience in real-time. Answer their questions, share insights, and build relationships.

#100. Donate to charity: Partner with a cause relevant to your brand and donate a portion of your proceeds or offer customers the option to donate at checkout. This builds goodwill and connects with socially conscious consumers.

#101. Check out some of our most popular free marketing resources before you go to help you conquer your marketing in March! 👇

Huge Marketing Opportunities Await This March!

March offers marketers lots of opportunities to connect with customers and boost brand awareness. With just a bit of creativity, you can tailor your marketing campaigns to every occasion, from St. Patrick’s Day celebrations to quirky national days like National Day of Unplugging.

Take advantage of awareness days like International Women’s Day to demonstrate your commitment to social responsibility, and mark social media holidays on your calendar because they’re a great time to introduce new products and services.

Social media platforms are your playground throughout March. Run contests, share motivational quotes, and offer sneak peeks at new products. 

Email marketing is another powerful tool. Encourage subscriptions with special offers for signing up during, for example, the first full week of March.

Remember, the best ways to capture your audience’s attention are to be creative, have fun, and offer value. All you need is a little planning and these 100+ marketing ideas for March! 

If you haven’t already, be sure to download our FREE content planner!

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Oh, those Instagram captions. Despite your best intentions to stay consistent on social media, they sure can stop you dead in your tracks.

If you’re anything like us, creating social media posts from scratch goes something like this…

You collect tons of inspiration from social media and know your brain is filled with valuable tips and stories you really should share with your audience….

But your good intentions never actually make it to Instagram because you still need to write the dang caption… 

And oops! Time’s up. A million other priorities have popped up that need your attention. 😩 This is what we call… 

The Social Media Caption Problem

As small business owners, we know exactly how frustrating it is to craft captivating social media captions when we just don’t have that much time to work with. 

Running a small business is a whirlwind of responsibilities, and while we all know how important it is to have an active Instagram presence, finding the time and creativity to consistently produce compelling social media content used to overwhelm us to the point of mental burnout. 

If that sounds like you, the truth is – it’s not easy to come up with great captions. They’re somewhere between a mini-blog and a mini-story, and sometimes you just don’t feel inspired to pull yet another thoughtful story out of your hat.

It can be hard to know what to say, and a lot of people – even full time content creators – can get stuck right there.

And for small businesses? Forget about it. None of us has the bandwidth to create Instagram posts starting from a blank page – you know this is not a good use of your time.

Don’t you just wish that a “Hey, y’all! 👋” would do? 😂

You may have even experimented with generating social media captions with AI tools like ChatGPT, but found that it was more trouble than it was worth and you wound up sounding like a robot 🤖 like everybody else these days. 

If you ever feel like you’re not sure what to write, or that it takes way too long to come up with something brilliant, there’s a method you can use to do it… (and no, it’s not generating uninspiring AI content!)  

I’m about to share the biggest game-changing secret when it comes to speeding up your social media caption writing workflow and that is… to use caption templates.

The Solution: Instagram Caption Templates

Yup! Social media caption templates are a thing, and you can use them to create authentic content to get your business visible without eating up all of your time. 

A photo of caption templates next to a final instagram post.

After years of being frustrated that it would take us hours of our time just to get one single post up on social media, and despite having decades of combined experience creating content, we discovered that many of the top instagram accounts weren’t pulling everything out of the clear blue sky at all… 

They were starting with caption templates.

And it made perfect sense… 

The key to writing social media posts that sound authentic and don’t take forever to write is to never start with a blank page. 

So we experimented with using different free content templates but they were never quite right, they were the type of captions that feel too generic and uninspiring to feel good about posting, or worse, they were just prompts with completely blank captions. 

Caption Templates Alone Aren’t Enough – You Need a Caption Strategy

You have to know WHICH captions you need and they need to be structured in a way that hooks your audience in and guides them to the next step toward becoming a customer, and to be honest, even for lifelong marketers like us, that was a bit of a struggle for us to figure that out at first… 

But we knew if we wanted quality caption templates we needed to create them ourselves. We wanted more than uninspiring same-old-same old caption templates, we wanted an entire caption system that we could use to quickly create engaging, unique content for our social media marketing. 

We started by spending over a year analyzing the content strategies of hundreds of top Instagram influencers until we cracked the code, both for the types of captions we need as well as the flow and tone of the copy within each post… 

Then we set about creating 885 meticulously-crafted caption templates over months and months of writing and editing until we knew that no matter which one we pulled, we’d have a perfect Instagram caption.

And then we kept going!

We planned them all out in a 2-year content calendar with a formula for sharing every type of content a small business needs in order to attract and convert customers and generate leads and sales. 

And the Content Calendar System was born! 

A photo of a 2-year content calendar with caption templates in various categories.

Today CCS is the Best Caption Template System that’s Helped Thousands of Small Business Owners with Their Social Media Marketing 

We found that captions from successful social media accounts getting the most engagement fell into 6 distinct caption categories, each one serving a specific social media goal. There are some to…

  • Build your following
  • Drive Instagram engagement
  • Boost the know/like/trust factor that leads to sales
  • Educate to establish authority and credibility around niche topics
  • Post info about products and services to generate leads and sales, and of course.. 
  • To drive traffic to your business or blog 

Essentially, the captions are organized in such a way that no matter what level of awareness your audience is in, you can meet them where they are in their customer journey and keep moving them closer to taking the next steps with you. 

Because let’s face it… ultimately that’s why small businesses are on social media to begin with: to attract, convert, and nurture customers. 

We wanted to see the caption templates organized by each of the types of content we need to be sharing – educational, inspirational, promotional, engagement questions and so on in a content library we could pull from quickly and easily.

Having a social media strategy to follow and the caption templates there to pull from gave us the solid starting place we were desperate for. Rather than sitting down staring at our screens racking our brains what to post, all we need to do now is adapt the captions for our niche topics and post! 

A Caption Creation Workflow that’s Consistent and Repeatable

Skipping over the “what do I say?” problem means it takes exponentially less time to create the perfect caption and get back to the things we need to focus on in our business. Saving time creating content is mostly just about having a workflow that’s consistent repeatable: look at the calendar, get your idea for the day, and then grab the caption template to customize and post.

Since then, thousands of other small business owners have been using our Content Calendar System with 2-years of daily prompts and 885 pre-written caption templates to stay consistent on social media without all the stress and time wasted. 

But that’s not all… 

It was important to us that the content system be accessible to businesses of all sizes and budgets  – whether you’re a one-person business doing your own social media marketing, a social media manager or virtual assistant creating content for multiple clients, or you own a small business – so that meant making it available for one low lifetime price without the burden of monthly fees. 

In fact, the entire system costs less than outsourcing one single post to a content writer! 

The way it works is that we keep the content calendar updated so no matter when you buy it, you’ll have your content planned out for today and the next 730 days. And there’s a complete content library too, so you can pull caption templates from any of the six categories anytime you need something specific. 

If you’re spending too much time writing social media captions, and if you’re not ready to outsource caption writing, and if you’re like us and you hate the thought of subscribing to yet another monthly-fee program you rarely use… check out what our customers have to say about using the Content Calendar System and how the caption templates have helped them in their business: 

Customize the Caption Templates for Your Niche & Infuse Your Own Voice & Creativity

Think of the Content Calendar System like a “caption builder” that allows you to tailor your own captions to fit your brand’s voice. You’ll be prompted to customize them for your niche topics and many of our customers have even told us that CCS helps them to be more creative. It’s all about having that starting place and then you’re off to the races!

You can also use these in combination with ChatGPT (and in fact, they make using ChatGPT 1000% less frustrating!) – just tell ChatGPT about your business, your audience, and your topic and plug in the CCS caption templates and you’ll be able to generate an authentic-sounding, unique-to-you caption in seconds! We’ve even included 100 ChatGPT prompts for content creators as one of the many bonuses included in the system.

If you’ve been ghosting social media or stuck at the starting line…. Just imagine always having a fully prompted caption template at your fingertips every single day…

No matter your niche, no matter how experienced you are with social media, and no matter how busy…

CCS is for busy entrepreneurs like you so all you need to do is follow along and feel confident you’re sharing the right things to grow your business. With this powerful tool in your back pocket, you can finally say goodbye to writer’s block and hello to a streamlined content creation process. It’s like having a personal content assistant guiding you with every post you create.

Get instant access to all 885 caption templates with a 2-year content calendar planned out and get started for as low as $49 lifetime. No monthly fees and a 7-day risk-free money back guarantee. Available for Google Sheets, Google Calendar and an optional Trello Board. 

We can’t wait to see you inside!

P.S. Still on the fence? You might be wondering… 

Will this work for my business?” 

It’s the most common question we get and the answer in a nutshell is yes. 🙂

CCS is perfect for 1-1 service providers like coaches, consultants, designers, virtual assistants, social media managers, content creators, bloggers, course creators, online entrepreneurs, digital product businesses and your business! The content categories in CCS are the ones every business needs to share no matter your niche or industry to build brand awareness and generate business on social media. No matter what you sell, you’re in good hands because the key is to be consistent and share captions that are written in a way that grows your audience, builds your know/like/trust factor, drives engagement and generates leads and sales. CCS has you covered with all of that!

“What’s the quality of these captions?” 

We spent months analyzing top-performing social posts to figure out the formula for creating persuasive captions that engage, inspire, connect, ask, educate, and convert. Each caption template was handcrafted by real human copywriters and reviewed, edited, and refined by perfectionistic content marketers until we were all happy enough with them to use in our own business.

In fact, if you’d like to see an actual example of the caption templates you can do that right here

“Sounds amazing, but I’m just not ready.” 

We get it! We’ve got something just for you. Why not try out a 7-day sample of the Content Calendar System with 7 free captions? You’ll also get an instant digital download of our content planner and calendar that you can use to create your own social media plan and apply our CCS strategy to your own content. Get the free download here. 

“Will they help me boost engagement?”

You betcha! CCS is so much more than a bunch of ideas, there’s strategy baked into every post to help you grow your following and get your audience commenting, liking, and sharing your posts.

“What if CCS just doesn’t work for me?” 

We want you to be absolutely psyched about using The Content Calendar System! If you just don’t think it’s a good fit for you, email us within 7 days of purchase at team@conversionminded.com for a full refund. We believe CCS will absolutely work for you but we want you to try it out for yourself and rest easy knowing your purchase is risk free. 

And of course, use that email address if you have any questions, we’re happy to help you decide if CCS is right for you and we’ll give you the straight scoop.

What have you got to lose? Join thousands of business owners like you inside the Content Calendar System!

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One of the unexpected consequences of blogging for any length of time is that sooner or later, part of your job becomes updating the content you’ve written. While updating older blog posts may sound like a chore, trust us when we say it can pay off big time.

Not only does keeping your blog posts up-to-date increase your chances of becoming a trusted resource in your niche, it can lead to tons of increased traffic and engagement.

Think of it this way…

Instead of constantly churning out new content that may or may not rank in search or resonate with your audience, doing a blog post update means you can press the pause button every six months or so to review, refresh, and revive your most popular older blog posts to drive more traffic, generate new leads, and even monetize that content!

If you’re ready to dive into the deep, dark archives of your blog, this post will walk you through how to update your older posts as efficiently and effectively as possible in order to get more value from the content you’ve already written.

Let’s dive in!

STEP #1. Prepare For Your Update

Check Google Analytics to Find Top Performing Blog Posts

This may seem counterintuitive, but you want to update your rockstar blog posts first.

So the first thing you want to do is check your traffic in Google Analytics for the last 3-6 months to see which of your older posts are driving the most traffic. Then, make a note of the top 20% of blog posts because those will get updated first.

You want to follow the 80/20 rule with this process and focus on your top-performing blog posts because they have the biggest potential for traffic and sometimes even small improvements can yield exponential traffic results.

Making improvements to posts that are already performing well will help you get even better results. You want to take your winners and turn them into world champions. 🏆

A page inside our Blog Post Traffic Optimizer Notion template showing the first step is to check google analytics for current traffic.

Check Current Keyword Position + Rank in Search

The next thing you want to do is check to see which of your posts are ranking in search and prioritize updating and improving posts that are not yet appearing on page #1 of Google.

*You can use a tool like Small SEO Tools to type in your focus keyword to quickly see if you’re currently ranking.

Let’s say you have a blog post that’s currently ranking at the top of Google’s page #2. An improvement that nudges you onto page #1 will make a huge difference in search traffic.

So when you see an opportunity to improve a ranking blog post, you want to think like a competitor and do everything you can to make your post better than what the competition ahead of you is doing.

Now, you can’t control things like domain authority just by updating a blog post, but remember that even if you have high-authority websites with a lot of name recognition ranking ahead of you, Google looks at a ton of different factors.

Its goal is to send its users to the blog post that’s most helpful to its users and if you’re already ranking, you’re doing something right in Google’s eyes. Stay focused on what you can control – making it even more helpful.

Look at your competition in Google SERP (search engine results page) as if you’re a member of your target audience who has the question your blog post answers. Then ask yourself:

  • What do their titles look like? Which one makes you want to click through the most?
  • What do their meta descriptions sound like? Which one seems like the best fit?
  • How long and detailed are their posts?
  • What visuals and other helpful elements have they included besides text?
  • What questions did they answer or sections did they include that you missed?
  • What lingering questions were you left with after looking at their posts and how can you fill those gaps with your post?

The idea is that you want to think of ways to make your title and meta description more enticing so more people are choosing yours to click on and then make sure you fulfill their expectations with your post.

Use a Spreadsheet to Keep Track of the Blog Posts You’re Updating

As you determine which of your blog posts you’ll focus on, put them in a spreadsheet with handy links, current traffic, and rank so you can go through them one by one as you’re updating them and the next time you do an update, you can monitor your results.

Better yet, grab our free Blog Post Traffic Optimizer. It has everything you need to keep track of as you’re performing your update including checklists and the resources you need handy.


“The

STEP #2: Update Your Blog Posts Starting with Top-Performers

Update Outdated Information

The first and most obvious thing you can do is review your older content for outdated information and revise it to keep it current.

Some content is naturally “evergreen” so the tendency is to just set it and forget it, but even reviewing your evergreen content after a period of time usually sparks new ideas for things you can add to make your posts even more current and valuable.

For topics related to things like technology, trends, and tactics, you’ll want to check those to make sure you’re providing the most up-to-date advice and information.

Fill In The Gaps (These Tools Will Help)

Look for ways to add substance to the post and beef up the content outline and add more value. Check out these tools to help:

AnswerSocrates:

One of our favorite ways to do this is to go AnswerSocrates.com and type in our focus keyword to download a .CSV spreadsheet of all the questions people are searching for as it relates to this topic. Highlight any questions you missed that you can add to your post.

Google SERP:

You can also find related questions right in the Google SERP. Just type in your focus keyword and pay attention to the “people also asked” section:

Google Search Console:

You can also go to your Google Search Console and look for keywords you’re ranking for and make sure you’re answering the specific questions people are searching for. You’ll often see that you’re ranking for a search query you’re only indirectly answering. Answer them more directly!

For example, we have a post about brand personality and people were finding that post by searching, “What are some examples of brand personality?” only we didn’t have any examples in the post. During an update, we added a section with examples and it bumped that post up in search to page #1 and brought in a ton of new traffic!

ChatGPT:

ChatGPT is a super useful research tool and perfect for this task! You can provide it with your focus keyword and ask it to generate a list of all the questions and related questions people have about your topic. You can copy and paste your blog post into the chat and ask for its feedback. And once it knows what’s in your post, you can tell it to give you ideas for things you can include to make it more useful to your target audience.

Update Internal Links

One of the best ways for Google to understand what your site is all about so they know which topics you’re an authority on is to do strong interlinking between related posts on your blog.

This informs Google that you’re writing a lot of content around a specific area of focus and you’re an expert on these subjects.

Internal linking is a huge priority for SEO, but it takes going back into those older posts and making sure you’re linking back to your newer stuff and visa versa.

⚠️ Do NOT just install a “related posts” plugin and call it good. Those are notorious for slowing sites down and it’s just a lazy way to go about it (believe us, we’ve tried to get away with it 😂).

YOU need to be steering people in the right direction and telling them where to go next within the context of your post. We promise the extra effort will bring you more page views.

When it comes to linking, it’s all about improving the user experience. You’re not just trying to get them to visit a second page, you’re providing them a path to relevant information and helping them solve their problems — making your blog a go-to resource they trust and want to return to.

The cherry on top is that the more relevant internal links you have, the more likely it is that people will click through to a second page, and this helps not only your page views, but it sends a signal to Google that you’re creating a great user experience. This signal helps to increase your organic rankings, giving you a chance to get more visibility and reach more potential customers.

Add New Freebies & Content Upgrades

Keep an eye out for opportunities to add any new and relevant freebies you’ve created since first writing your post. As long as they’re helpful to the reader, it’s absolutely okay to provide multiple opt-in incentives throughout your content.

If you have a post that drives a lot of traffic but you notice that it doesn’t include a relevant opt-in incentive, definitely take the time to create and add one.

An easy and fast way to do this is to create a content upgrade. Think about what would help your reader take action on what they just learned and keep it simple! Things like checklists, trackers, worksheets, and swipe files all work great as long as they’re super relevant to the post.

Make It More Visual

Take a look at your blog post as if you’re a new reader landing on your website for the first time.

Are you greeted by a big, daunting wall of text? Long paragraphs without headlines or sub-headlines making it feel like it’ll be a chore to get through?

If so, break up your content to make it more visually interesting and easier to “skim and scan” and get a good sense of what your post is about without having to actually read it.

Piquing interest is the first step, then, people will be more likely to really dive in and spend time on your blog post.

Keep in mind that getting good results in search isn’t just about keywords – that’s only one tiny piece of the puzzle. Pay more attention to making it helpful and pleasant to read because Google is smart enough to figure out what your post is about.

Think about ways to make your blog posts more visual and easy to digest:

  • [ ] Break up long paragraphs into shorter paragraphs
  • [ ] Add meaningful headlines, sub-headlines, bullet points, and bold key phrases (sparingly)
  • [ ] Add charts, graphics, screenshots, photos, memes, photos, illustrations
  • [ ] Anything that’s not a paragraph of text…

⭐ If you’re using Gutenberg, there’s a treasure trove of things you can do to add visual interest to your posts. Check out the Gutenberg Ultimate Blocks plugin.

Improve Your Calls to Action

Make sure you have a strong call to action at the end of your post and throughout your post as well. If you’re not telling your readers exactly what to do next, chances are they won’t take any action and they’ll click away and never come back.

Find as many places as you can to guide your reader to the next step…

  • [ ] Get on your mailing list
  • [ ] Read related articles
  • [ ] Check out a related product or service
  • [ ] Leave a comment
  • [ ] Follow you on social media

Keep in mind that phrases as simple as “keep reading” or “let’s dive in” are mini calls to action. Telling your readers exactly what to expect and then inviting them to continue reading is a great way to hold their attention and keep them engaged.

For example, “In this post, we’re going to show you how to update your posts efficiently and effectively. So let’s dive in!”

Or, “If you’re not sure how to go about this, I’m about to break it all down for you step-by-step, so keep reading…”

This reduces the anxiety people have about potentially wasting their time on a piece of content that won’t give them what they need.

Update the Post Date

People tend to prefer and trust content that has current information, so if you’re keeping your content updated, consider using the plugin Last Modified Info. Rather than displaying the original published-on date, it will display the date as “last modified on [date]” so your audience knows you’re keeping things fresh.

You can also “republish” your blog posts by changing your original published date to the current date after you’ve done your update.

STEP #3: Optimize On-Page SEO

Optimizing your blog posts for SEO is something you normally do before you hit publish for the first time, but as you’re updating your older posts it’s good practice to see if you missed any details that can be improved!

Here are some questions to ask as you’re reviewing your older blog posts for SEO optimization opportunities:

Are you using an SEO plugin?

RankMath is our preferred tool but Yoast is another popular option. You’ll be able to enter your target keyword so it can give you suggestions for areas you can improve your post.

While you’re shooting for a “high score” here, take their recommendations with a grain of salt. If it doesn’t make sense to you, or if you feel like it would diminish the user’s experience, don’t do it. Hitting a “high score” does not guarantee results in search, these tools simply offer best-practices guidance.

Is your focus keyword in the title?

Ideally, it should be at the beginning, but think like a competitor here… Go to the Google Search Engine Results Page and type in your focus keyword and see what’s there. Which title grabs your attention and makes you want to click? How can you make your title even better than that? If you want a different title to appear in search, you can set the “SEO Title” in an SEO plugin like Yoast or Rankmath.

Is your focus keyword in the URL?

Simple URLS that include the focus keyword in the slug work best, so if you have a URL that’s really long and doesn’t include relevant keywords, you might want to update it so it’s short & descriptive.

⚠️ Caution: If you update a URL after it’s been published for any length of time, you must set up a redirect or the original post indexed in Google will send people to an error page. If you’re using WordPress, you can use RankMath to manage redirects from old URLs to new & improved ones.

Are you using descriptive ALT text for your images?

This is the text that describes the image for people who are visually impaired and using a screen reader so they can understand what’s pictured in the image. Making sure your site is accessible to everyone is a good signal for Google.

Are you using keywords in your image names?

Remember that Google allows people to search by images too, so you want to make sure those come up when people are typing in your focus keyword and viewing image results. **We generally use the title of our post as our featured image name and related keywords for any secondary blog images. Note: image names should all be different.

Are you using keywords and related keywords in your headings, subheadings, and body text?

Be mindful not to “write for Google” — if you engage in keyword stuffing, Google will penalize you. Write for humans using appropriate keywords in your headings and subheadings in a way that helps them find what they need quickly and easily — that will create that great user experience Google is looking for. 👍

Is your meta description optimized?

A meta description is a concise snippet of text that appears under the post’s title in SERP and helps users understand what the page is about before clicking on it.

Meta descriptions are not a direct ranking factor for Google, but they play a very important role. Users use these descriptions to decide whether to click on your post or the competing posts that appear near yours in SERP, so make sure you’re using them to describe what they can expect if they click.

Are you linking to other, relevant pages on your website?

This is a great signal for Google because it lets them know what topics you’re an authority on and helps them categorize your site.

Are you linking to other, relevant external web pages?

It’s another good signal for Google if you’re linking to reputable, relevant websites that will help your readers.

⚠️ Avoid linking to low-quality or spammy websites.

Pssst, if you’d like to take this SEO checklist with you, it’s included in our Free Blog Post Traffic Optimizer so you can check these things off for every post you’re updating.

STEP #4: Actively Promote Your Updated Posts on Social Media & To Your List

Remember that SEO traffic isn’t the only traffic! Now that your posts are refreshed and optimized, it’s time to actively promote them to your email list, pin them on Pinterest, and promote them on social media. Any platform that allows users to “click away” from their website is where you should be regularly sharing your best content: Facebook, Intagram Stories, Pinterest, Linkedin, and Twitter.

And don’t forget to optimize your social media bios so your “link in bio” also includes links to your top-performing blog posts (you would be surprised how much traffic this will drive back to your site!)

BONUS STEP: Create A Pillar Post (Optional But Ideal)

One way to do even more valuable internal linking and get some sweet action with Google is to create a pillar post. A pillar post acts as an internal hub that links all of your related subtopics together.

As you’re reviewing your older blog content, see if it makes sense to group together related blog posts into a single comprehensive post that covers a broader topic. Look for common themes, overlapping information, or a broader theme that your previous posts touch on.

Inside the Blog Post Vault we have templates that make this as simple as creating a collection of “X Things” or “X Secrets”… for example:

  • 10 Things You Need To Know About [Focus Keyword]
  • Everything You Need to Know About [Topic]: 10 Secrets

This strategy is often referred to as “cluster content” or “topic clustering” and is a common approach to creating a pillar post.

Once you’ve identified a cluster of related topics, select a central theme that ties them all together. For example, we have many posts about online marketing…

A topic cluster might be ways to market your business on a budget, and a pillar post might be something like:

“10 Ways to Market Your Small Business on a Budget” where we introduce each topic and provide standalone value, but then link out to previous blog posts to learn more — e.g.:

  • To learn more, read our post “How to Get Started with Email Marketing”
  • To get up to speed quickly, check out “The Beginner’s Guide to SEO”
  • For more details, visit “How to Create a Social Media Strategy”

…and so on.

Not only is this tactic effective for SEO, it provides your readers with an easy way to access information and drill deeper into your archives if they want to keep learning. The more time they spend on your site the better because that sends even more good signals to Google that you’re providing a great user experience.

Remember: while a pillar post can include links to narrower topics, it should also offer value on its own, even for readers who don’t click through to the linked posts. This can involve summarizing key points from the linked content, providing additional insights, or presenting a broader perspective.

Ready to start getting more traffic to your older blog posts?

Don’t forget to grab our FREE Blog Post Traffic Optimizer dashboard for Notion

We hope you found this helpful! We hope you find lots of opportunities to get even better results with the blog posts you’ve already written.

And don’t forget to grab our FREE “Blog Post Traffic Optimizer” Notion template we’ve prepared just for you to make this process easy-peasy.

Not only will you have a checklist for all the things you can do as you refresh and revitalize your older posts, you’ll also be able to optimize new posts for search, keep track of the ways you’re actively promoting and driving traffic to your content, and keep track of your traffic and search engine ranking progress you’re making over time.


Click here to grab it now and let us know if you have any questions in the comments!


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