The best examples of create a content calendar: 3 practical examples you can actually use

Let’s start with the easiest, least-intimidating setup: a basic spreadsheet. This is often the best example of a content calendar for solo founders, freelancers, or small teams who just need to stop posting “whenever we remember.”

Picture a Google Sheet with columns like:

• Date
• Platform (Blog, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Email)
• Content type (How-to, Story, FAQ, Case study, Promo)
• Topic / Working title
• Target keyword
• Owner
• Status (Idea, Draft, Scheduled, Published)
• Link to asset

That’s it. No fancy automation. Just a clear snapshot of what’s happening.

Here’s how this first of our examples of create a content calendar: 3 practical examples plays out in real life.

Real example: Solo consultant posting 3x per week

Imagine a marketing consultant who wants to build authority on LinkedIn and drive traffic to a weekly blog.

They set a simple weekly rhythm:

• Monday: Educational post on LinkedIn that repurposes last week’s blog
• Wednesday: Short story or client lesson (no names, just insights)
• Friday: Blog post shared on LinkedIn and email

Their spreadsheet for one week might look like this (described, not listed):

For Monday, there’s a LinkedIn post titled “3 mistakes small businesses make with email marketing,” tagged as a How-to, with a keyword like “email marketing mistakes,” status: Draft. Wednesday’s row is a Story post about a client turnaround. Friday shows a blog article with a working title, target keyword, and a note to send it to the email list.

Over time, this consultant adds a column for performance (views, clicks, or leads). That turns the calendar into a feedback loop: topics that perform well get repeated in different formats.

This is one of the best examples because it’s:

• Fast to set up (15–20 minutes)
• Easy to maintain
• Flexible enough to handle new ideas without breaking

If you’ve never used a calendar before, start with this example of a content calendar for 30 days. Once it feels natural, you can graduate to more advanced setups.

2. Campaign-based calendar: examples include launches and seasonal pushes

Once you’re posting consistently, you’ll hit a new challenge: everything feels random. That’s where a campaign-based calendar comes in.

Instead of planning post by post, you plan around themes or campaigns—like a product launch, a seasonal sale, or a quarterly focus. Among our examples of create a content calendar: 3 practical examples, this one is perfect for small businesses and startups that run promotions.

Real example: E-commerce brand planning a summer launch

Say you run an online store selling eco-friendly outdoor gear. You’re planning a “Summer Weekend Kit” launch in June.

You build a 6-week campaign calendar that includes:

• Teaser phase (2 weeks)
• Launch week (1 week)
• Post-launch nurture (3 weeks)

In your calendar, each row is tied to the campaign. You add columns for:

• Campaign name (Summer Weekend Kit)
• Funnel stage (Awareness, Consideration, Purchase, Retention)
• Content goal (Educate, Build desire, Drive purchase, Collect reviews)

Now your calendar might show:

• A blog post on “How to pack light for a 3-day camping trip” (Awareness)
• An Instagram Reel showing the kit in action (Consideration)
• A launch-day email with a limited-time discount (Purchase)
• A post-launch email asking for reviews and UGC (Retention)

Instead of random posts, everything points at one goal: selling the kit.

2024–2025 twist: sync with real-world trends

In 2024 and 2025, smart campaign calendars also bake in:

• Short-form video slots for Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts
• User-generated content (UGC) requests and reposts
• AI-assisted ideation (e.g., using tools to brainstorm hooks, then human-editing for voice)

Your campaign calendar might include a dedicated column: “Repurpose as short-form video?” with yes/no toggles. This makes sure every big piece of content can be sliced into multiple assets.

This second of our examples of create a content calendar: 3 practical examples shows how to move from “posting stuff” to “running a strategy.”

3. Multi-channel, multi-role calendar: the advanced team example of a content calendar

If you’re part of a growing team, a simple spreadsheet starts to groan under the weight of approvals, assets, and deadlines. That’s when a multi-channel, multi-role calendar becomes your best friend.

Among the best examples of create a content calendar: 3 practical examples, this one is for:

• In-house marketing teams
• Agencies managing several clients
• Content teams juggling blogs, social, email, and webinars

Instead of a single sheet, you use a lightweight project tool (like Trello, Asana, or Notion) and treat each piece of content as a “card” or “task.”

Common fields include:

• Channel (Blog, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Email, Webinar)
• Audience segment (New leads, Customers, Enterprise, SMB)
• Owner (Writer, Designer, Video editor, Approver)
• Stage (Brief, Draft, Review, Design, Scheduled, Live)
• Due dates for each stage, not just publish date
• Compliance or legal review checkbox (important in healthcare, finance, etc.)

Real example: B2B SaaS team running a monthly theme

Imagine a B2B software company focusing on “Onboarding and Retention” in Q1.

For January, they set a monthly theme: “Faster onboarding for new customers.” Their calendar includes:

• A long-form guide on customer onboarding
• A webinar with a customer success leader
• A series of LinkedIn posts by the CEO
• A customer email sequence about new onboarding features
• Short clips from the webinar repurposed for social

In their project tool, every asset is tagged with:

• Theme: Onboarding
• Funnel stage
• Primary owner
• Supporting roles

This advanced example of a content calendar lets leadership see, at a glance, everything going out in a month and how it supports business goals.

4. Six more real examples you can steal and adapt

Beyond the main examples of create a content calendar: 3 practical examples, it helps to see how different industries shape their calendars. Here are additional real-world-style setups you can model.

Example: Local service business (plumber, dentist, salon)

A local dentist wants to show up consistently on Instagram, Facebook, and email without drowning in content creation.

Their calendar focuses on:

• One educational post per week (e.g., “How often should you replace your toothbrush?”)
• One behind-the-scenes or team spotlight
• One patient testimonial or review (with permission)
• One monthly email newsletter with tips and promotions

They batch-plan topics for 3 months at a time, using seasonal hooks like back-to-school, holidays, or summer travel.

For health-related content, they link to trusted sources like the National Institutes of Health or Mayo Clinic to keep information accurate and credible.

Example: Nonprofit aligning with awareness days

A nonprofit focused on mental health plans content around:

• National awareness months
• Key fundraising campaigns
• Community events

Their calendar includes:

• Educational posts with links to resources like NIMH or CDC mental health
• Stories from the field
• Donor spotlights
• Calls to action for events or donations

They maintain a separate tab or view for “Key Dates” (awareness days, board meetings, grant deadlines) and build content backward from those anchors.

Example: Personal brand creator on TikTok + YouTube

A creator teaching personal finance uses a content calendar to balance reach and depth.

They plan:

• 3 TikToks per week (quick tips, myths, reactions)
• 1 YouTube video per week (deep dive tutorials)
• 1 newsletter per week (roundup + personal story)

Their calendar includes:

• Hook ideas for each video
• CTAs (newsletter sign-up, course waitlist, etc.)
• Cross-promotion slots (e.g., “Mention new YouTube video in Thursday TikTok”)

The calendar keeps them from posting five “credit score” videos in a row and neglecting other topics like budgeting, debt payoff, and investing.

Example: HR / employer brand team

An HR team wants to attract better candidates and boost internal engagement.

Their content calendar includes:

• Employee spotlights on LinkedIn
• Culture posts on Instagram
• Internal newsletters
• Quarterly “Day in the Life” blog posts

They tag each piece with:

• Talent segment (engineering, sales, operations)
• Goal (recruitment, retention, internal communication)

This helps them see if they’re over-indexing on one department or missing key roles entirely.

Example: Healthcare practice with compliance needs

A healthcare practice must balance education with strict compliance.

Their calendar is built around:

• Monthly health themes (heart health, diabetes awareness, preventive care)
• Seasonal reminders (flu shots, heat safety, travel vaccines)

Every content item includes:

• Source links to CDC or NIH
• A checkbox for clinician review
• A “last reviewed” date

This example of a content calendar shows how structure keeps them safe, accurate, and consistent.

Example: Agency managing multiple clients

An agency might have one master calendar plus separate calendars per client.

The master calendar tracks:

• Major launches across clients
• Team capacity
• Shared resources (video editor, designer)

Individual client calendars track:

• Platform-specific content
• Approval deadlines
• Reporting dates

This setup prevents overlapping heavy weeks and keeps deliverables realistic.

5. How to build your own calendar using these best examples

Now that you’ve seen multiple examples of create a content calendar: 3 practical examples plus several bonus scenarios, here’s a simple way to build your own without getting stuck in perfectionism.

Step 1: Pick your format

Choose one format based on your current reality, not your dream team:

• Solo / tiny team: Spreadsheet calendar
• Small business with launches: Campaign-based calendar
• Larger team or agency: Multi-channel project tool

You can always upgrade later. The worst calendar is the one that never leaves your head.

Step 2: Lock in a posting rhythm you can actually keep

Decide on:

• How many days per week you’ll publish
• Which platforms matter most for your audience

Then map that rhythm into your calendar for the next 4 weeks. Treat it like a workout plan: realistic beats ambitious.

Step 3: Use themes to avoid blank-page syndrome

Instead of inventing every post from scratch, pick monthly or weekly themes:

• January: Getting started / basics
• February: Common mistakes
• March: Success stories and case studies

Drop these themes into your calendar first. Then brainstorm specific topics underneath.

Step 4: Add owners, deadlines, and status

Even if you’re a one-person show, use the Owner and Status fields. Future you will thank past you when you’re trying to remember what’s drafted, what’s waiting on images, and what’s already published.

For teams, make sure every piece of content has:

• A clear owner
• A realistic timeline
• A defined review process

Step 5: Review performance monthly and adjust

Once a month, add basic performance data into your calendar:

• Top 3 posts by reach or engagement
• Top 3 posts by traffic or leads

You don’t need a PhD-level analysis. Just look for patterns:

• Which formats land best (video vs. text vs. carousels)
• Which topics your audience cares about

Then adjust next month’s calendar accordingly.

6. FAQs about content calendars and real-world examples

What are some real examples of a content calendar in action?

Real examples include a solo consultant using a simple Google Sheet to plan three LinkedIn posts per week, an e-commerce brand mapping a six-week summer launch campaign across email and social, and a B2B SaaS team running a quarterly theme with coordinated blogs, webinars, and LinkedIn thought leadership. The best examples all have one thing in common: they’re used daily, not just created once and forgotten.

How detailed should my first example of a content calendar be?

For your first calendar, keep it light: date, platform, topic, and status are enough. As you get comfortable, you can add keywords, goals, owners, and performance metrics. Start simple, then layer complexity only when you feel the need.

Do I need different calendars for each platform?

Not necessarily. Many of the best examples of create a content calendar: 3 practical examples in this guide use one master calendar with a “Platform” column. If you’re running a large operation with multiple teams, you might create separate views (or boards) per platform that all pull from the same underlying data.

How far ahead should I plan content?

A common pattern from real examples is:

• High-level themes: 1–3 months ahead
• Specific posts: 2–4 weeks ahead

That balance keeps you organized while leaving room for timely content, trends, and news.

Can I use AI tools with these calendar examples?

Yes. Many 2024–2025 teams use AI to brainstorm ideas, draft outlines, or repurpose content into new formats. The calendar is where you decide what to create and when; AI just helps you create faster. Always review for accuracy, tone, and brand voice—especially in regulated industries.

If you use these best examples of create a content calendar: 3 practical examples as starting points instead of trying to invent the perfect system from scratch, you’ll move from “posting when inspired” to “publishing with a plan.” And that’s where consistent traffic, leads, and sales start to compound.