Are You Posting Just to Post?

If you’re randomly uploading a blog, tossing out a Facebook post, or repurposing old content once in a while, it’s time for a better strategy.

A content calendar is more than just a schedule—it’s a blueprint to:

• Attract local customers
• Boost your Google rankings
• Build authority in your market
• Drive consistent website traffic
• Save time and reduce content stress

And no, it doesn’t have to be complicated. Just smart, local, and intentional.

---

Why You Need a Content Calendar for Local SEO

If you’re trying to rank in your area—whether you’re an MSP in Mercer County or a salon in Slippery Rock—your content must:

• Include local keywords
• Solve problems specific to your audience
• Post consistently
• Be timed to match seasonal trends and customer behavior

A content calendar keeps you organized and helps you hit all four.

---

Step 1: Know Your Audience and Goals

Before building your calendar, ask:

• Who are you trying to reach?
  (Example: Small business owners, brides-to-be, homeowners, IT managers)
• What problems do they need solved?
  (Ex: Cybersecurity compliance, choosing the right salon, website speed)
• Where are they located?
  (This is crucial for local SEO—mention your city, county, or region.)
• What action do you want them to take?
  (Call, book an appointment, request a quote, etc.)

Define your audience, then tailor content to their needs and geography.

---

Step 2: Plan a Monthly Content Mix

Aim for at least 1 blog post per week, plus supporting content like:

• Google Business Profile posts
• Social media shares
• Email newsletters
• Videos or reels
• Seasonal promotions

Here’s a sample monthly mix:

Week	Blog Topic	Supporting Content
1	“Why Your Business Needs Local SEO”	GMB Post + Facebook Share
2	“Top 5 Salons in Grove City”	Instagram Reel + Client Testimonial
3	“What Is Managed IT?”	Email Blast + LinkedIn Article
4	“Best Fall Hairstyles 2025”	Pinterest Pin + GMB Update

Each blog should include local keywords like your city or service area.

---

Step 3: Build Around Local Events & Seasons

Align content with what’s happening in your area:

• Local fairs, festivals, or holidays
• School start/end dates
• Winter weather or summer vacation tips
• Tax season, wedding season, back-to-school

Example for a salon:

“Best Prom Hairstyles in Grove City – 2025 Edition”

Example for an MSP:

“How to Secure Your Network for Remote Learning in Butler County”

Google loves fresh, relevant, and local content—and so do customers.

---

Step 4: Use SEO and Keyword Research

Every piece of content should be:

• Built around a focused keyphrase
• Written for humans first, Google second
• Mentioning cities or counties you want to rank in
• Linking to other pages on your site (internal linking)

Tools that help:

• Ubersuggest
• Google Trends
• Answer the Public
• Ahrefs (paid)
• ChatGPT for brainstorming blog titles

---

Step 5: Schedule with Tools (or Spreadsheets)

Don’t try to wing it weekly.

Use a simple spreadsheet or free tools like:

• Trello or ClickUp for tracking progress
• Google Sheets or Excel for scheduling
• Later or Buffer for social sharing
• Google Calendar for team visibility

Columns to include:

• Date
• Topic
• Focused keyphrase
• Target location
• Format (blog, video, GMB post)
• Status (drafted, edited, scheduled, published)

---

Step 6: Repurpose Every Post

Maximize your reach by turning each blog into:

• A GMB update
• 2–3 social media posts
• A short LinkedIn article
• A video script or reel
• An FAQ for your website
• Content for email marketing

You don’t need new ideas every week—just new ways to use them.

---

Local Content Ideas to Fill Your Calendar

Here are some ideas you can plug right into your calendar:

• “Top 3 IT Threats Facing [Your City] Businesses”
• “Best Hair Color for Fall in [City Name]”
• “How to Prepare Your Business Wi-Fi for Winter Storms in Western PA”
• “A Local’s Guide to [Your Industry] Services in [County Name]”
• “Customer Spotlight: How We Helped [Client Name] in [City]”

Mention real people, places, and problems—Google notices.

---

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Creating content without SEO in mind
❌ Posting inconsistently or irregularly
❌ Writing generic, non-local articles
❌ Not promoting your posts across platforms
❌ Failing to track what’s working (or not)

Consistency + local relevance = results.

---

Real-World Example: Content Calendar = Traffic Spike

A Grove City-based VoIP provider wanted better rankings and more leads.

They had:

• A stale blog
• Irregular posts
• No local keywords

We helped them build a 12-week content calendar with:

• Weekly blog posts targeting different PA towns
• Monthly GMB updates
• Social posts with community hashtags

📈 Results in 90 days:

• 5x increase in blog traffic
• Top 3 local rankings in 7 nearby towns
• 42% jump in quote requests from Google search

---

Want Help Building a Content Calendar?

At NextGEN IT Solutions, we help local businesses:

• Develop content strategies tailored to your industry and service area
• Research keywords and blog topics that drive traffic
• Write, edit, and publish optimized blog posts
• Plan your quarterly calendar and promotion strategy
• Repurpose blog posts into high-performing local content

📞 724-204-1950
🌐 https://nextgen-itsolutions.com/contact

---

One calendar. Endless local traffic. Let’s build yours today.