How to Plan a Month of Social Media Content in One Sitting

Social media marketing is a non-negotiable in 2025—but that doesn’t mean it has to consume your time. If posting consistently feels overwhelming, or if you’re scrambling each day to come up with ideas, it’s time for a better system. The good news? You can plan an entire month of social media content in just one focused session.

At 39 North Marketing, we help small and medium-sized businesses build strategic, stress-free content calendars that keep them visible, on-brand, and engaging—without the last-minute rush. In this post, we’ll walk you through how to do the same for your business.

Step 1: Set Clear Goals for the Month

Before you even open your calendar or start brainstorming ideas, take a moment to define what you want your content to achieve. Social media shouldn’t just be about staying active—it should serve a purpose.

Ask yourself:

• What’s our main focus this month? (e.g., promoting a service, driving website traffic, building brand awareness)

• What do we want our audience to do? (e.g., book a consultation, visit a landing page, engage with a poll)

• Are there key dates, events, or campaigns to include?

  
  

Aligning your content plan with your goals keeps your feed strategic, not random.

Step 2: Choose Your Content Pillars

Content pillars are core themes that represent your brand and help structure your posts. Most businesses should have 3–5 go-to pillars that reflect their expertise and values.

Examples of content pillars:

• Educational (tips, how-tos, FAQs)

• Behind the scenes (staff spotlights, process videos)

• Promotional (services, offers, case studies)

• Community-based (events, local collaborations, shoutouts)

• Testimonials and social proof

  
  

Rotating through these makes your content feel balanced and gives you a repeatable framework.

Step 3: Map Out a Posting Schedule

You don’t have to post daily to stay relevant—consistency matters more than frequency. Choose a realistic cadence for your business (e.g., 1-3x/week) and stick with it.

A simple content schedule might look like:

• Monday – Quick tip or industry insight

• Wednesday – Behind the scenes or team post

• Friday – Promotional or offer-based post

  
  

Use a spreadsheet, planner, or a tool like Asana, Trello, Notion, or Later to block out your posts. Visually mapping them helps you avoid gaps or repetitive content.

Step 4: Brainstorm & Batch Your Ideas

Now comes the creative part! Use your goals and pillars to brainstorm post ideas. Don’t worry about perfect wording yet—just focus on quantity.

Examples:

• A quick client tip that relates to one of your FAQs

• A carousel of “Before & After” photos from a recent project

• A list-style post: “3 Mistakes Small Businesses Make with X”

• A team member spotlight with a fun fact

• A throwback photo and how your business has grown since

  
  

Try to brainstorm 3–4 ideas per content pillar. That alone can easily give you enough for the month.

Step 5: Write Captions in Batches

Once you have your post ideas, start turning them into captions. This is where batching saves tons of time. Write several captions in one sitting while you're in the zone.

Caption tips:

• Start with a hook (question, bold statement, or relatable moment)

• Offer value or insight

• End with a clear CTA (comment, share, click, etc.)

  
  

Pro Tip: Keep a swipe file or doc of strong captions and repurpose them with small tweaks down the road.

Step 6: Gather or Create Visuals

Your visuals don’t have to be fancy—but they should be:

• On-brand (consistent fonts, colors, and logo use)

• Clear and easy to read (especially for carousels or infographics)

• Relevant to the caption

  
  

Use tools like Canva, Adobe Express, or in-house photos. If you’re short on time, create a few templates you can reuse with different content.

Step 7: Schedule Everything

Once your captions and visuals are done, upload them into a scheduler like:

• Meta Business Suite (for Facebook and Instagram)

• Later

• Buffer

• Hootsuite

  
  

This step is magic. In an hour or two, you can have 4+ weeks of content locked, loaded, and ready to post—no more scrambling day-of or letting weeks go by without a post.

Bonus: Leave Room for Spontaneity

A content calendar doesn’t have to mean rigidity. Leave a few slots open for real-time posts like:

• Breaking news or trends

• User-generated content

• Reposts from local partners or events

• Random team celebrations or wins

  
  

It keeps your feed authentic and in-the-moment, while still running on a solid foundation.

Final Thoughts

Planning your social media content a month in advance isn’t just a time-saver—it’s a growth strategy. It allows you to strategically post with purpose, stay consistent, and free up mental space for the rest of your business. And if it still feels overwhelming?

We’re here to help.

At 39 North Marketing, we specialize in social media strategy and management for businesses that want to grow without burning out. From content calendars to full-service management, we’ve got your back.

Let’s chat if you’re ready to take social media off your plate—and onto your growth plan.