How to Develop Issues and Topics for Your Content Marketing Calendar

Having great content is imperative to having a successful marketing plan.  Content drives leads and can expand a firm’s reach into untapped markets. But how should you go about choosing what you write about?

This process starts with developing Issues and Topics. And even before you can do that, you should start with research. What challenges are your clients facing that keep them up at night? Is there a trend in the marketplace that you’re an expert in?

Identifying your issues

Think about issues as an area of expertise for which you want to become known.  If a reporter is interested in getting a quote on a particular issue, you would want to come to the top of their mind. If a potential client is looking for a solution to a key challenge, you want to be the first name they think of.

Brainstorm three to four issues that you want to “own”.  Select issues in which you are an expert and know a great deal about off the top of your head.  Write down general issues in which you already are, or could become, a trusted expert.  Consider your existing audience and those who you aspire to reach with your content when determining issues.

Once you have determined your issues, think about how each issue might break down into smaller pieces. Any of these subjects can become topics — and the themes for everything you write and speak about.

Identifying your topics

Many topics are evergreen and can be set ahead of time.  Others may be “hot” trends with a short shelf life. No matter what, good topics will address common challenges faced by your target audience.

There is no limit to the number of topics you can include, and as such, you should continue to revisit your list of topics to add and edit them.

Now what?

Once you have gone through the process of identifying the issues and topics that will drive your thought leadership content, turn those topics into actual titles of blog posts, webinars, guides, etc. Take some time to do keyword research for each of your issues and topics and develop a list of good keyword opportunities that are relevant to your audiences. Having a bank of keywords that you can keep in your back pocket is helpful when it comes time to do any content planning.

After you’ve identified a good bunch of keyword opportunities, turn them into interesting, engaging titles for your blogs and other content. Then, take these titles and use them to build out your content marketing calendar. Use this tool to create a timeline for what day you’re publishing which title, which format, where it will be published, and any other important information related to publishing it, like keywords, images, hashtags, or other promotional consideration. You may find that understanding other key factors will help dictate when to publish a particular topic.  Mapping out a content marketing calendar will give you a ready-to-go blueprint.

You can even take it one step farther and build out all of your social media posts into a calendar or even integrate this content into a central content calendar. Writing everything down and keeping it in one place help to keep your team apprised of your content plans and also accountable for meeting any deadlines they need to know.

Now, gather your team and start coming up with great issues and topics!