Staying consistent with video content is tough, but it’s the secret sauce for growing your audience and brand. Coming up with ideas and churning out videos week after week can eat up your time and mental energy. That’s where batch-planning saves the day. By carving out one focused day to map out a full year of videos, you’ll work smarter, stress less, and keep your content flowing. Here’s my step-by-step guide to brainstorming, organizing, and scheduling a year’s worth of video ideas in a single session.
Why Batch-Plan Your Videos?
Spending one day to plan a whole year of content isn’t just efficient—it’s a game-changer. You’ll save hours by knocking out all your big-picture thinking at once. A solid plan keeps your posting schedule steady, which your audience will love. Plus, you won’t be scrambling to figure out what’s next, so you can focus on creating. And let’s be real: having a roadmap that ties your videos to your goals feels pretty damn good.
Step 1: Get Ready for the Big Day
A killer planning session starts with prep. Before you dive in, round up these essentials:
- Know Your Audience: Dig into your YouTube or Instagram analytics to see what’s clicking with your viewers. Tools like Social Blade or Google Analytics can point you to the good stuff.
- Do Some Keyword Homework: Use AnswerThePublic or TubeBuddy to spot trending topics or questions in your niche.
- Nail Down Your Goals: Are you chasing brand buzz, leads, or a tighter community? Be clear on what you’re after.
- Check Your Resources: Take stock of your budget, gear, and team so you don’t overpromise.
Find a quiet spot, grab your go-to tools—whether it’s a notebook, whiteboard, or Notion—and block off 6–8 hours. Turn off notifications; this is your day to focus.
Step 2: Brainstorm Like Crazy
Your mission here is to churn out a ton of video ideas without overthinking. Start with your content pillars—the big themes that define your brand. Say you’re a real estate coach; your pillars might be home-buying tips, market trends, or client success stories.
Try these tricks to get the ideas flowing:
- Mind Map It: Jot down a pillar and branch out with related ideas. “Home-buying tips” could spark “first-time buyer mistakes” or “how to nail a mortgage.”
- Tap Your Audience: Skim comments, emails, or DMs for questions your followers are asking.
- Peek at Competitors: See what others in your space are doing, then twist it with your unique vibe.
- Mix Evergreen and Timely: Aim for 70% evergreen (like “how to stage a home”) and 30% timely (like “2025 housing trends”).
Shoot for 50–100 ideas. Don’t edit yourself—just let it rip.
Step 3: Sort and Organize
Now you’ve got a pile of ideas, it’s time to make sense of them. Here’s how:
- Cull the Weak Ones: Ditch ideas that don’t fit your goals or seem like too much hassle. Pick the ones with the most potential based on what your audience wants and what you can pull off.
- Group Similar Ideas: Bundle related topics into series or themes. For example, lump “mortgage tips” and “closing costs explained” into a “Home-Buying Basics” series.
- Mix Up Formats: Plan for variety—tutorials, vlogs, Q&As, or behind-the-scenes—to keep things fresh.
- Think Seasons: Slot timely videos around holidays or events, like a “spring market guide” for March.
You’ll end up with a tight list of ideas, grouped and ready to roll.
Step 4: Build Your Content Calendar
A content calendar turns your ideas into reality by locking in publish dates. Here’s the playbook:
- Pick a Tool: Google Calendar, Trello, or Later work great for visualizing your schedule.
- Set Your Pace: Decide how often you’ll post—weekly, twice a month—based on what you can handle. Weekly means 52 videos a year.
- Map the Year: Assign each video a date, spreading out themes and formats for balance. Space series episodes to keep variety.
- Factor in Production: Estimate time for scripting, shooting, and editing. Add a buffer for life’s curveballs.
- Leave Wiggle Room: Keep some slots open for last-minute trends or spontaneous ideas.
A small business might schedule weekly videos mixing product demos, customer stories, and seasonal tips, with a holiday campaign in December.
Step 5: Make Your Day Count
To crush your planning session, try these:
- Timebox It: Use the Pomodoro Technique—say, 90 minutes for brainstorming, 60 for organizing—to stay on track.
- Cut Distractions: Silence your phone and go offline if you can.
- Take Breathers: Step away every hour or two to clear your head.
- Keep It Tidy: Log your ideas, groups, and calendar in one spot for easy access later.
If you’ve got a team, split tasks—like one person digging into keywords while another drafts the calendar—to move faster.
Step 6: Double-Check Your Work
Before you call it a day, spend 30 minutes reviewing. Ask:
- Does this content vibe with my brand and audience?
- Can I actually pull this off with my resources?
- Is there a good mix of evergreen and timely stuff?
Tweak anything that feels off, then save your calendar somewhere you (or your team) can find it. Check back every few months to adjust based on what’s working or new ideas.
Bonus Moves for Winning
- Batch Your Production: Film similar videos—like all your talking-head Q&As—in one go to save time.
- Repurpose Like a Pro: Turn long videos into Reels, TikToks, or blog snippets.
- Track What Works: After posting, check analytics to see which videos pop, so you can plan smarter next time.