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Template preview · Media · B2B services

Editorial calendar

Plan useful editorial work around audience needs and publishing capacity.

An editorial calendar for a fictional content team.

Sample purpose

Plan useful editorial work around audience needs and publishing capacity.

Audience: Content strategist, Editor
Structure
4 sections
Criteria
12
Sources
8
Watches
4
Default approach
Review first
See the sample

Set the purpose first. Then change every section, criterion, and agent setting before anything runs.

Fictional sample

Structure and criteria

Sample content shows the shape of a useful document. Copying it is optional.

  1. 01

    Editorial themes

    For this editorial calendar, maps each theme to a reader need.

    Review first

    Criteria

    • Each theme names the reader question or search signal behind it, with its count.
    • Each theme has a confirmed writer, and unconfirmed themes are paused, not left open.
    • Excludes topics with no inventory-routine link for small shops.

    Sources

    Watches

    • Searches “small shop inventory counting routine questions” weekly

    Sample content

    Reader themeReader questionWriter
    Inventory countsWhat should a small shop count weekly?Noor
    Receiving stockHow do I log a short delivery?Eli
  2. 02

    Publishing schedule

    For this editorial calendar, records format, channel, publish date, and owner.

    Review first

    Criteria

    • Each article has a date, format, owner and channel, and no two drafts fall due the same day.
    • Includes draft, fact-check and review dates working back from each publish date.
    • A missed review date marks the publish date at risk.

    Sources

    Watches

    • Follows Editorial themes

    Sample content

    1. 2026-10-08 · AssignNoor confirms six article owners.
    2. 2026-10-15 · Draft reviewEditor checks examples and source links.
    3. 2026-10-22 · PublishRelease receiving guide after fact check.
  3. 03

    Draft and review workflow

    For this editorial calendar, defines evidence required at editorial review.

    Manual

    Criteria

    • Each draft shows writer, received date, status and the specific hold reason, such as a dead link.
    • Every cited figure and date is checked against a named reference with a check date.
    • Approval is a checklist: links live, byline and date right, reader question answered.

    Sources

    Watches

    • Follows Publishing schedule

    Sample content

    • ☐ Each draft answers one named reader question
    • ☐ Editor checks dates, figures, and links
    • ☐ Pause topics without a confirmed writer
  4. 04

    Performance learning

    For this editorial calendar, uses readership signals to inform future topics.

    Review first

    Criteria

    • Per article: completion rate, time on page and a top search term, against a stated baseline.
    • An article more than 20 percent under baseline gets a format or angle review.
    • Findings change next month’s themes and formats, and say how.

    Sources

    Watches

    • Follows Draft and review workflow

    Sample content

    Articles published on planned date
    Target 5 of 6
    Guide completion rate
    Baseline 42%
    Reader questions answered
    6 planned