Content Planning for 2025: Your Ultimate Guide to Crushing Your Social Media

Why you need to start content planning now for next year…

Content planning for 2025? Let me guess, you haven’t even thought about it yet!

You have books to finish, books to start, those pesky clients and a day job to do, but wait. Stop for a second. Content planning your 2025 social media plan now will reap so many rewards in the future.

It will give you more time, take away the overwhelm and panic, and more importantly, REALLY work for you throughout the next year.

We all know the overwhelm of figuring out what to post, when to post it, and how to keep it aligned with our goals, and that’s where content planning comes in.

Here’s the thing: content planning is more than just throwing random posts into the void. It’s about looking at the big picture, your calendar for the year, and crafting a brilliant social media marketing strategy that works with your milestones.

Whether you’re launching a book, speaking at an event, or prepping for NaNoWriMo, your content calendar should reflect what’s happening in your world.

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Why a Year-Long Content Calendar Changes Everything

Think of next year’s calendar as a map. Look at your goals, what’s happening, where you are etc.

Big events like book launches, cover reveals, or even seasonal trends, those are your landmarks. Your anchor points to mark off before you do anything else.

Next, think of your goals for 2025.

Want to increase your newsletter? Sell more books? What exactly do you want to achieve by this time next year?

With those dates and goals in mind, you can create a content strategy that feels intentional and cohesive, rather than reactive and rushed.

For example:

• Have a book coming out in July? Start hyping it up in March. Post snippets, cover teases, and behind-the-scenes content leading up to the big day.
• Participating in a writing retreat in October? Share your prep process and lessons learned to build anticipation.
• Want to grow your newsletter by December? Plan regular lead magnets (like free chapters or writing templates) to share on social media throughout the year.

When you align your content planning with your calendar, your posts will feel purposeful, authentic and your audience will notice.

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How to Plan Content Around Your Writing Goals

So that’s all very well and good, but how, just how do you plan your content and devise a social media marketing strategy from that?

Here’s the secret: let your calendar do the heavy lifting.

Start by identifying key moments, then plan your content to support them.

1. Mark Your Milestones
   Launch dates, events, holidays, or even “quiet” months where you can focus on engagement.
   Use a digital tool, or if your like me and need a pen and paper to get your thoughts out, I’ve treated myself and got this baby on my Christmas list. It makes me very excited to get planning and I’ll deffo be doing this over the holidays!
   
2. Create a Monthly Focus
   Break your year into themes.
   For instance, April could focus on editing tips if you’re revising your WIP, while September might highlight back-to-school writing habits.
   
3. Work Backward
   If your book launches in July, plan content like this:
   • April: “Behind-the-scenes” posts showing your writing and editing process.
   • May: Snippets or character reveals.
   • June: Cover reveal and pre-order announcements.
   • July: Launch party posts, reviews, and giveaways.
     
4. Repurpose Like a Pro
   • Don’t reinvent the wheel.
     A TikTok of your book teaser becomes an Instagram Reel, a blog post, and a pin on Pinterest. I love repurpose to do this and post up my content on all platforms. It takes all the strain off juggling different accounts and making sure you’re everywhere!

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Maximize Every Post’s Impact

If you’re spending time creating content, you really need make it count, otherwise it’s a bit pointless isn’t it?

A strategic social media marketing strategy means using your calendar wisely and leveraging every opportunity to engage your audience.
If you need some inspiration, take a look at 35 Easy Social Media Hooks, or Instagram Copywriting Tips, but think about what you want the person who is viewing the content to do after they’ve seen it.

Once you know what you want to do with them, think of a CTA (Call To Action) and work backwards from there.

Examples of Posts Tied to Your Calendar

• Writing in Progress: Share photos of your notes or a sneak peek of a draft on Instagram Stories.
• Countdown to Launch: Want them to pre-order? Make sure you let people know how to do this!
• Seasonal Writing Tips: In January, post about setting writing goals. In July, talk about staying creative during the summer slowdown.
• Exclusive Offers: Promote your newsletter with freebies like a sample chapter or free character guide.

Content Planning is ongoing

Once you’ve got a basic social media strategy for the next year, it doesn’t stop there. Set aside time each quarter to review what’s working and tweak your social media marketing strategy accordingly.

Did that pre-launch giveaway generate sales?

Did your Instagram posts drive newsletter signups?

Track your analytics and make sure you aren’t just looking at views and reach, but the engagement that each post generates to see what’s working and what isn’t doing so good.

What next?

Content planning isn’t just about filling a calendar; it’s about aligning your efforts with your goals.

By mapping out your year and tailoring your social media marketing strategy to support your biggest moments, you’ll not only save time, but also see better results.

So grab your calendar, or planner, mark those milestones, and start creating content that connects with your audience, grows your platform, and sells your books.

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Looking for extra help? Book a power hour with me and we can plan together!