Free template
Content calendar template
A spreadsheet for one person posting on two or three platforms. Plan the week, keep every idea in one place, and record how each post did, so next month you know what to repeat.
Using Google Sheets? Upload the .xlsx to Google Drive and open it with Sheets. No sign-up, no email.
Week of Jan 11, 4 posts planned
Example data
Last week: 4 posted.Best: Instagram carousel at 7.3% by reach.
Mon 11
Carousel
Bakery rebrand: what changed after launch
ScheduledClient resultsTue 12
Carousel
5 signs your brand has outgrown its logo
ReadyTeachWed 13
Open slotThu 14
Story
Two February project slots open
DraftingOfferFri 15
Short video
Why I present 2 concepts, not 5
IdeaProcess
Inside the file
Three sheets, one habit.
Ideas go into the ideas bank as soon as you have them. Once a week the best ones move into the calendar. Your pillars keep the mix honest. Open each sheet below to see exactly what you download.
content-calendar-template.xlsx
One row per post: when, where, what, and how it did.
Plan
When and where it goes out.
- Date and day
- The day fills in from the date, so you see gaps in the week at a glance.
- Platform
- A dropdown: Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube and four more.
- Format
- Reel, carousel, story, text post: the format decides how long it takes to make.
- Pillar
- Fed by your Pillars sheet, so every post belongs to a theme you chose.
Write
What it says before you open the app.
- Topic or hook
- The first line or the first second. If it is weak here, it is weak on the feed.
- Caption or script notes
- Enough to write it later without starting from zero.
- Call to action
- What you want people to do: save, comment, book, follow.
- Asset link
- Where the image, video or design file lives.
Track
How it did, so next month starts from evidence.
- Status
- Idea, drafting, ready, scheduled, posted, each with its own color.
- Post link
- The live post, for when you want to reuse or repost it.
- Reach and interactions
- Copied from your analytics a few days after posting.
- Engagement rate
- Interactions divided by reach, calculated for you. For other formulas, use the engagement rate calculator.
How to use it
Twenty minutes on a Monday.
Write your 3 to 5 content pillars on the Pillars sheet. They fill the Pillar dropdown on the calendar.
Keep every idea on the Ideas bank sheet the moment you have it: a comment, a question from a client, a post that did well.
Each week, move the best ideas into the Calendar: a date, a platform, a format and a status.
After posting, add the link, reach and interactions. The engagement rate fills itself in, so next month you know what to repeat.
Want a full walkthrough with examples? Read how to create a social media content calendar or browse weekly and monthly calendar examples.
Free template
Content plan template
The calendar says when each post goes out. The plan says what the month is for: one to three goals you can check, a theme for each week with one post that has to land, and how many posts each pillar gets. Plan the month here, then fill the calendar from it.
Using Google Sheets? Upload the .xlsx to Google Drive and open it with Sheets. No sign-up, no email.
content-plan-template.xlsx
One theme a week and the one post that has to land.
Step by step, with a worked month: how to make a social media content plan. Choosing your themes first? See content pillar examples.
FAQ
Questions about content calendars.
Is this content calendar template free?
Yes. Download the Excel file or the CSV and use it as you like. There is no sign-up and no email form.
How do I use the template in Google Sheets?
Upload the .xlsx file to Google Drive, then open it with Google Sheets, or open a blank sheet and use File, then Import. Check the dropdowns after the import; if one is missing, add it again with Data, then Data validation.
What should a social media content calendar include?
For each post: the date, the platform, the format, the content pillar, the topic or hook, caption notes, the call to action and a status. Add the results after posting (reach and interactions), because a calendar that records results tells you what to post next.
What is the difference between a content plan and a content calendar?
A content plan works at the level of the month: the goals, a theme for each week and how many posts each pillar gets. A content calendar works at the level of the post: what goes out on which day, where and in which format. Make the plan first, then fill the calendar from it. Both templates are on this page.
How far ahead should I plan my content?
For one person, a month of themes and one to two weeks of posts is a common rhythm. It keeps the week ready without locking you out of timely posts. Batch the writing on one day and leave one open slot a week for something that comes up.
Can I use it in Notion or Airtable?
Yes. Download the CSV and import it into a Notion database or an Airtable base. The columns come in as fields; set Platform, Format and Status as select fields to get the dropdowns back.
Your next post is one question away.
Alpine Reach finds posts that beat their creator’s usual results, turns them into ideas for your brand and drafts them in your voice.
7 days free, then $49.90 a month