Trello as a Streaming/Content Calendar
I have actually swapped over to ClickUp as a Content Calendar (and project management tool) but for someone who needs a more simple solution, this is still a VERY valid tutorial. A ClickUp tutorial is coming soon!
Today was a great day at the office: we’ve been using a super-bloated, crazy to use task-management system for nearly a year, and (after all had been said and done) I’d probably actually logged into it only twice in the last few weeks. It was hard to use, terribly designed, and was absolute overkill when it came to what I needed to do. We got the news today that we’d be switching over to Trello as an office, officially.
I say officially, because I’d actually already been including all of my tasks on my own personal Trello board for several months now (among a few other things).
For my personal projects, Trello is a slam dunk. But, beyond doing actual development work, Trello has been something of a Godsend. I have boards dedicated to:
- My web development projects to keep track of what’s coming due and when
- My Etsy Orders, where I keep track of what shirts come in and when they are due
- Content creation, of all sorts, and when I want to publish the content I’ve created.
Why Trello?
Trello is a type of project management tool revolving around the use of “Kanban Boards“. In short, a board is separated into columns (and sometimes rows, or “swim-lanes”) and tasks (“cards”) are moved between them as their status is updated. It’s a digital way to think about an analog push-pin board where index cards are moved around based on their project status.
A Kanban board is simple to create, even if it seems a bit intimidating. In its easiest form, you would have columns for:
- Different project statuses (open, with client, feedback requested)
- Different product phases (new order, vinyl cut, shirt pressed)
- Dates (Aug 12-18, Aug 19-25, September)
Trello expands on this with labels. You can add a label to a card/task to keep track of other identifiers, such as:
- Type of Content (Twitch, YouTube, Blog Post)
- Project Category (Website, Logo, Branding)
- Task Urgency (Low, Important, Urgent)
So, how do -I- use Trello for Content Creation?
All this information is well-and-good, but you may want some practical advice. Something that can get you kickstarted. Here’s how I use Trello for Content:
I have a dedicated board I use for -all- of my content.
Having content scattered around on different boards was cumbersome, so I consolidated it all onto one board.
I have a column with the ‘default’ content I want to create in a week’s time.
It’s pretty straightfoward, but I’ve organized my cards into a day and task. Mondays, I do a blog post and YouTube video. Both tasks get a separate card.
Each type of content has its own label.
YouTube, Twitch, and Blog Posts – right now those are the three types of content I want to create, and so I’ve labeled each of my tasks with what type of content that represents. That way I can move things around or add a task without feeling like I’m overloading in one specific area.
I have columns for each week of a month.
I make a copy of my “Default Schedule” and rename it a weekly time-block. For example, this week is August 12 – 18, so I name my column as such. If you click on the three dots on a Trello column, you can “Copy List” and move all of the tasks over en masse.
I have one last column for Content Ideas
If I have a great idea for a piece of content, I have a column specifically dedicated to keeping ‘notes’ of what I want to write/film/record. That way, when I’m making my schedule, if I’m not sure what I want to record… I can pull a task from that column and record it. It’s a great way to ensure that no idea goes lost.
OK, but how much does Trello cost?
I’m using the FREE version right now, and it’s doing basically everything I need it to. It’s a bit boring to look at, sure, but it can do everything I’ve talked about and more, and it doesn’t cost you a cent.
If you want to add some flair, such as images, animated gifs, or other goodies, you can upgrade to the “Business Class” Trello which gives you the power to have “Power-Ups” on any board to create. It’s $12.50 / month, or $9.99 / month if you bill annually.
And, of course, if you want to try Trello for yourself, I’d highly recommend it. Use this link, if you don’t mind!
https://trello.com/thatmitchcanter/recommend
How do you keep track of the content you want to create? Do you use Trello, or other services? Let me know on Twitter @thatmitchcanter and we can talk about your workflow!