Key differences between editorial and content calendars
While editorial and content calendars share common goals—streamlining content planning and cross-functional alignment—they serve distinct purposes and offer unique functionalities.
An editorial calendar operates at a strategic level, providing a high-level overview of content themes, campaigns, and goals over an extended period. It focuses on the “why” and “what” behind your content, ensuring alignment with business objectives, audience needs, and cohesive messaging across channels and campaigns. It also can help tremendously when it comes to ideation. By drawing clear lines from your value proposition to themes to topics, you create clear guardrails for your content. This makes identifying the right content much easier.
A content calendar, on the other hand, dives into the tactical details of content creation and distribution. It answers the “how” and “when” questions, specifying publish dates, ownership roles, and distribution channels for each piece of content. A content calendar might include a specific tweet promoting your sustainability blog post or the script for a video tutorial tied to your campaign.
These differences significantly impact how teams approach content planning and execution. Editorial calendars provide clarity on the big picture, while content calendars ensure that the small details align with and support that vision.
Choosing the right calendar for your needs
Selecting the right calendar—or deciding to use both—depends on your organization’s goals, resources, and workflow.
Organizations with broad campaigns spanning multiple channels and contributors often find value in maintaining both calendars. The editorial calendar acts as the guiding framework, while the content calendar ensures that each component of the strategy is executed on time. For example, a large e-commerce company launching a holiday campaign would use an editorial calendar to plan themes like “Black Friday deals” or “last-minute gifts” while relying on a content calendar to coordinate email blasts, blog posts, and social media posts promoting those themes.
For smaller teams or simpler projects, a single calendar might suffice. In such cases, the decision hinges on your priorities. If strategy and long-term planning are paramount, an editorial calendar should take precedence. However, if daily content management is your main challenge, a content calendar may be the better choice.
Key factors to consider when deciding include the volume of content you produce, the number of distribution channels you manage, and the level of collaboration required within your team. By evaluating these factors, organizations can determine whether to prioritize one type of calendar or integrate both into their workflow.
Conclusion
Editorial and content calendars each play vital roles in a well-rounded content strategy, but their unique functions make them distinct tools. By understanding their strengths and tailoring your approach to your team’s needs, you can streamline your content operations and deliver impactful campaigns. For most organizations, the solution lies not in choosing one over the other but in leveraging both.
Did we mention this is what we do? We’d love to work with you and your team on your next calendar project. Please reach out to us at imprint@imprintcontent.com or fill out the contact form here to schedule some time to chat.
