How to Create a Month of Social Media Content in One Afternoon

If you’ve ever stared at a blinking cursor wondering what to post next, you’re not alone. Social media is powerful, but keeping up with it can feel never-ending.

The good news is that, with a little structure, you can plan and create an entire month of content in just one afternoon - no more scrambling for ideas, no more “that will do” posting for the sake of posting, no more late-night Canva sessions.

Here’s how to do it…

Start with a simple content framework

Before diving into ideas, take five minutes to map out your weekly content structure.

Think of it like a pattern you repeat – it’s going to save you time and make sure your page has variety (trust me).

Ask yourself how you want to be known and what your audience wants from you.

Here’s an example:

• Monday: Highlight your experience - quick tip or “did you know?” post

• Tuesday: Show your human side - behind the scenes or day-in-the-life

• Wednesday: Build trust - client story or testimonial

• Thursday: Add value - educational carousel or how-to

• Friday: Inject some fun – a personality post, question, or fun fact

  
  

That’s five post types, repeated over four weeks = 20 posts done!

You can tweak this based on how often you want to post (it doesn’t have to be every day, contrary to what some want you to believe!) but having these ‘content buckets’ gives you direction before you even start brainstorming.

Brainstorm your ideas

Now it’s time to fill those buckets.

Grab a notebook, whiteboard, Google Doc, or whatever you use for making notes, and brain-dump ideas for each category. Don’t overthink - aim for quantity first (you can fine tune them later – just let the ideas flow).

Example ideas:

• Quick Tips: “3 ways to repurpose one piece of content,” “What to do when engagement drops.”

• Behind the Scenes: Your workspace, a process you use, a ‘day in the life’.

• Client Stories: Mini before-and-after, a testimonial quote, or a success snapshot.

• Educational Posts: “The difference between reach and engagement,” “Why consistency matters more than frequency.”

• Fun/Personality Posts: Share a meme, personal anecdote, or team photo.

  
  

Once you’ve filled in your categories, you’ve just outlined your next 20–30 posts.

Write in batches

Writing everything in one sitting helps you stay “in flow” and keeps your tone consistent.

Try this approach:

• Set a timer for 45 minutes.

• Write as many post captions as you can without editing.

• Take a 10-minute break.

• Do another 45-minute writing sprint.

• Take another short break.

• Review what you’ve written and tweak it where needed.

  
  

Focus on clarity and authenticity - speak like you would ‘in the real world’. If you get stuck, start your caption with a hook:

• “Here’s something most businesses get wrong about…”

• “If you’ve ever struggled with…”

• “Want to save time on your marketing? Try this…”

  
  

Create visuals

Not everything needs to be branded or designed – some of the best-performing social media posts use untouched photos that look and feel organic, so start building a bank of photos (and get comfortable being in front of a camera!).

When you do need a designed visual, Canva is a great tool to use.

And you don’t need to design from scratch every time - pick 3 to 5 Canva templates, edit them to add your own style, and reuse them with different text, colours, or image inserts.

A top tip is to save your templates for different content types (e.g., quotes, fun facts, stats) and swap them out each month to keep things fresh, but familiar.

Leave space for ‘in-the-moment’ content

Even with a plan, it’s good to stay flexible.

Leave one or two open days per month for spontaneous content, such as trends, team updates, or something newsworthy in your industry.

This keeps your feed feeling authentic and current.

Review and refine

After a month, check what worked best:

• Which posts got the most engagement?

• What topics sparked conversation or DMs?

• How many people clicked through to your website?

  
  

Use that insight to guide next month’s content!

Once you’ve built a rhythm, you’ll never have to panic about what to post again.

But, if you’re still finding it hard to keep up, you don’t have to do it all yourself – sometimes, bringing in an extra pair of hands (whether for strategy, visual templates, copywriting, or full social media management) can save you time and get better results.

👉 Need a hand getting your content calendar under control? Let’s chat!