Do you plan your content in advance or wing it?

[Al]

Some admins have spreadsheets and content calendars. Others just log in and everything is a complete blag. I’ve done both, and each has pros and cons. Planning gives structure but can feel rigid. Winging it is flexible but often ends in burnout. What works for you when it comes to keeping the content flowing? For a few months I had a weekly planner with required posts per site per day, but that was when I was running four forums and double the number of blogs. I've slimmed down a lot since then but I'm still running a lot of sites. Right now I'm in a blagging phase and I find that I don't post nearly as much as I did.

Is it just personal preference or is there a winning formula for content creation?

 

[JoelR]

I genuinely believe for a forum admin running the long game, you need to create "systems" that are repeatable and efficient.

Writing is such a creative endeavor and usually lends itself to being spur of the moment, but taking the time to have a content calendar to already know what to write about can really help you plan ahead, brainstorm, and focus.

 

[Ravenfreak]

I just always wing it with my communities. I come up with ideas on the fly and go with them, sometimes if I feel that it won't go the way I want it I just roll with a new idea.

 

[Cpvr]

I have a notes folder and a section on my staff forum where I keep forum topic ideas, but generally, I just wing it.

I only go back to those ideas when I’m experience a writer’s block.