The One-Hour Content Strategy: How to Plan a Month’s Worth of Posts Fast
The One-Hour Content Strategy: How to Plan a Month’s Worth of Posts Fast
If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t have time to plan content,” this is for you.
Because the truth is — you don’t need a full day, a retreat, or a complicated system to map out what you’re going to post.
You just need one focused hour.
Here’s how to create a month’s worth of content ideas without the overwhelm.
Step 1: Set the Timer (and Your Intention)
Give yourself a true one-hour window.
Phone on silent.
No email checking.
No “let me just” distractions.
Your only goal?
Get messy. Brainstorm fast. No overthinking.
Step 2: Pick Your Content Categories (10 minutes)
Instead of starting from scratch every time you post, think in categories.
Pick 3–5 topics you can rotate between all month long.
Here are a few examples for photographers, creatives, and small businesses:
Client stories and testimonials
Behind-the-scenes of your process
Educational tips or advice
Promotions, events, or sales
Personal or brand storytelling
Think of these like content “buckets” you can dip into anytime.
Step 3: Brainstorm Post Ideas (20 minutes)
Now that you have your categories, jot down 5–7 specific ideas under each one.
Example for "Behind the Scenes":
What my editing workflow looks like
A peek into prepping for a client session
My go-to gear for a busy season
Example for "Educational Tips":
3 things to pack for your photo shoot
How to prep your space for a lifestyle newborn session
Why you should refresh your headshots every year
Pro Tip:
You don’t have to finish full captions yet.
Just sketch the idea — you can polish them later during batching.
Step 4: Slot the Ideas into a Simple Calendar (20 minutes)
Grab a piece of paper, a Google Doc, or your favorite planning tool.
Plug your brainstormed ideas into 3–4 posts per week.
Mix and match from your categories so it feels balanced.
Example:
Monday: Client story
Wednesday: Behind-the-scenes tip
Friday: Personal share
Sunday: Promo or reminder
Boom — you’ve got your month mapped out.
Step 5: Bonus — Keep a Running List
If extra ideas pop up during the month (and they will once you’re in the groove), keep a running list somewhere easy to access.
That way, you’re never starting from zero again.
Final Thought:
Content planning doesn’t have to be complicated.
It doesn’t have to take forever.
And it doesn’t have to drain your creativity.
One focused hour is all you need to set yourself up for a month of consistent, meaningful posts — and a lot less stress.
Your future self (and your audience) will thank you.
