If you want to get everyone in your organization on the same page and get clear yourself about some of the major factors that affect your editorial calendar, try creating a Big Picture Communications Timeline, described in great detail in Chapter 7 of my book, Content Marketing for Nonprofits. 

Pune Works on Big Picture Communications TimelineThis is an exercise I use with clients all the time. Here’s Pune Dracker from ASPCApro working on their Big Picture Communications Timeline.

The timeline maps out all of the events and milestones (both within and beyond your control) that will drive your communications in the coming year, along with your primary calls to action and the major story lines you want to share.

You’ll end up with something that looks like this, but with the boxes in the appropriate places and filled in with your specifics.

Big Picture Communications Timelin