How do you plan your blog content and internal linking in Excel or Sheets

Effective Content Planning and Internal Linking Strategy Using Excel or Google Sheets

Developing a robust content strategy is essential for enhancing your brand’s online presence, particularly when managing a blog that aims to target a variety of keywords and create a well-structured site architecture. For small to medium-sized businesses such as clothing brands, organizing your blog content in a clear, hierarchical manner can significantly improve SEO and user experience.

In this article, we’ll explore how to plan your blog content and internal linking structure using Excel or Google Sheets, focusing on creating a “tree structure” that starts with broad topics and branches into more specific, long-tail keywords.

Why Use Spreadsheet Planning for Your Content Strategy?

Using spreadsheets allows for a centralized, visual overview of your content landscape. This enables easy adjustments, consistency checks, and a clearer understanding of how each piece fits into your overall SEO and content goals.

Essential Columns for Your Content Planning Sheet

Below are recommended columns to include in your spreadsheet to effectively structure your blog content:

1. Category
   Categorize your blog posts into broad themes such as “Fashion Tips,” “Styling Guides,” or “Product Launches.”

2. Main Blog Pillar
   Identify your core pillar content or main topics that serve as the foundation of your content hierarchy.

3. Subtopics/Long-Tail Posts
   List more specific topics that branch from your main pillars, targeting long-tail keywords that support your SEO strategy.

4. Tags
   Use tags for quick filtering and categorization, such as “Summer Collection,” “Men’s Fashion,” or “Sustainable Materials.”

5. Focus Keywords
   Incorporate primary keywords for each post to guide your SEO optimization efforts.

6. Internal Linking Structure (Parent/Child Relationships)
   Define relationships indicating which posts are parent pages (broader topics) and which are child pages (more specific, linked subtopics).

Structuring Your Spreadsheet

To visualize the hierarchy, consider setting up your sheet with a clear indentation or nesting:

| Category | Main Blog Pillar | Subtopic/Long-Tail Post | Tags | Focus Keyword | Parent Post |
|————–|——————-|————————|————————|——————–|——————|
| Fashion Tips | Summer Styling | How to Style Wide-Leg Pants | Summer, Wide-Leg | Wide-leg pants fashion | Summer Styling |
| Fashion Tips | Summer Styling | Best Fabr