Content Strategy in 90 Minutes: Plan a Quarter in One Session

Most teams don’t need a giant content calendar. They need a simple rhythm they can keep. In 90 minutes, you can pick your themes, outline a quarter’s worth of posts, and schedule a cadence you’ll actually hit. This guide is the exact working session we run with small businesses: fast, focused, and tied to what you sell.

By the end, you’ll have 3 service‑aligned themes, 6–9 post ideas, outlines you can draft from, and a realistic publication plan. We’ll also add a basic measurement loop so you can adjust based on results. If you want help facilitating the session or turning outlines into polished articles, check our Services or book time on Contact. Curious about our approach? See About.

1) Ground truth (10 minutes): what are we selling next quarter?

Content should support what you sell—not distract from it. Open your site and list the offers you intend to emphasize in the next 90 days (for us, that’s often identity refreshes, website optimization sprints, and pricing strategy). Link the session to revenue by anchoring on your Services page.

Write these on a whiteboard or doc:

• Top 2–3 services or offers to promote.
• Common questions buyers ask before they book a consult.
• Top 3 objections that slow or stall deals.

Everything you publish will answer those questions and lower those objections.

2) Choose 3 themes aligned to services (10 minutes)

Themes are the “chapters” your audience cares about and your services deliver. Pick three that map cleanly to your offers. Examples:

• Brand & messaging clarity (ties to identity work).
• Website conversion improvements (ties to optimization sprint).
• Pricing & packaging (ties to pricing strategy).

If you’re tempted by more, don’t—three is plenty for a quarter and forces focus.

3) Generate 6–9 post ideas fast (15 minutes)

For each theme, list 2–3 article ideas that answer specific buyer questions. Use “problem → outcome → steps” as a pattern and link to your service. Starter ideas:

• Value proposition examples that pass the 5‑second test (see Homepage Above the Fold).
• Website audit checklist with 25 quick wins (see Website Audit).
• Tiered pricing that buyers can choose without a call (see Pricing Strategy 101).

Keep ideas short—one line each. We’ll expand them in the outlining step.

4) Outline posts with a repeatable template (15 minutes)

Outlines make drafting faster. Use this template for each post:

1. Headline (outcome + audience).
2. Hook (2–3 lines on the problem).
3. Steps (3–5 steps in plain language).
4. Proof (a practical example or mini‑case).
5. Internal links (to Services or related posts).
6. CTA (same label site‑wide—see Contact).

Example outline

Title: “Homepage Above the Fold: What to Say, Show, Offer”
Hook: Win attention in five seconds.
Steps: Headline → Visual → CTA → Reassurance.
Proof: Before/after screenshot; +15% hero CTR.
Links: /services, /blog/value-proposition-framework, /contact.
CTA: Book Your Free 30‑Minute Consultation.

5) Map intent and simple SEO (10 minutes)

You don’t need a giant keyword plan. Add just enough intent to avoid writing in the dark:

• Identify one phrase your buyer would actually type (e.g., “website audit checklist,” “service pricing examples”).
• Use it in your title, meta description, H1, and once in the first 150 words.
• Add 1–2 related phrases naturally; avoid stuffing.

Focus on usefulness over volume. A helpful 1200–2000 word post that links to relevant services beats a stuffed 400‑word “SEO post.”

6) Assign owners and a realistic cadence (10 minutes)

Velocity matters more than volume. If you’re a small team, aim for two posts a month. Assign one owner per post and add review responsibilities explicitly.

Cadence template

• Month 1: Theme A post #1, Theme B post #1.
• Month 2: Theme A post #2, Theme C post #1.
• Month 3: Theme B post #2, Theme C post #2.

Add the posts to your project tool with due dates and a single “definition of done.”

7) Draft fast (30–60 minutes per post)

Use your outline, write short paragraphs, and lead sections with outcome lines. Paste in internal links while drafting so you don’t forget them later. Helpful references while writing:

• Brand Identity Basics for voice and copy patterns.
• Value Proposition Framework for message clarity.
• Homepage Above the Fold for structure.

8) Add visuals that reinforce the point (10 minutes)

Use one header image (featured image set in front matter) and 1–2 inline visuals that illustrate the concept: a whiteboard, a roadmap, or a before/after. Keep style consistent across posts. Name files clearly and compress them.

9) Publish with a checklist (5 minutes)

Before you hit publish, run this checklist:

• Title ≤ 60 chars; meta description ≤ 155 chars.
• H2s for sections; bullets for steps.
• Internal links to 2–3 relevant pages.
• Featured image present; inline images load.
• Bottom CTA renders (theme component).

10) Distribute without spamming (15–20 minutes)

Plan three lightweight distribution actions for each post:

• LinkedIn post that reframes the hook + link.
• Newsletter snippet with the main lesson + link.
• A comment or DM to a peer who asked a relevant question recently.

Tag links with UTMs (e.g., utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=content-q1). See Analytics Essentials for a minimal measurement loop.

11) Review every Friday (10–15 minutes)

Open analytics, answer the same questions, and pick one improvement:

• Which post drove the most qualified time and CTA clicks?
• Which post needs a stronger mid‑page CTA or clearer section labels?
• Did internal links send traffic to the right Services pages?

Ship one change and record what you’ll watch next week.

12) Keep a backlog and make it easy to continue

Create a one‑page backlog of ideas from sales calls and customer support. At the end of each month, move the next two posts into “In progress” and assign owners. Content becomes a rhythm, not a scramble.

When you want help accelerating this, see our Services for content planning and website optimization, read more about our approach About, and book time on Contact. A simple plan you’ll keep beats an ornate plan you’ll abandon.