Events, News, Jobs, Downloads, and Email Lists all work best when they’re planned together rather than posted one at a time as things come up. This guide covers how to think about your chapter’s content over the course of a year.
1. Start with your event calendar
Your event schedule drives most other content. Once your chapter’s events for the year (or semester) are set, work backward from each one:
- 6–8 weeks before: Create the event listing, open registration
- 3–4 weeks before: Send the first event email, post a News item
- 1 week before: Send a reminder email, post on chapter social channels, send a press release if applicable (see the press release guide)
- After the event: Post a recap News item with photos, send a post-event survey (see guide)
2. Batch your recurring content
Some content follows a predictable rhythm — plan it in batches rather than scrambling each time:
- Monthly: Officer/board meeting recap, upcoming events digest
- Quarterly: Sponsor spotlight, membership report highlights
- Annually: Scholarship/award announcements, officer election results
3. Keep a running list of “someday” content
Not everything needs to go out immediately. Keep a simple list (a doc, spreadsheet, or sticky note) of ideas as they come up — a member spotlight, a safety tip series, a sponsor thank-you post — so you have a backlog to pull from during slower months.
4. Coordinate across channels
For any event or fundraiser, plan which channels it touches so nothing gets missed:
- [ ] Event listing created
- [ ] Event email scheduled
- [ ] News post drafted
- [ ] Downloads updated (flyer, sponsorship packet, etc.)
- [ ] Homepage banner added, if warranted
- [ ] Press release sent, if warranted
Tip: A simple checklist like this, reused for every event, catches the small things that are easy to forget when you’re busy.
5. Avoid content gaps
If a chapter site goes quiet for a month or more, it can look inactive to prospective members. Even a short News item (“Save the date for our fall symposium”) keeps the site feeling current between bigger pushes.
6. Review what worked
After a major event or fundraiser, take a few minutes to note what worked and what didn’t — registration numbers, which email got the most opens, whether the press release led to coverage. This makes planning the next one faster.
Need more help? Submit a support ticket and we’ll walk you through it.