Templates
Free Social Media Calendar Template for Small Businesses
Published by Influence
Plan what you will post, where it will appear, and when it should go live. Copy the blank calendar below into a spreadsheet, then use the completed example to plan a week for your business.
The template is free to use. You do not need an email address or an Influence account.
Download calendar CSV
Copy the blank social media calendar template
Use one row for each post on each account. If you adapt an Instagram post for Facebook, give the Facebook version its own row so you can review its wording, media, and timing separately.
Date,Time,Time zone,Platform,Account,Goal,Format,Caption,Media,Destination link,Owner,Status,Notes
"","","","","","","","","","","","Draft",""
"","","","","","","","","","","","Draft",""
"","","","","","","","","","","","Draft",""Copy this text into a plain-text file, save it with a .csv extension, and open or import it in your spreadsheet application. Choose commas as the separator if prompted. Add more rows as needed.
This creates a planning spreadsheet. It does not schedule or publish posts.
What should a social media calendar include?
A useful social media calendar keeps the message, destination, media, and publishing time together.
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Date | The intended publishing date. Use an unambiguous format, such as 2026-11-03. |
| Time and time zone | The publishing time and its named time zone, such as America/Los_Angeles. |
| Platform and account | The exact destination, especially if you manage several accounts. |
| Goal | What the post should help someone understand or do. |
| Format | A photo, carousel, video, or text post supported by the destination. |
| Caption | The complete text you intend to publish. |
| Media | A filename or link to the image or video you plan to use. |
| Destination link | The relevant page for readers, where appropriate. |
| Owner | The person responsible for finishing and checking the post. |
| Status | The post’s current stage. |
| Notes | Anything still to check, such as image permission or event details. |
For this worksheet, use Draft while work remains and Ready after review. Change a row to Scheduled only after confirming the schedule in your publishing tool. Use Published only after checking the delivery result.
These are worksheet labels; your publishing tool may use additional statuses.
A completed calendar for a small business
Fictional example: Maple & Clay is a pottery studio and shop in Portland, Oregon. It opens Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and closes Sunday and Monday. Its beginner mug workshop takes place on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon.
This calendar covers November 3–7, 2026. All publishing times use America/Los_Angeles. They are example planning choices, not claims about the best times to post.
Each row uses Maple & Clay’s account on the named platform. The studio owner is responsible for every post. All five remain Drafts, and their destination-link fields are blank.
| Date | Time | Platform and format | Purpose | Suggested media |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, November 3 | 10 a.m. | Facebook photo | Share opening hours | Shop entrance |
| Wednesday, November 4 | Noon | Instagram photo | Introduce the workshop | Mug beside clay |
| Thursday, November 5 | 10 a.m. | Instagram photo | Ask a relevant question | Close-up of a mug handle |
| Friday, November 6 | 4 p.m. | Facebook photo | Remind readers about the workshop | Workshop space |
| Saturday, November 7 | 9 a.m. | Instagram photo | Explain the day’s schedule | Studio entrance |
Tuesday: opening hours
Fictional example
Planning a visit to Maple & Clay this week? Our Portland pottery studio and shop is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. We’re closed Sunday and Monday.
Save these hours for your next visit, or send us a message if you have a question.
Wednesday: workshop introduction
Fictional example
Curious about making a mug? Our beginner mug workshop takes place at Maple & Clay in Portland on Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Send us a message for workshop details before making plans to attend.
Thursday: a customer question
Fictional example
What makes a mug feel right in your hands? Think about the handle, the weight, and how you like to hold it.
Which detail matters most to you? Tell us what you look for when choosing a mug.
Friday: workshop reminder
Fictional example
Planning your weekend? Maple & Clay’s beginner mug workshop is tomorrow, Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to noon in Portland.
Message us for workshop details. The shop’s Saturday hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Saturday: today’s schedule
Fictional example
Today at Maple & Clay: our beginner mug workshop runs from 10 a.m. to noon, and the shop is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Both times are local to Portland.
We’re closed Sunday and Monday and reopen Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Replace the fictional details before using these examples. Add your own media and accurate image descriptions. Confirm prices, registration requirements, and other participation details before directing people to an event.
How to plan your next week of posts
- Start with real business activity. Note events, opening-hour changes, services, products, and questions customers have asked.
- Choose a purpose for each post. Give people useful information or one clear action to take.
- Prepare the caption and media together. Check that the image supports the message and that both contain accurate information.
- Choose dates you can support. Leave time to finish the content and respond to questions.
- Review the whole week. Look for repetitive messages, conflicting details, missing links, and unfinished media.
You do not need to fill every day. Start with a schedule you can maintain. A creator might organize posts around a project; a local business might organize them around customer questions and opening hours.
See how Influence supports social content planning for small businesses.
Turn your calendar into reviewed, scheduled posts
When a row is ready, create the post in Influence and add its text and media. Check the version for each eligible connected account. Choose the publishing date and time, review the content and destinations, and confirm the schedule.
Update the spreadsheet to Scheduled after confirmation. Check each account’s delivery result before marking the post Published.