Content Planning Shopping List – Basic Excel Template

This document provides a comprehensive guide to the Content Planning Shopping List – Basic Excel template, specifically designed for individuals and small teams managing content calendars with ease. This template merges the practicality of a shopping list with the strategic structure of content planning. Unlike generic planners, this Basic version offers a streamlined, no-frills approach that ensures users can quickly log ideas, assign tasks, track deadlines, and prepare resources—all within a single intuitive workbook.

Sheet Names

The template contains three clearly labeled sheets:

• Content Inventory: The core sheet where all content ideas and planned publications are logged.
• Shopping List: A dedicated tracker for resources, tools, assets, or materials required to produce each piece of content.
• Dashboards (Basic): A simple summary view displaying key metrics such as upcoming deadlines, pending items, and status distribution.

Table Structures

Each sheet uses structured Excel Tables for optimal functionality. Tables auto-expand as new rows are added and allow for easier sorting, filtering, and formula referencing.

Content Inventory Table Structure

Shopping List Table Structure

Dashboards (Basic) Sheet Structure

This sheet is read-only and contains visual summaries generated from the other sheets using formulas and simple charts. No user input is required here.

Formulas Required

• In Content Inventory, column “ID” uses: =ROW()-1 (assuming row 1 is header).
• In Shopping List, column “ID” uses: =VLOOKUP([@Title], ContentInventory[[Title]:[ID]], 2, FALSE) to auto-populate the associated content ID.
• In Dashboards (Basic):
  - Total Upcoming Tasks: =COUNTIFS(ContentInventory[Due Date],">="&TODAY(),ContentInventory[Status],"<>"&"Published")
  - Completed Items: =COUNTIF(ContentInventory[Status],"Published")
  - High Priority Shopping Items: =COUNTIFS(ShoppingList[Priority],"High",ShoppingList[Status],"<>"&"Purchased/Obtained")

Conditional Formatting

• In Content Inventory: Rows with “Due Date” within 3 days and status ≠ “Published” are highlighted in yellow.
• In Shopping List: Items with priority = “High” and status ≠ “Purchased/Obtained” are flagged in red.
• Status columns use color scales: Green = Published/Obtained, Yellow = In Progress, Gray = Not Started.

Instructions for the User

1. Begin by logging all planned content items in the “Content Inventory” sheet. Use dropdowns for Status and Content Type to ensure consistency.
2. For each item, identify what resources are needed (images, software, templates) and add them to the “Shopping List” sheet using the same ID number.
3. Set realistic due dates based on your content calendar. The dashboard will automatically alert you when deadlines approach.
4. Update status regularly—this keeps your planning accurate and prevents last-minute surprises.
5. Use the Dashboard sheet weekly to review progress: aim to reduce “High” priority shopping items and increase “Published” content counts.
6. No macros or advanced features are used—this is a Basic template designed for users of all skill levels.

Example Rows

Content Inventory:
ID: 1 | Title: “5 Ways to Improve SEO in 2024” | Type: Blog | Status: Planned | Due Date: 04/15/2024 | Prioritized?: Yes
ID: 2 | Title: “Instagram Reel – Morning Routine” | Type: Video | Status: In Progress | Due Date: 04/18/2024

Shopping List:
ID: 1 | Item Name: “SEO Keyword Research Tool” | Category: Software Tools | Status: Not Started | Priority: High
ID: 2 | Item Name: “Background Music (Royalty Free)” | Category: Audio Clips | Status: In Progress

Recommended Charts or Dashboards

The “Dashboards (Basic)” sheet includes:

• A pie chart showing the distribution of content types.
• A bar chart comparing completed vs. pending items.
• A simple table listing high-priority shopping items due in the next 7 days.

This template is intentionally Basic—no macros, no VBA, no external dependencies. It runs flawlessly on any Excel version from 2010 onward and is perfect for solopreneurs, marketers, or students managing content with minimal complexity. The Shopping List integration ensures you never forget a critical asset while keeping your content calendar clean and actionable.