How to Build a Publishing Plan with ClickUp Templates

A structured publishing workflow is easier to manage when you use ClickUp to organize ideas, plan content, and track every task to completion.

This how-to guide walks you step by step through creating a publishing plan using ClickUp templates inspired by the blog planning examples in the ClickUp publishing plan template overview.

Why Use ClickUp for Your Publishing Plan

Before you start building your workflow, it helps to understand why a dedicated workspace in ClickUp is valuable for content teams.

• Centralized planning for blogs, social media, email, and more
• Clear ownership of each task, deadline, and review
• Reusable templates so you do not rebuild your process every time
• Flexible views (List, Board, Calendar) tailored to content production

By standardizing everything inside ClickUp, your team can scale publishing without losing visibility or control.

Step 1: Set Up a ClickUp Space for Content

Start by creating a dedicated area in ClickUp that will hold all your publishing work.

1. Create a new Space named something like “Content” or “Publishing”.

2. Choose the features you need, such as Docs, tasks, Custom Fields, and automation.

3. Set permissions so writers, editors, and stakeholders have the right access levels.

Inside this Space, you will create Folders and Lists to separate content types, campaigns, or channels.

Step 2: Add a ClickUp Publishing Plan Template

Next, add a list structure based on a ClickUp publishing plan template so every piece of content follows the same steps.

1. Create a Folder called “Publishing Plan”.

2. Inside the Folder, create Lists such as “Ideas”, “In Progress”, and “Published”.

3. Model your statuses and fields on the ClickUp publishing templates highlighted in the source article.

Your goal is to create a repeatable model that covers ideation, drafting, review, and publication for every item.

Essential Fields for a ClickUp Publishing List

To make sure all important details are captured, add key Custom Fields to your publishing List in ClickUp.

• Content Type (blog, webinar, case study, social post)
• Owner (primary writer or creator)
• Stage (outline, draft, edit, ready to publish, published)
• Target Publish Date
• Channel (website, newsletter, LinkedIn, YouTube, etc.)
• Priority (low, medium, high)

These fields make it easy to filter and sort in ClickUp so you always see what matters most.

Step 3: Create Standard Publishing Statuses in ClickUp

Statuses define your workflow in ClickUp and keep everyone aligned on progress.

1. Open your publishing List settings in ClickUp.

2. Add a series of statuses that match your real-world process, such as:

   • Backlog
   • Ready for Brief
   • Writing
   • In Review
   • Approved
   • Scheduled
   • Published

3. Map each status to how your team hands off work between writers, editors, and publishers.

By reflecting your true workflow in ClickUp statuses, you reduce confusion and repetitive check-ins.

Step 4: Build a Content Intake Process in ClickUp

Efficient intake makes sure every new idea or request contains enough information to move forward.

1. Create a “Requests” List in your publishing Space in ClickUp.

2. Add a task template for new content requests that includes fields such as goal, audience, and suggested title.

3. Use a form connected to the List (via ClickUp Forms) so stakeholders can submit ideas without disrupting your process.

Every new form submission will appear as a task in ClickUp with the required information to evaluate and prioritize.

What to Include in Your ClickUp Intake Template

Create a simple but complete template for intake tasks in ClickUp.

• Proposed title or topic
• Primary objective (traffic, leads, retention, education)
• Target audience or persona
• Key talking points or resources
• Deadline or launch window

This information helps your team make fast decisions on what content to schedule and when.

Step 5: Plan Your Calendar Views in ClickUp

A visual calendar helps content leaders and stakeholders see what is going live and identify gaps.

1. In your publishing Folder in ClickUp, add a Calendar view.

2. Configure it to display tasks by Target Publish Date.

3. Filter by status (for example, “Scheduled” and “Published”) to preview upcoming and past content.

You can also create multiple Calendar views: one for global publishing and others filtered by channel or content type.

Use Board and List Views in ClickUp

Beyond the calendar, use other views to make work more manageable.

• List View: Ideal for sorting tasks by writer, priority, or stage.
• Board View: Visual Kanban-style board for dragging tasks across statuses in ClickUp.
• Table View: Spreadsheet-style display for bulk editing custom fields.

Switching views in ClickUp lets each team member choose the most productive way to work.

Step 6: Create Task Templates for Repeatable Content in ClickUp

Task templates ensure that every blog post, email, or video follows the same checklist in ClickUp.

1. Create a sample task for a typical piece of content, such as a blog article.

2. Add subtasks for each step:

   • Research
   • Outline
   • Draft
   • Internal review
   • Revisions
   • Final approval
   • Upload and formatting
   • Publish and QA
   • Promotion

3. Save this task as a template in ClickUp so your team can reuse it for similar content pieces.

For other formats, such as podcasts or webinars, create dedicated templates that reflect those unique workflows.

Step 7: Automate Routine Actions in ClickUp

Automations remove manual steps and keep your publishing plan moving forward.

1. Open the Automations panel in your ClickUp Space or List.

2. Add simple rules tied to status or date changes. For example:

   • When status changes to “In Review”, assign the editor and post a comment.
   • When Target Publish Date is today, move status to “Scheduled”.
   • When status becomes “Published”, add a specific tag for reporting.

3. Test each automation in ClickUp with sample tasks to ensure it behaves as expected.

Even a handful of automation rules in ClickUp can greatly reduce manual follow-up work.

Step 8: Collaborate and Communicate in ClickUp

Shared tasks and Docs make collaboration around content straightforward.

• Use comments in tasks to discuss revisions and request changes.
• Mention teammates with @mentions in ClickUp for quick decisions.
• Attach briefs, drafts, and assets directly to tasks or store them in Docs linked to your publishing List.

Keeping all discussion and files within ClickUp maintains a single source of truth for each content item.

Step 9: Track Performance and Iterate in ClickUp

Once your publishing process is running smoothly, you can track performance and refine your workflow.

1. Add Custom Fields for metrics that matter, such as page views, leads, or conversions.

2. Update performance data on a recurring schedule so your ClickUp views show results, not just tasks.

3. Create Dashboards in ClickUp with charts and widgets to summarize content output and impact.

Use this visibility to adjust cadence, topics, and resource allocation.

Enhance Your ClickUp Publishing Strategy

Using ClickUp templates to build a publishing plan gives you structure without sacrificing flexibility. As your needs evolve, you can refine your Space structure, templates, and automations.

If you want expert help designing scalable workflows, analytics, and AI-assisted content systems around ClickUp, you can review consulting options at Consultevo.

By following these steps and tailoring them to your organization, you will create a reliable publishing engine powered by ClickUp that supports consistent, high-quality content delivery.

Need Help With ClickUp?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your ClickUp workspace, work with ConsultEvo — trusted ClickUp Solution Partners.

Get Help

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