Two ways to open the same file
File → Open reads a CSV in one click; Data → From Text/CSV takes one extra step but shows a preview where you can set each column’s type before the data loads.
Social media calendar template for Excel
This social media calendar template for Excel is the same content-calendar CSV generator as SkedCast’s general content calendar template, with exact Excel import steps added. Build your calendar, download the file (xls, xlsx), then open it in Excel — either directly, or through Excel’s Data → From Text/CSV import for more control over how dates are read.
Local wall-clock time for every slot. Adjust individual rows in your spreadsheet.
Optional. Written into the Account column of every row.
Separate with commas. The pillars rotate across your posting days so consecutive posts cover different themes.
Your calendar preview
Choose a month to build your calendar.
The file also has empty Caption, Media URL, First comment and Hashtags columns, plus a Status column starting at “Idea”, ready to fill in.
How to use this social media calendar template in Excel
- Build and download your calendar. Use the generator above to pick your month, posting days, platforms and pillars, then download the CSV file.
- Open it the simple way. In Excel, choose File, then Open, set the file filter to Text Files, and double-click the CSV.
- Or import it with more control. For more control over column types, use Data → Get & Transform Data → From Text/CSV instead, which previews and lets you set each column’s type before loading.
- Watch for the date column. A plain double-click open can occasionally misread the Date column depending on your Windows regional settings; the From Text/CSV route lets you set the date format explicitly.
- Fill in Caption and Media URL. The imported sheet has empty Caption, Media URL, First comment and Hashtags columns, ready for you to fill in directly in Excel.
Worked examples
A regional separator mismatch
In some non-US Windows regional settings, the system list separator is a semicolon rather than a comma, which can make a plain double-click open the CSV as one unsplit column — the From Text/CSV route lets you set the delimiter explicitly and avoid this.
Excel social media calendar FAQ
- Do I need a special Excel version of this generator?
- No — it is the exact same file (xls, xlsx) as the general content calendar template; Excel opens a standard CSV directly.
- What is the simplest way to open the CSV in Excel?
- File, then Open, with the file type filter set to Text Files, then double-click the downloaded CSV.
- Why would I use Data → From Text/CSV instead of just opening it?
- It shows a preview where you can set the delimiter and each column’s data type, which avoids Excel guessing wrong about a date or number column.
- Why might my dates look wrong after opening the CSV?
- Excel sometimes reads a date column using your system’s regional date order; using Data → From Text/CSV lets you set the correct format explicitly during import.
- Does this cost anything?
- The generator itself is free with no sign-up; Excel itself is a separate paid product if you do not already have it.
- Can I turn this Excel file into a SkedCast bulk import afterward?
- Yes — once Caption and Media URL are filled in, save it back to CSV and SkedCast’s bulk import will map its columns for you.
- How do I create a social media content calendar in Excel?
- Use the generator above instead of building columns by hand — it produces a ready file with Date, Time, Platform, Account, Content pillar and caption columns already set up, which opens straight in Excel.
- Does this work as a social media editorial calendar template for Excel?
- Yes — the downloaded file is a full social media editorial calendar template: each row is one planned post by date, platform and content pillar, ready to open and edit in Excel.
- Can I use this as a social media planner template for Excel?
- Yes — it works as a free social media content planner template for Excel: build your days and pillars above, then open the result directly in Excel to fill in captions and links.
- Is this a social media marketing calendar template, or just a posting schedule, for Excel?
- Both — the same file works as a social media marketing calendar template and as a simpler posting-schedule template for Excel, depending on how much detail you fill into each row.
Source: Microsoft Support — Import or export text (.txt or .csv) files.
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