Content Strategy
A Framework for Marketing Success
Content Strategy

http://www.slideshare.net/
lauracreekmore
Marketing Today




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Marketing Today




http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan_culleton/
Marketing Today




                                             =
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan_culleton/
Marketing Today




                                             =
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan_culleton/
Marketing Today




http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/   http://www.flickr.com/photos/barnerphotography/
Marketing Today




http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/   http://www.flickr.com/photos/barnerphotography/
Marketing Today




http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/   http://www.flickr.com/photos/barnerphotography/
Marketing Today




http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/   http://www.flickr.com/photos/barnerphotography/
Marketing Today




http://www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/
                                          This.
Marketing Today




http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwarby/
Marketing Today



                                       Avoid
                                       HiPPO[p]
                                       *

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwarby/
What Is Content Strategy?

Content strategy helps you
make decisions based on
your business needs.
What Is Content Strategy?



 It’s a mindset.
Why Content Strategy?

 How most businesses view content:




                  Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/wordridden/
Why Content Strategy?

 Here’s what they’re worried it will get a hold of:




 Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/37815348@N00/
Why Content Strategy?



 Instead...
Why Content Strategy?

 What if we think of content like this?




 Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/37815348@N00/
Why Content Strategy?



 Your content
 is a
 business asset.
 (What if we treat it like one?)
What does that mean?



 Content has to
 come second.
 (Business goals first.)
Why Content Strategy?

 Otherwise, you’re back to this scenario.




                    Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/wordridden/
But I’m Not in the Content Business: Rebuttal

 “Embrace that you are a publisher.”
                 — Ann Handley, Chief Content Officer at MarketingProfs


 “The one with the most engaging content wins.”
                  — Joe Pulizzi, Junta 42 and Content Marketing Institute
Content Strategy, Step by Step

 The Diagnosis

   •Inventory
   •Analyze

 The Cure

   •Identify sources
   •Optimize tools
   •Define process
Step by Step, Diagnosis: Inventory

•You’re going to need a spreadsheet.

•List everything you’ve got.

•No, everything.

•Yes, that too.
Step by Step, Diagnosis: Inventory
Step by Step, Diagnosis: Inventory

•For a comprehensive inventory, list content from all
 channels.

•Capture process too.

•Site crawlers can be helpful.

•Check your CMS for useful functionality.

•Even on a small project, you’ll start to see issues at
 this point.
Step by Step, Diagnosis: Analyze

What you’re looking for:

•ROT: Redundant, out-dated, trivial content

•Unclear/inaccurate messaging

•Signs of inefficient process: Creating similar content
 repeatedly

•Gaps: What’s missing?
Step by Step, Diagnosis: Analyze

For instance:

•Identify types of content
•Note characteristics of content
•Group like items
•Look at the website and the backend UXs
Step by Step, Diagnosis: Analyze

•Identify types of content
Step by Step, Diagnosis: Analyze

•Note characteristics              Headline [Character limit?]
                                   Copy with links [Char limit?]
                                   Image [Size?]
Step by Step, Diagnosis: Analyze

•Group like items
Step by Step, Diagnosis: Analyze

•Group like items
Step by Step, Diagnosis: Analyze

Review the website and the backend UXs
•See through your user’s eyes
•See through your editor’s eyes
Step by Step, Diagnosis: Analyze

•Is your site navigation the same as your org chart?
Step by Step, Diagnosis: Analyze

•Is your site navigation the same as your org chart?
ur doin it wrong
Step by Step, Diagnosis: Analyze

Does your back-end system work for you?
Step by Step, Diagnosis: Analyze

Does your back-end system work for you?
•Metadata: Information about your content
 Title                             Keywords
Creation Date                   Section
   Creator ID                       Categories
Character limit                  Image URL
        Body
Step by Step, Diagnosis: Analyze

Does your back-end system work for you?
•Taxonomy: Hierarchy of content
Home
 >Business
  >>Nashville business
  >>Relocating business
 >Job Seekers
 >Tourists
Step by Step, Cure: Identify Sources

Who can help?




       Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhysasplundh/
Step by Step, Cure: Identify Sources

Who can help?




       Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhysasplundh/
Step by Step, Cure: Identify Sources

Who can help?




       Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhysasplundh/
Step by Step, Cure: Identify Sources

Who can help?




       Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhysasplundh/
Step by Step, Cure: Identify Sources

Who can help?




       Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhysasplundh/
Step by Step, Cure: Optimize Tools

•Get the technology right
•Simple = Often better
•Metadata and taxonomy are your friends
•Create once, use repeatedly
Step by Step, Cure: Define Process



Don’t
over-process.
The Final Step



Plan for Day 2.
                 With credit to Jeffrey MacIntyre
Content Strategy: Changing Your Life for the Better




http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan_culleton/
Content Strategy: Changing Your Life for the Better




                             ?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan_culleton/
Content Strategy: Changing Your Life for the Better




                                             •Mindset
                             ?               •Tools

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan_culleton/
Resources
Content Strategy
•Content Strategy for the Web | Kristina Halvorson
•The Elements of Content Strategy | Erin Kissane
Information Architecture and User Experience [UX] Design
•Don’t Make Me Think | Steve Krug
•The Elements of User Experience | Jesse James Garrett
•Search Patterns: Design for Discovery | Peter Morville and Jeffrey Callender
•Information Architecture for the World Wide Web | Peter Morville and Louis Rosenfeld
Writing
•Letting Go of the Words | Ginny Redish
•Content Rules | Ann Handley, C.C. Chapman and David Meerman Scott
•The Yahoo! Style Guide
Talk to Me

Laura Creekmore
Creekmore Consulting
http://creekmoreconsulting.com
@lauracreekmore
laura@creekmoreconsulting.com

Content Strategy: A Framework for Marketing Success

  • 1.
    Content Strategy A Frameworkfor Marketing Success
  • 2.
  • 3.
    Marketing Today http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/barnerphotography/
  • 4.
  • 5.
    Marketing Today = http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan_culleton/
  • 6.
    Marketing Today = http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan_culleton/
  • 7.
    Marketing Today http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/barnerphotography/
  • 8.
    Marketing Today http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/barnerphotography/
  • 9.
    Marketing Today http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/barnerphotography/
  • 10.
    Marketing Today http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/barnerphotography/
  • 11.
  • 12.
  • 13.
    Marketing Today Avoid HiPPO[p] * http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwarby/
  • 14.
    What Is ContentStrategy? Content strategy helps you make decisions based on your business needs.
  • 15.
    What Is ContentStrategy? It’s a mindset.
  • 16.
    Why Content Strategy? How most businesses view content: Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/wordridden/
  • 17.
    Why Content Strategy? Here’s what they’re worried it will get a hold of: Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/37815348@N00/
  • 18.
  • 19.
    Why Content Strategy? What if we think of content like this? Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/37815348@N00/
  • 20.
    Why Content Strategy? Your content is a business asset. (What if we treat it like one?)
  • 21.
    What does thatmean? Content has to come second. (Business goals first.)
  • 22.
    Why Content Strategy? Otherwise, you’re back to this scenario. Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/wordridden/
  • 23.
    But I’m Notin the Content Business: Rebuttal “Embrace that you are a publisher.” — Ann Handley, Chief Content Officer at MarketingProfs “The one with the most engaging content wins.” — Joe Pulizzi, Junta 42 and Content Marketing Institute
  • 24.
    Content Strategy, Stepby Step The Diagnosis •Inventory •Analyze The Cure •Identify sources •Optimize tools •Define process
  • 25.
    Step by Step,Diagnosis: Inventory •You’re going to need a spreadsheet. •List everything you’ve got. •No, everything. •Yes, that too.
  • 26.
    Step by Step,Diagnosis: Inventory
  • 27.
    Step by Step,Diagnosis: Inventory •For a comprehensive inventory, list content from all channels. •Capture process too. •Site crawlers can be helpful. •Check your CMS for useful functionality. •Even on a small project, you’ll start to see issues at this point.
  • 28.
    Step by Step,Diagnosis: Analyze What you’re looking for: •ROT: Redundant, out-dated, trivial content •Unclear/inaccurate messaging •Signs of inefficient process: Creating similar content repeatedly •Gaps: What’s missing?
  • 29.
    Step by Step,Diagnosis: Analyze For instance: •Identify types of content •Note characteristics of content •Group like items •Look at the website and the backend UXs
  • 30.
    Step by Step,Diagnosis: Analyze •Identify types of content
  • 31.
    Step by Step,Diagnosis: Analyze •Note characteristics Headline [Character limit?] Copy with links [Char limit?] Image [Size?]
  • 32.
    Step by Step,Diagnosis: Analyze •Group like items
  • 33.
    Step by Step,Diagnosis: Analyze •Group like items
  • 34.
    Step by Step,Diagnosis: Analyze Review the website and the backend UXs •See through your user’s eyes •See through your editor’s eyes
  • 35.
    Step by Step,Diagnosis: Analyze •Is your site navigation the same as your org chart?
  • 36.
    Step by Step,Diagnosis: Analyze •Is your site navigation the same as your org chart? ur doin it wrong
  • 37.
    Step by Step,Diagnosis: Analyze Does your back-end system work for you?
  • 38.
    Step by Step,Diagnosis: Analyze Does your back-end system work for you? •Metadata: Information about your content Title Keywords Creation Date Section Creator ID Categories Character limit Image URL Body
  • 39.
    Step by Step,Diagnosis: Analyze Does your back-end system work for you? •Taxonomy: Hierarchy of content Home >Business >>Nashville business >>Relocating business >Job Seekers >Tourists
  • 40.
    Step by Step,Cure: Identify Sources Who can help? Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhysasplundh/
  • 41.
    Step by Step,Cure: Identify Sources Who can help? Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhysasplundh/
  • 42.
    Step by Step,Cure: Identify Sources Who can help? Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhysasplundh/
  • 43.
    Step by Step,Cure: Identify Sources Who can help? Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhysasplundh/
  • 44.
    Step by Step,Cure: Identify Sources Who can help? Photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhysasplundh/
  • 45.
    Step by Step,Cure: Optimize Tools •Get the technology right •Simple = Often better •Metadata and taxonomy are your friends •Create once, use repeatedly
  • 46.
    Step by Step,Cure: Define Process Don’t over-process.
  • 47.
    The Final Step Planfor Day 2. With credit to Jeffrey MacIntyre
  • 48.
    Content Strategy: ChangingYour Life for the Better http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan_culleton/
  • 49.
    Content Strategy: ChangingYour Life for the Better ? http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan_culleton/
  • 50.
    Content Strategy: ChangingYour Life for the Better •Mindset ? •Tools http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan_culleton/
  • 51.
    Resources Content Strategy •Content Strategyfor the Web | Kristina Halvorson •The Elements of Content Strategy | Erin Kissane Information Architecture and User Experience [UX] Design •Don’t Make Me Think | Steve Krug •The Elements of User Experience | Jesse James Garrett •Search Patterns: Design for Discovery | Peter Morville and Jeffrey Callender •Information Architecture for the World Wide Web | Peter Morville and Louis Rosenfeld Writing •Letting Go of the Words | Ginny Redish •Content Rules | Ann Handley, C.C. Chapman and David Meerman Scott •The Yahoo! Style Guide
  • 52.
    Talk to Me LauraCreekmore Creekmore Consulting http://creekmoreconsulting.com @lauracreekmore laura@creekmoreconsulting.com