content lifecycle

Content is dynamic, not static.

Content creation is pretty straightforward, but it’s important to know how and when to move through each step. The content lifecycle process can be broken down into these 5 steps…

THE CONTENT LIFECYCLE PROCESS

Step 1: Strategize & Ideate

The first step in creating any type of content is thinking about what your ideal client is having trouble with. Then, create something that will help solve this problem for them. This will involve some research surrounding different topics in your industry. Find out what people are struggling with and answer their questions.

Step 2: Plan

The next step is to create a plan. Decide what type of content needs to be made and where it will be distributed. Are you going to write a blog post? Make an infographic? Film a video? Different platforms handle different types of content better than others. You should already know where most of your ideal clients or consumers hang out, so choose content mediums that work best for those platforms. For example: blogs do best on a website, Instagram does best with graphics, photos, and videos, and Twitter is best for short-form written content.

Step 3: Create & Design

After the plan has been created, it’s time to start designing and creating the content. As mentioned before, content can be in the form of blogs, social posts, graphics, etc.

Step 4: Publish & Distribute

Once the content is created, it’s time to edit and schedule for publishing and distribution. Again, decide beforehand where each piece of content will be published for best results. What platform are people most likely to engage with it and is it relevant? Familiarity with each platform is a must.

Step 5: Evaluate & Maintain

After the publishing phase is the final step: evaluation and maintenance. This is easily the most overlooked step in the lifecycle of any piece of content. Content maintenance can happen in several ways. Update:

  1. For technical reasons
  2. Popular older posts
  3. For relevancy

Whatever the reason for updating older content, doing so can be super beneficial. Some ideas are what we call “evergreen”, meaning they stand the test of time. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel every time, you can simply revamp an older post that was once popular, giving it new life.

Putting it all together

  1. Find a problem you can solve
  2. Plan your content
  3. Write, design, record, etc.
  4. Distribute across the right platforms
  5. Breathe new life into older content

Understanding the content lifecycle can help you establish your brand. Instead of just focusing on one part (usually content creation), take the time to give each part of the lifecycle the attention it needs. This will help strengthen your online presence and keep you relevant for the long term.