Content Creation Checklist: 7 Steps to Get You Started

Content creation is an art that requires a creative touch. It is more complex than simply choosing a topic, writing down a bit of information on it, and then publishing. When starting on creating the right content for your brand, understand that it is a process that does not simply happen overnight.

Content creation is super important because it provides your audience with information about your brand, attracts potential customers to your website, and generates repurchasing from existing customers through quality engagement.

Below are some reasons why content creation is necessary:

1. Content marketing helps customers bond with your brand by sharing your story
2. Useful content helps you build trust and an emotional bridge with your customers
3. Better customers with more interest in your brand that cost less
4. Content marketing supports other types of marketing by advertising your other blogs, your website, etc

Having great content will also create attractive amounts of ROI for your company. Did you know, content marketing brings in 3x as many leads as traditional marketing and costs 62% less?

Content marketing is essential, and from an outsider’s point of view, it is easy to assume content creators have no trouble when it comes to generating imaginative ideas to then publish as a blog, or on their Instagram feed. However, the process of content creation is slightly more complex than that, and a lot more must happen to successfully market content.

If you do not have a sufficient plan in place or methods to track feedback, you are unlikely to see any kind of results. Building and having a strategy is key.

To help you create your content without straying from the path and making mistakes, we have constructed a general checklist that you should follow.

Every piece of content must begin with an idea. This could be a theme, topic, a pre-written headline, or any keyword. Something that can be turned into something bigger.

Your idea is your starting point.

This applies if you are writing your content or if you are providing ideas for someone writing on your behalf, such as a copywriter.

Sometimes, inspiration is needed to produce the best ideas. You can find help in producing an idea by looking at your website’s analytics and finding your highest-ranking search items. These are topics and areas that are most popular with your audience and therefore, could potentially be great ideas for something you can expand on.

In addition, look at your lowest ranked search terms. These are also something to consider when creating content, because by expanding upon them, you are giving them more exposure to help them rank higher.

There are also tools and other websites that can help you find commonly searched keywords and other articles that have been popular that relate to your field of work.

Once you have a solid idea and understanding of what you want to create, you now need to develop a better understanding of your target audience. This is exactly who is going to see, hear, or watch the content that you create.

The most effective content is created through open involvement and feedback with your target audience. The best strategies are designed to answer the questions of your target audience – to grab their attention.

To conduct sufficient research, you need to understand the demographics and of your real audience. This includes things like age, gender, job title, location, etc. Another important thing to consider is your audience’s beliefs, values, and interests.

Different platforms have different audiences, which is something else you must consider. Does your target audience use Facebook, or do they spend most of their time on Instagram or even both?

Once you understand your target audience, it gives you an idea of how to relate to these people and create content that appeals to them.

A common way to achieve this information is through surveys, polls, and keeping an eye on customer feedback.

If you have not already set up your social media account or blog page, now is the time to do so.

Setting up a social media account is easy once you have chosen the platforms you are going to use, and if you are setting up a blog page, then using websites such as WordPress, is a great and easy option.

While building your page gives you the freedom to create it exactly the way you want it, it also means you will have to invest more of your time into it, and it may take longer than it should, especially if you lack experience.

There are pre-existing platforms that you can use to publish your content which speeds up the process. However, this means less personalisation and customisation. Also, these platforms may change their policies in the future, or even be shut down, which would be shocking news for your content and all your challenging work.

Make sure you consider both options carefully before making your final decision.

When it comes to writing content, it is important to give your work the best chance of standing out.

On average, 80% of people will read your headline, but only 20% will read the rest of your article. This means that your headline must be as eye-grabbing as possible, which will give your article or blog the best chance of being read in full, which will then generate customer engagement and interaction.

There are certain methods you can use that will make the writing process slightly easier, such as:

• Study other writers for inspiration.
• Research, but not too much as you may not know when to stop!
• Familiarise yourself with SEO practices.
• Knowing how to create an enticing headline.

Use this space to create a story that will hook your readers in. The best content makes your audience want to continue reading.

An example of how this can be done is by asking a question that you are then going to answer in your blog.
Web users tend often prefer skimmable content rather than a heavy read, so keep your content to the point and include lots of visuals.

For purely visual content, such as an Instagram feed, your images need to be high quality, eye-catching and engaging to stand out. Sticking to the same theme and aesthetic is also an effective way to build a strong brand image.

It is also important to stay creative in how you deliver your content to keep things interesting. If you are blogging, switch from profile posts to stories now and again. For writers, you could start a thread on Twitter to create a buzz about your ideas.

By changing the way you deliver your content, you are tapping into different audiences and increasing your customer base.

When you write back-to-back without taking sufficient breaks, you will find yourself worn down very quickly. It may seem like the most productive thing to do, to write as much as you can in the time you have, but you will soon start to lose focus. After a while, you may find you stop enjoying your writing altogether because it is becoming too much for you. Taking short but regular breaks can prevent this, and even help you avoid burnout.

Once you finish writing, take a step away from your blog before going back to proofread it. You will likely notice more mistakes or see ways to improve if you go back to your work with a clear mind and a fresh perspective. You will find that you are better able to critique your writing by bringing a fresh view to your work.

Once you have taken some time away (but not too much), come back to your article and read it aloud. This can help you ensure that your sentences flow smoothly and help you notice any spelling or grammar errors.

If you have a history of missing mistakes, here are are some techniques you can use to help you notice your errors:

• Know your own typical mistakes and look out for them
• Proofread for one type of error at a time
• Take a break between writing and proofreading
• Proofread at the time of day when you are most alert

If you are still wary after trying these techniques, you can always ask a friend or family member to proofread it for you as well.

Content development requires skills that are developed rather than instantaneous. When marketers start out creating digital content, it is a process.

For those that lack experience, this checklist will help you stay on track and avoid commonly made mistakes.