How can you create engaging and consistent content using templates and layouts?

One thing I've found helpful is treating templates like a versatile wardrobe for content. It's not just about consistency; it's about having a signature style. Each template should have consistent colors, fonts, and graphics. Just like a curated wardrobe, templates offer a structured yet flexible approach. They maintain a visual harmony, yet each piece is tailored for specific content types. This approach not only streamlines our content creation but also elevates our brand's visual identity, making it instantly recognizable in the LinkedIn feed. So, let's dress up our content strategy with templates that turn our LinkedIn presence into a style icon!???

Templates are pre-designed and -crafted structures for content management and production. You can either craft them yourself and make them fully fit your own (or your client's) needs, or you use a template that was designed by someone else. Alternatively, you can start by using someone else's template as a blueprint and then add your own modifications to it. It might sound counter-intuitive, but: using templates for content management and production is the best way to spark creativity. How come? It's about trusting the process. When you start using templates that serve your needs, you can focus on more crucial things like storytelling, humour, fact-checking, and other important details that make your content shine and stand out.

Adhering to branding guidelines is the first step in creating different templates for different types of content. Before creating a deck of templates, researching a few available options will help us learn and modify further. It saves time. Customising and resizing the templates for social platforms using tools like Canva is essential in creating engaging content.

Setting yourself up with templates is key for a consistent brand look and feel across your content. It can also create big efficiencies in your workflow. Particularly when it comes to social media content marketing, templates can really help you. Setting yourself up with core templates aligning with your social strategy content pillars will make it easier to ideate and execute a content plan. A/B testing your templates in various sizes/layouts will help you to learn which ones perform best - take this information and apply it. Canva can be great for creating content marketing templates - as can Adobe Express. But it can also be achieved using clever setups in programs like Powerpoint if you don't have access to anything else.

Having a strong and consistent online presence is crucial in today's digital landscape, especially for professionals and businesses. However, creating engaging and consistent content can be a time-consuming and challenging task. That's where templates and layouts come in - they offer a structured and efficient way to create and display content that is both visually appealing and on-brand. In this article, we will explore how templates and layouts can help you save time, maintain quality, and ensure consistency in your content creation process

Selecting the right template involves a deep dive into audience psychology and brand essence. It's about marrying the art of design with the science of user behavior. The ideal template resonates with the audience's expectations and browsing habits while amplifying the brand's voice. In this selection process, we must prioritize mobile responsiveness and cross-platform compatibility, as these are the cornerstones of modern web presence. Furthermore, in the SEO realm, a layout that organically leads to higher user engagement will invariably perform better in search rankings, making this an essential consideration.

Choosing templates and layouts is like curating an art exhibition. First, identify the purpose - the ‘why’ behind your content. This ensures your message is not just heard but felt. Second, understand your audience. Are they analytically inclined, preferring data-driven, thought-provoking layouts like McKinsey? Or do they lean towards the visual storytelling of YouTube explainers? Lastly, decide on your medium of expression. The delivery mechanism you choose is the final brushstroke in your masterpiece of communication

The important question to ask ourselves here at the very start is, as so often, why? Why am I creating this content and what is its purpose? How do I best convey this for my target audience and where? This is the ground work we as marketers have to do in order to define our content for our brands and audiences. Once we have answered these questions, the basic why, how, and what, it will become easier to chose a framework that can transport this on different channels and matches all our requirements. There are lots of tools and templates to chose from, but when we have a clear idea of what we want to do here, choosing or creating a template will be fun and simple.

Whatever template you choose for your content, stay consistent with it as that will eventually tie in with your brand as a whole. One of the best platforms I think for template curation is Canva. It's free and easy to use. Also easy to train your team on if they aren't familiar with it as well. Hope this helps!

I find Google Docs and Canva very convenient. Try it, explore it, practice it as much as you can and you will find your style.

I suggest you to customize your templates from the scratch. Fonts and colors can be tricky, and will have a defining impact. Learn or find a short course about typography, it will help you to the moon.

Rather than creating templates for your content, first make an inventory of the types of content you'll be creating: length, frequency, type of media. Once you have categories of the type of (current or planned) content you'll be using your templates for, create brand consistent templates that accommodate the top 3-5 categories and try them out before creating the full set of templates for everything. You'll probably need to tweak more than you anticipate. Move down the list. And once you've got your templates locked, use them as intended. The point of templates is consistency and taking design out of the workflow. Focus on the content.

Creating templates and layouts involves three key steps. First, decide whether to choose a pre-existing template or create a custom one. Second, define and logically arrange the main components. Lastly, apply design elements like colors, fonts, icons, logos, and backgrounds to enhance visual appeal and maintain brand consistency.

Incorporating templates and layouts into your content creation process not only saves time but also enhances consistency and professionalism. By defining a clear structure and visual identity, you can create content that is not only visually appealing but also aligns seamlessly with your brand. Regularly update and iterate on your templates to adapt to evolving content needs and maintain engagement with your audience.

Branding and ease of use for non technical end users are always top of mind. When creating a template for a customer, I’ll include their branding colors, logo and follow design guidelines if provided. If you’re tasked with developing a template for a job or client, I would suggest asking if there are existing design brand guides or guidelines you can use when implementing your template design. Building to specific brand guidelines will save time and (hopefully) limit requests for revisions. Being able to speak and build towards a common, previously established design guide is a best practice and will help with aligning definitions of success for your end product.

I view templates as a sort of heuristic. Because I have to produce a lot of content in the pharma and physician spaces, I’ll diligently populate fields in a template that never really change. I’m quick, however, to plug in original thought when possible. I don’t feel restrained by templates—but aided by them. Always remember that the client or sponsor is paying for your specialization and voice; they aren’t buying generic, one-size-fits-all input.

Try Designing your templates so your end users can create multiple versions quickly, this makes it easier for effective A/B testing. As a developer, from my experience the most important thing to test is your responsive designs and confirm that your templates will look good in different form factors. Particularly different versions of tablets, smart phones, laptops and desktops

To test and optimize templates and layouts for your content, you can conduct A/B testing or gather feedback from your target audience. For example, during my time at IQVIA Middle East & Africa, I worked on a project where we had to create marketing materials for a new product launch. We used A/B testing to compare two different layouts for the product brochure and gathered feedback from our target audience through surveys and focus groups. This helped us determine which layout was more effective in conveying the desired message and resonating with our audience, allowing us to optimize the template for better results.

Testing and optimizing templates is not just about fixing bugs; it's about refining the user experience. This process should involve rigorous A/B testing to discern what resonates best with the audience. It's crucial to measure user engagement metrics, such as time on page and bounce rate, as these are indicators of how well your template performs in real-world scenarios. Additionally, integrating feedback from actual users can provide invaluable insights, turning good templates into great ones. Remember, an optimized template not only looks good but also performs well from an SEO perspective, enhancing overall content discoverability.

Testing and optimizing templates and layouts are a process of refinement. Begin with a first-point check, seeking feedback from colleagues and trusted clients. This provides an initial gauge of effectiveness. Next, employ A/B testing to compare different versions and identify which performs better. Lastly, ensure your content is SEO-friendly by incorporating the right keywords. This not only optimizes visibility but also enhances user engagement.

Agree on naming conventions. Use version names in titles, include dates and description data is VERY informative in the long run. Often times, I’ve had to audit other systems and poorly labeled names with minimal information can take much more time to decipher and audit.

To manage templates and layouts for your content, you can create a centralized system for storing and organizing your templates, as well as setting guidelines for their use. For example, during my time at DHL-EXEL, I worked on a project where we had to streamline the supply chain process. One of my tasks was to create a centralized database for all the templates and layouts used for various supply chain reports and presentations. This helped us easily access and update templates, ensuring consistency and efficiency in our content. Additionally, we also set guidelines for using these templates to maintain a cohesive visual identity and improve the overall presentation of our data.

Effective template management is akin to curating a digital asset library. It’s about maintaining a repository of templates that are not only visually appealing but also versatile and easily adaptable. Regular updates and audits ensure these templates stay relevant and compliant with evolving web standards. Incorporating feedback loops into the management process allows for continuous improvement. From an SEO standpoint, this means regularly updating templates to align with the latest search engine algorithms, ensuring that content remains as visible as it is engaging.

As the operational lead for the launch of a streaming platform in 2019, I worked with local and international multidisciplinary teams of up to 25 people. Here, the use of templates and layouts proved crucial in aligning the content strategy, ensuring a cohesive user experience, and maintaining brand consistency across various platform components.Through my experiences, I have seen firsthand how these tools can elevate content creation, providing a solid foundation for engaging, consistent, and impactful messaging in the ever-evolving landscape of digital content.

Managing templates and layouts is a two-fold process. First, establish a robust governance structure, complete with guidance and instructions. This ensures that your content adheres to a consistent standard. Second, maintain an organized content library. Regularly update pictures, visual assets, and messaging to keep your content fresh and relevant.

Creating engaging and consistent content with templates and layouts involves designing a set of standard graphical formats that align with your brand's identity. These templates should be flexible enough to accommodate various types of content while maintaining uniform fonts, color schemes, and logo placement. For written content, establish a tone and style guide to ensure consistency in voice and messaging. Use these templates to streamline content creation, allowing for regular posting schedules and quick adaptation for trending topics, ensuring both consistency and relevance to your audience.

It might sound counter-intuitive, but: using templates for content management and production is the best way to spark creativity. How come? It's about trusting the process. When you start using templates that serve your needs, you can focus on more crucial things like storytelling, humour, fact-checking, and other important details that make your content shine and stand out.

An often-overlooked aspect of using templates and layouts is the balance between standardization and customization. While templates provide a necessary structure, they should also offer enough flexibility for creative expression. This balance is crucial in crafting content that stands out while maintaining brand consistency. Additionally, in the realm of SEO and digital marketing, it’s important to keep abreast of the latest trends and algorithm updates, adapting your templates accordingly to maintain a competitive edge. Ultimately, the goal is to create templates that are not just tools for content presentation, but catalysts for audience engagement and brand growth.

Algo que me resultó muy práctico fue crear una tabla donde ubico en la primera columna los pilares de contenido, en la segunda los objetivos relacionados a cada pilar y en la tercera el tipo de contenido (formatos ideales). Ejemplo: Pilar: 1) Motivacional. 2) Informativo. Objetivo: 1) Conectar emocionalmente con nuestra audiencia. 2) Compartir noticias actualizadas de nuestro sector. Tipo de contenido: 1) Imágenes evocadoras, Frases, Storytelling. 2) Gráficos, estadísticas, datos verificados. De esta manera se tiene una base que puede ayudar a categorizar y dise?ar plantillas en función de nuestros pilares de contenido y el objetivo que desea lograr con cada uno de ellos.