How do you train yourself and others on online content strategy?

1 Understand the basics

Before you dive into the details of online content strategy, you need to have a clear understanding of the basic concepts and principles. What is content? What is strategy? What are the types and formats of online content? What are the stages and components of the content lifecycle? What are the best practices and standards for creating and managing online content? You can find answers to these questions in books, blogs, podcasts, and online courses that cover the fundamentals of online content strategy. Some examples are Content Strategy for the Web by Kristina Halvorson and Melissa Rach, The Content Strategy Toolkit by Meghan Casey, and Content Strategy Course by HubSpot Academy.

2 Choose a framework

Online content strategy is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Depending on your goals, your audience, and your resources, you may need to use different methods and tools to plan and execute your content strategy. That's why it's important to choose a framework that suits your needs and preferences. A framework is a set of guidelines, processes, and templates that help you organize and structure your content strategy. There are many frameworks available online, such as the Content Strategy Quad by Brain Traffic, the Content Marketing Framework by Content Marketing Institute, and the Content Strategy Canvas by Distilled. You can also create your own framework based on your experience and research.

3 Learn from examples

One of the best ways to train yourself and others on online content strategy is to learn from examples. By studying how other content strategists and creators plan, create, and manage their online content, you can gain insights, inspiration, and feedback for your own content strategy. You can find examples of online content strategy in case studies, portfolios, blogs, and podcasts that showcase real-world projects and results. Some examples are Content Strategy Examples by GatherContent, Content Strategy Portfolio by Erin Kissane, and The Content Strategy Podcast by Kristina Halvorson.

4 Practice your skills

Another effective way to train yourself and others on online content strategy is to practice your skills. By applying what you learn to your own or others' online content projects, you can test your knowledge, improve your abilities, and measure your outcomes. You can practice your skills by working on your own website, blog, or social media channels, or by offering your services to clients, friends, or non-profit organizations. You can also practice your skills by joining online communities, challenges, and events that provide opportunities to learn, network, and collaborate with other content strategists and creators. Some examples are Content Strategy Community by Facebook, Content Design Challenge by Content Design London, and Confab by Brain Traffic.

5 Keep learning and improving

Online content strategy is not a static or linear process. It is a dynamic and iterative process that requires constant learning and improvement. As the online landscape, the user behavior, and the content trends change, you need to adapt and update your content strategy accordingly. To keep learning and improving your online content strategy skills, you need to stay curious, open-minded, and proactive. You can keep learning and improving by reading books, blogs, and newsletters, by listening to podcasts and webinars, by taking online courses and certifications, and by seeking feedback and mentoring from other content strategists and creators.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?