If you own a small business and want to succeed in content marketing, you’ll face tough competition, even with a limited budget. Many websites are vying for the same keywords. To achieve success, you need a skilled team of experts who can help you reach your content marketing goals.
In this article, I’ll show you how to build and manage a content marketing team specifically tailored for small businesses. I’ll also share my strategy for improving your content’s visibility on Google.
Here are the steps to build a content marketing team that produces high-quality content for your small business:
Develop a Content Marketing Strategy: Many small businesses lack a well-defined content strategy. If you already have one, that’s a great start, but make sure it aligns with your business goals. Don’t limit it to just an editorial calendar. Define your objectives, such as increasing website traffic, generating leads, and improving conversions.
Create content that supports your customers’ journey. Once you determine your goals, plan how to segment your audience, curate content, and repurpose existing content. You can find more information on creating a content marketing strategy in this comprehensive guide.
Establish a Management System: Use an online project management tool like Trello to efficiently manage your content team. Create boards that include onboarding guides with all the necessary information for new team members. Additionally, set up a work board to track the progress of the content being produced.
Divide it into columns that represent different stages of the content creation process, such as “To Do,” “In Progress,” “Under Review,” and “Submitted.” This will provide you with a clear overview of how things are progressing.
Provide Writer Guidelines: Consistency is vital when working with multiple writers. Establish clear guidelines to ensure that your articles maintain a consistent quality and tone. If you have experienced writers on your team, involve them in creating a style guide.
This guide should document your content creation processes and provide instructions for maintaining consistency. It’s important to have a unified voice and style across your content.
Hire Good Writers: Finding skilled writers can be challenging, but it’s crucial for producing high-quality content. Look for writers who can consistently create excellent work and are capable of writing longer articles when needed.
Depending on your budget and requirements, you can hire full-time staff or freelancers. When evaluating potential writers, ask them to write an article based on your guidelines and deadlines. This will help you assess their abilities and the quality of their work.
Hire a Skilled Editor: A competent editor is essential for managing your writers effectively. Look for someone who pays attention to detail, meets deadlines, manages time and resources efficiently, and can provide constructive feedback to your writers.
Editors who are also skilled writers can help improve the quality of articles instead of merely pointing out flaws. This synergy between editing and writing can strengthen your team’s capabilities.
Allow Autonomy: Granting autonomy to your content producers is important for their engagement and productivity. Trust your team members to make decisions and shape their work environment.
Provide them with clear guidelines and support, but avoid micromanaging their every move. Hiring autonomous individuals and maintaining their autonomy will contribute to the success of your team.
Conduct Regular Meetings: Regular check-ins and team meetings are crucial for keeping everyone aligned with your goals. These meetings help prevent misunderstandings and ensure that team members know what is expected of them.
Schedule check-ins with your team members and hold meetings between your sales and marketing teams to coordinate content creation efforts. These meetings also create a comfortable environment for open and honest feedback.
Building a successful content marketing team for your small business requires more than just assembling members. It demands a well-defined strategy that guides your decisions, from hiring writers to conducting regular meetings.
Remain receptive to your team’s needs and concerns, finding a balance between your overall strategy and individual motivations. By doing so, you can stay ahead of the competition, establish a strong brand presence, and achieve your content marketing goals.