Formulate Your Content Strategy in 10 Simple Steps
 By Steve Sponder, chief digital officer, Lawton Communications Group Ltd.

More and more, brands are recognizing that a strategic approach to content is becoming important. Content is moving from being among the final considerations of a Web-development project, to being front and center in a digital-marketing strategy.

Engage via Conversation
It's easy for brands to get drawn into the hype around the latest format, platform, or tactic. A couple of years ago, brands were all asking for a "viral," whereas, now they all seem to be asking for iPhone apps.

But, content is merely a means to an end: Content drives conversations; conversations are how you engage with people; and engaging with people is the only way brands will be able to survive in the social-media-disrupted world we now live in.

Formulating a content strategy can be a difficult process, partly because of the many considerations, and partly because of the number of stakeholders. So, to help, here's a simple 10-step systematic process for formulating a content strategy.

1. Principles
Set some principles. Doing so allows the brand to have a healthy and robust discussion around authenticity, transparency, and humility, as well as an opportunity to define the engagement policy.

Also, acknowledge that because brands no longer control when the conversations end, you need to commit to making continual investments. Unlike a campaign, this endeavor is ongoing.

2. Business Objectives
Here we get into the "Why are we doing this?" question. Clarify your objectives; link them to appropriate metrics, setting targets if possible; and define a budget.

3. Brand Purpose
Substance focuses the mind on what subjects and topics are important to you. What's your position on things, your point of view? Where's the evidence that you're serious about content? What's your story? What's your purpose? Why should people care?

For example, Dove believes that the world would be a better place if women were allowed to feel good about themselves. Fanta believes the world would be a better place if we grew up less and played more. Scrabble believes the world would be a better place if we loved words more. And, Coca-Cola believes the world would be a better place if we saw the glass as half full, not half empty.

Identifying your brand ideal is a great way to uncover your purpose and gives you something to anchor your content to. Remember, you need to support your brand ideal with evidence. Just paying lip service is playing with fire.

4. Content Value (Social Currency)
What value does your content deliver directly to people? What value does it deliver indirectly (i.e., the payback you get for telling someone else about it)? The direct value is the content's social currency, and there are five types of value:

• Entertainment value. Advertising campaigns typically deal in this currency. It's worth asking whether the idea lends itself to being parodied, as that can be a potent conversation multiplier;
• Personal value. Fame delivers powerful personal value. The rise of The X Factor-type television shows and other reality-TV shows over recent years indicates the value that people place on such content;
• Knowledge value. B2B thought leadership via white papers is an example;
• Monetary value. Consumer public relations (PR) typically deals in this type of currency with promotions and competitions;
• Utility value. Many iPhone apps fall into this category.

• Employees can be an effective choice;
• Agencies are an obvious route;
• You could use industry peers by simply sign-posting people to relevant, interesting stuff;
• User-generated content (UGC), crowdsourcing, and co-creation can also be a viable option for some brands.

• Brand media: Outposts, websites, email, or events;
• Earned media: Influencer networks, communities, or the media (what used to be called the press);
• Paid media.