Content Series

A Content Series is a structured set of 5-10 pieces of content sharing a connected theme, similar to a short-form TV series, where each piece is delivered in a logical sequence. This format allows for strategic testing of a central message or theme across multiple iterations, serving as a valuable tool to measure engagement and performance. After the initial 5-10 pieces, the series undergoes an assessment to determine whether it should continue, pivot, or conclude.

The purpose of a Content Series is to gauge which themes resonate best by comparing the results of one series against others. If a series achieves notable success, it may be extended indefinitely or inspire similar content spin-offs to further capitalize on the successful theme.

As a cornerstone of the Standard Content Marketing Strategy, the Content Series follows the Ideation, Creation, and Distribution process. Each series aims to contribute to the brand’s narrative and maintain a clear connection to its products, services, or values, aligning with the principles of Content Development Theory: test, assess, and continue or discard as needed.

PROCESS

1. Define Your Brand

Start by building your Brand Pillars, including defining your core values, Brand Voice, Brand Avatar, and Customer Avatar. This foundation ensures that each piece in the Content Series reflects the brand’s unique identity and connects with your ideal audience.

2. Ideation

Generate concepts by evaluating existing content, analyzing successful past content series, and considering the interests and needs of the Customer Avatar. Align these ideas with key elements of your Brand Pillars to ensure the theme is relevant and compelling for the target audience.

3. Creation

Develop a structured content creation plan by establishing a cohesive theme, selecting the media format (videos, articles, or podcasts), and designing a consistent template for each piece. Then, produce individual content pieces, ensuring they all contribute to the central theme and provide value to the audience.

4. Distribution

Publish each content piece on your website first, then share the content across social media channels, tailoring it to each platform (splintering). Directly reach out to interested parties through email marketing, SMS, or other messaging to maximize engagement.

5. Scheduling and Assessment

Set release dates for each content piece and create a distribution schedule for consistent sharing across platforms. Define a final assessment date to evaluate the series’ performance, gathering insights to determine whether to continue, modify, or end the series.

Original prompt

Create a 5 step process to create a Content Series, starting with the process of “Defining Your Brand” by building your Brand Pillars first. Include the steps of Ideation (creating concepts through the evaluation of existing content or content series, the interests of the brand’s Customer Avatar (an element of the Brand Pillars) and aligning it with the element of the Brand Pillars), Creation (producing the content creation plan by first creating a theme, choosing a media (videos, articles, or podcasts), building a template structure, and finally creating the content pieces themselves), and Distribution (publishing the content on the website first, then sharing it on social media by splintering the content for different platforms, and pushing it out directly to interested parties through Direct Messaging like email marketing, SMS, and others). The final step will be to set a schedule for publishing each piece of content in the series by setting release dates for each piece, a distribution plan (which includes sharing the splintered content on a regular basis), and setting a final assessment date to judge the series in the future.