Ever feel like you’re on a content creation treadmill, constantly churning out new material?
I get it; content creation can sometimes feel like the one task that never ends! But what if there was a SMARTER and EASIER way?
Repurposing content is not just a trend; it’s a game-changer for online creators. By breathing new life into existing content, you not only save time in creating new content but also extend your reach and reinforce your brand messaging.
I’m going to spill the beans on FIVE GENIUS HACKS that will make repurposing feel less like a chore and more like a walk in the park.
Ready to transform your content strategy and get more from less? Let’s dive in with these 5 genius hacks!
RELATED POST: Why Repurpose Content? The Ultimate Guide to Maximizing Your Efforts
Hack 1: Start with a Long-Form Piece of Content
The start of an excellent repurposing strategy begins with the initial piece of content. Think of it as the roots of a tree. Starting with a substantial, long-form piece ensures you have a solid foundation to draw from.
The Value of Long-Form Content in Repurposing
Long-form content is like the gift that keeps on giving. Here’s why:
Depth and Detail: It provides a deep dive into a topic you can then share as bite-sized pieces.
Versatility: You can extract little gems, like quotes, statistics, or nuggets of wisdom, and use them across different platforms.
Authority: Longer content often establishes you as an expert, making your repurposed content more credible.
Think about repurposing a short social media post. You would BARELY have any material to work with – but start with a blog post or a webinar you put out, and you’ll end up with content for weeks.
Examples: Videos, Podcasts, and Blog Posts
Long-form doesn’t just mean written content. Consider these:
Videos: A single webinar or tutorial can be broken down into multiple short clips, GIFs, or even transcribed into a blog post.
Podcasts: From a single podcast episode, you can whip up catchy audio snippets, quotes for graphics, or even inspire a series of blog posts.
Blog Posts: An in-depth article can be transformed into infographics, slide decks, or social media posts.
One of my clients had a 40-minute podcast episode. We repurposed it into three blog posts, multiple social media quotes, and even a mini e-book!
How to Choose the Right Long-Form Content
Picking the right content is key. Here’s a quick guide:
Relevance: Make sure the content is still timely and still resonates with your audience.
Engagement: Look at metrics. Which pieces got the most engagement? These are prime pieces of content to choose from.
Versatility: Think about the different ways you can break it down. A content piece with multiple sections or points is ideal.
When I started repurposing, I always chose my most popular blog posts. Why? Because I knew they already resonated with my audience, and that helped the repurposed content to hit the mark.
This article does a great job of breaking down the different types of long-form content.
Hack 2: Embrace the Power of Templates
In the world of content repurposing, templates can be your secret weapon. They streamline the process because you aren’t starting from scratch every time.
The Time-Saving Magic of Templates
Templates are like the shortcuts on a well-trodden path:
Efficiency: Instead of building from the ground up, templates give you a head start. Just plug in your content, and you’re good to go.
Consistency: No more second-guessing formats or styles. With a template, you know exactly what to expect.
Scalability: As your content grows, templates make it easier to produce more in less time.
I do these with my blog posts. I like to write a bi-weekly blog post. It can be super time-consuming when I am busy with client work and trying to work on my own business. Without templates, I’d be totally overwhelmed. But with them? Smooth sailing every week!
Tips for Creating Templates That Work
Crafting the right template is an art. Here are some pointers:
Simplicity: Keep it clean and clutter-free. The focus should be on the content.
Flexibility: Ensure your template can adapt to different types of content or lengths.
Branding: Incorporate your brand colors, fonts, and logos. It should scream “you” at first glance.
How Templates Can Help With Brand Consistency
Branding isn’t just about logos and colours. It’s about being recognizable, and templates can help with that.
Unified Look: Whether it’s a blog post or a social media post, templates help make sure that everything looks cohesive.
Voice and Tone: Templates can help keep you on track with your language and style, making it vibe with your brand’s unique voice and messaging.
Recognition: When your audience sees your content, they should instantly know it’s yours. Templates help achieve that instant brand recognition.
Ivory Mix, an amazing stock photography site, does a great job of breaking down how you can repurpose any content with Canva templates in this video.
Hack 3: Organize Your Assets
Crafting content can be a whirlwind, so having things in order shouldn’t be a preference…it should be a necessity. Keeping your assets organized can mean the difference between a seamless repurposing effort or getting caught in chaos!
The Importance of Keeping Things Organized
Being organized is more than just a neat freak’s dream. It’s about efficiency and effectiveness:
Quick Access: No more wasting time searching for that one image or snippet. Everything’s at your fingertips and easy to find.
Avoid Recreating: When you know what you have, you won’t accidentally recreate or repurchase assets.
Streamlined Workflow: An organized system means fewer hiccups in your content creation process.
When I first started my business, I had everything in ONE folder. I spent literal hours looking for a graphic I had created for a past project. Had I organized my assets, I would’ve found it in minutes. Lesson learned!
Tools and Techniques for Asset Organization
Looking for a tool to help you keep on top of your assets? Here are some tried and tested methods:
Digital Asset Management (DAM) Systems: Platforms like Dropbox or Google Drive, can store, categorize, and tag your assets. Google Drive’s search functionality is next to no other!
Folder Structures: Create clear, hierarchical folder systems that make sense FOR YOU.
Metadata and Tags: Label assets with relevant keywords, making them easily searchable.
Seriously, visually map out your content assets on plain paper and create folders and subfolders that make sense to your business – then train that muscle memory. The more you use them, the more quickly you learn your system.
The Impact on Your Content Repurposing Efforts
Organization directly influences your repurposing efficiency (say it again – out loud!):
Content Inventory: Knowing what you have will allow you to spot repurposing opportunities easily.
Consistency: When your assets are organized, you make sure that the quality and style of your content remain the same – across assets and platforms.
Time Savings: Less time searching means more time creating and repurposing.
Here are some great tips on how to organize your Google Drive.
Hack 4: Repurpose for Different Platforms
One size doesn’t fit all, especially when it comes to content repurposing. Different platforms have their own unique vibe, audience, and content preferences. If you really want to take advantage of repurposing, you have to learn the preferences of that platform and adapt your content to fit.
Understanding the Differences of Each Platform
Each platform is a world of its own, complete with its own specific quirks and characteristics.
Content-Length: X (previously Twitter) has its character limit, while platforms like Medium thrive on longer reads.
Media Type: Instagram is visually driven, whereas podcasts reign supreme on Spotify.
Engagement Patterns: LinkedIn users might prefer professional insights, whereas you’ll likely go viral on TikTok using fun and creativity.
Customizing Content for Platform-Specific Audiences
It’s not just about reshaping content; it’s about reimagining it:
Tone and Style: A playful tone might work on Facebook, but a more serious approach might be better for LinkedIn.
Visuals: Bright and bold for Instagram, concise and clear for Pinterest.
Call to Action (CTA): Encourage comments and shares on social media, but on a blog, you might want readers to subscribe or read more.
Try To Be Present On Multiple Platforms
Diversification is a friendly approach for your content strategy:
Wider Audience: Being on multiple platforms means reaching diverse audience groups.
Increased Visibility: The more places you’re seen, the more top-of-mind you become.
Risk Mitigation: If one platform’s algorithm changes or user engagement drops, you have others to fall back on. (Hello Instagram – I’m looking at you!!)
However, you don’t need to be EVERYWHERE! Stay on the platforms that make sense to your business.
Not sure of the different image sizes? Here’s your cheat sheet.
Hack 5: Engage and Interact with Your Audience
Content creation isn’t a one-way street. It’s this weird dance between the creator (YOU) and the audience (YOUR CLIENTS or POTENTIAL CLIENTS). By engaging with your audience, you create brand loyalty and gain invaluable insights that can help you supercharge your repurposing efforts.
The Value of Feedback in Content Repurposing
Feedback is the compass that guides your content journey:
Quality Check: When you get direct feedback from the people interacting with your content, this helps identify areas of improvement, making sure your repurposed content is on point.
Relevance Gauge: Understanding what resonates with your audience ensures your repurposed content remains engaging and relevant to what they want to see.
Idea Generator: Often, feedback can spark new content ideas or angles you hadn’t considered.
Encouraging Audience Interaction for Fresh Content Ideas
Your audience is a goldmine of content ideas:
Surveys and Polls: A quick way to gauge interests, preferences, and pain points.
Comments and DMs: These are a great place to engage directly with your audience, ask questions, and encourage them to share their thoughts.
Challenges and Contests: A fun way to get them involved while generating content.
A colleague of mine once ran a “Share Your Story” challenge, asking her audience to share their experiences with a particular topic. The responses provided a TON of content ideas to create and repurpose..
Using Insights to Improve Repurposed Content
You can tell a lot about your content by your audience’s behavior and preferences; they really are a treasure trove of insights:
Analytics: Take a look at your data to see what’s working and what’s not. Use it to tweak your repurposing strategy.
Feedback Loops: Regularly ask for feedback and make it a point to act on it.
Trend Spotting: Stay updated on what’s trending in your audience’s world and create your content accordingly.
Find out why social media engagement is important for your business.
Conclusion
It can be tough to stand out when the digital space is so busy. But with these five genius hacks up your sleeve, you’re equipped to stand out and make the most of what you’ve got. Remember:
- Start with long-form content as your base.
- Use templates to save time and make things look on-brand.
- Keep your stuff organized to help with a smoother content repurposing journey.
- Be flexible and try out different platforms.
- Chat with your audience to keep creating content they want to see.
Repurposing isn’t just about recycling; it’s about reimagining and reinventing your existing content. Dive in, give your content a fresh twist, and watch spark conversations in ways you never imagined.
F.A.Q.s
What is content repurposing?
Let’s break it down. It’s a strategic move where you take content you’ve already created and adapt it into various forms or for different platforms. The goal? To make sure your original content gets seen by more people and stays relevant no matter where it’s shared.
Why shouldn’t I just create new content?
Repurposing content is a good move for several reasons. First and foremost, it’s time-saving. You are repurposing content you have already created. Second, your core message remains consistent across the different platforms. Third, you are creating content that can be used to attract the attention of an audience who might be hanging out on another forum.
How do I choose which content to repurpose?
Start by looking at what you’ve already created. Pay attention to pieces of content that did well with your audience or pieces that always seem relevant – this would include your evergreen content. The secret is to spot content that has the potential to be turned into gems or nuggets that can be shared with different audiences across different platforms.
How do I make sure I sound authentic and not like I am just repeating myself?
Making sure your repurposed content stays genuine is key. You don’t want it to sound like you’re just saying the same thing over and over, So here’s something to keep in mind when you’re reworking your content. Make sure it fits the platform or the people you’re talking to. While the main idea stays the same, make it feel fresh and on-point for that specific platform. Toss in some new angles, updates, or fun bits to keep it from being too repetitive.
Does repurposing content affect SEO?
The short answer. It can. But here are some tips to help with that. When you are repurposing your content, don’t just copy and paste. Could you give it a minor update? Maybe some facts have changed; maybe there is a better way to say what you said the first time. You could update some dates or statistics. This will provide fresh value to your audience and show the search engines that you are putting out some top-notch content.