Read on Twitter
I used to work as a marketer before being a developer. I got a question today about how to come up with a content strategy.
Writing great content consistently is hard, and takes a LOT of effort. Planning is made easier using a pillar-post/topic cluster approach though.
Thread:
Writing great content consistently is hard, and takes a LOT of effort. Planning is made easier using a pillar-post/topic cluster approach though.
Thread:
Step 2: What is a Pillar Topic?
A pillar topic is a broad subject-area (1-2 words), like “object-oriented”, “test-driven development”, “career” etc.
A pillar post is a very long post, which links to 20+ articles which deep-dive into different sub-topics.
A pillar topic is a broad subject-area (1-2 words), like “object-oriented”, “test-driven development”, “career” etc.
A pillar post is a very long post, which links to 20+ articles which deep-dive into different sub-topics.
Step 3: What are Topic Clusters?
A topic cluster is a sub-topic. Sub-topics of Object-oriented programming could be:
- Design patterns
- Object-Oriented principles
- Languages etc.
Each topic cluster contains several individual blog posts.
A topic cluster is a sub-topic. Sub-topics of Object-oriented programming could be:
- Design patterns
- Object-Oriented principles
- Languages etc.
Each topic cluster contains several individual blog posts.
Step 4: Generate Clusters.
To generate clusters, I go onto a site called http://answerthepublic.com and enter in my main pillar post topic (“object-oriented”). You get back a long list of recent search queries containing that key word.
Group questions into themes (clusters).
To generate clusters, I go onto a site called http://answerthepublic.com and enter in my main pillar post topic (“object-oriented”). You get back a long list of recent search queries containing that key word.
Group questions into themes (clusters).
Step 5: Content Strategy
Pick an article (search query) from one of your topic clusters. Publish it.
Do the same for the rest of the clusters (1 article each).
Then, write a short pillar post, which summarizes and links to each post.
The pillar post keep growing.
Pick an article (search query) from one of your topic clusters. Publish it.
Do the same for the rest of the clusters (1 article each).
Then, write a short pillar post, which summarizes and links to each post.
The pillar post keep growing.
Step 6: Final thoughts
Use the queries as sub-titles in your post. Great for SEO.
You can have multiple pillar posts for each theme your audience cares about.
Over time, this is a great way to build authority on a topic, and to cover it in depth.
Alternatively,
Use the queries as sub-titles in your post. Great for SEO.
You can have multiple pillar posts for each theme your audience cares about.
Over time, this is a great way to build authority on a topic, and to cover it in depth.
Alternatively,
I don't have the energy to write highly polished articles that follow this content strategy myself, but it works if you do.
Instead, I use this approach to teach myself a topic in-depth. Then I write up my learnings in a messy live developer journal: https://becca9941.github.io/
Instead, I use this approach to teach myself a topic in-depth. Then I write up my learnings in a messy live developer journal: https://becca9941.github.io/
