Maximizing Your Content Strategy: 5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Pro
Considering hiring a content strategist to boost your online presence? Smart move! But before you dive in, there are crucial factors to consider.
Here are five key questions to ask yourself and your potential strategist to ensure a successful collaboration:
"How can I help them understand my business better?":
Your content strategist isn't a mind reader (though that would be cool, right?). While they'll do their homework, your insider knowledge is gold. Be prepared to share in-depth information about your business, target audience, and industry. The more you share, the better they can tailor strategies to your unique needs."What time and budget expectations should I have?" :
Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a killer content strategy. Discuss timelines and budgets upfront. A good strategist will help set realistic expectations and work within your constraints. Remember, quality content is an investment, not an expense."How will we measure success?"
If you can't measure it, you can't improve it. Ask your strategist about specific, measurable goals and metrics. How often will you review progress? What tools will you use? Clear benchmarks ensure you're both on the same page about what success looks like.
For example:Increase social media followers by 25% in 6 months
Boost website traffic by 40% year-over-year
Improve engagement rates (likes, comments, shares) by 30%
Generate 50 qualified leads per month through content
Increase brand awareness by achieving 100,000 impressions per campaign
Improve email open rates from 20% to 30%
Achieve a 15% conversion rate on landing pages
"How flexible is the strategy?"
The digital world moves faster than a cat video goes viral. Your content strategy needs to be just as nimble. Ask your strategist about their approach to adaptability. Here's what you should look for:Agile Planning: Can the strategy pivot quickly if market conditions change or new opportunities arise? For instance, if a trending topic aligns with your brand, how fast can you capitalize on it?
Data-Driven Adjustments: A good strategist should be constantly analysing performance data. Are they prepared to tweak tactics based on what's working (or not)? Maybe those long-form articles aren't hitting the mark, but your audience loves infographics. Your strategy should be able to shift gears accordingly.
Platform Flexibility: Social media platforms come and go (remember Vine?). How easily can your strategy adapt to new platforms or changes in existing ones? If TikTok or IG reels suddenly becomes crucial for your industry, can your strategy incorporate it smoothly?
Content Type Versatility: As audience preferences evolve, so should your content mix. Is your strategist open to experimenting with different content types - from blogs to podcasts to interactive content?
Crisis Readiness: In times of unexpected events (like, say, a global pandemic), how quickly can your content strategy adapt to maintain relevance and sensitivity?
Feedback Loop: Is there a system in place for gathering and acting on feedback - both from your team and your audience? The best strategies evolve based on real-world responses.
"How can we build a strong collaborative relationship?"
Content strategy isn't a "set it and forget it" deal. It's a partnership. Ask about communication styles, feedback processes, and how you can best support each other. Trust and open dialogue are the secret ingredients to content magic.
Remember, hiring a content strategist is like choosing a dance partner. You need someone who not only knows the steps but can also match your rhythm and style.
By addressing these five areas, you'll be well on your way to a content strategy that doesn't just perform—it shines. Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint.
A flexible strategy doesn't mean constantly changing direction like a weather vane in a tornado. It's about having a solid foundation with the ability to make smart, data-informed tweaks along the way. Your content strategist should be part fortune-teller, part scientist - always looking ahead while staying grounded in what the data is telling them.
Ready to take your content to the next level? email hello@chutzpahcreative.com