Starting in content strategy can feel like a big challenge. But, like any journey, having a good map makes all the difference. I found such a map in Chapters 6 and 7 of Paula Landenberg Land’s book, “Content, Audits, and Inventories.” These chapters are a game-changer, especially for beginners like me.
A Pleasant Surprise: The Depth of Chapter 6
I am pleasantly surprised at how Chapter 6 explained how to prepare for a content audit. Before reading it, I didn’t have a clue where to start. However, this chapter clarified many things, making the process more manageable.
Here’s what makes Chapter 6 unique:
• Choosing What to Focus On: It discusses different content audit categories; this information is helpful because it shows what to look at during your audit.
• Setting Your Criteria: The chapter helps you decide what rules or standards your audit should follow.
• Deciding the Scope of Your Audit: It guides you on how much of your content you should audit.
Sub-Chapter 6.3, Choose Your Audit Focus stands out because it outlines various categories of audits, providing a framework to streamline the auditing process.
These audit categories include Qualitative, Content Effectiveness, Content Structure, Multichannel, Brand and Messaging, Competitive, Accessibility, Legal and Regulatory Issues, Social Media, Global and Apps, and Single-Page Sites.
I look forward to using these categories as reference points for a deeper look into each subject.
Discovering Chapter 7: The Importance of Content Inventory
I also found some gems in Chapter 7. Creating Content Inventory. This chapter goes into detail about content inventory. It elaborates on why inventory is essential.
Chapter 7 explains that there are scenarios where inventory provides information for a particular need. An inventory is typically the first step in performing a content audit.
Understanding a key part, such as inventory, makes excellent sense; Paula Land says, “If you don’t know it’s there, you aren’t managing it.”
Some essential elements of an inventory are URLs, file types, HTML, jpg, png, pdf, file size, images, metadata, links, etc.
I look forward to learning more about audits and inventories and how they intertwine.
Why This Matters for This Course
Chapters 6 and 7 aren’t just informative; they are practical, especially for the team project I’m working on. These chapters are invaluable tools that will help my team and me understand how to prepare for our content strategy project.
The clarity and depth of the information in sub-chapter 6.3 instilled confidence in me to approach our team project with a solid foundation.
Conclusion: A Step Forward in Content Strategy
In summary, Chapters 6 and 7 of Paula Landenberg Land’s book Content, Audits, and Inventories are crucial resources for anyone starting a content strategy. It breaks down the complex content auditing and the inventory process into manageable parts, making it much easier for beginners to grasp.
These chapters are not just about theory; they are a practical guide that bridges the gap between learning and doing.