Mastering Organization: A Comprehensive Guide to Content Inventory Management
Content inventory can be defined as a list of every piece of digital content you currently have, captured on your website or in your communication assets. This inventory includes images, text, documents, and applications. In the ever-evolving landscape of digital content, maintaining a clear and organized overview of those assets is crucial. This is where the concept of content inventory comes into play.
Whether you're a small business owner, a content manager, or part of a large enterprise, understanding and leveraging the power of content inventory can significantly impact your content strategy and overall digital presence. Content inventory is a first step toward understanding the depth of your content, but it doesn't reveal the quality of your assets.
We’ll get there, don't worry.
When planning for a content inventory, the goals for the inventory must first be identified. Do you plan on revamping some of your branded content? Do you want to scale the amount of content your organization produces or streamline it to one specific type of content? Having questions centered around intentions will help narrow-down the focus and alleviate some of the intimidation.
Now where to begin with this inventory? Let’s break it down into three sections:
Why it’s important
How to create it
What tools to use to get started
Why is a content inventory important?
Visibility and organization are key to beginning any content inventory. They provide a centralized view of all digital assets and provide you with a big picture. This clarity is essential for effective content management and organization. Maintaining quality control by regularly updating a content inventory can help you identify outdated or irrelevant content. By doing this, a high standard of assets is maintained across digital platforms. It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), note that there are keywords associated with each piece of content that allow for increased searchability of what’s being published. Including SEO tags in your content inventory helps to identify gaps, update meta tags, and enhance overall SEO strategy. Lastly, Content inventories help conduct performance analyses. Metrics such as page views, engagement, and conversions can be linked to each content asset.
How to Create a Content Inventory
Now that you know why content inventories are important let’s break down how to actually create your content inventory in 4 easy steps:
Cataloging/gathering
Metadata collection
Metric analysis
Updates
With Cataloging you want to start by gathering all of your assets in one location and creating a detailed list. Using tools like spreadsheets, content management systems (CMS), or digital asset management (DAM) platforms can help centralize all of your assets and can even help apply organizational filters or formulas. Tools like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets are a simple starting point for smaller-scale content inventories. CMS platforms such as WordPress, Drupal, or Joomla often have built-in features for content inventory management.
Once all of your digital assets are listed, you’ll want to make sure all relevant information for each asset is recorded. This information should not only list the number of assets and where they are located, but their purpose as well. Details such as target audience, publication date, keywords, author, tags, and links are crucial to the efficiency of your metadata collection.
Integrating performance metrics such as page views, social shares, and conversion rates into your content inventory is an efficient way to track performance metrics. They provide insights into the effectiveness of each piece of content. Use this as a guide to help you determine which content you should create more of and what you should shy away from.
And last but not least, set up a schedule for regular content inventory audits and updates. This ensures that your catalog remains accurate and reflects the current state of all digital assets.
A well-maintained content inventory is not just a list; it's a strategic asset that empowers businesses to make informed decisions about their digital presence. By understanding the purpose, ownership, and performance of each piece of content, organizations can optimize their strategies for maximum impact. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, a hearty content inventory will act as a guide to help your business use relevant platforms to drive successful engagement in your online presence.
To explore the explanations behind these discussed terms, refer to our blog post on the subject, Digital Marketing Terms Defined.
