How to Develop a Content Pillar Strategy

Content is king in today’s digital landscape, and creating a comprehensive content strategy is crucial for any business looking to succeed online. One of the most effective ways to develop a content strategy is by using a content pillar strategy. A content pillar strategy involves creating a few broad pieces of content that serve as the foundation for a larger body of related content. Before learning content marketing and content pillar strategy, it’s better to have a free consultation with experienced digital marketing agencies like Local SEO Sydney.

However, in this article, we will explore how to develop a content pillar strategy, drawing insights from two sources: SEMrush and Marketing Insider Group. We will provide an SEO-friendly guide that explains the key steps involved in developing a successful content pillar strategy.

What is a Content Pillar Strategy?

Before we dive into the steps involved in creating a content pillar strategy, let’s first define what it is. A content pillar strategy is a technique used to organize content on a website. It involves creating a few high-quality pieces of content that cover a broad topic in-depth. These pieces of content serve as the foundation for a larger body of related content that can be created and linked to them. This approach enables businesses to establish themselves as thought leaders on a specific topic and build a library of related content around it.

Step 1: Define Your Pillar Topics

The first step in creating a content pillar strategy is to identify your pillar topics. A pillar topic should be a broad, overarching theme that you want to cover on your website. It should be a topic that is relevant to your business and that your target audience is interested in.

To identify your pillar topics, you can start by brainstorming a list of topics that are related to your business. For example, if you’re a marketing agency, your pillar topics could be “content marketing,” “social media marketing,” and “SEO.” Once you have a list of potential pillar topics, you should narrow it down to a few that are the most important to your business.

Step 2: Conduct Keyword Research

Once you have identified your pillar topics, the next step is to conduct keyword research. Keyword research involves identifying the specific keywords and phrases that people are using to search for information related to your pillar topics. This will help you understand the language that your target audience is using and what specific questions they are asking.

To conduct keyword research, you can use a keyword research tool like SEMrush or Google Keyword Planner. These tools will provide you with data on search volume, competition, and related keywords. Once you have identified your target keywords, you can use them to optimize your pillar content and related content.

Step 3: Create Your Pillar Content

Once you have identified your pillar topics and conducted keyword research, the next step is to create your pillar content. Pillar content should be in-depth, high-quality, and provide comprehensive coverage of your pillar topic. This content will serve as the foundation for your related content, so it’s important to get it right.

Your pillar content can take many forms, such as blog posts, videos, podcasts, or whitepapers. The format you choose will depend on your target audience and the type of content they prefer to consume. For example, if your target audience is primarily visual learners, you may want to create a video or infographic.

Step 4: Develop Your Related Content

Once you have created your pillar content, the next step is to develop your related content. Related content should be more specific and focused on subtopics related to your pillar topic. It should also link back to your pillar content and be optimized for the keywords you identified in your keyword research.

To develop your related content, you can use a variety of formats, such as blog posts, videos, podcasts, infographics, or social media posts. The key is to provide valuable information to your target audience that is related to your pillar topic.

Step 5: Promote Your Content

The final step in developing a content pillar strategy is to promote your content. Creating great content is only half the battle. You need to ensure that your target audience sees it and engages with it.

To promote your content, you can use a variety of tactics, such as social media, email marketing, influencer outreach, and paid advertising. The key is to promote your content in a way that is targeted and relevant to your audience.

• One effective tactic is to use social media to promote your content. You can share your content on your social media channels and encourage your followers to share it with their networks. You can also use paid social media advertising to target your content to a specific audience.
• Another effective tactic is to use email marketing to promote your content. You can send an email to your subscribers announcing the release of your pillar content and encouraging them to check it out. You can also use email marketing to promote your related content and drive traffic to your website.
• Influencer outreach is another effective tactic for promoting your content. You can reach out to influencers in your industry and ask them to share your content with their followers. This can help you reach a wider audience and build credibility with your target audience.
• Finally, you can use paid advertising to promote your content. You can use platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads to target your content to a specific audience. This can help you reach a larger audience and drive traffic to your website.

Conclusion

In today’s digital landscape, creating a comprehensive content strategy is crucial for any business looking to succeed online. A content pillar strategy is an effective way to organize content on your website and establish yourself as a thought leader on a specific topic. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can develop a successful content pillar strategy that will help you drive traffic to your website, build credibility with your target audience, and ultimately, achieve your business goals.