What are the best ways to organize social media content?

1 Define your objectives

Before you start creating or posting any content, you need to define your objectives for each social media platform and campaign. What are you trying to achieve? Who are you trying to reach? How do you want them to respond? Your objectives should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Having clear objectives will help you focus your content on the right topics, tone, and format, and also help you measure your results and adjust your strategy accordingly.

2 Conduct a content audit

A content audit is a process of reviewing and evaluating your existing social media content to identify what works, what doesn't, and what gaps or opportunities exist. You can use tools like analytics, surveys, or feedback to collect data on your content performance, such as reach, engagement, sentiment, conversions, and so on. You can also compare your content to your competitors' or industry benchmarks to see how you stand out or fall behind. A content audit will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses, and inform your content strategy and planning.

3 Create a content calendar

A content calendar is a tool that helps you plan, schedule, and organize your social media content in advance. It can be as simple as a spreadsheet or as complex as a software or app, depending on your needs and preferences. A content calendar will help you map out your content themes, topics, formats, and channels, and align them with your objectives, audience, and message. It will also help you balance your content mix, avoid repetition or inconsistency, and optimize your posting frequency and timing.

4 Use a content framework

A content framework is a system that helps you structure and categorize your social media content according to different criteria, such as purpose, value, or format. For example, you can use the 4-1-1 rule, which suggests that for every six pieces of content you share, four should be curated from other sources, one should be original and informative, and one should be promotional. Or you can use the PESO model, which stands for paid, earned, shared, and owned media, and describes the different types of content you can create or leverage. A content framework will help you diversify and balance your content portfolio, and ensure that you deliver value and relevance to your audience.

5 Implement a content workflow

A content workflow is a set of steps and procedures that guide you through the creation, approval, distribution, and management of your social media content. It can involve different roles, tasks, tools, and timelines, depending on the size and complexity of your organization and content strategy. A content workflow will help you streamline your content production process, improve your content quality and consistency, and avoid errors or delays.

6 Evaluate and improve your content

Organizing your social media content is not a one-time activity, but an ongoing practice that requires regular monitoring and evaluation. You need to track and measure your content performance against your objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs), and analyze the data and insights you collect. You also need to solicit and respond to feedback from your audience and stakeholders, and use it to improve your content and communication. Evaluating and improving your content will help you optimize your content effectiveness and efficiency, and achieve your strategic communication goals.