Time is money, especially when you’re running a small business. You’re always looking for ways to be more efficient, right? Content creation can be a huge time suck. But what if you could get more mileage out of the content you already have? That’s where content repurposing comes in. It’s all about breathing new life into existing material, saving you time and resources.
What is Content Repurposing?
Think of content repurposing as recycling for your blog posts, videos, or social media updates. Instead of creating something entirely new from scratch, you take a piece of existing content and transform it into a different format. For example, you could turn a blog post into an infographic, a webinar into a series of short videos, or customer testimonials into social media posts.
Why Should Small Businesses Repurpose Content?
Here’s why repurposing content is a smart move for small businesses:
- Saves Time and Money: Creating original content takes time and resources. Repurposing allows you to leverage what you’ve already invested in.
- Reaches a Wider Audience: Different people prefer different formats. Some like to read blog posts, while others prefer watching videos or listening to podcasts. Repurposing lets you cater to various learning styles and preferences.
- Boosts SEO: More content means more opportunities to rank in search results. Repurposing can help you target different keywords and long-tail phrases.
- Reinforces Your Message: Repetition is key to memorability. By presenting the same information in different formats, you increase the chances of your audience remembering your message.
- Extends Content Lifespan: Gives older content new life
How to Repurpose Content: Ideas and Examples
Ready to start repurposing? Here are some ideas to get you going:
- Blog Post to Infographic: Turn a data-heavy blog post into a visually appealing infographic. Use statistics and key takeaways to create a shareable visual.
- Webinar to Video Series: Break down a long webinar into shorter, digestible video clips. Share these on social media or YouTube.
- Podcast Episode to Blog Post: Transcribe a podcast episode and edit it into a blog post. Add images and links to make it more engaging.
- Customer Testimonials to Social Media Posts: Turn positive customer reviews into eye-catching social media posts. Use graphics or short videos to highlight the testimonials.
- Ebook to Email Series: Divide an ebook into a series of email newsletters. This is a great way to nurture leads and promote your expertise.
- Presentation Slides to SlideShare Presentation: Share your presentations to SlideShare and reach a completely new audience.
Examples of Businesses That Repurpose Content Well
Many successful businesses use content repurposing as a core strategy. For example, a marketing agency might turn client success stories into case studies, blog posts, and social media updates. A financial advisor could repurpose webinar content into blog posts, infographics, and short video tips.
Tools to Help You Repurpose Content
There are plenty of tools available to help you repurpose content. Here are a few examples:
- Canva: For creating visually appealing graphics and infographics.
- Animoto: For turning blog posts into short videos.
- Otter.ai: For transcribing audio and video content.
- Google Docs: An easy way to write a blog post or transcript.
- Social Media Scheduling Tools: like Buffer and Hootsuite, which save a lot of time.
Tips for Effective Content Repurposing
Keep these tips in mind for successful content repurposing:
- Start with Your Best Content: Focus on repurposing content that has already performed well.
- Tailor to the Platform: Adapt your content to the specific platform you’re using. What works on Facebook might not work on LinkedIn.
- Add Value: Don’t just copy and paste. Add new information, insights, or visuals to make the repurposed content fresh and engaging.
- Update and Refresh: Make sure your content is up-to-date and accurate before repurposing it.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Here are some common pitfalls to avoid when repurposing content:
- Not Optimizing for Different Platforms: Posting the same content across all platforms without tailoring it to each audience.
- Ignoring SEO: Neglecting to optimize repurposed content for search engines.
- Repurposing Low-Quality Content: Starting with content that wasn’t good to begin with.
- Over-Repurposing: Bombarding your audience with the same content over and over again.
Content repurposing can be a game-changer for small businesses. By making the most of your existing content, you can save time, reach a wider audience, and boost your SEO. So, start thinking about how you can breathe new life into your old content today!