Want to be a great content marketer? Think like a manufacturer.

Gartner’s Jake Sorofman wrote a great piece about building a content supply chain.  His advice for understanding what it takes to use content as a tool to grow your business: think like a manufacturer.

Why?  Sorofman connects the dots:

Manufacturing is actually an instructive example for what it takes to scale and sustain a content marketing program. Why? Because content marketing requires a replenishing pipeline of engaging content—a content supply chain—that helps feed the beast every day.

The following table further illustrates the parallel between manufacturing and content marketing.

  

Adapted from: Sorofman’s article on building a content supply chain.

How can you successfully feed the beast?

Strategy.  As in manufacturing, strategy is essential when it comes to content.  Without a strategy in place your content efforts will fall flat and will not help you grow your business.  Here are 12 steps to a content strategy that will drive profitable customer action and help you grow your business.