The Content Generation Process That Makes Me $70k/Month

As my sites have got bigger and my team has grown,

I've found it necessary to create a clear process for content production.

But, even if it's just you and one site, I still think that you could find some value from copying this.

So I'm sharing it with you below...

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For a while I used Google sheets,

Then I tested out a bunch of paid project management tools, 

But in the end I settled on Trello.

I use the free version and I love how it's so simple, yet powerful enough for my needs with a small team of ten freelancers.

(Note: I could be making bank as an affiliate for Monday, Asana, Click-Up or any of those, but instead, I'm sending you to Trello which is free and doesn't have an affiliate program, because in IMO it's the best, and I'm not a dick)

Trello is made up of boards with cards on, like post-it notes on a whiteboard.

Here's what my Trello looks like...

I have one board per site.

I changed the background of each board to something related to the theme of the site so you easily know which one you're on.

Each post is a card.

I made a template, which is use to create each card so I know what info goes on it.

Each card has a checklist for writers and VAs.

They never miss a task because they have to tick a boxes to say they've done them all.

I use labels to assign cards to people.

Team members can filter by their name to see only their work.

Cards move across columns from left to right.

As a blog post progresses, it moves across the board from concept to completion. 

I can add due dates for more urgent ones and it's easy to see where the bottlenecks are.

Here are my columns:

1. Keyword ideas - KWs I come across are stored here. These are often made in batches, so I'll use a card for each batch, with a checklist of the keywords.
   
2. Briefs in progress - A post will be here while I'm working on the detailed KW research and outline.
3. Research - If extra research is needed by a VA or expert, the post will be here until that's done.
4. Writing - These are the posts that writers are working on, or are about to start.
5. Proofing by editor - The editor will spend up to 10 mins improving each post. If it needs more than that, it goes back to the writer with comments on the card.
6. Choosing images - This is usually my task because I take a lot of photos myself and that makes it hard for anyone else to know what I have and where it is.
7. Uploading - This includes formatting, adding affiliate links and getting the post ready to publish
8. Final checks and internal linking - This is also my task because again, I know what posts we have to link to and/from better than any other person or tool does.
9. Live - As the post goes live a date is added, which will be useful when it comes to updating after 12 months.
10. Blocked - Not every post makes it through the process. Occasionally, there's a reason why one won't ever be finished. Those live here.

And that's our process.

I find Trello really easy to work with. 

To train the team I made some quick screen-recording videos with Loom (that's also free).

Everyone picked it up really quickly.

If you're ready to move onto something a bit better than a spreadsheet for your content production, then I suggest giving Trello a go.

It's been a gamechanger for me.

Until next time, 

NSL

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