How to Create a Content Strategy with the Pillar-Cluster Framework (step-by-step)

Are you struggling to create a content strategy that drives results for your business? The pillar-cluster framework can help. In this post, we'll explain what the pillar-cluster framework is and how it can help you create a winning content strategy as part of your overall SEO strategy that drives results for your business.

What is the Pillar-Cluster Framework?

The pillar-cluster framework is a way of organizing your content around a central theme or topic. This central piece of content, known as the "pillar" piece, is supported by a number of related "cluster" pieces of content that provide additional information and context.

For example, if your business sells outdoor gear, your pillar piece of content could be a comprehensive [guide](http://salomon.com/en-dk/outdoor/outdoor-advice/how-choose-your-hiking-boots(opens in a new tab)) to choosing the right hiking boots for different terrains and conditions. Your cluster pieces of content could include articles on the different types of hiking boots (e.g. waterproof, lightweight, insulated), product reviews of the top-rated hiking boots, round-ups of the best hiking boot brands, and a blog post on how to properly fit and care for your hiking boots.

By organizing your content in this way, you can create a cohesive and organized structure that is easy for your audience to understand and navigate. It also makes it easier for search engines to understand the content on your website and improve your search engine rankings.

How to Create a Content Strategy with the Pillar-Cluster Framework:

1. Identify your business goals and objectives.

What do you want to achieve with your content marketing? Are you trying to increase brand awareness, generate leads, or drive sales? By defining your goals, you can create a content strategy that is aligned with your business objectives.

2. Understand your target audience.

Who are you trying to reach with your content? What are their interests, needs, and pain points? By understanding your audience, you can create content that is relevant and valuable to them.

3. Choose a central theme or topic for your content strategy.

This will be the "pillar" piece of content around which you will organize your other content. Make sure to choose a topic that is relevant to your business goals and your target audience.

4. Create a list of related topics or ideas for your "cluster" pieces of content.

These should be closely related to the central theme or topic, but provide additional information and context.

5. Plan the details of your content strategy, including:

• The type of content (e.g. blog posts, videos, infographics)

• The frequency of publishing (e.g. daily, weekly, monthly)

• The channels for publishing (e.g. website, social media, email)

• The keywords and phrases to use for optimization (e.g. "hiking boots", "outdoor gear")

• The call-to-action for each piece of content (e.g. "Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest hiking gear reviews")

6. Create the content according to your plan.

Make sure to optimize it for search engines and your target audience. This may involve conducting research, writing and editing the content, designing visuals, and collaborating with other team members.

7. Publish and promote your content

Publish and promote your content, using the channels and tactics you have planned. This may involve publishing the content on your website, sharing it on social media, and sending it out via email newsletters. It may also involve promoting the content through paid advertising, guest blogging, or other tactics.

Tracking and Improving Your Content Strategy:

Once your content strategy is in place, it's important to regularly monitor and track its performance. This will help you understand what's working and what's not, and allow you to make adjustments and improvements as needed.

Here are some key metrics to track when evaluating the success of your content strategy:

• Traffic: How many people are visiting your website or viewing your content? This will help you understand the reach of your content and whether it's attracting the right audience.

• Engagement: How are people interacting with your content? Are they commenting, sharing, or liking your posts? This will help you understand the level of interest and engagement your content is generating.

• Conversions: How many people are taking the desired action, such as signing up for your email list or purchasing a product? This will help you understand the effectiveness of your content in achieving your business goals.

By regularly tracking and analyzing these metrics, you can make data-driven decisions about your content strategy and optimize it for better results.

Example of a pillar-cluster Content Strategy:

Let's say you're a marketing professional for an e-commerce company that sells outdoor gear. Your goal is to increase brand awareness and drive sales of your hiking boots.

Using the pillar-cluster framework, you create a content strategy with the following elements:

• Pillar piece of content: A comprehensive guide to choosing the right hiking boots for different terrains and conditions.

• Cluster pieces of content:

  • An article on the different types of hiking boots (e.g. waterproof, lightweight, insulated) and the pros and cons of each.

  • A product review of the top-rated hiking boots for men and women.

  • A round-up of the best hiking boot brands, including customer ratings and feedback.

  • A blog post on how to properly fit and care for your hiking boots to extend their lifespan.

You publish this content on your website and promote it on your social media channels, using the keywords "hiking boots" and "outdoor gear".

After a few weeks, you track the performance of your content strategy and see the following results:

• Traffic: The number of visitors to your website has increased by 25%.

• Engagement: The number of likes, comments, and shares on your social media posts has increased by 50%.

• Conversions: The number of people purchasing hiking boots on your website has increased by 10%.

Based on these results, you can conclude that your content strategy is successful in achieving your business goals. You can then continue to monitor and improve your content strategy over time to drive even better results.

These are naturally just example results, and actual results can vary a lot.

Conclusion

The pillar-cluster framework is a powerful tool for creating a comprehensive and organized content strategy. By defining your business goals, understanding your target audience, and organizing your content around a central theme, you can create a content strategy that is effective and efficient. By tracking and analyzing your performance, you can continuously improve your content strategy and achieve your business objectives.

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