In content marketing, smarter always beats harder. It takes time, research, and effort to write high-quality content. The greatest mistake businesses make is publishing that content once and then walking away. Instead, the most effective marketers extract every bit of value from their best work by repurposing it across multiple formats.
The thing is that repurposed Digital storytelling is not about simply copying and pasting the same message. It’s all about turning one great piece of content into several others, each customised to different platforms and audiences. You can repurpose one blog post/video/podcast in a variety of new assets, from social media and emails to infographics, etc. You will reach many more people, drive more traffic, and achieve a better return on the time, money, and energy you have invested in creating content.
Start with a Strong, Evergreen Anchor Piece
It all starts with your tent-pole content. This is your base piece, your significant asset that you will repurpose into other formats. In content marketing, it typically refers to a blog post, a video, a webinar, or a podcast episode. The secret is that this piece must be evergreen (relevant over time and able to generate traffic months, even years, after it’s published).
To make anchor content that gets attention, pick something that answers a big question or solves a big problem that your audience has. Not just scratch the surface. Go deep, with data, quotes, examples and clear takeaways. Make it something people can use as an evergreen resource.
After you have created your anchor content, organise it so that it can be easily repurposed. Use clear breaks, bullet points and visuals. This also makes it easier to dissect it into smaller pieces of content later.
Your anchor content is the foundation of your content marketing efforts and the cornerstone of your multichannel strategy. It needs to convey your brand voice, speak directly to your audience, and contain keywords that are good for SEO. If you are writing a blog post, strive for at least 1,000 to 1,500 words. If the medium is video or a podcast, try for 10 to 20 minutes of high-value content.
This is your foundation. The stronger it is, the more stuff you can use in repurposing. With one meaty anchor piece of content, you’re set to create five new formats that can help you expand, strengthen, and multiply your impact.
Turn It into Social Media Content
Once you have your anchor piece, the quickest and easiest method to squeeze more value out of it is to break it down into many social media posts. This is where the flexibility of Digital storytelling comes in. Each section, stat, quote or tip from your original can be repurposed into a standalone post explicitly made for other platforms.
For instance, one blog post can be diluted and transformed into a string of quote cards or quick tips, a carousel post, or a short video. If the anchor content is a list of ways to do something, drip each one away in a post, making room for that conversation there. If your piece included a firm quote or data point, attach it to a visual and share it on LinkedIn or Instagram.
Tone and format it appropriately for the platform where you are posting. On LinkedIn, provide some storytelling and share insights conversationally. Instagram is popularity-affirming: the key is to look good. On X, aim for snappy, quick messaging that generates a thread or engagement.
You can also use comments and social engagement to push updates back to the original content. Feature a link to your blog, video or podcast episode and encourage followers to learn more.
The beautiful thing about this step in repurposing is how it keeps your social channels active and alive without overwhelming your schedule (or brain) with constantly coming up with new ideas. You are just re-creating the value you have already been producing in a snackable form that people will consume on the go.
Expand or Summarise It in an Email Newsletter
Email is among the top communication channels in content marketing, and your anchor content can support several email-based campaigns. So, whether you have a weekly update or product announcement you’re eager to share with your list, recycling your original piece into an email ensures that you stay top of mind with your readers and subscribers.
You can use your anchor content in email in two main ways. First, you can summarise it. Transform the main points into a concise, scannable message with a clear call to action that directs readers back to the whole piece. This can be particularly useful when you want to direct people back to your blog or website.
You can elaborate on one section. Select one idea or example from your anchor content marketing and expand on it in the email. Include a personal anecdote, an exclusive piece of advice or a case study that relates to your message. This provides value for your subscribers and allows them to use something immediately.
When Possible, fit the subject line and preview text to the main benefit. People open emails if they know they’re going to learn or fix a problem. Write in friendly, human language and ensure you include plenty of white space to make your content easy to read.
You can also segment your audience and slightly tailor the email for different groups. For instance, if a piece of Digital storytelling for your topic is about boosting online visibility, you would position it differently to freelancers than to e-commerce brands. By featuring your content in emails, you get a hit straight to your audience. It’s a way to deepen the relationship and prolong the life of the ideas you have already produced.
Convert It into a Visual Format, like a Video or Infographic
Visuals are an integral component of any content marketing strategy. Visuals are more effective because people process them faster and share more content, which often includes images or videos. Repurposing your anchor content into a visual format resonates with a different part of your audience.
If your original work is a blog post or article, try making it into a short video. This might be a summary with narration, an explainer with graphics, or even a talking-head video in which you walk through the main points. These are the perfect videos for platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram and, in some cases, even TikTok (if you can keep it short and playful).
Repurposing with infographics is also another excellent option. Extract key stats, points, or comparisons from your anchor content and package them into a neatly designed infographic. These are great for Pinterest, blog inserts, or freebies for your audience.
You can also turn slide decks into a visually engaging format that makes for a good presentation or content for LinkedIn. Leverage the structure of your content to design a visual step-by-step walk-through of the primary message. It’s excellent among B2B audiences and could also be easily adapted into a webinar or live stream.
You don’t need to be a designer to create visuals. Tools such as Canva or Visme can help you easily transform content into engaging graphics or videos. A visual post would even work wonders and reach far and wide.
Repurposing visual content transforms static information into something dynamic and shareable. It brings life to your message, and it opens up your content marketing to those who prefer to watch or scan rather than read.
Conclusion
Repurposing is one of the most intelligent things you can do in content marketing. It enables you to do more with less, amplifying the impact and reach of your work across various platforms and formats. And when you turn one solid anchor content into five different iterations, such as email, social posts, visuals, and more, you’re not only saving time. You need to create content that supports an ecosystem of visibility, engagement, and results.
All, of course, have their strengths. Social posts keep your brand in the feed and help ignite interest. Email marketing enables you to build deeper relationships with your audience and keep them informed about your offerings. Visual content, such as infographics and videos, expands your message to multiple learning types and increases shareability. And because it all leads back to one quality anchor piece, your messaging remains on point and uniform.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Digital storytelling is a strategic marketing approach that focuses on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience, ultimately driving profitable customer action. Digital storytelling doesn’t interrupt you; it attracts you by providing real value. It contributes to brand trust, authority, and loyal customer relationships. If you’re in business, you will use content marketing to inform potential clients, solve problems, and steer buyers in a specific direction.
Repurposing is critical to content marketing because it enables you to maximise the value of a piece of content you’ve already produced. If you’re taking one piece of content, say a blog post, and turning it into a video, an infographic, social posts and email, then you’re extending that life cycle for the content. This is a way for you to maximise your investment, saving time without compromising quality. Repurposing also allows you to customise content for different platforms and audiences, taking it where the people are. In short, in content marketing, “work smarter” means getting the most out of every piece of content.
There’s no single correct answer, and the best formats to use depend on the audience and your objectives. Blogs are an excellent way to gain long-term traffic and enhance SEO. Videos catch the eye and increase engagement, especially on social media. Email newsletters are an effective way to nurture leads. Infographics simplify complex data. They provide social proof and help establish trust. Podcasts can attract niche audiences and help enhance a brand’s personality. A great Digital storytelling strategy will sometimes feature a blend of formats to reach people on several levels. The magic comes when you create value in a way that your audience wants to consume it.
Digital storytelling schedule. There’s no one-size-fits-all content marketing schedule, but the key is maintaining consistency. Whether published weekly or twice a month, maintaining a consistent cadence will build trust with your audience and ensure your brand remains top of mind. It should align with how often your team can maintain quality. What’s more important than volume is that you’re providing helpful content, thoroughly researched, and that meets your audience’s needs. Begin small, then monitor the results and scale up as you determine what works. However, content marketing is an ongoing process.
Absolutely. Content marketing is ideal for small teams, as it doesn’t require large budgets, but rather a focus on consistent quality and a strategic approach. With a well-defined game plan and the right tools, a small team can make a significant impact. Begin by identifying topics that genuinely resonate with your audience and establishing a manageable schedule. Cross-post content to reach more of your audience. Employ schedulers and analytics for automation. Digital storytelling is all about creativity, rather than resources.
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Assessing the health of your Digital storytelling efforts: Where do you begin? Begin by knowing your goals. Is awareness your focus? Look at page views, impressions, and social shares. If you’re in the mood for engagement, monitor metrics for time on page, comments or email click-through rates. Perhaps downloads, form fills, or sales inquiries for lead generation. Leverage resources (e.g. Analytics, email platform reports, CRM dashboards, etc.) to demonstrate how your content program has connected with tangible results.
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