What is content modeling?

If you need to hone your skills in content modeling, you've come to the right place. In this blog post, we'll walk through the fundamentals of a content model—and discuss the good sides and the more challenging sides.

Think of content modeling as organizing your messy closet: it takes some time and effort, but the results make your life so much easier.

But how? Let's dive right in!

The essence of content modeling

Content modeling is all about organizing and defining your content pieces and their relationships with one another. Imagine your content as a puzzle: content modeling is thus like creating a blueprint that shows how the different pieces fit together.

This lays the foundation for an organized content system, making it easier to manage and maintain for your editorial team.

Content modeling is closely tied to the notion of structured content—data organized in a consistent, systematic, and predictable manner. By building an equally consistent model for your content, you're setting the stage for a future-proof execution of your organization’s content strategy.

Perks of content modeling: why bother?

You might be wondering, “why should I spend time on content modeling?” As we shall see, there are some pretty great perks:

Easier content management: Just like having a tidy closet makes it easier to find your favorite shirt, a well-organized content model makes managing your content a breeze. With clearly defined pieces and relationships, you can quickly locate, update, or reuse content as needed.

Flexibility and scalability: A solid content model allows you to adapt to changes without causing a headache. Whether it's adding new types of content, updating existing ones, or integrating new platforms, a content model enables your content to scale with your organization's strategy and growth.

Read more: Why editors should use structured content »

Consistency and brand reinforcement: A well-thought-out content model helps maintain a unified voice and look across all your channels. By defining how each content piece should be structured and presented, you can reinforce your brand identity and create a consistent experience for your users across all channels.

Possible hiccups: not all sunshine and rainbows

But not all is a bed of roses, as content modeling comes with its own set of challenges to overcome. Here are a couple you might encounter:

Initial time investment: Cleaning your closet takes time, and so does content modeling. It requires a thorough analysis of your content and its purpose. However, the long-term benefits far outweigh the time spent initially.

Ongoing maintenance: Just like your closet, your content model needs regular updates and decluttering. As your organization evolves and your content needs to change too, you'll need to review and refine your content model to ensure it stays relevant.

Embracing content modeling in your content journey

In a nutshell, content modeling is the process of organizing and defining your content pieces and their relationships. It makes it easier for your editors to manage the ever-growing depository of content, it allows for the content to be used in different contexts and to be scaled up into multinational territory—or scaled down to smaller contexts, if necessary.

Finally, content modeling also helps maintain consistency across your brand by having a single source of truth, so to speak. Of course, building a robust and future-proof content model requires time and effort.

But the payoff is worth it.

Now, if you're ready to enhance your content strategy, take the plunge into content modeling and watch the results yourself. Good luck, and happy organizing!