Suppose youโre taking a trip to the fishery to catch some fresh seafood for lunch or dinner (or both). You go to Oaklandโs port area or the seafood market in Miami where you find fresh produce like sardines, swordfish, crabs, lobsters, salmon, cod, or other fish.
There are a wide array of sellers and shops in these markets. They can bore some customers and can interest some. The advantage of these marketers is that the arrangement allows for an enjoyable day. Shopping malls are more or less the same as they are hubs for entertainment, retail, and shopping.
Try applying this idea to content. Instead of having pieces of content scattered throughout a website, they can be put together in content hubs in a cohesive and organized manner. It helps create a centralized hub for content to make a home for articles, blog posts, ebooks, infographics, and videos on relevant subject matters.
However, research on content shows a sobering trend; only one-third of produced content is used. But content hubs help change that outcome drastically. Now is a good time to read about them in some detail.
Content Hubs – what are they?
A content hub is a collection of content, curated and presented in an organized manner. Such a hub is branded and presents either one or more topics. It is a home for an array of resources where articles, blog posts, infographics, videos, and other forms of content are present under a single umbrella.
Suppose a food company specializing in a multitude of food products has a website and a blog. Their blog would feature resources related to nutritional guides, food hacks, articles about the founder and board chefs, plus recipes too.
Content hubs are required as they are instrumental in creating both clout and credibility. If they are utilized properly then they can help brands overcome barriers and become a certified launchpad for information on a particular topic/set of topics.
These hubs help maintain the quality of content on websites. Using one can give content a longer life and amplify its impact in an organized and tactical manner.
Various kinds of content hubs
Those who are curious about creating a content hub, have options available. There are numerous ways of making a content hub. Working towards a higher ranking in SEO performance helps the content hub become noticeable online.
The Hub-and-Spoke Model
This is one of the most popular configurations of content hubs. The hub-and-spoke model is created to raise the effectiveness and reach. The content hub works as the hub (i.e. center) and the pieces of content are its branches. They are optimized with one parent page linking out to different elements of the content hub.
The Library Model
The content library model is a much more organized structure showing content organized in categories and subgroups. Each of them has links to various pages present. Articles, blogs, case studies, and other kinds of content are categorized in a topicwise manner. One of the best examples is Think with Google.
The Topic Gateway Model
They are a more advanced version of content libraries focusing on only one topic. It starts with a static topic overview page giving a top-level summary of the topic in the spotlight. The page also contains links to additional comprehensive information on relevant subtopics, either as in-text links or in a directory.
The most common examples are Wikipedia and other Wiki-based sites. They use the topic gateway format with each focusing on a specific topic. Yet it provides links to relevant pages with more detailed information. Compared to others, it offers a wide range of topics and content.
Apart from subtopic main pages and articles focusing on long-tail queries, a topic gateway homepage also has a dynamic feed of content published recently. Latest news, updates, and other findings are hence easy for users to discover. This provides a top-class user experience (UX).
The Content Database Model
The Content Database Model has a large amount of content organized properly. It includes images, articles, blog posts, infographics, downloadables, glossaries, directories, videos and the like.
Content Databases rely on tactics of categorization and taxonomy to organize and sort content. They use automation, filters, and search functionalities to help users move through large libraries seamlessly to find the content they need.
Tips on creating a content hub
The design and style of the content hub depend mostly on the brandโs guidelines and existing online presence. Though it has a separate destination, it must resemble the remaining part of the website.
ย Marketing experts from a Digital marketing company in Dubai reveal that content marketers must spend time deciding on the topic and content to be included in the content hub. Here are some proven tips on creating a content hub:
- Picking a theme using the pillars of the content strategy and associated sub-topics.
- Conducting an audit of content to decide what to promote. Regardless of whether it is old or new, conduct the audit and check its performance. Best-performing content should be featured.
- A web page for the content hub should be made. This will help both the bots and the audience find all the organized content in one central spot.
- Making content at scale. The hub should be updated with fresh and rejuvenated content.
- Blogs and social media channels should be integrated. They save time by getting updated automatically. It keeps everything up-to-date constantly.
- Time to launch and promote the content hub. A promotion plan should be worked accordingly to help the audience discover new content.