She’s. Everywhere.
Marie Kondo, the tidying expert from Japan–whose self-proclaimed purpose in life is sparking joy and spreading serenity–has sold millions of books on organization and now has a popular series on Netflix (warning: it’s a tearjerker). Her Zenspired principles of keeping house are clearly resonating with the masses.
I’m not going to lie, I started reading “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” a while back and had a mini panic attack eight pages in: I’m not a hoarder, but I like stuff. Okay, I like lots of stuff. Stuff makes me feel happy and safe. Not to mention, I have a five-year-old who also likes stuff, so keeping a strictly organized and less-is-more home just isn’t going to happen any time in the foreseeable future. That said, I did skim the remainder of the book and walked away with a handful of helpful practices that I’ve applied to both my personal life (mostly closets and drawers) and my business, April May June, which recently underwent a website and content overhaul. My old website soooo did not spark joy (more on that later), and along with creating a new one, I also underwent a ruthless content hygiene mission.
What’s content hygiene, you ask?
If your content is feeling underwhelming, cumbersome, outdated, or unfocused, it’s probably time for a mindful edit. Here are some principles of the KonMari Method™ that I’ve adapted to help set you on the path to refining, refocusing, and revitalizing it.
Give Gratitude
Okay, this may seem a bit swirly out of the gate…but Kondo believes in taking a little time to greet your home and give it thanks each day. Ever think of doing that for your business?
Consider the fulfillment, customers, opportunities, and money it has provided you with. Imagine what the future of your business will look and feel like.
Taking a few minutes to give gratitude each morning (or any time, really) will help you manifest that future.
Visualize Your Goals
While you’re at it, carve out some time to think about the year ahead. Ask yourself what your business goals are for the next twelve months, and how content can support those goals.
Having a clear vision will help you develop the kind of strategic and inspired content that will drive your business’ path to success. Without a mindful approach, you could waste serious time and resources.
Commit to Tidying up
The process of tidying content (another way to say content hygiene) gives you the opportunity to evaluate all your content across every platform and media: blog, social media, website, newsletter, video, LinkedIn article, etc. Does existing content align with your current brand and business goals? Is it still relevant? Do your audiences care about it (are they liking/commenting/sharing it is one valuable metric)? How’s the writing quality? Is it search-optimized enough–or too much? Can any of it be salvaged, updated, and re-used?
Discard First
Once you’re all in on tidying your content, be ruthless about killing (I mean, gently removing) that which just isn’t up to snuff. SEO best practices would have you believe more content is better. But quality trumps quantity every time in my book. Don’t be afraid to delete sub-par content and replace it with the new and fresh. Or do a heavy edit and republish. Update the headline. Break a long-format blog into 2-3 microblogs that each tackle a single insight.
Ask If It Sparks Joy
You are the very first audience for your content. If it puts a smile on your face, makes you beam with pride or chuckle to yourself, or leaves you with a sense of accomplishment, then that’s a good indicator your audience will dig it, too. On the other hand, if it leaves you a bit meh, it’s time to reconsider the topic, form, approach, voice, and/or execution.
While I roll my eyes at the very idea of holding a sweater and asking myself if it sparks joy (ugh, just did it again!), there are some clear lessons to be learned from Marie Kondo’s KonMari Method™. If you take some time to reflect, consider, and plan, you’ll be well on your way to more purposeful and successful content.
If your business needs handholding through a purposeful content overhaul, contact AMJ.
Let’s work together.
Marie Kondo image credit: KonMari
