Frameworks – Create Content For Every Stage Of The Client Journey
If you’re looking to streamline your marketing and guide your audience through a clear journey, content frameworks can be your secret weapon. Create frameworks that work for your style of content and then use them to guide your audience through your business so the finish up in the right place for them.
Instead of using these frameworks as one-off ideas, imagine each as a powerful piece of a puzzle, strategically placed to move a reader from discovery to conversion.
Below, I’ll include ten simple frameworks you can use to create content, with a bit of planning, you can choose from these 10 frameworks to build a content funnel that educates, engages, and ultimately converts readers. I’ll focus on using email marketing and growing a subscriber list but these frameworks can apply to any niche, so simply substitute your niche and business for the examples I’ve used.
Here’s how to make it happen.
Awareness Stage – Introducing the Problem and Solution
In the early stages, your goal is to attract people who might not know you or even realize they need your solution.
These frameworks help capture attention, introduce key concepts, and build initial trust.
1. Storytelling
My favourite type of content, without a doubt, even a simple short story that spans less than a paragraph can be enough to capture attention.
•Why It Works: Storytelling captures attention and creates a personal connection, making it perfect for introducing a relatable problem.
•Example: Share a story about a common struggle your audience faces. If your goal is to help people grow their email lists, share a story of someone struggling to build their audience, highlighting the frustration and challenges they encountered before finding a solution.
2. Problem-Solution
•Why It Works: Readers are naturally drawn to content that identifies their pain points and offers a solution, which is ideal for awareness-level engagement.
•Example: Write an article that begins with the problem of “How to grow an email list fast,” and lay out the broad strokes of your solution. Show that you understand their struggle and that there’s a clear path forward.
3. Mistake Analysis
•Why It Works: This framework allows you to connect with readers by addressing common missteps, which positions you as an authority while offering immediate value.
•Example: Highlight common mistakes people make when trying to grow their email list—like overcomplicating the process or targeting the wrong audience—and briefly mention how you help people avoid these pitfalls.
These frameworks are designed to make your audience aware of problems and that solutions exist and finally that you have the solutions and you will share them.
Consideration Stage – Educating and Nurturing Trust
At this point, your audience is aware of your solution but might need more details and confidence to move forward. This is where deeper, more educational content comes in.
4. How-to Guide
•Why It Works: Providing a step-by-step guide on a key topic shows your expertise and willingness to offer practical help, nurturing trust.
•Example: Create a detailed guide on “How to Build an Engaged Email List,” outlining exactly how someone can start from scratch. Show them each step without overwhelming them, giving them just enough to feel capable and curious about what else you can offer.
5. Case Study
•Why It Works: Case studies offer proof, showing real results from someone who followed your process, which reassures those still on the fence.
•Example: Share a case study of a client or business who went from zero to thousands of subscribers using your method. Include specific numbers and actionable details, so readers can visualize themselves achieving similar results.
6. Step-by-Step Process
•Why It Works: A clearly outlined process can help prospects understand the “how” behind your approach, setting them up for future success.
•Example: Break down a step-by-step email list-building process, and hint at how this process fits into your larger solution. You might cover the first few steps in detail, leaving the rest for those interested in diving deeper.
Conversion Stage – Motivating Action and Building Confidence
By now, your audience knows the solution exists and has seen the proof. The goal here is to convert readers who are on the verge of taking action but may need that final push.
7. Listicle
•Why It Works: Listicles are quick to read and easy to digest, ideal for summarizing key benefits or reasons to take action. (This article has many elements been in listicles.)
•Example: Write a listicle titled “5 Reasons You Should Start Growing Your Email List Today.” Emphasize why starting now, rather than later, will make a difference in their success.
8. Personal Anecdote
•Why It Works: Sharing your personal experience creates a connection and reassures your audience that you’ve been in their shoes.
•Example: Share a personal story about your journey to building a large email list, including doubts, struggles, and eventual success. Highlight how the action you’re suggesting made all the difference for you, and it could do the same for them.
9. Behind-the-Scenes
•Why It Works: Letting readers “peek behind the curtain” can demystify your process and make your solution feel more accessible.
•Example: Give a behind-the-scenes look at your email marketing process—how you write emails, track engagement, and interact with your audience. Show that this process isn’t complicated and that it’s something they can do, too.
Action Stage – Encouraging Immediate Engagement
At this stage, your goal is to inspire your audience to act. You’ve built trust, established your expertise, and demonstrated value. Now, you need a clear and compelling call to action.
10. Call to Action
Now we get to the framework that matters, the call to action. I’ve found over the years that people can often forget this stage despite getting their audience to this point. NEVER be afraid to add a call to action to your content. Use your call to action to tell the reader what you want them to do next.
•Why It Works: A direct call to action cuts through the noise, providing a clear, actionable step for readers ready to engage.
•Example: Write a straightforward CTA inviting readers to sign up for your offer in this case it wouldmaybe be a free email list-building toolkit.
Emphasize simplicity and value and provide a clear link for easy access.
Putting It All Together
By using these frameworks strategically, you can guide your audience seamlessly from awareness to action. Each framework serves a specific purpose in the funnel, building trust, educating, and inspiring them to take that next step.
When you’re ready to get started, think of your content as part of a journey, not a series of random posts.
By aligning each piece with a stage of your funnel, you’ll create a streamlined experience that leads readers toward action in a way that feels natural and valuable.
So, pick a framework, choose a stage, and start building content that guides your audience step-by-step toward becoming loyal subscribers or customers.
You’ll soon find that a well-structured content funnel doesn’t just convert—it builds lasting relationships with your audience.
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