Introduction to content modeling
If content was a coffee, the content model would be the coffee cup, which holds all ingredients and the final product together. The cup is a constraint but together with the ingredients, it also gives you a lot of possibilities when making a coffee. Content modeling is very similar to this real-world scenario.
Table of contents
Key points
- Every content model is unique and consists mainly of content types and content type elements.
- Creating a content model is a collaborative effort and the best results are achieved if all stakeholders are involved.
- Having a content strategy, mapped out customer journeys, and an audit of the existing content is invaluable.
In content modeling, ingredients would be your content type elements (sometimes also called content attributes). The same ingredients can be used to make different types of coffee, so you are also able to create different content types with your content type elements.
Overall, the process of preparation would be the assembly model. You don't need to remember this term but it can be a suitable keyword if you look for more content modeling information.
How important is content modeling, really?
From the Kontent.ai team’s experience, well-modeled projects are more successful from both result and satisfaction points of view. For us, content modeling is one of the most important things that can decide the success of your project.
If you already know the basics and want to go further, hop on our content modeling e-learning path to master content modeling.
Detailed and careful preparation, with great ingredients and a bit of uniqueness, will set you up for success if you plan to open your own coffee chain. The same can be said for the content model.
The content model is the foundation of your project and although it may have similarities with the content models of others, it will have some unique traits. It’s so unique that no one will have exactly the same content model as you or your company. It’s only yours and no one else’s.
Creating a good model is hard, so the best approach is to start small and iterate. This can be done by building it in a flexible and extensible way. This should be your mantra for the whole process. On top of that, involve at least one stakeholder per department to address their needs and get internal buy-in for the model.
In this tutorial, we will use the coffee example to illustrate content modeling better, but here are some other real-life examples you could use to understand different content modeling terms.
| Building | Coffee | Article | Content |
| Building blueprint | Steps | Order of sections | Assembly model |
| Building codes | Coffee cup | Structure of articles and how they relate to each other | Content model |
| Bungalow, Duplex, Villa | Flat white, Cappuccino, Latte, Long black | Blog, News, Breaking news | Content types |
| Mortar, Bricks, Water, Cement, Timber, Tiles | Water, Beans, Milk, Creamer, Sugar | Images, Text, Video | Content type elements (or content attributes) |
| Pre-fab walls, Windows, Doors | Coffee pods, Creamer, Nescafe 3-in-1 | SEO fields, Metadata fields, CTAs | Content chunks |
Before you start modeling
This series is focused on content modeling itself. However, to become well-prepared and make content modeling easier, we recommend that you do a couple of activities that will help you understand your existing customers and content:
- Map your customer journey across all channels
- Dig into your current information architecture setup
- Audit your existing content