If you’ve ever roasted a chicken and thought, “How can I make this go further?” then this blog is for you. A few weeks ago, I found myself with a whole roast chicken and a packet of five chicken legs. Instead of letting it be a one-night wonder, I turned that chicken into seven different meals for two people.
It got me thinking. Just like I stretched that chicken to its limits, you can stretch your content.
One blog, one post, one piece of advice can be turned into a range of content that keeps working for your business over and over. Here’s how I did it with the chicken, and how you can do it with your content.
Stretching a Roast Chicken
When I first roasted the chicken, we had a classic roast dinner, of course. But I didn’t stop there. The leftover roast chicken found its way into a chicken pasta dish, and then, I used some for chicken fajitas. The remaining chicken was perfect for a hearty chicken casserole, which made use of bits that might otherwise be wasted.
But I didn’t just rely on that one bird. I also had those chicken legs. I cooked them up and turned them into a chicken chasseur. Two of the chicken legs went into the freezer for a future meal (because who doesn’t like a freezer stash?), and the last bit was perfect for a couple of lunches.
Seven meals from one chicken and five legs. It’s all about seeing the potential in what’s left and repurposing it into something new. And that’s exactly how you should be thinking about your content.
Repurposing Your Content Like a Chicken Dinner
Now, let’s take that concept into the business world. Too often, I see business owners pour their heart and soul into one blog post, one social media update, or one email and think that’s the end of it. But, just like I turned one chicken into seven meals, you can turn one piece of content into multiple forms that keep on giving.
Here’s how to repurpose your content for maximum impact:
- Break it down into smaller parts
Think of your original content as the roast chicken. It’s the big, all-encompassing meal. Now, how can you break that content down? Maybe your blog post can become several smaller social media updates, each focusing on a different key point. Perhaps you can create an infographic summarising the main ideas. This way, you get more content without creating something brand new from scratch.
- Change the format
Your blog post doesn’t have to stay as just a blog. Turn it into a video, a podcast episode, or even a downloadable checklist. Just like chicken casserole is different from roast chicken, changing the format of your content gives it new life. It reaches people in a way that works best for them.
- Create follow-up content
Repurposing doesn’t mean copying. It’s about expanding and building on what you’ve already created. If your first blog is about the benefits of a product or service, a follow-up post could dive into how to get the most out of it. If you’ve written a ‘how-to’ guide, create a case study showing it in action. Each piece complements the original, just like my freezer meal gave me an extra dinner on a busy night.
- Use your content across platforms
Just like my chicken became fajitas one night and pasta the next, your content can work in different places. A blog post on your website can be turned into LinkedIn articles, Instagram stories, and email newsletters. Don’t limit yourself to one platform—let your content stretch across as many as make sense for your business.
- Update and refresh
Sometimes you need to make your content fresh again, just like adding some new flavours to leftover chicken. Go back to an old blog post and update it with the latest info. Use it as a base and add something new. This is particularly useful for ‘evergreen’ content that stays relevant over time.
Why Repurposing Works for Small Businesses
As small business owners, we don’t always have the time to create new content every day. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still show up regularly for your audience. Repurposing gives you the chance to make the most of the time and effort you’ve already invested. Plus, it helps reinforce your message—people often need to hear things more than once for it to really sink in.
Think of repurposing as a way to ‘supercharge’ your content. Just like superheroes reuse their skills in different situations, you can use your content to tackle different challenges in your marketing.
Ready to Repurpose Like a Pro?
Repurposing content isn’t just a time-saver; it’s a smart way to keep your audience engaged without burning out. If you’re wondering how to get started, why not join the Hub? It’s where I help businesses like yours discover their own superpowers, including how to repurpose content for maximum impact. With simple tips, strategies, and support, you’ll never have to worry about wasting good content again.
And there you have it—just like stretching a roast chicken into seven meals, you can make your content go further too!
Join the Hub today and turn your next blog post into a whole feast of content that keeps giving!