Imagine request comes in: “We need a blog post about the latest digital trends.”
Everyone nods. But then… days pass. Nothing gets published. Emails fly back and forth. The content sits half-baked in a Google Doc. Sound familiar?
Welcome to the world of Content Ops.
We’re going to show you how to go from content request to published post in just 48 hours. 🏁
🚀 What is Content Ops?
Content Operations (Content Ops) is how your team plans, creates, and publishes content. It’s the backstage magic that makes great content happen—fast, smooth, and smart.
Think of it like a restaurant kitchen. The chef (your writer) can’t cook unless:
- Ingredients (info) are prepped
- Orders (requests) are clear
- Plates (channels) are ready
If the kitchen is chaos, no meals. If Content Ops is chaos, no content.
⏰ The 48-Hour Content Workflow
Let’s break it down. Here’s how to go from intake to publish in two days flat.
📥 Step 1: Intake (Hour 0 – 1)
This is where the content journey begins.
Someone fills out a request form. It should ask simple but important questions like:
- What type of content? (blog, email, video, etc.)
- Who’s the audience?
- What’s the goal?
- Are there key points or links?
Pro Tip: Make the form fun and easy. No one likes a 45-question quiz.
This step should take no more than an hour to fill and submit. Use tools like:
- Google Forms
- Jotform
- Trello with custom fields
📚 Step 2: Triage & Assign (Hour 1 – 4)
The content lead (editor or manager) reviews requests. Then, they:
- Reject irrelevant ones
- Group similar ideas
- Prioritize by timeline and impact
- Assign to the right person
Target time: 3 hours or less.
Use tags or labels. Keep it visual. Kanban boards like Asana or ClickUp work wonders.
This step ensures content doesn’t get lost in the black hole of ideas.
✏️ Step 3: Drafting (Hour 4 – 20)
Time to write!
Once a writer gets the green light, they build a brief:
- Headline idea
- Outline of sections
- Voice and tone checks
- Word count goal
Then, they write the first draft. The goal? First draft ready within 16 hours.
That includes time to research and sip suspicious amounts of coffee.
🧐 Step 4: Editing & Reviews (Hour 20 – 32)
The editor takes over. Here’s what happens:
- Check clarity and grammar
- Ensure brand voice fits
- Fix any structure issues
- Add formatting (headings, bullets, links)
Then it heads to the stakeholder. That could be a:
- Marketing manager
- Subject matter expert
- Legal reviewer (if needed)
Time limit: 12 hours total.
Set a rule: If it’s not reviewed by this window, it waits for the next publish cycle. Keep the conveyor belt moving!
🎨 Step 5: Design & Visuals (Hour 32 – 38)
Now comes the pretty part.
Based on the brief and draft, the designer creates:
- Featured image
- Social share graphic
- Any in-post visuals if needed
No designer? Use templates from tools like Canva or Adobe Express. Even basic visuals boost engagement!
Keep this part tight. Let’s cap it at 6 hours.
🌍 Step 6: Upload & Optimize (Hour 38 – 44)
Bye Google Docs. Hello CMS.
The content goes into WordPress, Webflow, or whatever platform you use.
Do a final polish here:
- Check formatting and links
- Add metadata (title + description)
- Insert keywords for SEO
- Set categories and tags
Bonus: Add internal links to improve user flow.
🚨 Step 7: Final QA & Schedule (Hour 44 – 47)
One last pair of eyes goes over the content.
They look for:
- Typos or broken links
- Mobile formatting issues
- Alt-text on images
- Accurate publish time
This step avoids errors that go “live” and haunt you forever.
🚀 Step 8: Publish! (Hour 48)
Cue the fireworks. The content is up and live.
You made it. You turned a request into reality – in 48 hours.
Now share it proudly:
- Push to social media
- Drop it in your newsletter
- Send it to your team
🛠 Tools That Make It All Possible
Here’s a quick toolkit to save your sanity:
- Forms: Google Forms, Typeform
- Project Boards: Trello, Asana, ClickUp
- Writing: Google Docs, Notion, AI tools
- Design: Figma, Canva, Adobe Express
- Publish: WordPress, HubSpot, Ghost
🧠 Tips from the Pros
Tip #1: Set deadlines with breathing room. People work better when the clock isn’t scary.
Tip #2: Build templates for EVERYTHING. Briefs, outlines, even feedback forms.
Tip #3: Use a content calendar. Seeing the flow helps everyone plan ahead.
🔥 Wrapping It Up
Content doesn’t have to take weeks. With a good Content Ops system, you can go from idea to publish in just 48 hours. 🔄
Speed doesn’t kill quality—lack of process does.
So, set up the conveyor belt. Build trust with your team. Streamline your tools. And start creating content that actually ships.
Because in the world of content, “done” is always better than “perfect… someday.”
Now, ready to push publish?
