Welcome to the Content Production Working Session, a pivotal first step in our collaboration. This session is designed to ensure a seamless alignment between your team and ours. It’s where we dive deep into the essential elements of your content and the logistical details of the project to solidify our understanding and prepare for effective execution.
It’s critical for those who’ll be placing content orders and evaluating the delivered content to attend. Our goal is to gather comprehensive insights to create accurate project briefs, train our writers and editors effectively, build efficient workflows, and ensure the content we deliver meets your expectations precisely.
Pre-Session Preparation Checklist
To ensure our working session is as productive as possible, please complete the following tasks before our call:
Review Our Style Guide: Familiarize yourself with our in-house style guide, based on AP Style, and note any specific exceptions or adaptations your content requires.
Send Calibration Content Briefs: Provide content briefs for 2-3 calibration pieces at least 48 hours before the session.
Share Essential Resources: Submit any additional materials that will aid in content creation, such as your own style guides, voice guidelines, audience personas, or examples of target content.
Prepare: Be prepared to discuss the topics below during the call.
Welcome to the Content Production Working Session, a pivotal first step in our collaboration! This session is designed to ensure a seamless alignment between your team and ours. It’s where we dive deep into the essential elements of your content and the logistical details of the project to solidify our understanding and prepare for effective execution.
It’s critical for those who’ll be placing content orders and evaluating the delivered content to attend. Our goal is to gather comprehensive insights to create accurate project briefs, train our writers and editors effectively, build efficient workflows, and ensure the content we deliver meets your expectations precisely.
Pre-Session Preparation Checklist
To ensure our working session is as productive as possible, please complete the following tasks before our call:
Review Our Style Guide: Familiarize yourself with our in-house style guide, based on AP Style, and note any specific exceptions or adaptations your content requires.
Send Calibration Resources: Provide resources for calibration at least 48 hours prior to the working session. For PDs, send URLs or manufacturer links (or other agreed-upon resources) for 5 to 10 orders. For longer-form content, such as category page footers, please send 2 or 3 briefs.
Share Essential Resources: Submit any additional materials that will aid in content creation, such as your own style guides, voice guidelines, audience personas, product images, or examples of target content.
Prepare: Be prepared to discuss the topics below during the call.
A working session is a crucial meeting that takes place after closing a sale, often serving as the initial point of contact between the production team and the client. The primary objective of a working session is to align the person overseeing production with the client’s vision for the completed content.
During this meeting, participants engage in detailed discussions about the voice, style, structure, and purpose of the content. Project logistics are determined, and all necessary information is gathered to move forward with the calibration phase.
The Importance of Working Sessions
Working sessions are critical to the success of content projects for several reasons:
Proper alignment achieved during working sessions leads to deliverables that meet the client’s expectations in terms of voice and quality.
Covering the minutiae during working sessions ensures consistent deliverables from larger teams of remote writers and editors.
Determining logistics in working sessions results in predictable cadences, on-time deliveries, and smooth, efficient workflows.
Skipping or even cutting corners on a working session can lead to a challenging onboarding process, multiple calibration rounds, delays in full launch, and potential client dissatisfaction. Rather than relying solely on forms or questionnaires, conducting working sessions in person is preferable to facilitate follow-up questions and consulting on issues that might not otherwise come up.
Types of Discovery in Working Sessions
Discovery is a key aspect of working sessions, designed to methodically extract all the important details from the client and compile them in a way that makes sense to writers and editors. This process helps avoid the “tap test” scenario, where the client believes they’ve accurately described their requirements but the delivered content fails to meet their expectations.
During working sessions, various types of discovery take place, including:
Understanding the client’s goals and objectives for the content
Identifying the target audience and their needs
Discussing the desired voice, tone, and style of the content
Determining the structure and format of the deliverables
Addressing any specific requirements or preferences for the content
Gathering necessary information and resources to support the content creation process
While other topics are discussed during the working session, it’s the content discovery process that’s most critical to onboarding and long-term project success.
10 Tips for Conducting Effective Working Sessions
There are many ways to approach a working session, but consider the following tips to help ensure you and your client get the most out of this crucial process.
Prepare a comprehensive agenda: Before the working session, create a detailed agenda that covers all the essential topics to be discussed. Share the agenda with the client in advance to ensure everyone is on the same page and prepared for the meeting. We’ve created an agenda you can use within our ebook: Guide to Onboarding Clients and Launching Content Projects.
Assign a dedicated facilitator: Choose a team member to facilitate the working session. The facilitator is responsible for keeping the conversation on track, ensuring all agenda items are covered, and promoting active participation from all attendees.
Encourage open communication: Foster an environment that encourages open and honest communication. Encourage the client to share their ideas, concerns, and expectations freely, and ensure all team members have the opportunity to contribute to the discussion.
Use active listening techniques: Practice active listening during the working session. Pay close attention to the client’s input, ask clarifying questions, and rephrase key points to ensure a shared understanding.
Leverage visual aids: Utilize visual aids, such as presentation decks, to help illustrate concepts and facilitate better understanding. Visual aids can be particularly helpful when discussing complex topics or explaining the content creation process. We’ve included a working session deck you can use in our Guide to Onboarding Clients and Launching Content Projects.
Handle off-topic questions and stay focused: Be prepared for off-topic questions during working sessions. Address the client’s concerns, but use the working session deck to gently guide the conversation back to the agenda items, ensuring all essential topics are covered.
Ensure decisions are made: Encourage clients to make definitive decisions during the working session, even on minor points. Consult and advise when they’re unsure to prevent ambiguity that could lead to inconsistencies in deliverables from the writing team.
Allocate time for questions and feedback: Set aside dedicated time for the client to ask questions and provide feedback. Encourage them to voice any concerns or seek clarification on any aspects of the project.
Conclude with a clear plan of action: End the working session with a clear plan of action, including pre-production work, calibration start, and deadlines. This helps ensure a smooth transition into the content creation phase.
Send a working session summary for client sign-off: After the working session, compile a summary of the key points discussed, including the client’s preferences, content requirements, and project logistics. Send this summary to the client for review and sign-off to ensure alignment and minimize misunderstandings.
Working Session Resources
To facilitate effective working sessions and ensure all necessary topics are covered, we’ve developed a set of tools and templates. These resources help keep the conversation on track, minimize the risk of roadblocks and bottlenecks in production, and ensure all decisions made during the working session are summarized and approved by the client.
The resources can be found in the agency resources page on our site or in the full Guide to Onboarding Clients and Launching Content Projects. They include:
A value proposition is a brief statement introducing potential customers to the unique benefits of a particular product, service, or brand. Value propositions are powerful ways for content creation brands to demonstrate how their offerings are better than the alternatives.
What Makes a Strong Value Proposition in Content Marketing?
A strong value proposition answers the questions your target audience is already asking:
Differentiation is critical in content marketing, where brands are constantly looking for smarter, more effective ways to produce content and drive results.
The right value proposition shows — not tells — why your agency stands apart.
Why Do Digital Marketing Agencies Need Value Propositions?
A clear, compelling value proposition gives your agency a competitive edge by:
Shaping how prospects perceive your brand and services
Highlighting what makes your content approach unique
Sparking curiosity and prompting action
Positioning your brand as the solution to common marketing challenges
When done well, a value proposition builds trust fast, helping potential clients feel confident in your services from the very first touchpoint.
3 Templates to Shape a Stronger Value Proposition
Not sure where to start? These proven frameworks can help you create a value proposition that’s clear, compelling, and client-focused.
Use the Value Proposition Canvas to Align with Customer Needs
Created by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur, the Value Proposition Canvas is a strategic tool that helps businesses align their offerings with what their customers actually care about. It’s especially useful when launching a new service or reframing the benefits of an existing one.
The canvas consists of two core components: your value proposition and a detailed customer profile. The goal is to map how your service solves real problems, delivers meaningful outcomes, and honors customer priorities.
To apply the Value Proposition Canvas:
1. Define a clear customer profile for your content services
2. Outline your core services and their key benefits
3. Connect the two by identifying where your offerings meet specific client needs
4. Look for points of differentiation that set your agency apart from competitors
Clarify Your Offering Fast with the XYZ Template
Developed by entrepreneur Steve Blank, the XYZ Template is a fast, no-fluff way to craft a value proposition that’s clear and client-focused. It’s especially useful for simplifying your message and cutting through noise.
The formula is simple:
For [X] who need [Y], we offer [Z].
Component
Description
X
Your target customer
Y
Their specific need, pain point, or goal
Z
The solution you provide and how it delivers results
Example:
For small business owners looking to boost web visibility (X) who need standout long-form content (Y), we offer certified content creators and full-service packages (Z).
How to use it:
Plug in your audience, their need, and your unique solution
Make sure your statement feels distinct and specific to your agency
Differentiate in Crowded Markets with Geoffrey Moore’s Positioning Statement
Originally designed for tech companies, Geoffrey Moore’s framework is a smart tool for any brand looking to stand out in a saturated market. It helps you clarify your positioning and speak directly to your ideal customer — especially those who need extra convincing.
The structure:
What it helps you define:
Your ideal customer
The specific need or opportunity they’re facing
Your product/service and its core benefit
The main competitor you’re up against
What makes your offering the better choice
How to use it:
Get specific — avoid vague descriptors like “businesses” or “great service”
Highlight real pain points and practical outcomes
Call out your competitor class clearly (without naming names unless strategic)
Make your differentiation obvious and believable
A Strong Value Proposition Can Set Your Agency Apart
Brands looking for content support aren’t just comparing services — they’re choosing the team that best understands their goals. A strong value proposition helps you make that connection fast.
Need help shaping yours? Reach out to your Stellar account or content manager to craft a value proposition that positions your agency as the go-to for strategy and production.
Selling content services isn’t always easy, especially when your clients come armed with doubts, misconceptions, or budget anxiety. This guide breaks down the most common objections and how to handle them with confidence. Use it to strengthen your pitch, overcome friction, and become the trusted content partner your clients need.
Note for Readers:
The objection responses in this guide are based on Stellar’s specific processes, service model, and performance metrics. If you plan to use this content in your own sales materials, we recommend reviewing and adjusting the responses to match your internal operations and client experience.
Audience-Related Concerns
Our target audience doesn’t read blogs or use social media much.
Don’t let that assumption derail your marketing strategy. We tailor audience engagement strategies for diverse formats, including website content, email campaigns, and newsletters. Our aim is to help you reach your audience where they’re most engaged, generating leads and boosting brand recognition.
No one reads blogs anymore.
Contrary to the common misconception that blogs are outdated, recent data tells a different story. A Hubspot Survey highlights the significant reach and impact of blogs today:
Blogs remain a vital tool in digital marketing, proving their enduring relevance through continued readership and significant contributions to SEO strategies.
Blogs’ Role in SEO:
Keyword Optimization: Blogs help sites rank for valuable keywords, driving traffic.
Authority Building: They establish authority in your industry.
Content Utilization: Blogs provide versatile content that can be repurposed across multiple channels such as social media, email campaigns, and even sales materials, maximizing impact and reach.
These insights underscore the importance of blogs in content strategy, not only for their direct consumption but also for their broader contributions to SEO and content marketing efforts.
The market is oversaturated with content.
With AI content flooding the market, true differentiation comes from quality, voice, and relevance — not quantity. Turn that concept of oversaturation into an opportunity to differentiate and capture your audience’s attention.
Our team works closely with you to create targeted content that speaks directly to your audience’s needs, ensuring your message cuts through the noise and drives engagement. This builds a loyal customer base with shared values, boosting your brand’s reputation and bottom line.
Cost or Financial Concerns
Content marketing is too expensive.
Effective content marketing doesn’t come cheap, but it pays off. Think of it as buying a state-of-the-art piece of equipment: There’s an up-front cost, but it delivers dividends over time.
We don’t see the immediate ROI of content marketing.
Think of content marketing as investing in your brand’s physical fitness. It takes consistent good work to see those gains, but once momentum builds, the results are significant and long-lasting.
Unlike paid ads that fade when the budget does, content marketing builds an asset that keeps generating value. Cost justification for content marketing is as simple as that.
We’re concerned about the ongoing costs of content marketing.
I would be, too — if you aren’t getting results. If you’re getting positive ROI on your content, there’s every reason to keep investing in it.
How do you know if your investment is working? Your account manager helps you establish clear KPIs and regularly analyzes results to ensure your content consistently delivers.
We fear investing in content that might become outdated quickly.
Skilled writers know how to create evergreen content designed to provide lasting value. That said, even in rapidly changing industries, you should never let content languish.
Refreshing older pieces is a cost-effective way to achieve results comparable to creating entirely new content. A strategic refresh plan updates existing content, boosting its relevance and performance.
Outsourcing content production seems more expensive than doing it in-house.
Once you factor in the full cost of managing in-house content production, you see a different picture. Overheads such as content management, people management, revisions, and post-production drive that internal cost up 20% to 30% higher than outsourcing.
Consider this: Specialized agencies like ours streamline the entire process, achieving economies of scale you simply can’t replicate in-house.
It’s hard to prove the ROI of content.
Actually, with proper tracking, digital content offers some of the clearest ROI data available. Our team can help you set up analytics to track traffic, clicks, and deeper metrics, such as engagement time and conversions tied directly to content.
Integration and Strategy Concerns
We’re unsure how to integrate content marketing with our current strategy.
Content marketing is highly adaptable and can be tailored to complement any business strategy, whether it’s demand generation, lead nurturing, or brand awareness. In fact, more than 70% of B2B and B2C marketers use content marketing to achieve their goals.
Content marketing not only aligns with various marketing strategies but also ensures long-term ROI, making it a strategic investment for sustainable growth.
We’re not sure content marketing aligns with our strategy.
Let’s talk a bit more about your current strategy. It sounds like you have a clear direction, and that’s fantastic. Could you give me an overview of the key goals you’re aiming to achieve? How do you currently communicate the value of your solutions to ideal customers? (You can also refer to the response in the above objection.)
How do we integrate an external content team with our internal processes?
Seamless integration with your internal processes is vital, which is why we insist on maintaining flexible solutions that adapt to your processes. We become an extension of your team by learning how you do things and customizing our service to fit in efficiently and effectively.
SEO and content marketing are too complicated.
That’s precisely why specialized companies like ours exist — we understand your industry has its own complexities to deal with. Let’s put it this way: If your car breaks down, you could spend weeks figuring out how to fix it yourself. Or you could take it to a trusted mechanic.
We’re your content marketing mechanics, and we ensure we stay well informed of developments in SEO, optimization for LLMs and AI Overviews, and search behaviors so you don’t have to.
Negative Experiences
We’ve tried content marketing before and it didn’t work.
Content marketing is inherently iterative, meaning every attempt, successful or not, builds knowledge for future strategies. Let’s review your past experiences to identify what didn’t work and how it can be improved:
Key Elements of Our Approach:
Customized Strategies: We develop content plans that are tailored to your business goals and audience.
Continuous Monitoring: Our team regularly reviews the performance of your content to ensure it aligns with your objectives and makes adjustments as needed.
We’ve had a bad experience with outsourcing content before.
I’m sorry to hear you’ve had a negative experience with outsourcing content in the past. Unfortunately, that’s a common story, and it highlights why choosing the right partner is so crucial.
We’ve built lasting relationships with our clients in the nearly 15 years since our founding, and our satisfaction guarantee means that if you’re not happy with the content, we revise it until you are. And while it rarely happens, if somehow we can’t get it done, you don’t pay. It’s that simple.
We’ve used freelancers, but the quality was bad.
We completely understand the challenges of finding skilled freelance writers. In fact, over 95% of the freelancers who apply to be Stellar writers aren’t accepted. We take the time to build a team of vetted writers who are reliable and ideally suited to the content types, subject matter, and voice requirements for your project.
Managing freelancers was really hard.
You’re absolutely right; managing freelancers is challenging — even more challenging than managing in-house resources. Finding the right talent, ensuring consistent quality, and coordinating everything takes a ton of time and effort. That’s precisely why we exist.
We’ve built a whole system to handle the recruitment, training, and ongoing management of skilled writers. This lets you focus on growing your business while we handle the content creation workload.
We’ve worked with content agencies before, but we couldn’t make it work.
I understand your skepticism. The problem often lies in a one-size-fits-all approach that prioritizes output over understanding. That’s where we’re different. We take a strategic and collaborative approach. You’re never forced into a rigid workflow because we adapt our process to fit your needs and preferences.
Our Commitment to Quality
Vetting Process: Over 95% rejection rate for freelancers ensures only top-quality writers.
Training and Review: Continuous training and rigorous review processes.
100% Satisfaction Guarantee: Ensures every piece of content meets your expectations.
Operational Concerns
We’re using AI to create our content.
AI tools are powerful, and it sounds like you’re already seeing the benefits. But AI-generated content still requires polishing, voice calibration, and, most importantly, the real-life insights that drive results. Our expert writers can refine your AI drafts to improve clarity, ensure accuracy, and align them with your brand voice and strategy.
We’re worried about losing control over our content quality.
The best part of outsourcing production is that you actually have more time to focus on the quality of your content. All the time you spend recruiting and communicating with writers, assigning and tracking down orders, editing first drafts, and paying freelancers can be put to better use where it counts:
Focus Areas:
Pre-production tasks like ideation and content briefs.
Post-production review of refined content and design work.
Post-production promotion of content.
Data analytics and strategy for future content campaigns.
It’s too hard to manage revisions and feedback with an outsourced team.
Production logistics are a chore. That’s why our managed clients never have to worry about working with a team. Instead, they work with an account manager for contract and relationship management and a content manager for production issues.
All feedback, revision requests, order placements, and deliveries are handled by the content manager, who takes care of the production workflow, assignments, deadline adherence, team communication, and feedback implementation for you.
We’re concerned about the turnaround times for content production.
Rest assured, we run a well-oiled machine. Our standard turnaround time is 10 business days, which is much faster than the industry standard, especially when it includes project management, writing, editing, and QA.
In many cases, we deliver even sooner, depending on cadence and complexity. Despite delivering millions of words per month, we maintain a ~99% on-time rate.
Outsourced content creators can’t keep up with our industry’s trends.
It’s true; not all writers keep up with all the current trends in all the industries they write about, but we do staff teams with writers who are ideally suited to write about your subject matter. But it isn’t the writer we look to for industry trends and insights.
Outstanding content starts with an outstanding content brief. It’s the blueprint for creating valuable content that performs. Whether you produce it or we do, we firmly believe in equipping our writers with the resources and information they need to do what they do best, which is write.
We already have an in-house team for content production.
That’s fantastic! Having an in-house team gives you a strong foundation. We frequently partner with brands to create a powerful hybrid model that offers the best of both worlds. Looping in an external team allows you to scale production effectively without having to hire new FTEs and produce content types or topics that are outside the comfort zone or ability of your internal writers.
It’s hard for an outsourced writer to get up to speed with our product.
You’re right. There’s always a learning curve with new writers, whether internal or external. However, your team would need to train new internal writers, whereas we handle all onboarding and knowledge transfer for your outsourced team of writers and editors.
Benefits of Our Onboarding Process:
Efficient Knowledge Transfer: We take care of training and onboarding, so you don’t have to.
Deep Industry Understanding: Over time, our deep understanding of your product and industry frees up your internal resources.
Focus on Key Business Areas: Allows you more time to concentrate on strategic initiatives that move the needle.
It takes too much time and effort to train an outsourced team.
Training an internal hire can be a heavy lift for your team. It’s a significant investment with no guarantee of success. The internal hire may struggle to scale with your needs or to produce consistent quality. Plus, employees can leave unexpectedly, forcing you to start the hiring and training process all over again.
With our service, you only need to get alignment with your content manager, who handles the recruitment and training of all writers and editors for you, now and in the future.
Quality Concerns
Our products/services are too complex to explain through content.
That’s precisely why skilled content specialists are so valuable. Our writers are experts at taking complex concepts and explaining them in clear, concise language that’s easy for your audience to understand.
What level of technical knowledge does your ideal customer have? We adjust the content to match, ensuring it’s both informative and accessible. Rest assured, if you’re not producing content for your complex product or service, then your audience is getting it somewhere else.
Outsourced writers can’t capture our brand voice if they’re not part of our team.
All writers, internal or external, need to learn a business’s brand voice to capture it in their writing. Our content managers work with your team to learn that voice, then provide training, resources, and feedback to the writing team so you receive content that’s consistent and on-target from as many writers as it takes to hit your output goal. Rather than training a team of internal writers, you only need to train one person and leave the rest to them.
You can’t ensure consistency with lots of different writers.
Consistency with at-scale projects is critical. That’s why we invest time in a robust process to ensure a unified voice and excellence across all our content. A single QA specialist meticulously reviews each piece of your content, catching any inconsistencies and ensuring adherence to your standards before it’s delivered to you. Meanwhile, your content manager provides ongoing feedback and training to writers, fostering continuous improvement and alignment with your goals.
Our subject matter is too specialized for general content writers.
With the right resources, most professional content writers can tackle nearly any topic, delivering content that’s insightful and valuable. But sometimes, the topic is exceptionally niche or complex.
Rather than searching for a unicorn (it’s hard to find neurosurgeons or theoretical physicists who’ve given up their careers to become skilled content writers), we take an approach that ensures accurate, compelling content that’s professionally written, aligned with brand voice, and optimized for search. By combining subject matter experts, interviews, transcripts, detailed content briefs, excellent writers, and a thorough review process, we can handle any topic you need.
Freelance writing is usually of poor quality.
It only takes creating an Upwork account or signing up with a low-quality content mill to say you’re a content writer, which leaves businesses having to shoulder the time-consuming burden of vetting recruits.
Evaluating content isn’t easy, but we’re pretty good at it, and we’re picky too. Less than 5% of Stellar applicants are accepted to our platform, and we regularly audit our freelancers to ensure they continue to meet expectations. Those who fall behind or aren’t able to implement feedback are removed from the platform.
We’re worried your writers do not have relevant industry experience.
A writer without resources leads to well-written but low-value content, regardless of subject matter or industry. We know, through experience, that a strong writer prepped with proper resources, such as detailed content briefs and SME interview transcripts, and backed up by SME review results in well-written, insightful articles that meet E-E-A-T principles and satisfy searcher intent.
Often, the detailed content brief, which we can create if you can’t, is enough to get content that stands out from its ranking competitors.
How can we know your writers aren’t using AI?
With current technology, it’s impossible to definitively prove whether a piece was written entirely by a human or with AI assistance. However, there are important considerations and policies in place to address this concern:
Our stance on AI use:
Content value over origin: We encourage clients to judge content based on value, accuracy, and uniqueness rather than assumptions about how it was made.
AI as a tool, not a shortcut: Some writers use AI to support brainstorming or outlining, but we hold them to human-level editorial standards.
Zero-tolerance policy: If a writer submits AI-generated content for a human-only project, they’re immediately removed from our platform.
Audit-ready process: Our QA team uses a structured review process to flag suspicious content and ensure compliance.
Technology and Security Concerns
We’re concerned about the security of our data and proprietary information.
We’re absolutely prepared to sign a comprehensive NDA outlining strict confidentiality and data protection guidelines. Rest assured our team is thoroughly trained in data security best practices and adheres to strict protocols for handling sensitive proprietary materials.
We’re worried about the legal implications of copyright and ownership.
The content you pay for isn’t licensed to you; it’s fully owned by your business with no caveats or time constraints. Neither Stellar nor our writers have any ownership or rights when it comes to what you do with that content, where you publish it, what changes you make to it, or who you list as its author.
How can we ensure the confidentiality of our information with an external team?
Confidentiality is baked into every layer of our workflow, from signed NDAs and platform restrictions to freelancer agreements that prohibit the disclosure of client work. We never share or discuss your tactics, strategy, or campaigns, and we only reference your brand publicly with explicit permission.
Agency-Specific Objections
We’re worried our margins may not work to outsource content.
Outsourcing offers significant cost advantages over hiring in-house. Say your in-house writer earns an annual salary of $63k. That doesn’t factor in benefits, overhead, or time spent recruiting, onboarding, and training, and you’ll pay that amount whether you’re running a high-volume project or pausing to address other initiatives.
With an outsourced provider, you pay for the content and services you need, when you need it. We’ve also designed our rates so that most agencies are still able to realize healthy margins when charging their clients competitive content rates.
We don’t want to offer content and risk our other services with the client if the content is bad.
That’s why we take quality control so seriously. Our rigorous processes ensure that we consistently deliver high-quality content aligned with your client’s brand voice and goals.
Satisfaction Guarantee: Provides peace of mind that if we miss the mark, it’ll be corrected or it’ll be free.
Reliability: More important than getting a credit for a dud, our focus is on delivering what we promise.
We wouldn’t focus our efforts on being the preferred agency provider if we haven’t seen that our process and results tend to keep our agency clients around long-term. If our agency clients are happy, it’s because their clients are happy, and an agency that provides strategy and execution is harder to replace than one that only focuses on strategy.
Beyond our core strengths in writing, editing, and content production management, Stellar offers a flexible lineup of services to help agencies deliver better content at scale. From SEO strategy and content planning to SME input and custom visuals, these services are designed to plug into your workflow where (and when) you need them.
Strategy & Planning
Content Strategy
Build a smarter foundation for content success. Our content strategy service helps agencies create focused, actionable plans that align with client goals, audience needs, and search opportunities. Whether you’re launching a new content program or tightening an existing one, we’ll pinpoint what to say, who to say it to, and how to get it seen.
Analyze audience and competitors to shape direction
Identify SEO and topic opportunities tied to business goals
Develop a clear roadmap for formats, themes, and publishing cadence
Customize deliverables based on project scope or vertical
SEO Strategy
Strong content doesn’t perform without a smart search strategy behind it. We help agencies build SEO strategies that connect real search intent to business outcomes, whether that means structuring a site for topical authority, identifying SERP feature opportunities, or supporting campaigns with targeted content clusters.
Audit existing content and rankings to spot gaps and risks
Map keywords to customer journeys and content types
Identify opportunities for featured snippets and AI Overviews
Create tailored SEO strategies based on industry, market, and budget
AI Search Strategy (GEO + AIO)
Search has changed. Today’s answers often come from ChatGPT, Google’s AI Overviews, or rich SERP features — long before a user clicks a link. Our AI Search Strategy service helps agencies adjust their content approach to match this new reality. We identify where your clients can show up in AI-generated answers and build a plan to get them there.
Analyze existing content for AI Overview and answer box visibility
Identify content types and formats that perform in generative search
Develop topic clusters that support semantic relationships and depth
Create optimization plans tied to Google’s evolving AI guidance and ChatGPT behavior
Editorial Calendar Development
Consistent output starts with a clear plan. We help agencies build and maintain editorial calendars that connect publishing cadence to strategy — mapping content to themes, campaigns, and deadlines in a way that keeps everyone aligned. Whether you need a one-time setup or ongoing calendar support, we’ll make sure every piece has a purpose and a publish date.
Build calendar frameworks tied to content themes and objectives
Schedule deliverables to match campaign timelines and production capacity
Align calendars with project briefs, review cycles, and marketing goals
Keep production organized and on track across teams and timelines
Production Resources
Content Brief Creation
Clear direction = better content. We create content briefs that give writers everything they need to hit the mark: goals, voice guidance, SEO/GEO targets, structure, outline, and any must-have links or references. These briefs help your team scale faster, review less, and spend more time doing strategy instead of clean-up.
Define purpose, angle, and outcome for each piece
Clarify tone, voice, and audience expectations
Provide SEO targets, required links, and structural guidance
Reduce back-and-forth and streamline content review
Project Brief and Style Guide Creation
When you’re managing multiple writers, brands, or content types, consistency starts with the right documentation. We build project briefs and style guides that lock in the rules, preferences, and key context your team needs to deliver cohesive content at scale. This is the foundation for quality, clarity, and brand alignment across every piece.
Create project briefs to unify strategy across teams and formats
Build detailed style guides that cover grammar, structure, and brand voice
Eliminate confusion and accelerate onboarding for new writers
Ensure consistency without micromanaging every draft
Specialized Content Services
Subject Matter Expert (SME) Services
When content needs to be accurate, credible, and deeply informed, we bring in SMEs to elevate the work. Whether it’s reviewing final drafts, injecting insight during planning, or leading interviews with client-side experts, we make sure every piece reflects real subject-matter depth.
Collaborate with internal and client-side SMEs
Surface key insights early in the planning phase
Strengthen E-E-A-T signals through expert involvement
Build trust and credibility through industry-aligned content
Content Refreshing and Updating
Good content shouldn’t go stale. We audit and update existing pieces to reflect the latest data, search trends, and brand priorities, helping your clients get more value out of every asset. As AI-driven search results continue to evolve, this service also helps position content for visibility in features like Google’s AI Overviews and ChatGPT answers.
Audit existing content to identify gaps and opportunities
Apply up-to-date SEO and AI search optimization strategies
Revise language, links, and structure to reflect current goals
Extend content lifespan and improve long-term performance
Localization/Translation
We help agencies adapt content for new markets without losing the message. Our localization services combine accurate translation with cultural nuance, ensuring your content lands in the right voice — no matter the language.
Translate and localize content for global audiences
Maintain voice, tone, and intent across languages
Adapt messaging to fit local context and expectations
Expand reach and engagement through culturally aligned content
Visuals
Infographics and Custom Graphics
Infographics and custom graphics transform complex information into engaging, easy-to-understand visual content. This service is designed to enhance storytelling and data presentation, making content more appealing and shareable. Customizing visuals to complement textual content significantly increases user engagement and comprehension, making complex topics accessible and interesting.
Transform data into visually engaging stories
Customize graphics to match content themes
Increase content shareability and engagement
Make complex information easily understandable
Image Sourcing
Image sourcing enhances your clients’ content with premium, relevant images that capture audience attention and complement the narrative. This service selects visuals that align perfectly with content themes, enhancing the overall appeal and engagement of blog posts, articles, and social media content. The right imagery can transform the user experience, making content more memorable and impactful.
Select remarkable, royalty-free images
Align visuals with content themes
Enhance blog posts, articles, and social media engagement
Elevate content appeal and memorability
Support & Reporting
Analytics and Reporting
Analytics and reporting is essential for agencies to measure the success of their clients’ content marketing efforts and make data-driven decisions. This service provides comprehensive performance analysis, reporting, and ROI tracking, offering actionable insights for strategy refinement and content improvement. The key benefit is the ability to accurately assess content impact and optimize strategies for enhanced results.
Perform detailed performance analysis and reporting
Track ROI to assess content marketing effectiveness
Provide actionable insights for content improvement
Refine strategies based on data-driven feedback
VA Services
VA services offer indispensable support to agencies by handling various content-related administrative and support tasks, freeing up the creative team to focus on content creation and strategy. This service streamlines project management, research, scheduling, and communication, enhancing operational efficiency. The key benefit is the optimization of workflows and resource allocation, ensuring projects are delivered on time with outstanding content.
Streamline project management and administrative tasks
Support research and content planning efforts
Enhance operational efficiency and workflow
Optimize resource allocation and project delivery
Integrating our comprehensive suite of services into your agency’s offerings streamlines content strategy and execution, enhancing your capacity to deliver exceptional solutions. For more information, please reach out to your account manager or content manager. Prospective clients can contact us at sales@stellarcontent.com.
Navigate the essentials of client onboarding with a clear, four-step roadmap to project success.
Step 1: The Working Session
The working session serves as the foundation, bringing together key stakeholders: the client, the content production manager, and the quality review specialist. It’s designed to establish alignment on the project’s core aspects, from the overarching purpose of the content to the specifics of production cadence and SEO requirements.
Working sessions are a collaborative space where expectations are set, best practices are shared, and a comprehensive vision for the content is formed. This ensures the production and quality control teams are fully equipped to bring the client’s vision to life.
Establish content goals
Define audience, brand voice
Outline structure, style
Plan production logistics
Advise on best practices
Step 2: Preparation
After the foundational working session, the preparation phase translates insights and agreements into actionable documents and workflows. This step is crucial for ensuring that the entire team, from strategists to writers, editors, and designers, has a clear blueprint and timeline for content production.
This step focuses on assembling the project team, guided by the detailed plan established earlier. It’s about choosing people who are well-matched to the content’s subject, style, and structure.
Begin with a small, focused team, ensuring they’re fully trained on the developed resources. This approach makes it easier to address initial challenges before scaling the team to your needs.
Setting clear expectations from the start is crucial for a smooth progression to calibration.
Choose specialized team members
Train on briefs and templates
Start small, scale later
Set clear expectations
Prepare for calibration
Step 4: Calibration
Calibration is the process of fine-tuning the project’s execution by conducting a limited trial run of the content production workflow. This phase is crucial for identifying and correcting any issues not previously addressed.
Creators follow the briefs and processes closely, with an expectation that some adjustments will be necessary. After content delivery, direct feedback from the client is essential for making precise adjustments to ensure the final output aligns with their vision.
Calibration is iterative; if the initial output isn’t quite right, refine and repeat as necessary. Scaling up happens only after achieving alignment on quality and expectations.
A well-structured project brief sets the foundation for every successful content project. Our Project Brief Template helps you define clear goals, ensure consistent voice and tone, and streamline your production process. This view-only template can be easily copied and customized for each project, providing your team with the structure they need to create stellar content. Ready to set your next content project up for success?
Creating clear and comprehensive content briefs is essential to delivering consistent, high-quality content. Our Content Brief Template helps you streamline the briefing process, ensuring your team captures all the necessary information—from SEO elements to voice and tone. This easy-to-use template is designed to save you time and keep your content production on track. Ready to simplify your content briefs?
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