đź“Š 12 pillars assessed across 36 criteria
đź“„ 15+ page report with prioritized recommendations
⏱️ 90-minute workshop to review findings and next steps
Example Key Findings & Takeaways
How it works
Our Diagnostic Process:
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Step 1: Complete Intake Form (15-20 min)
Fill out a 7-section intake form covering your company context, content strategy, team structure, production workflow, technology stack, and performance metrics. We’ll also request access to key artifacts (content calendar, style guide, analytics). -
Step 2: We Analyze & Score (3-5 days)
Our team reviews your artifacts and conducts a structured diagnostic across 12 pillars organized in 4 workflow layers (Strategy → Planning → Execution → Optimization). Each pillar is scored 1-3 based on 3 specific criteria. -
Step 3: Get Your Report (Day 5-7)
Receive a comprehensive 15+ page report with your maturity score, pillar-by-pillar analysis, competitive context, and prioritized recommendations ranked by impact and effort. -
Step 4: 90-Minute Workshop
We’ll walk through the findings, discuss the biggest opportunities, answer your questions, and outline the path to Content Engine mode. You’ll leave with complete clarity on what to do next.
The 12 Pillars we assess
Organized across 4 workflow layers: Strategy → Planning → Execution → Optimization
🎯 Strategy Layer: Align content with business outcomes
Pillar What We Assess Positioning & Differentiation Do you own a unique point of view that makes your brand instantly recognizable? Content Strategy & Planning Do you have a systematic approach to deciding what to create and in what order? Audience & Customer Insights Do you understand specific jobs-to-be-done, search intent patterns, and buying committee dynamics? đź“‹ Planning Layer: Design systems for scalable production
Pillar What We Assess Production & Quality Systems Do you have templates, checklists, and review workflows that transform subjective feedback into objective criteria? SEO & Discovery Optimization Do you systematically optimize for on-page SEO, content depth, E-E-A-T signals, and LLM citation-worthiness? Distribution & Amplification Do you have systems for email nurture, social amplification, and internal linking architecture? ⚙️ Execution Layer: Operationalize editorial at scale
Pillar What We Assess Operations & Workflow Management Do you have parallel processes where specialists work simultaneously on different production stages? Measurement & Analytics Do you have leading indicator systems that predict future success before lagging indicators kick in? Content Repurposing & Refresh Do you have systems for format repurposing, refresh cycles, and content atomization? đź“Š Optimization Layer: Continuously improve performance
Pillar What We Assess Team Structure & Specialization Do you have the right roles and capacity with clear accountability? Technology & Tools Do you have the right platforms integrated to enable your workflows? Content Governance & Standards Do you have editorial calendars, brand guidelines, approval workflows, and deprecation policies?
Content Maturity Levels: Discover where you sit today
We measure performance across 36 criteria to determine your current stage and the path to a high-output engine.
Manual symptoms: Ad-hoc processes, sporadic creation, generalist team, inconsistent quality. Every piece feels like starting from scratch.
Emerging symptoms: Quarterly planning exists, basic SEO processes in place, but execution is inconsistent. You have systems—they just don’t scale.
Engine symptoms: Fully documented standards, specialized team, parallel workflows. Content compounds month over month.
Investment & timeline
Investment: $1,000
This covers the full diagnostic process including artifact review, 12-pillar scoring, competitive context analysis, and 90-minute workshop. The diagnostic fee is credited toward any Content Engine engagement within 90 days.
Timeline: 1-2 weeks from intake form completion to final workshop
Deliverables:
- 15+ page Content Engine Diagnostic Report (PDF)
- 12-pillar maturity scorecard with competitive benchmarks
- Prioritized recommendation matrix (impact vs. effort)
- 90-minute strategy workshop
- Recording of workshop for team distribution
Who this is for
The Content Engine Diagnostic is designed for companies that:
- Have an existing content operation but aren’t sure why it’s not scaling
- Are considering a significant content investment and want to de-risk the decision
- Need to justify content budget to executives with objective data
- Want a clear roadmap before engaging an agency or building an internal team
This is NOT a fit if:
- You’re just starting out and don’t have existing content to assess
- You’re looking for a quick audit without strategic recommendations
- You’re not prepared to invest in implementing the recommendations
FAQ
What artifacts do you need from us?
We’ll request access to your content calendar, style guide, editorial workflow documentation, analytics dashboards, and 5-10 sample content pieces. The intake form specifies exactly what’s needed for each pillar.
How is this different from the free Growth Gap Assessment?
The Growth Gap Assessment focuses on competitive positioning—where you stand vs. competitors. The Diagnostic focuses on operational maturity—how well your internal systems work. Growth Gap tells you WHERE to go; Diagnostic tells you HOW to get there.
What if we score poorly?
Most companies score in the “Manual” or “Emerging” range—that’s why they’re seeking help. A low score isn’t a failure; it’s clarity. You’ll know exactly which pillars need attention and in what order.
Is the $1,000 credited toward a Content Engine engagement?
Yes. If you engage us for ongoing Content Engine services within 30 days of the diagnostic, the full $1,000 is credited toward your first month.
Can we do the diagnostic without the workshop?
No. The workshop is essential for ensuring you understand the findings and can act on them. We’ve found that reports without workshops rarely lead to action.