Content marketing is one of the most effective ways to let people know you exist. Companies that get content marketing right from the start tend to see higher rates of success due to the ratio of attention versus how much time it took to get that attention. For example, you can write a blog post in a day but it takes weeks of prep work and a lot of money to attend an event.

As a founder, you’re expected to have thoughts, opinions, and perspectives on the technology you’re creating and the industry you’re operating within. Sharing these thoughts publicly will jumpstart brand recognition for yourself and your company. The goal in the first 18 months of company formation is to use content marketing to build traffic to your website.

Benefits of early, founder-driven content marketing:

  1. Building awareness, traffic, and trust. Publishing original content is a cost-effective way to build awareness, traffic, and trust for your brand. Sharing interesting content early on will build an audience for your company, so when you are ready to acquire new users, you have an audience base to market your product to.
  2. Early messaging and positioning feedback loops. The first year or so of building a new company is an incubation period. Growth and success are accelerated the faster you can iterate on feedback. Writing about features, functionality, and your overall vision for the company is a low-cost way to gather input and reactions to the company's direction.
  3. Improved communication skills. As a leader, you need to articulate your thoughts clearly and be able to explain the why behind decisions. Writing is a way to practice and hone in on your particular style. In addition to positioning yourself as a thought leader, you will be better equipped to communicate with your employees when you’ve practiced and refined your message.

Founders are expected to drive content marketing efforts in the early stages of company formation. Content marketing success is the north star for newly formed companies, and internal efforts should reflect the importance of content marketing goals.

OCV Content Program

OCV’s content marketing program, founder expectations, and processes will be reviewed during the Content Marketing Founder Onboarding Session in the first two weeks of company incorporation. You can always request additional with OCV’s Head of Content to review blog post ideas, titles, distribution channels, etc. 📅 Schedule a consultation with OCV’s Head of Content.

By the first meeting with OCV’s General Partner, founders should have at least 4 blog post ideas and title suggestions. OCV will assist newly formed companies in setting up their content marketing program within the first week of company incorporation, including sourcing or reviewing writing applicants.

It is the founder’s responsibility to drive content creation efforts. OCV founders are expected to create weekly content for their company blog. Don’t wait until you have a writer to start.

Weekly Content Workshop

OCV’s Head of Content holds two 50-minute open workshop sessions a week. The content workshop is designed as drop-in office hours. OCV doesn’t set an agenda for these meetings. This time is for founders to workshop blog post titles, and ask questions about content creation and strategy, or any related topic.

Founders can join as frequently or infrequently as needed. It is recommended that new founders join one bi-weekly session to workshop their bi-weekly blog post titles. You’re welcome to join as many sessions as you’d like. Feel free to drop in and listen.

Use the OCV Content Workshop Agenda to sign up for a title workshop session and add your questions.

Blog Title Workshop Requirements

  1. Include at least two signal words
  2. Include a post description or main point of the article

OCV Content Support Scope

OCV’s content team will assist new companies as consultants. We will facilitate introductions, review contracts, and help manage the initial onboarding process for new writers. OCV does not write or create content for portfolio companies.

OCV will assist with:

  1. Sourcing a writer, agency, or a FTE content marketer.
  2. Reviewing contracts and rates for writers, agencies, and FTE.
  3. Content strategy: messaging, topics, distribution.