Erika Heald is the host of the weekly #ContentChat LinkedIn Live video podcast for content marketers, held Mondays at noon Pacific. As a B2B marketing consultant, she helps organizations define and execute content marketing strategies that drive business and professional growth. As a creator, and gluten-free blogger helping people discover gut-friendly farm-to-table food. She frequently speaks at B2B marketing industry events on employee brand advocacy, content strategy, customer experience, AI readiness, and social media topics. You can find her on her blogs erikaheald.com and erikasglutenfreekitchen.com.
The #ContentChat Bulletin: When Community Becomes the Content Strategy
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If there’s one thing the MarketingProfs B2B Forum reinforced this year, it’s this: community isn’t just a byproduct of great content—it is the strategy. Yes, the sessions were outrageously insightful. But it was the hallway chats, the LinkedIn follow-ups, and the in between times that turned insight into action. Those real-time conversations sparked ideas I’m already building into my 2026 content plans and governance materials. When your community actively shapes your voice, priorities, and processes, you’re not creating content for them—you’re creating content with them. This was true with my conference breakout session as well. It was those questions at the end and the collaborative problem solving that took place that gave back as much to me as it gave to the session participants. With all this in mind, I thought about how community comes into play with my Triple A Content Governance Framework (which was my session topic):
I saw this reflected in every corner of MPB2B and its marketing family reunion vibe. And it’s something your content governance should absolutely reflect! If you’ve been treating community as a distribution channel, it is time to invite those folks into the strategy itself. After all, your community is already telling you what they care about. Your content governance just needs to listen—and operationalize it. Because here’s the thing: When your community helps shape your voice, priorities, and processes, you’re not creating random acts of content—you’re scaling an intentional, relational content strategy. What role does your community play in your content planning process? Hit reply and let me know—I’d love to learn how you're bringing community into to your content strategy. Coming Up on #ContentChatContent Chat is my weekly LinkedIn Live video chat focused on sharing expertise and ideas amongst the content marketing community. Join the conversation on Mondays at noon Pacific / 3 p.m. Eastern. RSVP for our upcoming conversations by clicking the chat date below to get a reminder and to access the chat.
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ICYMI37 Books That Should Be on Every Marketer’s TBR List in 2026 Why You Need a Year End Reset Until next time, stay safe and be well! Cheers, Erika |
The #ContentChat Bulletin
Erika Heald is the host of the weekly #ContentChat LinkedIn Live video podcast for content marketers, held Mondays at noon Pacific. As a B2B marketing consultant, she helps organizations define and execute content marketing strategies that drive business and professional growth. As a creator, and gluten-free blogger helping people discover gut-friendly farm-to-table food. She frequently speaks at B2B marketing industry events on employee brand advocacy, content strategy, customer experience, AI readiness, and social media topics. You can find her on her blogs erikaheald.com and erikasglutenfreekitchen.com.
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