Here's how you can identify tasks that content marketers can delegate.

When considering tasks for audit, think of them in terms of projects - a set of specific actions with clear outcomes, a definite start and end, to delegate responsibilities for both planning and execution. Also, evaluate the team's workload based on their areas of expertise, such as content creation and distribution platforms. For example, it's better to assign LinkedIn native content creation and campaigns to team members with in-depth knowledge of LinkedIn's best practices and specific insights into the LinkedIn audience's needs. By giving the team members end-to-end responsibilities, you increase their personal investment and reduce the tendency to micromanage. :)

The first step in delegation is conducting a task audit. Review your daily responsibilities and categorize them by complexity and necessity. Delegate simple, repetitive tasks like scheduling social media posts or formatting blog articles. Retain tasks requiring deep understanding of your brand's voice and strategic objectives, such as content creation and campaign planning. Understanding each task's requirements helps determine what can be safely delegated.

Any task that can be easily taught and replicated should be delegated. Create training videos and clear SOPs for your team to go through, so that they have a smooth transition into their new role.

Begin by conducting a thorough task audit to inventory all the tasks you handle regularly. Break down your daily, weekly, and monthly responsibilities, noting the time spent on each. This audit will highlight which tasks are repetitive, time-consuming, or outside your core expertise. By understanding your workload in detail, you can pinpoint which tasks are prime candidates for delegation, freeing you up to focus on strategic initiatives and creative endeavors.

Rather than task-based delegation, look at it as results-or responsibility-based. Break down what needs to be done to get the desired result. Then choose who would fit these according to their skill set or the combination of skillsets.

Next, identify the skills required for each task. Some tasks may need specialized knowledge, such as SEO optimization or graphic design, while others could be more general, like data entry or research. Understanding the necessary skills will help you delegate to the right person or team. If the skills are not available in-house, consider outsourcing to freelancers or agencies that specialize in those areas.

Ensure that your team has access to all the relevant info required for them to succeed in the role. Give them access to courses for the skills they will need to learn.

Match tasks with the skills and strengths of your team members or external freelancers. Identify who has the expertise and bandwidth to take on specific responsibilities. Delegating tasks to the right people ensures that work is executed efficiently and to a high standard. This approach not only optimizes your team’s talents but also provides growth opportunities for others, fostering a more dynamic and capable team.

Conduct a time analysis to determine which tasks consume the most time and yield the least value. Use time-tracking tools to gather data on how your hours are allocated. Tasks that are essential but don't require your unique skills, such as scheduling social media posts or basic data entry, should be considered for delegation. This analysis helps you reclaim valuable time for high-impact activities that drive your content marketing strategy forward.

Record yourself doing the task step by step and send the video to your new employee. That way they have a clear steep by step guide to completing the task successfully.

Create detailed process documentation for the tasks you plan to delegate. Outline the step-by-step procedures, preferred tools, and quality standards required for each task. Clear documentation ensures that delegated tasks are completed correctly and consistently, reducing the need for constant supervision. This also makes it easier to onboard new team members or freelancers, maintaining seamless operations as your team grows or changes.

You can easily feel overwhelmed as a content marketer. It is important to break down your tasks into those that you can delegate and those that require your personal attention. This will help you space out time and devote more time to your creative work. From my personal experience, my content creation journey had a lot of downs because I didn't delegate tasks as I didn't have the bandwidth to manage everything while also handling my other side gigs.

Scalability! Consider which tasks, if delegated, would allow your content marketing efforts to scale more effectively. This might include research, social media management, or content distribution. Quality always trumps quantity, but content velocity is a real thing.