Sep 125 min read

Getting Creative with Archived Assets

Unlocking the Hidden Value in Older Content

Now that your digital asset library (DAL) is organized and integrated into your brand strategy, it's time to explore one of the most powerful advantages of a robust DAL: repurposing archived assets. These dormant assets hold untapped creative potential, offering new ways to enhance your brand, streamline content creation, and importantly, save time and resources. By breathing new life into old assets, you're not just being creative, you're being efficient and productive.

A text graphic with a red vertical line on the left. The message reads: "Repurposing these assets by updating messaging or tweaking designs, saves time and creative resources." The graphic is signed "P" at the bottom.

How Archived Assets Help Offer Inspiration

Archived assets, from old product photos to past campaigns, can serve as a rich source of inspiration. Rather than starting from scratch, review your existing collection for visuals, documents, or designs that can be refreshed, repurposed, or recontextualized. This process is not only creative but also straightforward, offering fresh content ideas while maintaining consistency with your brand's history and identity. You can do this, and you can do it well.

Action Step: Review previous content, such as blog posts, brochures, or images, and identify items that align with current campaigns or seasonal themes. Repurpose these assets by updating messaging or tweaking designs, saving time and creative resources.

Getting Creative with Archived Assets: Granular Approaches to Repurposing Content

Now that your digital asset library (DAL) is well-organized, it's time to unlock the potential of your archived assets. Old visuals, documents, and designs can be repurposed innovatively to refresh your content strategy, saving time and resources while maintaining brand consistency. Here's a detailed look at how to breathe new life into your archived content:

Transform Blog Posts into Infographics

Archived blog posts are a goldmine for getting creative with your archived assets. Condense the key points from an old blog post into an engaging, shareable infographic. This works well for data-heavy or list-based content that can benefit from visual breakdowns.

How to Transform Blog Posts into Infographics:

For instance, take an old blog post that outlines a process (e.g., '5 Steps to a Successful Marketing Campaign') and transform each step into a visual section of an infographic. Highlight the key data or tips with icons, numbers, and quick facts. This way, you're not just reusing old content, you're creating something new and engaging.

Action Step: Use a Canva or Adobe Illustrator design tool to create infographics from old blog content. Share them on social media or in email newsletters to repurpose your written content into visually engaging formats.

A text graphic in a bordered red box with the title "Example 2." It explains how archived product images can be reused by applying festive borders, filters, or overlays for holiday campaigns. The message suggests using colors such as red and green for Christmas or pastels for Easter to breathe new life into old shots.

Revamp Product Images for Seasonal Campaigns

Product images from previous collections can be repurposed with seasonal themes or for special promotions. Adding seasonal graphics or changing the background can refresh these images without needing a new photoshoot.

How to Revamp Product Images for Seasonal Campaigns:

Take archived product images and apply festive borders, filters, or overlays for a holiday campaign. A simple color adjustment to match the theme (e.g., red and green for Christmas, pastels for Easter) can breathe new life into old product shots.

Action Step: Use photo-editing software like Photoshop to apply seasonal themes to product images. Create a batch of ready-to-go seasonal content from existing visuals, saving time on new photoshoots.

A text graphic with the heading "Example 3" in a red-bordered box. The message details how to divide a one-hour webinar recording into multiple 1-2 minute clips to feature essential information, then post these as part of a weekly series. This method is suggested for keeping content consistent and engaging.

Convert Webinar Content into Short Social Clips

If you have recordings of old webinars or presentations, break them into bite-sized clips that can be used across your social media channels. Each clip should focus on a specific point or highlight to engage your audience.

How to Convert Webinar Content into Short Social Clips:

Divide a one-hour webinar recording into several 1-2 minute clips, each featuring essential information or insights. Post these as part of a weekly series to keep your content consistent and engaging.

Action Step: Use a video-editing tool like Adobe Premiere or iMovie to cut long-form videos into shorter, shareable clips. Add captions or graphics to make them more engaging on platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn.

Turn Old Ebooks into Email Series

Ebooks or white papers in your DAL can be repurposed into an email series. Break the content into smaller, digestible segments and deliver them as part of a drip campaign or newsletter sequence.

How to Turn Old Ebooks into Email Series:

If you have a 20-page ebook on a topic like "Mastering Digital Marketing," break it into a 5-part email series, where each email focuses on a specific chapter or critical takeaway from the ebook.

Action Step: Set up a segmented email sequence using Mailchimp or HubSpot, delivering each ebook section over several weeks. Include call-to-action buttons for more engagement, like downloading the full ebook or signing up for a webinar.

A text graphic with a red vertical line on the left. The message reads: "Creating a batch of ready-to-go seasonal content from existing visuals, increases the value of older assets." The graphic is signed "2" at the bottom.

Refresh Testimonials into Social Proof Graphics

Archived customer testimonials and case studies are valuable content easily repurposed as social proof graphics for your website, social media, or sales presentations. This allows you to showcase the success of your products or services visually.

How to Refresh Testimonials into Social Proof Graphics:

Take text-based testimonials and design them into eye-catching graphics. Pair a customer's quote with their photo or company logo, and add your brand's colors and fonts for a professional look.

Action Step: Use graphic design software to transform testimonials into sharable assets. Post these testimonials periodically on social platforms like LinkedIn or Instagram, where social proof is a powerful motivator for potential customers.

Compile Best Blog Posts into a Guide or Ebook

Rather than letting successful blog posts sit in your archive, compile them into a new downloadable resource. You can organize related blog posts into a comprehensive guide, ebook, or even a "best of" collection for your audience.

How to Compile Best Blog Posts into a Guide or Ebook:

If you have a series of blog posts about social media marketing, combine them into an ebook titled "The Ultimate Guide to Social Media Success." Update the content if necessary and add an introduction, table of contents, and conclusion.

Action Step: Use your asset library to gather related posts and combine them into a cohesive document using a tool like Google Docs or InDesign. Offer it as a lead magnet for new email subscribers or an update for existing followers.

A text graphic with a red vertical line on the left. The message reads: "This works well for data-heavy or list-based content that can benefit from visual breakdowns." The graphic is signed "1" at the bottom.

Convert FAQs into Engaging Visuals or Videos

FAQ pages often contain content that can be repurposed for other uses. To engage audiences who prefer different content formats, turn your frequently asked questions into a video series, blog post, or shareable social media content.

How to Convert FAQ's into Engaging Visuals or Video:

Take the most common questions from your website's FAQ section and create a series of short videos where you answer each question. These can be used for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, or TikTok.

Action Step: Record videos answering key FAQ questions and post them on platforms where quick, informative videos perform well. For additional repurposing, use the audio for a podcast or create text-based visuals summarizing the answers.

Repackage Training Materials for Customer Education

If your DAL contains old training videos or presentations, repurpose them into customer education content. This is especially useful for onboarding new customers or as part of a product demo or tutorial.

How to Repackage Training Materials for Customer Education:

Take an internal training presentation and modify it for external use by customers. Add branding and customer-focused language, turning it into a tutorial that can be shared on your website or emailed.

Action Step: Re-edit internal training materials to make them relevant for customer onboarding. Add voiceovers, subtitles, or graphics to improve accessibility and clarity. These can be housed in a customer education section on your website.

Create Behind-the-Scenes Content from Past Projects

Past projects often include behind-the-scenes content that your audience may find interesting. Share snippets of what went into creating a campaign or product, providing insight into your brand's processes.

How to Create Behind-the-Scenes Content from Past Projects:

Dig up photos, videos, or notes from a successful campaign and share the journey behind its creation. This can be turned into a blog post, Instagram Story series, or video reel that humanizes your brand and gives your audience a peek behind the curtain.

Action Step: Organize archived behind-the-scenes content into a cohesive narrative. Share it on platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn, where storytelling is a great way to engage audiences.