Key Topics Covered
Goal: revenue in 90 days via fast publishing + refining winners using traction data.
Rules: each post must rank + pre-qualify + convert; MVP standard (fast answer, decision tool, intent CTA, internal links; fit/not-fit for services); refinement is a pass, not a rewrite.
Weeks 1–2: Week 1 publish 10 “shotgun” posts (selection, symptom, money, process). Week 2 lightly upgrade 5 posts + publish 2 more.
Weeks 3–6: 3 new posts/week + 1 micro-refresh/week; track impressions, CTR, position, conversions, lead quality.
Weeks 7–12: 2 new posts/week + 1 real refresh/week chosen by triage (low CTR, ranks 8–20, weak conversions, money topics). One refinement type per refresh.
Targets: ~36 new posts + ~15 refresh passes; shift to more refreshes once 20+ posts are live and 5 show steady impressions.
Weekly cadence: choose refresh → execute → publish → internal links/CTA QA.
The 90-Day Content Ops Plan for a New Marine Blog
Built around the spread-shotgun Week 1, a light wrap-around in Week 2, and then compounding publish + refine for the rest of the quarter.
This plan assumes one goal: make the blog produce revenue (orders, bookings, quote requests, calls) by building an asset library fast, then upgrading the winners based on traction signals.
The rules that make the plan work
Rule 1: Every post must do 3 jobs
Rank: answer a real question clearly
Pre-qualify: who it’s for / not for (avoid tire-kickers)
Convert: CTA matched to intent stage
Rule 2: Minimum Viable Publish (MVP) standard
Every post ships with:
A fast answer at the top (2–6 bullets)
One decision tool (table/checklist/if-then)
One intent-matched CTA
3 internal links
Service posts include a “We’re a fit if / Not a fit if” block
Rule 3: Refinement is a pass, not a rewrite
Your refinements are purposeful upgrades (clicks, conversion, authority), not endless tinkering.
Why I Wrote The Marine Blog Sales Engines
Most marine businesses treat their blog like a marketing accessory.
A “nice-to-have.” A place to post updates. A box to check so the website feels complete.
I wrote The Marine Blog Sales Engines: How Blogs Drive Parts, Service, and High Dollar Marine Sales because I’ve watched that mindset quietly cost marine businesses real money—every week, every season, for years.
And it’s not because those businesses are lazy or clueless.
It’s because the marine industry has its own buying reality, and most marketing advice ignores it.
Weeks 1–2: Spread shotgun + wrap-around refinement
Week 1: Spread-shotgun publishing (10 posts over 7 days)
Goal: publish wide enough to see what starts getting impressions/clicks first.
The Week 1 mix (10 posts)
4 Selection posts (comparisons, “how to choose”)
3 Problem/Symptom posts (diagnostic intent)
2 Money posts (pricing, timelines)
1 Process/Expectations post (trust + objections)
Week 1 schedule (spread, not dumped)
Day 1: 1 Selection + 1 Problem
Day 2: 1 Money
Day 3: 1 Selection
Day 4: 1 Problem
Day 5: 1 Selection + 1 Process
Day 6: 1 Problem
Day 7: 1 Money + 1 Selection
Post templates (swap your niche terms)
Selection
A vs B for [use case]: which should you choose?
Best [product/service] for [water type / storage / boat type]
How to choose [product/service] for [vessel/use] (checklist)
Budget vs premium [product/service]: what you actually get
Problem/Symptom
5) Symptoms of failing [component/problem] + what to check first
6) Why [problem] happens on boats (causes + fixes)
7) Troubleshooting [problem]: step-by-step checklist
Money
8) How much does [service] cost? (pricing drivers + ranges)
9) How long does [service/repair/process] take? (timeline + delays)
Process
10) What to expect when you [buy/book/service] [thing] (prep, timeline, what we need)
Week 2: Wrap-around refinement (light improvements across the batch)
Goal: improve clickability + conversion readiness without pretending Week 1 data is definitive.
What you do in Week 2
A) Pick 5 posts to refine
Top 3 by impressions
Top 1 by clicks
Top 1 by conversions (if any)
B) Apply the “Wrap 6” checklist (1 hour per post)
Tighten the title to match the query it’s showing for
Rewrite the first 100 words to be more decisive (fast answer + who it’s for)
Upgrade the decision tool (table/checklist)
Add 5–8 FAQs that mirror objections
Make the CTA more obvious and intent-matched
Add/upgrade internal links (connect to 2–3 related posts)
C) Keep publishing
Publish 2 new posts this week (so momentum doesn’t stop)
Week 2 output: 2 new posts + 5 upgraded posts.
Weeks 3–6: Build the library + controlled micro-refresh
Now you’re building depth while staying flexible.
Publishing cadence (Weeks 3–6)
3 new posts per week
1 micro-refresh per week (only quick upgrades)
That’s 12 new posts over 4 weeks + 4 micro-refreshes.
Weekly mix (so you don’t over-index on one type)
Each week publish:
1 Selection post
1 Problem/Symptom post
1 Money OR Process post (alternate weekly)
Micro-refresh definition (15–30 minutes)
Pick one post that is “almost good” and add:
a missing table/checklist
3 internal links
improved CTA placement
added FAQs
clearer “fit filter” block
No rewrites. No perfection.
What you measure weekly in Weeks 3–6 (now signals start to matter)
Track for each post:
Impressions
Avg position
Clicks / CTR
Conversions (calls, quote forms, bookings, orders)
Lead quality notes (right people or tire-kickers?)
Early triage rules (simple)
Impressions up, CTR low → intent/title/intro refinement
Position 8–20 → authority/depth refinement
Clicks but weak conversions → conversion/CTA + fit filters
Wrong-fit leads → lead-quality blocks + expectation setting
Weeks 7–12: Compounding mode (publish + real refresh every week)
This is where you stop guessing and start compounding.
Cadence (Weeks 7–12)
2 new posts per week
1 real refresh per week (based on traction)
That’s 12 new posts + 6 meaningful refreshes across weeks 7–12.
How to choose the weekly refresh (audit triage)
Pick ONE post each week that fits any:
High impressions, low CTR
Ranking positions ~8–20
Clicks but weak conversions
A money topic (high intent) even if data is modest
Choose ONE refinement type per refresh (so it’s focused)
Intent refinement: improve title + first 100 words + summary box
Conversion refinement: stronger CTA + “what we need from you” + fit filters
Authority refinement: add missing subtopics + better decision framework
FAQ/objections refinement: reduce hesitation + clarify policies/process
Internal linking/clusters: connect winners into topic hubs
Freshness/media refinement: update info + add visuals/examples
The total 90-day output (what you’ll have at the end)
If you follow this plan:
Week 1: 10 posts
Week 2: 2 posts + 5 light upgrades
Weeks 3–6: 12 posts + 4 micro-refreshes
Weeks 7–12: 12 posts + 6 real refreshes
Total new posts: 36 posts
Total refresh actions: 15 refresh passes
(5 wrap + 4 micro + 6 real)
That’s a serious asset library for a new marine blog—built without getting stuck in perfection.
What to do when traction appears (the “switch” rule)
You increase refinement when BOTH are true:
You have 20+ posts live, AND
At least 5 posts show consistent impressions for 2+ weeks
Then you can temporarily run:
1 new post + 2 refreshes per week for 3–4 weeks
But don’t go “all refresh, no publish” for long. Publishing keeps expanding your surface area for new winners.
Weekly operating checklist (simple and repeatable)
Monday (30 min): pick refresh post using triage rules
Tuesday (60–90 min): do the refresh (one refinement type)
Wednesday (2–3 hours): write/publish new post #1
Thursday (2–3 hours): write/publish new post #2 (weeks 7–12) OR your 3rd post (weeks 3–6)
Friday (20 min): internal links + CTA check across new posts
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