The PR 20/20 Blog

Content production is one of the more time-consuming functions of a modern marketer. Most people spend 2-3 hours writing a single blog post, and many brands publish multiple times per week—sometimes multiple times per day.

This production rate is required, considering that 84% of people expect brands to provide content that entertains, tells stories, provides solutions and creates experiences and events.

That’s a tall order.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a new legislation that goes into effect on May 25, 2018 and will change how companies gather, store and use consumer data. Though it’s a European law, it affects any marketer that gathers data on a global basis.

For example, if you or your clients have even one “data set” (that’s GDPR-speak for “contact”) who’s European, the GDPR rules apply to you for that individual—so keep reading.

The GDPR is positioned to tip the data scales in favor of consumers for the first time in recent history, and it could significantly alter your marketing strategy in the process. If you’re one of the 94% of marketers who aren’t GDPR-ready, it’s time to listen up.

Those who disregard this legislation could be hit with fines that would make your head spin—plus, it’s just not cool to be sneaky with other people’s data. We know you’re better than that.

Below, we’ve provided a roundup of the best information, tools and tips for preparing your marketing strategy to become GDPR-compliant.

But first, a disclaimer: This blog post is not a comprehensive guide to the GDPR legislation and should not be treated as legal advice or legal recommendation. If you have questions about the GDPR as it pertains to your specific circumstances, consult an attorney.

Alright, let’s get into it.

Consider your approach to writing a stellar piece of content. 

You spend time researching the topic, gathering resources, organizing your ideas, drafting an outline, transforming your outline into a rich first draft, passing it off for a review, making final tweaks... Phew! 

Hours later— probably at least two hours, according to Hubspot— your final product is informative, resource-rich and memorable. You’ve invested a great deal of time to ensure that your audience consumes the best piece of content you can create. 

After all that effort, you’re doing yourself a disservice to only spend 45 seconds sharing it on your social media profiles and moving on to the next project. It’s time to make your content work harder.