Running a business is hard work, and a huge part of business success comes from knowing how to promote your products and services. Whether it is through social media, email marketing, blogging, or some other method, it is important that you use content marketing to reach out to your intended market. With content marketing, it can be hard to know where to begin. That’s why I’ve put together a series of content marketing tips that you can follow to help build a solid foundation for your business.
1. Use persuasive content
Use persuasive content to guide your reader to take the actions you want. You can find examples of persuasive content on sales pages.
2. Use infographics
Create infographics about important topics in your industry. As people share the infographic, you’ll likely see more traffic and sales.
3. Use social media
Promote your content on social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter. This will boost your visibility and widen your reach.
4. Reward your subscribers
Give your subscribers and loyal readers first access to your content before promoting the information, product, or service on other platforms. This is one way to reward your loyal readers and encourage others to join..
5. Use long-form and short-form content
Your content should come in both long-form and short-form. Long-form content (over 1000 words) tells your readers and search engines that you’re an authority on that topic. Short-form posts are quick and easy to read.
6. Provide value
Your content should focus more on providing value than making sales. Your audience will lose interest if they get the impression that you’re only interested in the money.
7. Keep your target audience in mind
Plan your content with your target market in mind. Create a buyer persona or ideal customer profile. Refer to the profile frequently to be sure that you’re meeting your ideal buyer’s needs.
8. Guest-post on other sites
Look for guest posting opportunities to get your content on other sites. Look for top-ranking sites that will allow you to add your bio and a link. Write content that fits the unique style of each site you guest-post on. Also, ensure that their readers fit your target market’s profile.
9. Don’t use click-bait
Try not to use click-bait headlines. It turns off your readers and trains them to avoid clicking your links. Your content should always match the promise in the headlines.
10. Use good headlines
Create headlines with a purpose. The content’s headline should allude to what readers will learn and why they should click through to read it.
11. Promote your content
Always promote your content, even if it’s free. Run paid ads if you can, share if multiple times across multiple platforms, and encourage your readers to engage with and share your content.
12. Repurpose your content
Don’t let your older content go to waste. Always repurpose and reuse content by turning it into something new. Make Youtube videos from your blog posts, turn outlines into carousels, and key points into quote graphics. The options are endless.
13. Create a content marketing plan
Don’t go into content marketing blindly. Create and follow a content marketing plan. Create marketing strategies based on the products and services you want to promote and your target audience’s unique characteristics.
14. Write for real people
Use SEO to boost your content’s visibility, but always remember that you’re writing for humans first. Ensure that your content is easy to read and contains valuable information. Your readers will be more likely to share it with others.
15. Reference influencers and big names
Reference influencers and popular names in your content. You can include a quote by them or mention one of their products that you like. Tag them so that they’re notified of the mention. It’s a great way to get their attention, and they might share your content with their audience.
16. Create content in multiple formats
Remember that content isn’t just text. Your content can come in multiple formats such as blog posts, videos, slides, quote graphics, audio, infographics, and more. People prefer to consume content in different forms, so it’s always a good idea to give your audience options.
17. Leverage on trending topics
Build up your evergreen content, but also keep an eye out for trending topics that you can leverage on. Make it a habit to check headlines and trends often, in case something interesting turns up.
18. Talk to just one person
When creating content, write as if you’re talking to just one person, a friend. Don’t write as if you’re addressing a crowd or multiple readers, because they don’t read your content as a group, but as individuals. Content that is direct is more engaging, and your readers are less likely to tune-out.
19. Outsource content creation
Outsource your writing. Content creation can be a chore, and if you aren’t creating consistently, you can lose touch with your audience. Outsourcing your content creation frees up your time so that you cn focus on other aspects of your business.
20. Give it your personal touch
Automating and delegating saves you time, but make sure that your content still has your unique voice or touch. Always edit outsourced content to include a personal story, or words you often use in your writing. Build relationships by engaging personally with your audience.
21. Stick to your plan
Follow your content marketing plan. Don’t just create lots of content without a goal, or do stuff because others are doing it. Your content marketing plan is your guide to success. It tells you what to do, how to get it done, and what you intend to achieve.
22. Use keyword tools
Use keyword tools to find out what your audience is searching for, then create content that answers their questions. Always make sure that people are already searching for the content you want to create. If not, you might be wasting your efforts.
23. Cross-promote your content
Promote your content on social media. Share every single piece you create, big or small, relevant or not. Cross-promote your content. Ask your Instagram followers to watch your Youtube videos. Ask your Youtube subscribers to check out your blog. Ask your blog readers to join your mailing list, and so on.
24. Use images and graphics
Your content should be visually appealing. Using graphics and relevant images makes your content more eye-catching and memorable.
25. Stand up for a cause
If there is a cause that you share with your audience, incorporate it in your marketing strategy. For example, if you have a book blog, you could donate 10 percent of your earnings to the local library.
26. Use content syndication
Consider content syndication as a way to get your content in front of more readers. You can have your content re-published on platforms like Medium or on websites that are open to content syndication.
27. Use data and statistics
Back up your statements with statistics and verifiable data. You don’t have to do this with every statement as it’s not an academic exercise, but citing your sources shows that you have your facts right, and makes you appear even more as an authority on the subject.
28. Share your thoughts
When you share content from another source, always give your own comment, opinion, or thoughts. This adds a bit of your personality to the content.
29. Find out what your audience wants
Get content ideas from your audience. You can do this by inviting them to ask you questions or asking them what they’d like you to create next. This is another way to make sure that you’re creating content that others want to read.
30. Create a content promotion and distribution strategy
Where are you going to publish your content? How will you promote it? How will you get more people to read it? What will be your sequence for cross-promotion? These are some questions that you have to answer before you publish your content.
It’s no secret that content marketing is a powerful tool for any company. But are you making the most of it for your own company? If you’ve been neglecting your content marketing efforts, try implementing these content marketing tips for better results.