Many business owners are well aware of the importance of online content, but clam up when it comes time to actually write a blog post, tweet, or Facebook status. If you’re new to the content creation process, consider these tips:
Keep it personal
When it comes to blogging and using social media, the people you connect with want to hear an authentic voice. Decide on a tone that’s appropriate for your business (light hearted, informative, quirky) and then apply this tone to all the content you craft. If your blog posts and statuses sound like some unidentifiable corporate voice is talking, your readers will quickly lose interest. Make it real and make it sound like a human wrote it for the best results.
Learn what’s worked well in the past
There’s no need to try to reinvent the wheel when it comes to content marketing. Before you begin, take some time to figure out what kinds of posts and tweets have been well received in the past. When you read blog posts that have garnered attention from your audience, you know that this type of information is relevant and important to them, and you can continue to touch on it with your own work. However, make sure not to just repeat the same information as everyone else. In order to make your content stand out, you need to put your own unique spin on it.
Keywords count
In an era where SEO is becoming more and more important, content marketers have to pay attention to the keywords that relate to their industry. To do this, you can pay to use a keyword research tool or can rely on free services like Google Words. Either way, you should know which keywords are the most popular, as this can help shape the content you create.
Use Twitter to listen to your audience
“Social listening” (or understanding what people are talking about on social media) is another important step when it comes to keeping your content relevant across all platforms. One of the easiest ways to do this is by using a Twitter search. When you head to search.twitter.com, you’ll be able to access all sorts of search criteria. This allows you to take a closer look at the conversations that relate to your industry. If you own a hair salon and it becomes clear that everyone’s talking about a particular cut or color, consider doing a blog post on the topic. If you own a restaurant and Twitter users are raving about a particular dish, add your thoughts to the discussion.
Write about what you know
Users are most intrigued by posts or statuses that contain useful information. To make sure that your content offers something of value to readers, it’s smart to write about what you know. If you’ve been doing acupuncture for years, cover the topic thoroughly. With enough solid posts, you’ll be viewed as an expert in the industry. On the other hand, if you’re only semi-aware of massage therapy techniques, it’s best to steer clear of that area and let experts in that field handle it.
Though a blank web page just waiting for a blog post or status update can feel intimidating, writing about what you know and are passionate about allows you to create content that is compelling and share-worthy for your readers.
The team at Grammar Chic specializes in a variety of professional writing and editing services. For more information about how we can help you, visit www.grammarchic.net or call 803-831-7444. We also invite you to follow us on Twitter @GrammarChicInc for the latest in writing and editing tips and to give a “like” to our Facebook page. Text GRAMMARCHIC to 22828 for a special offer.
Amanda E. Clark founded Grammar Chic in 2008. She is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and holds degrees in Journalism, Political Science, and English. She launched Grammar Chic after freelancing for several years while simultaneously leading marketing and advertising initiatives for several Fortune 500 companies.