Rachel Moffett - Express Writers

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Top Content & Strategy Tips to Support Live Video with Jennifer Radke

December 31, 2020January 13, 2017 by Rachel Moffett

Did you catch this week’s #ContentWritingChat? Whether you missed the chat or you’re in need of a refresher, you’re in luck! We have a recap of our latest chat and it’s filled with all kinds of amazing tips that are sure to help you become a live video pro. Keep reading to check it out! #ContentWritingChat Recap: Top Content & Strategy Tips to Support Live Video with Jennifer Radke Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, January 10th at 10 AM CST with guest host, @radkejen! pic.twitter.com/M5w03UT6HY — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) January 5, 2017 Our guest host this week was Jennifer Radke. She’s passionate about social media and is the CEO of the National Institute for Social Media. Jen joined this week’s chat to talk all about live video, as it continues to be very popular in the social media world. She shared some amazing tips with us that will help you make your your next live video (or your first) amazing! Q1: Platforms for live video: how do you pick live platforms to fit you or your brand? Why? There are many live video platforms these days and it can be hard to decide which one is right for your brand. You can use Facebook Live, Instagram Live, or even Periscope. So, how do you pick? Check out this advice: A1: It is important to know 1) Where your audience (community) is and 2) the functions and features of each platform #contentwritingchat — Jennifer Radke (@radkejen) January 10, 2017 Jen’s advice is to consider where your audience is already, plus the functions and features of the platform. You want to make sure that they live video platform you use is really going to work for you and allow you to get the best results possible. @ExpWriters A1: Where are your followers? Do they care about your video? What do they talk about? All things to consider #ContentWritingChat — Tracy Lynn Willis (@tracylacywillis) January 10, 2017 Tracy said to figure out where your followers are. Find out what they care about and what they talk about. These are all great things to consider when choosing a platform. A1: We’re going to start with the platforms where the majority of our members and audience are – namely FB and Twitter #contentwritingchat — GoGirlsMusic (@GoGirlsMusic) January 10, 2017 It’s always a great idea to start with the platforms your audience is already using. It’s the best way to ensure your broadcast is being seen by the right people. A1: a) Is your target on the platform? b) Will it support your video objectives/goals? c) Can you repurpose it? #ContentWritingChat — Sara Tetzloff (@que_sara) January 10, 2017 In addition to determining where your audience is and whether or not it’s going to support your goals, Sara recommends finding out if you can repurpose it. Being able to repurpose your live broadcast is very beneficial. A1. It’s easiest to start with platforms we’re familiar with + have an existing following! Experiment + build from there #ContentWritingChat — Trinity Insight (@TrinityInsight) January 10, 2017 It’s often easier to start with the platforms you’re already familiar with. If you already have a following there, there’s a huge bonus. If you have a good following on your Facebook page, try Facebook Live. The same goes for Instagram. A1: Broadcast where your audience is, the less you make them do the more likely they are to join you #contentwritingchat pic.twitter.com/lylKN4UCnI — Digital Natives Cast (@DgtlNativesCast) January 10, 2017 This is great advice from the Digital Natives team! Q2: Live video sessions: what steps should you take to prepare? Now that you’ve chosen a platform to do your live video broadcast, it’s time to go live! So, what can you do to prepare? These tips will help ensure everything goes smoothly: A2: Understand your goals, create an outline (not a script), make sure technology is working. #contentwritingchat — Jennifer Radke (@radkejen) January 10, 2017 A2: It is helpful to promote your live post before you just start streaming. Let people know when you will be online #contentwritingchat — Jennifer Radke (@radkejen) January 10, 2017 Jen suggests knowing what your goals are before you go live. What’s the reason you’re going live and what do you hope to achieve with your broadcast? You should also write an outline so you know what you’ll talk about. And don’t forget to make sure all your technology is working beforehand. There’s nothing more frustrating than technical difficulties! Another great idea is to promote your live broadcast before it actually begins. If you’re going to be talking about a hot topic you know your audience will love, tell them beforehand so they don’t miss out. A2: To prepare for a live video session, have notes written beforehand. It’ll keep you on track with your main points. #ContentWritingChat — Rachel (@redheadrachel) January 10, 2017 Have some notes written before you go live. You don’t want to write out a full script because that’s not genuine and in the moment. However, it’s a good idea to have some main talking points in mind that you can refer to. This will ensure you don’t lose track and you can refer to it if there’s a lull in engagement from your viewers. A2: Know what you want to talk about. Don’t rely on viewers questions in the comments. #contentwritingchat — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) January 10, 2017 Lexie advises not relying on the questions you receive in comments from your viewers. If no one shows up or you don’t get any questions, you’ll have nothing to talk about. Know what you want to chat about before you go live. A2: write out your talking points and understand how you’re going to manage handling questions & engaging the audience. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/KJV6YvKclm — Cassandra Schwartz ⭐ (@MWestMillennial) January 10, 2017 Cassandra said to write out your talking points and also knowing how you’re going to handle questions and engaging with your audience. This will help make sure your broadcast is great. … Read more

#ContentWritingChat Recap: The Secrets of Running a Great Twitter Chat (Celebrating One Year at #ContentWritingChat)

December 31, 2020January 6, 2017 by Rachel Moffett

Did you catch #ContentWritingChat this week? In honor of our Twitter chat’s birthday, we celebrated in the only way we know how. With a party, of course! #ContentWritingChat Recap: The Secrets of Running a Great Twitter Chat (Celebrating One Year at #ContentWritingChat) Join us on Tuesday, January 3rd at 10 AM CST to celebrate #ContentWritingChat‘s 1st birthday! We’re sharing all the secrets behind the chat! pic.twitter.com/vQVhlMBGWX — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) December 28, 2016 We figured there was no better way to celebrate #ContentWritingChat’s first birthday than by talking all about how the chat came to be and how we’ve grown it to where it is today. I guest hosted this week’s chat alongside our CEO, Julia, and it was a blast! The questions were slightly different this week as well. There were questions geared specifically toward Julia and I and questions that everyone could answer. This allowed us to answer questions about the chat, while still giving our participants something to answer. Ready to dive into the recap? Let’s get started! Q1: For Julia: Discuss the backstory of why you created #ContentWritingChat. / For everyone: What do you look for in a great Twitter chat (and one that you add to your weekly schedule)? How did this chat get started and what makes a great one? We’re spilling all the details! A1 I created #ContentWritingChat as a grassroots educational community around content, & an extension to my book and podcast launch in 2016. — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) January 3, 2017 Julia created #ContentWritingChat as an educational community around content. She certainly made that happen! She also wanted the chat to be an extension of her book and her podcast, which also launched in 2016. A1: A great Twitter chat is one that teaches you something. Learning new things is key, as is an engaged community. #ContentWritingChat — Rachel (@redheadrachel) January 3, 2017 What makes a great Twitter chat, in my opinion? I like chats that teach you something new and that have an engaged community. It’s always great when you can leave a chat having learned new tips you can implement for yourself. A1: I look for innovative, actionable tips & tactics I can implement into my strategy immediately #contentwritingchat — Georgina (@BostonGeorgina) January 3, 2017 Georgina feels the same way. She likes chats that provide her with actionable tips she can use. A1: I look for great topics, thoughtful questions, engaging hosts/guests, great insights from participants, and PUNS. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/ca302GyeJZ — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) January 3, 2017 For Sarah, she likes chats that have great topics, thoughtful questions, hosts and guests that are engaged, and great insights from participants. She’s also a big fan of puns! A1: Interaction is paramount IMO. What’s the point if I’m just answer questions to myself? #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/wNZzeQaEDh — Jeff Reno(e) (@Renoe) January 3, 2017 As Jenn said, a great chat need to have interaction. If the host of the chat, the guests, and the participants aren’t engaging with one another, what’s the point? After all, a chat is meant to be social! A1 I like a Twitter chat that has a great topic, well-respected guest, and deeper conversations beyond the Q&A #contentwritingchat — Bill Skowronski (@BillSkowronski) January 3, 2017 Bill enjoys chats that have a great topic, a well-respected guest, and deeper conversations that go beyond the Q&A. You don’t have to just stick with the questions asked in the chat. You can feel free to get deeper into the conversation with other participants. That’s what makes chats so great. A1 Engaging community, fun chat with great ppl and serious exchange of knowledge. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/LJaGv9iNM9 — Varun Kumar? (@varunkr842) January 3, 2017 Varun looks for an engaged community and the exchange of knowledge. Learning something from chats makes them even more valuable. A1: one that helps me brainstorm and learn. I’m a 1-person team, so this is my creative outlet! #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/Wc4qHI53gQ — Kristi Kenyon (@kkenyon86) January 3, 2017 As a one-person team, Kristi uses Twitter chats as a creative outlet. The best ones allow her to brainstorm and learn new things. Plus, it’s great having that social aspect built into a day where you’re otherwise by yourself. It’s a virtual Twitter date every single week! Q2: For Rachel: Tell us what inspired you to get involved in helping manage #ContentWritingChat. For everyone: What are your favorite Twitter chats to join? I’m sharing how I got involved in the Twitter chat and we have plenty of new chats for you to join with these suggestions: A2: I had been participating in + hosting Twitter chats for a long time, so stepping in to manage the chat was fun! #ContentWritingChat — Rachel (@redheadrachel) January 3, 2017 Prior to joining the Express Writers team and taking over the behind-the-scenes tasks of the chat, I had already been joining Twitter chats regularly. I had even hosted some in the past. Starting to work on this chat was a great fit and it has been something I’ve truly enjoyed. A2: I love #contentwritingchat, #semrushchat, #bufferchat, and I read #brandchat even though I can’t usually make it. — Tara M. Clapper (@irishtara) January 3, 2017 It should come as no surprise that our own team member, Tara, is a fan of #ContentWritingChat! She also enjoys #semrushchat, #bufferchat, and #brandchat. @ExpWriters A2: Love me some #bufferchat by @buffer at noon on Wednesdays. I don’t have too much time to join very many #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/LPdBYnLbeY — Jacob Rouser (@J_Rouser) January 3, 2017 Just like Jacob, we are huge fans of Buffer’s #bufferchat. We’re there every week! A2: #SEMrushchat is always awesome, highly recommend! 11AM EST on Wednesdays I believe… #contentwritingchat — Andrew Dennis (@AndrewDennis33) January 3, 2017 #semrushchat is another weekly stop for us here at Express Writers! A2: #ContentWritingChat and @MadalynSklar‘s #TwitterSmarter (Thursdays 1pm ET) are two of my favorite chats. — Zachary Fenell (@zacharyfenell) January 3, 2017 #TwitterSmarter is definitely a chat you need to join! A2 this is one my favorites but there’s also #bufferchat #sproutchat … Read more

#ContentWritingChat Recap: A Live Twitter Holiday GIF Party

December 31, 2020December 23, 2016 by Rachel Moffett

Did you hear? In honor of the holiday season, we got pretty festive for this week’s #ContentWritingChat! If you missed out on the fun, you certainly missed a great time. But that’s okay because we have a recap for you to check out. Let’s dive in! #ContentWritingChat Recap: Holiday GIF Party Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, December 20th at 10 AM CST for a HOLIDAY GIF PARTY! pic.twitter.com/fEQizRlRQ1 — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) December 13, 2016 It wasn’t just any old party over on #ContentWritingChat this week. It was a holiday GIF party! We asked participants to come prepared to bring their GIF A-game and we weren’t disappointed. Get ready for GIF overload! Q1: GIF the weather where you are right now. Considering our #ContentWritingChat participants are all around the world, we thought it would be fun to see what the weather was like in their neck of the woods. Is it feeling Christmassy where you are or is a white Christmas out of the question? A1: #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/IOiIZQEHs7 — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) December 20, 2016 It sounds like Lexie and the team over at Netvantage Marketing are dealing with some cold temperatures lately. Make sure to bundle up, friends! A1: Heyooooooo…. it’s windy, but pretty. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/4P8TSjPaPT — Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) December 20, 2016 Hold onto your hats if you head out into some windy weather! A1: Didn’t you hear? It’s been colder than Mars out here in Chicago. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/A5ckDHDwdr — Jeff Reno(e) (@Renoe) December 20, 2016 Colder than Mars? Yikes! Stay warm, Jenn and friends! A1. It’s a rainy rainy morning, but at least it’s not snowing. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/RCCXUs4lub — Sabina (@sabinaleybold) December 20, 2016 Sabina was dealing with some rain this past Tuesday, but she was just thankful it wasn’t snow. @writingchat A1: In Minnesota, it’s already begun. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/WPgM8hMLHu — Web Themes Plus (@webthemesplus) December 20, 2016 It sounds like folks in Minnesota are ready for a good ol’ fashioned snowball fight! Q2: Christmas is the only time of year when you can… (Explain in a GIF) What can you only do at Christmas? Here’s what some of the participants in Tuesday’s chat had to say: A2: Basically, let your inner child out! #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/HgVdkpuohp — Kavita Chintapalli (@kavita1010) December 20, 2016 While it’s totally okay to show off your inner child all year long, it’s 100% acceptable to do so at Christmastime. So be sure to spread that Christmas cheer by singing loud for all to hear! A2 Christmas is the only time when I can … #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/Ardz7aJbDW — Lex (@estherproject) December 20, 2016 Christmas is the time of year when you can totally pig out on all the junk food and not feel guilty. Right? A2. Christmas is the only time of year when you can EAT EVERYTHING!! #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/KHtz8NjtHy — Sabina (@sabinaleybold) December 20, 2016 Yeah, did we mention you can eat all the food you want? You totally can. A2: Get a compliment for my righteous fashion sense. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/ZWBmIQGllr — Jeff Reno(e) (@Renoe) December 20, 2016 Christmas is certainly the only time of year you can bust out that ugly sweater! @writingchat A2: This just about sums it up! #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/ps3errhaxL — Web Themes Plus (@webthemesplus) December 20, 2016 Let’s just do all the things this Christmas! A2: Listen to Christmas music! #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/11a9oNfk3v — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) December 20, 2016 And don’t forget to blast those Christmas tunes! Q3: GIF your favorite Christmas movie scene (or two). So, what’s your favorite scene from a Christmas movie? It sure seems like our chat participants have a clear favorite! A3: @writingchat #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/bueRSSfF0G — Writer Leah Ingram (@theleahingram) December 20, 2016 *waves hi to Buddy* A3 So many! #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/7ASgZmLeQe — Lex (@estherproject) December 20, 2016 Who could forget that time when Buddy accuses the store Santa of smelling like beef and cheese? A3: Who doesn’t love Elf? #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/CUh1AGcP5f — Rachel (@redheadrachel) December 20, 2016 Santa is coming soon, friends! We can’t wait! A3: I’m sorry, but you can’t deny Will. If you do, then “you sit on a throne of lies.” #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/sqqZauInKG — Mobius New Media (@mobiusnewmedia) December 20, 2016 Son of a nutcracker! A3. I find this GIF relevant for more than just Christmastime. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/WJLKei0wTb — Sabina (@sabinaleybold) December 20, 2016 Sabina is right. This one definitely applies throughout the year. A3 mostly because I can see this happening #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/fWoYkhcNTY — Tony Stephan (@OmnipoTony) December 20, 2016 Poor Buddy the Elf! A3 If anyone’s answer is NOT from Elf, you’re lying. #contentwritingchat pic.twitter.com/dbMkwibbhr — Bill Skowronski (@BillSkowronski) December 20, 2016 Well, who couldn’t love Elf? A3 Home Alone. Forever. @writingchat #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/COUq3wISsH — Joshua Aaron (@JAaronCA) December 20, 2016 Home Alone will forever be a Christmas classic. A3b Incoming, second fave Christmas movie. You cannot beat the storyline and hilarity. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/VHvyKqc8pv — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) December 20, 2016 Home Alone is one of Julia’s favorites as well. It doesn’t get much better than Kevin’s antics. A3: Going around the office…@abigailhadar‘s favorite. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/jZvmFT4XYO — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) December 20, 2016 The Grinch is definitely a must-watch every year! A3) Me before every Christmas party or gathering #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/AmfcpeUCHh — HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) December 20, 2016 The struggle is real, my friends! A3: White Christmas, hands down. #contentwritingchat pic.twitter.com/HrdHQZvZ0w — Sara Tetzloff (@que_sara) December 20, 2016 Sara’s choice was White Christmas. Is this one of your favorites, too? A3. I love every scene of this movie. Classic. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/2nP4IyP3w7 — Bourbon & Honey (@BrittanyBrander) December 20, 2016 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is always a great one for a laugh! A3 Classic. #contentwritingchat pic.twitter.com/ualuOTTdh8 — Joshua Aaron (@JAaronCA) December 20, 2016 Christmas tip: Don’t eat the December snowflakes. Always wait until January. Q4: What will dinner with the family at Christmas be like? GIF it. Christmas dinner can be a very interesting time for many families. You might have a small gathering or a lot of people stopping by. And some of you may … Read more

#ContentWritingChat Recap: The Benefits of Curation in a Content Marketing Strategy with Sasha Laferte from Curata

December 31, 2020December 16, 2016 by Rachel Moffett

Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week or could you use a refresher on all the great tips that were shared? You’re in luck because our recap of Tuesday’s chat on content curation is here! If you’re ready to dive in, grab some paper to take notes and keep on reading! #ContentWritingChat Recap: The Benefits of Curation in a Content Marketing Strategy with Sasha Laferte from Curata Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, December 13 at 10 AM CST with @curata! pic.twitter.com/B40I9ehV5L — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) December 6, 2016 Our guest host this week was Sasha Laferte. Sasha is the Content Marketing Manager for Curata. She’s also a digital marketer and storyteller. For this week’s chat, she joined us via the Curata account to share her top tips on the benefits of curation in a content marketing strategy. Q1: What are the benefits of content curation? To kick off the chat, we asked everyone to share their thoughts on why they felt content curation was beneficial. If you haven’t felt the need to incorporate content curation into your content marketing strategy, these tweets just might convince you! Here’s what some chat participants had to say: A1 Improve SEO, lead gen, lead nurturing, thought leadership, increase content output & more! https://t.co/eIBQCR6ZVO #ContentWritingChat — Curata (@curata) December 13, 2016 As Sasha said, content curation can help improve SEO, increase lead generation, promote thought leadership, increase your content output, and more. She also shared a link to a helpful article on Curata’s website that’s worth checking out. A1: Generate more content. Position yourself as a thought leader. Add value to your readership. It’s a major win IMO > #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/k4aFo9ESnZ — Jeff Reno(e) (@Renoe) December 13, 2016 Jenn seemed to be on the same page with his answer. She said content curation provides a way to generate more content. It also helps to position you as a thought leader and adds value to your audience. A1. Content curation allows you to share relevant articles and knowledge in your industry without having to write it. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/SPGnQtQYIw — D2 Media Solutions (@D2MediaSLN) December 13, 2016 A1b. The process of reading and curating #content also allows you to learn what others in the industry are saying. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/EF5ApEZ8pm — D2 Media Solutions (@D2MediaSLN) December 13, 2016 By curating great content, you’re able to share relevant articles and valuable knowledge with your audience without having to write it yourself. It’s also a great way to learn what others in your industry are saying. A1. What AREN’T the benefits of content curation! Curated content alleviates so much pressure to create everything. #contentwritingchat pic.twitter.com/oo6lmmDHIZ — Angelica Mata (@matageli) December 13, 2016 As Angelica said, with content curation there’s less pressure to create all the things. You can have a balance of your unique content, plus content curated from other sources. Q2: Is content curation plagiarism? Many question whether or not content curation is considered plagiarism since you’re sharing content from another source. Here are some of the responses we received during the chat: A2 In short: No. Make sure you have a new title, body paragraph & credit the original article! https://t.co/jGHsTTKNul #ContentWritingChat — Curata (@curata) December 13, 2016 Sasha doesn’t think content curation is plagiarism. She said to make sure you add a new title, body paragraph, and credit the original article. This will ensure you’re in the clear! A2: If it’s someone else’s, give credit! Plain & simple. Throw a link to original source, but put your own spin on it.#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/vLffnpo3cP — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) December 13, 2016 Sarah has the right idea! If you’re sharing someone else’s content, you should always credit the original source. It’s always a good idea to add your own spin on the content to give it a fresh perspective for your audience. A2. Attribution, Attribution Attribution. & shouting out your peers for their amazing content builds camaraderie #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/8LhbtJu9y5 — Sarah Thomas (@SarahMT1212) December 13, 2016 Odds are, people will love when you share their content. It’s a great way to start building a relationship with someone as long as you curate the right way. They’ll appreciate that you thought highly enough of their work to share it. A2: Great Q. If you present it as if it’s your content, it’s plagiarism. Respect the creators. Give explicit credit #contentwritingchat — Mike Sturm (@APerfectSturm) December 13, 2016 If you publish a piece of content as your own when it’s not, that’s definitely plagiarism. Avoid any trouble by respecting the original creators, as Mike said, by giving them credit. A2 if you just straight up copy and paste YES, give credit & don’t be lazy. change it up a bit #contentwritingchat pic.twitter.com/x1CyO4uEgs — Tony Stephan (@OmnipoTony) December 13, 2016 A simple copy and paste is a no-no! Tony said to give credit to the source and change it up a bit when you republish to give it a unique take. A2: Not at all! As long as you give credit and don’t try to pass it off as your own #contentwritingchat pic.twitter.com/BwOsidzRLu — HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) December 13, 2016 In case we haven’t made our point clear, make sure you give credit! Also, how appropriate is this GIF Jamie shared? Q3: How much content should I curate? Now that you’re sold on why it’s important to add content curation to your content marketing strategy, you need to know how much content you should be curating. Here’s some advice straight from Tuesday’s chat: A3 According to our data 65% of content should be created internally, 25% should be curated and 10% should be syndicated #ContentWritingChat — Curata (@curata) December 13, 2016 Sasha shared some pretty interesting statistics with us. According to Curata’s data, 65% of your content should be created internally. 25% of your content should be curated and 10% should be syndicated. Do you agree with these results? A3: Curate as much content as you think is valuable. Don’t curate just to churn out content. Be a gatekeeper for content#contentwritingchat — Mike Sturm … Read more

6 Brands That Win at Fantastic Holiday Content

December 31, 2020December 13, 2016 by Rachel Moffett

With the holiday season upon us, brands in every industry are putting together their holiday editorial calendar. It’s important to adjust your blog content, your email marketing, and even your social media presence to target the holidays your audience is celebrating. We recently shared five tips to help you create “irresistibly tasty” content for your readers this holiday, but today we have some new inspiration for you. We are sharing six brands that consistently do a great job with their holiday content year after year. 6 Brands That Win at Fantastic Holiday Content These brands may create festive content for their blogs and social media or they might give their product a fun twist around the holidays to get you feeling jolly. Whether you’re in need of some inspiration for your own brand’s holiday editorial calendar or you just want to get in the holiday spirit, look to these brands for some help! Starbucks: The Yearly Tradition It wouldn’t be possible to have a round-up of brands that do the holidays right without mentioning Starbucks, would it? Although Starbucks isn’t exactly known for festive blog posts around the holidays, they are known for those classic red cups. And you know what? It works for them! Each and every year, the coffee chain releases a brand new red cup design (or even multiple red cup designs, like they did this year). Their customers get excited to see what they have come up with, looking forward not just to the seasonal lattes, but the seasonal red cups as well. Not only do people get to enjoy their delicious drink in a decorative cup, but Starbucks also encourages customers to share photos of the popular red cups on social media. For the past few years, Starbucks has run an Instagram contest where they ask people to share photos of their red cups. Customers are encouraged to snap a photo of their red cup with the hashtag #RedCupContest for a chance to win prizes. This motivates customers to head to Starbucks and share photos, which likely prompts others to do the same when they see the images in their Instagram feed. It’s effective marketing for Starbucks and gets people in the holiday spirit! The Takeaway: Create something your audience can look forward to every single year. Then, get people involved! Create a challenge of your own and encourage your audience to participate. You can even take it up a notch by giving back through giveaways people are sure to love. If you choose to do a photo challenge like Starbucks, it provides amazing user-generated content you can share on your own profile, too. Target: Masters of Storytelling The Christmas season is a pretty big deal for Target. Because many parents are shopping for presents to put underneath the tree and children are adding to their Christmas lists, Target is a popular destination for gift shopping. So, it should come as no surprise that the nationwide retailer puts a lot of effort into their Christmas ads each and every year. In 2015, Target used their television commercials to tell a story of children and the store mascot, Bullseye the dog, as they set out to light up a giant Christmas tree. Throughout the commercials, you would see famous characters children are familiar with, such as the Minions. People would pay attention to the commercials so they could see what would happen in the end. While it may seem the commercials were designed with only children in mind, Target slipped in details parents would want to know, too! They would add pitches about some of their holiday offers, such as free shipping for online purchases until Christmas. Their goal is always to take the viewer on a journey, so it’s no surprise they plan to do the same thing for 2016. This year’s advertisements are said to be a Broadway-style marketing campaign that will feature some celebrity guests. Target doesn’t just put a lot of effort into their advertisements every year. They also have the Kids’ Wish List App, which children a way to save all of the items on their Christmas wish list. And it gives parents a list of exactly what to buy! You’ll likely see pitches for this app in the commercials as well. The Takeaway: Create a holiday marketing campaign that tells a story. Draw your audience in with a captivating story that leaves them wanting to know more. J.Crew: Embracing Social Advertisements Fashion retailer, J.Crew, is pretty savvy when it comes to their social media marketing, especially around the holidays. Last year, the company ran a few ads on both Instagram and Facebook. Now, it’s no secret that social media ads can be a great way to increase sales for your product and build brand awareness. So, what’s the big deal? J.Crew knew what they were doing with the ads they created. They took advantage of the “Shop Now” button that can be placed on ads, which would encourage people to click over to the website and immediately start shopping straight from the ad. The Takeaway: If you’re looking to boost sales this holiday season, don’t be afraid to experiment with social media advertisements. They can be a great way to reach your audience. Figure out which platform your audience is most active on and start building an ad. Promote your product and send people over to your website to encourage them to make a purchase. Tone It Up: Cooking Up a Great Holiday The mission of the Tone It Up girls is to help you get fit and healthy, no matter what time of the year it is. However, it’s not surprising that can be difficult this time of year. We often indulge in large meals and lots of sweets during Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Karena and Katrina of Tone It Up show that it doesn’t have to be that way! Because the ladies also share healthy recipes on their website, they keep holiday dinners in mind when cooking … Read more

#ContentWritingChat Recap: The Content Marketing Sweet Spot: Content That Gets Both Shared & Linked with Mark Traphagen

December 31, 2020December 9, 2016 by Rachel Moffett

Did you check out the latest #ContentWritingChat? If not, you’re in luck because we have a recap of our latest chat! We talked all about that content sweet spot and how to create content that gets both shared and linked so you can make the most of your content marketing strategy. Want to learn more? Keep reading! #ContentWritingChat Recap: The Content Marketing Sweet Spot: Content That Gets Both Shared & Linked with Mark Traphagen Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, December 6th at 10 AM Central with @marktraphagen! pic.twitter.com/FAYzZAPAEd — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) November 29, 2016 Our guest host this week was Mark Traphagen. Mark is the Senior Director of Brand Evangelism at Stone Temple. He’s also a speaker and author. He joined #ContentWritingChat to share his top content marketing tips with us, so you won’t want to miss the great insights he shared. Q1: How much content builds both brand and SEO value? So, exactly how much content builds both brand and SEO value? Find out what Mark and some of Tuesday’s chat participants had to say: A1: The quick answer: not much. Most content is focused either on SEO or brand building. Hitting sweet spot is harder #contentwritingchat — Mark Traphagen (@marktraphagen) December 6, 2016 A1 There has been so much emphasis on creating content for SEO or social shares, that brand value gets afterthought #contentwritingchat — Mark Traphagen (@marktraphagen) December 6, 2016 Mark’s answer? Not much. He feels most content is focused either on SEO or brand building. So many people are focused more on creating content for SEO purposes or increasing social shares, that brand building is an afterthought. A1: It doesn’t matter how much, it’s about value! Value is what drives engagement, sharing & linking. Quality > Quantity #contentwritingchat pic.twitter.com/ZNBCK1bdCm — HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) December 6, 2016 One thing to always keep in mind when creating content is to focus on providing value. When you provide value to your audience, it’ll increase engagement and sharing. People will want to link to you when you’ve given them something beneficial. A1. Quality > quantity. That being said, it’s best to put out content consistently and regularly! #ContentWritingChat — D2 Media Solutions (@D2MediaSLN) December 6, 2016 Quality over quantity every single time! You want to put out content regularly, but everything you publish should be high-quality. Q2: Why are share metrics alone not the best measure of the value of your content? These days, so many brands are obsessed with sharing metrics. They want to know how many social shares they’re getting on every piece they create and how many shares they receive on each platform. But the thing is, it’s not the best measure of how valuable your content is to your audience. Here’s why: A2 The vast majority of content that is shared is not read, so has no brand building value #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/urPXCRFvss — Mark Traphagen (@marktraphagen) December 6, 2016 Mark makes a great point when he said that the majority of content that’s being shared is not actually being read. Yikes! That means that many times people are just sharing your content without knowing what it’s all about. In the end, that doesn’t help to build your brand. A2: Most people just share without reading the content, they don’t get the value, visit the site or convert #ContentWritingChat — Brandie McCallum (@lttlewys) December 6, 2016 As Brandie said, if people aren’t taking the time to read your content, they don’t receive value. They also don’t visit your website and they’ll never have the chance to convert. A2: People can share all they want, but if they’re not LINKING to you, engaging with content or CONVERTING…who cares?#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/QUgk4nX4gv — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) December 6, 2016 As Sarah said, it’s more important to see people linking to your content, engaging with what you’ve created, and converting. Social shares don’t mean that any of those things are happening. A2: Sharing is caring, but how much of it turns into engagement or membership? That’s what we’re aiming for #contentwritingchat — GoGirlsMusic (@GoGirlsMusic) December 6, 2016 Sharing is definitely caring, but it’s important to see how much of those shares turn into engagement or some other type of conversion. You want to see results from those social shares for it to truly make a difference. A2: Shares are great, but if they don’t complete the CTA, it’s wasted. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/IaQZo4jbfy — Kristi Kenyon (@kkenyon86) December 6, 2016 If people aren’t responding to your call to action, you’re missing out on money! Q3: What is the importance of content that attracts good links? How important is it to earn good links for your content? Check out these answers from the chat to find out: A3 For one thing, if content attracts good links, it’s a good measure that it was truly valuable #contentwritingchat — Mark Traphagen (@marktraphagen) December 6, 2016 A3 Earning links is a LOT harder than getting social shares, so a better overall measure of content value #contentwritingchat — Mark Traphagen (@marktraphagen) December 6, 2016 As Mark said, if your content attracts good links, it’s a good sign that it was truly valuable for your reader. You want to see people taking the time to link to your work. Earning links is also much harder than getting social shares, so it’s a good overall measure of the success of your content. A3 Our study showing that backlinks are still hugely powerful for SEO https://t.co/2o9x7o14Mv #contentwritingchat — Mark Traphagen (@marktraphagen) December 6, 2016 If you’d like some extra reading on the subject, check out this post that Mark shared. It’s a study that shows backlinks are still powerful when it comes to SEO. A3: VERY important, since links are a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE part of “ranking” algorithms. Links = votes of credibility.#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/icdfMa5rJw — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) December 6, 2016 Sarah knows link building is an important factor of SEO. She said that links are essentially votes of credibility. A3: Good links boost your credibility with Google. They also mean you’re providing quality … Read more

Announcing Our #ContentWritingChat Christmas Giveaway!

December 31, 2020December 6, 2016 by Rachel Moffett

It wouldn’t be the holiday season without a fun giveaway from Express Writers, now would it? Of course not! And you’re in luck because we have a fantastic giveaway planned for the month of December, with a winner every single week! The best part? All you have to do to be eligible to win is participate in #ContentWritingChat on Twitter. Keep reading to get the full scoop and find out exactly what you could win this month. What is #ContentWritingChat? #ContentWritingChat is our weekly Twitter chat that we have been running since January of this year. We chat every Tuesday from 10-11 AM Central Time and are lucky enough to welcome so many new faces to the chat each week. It really has grown into an amazing community that has become a go-to place to learn and develop connections online. In our chats, we primarily talk about copywriting, content marketing, SEO, and social media. We make sure these chats are jam-packed with value by inviting guest hosts to join and sharing the questions we know our audience is asking. If you join us throughout December, you just might want to bring a notepad to take a few notes. If you aren’t able to take notes, never fear – I post weekly recaps in the #ContentWritingChat section! To visit the recaps, click Learn from the menu: Hover and then click Twitter chat. You can see all our recaps posted there. Join Us for 4 Weeks of Giveaways! What can you win this month and what do you have to do? Each week, one lucky participant will win one free blog written by the talented team right here at Express Writers. This blog will be written by our general writers, made-to-order around the keywords/topic of your choice, and tailored to your online presence and brand. This also includes one custom branded visual to go along with the post. ? We’re having a Christmas giveaway for #ContentWritingChat! You could win a FREE blog from Express Writers. (View the image for details!) ? pic.twitter.com/gWQzlg4Flv — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) November 29, 2016 So, is this exactly what your blog needs? Here’s what you need to do if you want to win: All you have to do is join us during the live #ContentWritingChat hour on Tuesdays from 10-11 AM Central Time. You can also refer your friends to the chat and let us know you invited them to join the fun. It’s as simple as that and it’s happening every week in December. That means you have four chances to win a top-notch post to share on your blog. Best of luck to everyone who comes and joins us to enter – we can’t wait to see you in the chat! Mark your calendars for Tuesdays at 10 AM CST, and join us on @ExpWriters or @writingchat with our hashtag #ContentWritingChat.

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How Entrepreneurs Can Lead Awesome & Healthy Lives with Chris Nadeau

December 31, 2020December 2, 2016 by Rachel Moffett

Do you want to get caught up on the latest #ContentWritingChat? Well, you’re in luck! We have a recap of this Tuesday’s chat ready for you to dive into. It’s filled with great tips you won’t want to miss! #ContentWritingChat Recap: How Entrepreneurs Can Lead Awesome & Healthy Lives with Chris Nadeau Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, November 29th at 10 AM Central with @cnadeau! pic.twitter.com/KXRVc7RLYa — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) November 22, 2016 Our guest host this week was Chris Nadeau. Chris is the co-founder of Evolving Solutions. He is also the blogger behind Eat Greens Every Day, which is all about helping you lead a healthier life. That just so happens to be the inspiration behind this chat! Chris shared a ton of helpful suggestions so you can lead and awesome and healthy life. Q1: What are your key tips to balancing happiness and health with running and owning a successful business? Entrepreneurs lead very busy, and sometimes hectic, lives. It can make it hard to find a balance between work and staying happy and healthy. To create more of a balance in your life, keep these tips in mind: A1. The best tip I can share is “schedule time for yourself” Book 30-60 mins a day in your calendar for health. #doitnow #ContentWritingChat — Chris Nadeau (@cnadeau) November 29, 2016 Chris suggests scheduling time for yourself each day. After all, sometimes you need to make that appointment with yourself in order to fit self-care into that busy schedule of yours. He said to block off 30-60 minutes each day to focus on your health. A1) Scheduling time and making yourself a priority! When you take care of yourself first, everything else will follow #contentwritingchat pic.twitter.com/ThtzeTKAQL — HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) November 29, 2016 Jamie from HeyOrca! agrees. Sometimes you just have to schedule in that time in order to actually make it happen. Find at least 30 minutes in your daily schedule to block off for a little self-care. A1: You HAVE to “shut down” the business at some point every day. Don’t answer client emails at 8pm while at home!#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/NewAxbiAwR — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) November 29, 2016 Sarah from ThinkSEM is right! You have to know when to shut down. You can’t always pull those all nighters. Decide when you’re going to quit working each day and actually log off and shut down. Don’t fall into the trap of answering emails late at night. A1: Set boundaries early for yourself + clients. Also, schedule in time to learn new skills + build on skills you have. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/ltu8Dvkc6t — Web Themes Plus (@webthemesplus) November 29, 2016 Set boundaries for yourself and for your clients. If you are running a service-based business, it can be tempting to stay up all night responding to client emails. Don’t give in! You need to set boundaries so you don’t bring work over into your dedicated personal time. We also love this tip of scheduling time to learn new skills. That’s very important! A1. Unplug for a couple of hours when you get home to be with your family or enjoy your hobbies. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/Lnqfc0NtRf — D2 Media Solutions (@D2MediaSLN) November 29, 2016 Because our cell phones and smart watches are basically glued to us, it can be hard to truly unplug. When you finish work for the day, log out of social media and your inbox. Silence the notifications and leave your phone in another room. Focus on the moment and be with family or take the time to enjoy your personal hobbies. A1: Time management is vital. Otherwise everything bleeds together and you become overwhelmed. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/lBhxn4GD4e — Zachary Fenell (@zacharyfenell) November 29, 2016 Zachary knows time management is vital when it comes to balancing your personal life and your business. If you don’t manage your time wisely, you might find yourself working late nights more often than you’d like. Instead, make the most of your day by managing your time better. A1 You HAVE to stop & give yourself a break, daily. a) A lunch hour. b) 30 minutes for exercise/yoga/meditation #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) November 29, 2016 The truth is, we sometimes get so wrapped up in the hustle that we forget to look up from our computers! Julia suggests stopping to give yourself a break throughout the day. Block off time for a proper lunch away from your desk. Take 30 minutes to do some exercise, have a yoga session, or do a little meditation. This can truly make a huge difference in how you feel and how the rest of your day goes. Q2: How can a morning routine help you start the day off right? Tell us about yours. Having a set morning routine that you stick to every day is essential for starting things off on the right foot. Check out what some of our chat participants had to say about the importance of morning routines and what they like to do to start the day: A2. Your morning affects your entire day. It will influence productivity, energy & how successful you are. #Entrepreneur #ContentWritingChat — Chris Nadeau (@cnadeau) November 29, 2016 Chris said your morning routine can have an impact on your entire day. How you spend your morning can influence your productivity, energy levels, and how successful you are. So, don’t you want to make sure you’re spending the morning in the best way possible? A2b I drink lemon water, wake up early enough to have time for myself, exercise, meditation and drink a green smoothie. #contentwritingchat — Chris Nadeau (@cnadeau) November 29, 2016 It sounds like Chris has a pretty great morning routine as well! He drinks lemon water (this aids in digestion), wakes up early enough to allow time for himself, exercises, meditates, and has a green smoothie. A2: AM is my productive writing time So, I eat a good breakfast & write, while avoiding distractions like Twitter chats! #contentwritingchat — Laura Powell (@dailysuitcase) November 29, 2016 Laura … Read more

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Fundamentals of SEO (Doing it The Right Way) with Nicholas Coriano

December 31, 2020November 25, 2016 by Rachel Moffett

Search engine optimization (SEO) is pretty essential for anyone who is creating and publishing content online. After all, if you want your content to be discovered by your target audience, you need to do a little optimization. That’s why SEO was the focus of our most recent #ContentWritingChat. We talked all about the fundamentals of SEO, a great way to get back to the basics. #ContentWritingChat Recap: Fundamentals of SEO (Doing it The Right Way) with Nicholas Coriano Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, November 22nd at 10 AM Central Time with @NicholasCoriano! pic.twitter.com/sjjn5zpY2c — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) November 15, 2016 For this week’s chat, Nicholas Coriano popped in to be our guest host. He’s an entrepreneur, motivator, and the CEO of Homescape LLC. He joined the chat to talk all about the fundamentals of doing SEO the right way and shared plenty of great tips with everyone. Q1: What is SEO? To kick off the chat, we asked the all-important question… What is SEO? It’s important to know what exactly what SEO is before you dive in and start implementing the strategies you’ve learned about. Here’s how some of our chat participants defined SEO: A1: SEO stands for “search engine optimization.” #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/APImUTNGnW — Nicholas Coriano (@NicholasCoriano) November 22, 2016 A1b: It’s the process of getting traffic from “free”/ “organic”/“editorial” /“natural” search results on search engines #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/APImUU5hfu — Nicholas Coriano (@NicholasCoriano) November 22, 2016 As Nick said, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It’s the process of getting traffic from organic search results via search engines like Google. A1: SEO is the means in which you can acquire the attention and action of search engine users thru ranking & attraction. #contentwritingchat — Annaliese Henwood (@MktgInnovator) November 22, 2016 Annaliese defined SEO as how you acquire attention and action of search engines. A1. Search engine optimization. The process of naturally optimizing your site for organic rankings #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) November 22, 2016 Our CEO, Julia, said SEO is naturally optimizing your site for organic rankings. Something we focus on here at Express Writers! @writingchat A1: SEO is the process of making your content easily findable and readable by the wonderful google robots! #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/nEZlfSecAr — Digital Natives Cast (@DgtlNativesCast) November 22, 2016 SEO helps to make your content easily discovered and readable by the Google robots. A1. SEO is making your content easy for the search engines to find, based on the keywords you want to be known for. #contentwritingchat — pamelahughes (@pamelahughes) November 22, 2016 By taking the time to optimize your content, it will become easier for search engines to find. As Pamela said, you just need house the keywords you want to be known for. A1 It’s one of the ways to make sure the content & work you do gets found & is ranked = visible, recognized by every1 #ContentWritingChat — Zala Bricelj (@ZalkaB) November 22, 2016 Do you want your content to be seen by your audience? You need it to rank highly in search engine results. That’s what a little SEO helps you do! A1 Today, SEO is working WITH search engines (Google, let’s be real) to deliver the content that users want. #contentwritingchat — Nate Dame (@seonate) November 22, 2016 Remember that you have to work with the search engines in order to get results. There’s no need for black hat tactics or anything like that! Q2: Why is SEO important? Now that you know what SEO is, you need to understand why it’s so important. These reasons are all great examples of why SEO is crucial for online content creators: A2: People start looking for things on search engines. If you can be found there you are off to a good start! #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/U5HU8ahgOU — Nicholas Coriano (@NicholasCoriano) November 22, 2016 As Nick said, people turn to search engines to look for things. If you want your content to show up in those search results (and to rank high), you need to take the time to implement some SEO tactics. A2: SEO helps Google understand what ur page is about & why it will help users. It’s the backbone of digital marketing. #contentwritingchat — Ryan Clutter (@Ryan1SEO) November 22, 2016 Ryan said SEO helps Google understand what your web page is about and why it will help users. A2. It ensures that search engines can crawl & assess content accurately to serve your webpages in relevant queries #contentwritingchat — Trinity Insight (@TrinityInsight) November 22, 2016 SEO ensures search engines can craw and assess the content on your website, then present it for relevant search queries. a2 #SEO is very important in order to have your website crawled, indexed & rank in the search engines! #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/GcT0QO1QiJ — Debi Norton (@BRAVOMedia1) November 22, 2016 Do you want your website to be crawled, indexed, and then highly ranked? Of course! Debi said this is why SEO is a must. A2: #SEO helps your content get to your audience. Content that isn’t reaching them isn’t helping you. #ContentWritingChat — Jessica Lynn (@JessTheWriter33) November 22, 2016 Jessica knows SEO is important because it helps your content get to your audience. A2: SEO is an essential element of marketing because search ranking affects whether your digital efforts are found. #contentwritingchat — Annaliese Henwood (@MktgInnovator) November 22, 2016 Your ranking in the search engines will determine whether or not your content is found. And you want it to be found, right? A2) Increases the likelihood that audiences will find you through content, keywords, and links! #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/oTCspuPZSe — HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) November 22, 2016 SEO increases the likelihood your audience will find you through content, keywords, and links. A2. Without SEO, expecting your content to be ‘discovered’ is as good as expecting to find a needle in a haystack. #ContentWritingChat — Cheryl Joy (@CherylJoy2) November 22, 2016 Cheryl’s answer is a great way to look at it. If you want your content to be easier to find, SEO is very worthwhile. Q3: What are … Read more

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Creating Amazing Content for Your Email Readers with Val Geisler of ConvertKit

December 31, 2020November 18, 2016 by Rachel Moffett

Could your email marketing use a major boost? Well, you’re in luck because that’s what we talked about in our latest #ContentWritingChat! If you want to learn how to get more subscribers, how to create amazing email content, and more, keep reading our recap. #ContentWritingChat Recap: Creating Amazing Content for Your Email Readers with Val Geisler of ConvertKit Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, November 15th at 10 AM Central Time with @lovevalgeisler from @ConvertKit! pic.twitter.com/k1BIybRfxd — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) November 8, 2016 Our guest host this week was Val Geisler. Val handles marketing content over at ConvertKit, an email marketing software we absolutely love! She’s also the host of the Reach podcast. As part of the ConvertKit team, Val has a lot of valuable tips on email marketing that she shared with us. Q1: What makes a quality newsletter? And how often should you send one? To kick off the chat, we asked our participants what they thought made a quality newsletter. After all, if you’re going to send a newsletter, you want to make sure it’s great! A1: a quality email newsletter is one your readers open and engage with – no matter the content. Send them consistently! #contentwritingchat — Val Geisler (@lovevalgeisler) November 15, 2016 Val said a quality email newsletter is one your readers open and engage with. You want to think about what your unique audience is interested in, which will help you create the content they enjoy. Once you’ve figured out what to write, be sure to send emails consistently to keep your list warm! A1: A quality newsletter is one that provides value to your recipient BEFORE you focus on what you want out of it. #contentwritingchat — Annaliese Henwood (@MktgInnovator) November 15, 2016 As Annaliese said, make sure you’re providing value to your subscribers. That should be your top priority before focusing on what you want out of the email. A1: Quality = sending out content your recipients find useful/helpful/relevant/timely. How often? As often as needed.#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/lTVAXWF2V8 — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) November 15, 2016 Sarah from ThinkSEM knows a great email newsletter is one that’s useful, helpful, relevant, and timely. It all goes back to giving your audience what they want. A1) A newsletter contains content that benefits your audience either through educating them, or offering them something. #ContentWritingChat — Jason Schemmel (@JasonSchemmel) November 15, 2016 Exactly right, Jason! Your email newsletter should contain content that benefits your audience. You can educate them or offer them something you’re providing. Q1: RELEVANCE. If your email isn’t timely and full of targeted content your subscribers care about, don’t press send. #ContentWritingChat — McKenzie Gregory (@kenziegreg) November 15, 2016 Relevance is key! McKenzie said you shouldn’t bother sending emails that aren’t timely and aren’t filled with content your audience is interested in. A1 Always put your best foot forward. NEVER send out rushed or without proofreading! (speaking from knowledge ?) #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) November 15, 2016 Before you click send, always take the time to read through for errors. Be sure to check any links to make sure they’re working properly as well. It’s always worthwhile to double or even triple-check before pushing that send button. Q2: How can you write a subject line that increases open rates? Let’s face it. The subject line of your email can make or break the success of the emails you send. If you don’t have a subject line that grabs the attention of your audience, they just might click delete without ever opening it. Here are some tips on writing amazing subject lines: A2: The subject line could be the most important part of the email: https://t.co/Qn07vL0OJ8 #contentwritingchat — Val Geisler (@lovevalgeisler) November 15, 2016 A2: Under 60 characters if you want it read on mobile! #contentwritingchat — Val Geisler (@lovevalgeisler) November 15, 2016 For some great tips on subject lines, read the ConvertKit article Val shared with us. It’s filled with advice you need to know! You should also keep mobile users in mind when creating your email content. Val said to keep your subject line under 60 characters if you want people to read it on mobile. A2: Write a subject line that shares what subscribers will find in the body of the email. No clickbait, please! #ContentWritingChat — Rachel (@redheadrachel) November 15, 2016 My advice? Write a subject line that clearly states what subscribers will find in the body of the email. You want to let them know what they can expect to see if they open it. Don’t mislead subscribers either. Clickbait isn’t cool and if you do it too often, people will start unsubscribing. A2: When you want to hook them, don’t deceive. Your subject line hook should still be relevant to the email content. #contentwritingchat — Annaliese Henwood (@MktgInnovator) November 15, 2016 Annaliese agrees that deception isn’t cool when it comes to your subject lines. No matter what you choose for your subject line, it should be relevant to the contents of your email. A2: Ask a question to capture attention and leave them wanting to know the answer! #ContentWritingChat — Zola Creative (@ZolaCreative) November 15, 2016 One great idea is to pose a question in your subject line. It’ll leave them wanting to know the answer, so they take the time to open and read your email. A2 Emojis can make a BIG difference. I’ve seen more open rates w/ relevant emojis included. Example (using @ConvertKit) #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/ePLll5dP7D — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) November 15, 2016 Julia knows emojis are a great addition to any subject line. Not only do emojis add a little personality to your emails, but they also stand out in a crowded inbox. Q2: Test, test, test! Every audience is different, so it’s the best way to know what subject lines are right for yours. #ContentWritingChat — McKenzie Gregory (@kenziegreg) November 15, 2016 Test, test, test! McKenzie is absolutely right with this one. Everyone has a different audience and what works for one person … Read more