Have you ever thought about guest blogging as a way to grow your online presence?
Whether you’re looking to start guest blogging on other sites or you want to accept guest posts for your own blog, this week’s #ContentWritingChat is a great one! To help you take full advantage of guest blogging, we’re sharing some amazing advice from the chat in this recap!
How to Grow and Build Your Own Guest Blogging Platform
Our guest host this week was Erika Heald. Erika is a marketing consultant and a freelance writer. She’s also the host of a weekly Twitter chat, #ContentChat. Be sure to check it out every Monday at 2 PM Central!
Erika has plenty of experience with guest blogging, which is why she joined our chat to talk all about it this week. She had great tips to share with all of us, so let’s dive into the recap!
Q1: Why is guest blogging a beneficial way to grow your online presence?
You’ve probably heard people rave about the benefits of guest blogging before. However, you may be wondering if it’s really worthwhile. Here’s why guest blogging can do wonders for you:
A1a: By contributing content to established websites, you’ll expand your reach and increase your domain authority. #ContentWritingChat
Erika said that guest blogging on established websites will help you expand your reach, while also increasing your domain authority. If you’re a blog editor, accepting guest posts on your site will increase your talent pool and distribution channels.
A1: Blogging allows you to SHOW not TELL people about your expertise, perspective and personality. #ContentWritingChat
One person who certainly sees the benefits of guest blogging is our very own Julia. She said guest blogging has helped build brand exposure, while also bringing in 50-60% of new leads.
A1. You get to share your expertise with an already built audience. #contentwritingchat
As Sarah said, guest posts allow you to get a different take on subjects, expand your audience, and attract new influencers.
Q2: How do you determine which websites are the right fit for you to guest blog on?
Now that you’re ready to get started with guest blogging, you need to choose the right websites. How do you go about that? Here’s some helpful advice to keep in mind:
A2a: I look for guest blogging opportunities that share my audience but aren’t competing with me for business. #ContentWritingChat
Erika likes to look for opportunities with websites that share her audience, but aren’t direct competitors. Ideally, she wants to submit a post to a website that has a higher domain authority that she can count on to do promotion once the post is live.
A2: Does the blogger have a similar audience as you? You’ll want to make sure your content is reaching the right people. #ContentWritingChat
Lexie shared a great question you should ask yourself when trying to select a website to guest post on. Does that blog have a similar audience to you? It’s important that you’re reaching the right people with the content you share.
A2 a) look for platforms that allow ongoing columns. Best ROI b) relevance to you c) they credit/link back to the author #ContentWritingChat
Julia suggests looking for websites that allow for ongoing columns. This is great because it’ll consistently provide you with new opportunities in the future. She also said that website needs to be relevant to you and they should allow you to link back to your website.
A2. Research their audience (who’s following them, commenting) & ask: Are these your people, too? #contentwritingchat
If a website isn’t in the same industry as you, could you still help their audience solve a problem. This is how Brittany considers guest blogging opportunities.
Q3: Once you know where’d you like to guest blog, how do you go about pitching them?
You have a list of sites you’d like to guest blog on. Now you need to send a pitch to them with your proposal for a post. It’s a scary thing for fear of rejection, but it’s a lot easier than you think. Check out these great tips:
A3a: When I’ve ID’d a site I’d like to contribute to, I search for their contributors’ guidelines and follow them. #ContentWritingChat
Once Erika has chosen sites she’d like to post on, she searches for their contributor guidelines. These are important to follow when submitting work to another site. If you can’t find guidelines, she suggests emailing the editor with your pitch and asking for their guidelines.
A3. Always look for guidelines or submission instructions first. #contentwritingchat
Developing a relationship with the right person will really come in handy. You’ll be more likely to be accepted when you have a standing relationship with the team. If not, share a sample of your work so they will get a taste of what they can expect from you.
A3: Spend the majority of your time getting to know the people who run the blog. Then pitch based on what you’ve learned #ContentWritingChat
Shelly suggests engaging with the blog’s social media accounts before pitching. This helps build a relationship with them beforehand because they just might take notice. Comment on their posts and share their content. They’ll appreciate it!
A3: Cultivate genuine relationships w/ editors. Research their site. Pitch original ideas. Give them QUALITY content. #ContentWritingChat
Kristen said it’s best to pitch a fully-baked article with images. They’ll see exactly what you’re pitching and will be able to determine if it’s a good fit. If it’s not, move onto someone else or use the content for your own website.
Q4: What strategies can you use to get the most out of your guest blogging efforts?
To maximize your guest blogging efforts, there are a few things you can do! For a guest post that really pays off for your brand, keep this advice in mind:
A4a: For guest blogging to really work, you want to gain a quality link back to your site. #ContentWritingChat
To make guest blogging work for you, Erika said you want to gain a quality link back to your website. Make sure you have great content on your website you can link to within the guest post.
A4c: If possible, include influencer contributions in your post to increase the potential distribution. #ContentWritingChat
To increase traffic to the post, she suggests including influencer contributions in the post. They’ll be more likely to share something they’ve been featured in. Plus, you need to share the content through your own social media channels. You might even run a paid ad on social media!
A4: Make sure you have a clear (AND HELPFUL) CTA at the end. More useful resources on your site might lead to conversion #ContentWritingChat
Maureen suggests adding a clear call to action at the end of your post. You want to tell readers what that next step is, especially if they’re just hearing about you for the first time.
A4: Have a strategy, think about your goals, link backs, calls to action and follow up, answer comment/questions #ContentWritingChat
Brandie’s advice is to think about your goals for guest blogging. She also encourages you to include a call to action to check back to respond to comments people may have left.
A4 Follow up and continue to pitch/write for the publication. Biggest benefit of guest blogging – consistent exposure. #ContentWritingChat
To make the most of your efforts, Julia thinks it’s a great idea to continue to write for that blog. If things worked out, pitch them in the future to gain more exposure.
A4
Form a long-term relationship with the host!
Contribute meaningful content!
Consistency is the name of the game.
Having a long-term relationship with the people behind the website you posted on is very beneficial. It opens up the door for more opportunities in the future.
As Sarah said, make sure you are sharing the content on all of your social media channels. She even suggests repurposing it into different mediums like a podcast or video.
Q5: How can you start accepting guest posts for your own website?
Now that we’ve talked about pitching guest posts for other websites, you may want to consider accepting them for your blog. To get started with that, here’s some advice that will help you out:
A5a: To launch your own guest blogging program, start by drafting solid writer’s guidelines. #ContentWritingChat
To get started with accepting guest post submissions, Erika advises you to create guidelines. You can present this to writers to ensure their content fits within your quality standards.
A5c: Post a call for contributors on your site, and map out a submission process. A form + spreadsheet works. #ContentWritingChat
From them, Erika said to post a call for contributors on your site. She feels it’s important to respond to all submissions you receive, even if they don’t make the cut. Let the writer know why their piece wasn’t approved and give them the opportunity to redo it.
A5: Let it be known that you accept posts. Create a page with guidelines so a blogger knows what you’re looking for. #ContentWritingChat
And remember that there’s no shame in rejecting a piece that was submitted to you. Stick to your standards!
Q6: Is it important to provide writers with guidelines when submitting posts? How do you ensure your content fits?
We’ve already talked about the importance of having guidelines, but how do you know when a piece of content is the right fit? Here’s what some of our chat participants had to say:
A6a: If you don’t share writer’s guidelines, chances are you’ll receive a ton of submissions that don’t fit. #ContentWritingChat
Without guidelines for writers, Erika knows you’ll wind up with a lot of submissions that simply aren’t good enough or don’t fit your site. Your guidelines should include topics you’re looking for, post length, and anything else you deem important.
A6: Yes! It’s not a free-for-all 😉 Every writer needs guidelines, guest blogger or no.
As Sarah said, it’s not a free-for-all! Guidelines give people something to follow and strive to achieve. Sarah suggests reviewing the writer’s past work to get an idea of their skills.
A6 Guidelines are key to ensuring your brand is represented correctly by every writer. Multiple tones = audience turnoff #ContentWritingChat
Cheval’s recommendations include Simply Measured and Social Media Examiner.
Q8: What final advice should we keep in mind when guest blogging or accepting submissions for our site?
To wrap up the chat, we asked everyone to share their best advice that everyone should keep in mind going forward with guest blogging. Here are a few key tidbits:
A8a: As a guest blogger, your goal is to be invited back. Make time to engage w/your readers. #ContentWritingChat
Make it your goal to be invited back for another guest post in the future. Erika said it’s also important to engage with the readers. You can do this by responding to the comments you receive.
A8b: As an editor, make submissions sing with your editing—but don’t over do it w/ your SEO edits. #ContentWritingChat
Julia shared two great pieces of advice. First, she encourages everyone to remember that pitching blogs can be a long game. You have to be patient, establish a relationship with the site’s team, and have perseverance.
She also said you shouldn’t be afraid to go after those sites you want to publish a post on. You never know what might happen, so go for it!
A8: As an editor, be sure to tell your star contributors how their blogs perform (per channel) + anecdotal feedback. #contentwritingchat
Kristen said to use guest blogging as a way to develop ongoing relationships. That always makes a huge difference and opens the door for many more opportunities!
A8: be stingy with what you accept, the harder you make it to get approved the more ppl (and even Goog) will respect you #ContentWritingChat
Don’t be afraid to be stingy with the work you accept on your own site. You want to make sure only the best makes it through.
Ready to join in on #ContentWritingChat? We’re hanging out on Twitter every Tuesday at 10 AM Central Time! Just follow @ExpWriters and @writingchat so you stay updated!
How would you like to get more mileage out of your online content? If so, you’re in the right place! That’s exactly what we discussed in this week’s #ContentWritingChat. Our participants shared tips for implementing an influencer strategy, how to increase social media shares, and tips for content efficiency.
Keep reading for all the amazing advice they had to share with us!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Get More Mileage, Shares and Traction from Your Content Efforts with Susan Moeller
Our guest host this week was Susan Moeller. Susan is the Business Development Manager over at BuzzSumo, which is a tool we love to use here at Express Writers. She had some valuable tips to share with us, which we’ve added to this week’s recap.
Q1: Do you think social media shares are a valuable metric to track? Why?
Do you pay much attention to the amount of shares you get on social media? Some of our chat participants found this an important metric to track, while others felt there were better things to focus on. Here’s what a few of them had to say:
A1 I think they are more of a vote for the relationship than the content itself #ContentWritingChat
The important thing to remember is that a social share doesn’t necessarily mean someone read your content. They could have shared without actually reading it.
A1: Social shares are worth looking at, but they aren’t the most important metric. Sharing content can be very passive. #contentwritingchat
As Lexie said, social sharing can be very passive.
Q2: What is your top suggestion for getting more shares on social media?
There’s nothing wrong with wanting a few extra shares on your content, right? To encourage people to spread the word, these are some great tips to remember:
Susan encourages you to collaborate with influencers throughout the process. Creating with other people can help you reach a new audience, but it also helps build relationships within your niche.
A2. This could be the answer to a dozen other questions, but…Know Your Audience. Create content they’ll find relevant. #ContentWritingChat
Kyle agrees that it’s so important to know who your audience is. He also recommended looking at past sharing from your audience, as it’s a good indicator of what they liked and may be willing to share again.
A2: Sounds obvious but, create shareable content. Before publishing, ask yourself, “Would I share/like/RT this?” #contentwritingchat
If you want to encourage social media sharing, you need to create shareable content in the first place. Ask yourself if you’d share your own content. If not, you should head back to the drawing board.
You should also make it easy for your audience to share your stuff. Add social sharing buttons to your blog posts to make it super quick. It’s just a few clicks and they’ve shared it for you.
Andrea agrees that you need to make it easy for them. Those social sharing buttons need to be clearly visible to visitors of your website.
A2: I’m no expert here, but ‘promotion’ isn’t the key. Lighthearted, relatable content and/or an impassioned call-to-action are strong candidates for shares. #ContentWritingChat
Sarah knows it’s important to repurpose your content. You want to keep it fresh by updating evergreen posts regularly to ensure they’re still relevant with the latest information. You can even take blog posts and make them into different formats.
A3. Recycle your strongest content! For me, that means turning an ebook into a webinar, blog posts, infographics, etc. #contentwritingchat
Julia shared some great ideas like creating quote cards, Instagram posts, Snapchat content, Instagram Stories, and SlideShares. All of this can be created from one in-depth post.
A3: Create videos, slides and infographics. You can use the same content in many different formats #ContentWritingChat
Don’t forget to mention or tag any co-authors or brands that are part of your post. You can even potentially “newsjack” or “trendjack” on social media to gain more traction.
Q4: Do you use an influencer strategy to gain traction on your content? If so, what do you do?
Many brand are taking advantage of influencers in their niche as a way to reach new people. If you’re considering trying it out, these are some great tips:
A4 a. #contentwritingchat Yes! 🙂 Our influencer strategy @buzzsumo begins with thinking about how we can help influencers
Susan said the team at BuzzSumo focuses on how they can help the influencers they work with. They use a relational approach, as opposed to mass emailing cold contacts.
A4: We’re in this together. If we can offer value for influencers, they’d be happy to share. #ContentWritingChat.
Qualifying the audience an influencer has can definitely be a tricky task, but it’s an important one. You want to ensure you work with the right people.
A4: Influencers can be really beneficial, but finding the RIGHT influencer is important. #contentwritingchat
Shawn is spot on with his answer. Choosing an influencer doesn’t mean you should go with the person who has the largest audience. It’s more important to work with someone who has a quality, highly engaged audience.
If those bigger influencers are out of your reach, there’s no need to worry. You can see great results when partnering with micro-influencers in your niche.
A4 I think we’re in the era of the micro-influencer. Niche WINS…broad doesn’t! I partner & collab with them on content #ContentWritingChat
Julia also sees the value in working with micro-influencers. As she said, niche wins.
Q5: What pitfalls do you try to avoid in your influencer strategy for content?
To help you avoid any troubles with your influencer strategy, we asked our chat participants to share the things they strive to avoid. Here’s what a few of them said:
A5 #contentwritingchat Stretching ourselves too thin. We have a small team and need to be careful with commitments to make sure we deliver.
When you have a small team, you have to be careful that you don’t stress yourself too thin. Don’t go overboard with commitments because you need to make sure you can still deliver.
A5 Make sure you and influencers are aligned in values. Disconnects can derail an entire content marketing strategy. #ContentWritingChat
A great piece of advice to remember: know your influencer’s audience. You want to research potential influencers to choose the right one for your brand.
Q6: What roadblocks to content efficiency are you trying to overcome? How’s that going for you?
Are you struggling with content efficiency? You aren’t alone! Our chat participants shared their biggest struggles and how they’re working to beat them:
A6 a #contentwritingchat Sticking to our plans! We like to run with good ideas, and sometimes that makes us inefficient.
Sticking to your plans can be tough when you have so many good ideas floating around. Susan said a system needs to be in place that allows that flexibility, but still encourages you to finish projects.
A6. My org is evolving, so is my audience. Keeping messaging/language/themes on-brand is a big challenge! #contentwritingchat
Kristen knows an evolving organization goes through a lot of transitions. Keeping messaging, language, and themes consistent and on-brand can be a tricky task.
A6: We create for clients, our biggest roadblock is the inability to get enough good info since they are the expert #ContentWritingChat
Creating for clients can sometimes be pretty challenging. You want to make sure you’re getting plenty of information from them to do your job successfully.
A6. Just trying to write long form content consistently is the roadblock I am facing #contentwritingchat
Have you ever thought about turning your content into a book? If so, you might be wondering how to get started with this process! In this week’s #ContentWritingChat, this is exactly what we talked about.
We talked about what you need to do first if you want to write a book, the pros and cons of working with a publisher versus self-publishing, and more! If this chat is right up your alley, keep reading for out recap. It’s loaded with all the tips you need.
#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Turn Your Content Into a Book With Leah Ingram
Our guest host this week was Leah Ingram. Leah is a regular #ContentWritingChat participant, so we were thrilled to have her guest hosting. As a writer, she had a lot of amazing tips to help you create a book of your very own.
Q1: Why would you want to turn your content into a book?
Whether you’ve already been thinking about writing a book or you’re not convinced it’s worthwhile, this first question is for you. We asked everyone to share why they felt writing a book could be beneficial. Check out some of the responses:
A1: A great reason to turn your content into a book is to build your platform as an expert. #ContentWritingChat It’s why I did w/ mine!
Julia said publishing a book instantly gives you authority in your niche. She was able to land a paid speaking gig and even secure new clients from publishing her own book.
As Ken said, portability is another benefit of writing a book. With all of your best content in one place, it’s easy for your audience to read and take with them wherever they go.
Q2: How do you know that your content is something your audience will be interested in?
Before you get started with a book, you want to make sure the topic you choose is something your audience will value. If they aren’t interested, they won’t buy! Here’s how you can make sure your book will be a hit with your target audience:
A2: If you’re getting lots of comments or good traffic for certain types of blog posts/content, you’ve got a winner. #ContentWritingChat
If you’re receiving a lot of comments or traffic on certain types of content, Leah said that’s a good sign you’ve got a winner. This is a great way to get started when turning your content into a book.
A2: When you listen to your audience and use what they’re saying as a guide to your content, you’re on the right track! #ContentWritingChat
Sarah’s advice is to research what your audience is responding to and sharing. This gives you a good idea of what their interests are so you can create the content that resonates.
If you aren’t sure what your audience truly wants, there are a few great options for you. Carla suggests doing surveys, asking questions, checking blog comments, and even viewing your Google Analytics. Discover what’s been a hit with your audience and go from there.
A2. If you’re repurposing blog content, you already have a good barometer of interest: social media sharing & comments. #ContentWritingChat
If you’re going to be repurposing some of your blog content as a book, that’s already going to be a good indicator of your audience’s interest. Were people sharing those posts or leaving comments? Those are signs that they liked what you were sharing.
A2: Don’t be afraid to ASK your audience what they’d like to see from you. They’ll tell you what they think. #ContentWritingChat
Never be afraid to just ask your audience what they want. If you have an idea, present it to them to get their feedback.
Q3: What comes first — the book idea, the agent, or the publisher?
Do you need a book idea first or should you secure an agent or a publisher beforehand? To help answer this question, here’s some feedback from the chat:
A3: I’ve always used trad. publishing. So idea, then find an agent (if I don’t have one), then we find publisher. #ContentWritingChat
Leah recommends setting daily word limits to give yourself a goal to work towards. This will keep you on track and ensure you’re making progress every day.
Having a journal or a planner is a great way to jot down ideas and deadlines for yourself. It’s nice to have all of that information in one place for easy access.
Sarah said you should have a writing system in place. You can set deadlines to meet your goals. And make sure you’re taking breaks when needed to give yourself a mental reboot.
Whenever you get stuck, walk away from your writing for a bit. Do something else to refresh your mind and then come back to it later.
Q5: What are the pros and cons of working with a publisher versus self-publishing?
These days, many writers are choosing to skip working with a publisher in favor of self-publishing. There are benefits and downsides to both, so here’s what you need to know:
A5: For me I’ve very much a carrot-and-stick kind of book writer. Without an advance I’m less inspired. #ContentWritingChat
Working with a publisher gives you access to a wide array of contacts that can increase the visibility of the book, but that publisher will get some of your money from sales.
A5a Self-publishing is great if you have an existing audience. Plus, you make more $ royalties (80%!) + stay in control. #ContentWritingChat
Ken said that a publisher will hopefully set money aside for marketing, which is a major plus. If you go the self-publishing route, that task falls on your shoulders.
You can reach out to your own network of friends and colleagues to help you with promotion. Influencers in your niche are a great way to expand your reach as well.
Ken suggests engaging in online forms and on blogs. You want to put in the work before your book is released to build your audience and increase anticipation.
Javier recommends running promotions that offer chapters for free or exclusive content. This is a great way to encourage sales and pique the interest of your audience.
A6: I told friends. Didn’t work because they weren’t my audience. Share with the relevant people. Social media helps. #ContentWritingChat
Telling friends is great, but sometimes they won’t be your target audience. Make sure you’re spreading the word to people who would be most interested.
Q7: How do you actually make money once you’ve written a book (beyond an advance if you’ve gotten one)?
Your book is out there in the world and now you’re probably wondering how you can make money with it. Check out this advice for some great tips:
A7: This is where my spokesperson income has come in. At one point was 60% of annual earnings. Book got me gigs. #ContentWritingChat
Leah makes money through her spokesperson income, as her books have helped her land gigs. She also suggests getting magazine assignments to continue building your platform.
A7 Royalties. My self-published book So You Think You Can Write makes residual monthly income now. Not a ton, but nice! #ContentWritingChat
You could even consider turning some of your book content into webinars that potential readers could tune into. The webinar should leave them wanting to buy your book. You can also run ads or land speaking engagements.
A7 Use social media to keep promoting the book, your aim is to keep selling copies if you can! #ContentWritingChat
Julia said you shouldn’t rush the process. It’s going to take time, so put in the effort that’s required. She also said to create a book you’re proud of.
Katie said you shouldn’t force your content into a book format if it’s just not working out. You might find that something isn’t best as a book, which is totally okay.
Want to join our next #ContentWritingChat? Follow @ExpWriters and @writingchat, then join us every Tuesday at 10 AM Central!
Do you ever struggle to stay on track when it comes to content creation? If so, you are in the right place! In this week’s #ContentWritingChat, we talked all about Content Productivity Hacks. These tips are going to help you accomplish your writing with ease, so you’ll want to check them out!
We had another community chat this week, which means our participants were the stars of the show. A while back, we polled our audience to see what chat topics they were most interested in and this was one of them. If you need some content productivity hacks to get you through, keep reading for our recap.
Q1: What does content productivity mean to you?
What exactly is content productivity and what does that look like for you? We all have different ideas of what productivity means. Here are a few responses from the chat:
For Sarah, it’s all about getting done what needs to get done and doing it on time.
Q2: How do you come up with great topic ideas for your content?
When it comes time to write your content, how do you come up with amazing topics to cover? There are a variety of ways you can draw inspiration, but here are a few suggestions from the chat:
A2: Get to know the audience and then ask them what they want to learn about. It always comes back to the audience. #contentwritingchat
You can find content ideas by spending time on social media, reading your blog comments, and through so many other ways. If you need to figure out what your audience wants, the answers are right in front of you!
Danielle knows it’s also beneficial to review your competitors. You can see what they’re sharing and how their audience is responding to it. It might spark new ideas for you.
A2. I listen to what people are chatting about on twitter chats #contentwritingchat
If you’re writing content for clients, you need to understand their business and get to know their customer’s needs and problems.
Q3: Once you’re ready to start writing, what’s your first step?
It’s finally time to write! Now what? Depending on your content creation process, your first step might be different from someone else’s. Here’s how a few of our chat participants get started with writing:
A3: Outline! Get ideas down & organized before I begin writing. Social media posts take less planning, but same process #ContentWritingChat
Laura’s advice is to just start writing. It doesn’t have to be good, so just focus on getting some words out and letting everything flow. You can edit later.
Q4: How do you stay on track with your content creation schedule? Any tips?
When it comes to consistently creating content, it helps to have a schedule in place. If you need some advice with staying on track, check out these suggestions:
A4: Set deadlines. When you give yourself due dates, you can create ample time to get your writing and editing done. #ContentWritingChat
Setting deadlines is a major help in staying consistent with content creation. You can allow yourself ample time to take care of writing and editing so there’s no last-minute scramble to get things done.
A4: Form a regular schedule. I aim to have blog posts come out Tuesdays, Youtube videos Sundays for instance. #ContentWritingChat
Zachary suggests setting a schedule for yourself. For example, he shares blog posts on Tuesdays and YouTube videos on Sundays. This will keep you on track.
A4) I have a content calendar on our Cloud. Employees can see what we’re working on and add input/suggestions. #contentwritingchat
Kyle relies on his content calendar to stay organized. You can also share it with other team members so they can see what’s being worked on and provide input.
A4: I have an accountability call every Mon. w/ another writer. Knowing I have to “report” to her gets the work done! #ContentWritingChat
Make sure you’re brining your team together often to brainstorm ideas. As Meghan said, you can also review what’s working and where you can make improvements.
Since Lori has team members all over the world, she surely knows it can be tricky working across timezones. She relies on tools like Slack, Basecamp, and Zoom to stay in touch.
A5: Be open and listen to each other’s ideas. Don’t be offended by proposed suggestions or edits. #contentwritingchat
This is a great reminder from Lexie. She stresses that you should be open and listen to the ideas from others on your team. Don’t be offended by any proposed suggestions or edits.
Q6: What do you do when you’re feeling uninspired to get the creative juices flowing again?
When you’re lacking inspiration, what do you do to get back into that writing groove? If you need some new ideas, check out these tips:
Tammie said you shouldn’t force writing if you just aren’t feeling it. Instead, step away from the computer and take a break.
Q7: What are your favorite tools when it comes to content planning and creation?
Fortunately, there are a plethora of tools out there that can help with your content productivity. You just have to find the right one for your needs! Here are some suggestions:
Molly likes to use the Notes app on her phone to jot down ideas. It’s especially handy since it can sync between your phone and laptop. She’s also a fan of CoSchedule.
In this week’s #ContentWritingChat, we talked all about B2B marketing techniques. If you’re running a B2B business or working for one, you’ll certainly find value in the tips that were shared during Tuesday’s chat. In this post, we’re recapping some of the great advice for you to sink your teeth into!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: B2B Marketing Techniques for the Content Marketer with Anh Nguyen
Our guest host this week was Anh Nguyen. She’s a B2B marketer and a social media influencer. She also runs a Twitter chat of her own (#MobileChat), so it was great having her in the guest hosting seat. She had some amazing tips to share with all of us, so let’s check it out!
Q1: What’s the difference between B2B and B2C marketing?
To kick off the chat, we asked everyone to share the difference between B2B marketing and B2C marketing. If you aren’t sure what either of these mean, you’ll want to pay close attention to the answers that were shared. Here’s what you need to know:
A1a. B2B is business-to-business. A business markets and sells to other businesses. #ContentWritingChat.
As Anh said, B2B is business to business. In this case, a business would market and sell their products and services to other businesses. A B2C is business to consumer, which directs their offerings towards consumers/individuals.
As Jade pointed out, you’re going to need a different plan whether you’re in the B2B space or the B2C space.
Q2: What are some starting points for a B2B marketing plan?
If you’re getting started with B2B marketing, where should you begin when it comes to creating a plan? If you’re not sure, check out these tips to lead you down the right path:
A2a. Determine the goals for your B2B marketing plan. Determine what is measurable and which metrics you’ll use. #ContentWritingChat
To get started, Anh says you’ll need to determine the goals for your B2B marketing plan. You’ll want to set goals that are able to be tracked and measured so you can see how you’re progressing. From there, you’ll also need to determine who you want to reach and which channels you’ll be utilizing.
A2c. There isn’t a one size fits all plan. Each business is different and the audience is unique to that business. #ContentWritingChat
Anh says that there isn’t one-size-fits-all plan. Each business is different and their audience will be unique. In order to effectively reach that audience, you need to know and understand them. This will help yo provide the content that resonates.
A2: Determine what potential businesses need. Be able to speak in a way that businesses can understand your business. #contentwritingchat
Ken knows that it’s important to know your audience, whether you’re in the B2B or B2C space. You need to determine their needs and figure out what they’re looking for.
Make sure you get to know the business, their goals, and their challenges.
Q3: How is B2B content strategy different from a B2C content strategy?
Now that you know a little more about B2B marketing, how does the content strategy you’d use for a B2B business differ from one you’d use for a B2C? This is what you need to know:
A3a. B2B marketing content should be informational or educational. Focus on features + benefits. #ContentWritingChat
Anh said that B2B marketing should be information or educational. She recommends focusing on features and benefits you can provide. The process often takes a longer time than B2C as well, which is important to keep in mind. This is because a group is typically involved in the decision making in this case.
A3d. B2C buying is based on needs and benefits of a product. Decision is made by individuals for their own use. #ContentWritingChat
For B2C, buying is based on the needs and benefits of a product, but the decision is made by individuals for their own use. As Anh said, emotion often plays a larger part in a B2C buying decision.
A3 B2B strategy vs. B2C: personas will differ (ie. target decision maker in corp), content delivery/creation will differ #ContentWritingChat
Jason said B2B requires selling to executives or a C-level team. For B2C, you’re selling to an individual where their choice won’t be swayed by others on a team.
A3. In B2B, you need to shine a brighter spotlight on ROI. How will using your product help them save time AND money? #ContentWritingChat
Ken feels you’ll need to put more attention on ROI when working in the B2B space. Know how your product will save time and money and communicate those benefits to potential buyers.
As Colin said, you need to know the needs of your customer’s customers.
Q4: What struggles does a B2B business face? How can you combat them?
There’s no denying that any B2B business will face some difficulties, but what are they up against? And how can they stand up to challenges? Check out these responses from the chat:
A4a. Content creation is often a struggle. B2B content is viewed as boring, not ‘sexy’ or not fun. #ContentWritingChat
Anh feels content creation is often a struggle for B2B brands because their content is often viewed as boring. She suggests combating this by thinking of creative ways to share “boring” content. She even feels that humor can work in B2B when done appropriately.
A4: Creating content businesses want to read. Business execs are busy. What will grab their attention? #contentwritingchat
Many B2B brands are afraid to experiment, but sometimes it’s helpful to step outside the box. You can test out humor, unexpected visuals, and emotive copy according to Shelly.
Lauren said many B2B brands are afraid to take content marketing risks. She says they can combat that fear by experimenting and measuring the ROI it receives.
Make sure you find the right platforms to reach your audience. You want to be on the platforms they’re actively using to get your content in front of them.
Q5: How can you determine the success of your B2B marketing tactics?
Once you have a B2B marketing strategy in place, you need to measure the results you’re getting from your efforts. But how do you know if it’s a success? Keep these tips in mind:
A5a. What were the marketing plan goals? Did you reach or exceed those goals? Did you hit the KPIs? #ContentWritingChat
It all goes back to the marketing plan goals you set in the beginning. Anh said to ask yourself if you reached or exceed those goals and if you hit the KPIs.
A5: First you have to set goals then measure your success against those goals. #contentwritingchat
For Carla, she thinks ConvertKit and Hootsuite (to name a few) do a great job.
Ready to join the #ContentWritingChat party? Join us on Twitter by following @ExpWriters and @writingchat. The chat takes place every Tuesday at 10 AM Central Time!
