Have you ever conducted an SEO audit for your website? If not, you should! However, if you’ve never done one before, you might be wondering how to get started… If you’re in that boat, there’s no need to worry! That’s exactly what we talked about in this week’s #ContentWritingChat.
And as always, our participants had some amazing advice to share. If you’re ready to turn your website into one that Google loves, keep reading for the valuable tips!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Conduct an SEO Audit for Your Website with Lexie Kimball of Netvantage Marketing
Our guest host this week was Lexie Kimball of Netvantage Marketing. Lexie is their account manager and she really knows her stuff when it comes to SEO! As a frequent #ContentWritingChat participant, it was great having her step into a guest hosting role.
Q1: Share the basic process you go through for an on-site SEO audit.
If you’ve never conducted an SEO audit before, you’ll need to know where to begin. To help you out, our chat participants shared some essential steps the process includes. Here’s what you need to know:
A1: The first step of an audit is keyword research. We use that keyword research for page titles, metas & body copy. #contentwritingchat
Lexie’s first step in conducting an SEO audit is keyword research. As she mentioned, the chosen keyword for a piece of content goes in page titles, meta descriptions, and body copy. The team at Netvantage also does a technical audit of the website to locate any red flags.
A1: In a nutshell: Discussion with client, keyword research, on-site recommendations, implementation of changes. #contentwritingchat
Michael, also from the Netvantage team, knows that chatting with your client first is a must. It’s important to understand their business and needs. He then suggestions moving on to keyword research, on-site recommendations, and implementation of changes.
It’s also important to have an understanding of your goals/your client’s goals and who the target audience is. From there, you can create an effective plan.
A1 FIRST step: Talk to your client and outline solid KPIs you’re judging content by when auditing. #ContentWritingChat
For Julia, she feels talking to the client is the first step. This allows you to outline solid KPIs you’re judging content by when auditing. From there, she also likes to use Screaming Frog to grab all site links.
Q2: Where do you start with keyword research?
When it comes time to conduct keyword research, where do you begin? Check out this great advice from Tuesday’s chat:
A2: We always ask clients first. They know their business the best & have the best suggestions for keywords. #ContentWritingChat
To get started with keyword research, Lexie knows it’s important to talk to the client before beginning. Because the client has plenty of knowledge on their business, they’re able to provide some great suggestions for keywords. She also suggests looking at competitors to see which keywords they’re using and ranking for.
A consultation with the client is a must for Sarah! Sarah and her teammates use that opportunity to question the client on their ideal audience, products, and services.
A2: Ask client to provide a list of what they consider high priority keywords. It helps our KW research stay relevant. #contentwritingchat
Michael knows it’s helpful to ask the client to provide a list of keywords that are high priority. After all, they likely have a good idea of which ones are best for their business.
Dennis knows it’s important to define which keywords you want your site to rank for. You can then record your current ranking for each one and watch it grow.
A2: May be a bit of a @google fangirl, but data from AdWords/Analytics about how people find you is my first step. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/k3S4ztJACv
Abbey, another Netvantage team member, also agrees that asking your clients for keyword suggestions is a great way to begin. From there, she likes to look at queries in Google Search Console.
A2: Also good to review popular forums and sites where customers hang out to look for topics & KWs. #contentwritingchat
Adam’s advice is to review popular forms and sites where customers are spending their time online. It’s a great way to see what they’re talking about and to determine the right keywords and topics to use.
A2. I really look to twitter chats because this is where I get a strong idea of what type of content readers want #contentwritingchat
Cheval recommends checking out Twitter chats for content topics. This can help a lot when it comes to your keyword research.
Q3: What tools do you use for keyword research?
Fortunately, there are a plethora of tools at our disposal that can help with keyword research. If you’re looking for some great ones to use, check out these suggestions:
A3: Google’s Keyword Planner is usually the first tool we use for keyword research. #ContentWritingChat
Sarah provided a list of amazing tools that are worth checking out! As she said, there’s no shortage of tools so you have plenty of options to find the ones that work best for you.
Sarah said the client conversation is an opportunity to lay out a sitemap of pages and sections. You can then get chosen keywords to fit into that structure.
A4 Focus on ONE long-tail, high-opportunity (low-competition) keyword per long-form post. Use synonymous keywords. #ContentWritingChat
As Abbey said, make sure keywords are placed on the most relevant pages. And of course, no keyword stuffing! Keywords should always be used in a natural way.
Q5: Do you create the content the keywords go in on the website?
Are you the one who creates the content that includes your chosen keywords? Or does someone else have this task? Check out what some of our chat participants said:
A5: It varies. If we can work off content that is already on the site, we usually do. #contentwritingchat
On the flip side, sometimes they add a paragraph or two to what’s already on the site. This helps increase content length. In some cases, they’ll recommend new pages for the website when doing the SEO audit. The Netvantage team will then create the content for those pages.
A5 I write a lot of the keyword-focused content at @ExpWriters, and our team of 40 amazing writers help me do even more. #ContentWritingChat
When doing an SEO audit, sometimes you’re lucky to create the content and other times you have to optimize what’s already been published. It just depends on the client!
Q6: What technical aspects do you look at for a website when doing an audit?
Don’t forget that it’s not just about the website’s content. There’s a technical side of things to check on as well. Here’s what else you need to look for:
A6: With Google putting an emphasis on site speed, we use Google’s PageSpeed Insights & @pingdom. #ContentWritingChat
Abbey seconds that by encouraged you to check for canonical errors on a website, as well as site speed. Make sure you’re also looking at whether or not it’s mobile-friendly and if there’s duplicate content.
A6: Sitemap and Robots.txt file errors. Crawling errors (4xx pages) both from internal pages and external websites. #contentwritingchat
The Netvantage tame uses Majestic to with a few key metrics during an SEO audit. They look at the number of linking domains to the root domain, as well as citation flow and trust flow of the homepage of the website.
A7.3: We’ll use @Moz Open Site Explorer to look at the domain authority & homepage authority. #ContentWritingChat
Are you wondering how to create email content that your subscribers will enjoy and that you’ll love to create? If so, you’re in the right place! Our latest #ContentWritingChat was jam-packed with amazing advice you can use to take your email marketing strategy to the next level.
Ready to dive in? Keep reading for our recap!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: From Subject Lines to Preheaders: How to Create Email Content That Stands Out with Shayla Price
Our guest host this week was Shayla Price. Shayla is a B2B content and email marketer, so she knows a thing or two about creating amazing online content. She shared some great advice throughout our chat, so you’ll want to take some notes!
Q1: Why should brand put time and effort into building an email marketing strategy?
Are you wondering if email marketing is really going to be worth the extra work? We say yes! But if you need a little extra convincing, here are some responses from our chat:
A1.a: When brands devote time & effort to email, it helps build consumer relationships and grow their businesses. #ContentWritingChat
Shayla knows that email marketing can help brands build relationships with their customers, while also growing their business in the process. It also produces some pretty great ROI!
A1 Email is a great way to build an audience over time and deliver value directly to their inbox (and mobile devices) #contentwritingchat
As Bill mentioned, you can deliver value directly to the inbox of your audience through the power of email. It’s a great way to build an audience and establish trust over time.
A1: Email is a great way to send catered content to the people that matter most – your target audience. #ContentWritingChat
Cheval made a great point about how your email list is your own real estate. When you build a following on social media, you’re doing so on rented land. Those platforms could disappear one day, but you’ll always have your email list.
Q2: How can your subject line increase open rates? Any tips you can share?
When you create email content, it’s pretty obvious that your subject line is very important. After all, it can make or break whether or not someone opens your email or sends it straight to the trash. Here’s some advice you can use to boost your open rate with your next campaign:
A2.a: The subject line is the make-or-break moment. If it doesn’t catch the recipient’s attention, you will get ignored. #ContentWritingChat
Her advice is to keep your subject lines short, unique, and non-spammy. You can also see results by using numbers, a deadline, asking a question, and keeping it personal. These are all great strategies to test out.
A2: it’s just like sending out a good tweet – you want to hook them so they CLICK on the email not delete! #ContentWritingChat
Remember that your subject line is your first impression. Take advantage of that and leave people wanting to open your emails.
Q3: What kind of content is inside your emails? How do you ensure you’re providing value?
Once you have an email list in place, you need to figure out what you’re going to send your subscribers. Sometimes that’s a more stressful task than you might realize! Check out this advice to make sure you always provide value:
A3.a: Email content must match the customer’s interests & needs. You want them eager to read your messages. #ContentWritingChat
Shayla said email content needs to match the interests of your subscribers. You should always keep them in mind when writing your campaigns so you can be sure you’re delivering what they want to see. If you aren’t sure what they want, take time to do the research. Analytics will provide plenty of information.
Exclusive content in your email campaigns give people something to look forward to. If it’s something they can’t get anywhere else, they’ll be more likely to check it out.
A3: Timely, thoughtful, and engaging content that provides value. Ex: an offer, informative content, etc. #contentwritingchat
When you give your audience something they can take away, they’re sure to appreciate it. Adding value is always key with any kind of content you produce.
A3: Content you’ve been asked for – relevant, value adding, & easy to digest WITH a CTA! No cta means lower conversion. #ContentWritingChat
Make sure you remember to add a CTA as well. This tells people what they next step is after they’ve finished reading your email.
Q4: How can you design an email that looks great, but is still easy to read across devices?
With people accessing emails on their desktops, as well as their smartphones, it’s important to make sure they’re easy to read everywhere. How can you do this when you create email content? Keep these tips in mind:
A4.a: Design is crucial in email marketing, and it should reflect your brand. #ContentWritingChat
Shayla encourages you to stick to a design that reflects your brand. Use specific colors, images, fonts, and layouts. When you can create a look and stick with it, it become recognizable as being unique to you.
Don’t forget to test your emails before you send them out. It’s worth doing a final check before it gets delivered to tons of inboxes.
Q5: What’s your best advice for keeping email list subscribers engaged?
When you’ve got people on your list, you want them to stay put. To do that, you need to keep them interested and engaged. Here’s some advice that will help you do just that:
A5.a: Engagement isn’t a one-way street. Ask questions and encourage recipients to reply to your emails. #ContentWritingChat
Shayla’s advice is to ask questions and encourage your subscribers to reply. This is a great way to get the conversation going. She also said segmentation is great, as this allows you to really tailor your content to specific people on your list.
A5: Keep your email list warm by staying in touch. Don’t let them go weeks without hearing from you. #ContentWritingChat
Don’t be afraid to change it up though! Brian’s advice is to surprise your audience once in a while. You have to keep things fresh.
Q6: Which metrics do you track to measure the success of your email campaigns?
After you create email content and send it out to your subscribers, you want to measure its success to see how it performed. Here are some go-to metrics you should keep an eye on:
A6.a: Measuring the success of email campaigns varies and depends on your team’s current goals. #ContentWritingChat
Shayla knows that the metrics you pay the most attention to will depend on the current goals of your email marketing efforts. Typically, she tracks click-through rates, open-to-sale conversion rates, and unsubscribe rates.
A6: CLICKS! – We try to have a link in every email! Any one can read your email – but a click means they’re interested #ContentWritingChat
As Alan said, it all depends on what your overall goal is. Make sure you set that in beginning before you start creating content. He knows that click-through rate can be a good indicator of how effective your content was as well.
Q7: What is your go-to platform for email marketing? Why do you like it more than others?
With so many email marketing platforms available, it can be hard to choose the right one. We asked our chat participants to share their favorites with you. Here’s what they said:
Chelsea needs a more robust system to handle her email marketing, so she relies on Infusionsoft.
Q8: Which brands are doing an amazing job with their email content? Tag them!
There are plenty of brands who are creating great email content, which means there’s lots to learn from them. Which ones are standing out from the crowd? Check out these suggestions:
This week, we had another community chat hour during #ContentWritingChat! We previously had our participants vote on topics they wanted to see for future chats and many voted for a chat on social media engagement strategies. It’s always a hot topic and we knew everyone would have some amazing advice to share!
If you’ve been wanting to step up your social media engagement, get ready to take some notes and keep reading for our recap!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: Social Media Engagement Strategies
Using social media as a way to engage your audience is crucial when you’re building a presence online. It’s a powerful tool to build relationships and establish trust. But if you’re struggling to make those connections, we’re here to help! The tips in this recap will help you boost your engagement on every platform you use.
Q1: What does social media engagement look like to you?
What are you tracking when it comes to social media engagement? There are a few things that are important to measure in order to see results. Here’s what our participants look out for:
A1 I DON’T measure #socialmedia success in followers, likes, etc. I measure real convos, clicks, engagement. ? #ContentWritingChat
It’s all about the replies! There’s no denying that it’s a good feeling when people respond to the content you share online. Make sure you give them the courtesy of replying and getting the conversation started.
When you track your ROI, it tells you what’s working and what’s resonating with your audience. As Lexie said, this is important when crafting your overall social media strategy.
When you’re part of a larger team, you’ll often have to give proof that your efforts are working to those who are higher up. Track ROI and record the results in a way that’s easy to read.
Javier knows you want to measure the productiveness of your time, efforts, and money when it comes to social media.
Q3: What are the right KPIs to track social media engagement?
Now that you know the importance of tracking your efforts on social media, which metrics should you be paying attention to? This is what you need to know:
Max likes using Facebook’s analytics to see what’s not working well for him and what is. This will help you create more content that resonates with your audience so you can see better results in the future.
A3: It varies depending on the social content. Some content, like photos, are for likes. Content is for clicks, etc. #contentwritingchat
Lexie knows that what you measure will also depend on the content you’re sharing. Your goal can differ, so know what you’re hoping to achieve.
Q4: What types of content track the most engagement in your experience?
So, what kind of content reigns supreme when it comes to encouraging social media engagement? That’s going to depend on your brand and your audience! However, here are some suggestions straight from our chat:
A4
-creative
-multimedia
-relevant/of value
-concise
-emotional (storytelling)
-consistent
Julia has seen great results from visuals we’ve shared, especially infographics. She even notices collaborative content that features others has gotten plenty of engagement.
Make sure your content solves problems your audience is facing to provide tremendous value. Martin also said content that engages asks questions. It’s a great way to get people talking.
A4: Content that address the customers NEEDS and PROBLEMS. If you’re not spending time identifying buyers, don’t bother. #ContentWritingChat
Q6: How do you manage engagement across multiple social media platforms?
Considering most of us are using numerous social media platforms in our daily lives, it can be a lot of work to manage them all. How can you get the job done with minimal stress? Take a look at this advice to help make your social media tasks a little easier:
Here at Express Writers, we rely on MeetEdgar to keep our social media queues filled with great content.
Q7: Where are brands going wrong on social media in terms of engagement?
Unfortunately, a lot of brands are still getting it wrong when it comes to social media engagement. Make sure you avoid making the same mistakes by reading this advice:
A7. Trying to be everywhere, instead of really being there for their customers on a couple of channels. #contentwritingchat
Jason feels brands need to share content that actually drives conversations and feedback. If you’re not, you’re missing out on value information! He also said to reply back when you receive responses to get the conversation going.
A7. Where to begin with this Q? ? No interaction or convo with their communities. Constant self-promotion/broadcasting. #ContentWritingChat
Ken knows that self-promotion is fine, but you can’t forget about engagement. Engagement should be something you do on a regular basis to build relationships with your audience.
A7
Be “human”
Show genuine interest
Follow up
Listen
Be appreciative
Empathize
Ask Qs
Be proactive
Be human and show genuine interest! Listen to what people are saying, ask questions, and take the time to respond. Gaby knows that being social is a must on social media, after all!
Q8: What are your favorite resources for learning about social media?
In order to step-up your social media engagement, you should stay updated on what’s going on in the field. There are plenty of resources you can turn to for this! Here are some great ideas:
A8. Twitter chats like this one! Seriously, I learn so much from other people’s experiences. #ContentWritingChat
Sarah knows being present on social media is really the best way to learn about social media. Be active on the platforms you use and don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things to see what works for you.
Join us for #ContentWritingChat every Tuesday at 10 AM Central Time! Be sure to follow @ExpWriters and @writingchat for the latest!
If you work with clients as part of your job, you probably know how important communication is. You have to get to know your clients, understand their needs, and will need to keep in touch with them throughout the process. It can sometimes be a little overwhelming! If you’re looking for some communication tips to make your relationships with clients go smoothly, there was some great advice shared in this week’s #ContentWritingChat.
#ContentWritingChat Recap: Communication Tips for the Content Creation Process with Kristen Lo
Our guest host this week was Kristen Lo, the Community Manager for HeyOrca. Kristen is a regular participant at #ContentWritingChat and it was great having her step into the guest hosting role. She also had some amazing communication tips we can all use when working with our clients. Keep reading to find out what they are!
Q1: What are the top qualities of an effective communication process with clients?
When working with clients is a huge part of your business, it’s essential that you make sure the communication process is effective. To help you out, here’s what some of our chat participants feel are a must:
As Kristen said, it’s important to keep your clients satisfied and content. That should always be one of your top priorities when you run or work in a service-based business.
Sarah feels it’s important to set expectations with your clients. She also recommends responding in a timely manner with clear communication. Being polite and proper is always a must!
A1: Effective client communication is responsive, proactive, clear, collaborative, and provides context. #contentwritingchat
Zala recommends having a strategy in place. You want to plan and have clear steps for your communication process, as well as a division of responsibilities.
Dan said you need to find the most efficient communication channel for connecting with clients. You want to use something that suits both of your needs.
A1: Establishing an easy channel of communication (e.g., conference call, webcast, etc.) to discuss clients issues. #ContentWritingChat
Javier also knows it’s important to have an easy channel of communication. Determine early on if you’ll communicate via telephone, email, or something else.
One of the best communication tips to implement is to have a schedule. Make it clear when you’ll be in touch with your clients. Dan said conversations should be open and honest on both sides as well.
A1: Set clear expectations upfront and stick to your side of the bargain. Be on time for every meeting, online or off. #ContentWritingChat.
When you set clear expectations from the very beginning, you’re going to get a project started off on the right foot. You also want to make sure you’re always on time for meetings. When you value a client’s time, they’ll value yours.
A1: Being open & honest. Working in SEO especially, we are very upfront about rankings not happening overnight. #contentwritingchat
Lexie knows the importance of open and honest communication. At Netvantage, they’re always upfront with clients early on.
Q2: How can you best establish how many touch points you should have with your clients throughout the creation process?
It’s important to make expectations clear from the very start of a brand new client project. So, how can you establish how many touch points you’ll actually have with each client? Here’s some helpful advice:
Kristen said you need to be consistent when it comes to the updates you have with your clients. Consistency helps a project go smoothly and keeps clients at ease.
A solid, clear workflow is a must! Julia shared our own process for the team here at Express Writers. Check out the link she included to learn more about what it’s like when you hire us!
Javier encourages you to establish a flexible schedule in the beginning and make it more concrete as you reach milestones throughout the project.
Q3: How can you get your clients excited for your content and keep them happy throughout the process?
When you work with clients, it’s important that you keep them happy throughout the process. To ensure their excitement remains high, keep these tips in mind:
Kristen knows that talking about potential results is one way to get clients excited. Let them know what you can really do for them! It also helps to share updates along the way so they see you’re making progress. It keeps them involved throughout.
Julia suggests sharing examples of finished pieces. It gives clients a look into what you can really do for them. They’re sure to see the value of your work and what you’re capable of.
A3: By being transparent when communicating your ideas. Creating a collaborative environment will bolster excitement. #ContentWritingChat
Remember, if you want clients to be happy and excited about a project, you should feel that way too. Clients will pick up on your vibes so make sure you’re truly invested!
A3: Be confident about the content. If you aren’t confident about it, the client will likely be able to tell. #contentwritingchat
Lexie’s advice is to be confident about the content you’re working on. Your confidence is contagious!
Q4: What do you do with clients that want no part in content creation? How can you deliver a product that meets their needs?
What happens when your client doesn’t want to get involved in the content creation process? How do you manage it and still deliver a stellar product in the end? Here’s some advice:
Make sure you ask plenty of questions at the beginning of the project. You want to learn as much as possible about the client you’re working with. Sarah said to also research their website for more information.
A5: By having an honest convo from the start to set a precedent. What do they want? What are their goals? etc. #ContentWritingChat
Lexie recommends researching your client’s competitors. You can learn a lot about their field and come up with content ideas their audience would be interested in.
A4: Map out your recommended direction, story angles, deliverables, & timelines. Get sign off & hit go! #contentwritingchat
Shelly’s advice is to make out everything for your project. You can then send it over to the client for approval, then you’ll be able to get started.
Q5: What are your go-to tools for keeping in touch with your clients?
Fortunately, there are a plethora of tools out there that can make communicating with clients even easier. Check out some of these for your next client chat:
One great tip to walk away with is that you don’t want to let clients see you sending emails late at night. They’ll start thinking you’re available that late and begin reaching out, thus expecting a fast response. Instead, use a tool like Boomerang to schedule your emails to go out in the morning.
Q6: How do you set communication boundaries in terms of how and when you communicate?
One of our top communication tips is to set boundaries with your clients. You need to have a clear expectation of how often you’ll check-in with clients and how you’ll conduct these chats. Here’s some advice to help you set boundaries:
Kristen knows that you are in the charge of your own boundaries. You need to set boundaries from the beginning and stick to them in order to honor your time.
Lexie recommends determining the communication schedule from the very start. If you ever have questions, don’t hesitate to ask and make sure your clients feel the same.
It’s also wise to let clients know how soon they can expect to receive a response from you. Make sure it’s in a timely manner, but give a time frame so they know your availability.
As Julia mentioned, our team here uses Nextiva to route calls. This prevents the phone from ringing outside business hours. Clients are then able to leave a message instead. She knows that it’s important to protect your time off, so our team doesn’t work outside business hours.
A6: I like to tell people when I’m available (give office hours). Plus I share when I’m able to text. #contentwritingchat
Shannon prefers monthly face-to-face meetings when making major decisions with clients. She relies on weekly calls for updates and check-ins and email for approvals.
Q7: What’s your strategy for stellar communication with clients who may be on the other side of the world?
Sometimes we land clients who are on the other side of the world, thus making communication difficult due to timezone differences. How do you manage this without losing your cool? Check out this advice from the chat:
Sarah’s advice is to set up a schedule with the client’s preferred mode of communication during your first meeting. Compromise will be necessary to make this partnership work.
A7: Alter your schedule occasionally to show you value their business. Even if not everyday, once a while is worthwhile. #ContentWritingChat
Sometimes you’re going to have to change your schedule to accommodate overseas clients. It shows you value their time and business, which they’ll appreciate.
Are you up-to-date on all the latest content marketing trends? In this week’s #ContentWritingChat, we shared all the hottest tips and trends you need to know for a successful content marketing strategy.
Does that sound like just what your brand needs right now? Keep reading for the recap of our latest chat! It’s filled with some amazing advice that you’ll want to implement ASAP!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: Content Marketing Trends for 2017 with Dennis Shiao
Our guest host this week was Dennis Shiao. Dennis handles content marketing at DNN Software. He shared some great tips with us throughout the chat, which you won’t want to miss! Let’s dive into the recap for everything you need to know on content marketing trends for 2017.
Q1: Why is it important to keep an eye on content marketing trends? How can it impact us as creators?
Not feeling convinced that you should be keeping up with the latest when it comes to content marketing trends? These tweets will show you why it’s important for all content creators:
A1 Watching trends help you plan strategy. Sometimes you ride the trend, other times you might go the other way #contentwritingchat
Keeping an eye on the trends will help you plan your strategy. As Dennis mentioned, sometimes you ride the trend and sometimes you go the other way. When you understand the current content marketing trends, it can even give you ideas on how to start a new one.
A1c General advice – don’t follow trends just to follow them. Most people do that. There’s value in being different #contentwritingchat
Julia knows that knowing the latest trends is essential for content creators. You want to stay updated on the platforms, tools, and SEO to better serve your clients.
As Lexie said, knowing the trends shows your clients that you stay on top of all the latest information. It’s going to help them see that you really know your stuff!
A1b: When you monitor marketing trends it means you always have something to test. And everyone should be testing! #ContentWritingChat
Maureen brought up a great point about testing. When you monitor and try out new trends, you can test to see how it works for you. You’ll know what’s the right fit for your brand and your audience.
A1: Part of reflecting and planning your future growth is looking at the past and present state of marketing. #ContentWritingChat
As Ray said, part of reflecting and planning your future growth is looking at the past and present when it comes to content marketing. It’s important to reflect to see where things have been, where they’re going, and how you can adapt.
Q2: What have been the top content marketing trends to implement into your strategy so far this year?
Have there been any game-changing trends you implemented into your strategy this year? Our chat participants shared a few that were essential for them to incorporate:
A2 My belief is that high quality wins. So I’ve been publishing less, but trying to do it better. #contentwritingchat
When you’re creating content, you also need to deliver what your audience wants. Bill is committed to focusing on his existing customers and learning what they need, instead of guessing on what he should be creating.
A2. Recycling content and iterating on what works. Embracing and testing new content formats (audio/podcasting, etc.) #contentwritingchat
Kristen knows that recycling content is a big trend that is really paying off these days. It helps you make the most of what you’ve published in the past. She also said testing new content formats, such as podcasts, is also beneficial.
A2d The other clear trend is podcasting. I haven’t started my own just yet. But I listen to a lot! #contentwritingchat
People are certainly getting more visual with their content this year, which is something that won’t be going away any time soon. Whether it’s graphics or video content, people are loving great visuals.
Interactive content is certainly a great way to engage your audience and get them to take action.
Q3: Many marketers have stepped up content production. What are your tips for managing the content planning and creation process?
With more people taking their content seriously, it can sometimes get tricky managing the content planning and creation process. If you need some help in this area, check out this advice:
A3 Small teams (3 or less), use solid processes. Medium or large teams (4 or more), use processes + software #contentwritingchat
Dennis knows the importance of having clear processes and software to help teams, both big and small. He also mentioned how crucial it is to have a great plan in place. It’s definitely going to help you stay on track in the long run.
Julia also recognizes the importance of great team members, as she’s managing a remote team that’s all across the world. When you have an amazing team behind you, you can really see major growth when it comes to your content.
A3: Have a calendar coordinator, or content manager conduct the symphony. Make sure that it adheres to a great strategy! #contentwritingchat
Maureen suggests having a calendar coordinator or a content manager to help bring everything together. Having someone dedicated to this role will help everyone stay on track and meet deadlines.
A3a. Find people who can help. Even if you are a team of one, there are experts who can provide information. #contentwritingchat
However, you aren’t doomed if you don’t have a team behind you. As Brittany mentioned, there are plenty of experts out there that can provide information that’ll help you out.
A3. Always map your content back to your goals. Planning quarterly goals and/or themes can help guide content too. #contentwritingchat
And editorial calendar is certainly helpful when it comes to the planning process. You need to determine how often you want to publish and what topics you’ll be focusing on.
A3: Stay organized! Editorial calendars are a huge help. Also do your research and keep your content relevant. #ContentWritingChat
As Lori mentioned, it’s great to have a plan, but you also need to be flexible. Be open to making last minute changes to create content for the topics that are relevant in the moment.
For Bryn, repurposing content is a must. It’s going to help you make the most of the older content you’ve already published. All you have to do is find ways to make it fresh again. She teams up with other departments to make this happen.
Q4: What should a content marketer do when they just aren’t seeing the results they hoped for?
If you aren’t seeing the results you hoped for, it’s important that you don’t just give up and quit. You need to figure out how to fix the situation. Here’s some great advice for you:
A4 First step: resist the urge to give up. Understand that content marketing is a long term endeavor #contentwritingchat
First, Dennis said you need to resist the urge to give up. As he pointed out, content marketing is a long-term endeavor. You have to hang in there and keep moving forward, despite any failures you may encounter. He suggests taking some time to reflect because you’ll return feeling refreshed and with new ideas.
A4c Next, consider whether you need to spend more time on distribution. You may be too focused on creation #contentwritingchat
Dennis also said to consider your distribution efforts. Could that be where you’re going wrong? You can’t just expect people to find your content. You have to be proactive about spreading the word. He also recommends talking to your readers, customers, and industry experts to receive feedback on the work you’ve done.
A4: Don’t be afraid to ask your audience for feedback. Getting feedback will help you give them what they want & need. #contentwritingchat
Varun’s advice is to stop, analyze, and restart. You can take inspiration from your niche and other industries, plus take feedback from your audience into consideration.
A4 First, analyze your expectations. Are you monitoring the right goals with the best metrics? Why are those your goals? #contentwritingchat
Lex said you need to ask yourself if you’re monitoring the right goals with the best metrics. You also need to know why those are your goals so you know that you’re working towards.
A4: Change your content writing strategy based off of what performs BEST. Look at the analytics and go from there. #ContentWritingChat
Going back to the advice Dennis shared, Danielle also recommends focusing on distribution. Find new ways to spread the word about your content so more people will check it out.
A4b. Promoting content/connecting w/ my audience via email has always been SUPER helpful in improving results. #contentwritingchat
As Dennis pointed out, there’s all kinds of content floating around these days. It’s not just about blogging because others are turning to live video, podcasting, and so many other formats.
A5. Expectations are higher than ever, which means your content better be worth your audience’s time. #contentwritingchat
Video continues to grow in popularity as the years go on. It’s something that won’t be going anywhere, whether it’s on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.
A5: Video seems to have really taken off, especially on social. A winning strategy uses ? to promote/support content #ContentWritingChat
Max also agrees that video has taken off in recent years, especially on social media. You want to have a winning strategy for creating and promoting the video content you produce.
Content creators are expected to do so much these days. They have to be skilled not just with writing, but also with SEO, marketing, social media, and video among other things.
A5: Well, at least in my field, #smallbiz has taken content marketing seriously. That’s made it easier to educate them. #ContentWritingChat
Dennis sees content moving to non-traditional platforms, such as smart watches. As he mentioned, your content needs to appear when and where your audience needs it.
A6. Advanced personalization that provides a ridiculously customer-centric approach. #contentwritingchat
Dennis relies on Google Analytics and Excel to manage his content marketing strategy. He also likes to get on the phone and chat with customers. It’s a great way to learn more about them.
A7: To store content ideas and keep them organized, I rely on @evernote. It’s an essential for me. #ContentWritingChat
