Rachel Moffett - Express Writers - Page 7

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Grow and Build Your Own Guest Blogging Platform with Erika Heald

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Grow and Build Your Own Guest Blogging Platform with Erika Heald

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 Happy Halloween, #ContentWritingChat! ? Who is ready to talk about guest blogging with the one and only @SFerika? pic.twitter.com/o9Ld8MnAqT — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) October 31, 2017 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 Heald (@SFerika) October 31, 2017 A1b: As a blog editor, accepting guest blog posts increases your talent pool and your distribution channels. #ContentWritingChat — Erika Heald (@SFerika) October 31, 2017 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 — Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) October 31, 2017 Maureen said guest blogging allows you to show, not tell, people about your expertise, perspective, and personality. A1 My guest blogging has brought brand exposure and 50-60% of our new leads/revenue for @ExpWriters for 5 years. #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) October 31, 2017 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 — Bourbon & Honey (@BrittanyBrander) October 31, 2017 As Brittany said, you get to share your expertise with an audience that has already been built. A1 it allows you to share your expertise and knowledge with a new audience. It’s a great way to grow organically #contentwritingchat https://t.co/zVH2DfijGR — Jade Alberts Consult (@Jade_A_Consult) October 31, 2017 Having the ability to share your expertise and knowledge with a new audience is a powerful way to build your own brand. A1: connecting with other bloggers merges your 2 audiences and gets your name noticed by more people #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/9JmTaO1gM3 — Independent Retailer (@indretailer) October 31, 2017 Guest blogging essentially brings two audiences together and helps you get noticed. A1: It’s a great way to get a different take on subjects, expand your audience, attract new influencers, etc. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/DAVHVMITpH — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) October 31, 2017 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 Heald (@SFerika) October 31, 2017 A2b: The ideal guest blogging opportunity is with a higher domain authority site that will do ample promotion. #ContentWritingChat — Erika Heald (@SFerika) October 31, 2017 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 — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) October 31, 2017 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 McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) October 31, 2017 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 — Kristen Dunleavy (@KristenWritesIt) October 31, 2017 As Kristen said, make sure you take time to research their audience. You want to determine if their people are also your people. A2 Always do research when guest blogging. Speaking on the wrong topic to the wrong audience is detrimental! #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/gcKbqsiU4Q — HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) October 31, 2017 You don’t want to waste your time speaking on the wrong topic to the wrong audience! A2. Are they in the same industry as me? If not, can I help their audience solve a problem? 1/ #contentwritingchat — Bourbon & Honey (@BrittanyBrander) October 31, 2017 If a website isn’t in … Read more

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Get More Mileage, Shares and Traction from Your Content Efforts with Susan Moeller

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Get More Mileage, Shares and Traction from Your Content Efforts with Susan Moeller

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 Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, October 24th at 10 AM Central with @SusanCMoeller of @BuzzSumo! pic.twitter.com/nqiQbMniZx — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) October 17, 2017 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 — Susan Moeller (@SusanCMoeller) October 24, 2017 Susan feels social sharing is more of a vote for the relationship than the content itself. A1: Yes, it shows that the user deemed your content valuable enough to share with their audience. #contentwritingchat — Flying Cork (@flyingcorkpgh) October 24, 2017 A social share could mean someone deemed your content valuable enough to share it with their own audience, which definitely means a lot. A1 yes, and ideally, shares by those with authority or relevancy in your industry – shares = awareness! #ContentWritingChat — Amanda Vera (@amnda_vera) October 24, 2017 As Amanda pointed out, social shares from those who have authority or relevancy in your field can really help generate awareness. A1: Yes – shareability means you’ve created something that speaks to your audience – & gets your brand in front of them #ContentWritingChat — TouchConvert (@touchconvert) October 24, 2017 When you see people sharing your content, it’s a good sign that you created something that spoke to them. A1 Social shares are good metric to track because readers liked your content enough to share it. Endorsements are great. #ContentWritingChat — Jim Katzaman (@JKatzaman) October 24, 2017 There’s nothing wrong with an endorsement from your audience! A1: Absolutely! Each person that shares can potentially hit hundreds of new users that may never get connected with you. #ContentWritingChat — Virteom (@virteom) October 24, 2017 One great way to look at it is that social shares help you potentially reach even more new people. A1 ? Social shares ARE a good metric to track, but NOT a success metric in and by themselves. #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) October 24, 2017 As Julia said, social media shares a good metric to track, but it’s not a success metric on their own. A1: The tricky thing about social media shares is that it doesn’t mean someone actually READ your content. #ContentWritingChat — Rachel (@redheadrachel) October 24, 2017 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 — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) October 24, 2017 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: A2 #contentwritingchat Collaborate with influencers throughout the process. Creating with other people increases your audience. pic.twitter.com/OS2YSdU0Zr — Susan Moeller (@SusanCMoeller) October 24, 2017 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 — Ken Hart (@KenHartWriter) October 24, 2017 Knowing your audience is a must! As Ken said, you need to create content they’ll find relevant. A2) Know your audience and their interests. Past sharing is indicative of future sharing. #contentwritingchat — Kyle Murray (@TheKyleMurray) October 24, 2017 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 — Flying Cork (@flyingcorkpgh) October 24, 2017 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. A2 Create your BEST content. Then, be consistent w/ creating, and the days/times you tell your list. Shares will follow. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/u0yiCr47c0 — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) October 24, 2017 Julia knows it’s important that you create your best content. You also need to be consistent with publishing. Those social shares will come to you. A2: If you do want to increase social shares, make it EASY for people to do so. Add social share buttons to your posts. #ContentWritingChat — Rachel (@redheadrachel) October 24, 2017 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. A2: If you want more social shares, make sharing easy (i.e. … Read more

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Turn Your Content Into a Book with Leah Ingram

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Turn Your Content Into a Book with Leah Ingram

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 Join us Tuesday, October 17th at 10 AM Central for the next #ContentWritingChat with @theleahingram! ?? pic.twitter.com/v6fi8pKleC — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) October 10, 2017 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! — Writer Leah Ingram (@theleahingram) October 17, 2017 Leah feels writing a book is a great way to build your platform as an expert within your niche. A1. You can gain access to a new #audience through a new medium. Plus, books don’t get lost on a timeline. #ContentWritingChat — SourceMedia (@SourceMediaCo) October 17, 2017 Writing a book allows you to reach a new audience through a different medium, which is always a plus. A1 A published book gives you instantaneous niche authority. Well worth the trouble. (Speaking from experience) #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) October 17, 2017 A1 Example of ROI: I landed a paid speaking gig organically through a publication finding my book + multiple clients. #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) October 17, 2017 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. A1: I turned my blog into book to answer all of the questions people asked me in one place. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/zskozEGLl8 — Carlarjenkins (@carlarjenkins) October 17, 2017 For Carla, she felt a book was a beneficial way to answer all the questions she was commonly asked. A1: It’s a great way to put all of your ideas in one place, rather than spread across different blog posts. #ContentWritingChat — Leads To You (@LeadsToYou) October 17, 2017 A book is a great way to put everything into one place, which makes it easier for your audience to consume. A1. Portability! Easier to read content in book format than in diff blog posts. Seth Godin has made a career off it! 😉 #ContentWritingChat — Ken Hart (@KenHartWriter) October 17, 2017 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 — Writer Leah Ingram (@theleahingram) October 17, 2017 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 — Flying Cork (@flyingcorkpgh) October 17, 2017 Make sure you’re listening to your audience. Take their feedback into consideration and allow it to guide your content. A2: Research what they’re responding to/sharing/commenting on/etc. already. Know thy audience so you can cater to them.#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/vPNxJsVEmD — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) October 17, 2017 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. A2: I do surveys, ask questions, check the comments and Google Analytics. That’s how I learn my audience’s interest. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/OcE4ZCRSFJ — Carlarjenkins (@carlarjenkins) October 17, 2017 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 — Ken Hart (@KenHartWriter) October 17, 2017 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 — Rachel (@redheadrachel) October 17, 2017 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 — … Read more

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Content Productivity Hacks

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Content Productivity Hacks

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! #ContentWritingChat Recap: Content Productivity Hacks Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, October 10th for a community chat to talk about content #productivity hacks! ? pic.twitter.com/vKxyGCW9QB — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) October 3, 2017 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: A1 Getting great content researched, written & published effectively on time. (Quality > quantity, always.) #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/hAUZxpYmHP — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) October 10, 2017 For Julia, content productivity is all about getting great content researched, written, and published on time. A1. Organization of #content ideas, a clear understanding of what the end goal is + timelines for execution. #ContentWritingChat — SourceMedia (@SourceMediaCo) October 10, 2017 Organizing your content ideas, having a clear understanding of your end goal, and timelines for execution are all important factors. A1: Creating quality content efficiently and regularly. #ContentWritingChat — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) October 10, 2017 Lexie said content productivity is creating quality content efficiently and regularly. A1: It means delivering valuable, quality stuff to your community, consistently. #ContentWritingChat — Brent G. Trotter (@bgtrotter) October 10, 2017 Delivering valuable, quality content to your community on a consistent basis is definitely key. A1: Any productivity = getting done what needs to get done when it should be done 😉#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/CzbRKA25By — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) October 10, 2017 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 — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) October 10, 2017 As Lexie know, it all goes back to knowing your audience. You can ask them what they want to learn and then provide them the content they’re seeking. A2b: You can find great content ideas by spending time on social media, reading your blog comments, etc. #ContentWritingChat — Rachel (@redheadrachel) October 10, 2017 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! A2: SoMe outlets that spawn food for thought (articles, new tech, chats), colleagues, client questions/comments, etc!#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/kLFsrsswoP — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) October 10, 2017 Sarah said social media is a go-to for coming up with new ideas, as well as chatting with colleagues, and reviewing questions/comments from clients. A2: Competitive analysis. What are others in industry sharing. How can you put a unique spin on it for your audience? #ContentWritingChat — Danielle Bullen Love (@daniellewriter) October 10, 2017 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 — Cheval John (@chevd80) October 10, 2017 As Cheval said, Twitter chats are a great way to get to know your audience. A2: Research. More importantly, talk to people. Figure out what they’re passionate about & makes them excited. #ContentWritingChat — Brian Anderson (@BrianAndersonPR) October 10, 2017 Doing research is essential to finding content topics. Brian also recommends talking to people and figuring out what they’d like to see. A2: We create for clients, so going to their businesses to learn about their customers’ needs/problems to guide content #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/8FhiQVU59K — Virteom (@virteom) October 10, 2017 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 — Independent Retailer (@indretailer) October 10, 2017 To get started with the writing process, creating an outline is a great place to begin. A3: Outline! Just like school. Start with an outline and know the format your article is going to take. #ContentWritingChat — Sarah Nelson (@Blogging_Geek) October 10, 2017 Sarah also likes to start with an outline. Outlining your content is a great way to organize all your thoughts and ideas before you begin writing. A3: I fire up @longtailpro & search for low competition, relevant keywords. Then brainstorm subheads, bullet points etc. #ContentWritingChat — Writer Leah Ingram (@theleahingram) October 10, 2017 Leah starts by conducting keyword research, then she begins brainstorming sections of her content. A3 Map your ideas to goals. Know your goal = then start writing. Outline and draft. Focus on research + quality. #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) October 10, 2017 Julia’s advice is to map your ideas to your goals. She … Read more

#ContentWritingChat Recap: B2B Marketing Techniques for the Content Marketer with Anh Nguyen

#ContentWritingChat Recap: B2B Marketing Techniques for the Content Marketer with Anh Nguyen

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 Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, October 3rd to chat with @AnhTNguyen about B2B #marketing techniques! pic.twitter.com/UWCQI6t4sv — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) September 26, 2017 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. — Anh Nguyen (@AnhTNguyen) October 3, 2017 A1b. B2C is business to consumer. A business markets/sells to consumers/individuals, e.g. retail stores, restaurants. #ContentWritingChat — Anh Nguyen (@AnhTNguyen) October 3, 2017 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. A1: Well, B2B = business to business; B2C = business to consumer. So, big difference 🙂#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/zH5DrOwtFI — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) October 3, 2017 Sarah put it simply for everyone to understand! B2B = business to business. B2C = business to consumer. A1 B2B/B2C: You’re talking to different markets. Personas should look different (start there!), copy & CTAs different. #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) October 3, 2017 As Julia pointed out, B2B and B2C brands are talking to different markets. Their personas, copy, and CTAs will all look different. A1. Your audiences are other businesses. It’s different from B2C where you develop consumer-facing content strategies. #ContentWritingChat — SourceMedia (@SourceMediaCo) October 3, 2017 When you are a B2B brand, your audience is other businesses. A1 B2B you sell to businesses and B2C you sell to consumers. You need a separate plan for each #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/ujnm13FuzW — Jade Alberts Consult (@Jade_A_Consult) October 3, 2017 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 — Anh Nguyen (@AnhTNguyen) October 3, 2017 A2b. Determine who you want to reach, who the audience is, and which channels they can be reached on. #ContentWritingChat — Anh Nguyen (@AnhTNguyen) October 3, 2017 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 Nguyen (@AnhTNguyen) October 3, 2017 A2d. What content, stories, and/or will your audience appreciate, want to see/hear, and will resonate with them? #ContentWritingChat — Anh Nguyen (@AnhTNguyen) October 3, 2017 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 — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) October 3, 2017 Lexie’s advice is to determine what potential businesses need to get started with creating your plan. A2. Just as in B2C, know your audience. What are their needs? What are they looking for? Find that angle. #ContentWritingChat — Ken Hart (@KenHartWriter) October 3, 2017 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. A2: Know the ideal audience, the buying cycle, how they’re searching for services; in other words, do your homework.#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/ThO2xA6EYD — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) October 3, 2017 Sarah suggests knowing the ideal audience, the buying cycle, and how they’re searching for services. A2) Know your audience is #1. What pain points/problems can you solve? How do you do it better than the competition? #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/jH37u97CX0 — Jason Schemmel (@JasonSchemmel) October 3, 2017 Jason’s top tip is to know your audience. Determine what pain points and problems of theirs you can solve. A2: A great #B2B marketing plan starts with in-depth buyer personas. Who are you selling to? What are their challenges? #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/cNF5MKYTHY — Erika Heald (@SFerika) October 3, 2017 Erika said in-depth buyer personas are a must. She recommends figuring out who you’re selling to and what their challenges are. A2. Define goal. Create a strategy in order to pull customers towards your business. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/9EZ9oayr3t — 《 Sabjan 》 (@sabjanseo) October 3, 2017 Sabjan said etc start by defining your goals. Know what you want to achieve and move forward from there. A2. Get to know the business, their goals and challenges. Then focus on their ideal clients, and build a strategy. #contentwritingchat — YourWebContentWriter … Read more

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Conduct an SEO Audit with Lexie Kimball of Netvantage Marketing

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Conduct an SEO Audit with Lexie Kimball of Netvantage Marketing

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 Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, September 26th to learn how to conduct an #SEO audit for your site with Lexie of @netvantage! ? pic.twitter.com/kPvQArxxwu — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) September 19, 2017 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 — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) September 26, 2017 A1.2: We also do a technical audit of the website to check for potential red flags @Google won’t like. #contentwritingchat — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) September 26, 2017 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 Hall (@allmikehall) September 26, 2017 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. A1: My basic SEO process- 1. Google the site 2. Use analytics to ID keywords 3. Start looking at specific pages#ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/2ZAFZ5xB6r — Mallie Rust (@malliefe2o3) September 26, 2017 Mallie starts by Googling the site, using analytics to identify keywords, and then she looks at specific pages. A1: We start by running the site thru @screamingfrog, then perform our UX/design/technical/mobile-friendly/etc. audit.#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/O4ysptZmpm — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) September 26, 2017 Sarah and the team at ThinkSEM start by running the site through Screaming Frog before moving forward with other key steps. A1: I use @semrush to check out where my website stands and take their suggestions into consideration. #ContentWritingChat — Sarah Nelson (@Blogging_Geek) September 26, 2017 SEMrush is a go-to tool for Sarah! She takes the tool’s suggestions into consideration. A1. Have a clear understanding of your goals and target audience. Start with a plan. #contentwritingchat — YourWebContentWriter (@WebContent4U) September 26, 2017 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 — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) September 26, 2017 A1 2: Use @screamingfrog to grab ALL site links. Do manual checks across all the content per KPIs. It’ll take a while. #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) September 26, 2017 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 — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) September 26, 2017 A2.2: We also ask them for their competitors. Looking at competitor’s sites is another great way to look for keywords. #contentwritingchat — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) September 26, 2017 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. A2: A consultation with the client. We question them on their ideal clients/products or services, etc. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/bsBm7zqaML — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) September 26, 2017 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 Hall (@allmikehall) September 26, 2017 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. A2: We interview clients & their clients. G Trends is a place to start, and Keyword Planner (https://t.co/1hcNesBoNM) #contentwritingchat — Ray Sidney-Smith (@w3consulting) September 26, 2017 For Ray, it all starts with interviewing the client. Then, he moves onto tools like Google Trends and Google Keyword Planner. A2 Start by defining which keywords you want your site to rank for. Then, record your ranking for each one. #contentwritingchat — Dennis Shiao ✍️ (@dshiao) September 26, 2017 Dennis knows it’s important to define which keywords you want your site to rank for. You can then record … Read more

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Create Email Content That Stands Out with Shayla Price

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Create Email Content That Stands Out with Shayla Price

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 Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, September 19th at 10 AM Central to chat about email content with @shaylaprice! ? pic.twitter.com/IBSDXdEQ0T — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) September 12, 2017 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 Price (@shaylaprice) September 19, 2017 A1.b: Plus, email offers the highest ROI. For every $1 spent, email marketing generates $38. (h/t @CampaignMonitor) #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/YYpqSTQRkj — Shayla Price (@shaylaprice) September 19, 2017 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 — Bill Skowronski (@BillSkowronski) September 19, 2017 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 — Flying Cork (@flyingcorkpgh) September 19, 2017 If you want to send content that’s catered to your audience, email is the place to do it. A1 Email marketing is ?…@Entrepreneur says the ROI is 4,300%. (Every dollar = $44 return) https://t.co/7PZnwA5jWS #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) September 19, 2017 Julia also knows the value email marketing can provide because of its high ROI. Check out the link she shared from Entrepreneur! A1. Because your e-mail is your very own real estate. Social media is just rented land #contentwritingchat — Cheval John (@chevd80) September 19, 2017 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 — Shayla Price (@shaylaprice) September 19, 2017 As Shayla said, your subject line is your one and only chance to catch the attention of your subscribers. Don’t blow it! A2.b: Effective subject lines are short, unique, and non-spammy. #ContentWritingChat — Shayla Price (@shaylaprice) September 19, 2017 A2.c: Here are a few subject line tips: use numbers, add a deadline, ask a question, and make it personal. #ContentWritingChat — Shayla Price (@shaylaprice) September 19, 2017 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 — Independent Retailer (@indretailer) September 19, 2017 If you want subscribers to open your emails, you have to hook them. A2: your subject line tells people what they’re about to open – if it’s not interesting/informative it won’t get opened #ContentWritingChat — Elizabeth Greenberg (@BettaBeYou) September 19, 2017 Use your subject line as a way to inform people what’s inside your emails. Elizabeth said to make it both interesting and informative. A2) Keep it short, but relevant. Does it spark curiosity? The SOLE purpose of a subject line is to click/open the email #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/ZRAmj88S7x — Jason Schemmel (@JasonSchemmel) September 19, 2017 For Jason, a great subject line needs to spark curiosity. He also feels it should be short and relevant to the content inside the email. A2: Subject lines are EVERYTHING. Currently obsessing over emoji’s in the subject line. Gets me every time. #ContentWritingChat — Haley Steinhauser (@h_steinhauser) September 19, 2017 Haley can’t resist a subject line with an emoji. Try adding them to your next email campaign! A2. I’m one of the most curious people I know. I can’t resist intrigue. Neither can others. #ContentWritingChat — Megan McCarthy (@ImMeganMcCarthy) September 19, 2017 Megan admits that she can’t resist intrigue and she knows others can’t either. Keep that in mind when writing email content. A2) Offers are a big incentive to open. “Save 40%? You’ve got my attention…” #contentwritingchat — Kyle Murray (@TheKyleMurray) September 19, 2017 As Kyle said, offers provide an incentive to open up your emails. Sales and discounts are definitely a good push. A2: Think of a subject line as a 1st impression. You get 1 chance to get them to open your email! Pique their interest! #ContentWritingChat — Flying Cork (@flyingcorkpgh) … Read more

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Social Media Engagement Strategies

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Social Media Engagement Strategies

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 Welcome to #ContentWritingChat! Today is a community chat where we’ll be talking about #SocialMedia engagement strategies! ? pic.twitter.com/DsLpXGgIz4 — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) September 12, 2017 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 — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) September 12, 2017 Julia doesn’t measure success on social media in terms of vanity metrics. She focuses on real conversations and clicks on the content she shares. The best engagement on social media is *conversations.* Comments, people commenting w/ others, ppl taking time to engage #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/YEM5Bokcmn — Jason Schemmel (@JasonSchemmel) September 12, 2017 Conversations are key to measure when on social media! Pay attention to your comments and take the time to engage with others. A1: Engagement on social media is all about the replies. You want to see that your content sparks a conversation. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/RMRAsFhLZ9 — Rachel (@redheadrachel) September 12, 2017 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. A1: Social media engagement is when you are engaged in conversation WITH your community, not broadcasting AT them. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/8Z9vyf6uu1 — Erika Heald (@SFerika) September 12, 2017 As Erika said, it’s all about being engaged WITH your community, instead of broadcasting AT them. Conversation is a two-way street, friends! A1: Talking with people, not at people. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/BziFUdIoSW — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) September 12, 2017 Lexie agrees that it’s about talking with the people in your audience. A1 Social media engagement is two-way communication, instead of outward self promotion 100% of the time. #contentwritingchat — Bill Skowronski (@BillSkowronski) September 12, 2017 Bill knows that you can’t self-promote all the time. You need to put effort into engaging with others through real-time conversations. A1. Social engagement looks like a brand interacting with their customers and actually caring about them #contentwritingchat — Cheval John (@chevd80) September 12, 2017 Not only is engagement about interacting with customers, it’s also about showing them you care. A1. Meaningful conversations/interactions with your target audience, not just vanity metrics #ContentWritingChat — Rebecca Wegscheid (@MarketerRebecca) September 12, 2017 Meaningful conversations are what really matters when it comes to social media engagement. A1. Connect, share, interact, ask, reply – all in all be there for others to add value and seek value as well. #contentwritingchat — Manav Lalotra (@manavlalotra) September 12, 2017 Take the time to interact with your audience. Ask questions. Reply to them. Make sure you’re adding value with everything you do. Q2: Why is it important to measure social media ROI? Are you tracking your results on social media to see how your content is actually performing? If not, you should be! Here’s why it’s important: A2: Measuring ROI tells you what works & what your audience connects with. It will help you plan further strategy. #contentwritingchat — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) September 12, 2017 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. A2: You need to know if the time/money spent is worth it! Don’t throw effort after foolishness 🙂 Do what works.#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/aHFZ1ShnEx — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) September 12, 2017 Track metrics to know that your time and money is being well spent! You need to track in order to do more of what’s working for you. A2. ROI is your bff when presenting the impact of your efforts to C-suite. Also helps you determine what is/isnt working #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/rAtczgI6kR — Rebecca Wegscheid (@MarketerRebecca) September 12, 2017 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. A2 You have to know if your campaigns are successful and if it’s reaching the people you targeted. Must set goals #contentwritingchat https://t.co/ZqERfG2XEc — Jade Alberts Consult (@Jade_A_Consult) September 12, 2017 When you keep an eye on metrics, you’ll be able to see if the social media campaigns you created are effective. A2: It’s good to measure/benchmark the productiveness of your time, efforts, & money. #contentwritingchat — Javier Sanabria (@SanabriaJav) September 12, 2017 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: A3: We’ve got the perfect image to help answer this question! #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/BPnycwj08d — Simply Measured (@simplymeasured) September 12, 2017 Simply Measured shared a great graphic to help answer this question! A3 I always like to go by mentions since … Read more

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Communication Tips for the Content Creation Process with Kristen Lo

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Communication Tips for the Content Creation Process with Kristen Lo

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 Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, September 5th with Kristen Lo, the Community Manager for @HeyOrca! ? pic.twitter.com/ujCFX37lIM — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) August 29, 2017 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: A1 Satisfied and content clients is a hallmark of excellent communication and product delivery! #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/hxRefmiJwA — HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) September 5, 2017 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. A1: First, set correct expectations. Respond in a timely manner, with clear communication. Use polite, proper prose 😉#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/Ququb8mbe2 — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) September 5, 2017 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 — Shelly Lucas (@pisarose) September 5, 2017 Shelly said effective client communication is responsive, proactive, clear, collaborative, and provides context. That’s a great answer! A1 Strategy, plan and clear steps of execution, division of responsibilities & communication plan that suits both sides #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/Czy7FfreVS — Zala Bricelj (@ZalkaB) September 5, 2017 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. A.1 Finding the most efficient communication channel, but also having boundaries #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/UxRy4eKUpv — Dan O Brien (@DannyEdoBrien) September 5, 2017 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 Sanabria (@SanabriaJav) September 5, 2017 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. A1 a schedule and format that works for them. Most important part is the conversations are open and honest on both sides #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/Zxfsj5UUIO — Jade Alberts Consult (@Jade_A_Consult) September 5, 2017 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. — Narmadhaa (@s_narmadhaa) September 5, 2017 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 — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) September 5, 2017 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: A2A Make sure you’re consistent with your touchpoints/updates! Whether it’s weekly or monthly! #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/WljYrwAYRR — HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) September 5, 2017 A2B Consistency makes reporting/updates easier to for you to prepare. It’s a great best practice to put clients at ease #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/ahdL5Ryzik — HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) September 5, 2017 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. A2 Have a solid, clear workflow they can reference AS they give you their $. Ours is at https://t.co/pVsQt69ZzB #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) September 5, 2017 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! A2: Set expectations: “we’ll be in touch after Phase 1,” etc. Then follow through. Also ask them how what they think.#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/q60xQECIzW — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) September 5, 2017 Sarah recommends setting expectations. When will you be in touch with a client? Make sure you follow through on the plans you make. A2: A flexible schedule should be established early w/ the client. It should become concrete as milestones are reached. #ContentWritingChat — Javier Sanabria (@SanabriaJav) September 5, 2017 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 … Read more

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Content Marketing Trends for 2017 with Dennis Shiao

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Content Marketing Trends for 2017 with Dennis Shiao

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 Welcome to #ContentWritingChat! Today, @dshiao is guest hosting to talk all about #ContentMarketing trends for 2017! ? pic.twitter.com/XE2IElvhdf — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) August 29, 2017 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 — Dennis Shiao ✍️ (@dshiao) August 29, 2017 A1b Sometimes, understanding the current trends can give you ideas on how to start a new one. #contentwritingchat — Dennis Shiao ✍️ (@dshiao) August 29, 2017 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 — Dennis Shiao ✍️ (@dshiao) August 29, 2017 His general advice is not to follow just just follow them. Dennis feels there’s value in being different, so make sure you embrace that. A1 Knowing trends = VITAL to content creators. By staying up on platform/tool/SEO changes, we serve our clients best #ContentWritingchat — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) August 29, 2017 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. A1: #contentmarketing is always evolving so as creators, we have to evolve with the market to appeal to our audience. #ContentWritingChat — Flying Cork (@flyingcorkpgh) August 29, 2017 Content marketing is something that is constantly evolving and you need to keep up to appeal to your audience. A1. Staying on top of trends and changes in our industry keeps our content fresh and relevant. #contentwritingchat — Bourbon & Honey (@BrittanyBrander) August 29, 2017 Being aware of trends also helps keep your content fresh and relevant. A1: Keeping up on trends helps show clients that you stay on top of things! #contentwritingchat — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) August 29, 2017 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 Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) August 29, 2017 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 — Ray Sidney-Smith (@w3consulting) August 29, 2017 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 — Dennis Shiao ✍️ (@dshiao) August 29, 2017 For Dennis, he knows that high-quality content is a clear winner. He’s been focusing on publishing less, but striving to produce even better content. A2: At Netvantage, we’ve continued on with the trend of less is more. Creating less content, but ensuring quality. #contentwritingchat — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) August 29, 2017 The team at Netvantage is doing the same. Quality always beats quantity when it comes to the content you’re producing. A2 We’re committed to surfacing content ideas from our existing customers instead of leading with guesswork. #ContentWritingChat — Bill Skowronski (@BillSkowronski) August 29, 2017 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 Dunleavy (@KristenWritesIt) August 29, 2017 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 — Dennis Shiao ✍️ (@dshiao) August 29, 2017 Even Dennis knows podcasting is a trend that’s still on the rise! Although he hasn’t started one of … Read more