Ready for a free mini-course on this blog? This is Part 1 of three-part series on how to master content marketing, create the right content, and manage it with ease. Oh, and a goodie for you at the end: A free Content Marketing cheat sheet full of tips, strategies and best practices. Delicious!
Sales has changed. You don’t just pitch your offering cold and shout “Buy Now!” Unless you have an infomercial. And then it better be damn good!
Most of you offer creative, value-based work to discerning audiences who are not buying solely based on price, whether you put on events, sell cheese, write books, design websites or coach executives.
These audiences greatly differ, but they all expect you to take them out on a first date and court them before they invest in you. You must prove your value and expertise before anyone spends a dime.
Enter CONTENT MARKETING.
I’ve talked about content marketing before and it’s not even close to new (remember free DVD’s and brochures if you “call right now?”) but technology has expanded the ways in which content can be created, delivered and consumed.
Good, consistent content will boost your visibility, attract your ideal customers and make your brand irresistible over time.
#Contentmarketing helps you woo your audience before you ask for marriage! @redslice Share on XContent marketing helps you woo your audience before you ask for marriage! (Tweet this!)
But where to start? And how do you do it right?
In this three-part series, I’m going to share how you can make good content an effortless and integral part of your brand-boosting efforts.
Part 1: How to Create a Sensible Content Marketing Strategy
Before going on any trip, you need a map to get you there. Don’t just dive into tactics without a strategy.
First, as always, start with your brand strategy and story. Clearly determine your audience, your value, and your personality. Then build your content marketing strategy based on that.
A content marketing strategy lives above any specific vehicles, topics or dates. It should drive all of your efforts.
The strategy includes:
- What are my content marketing objectives?
- What does my audience want? What do they need to know?
- What will I create?
- Will I have monthly themes and seasonal topics?
- Which vehicles will I use? What does my audience want AND what do I enjoy creating?
- How will I measure success?
Taking a step back before you start cranking out blogs, videos and newsletters to answer these questions will guide your efforts for the rest of the year.
A word of caution as you plan: Don’t go overboard! Are you really going to write a daily blog, post three times a day on Instagram, film a video every week and whatever else you dream up? I get it, marketing is fun, but you still have to do your actual work and sleep, eat, spend time with your family, etc. Start small. Make it doable.
You want to make this easier on yourself, right? Take a few hours to unplug, pour yourself a latte and craft your content marketing strategy.
In Part 2 of this series, we’ll tackle how to come up with brilliant content ideas and topics.
In the meantime, download my delicious free Content Marketing Cheat Sheet with tips, tricks, and best practices to attract new fans and convert more sales.
Some past posts that may be of interest as you build your strategy:
The ABC’s of Good Content Marketing
The Art of Seduction: 5 Ways to Woo Your Audience With Good Content
Want to dive even deeper on how to actually create great content and attract more customers, visibility and sales? You’ll love the MOMENTUM Pro digital course – self-paced and stress-free!
Image Credit via Réginald Sion
