Content Marketing: 5 Ways to Write Posts People Want to Read
When it comes to blogging as a form of content marketing, creating interesting content that your customers want to read can be a difficult task for a busy entrepreneur.
However, taking the time to create something new on a regular basis allows you to connect with your clients in a friendly, non-salesy way. Done well, it creates respect for your expertise, builds trust, and an appreciation for your helpful advice offered free of charge.
There are many ways to share great content with your audience without sacrificing potential business by “giving away the farm”. Here are 5 easy ways to get started:
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Create an Excerpt:
Give your readers a closer look into your products or services and how they can benefit. People love getting something of value for free, and great content doesn’t have to take long to develop if it’s something for which you have true expertise, or if you can condense a paid version of something into a free version. For example, if you publish a virtual magazine, you can post a small pdf version of your magazine with a few sample articles.
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Repost and Summarize Recent News:
Reposting and summarizing recent news (know as newsjacking) is a great way to ride the coattails of a news story and to attract traffic from search engines (SEO) in the process. For best results, be quick to jump on a new story, and stay with important, highly publicized events and content related to your business. Then, add your personal insights or advice. Look for opportunities to link your post to other areas of your website or blog, which will provide another SEO boost and give the reader an opportunity to delve deeper into your online content. The longer you can keep your readers (particularly first time readers) on your blog or website, the greater the chance that they will return in the future.
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Repackage Out-of-date Content:
Blog posts can last years but content can easily become outdated, especially technology and fashion-oriented content. If you’ve run out of new things to write about for your blog, try repackaging old content with a fresh new look, and update it with the latest information. For example, if some of your customers are now using the new version of a technology or service you offer, create a new blog post about their experiences in converting or upgrading, such as the struggles they faced, and the benefits they received. Make it relevant and exciting so your readers will want to keep coming back for more.
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Teach your Readers Something New:
People, especially blog readers, love to learn new and useful information. A great way to generate hits and keep the attention of your target market is to find something related to your line of work that you can teach your readers. A plumber might write a blog about how to prevent kitchen sink blockages or a butcher might write about choosing the best cut of steak for a family cook out. The possibilities are endless. Be creative and remember, just because the answer is obvious to you, that doesn’t mean it’s obvious to your readers. Remember, you’re the expert!
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Answer Questions:
If you have readers sending you questions regarding your business, your industry, best practices, or even general inquiries, you can quickly create original content addressing their questions on your blog. Include research and elaborate on points that may be unclear. In the process you may learn about more about your own field of work and further increase your level of expertise.
Steady as You Go!
A steady stream of new and relevant content will encourage your blog readers to actively follow you. They’ll appreciate the fact that you are spending time to keep them informed, they’ll get to you know you better, and come to view you as an expert.
For best results, keep your posts flowing at a predictable pace, preferably weekly or even twice a week. People like the fact that they can check back often and find something new.
We Can Help You Develop Better Content
If you’re interested in content marketing, but would like help developing a smart strategy, or if you need support in creating fresh content on a regular basis, please contact us .
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