There’s no denying that social media is a busy place with tons of content being shared every second. That paired with tricky algorithms makes it hard to stand out from others in your niche.
So, what are you to do when you want to build a strong social media presence that gets your brand recognized? How can you ensure you’re rising above your competitors?
The answer is publishing incredible, highly valuable, shareable content.
If you want to learn how to do just that, this #ContentWritingChat recap offers some helpful tips that will allow you to truly transform your social media strategy.
#ContentWritingChat Recap: Creating Shareable Social Media Content in 2023
Today, we'll be chatting all about creating shareable #SocialMedia content so you can fill your editorial calendar with amazing post ideas. 🗓️
Be sure to RT to invite your friends!
— Express Writers | Your Content Writing Partner (@ExpWriters) January 3, 2023
Our very first #ContentWritingChat of 2023 was all about creating shareable social media content. Perfect as you’re finalizing your content strategy for the year!
Q1: Social media is a great way to reach and connect with your audience, but how do you choose which platforms are worthy of your time and attention?
A1: You have to know your audience. Where do they spend their time digitally and what's their mindset when they're there. If it lines up with what your brand has to offer, it should be a good place to cultivate. After that, pay attention to the data! #ContentWritingChat
To determine which social media platforms to use, you need to know your audience. Figure out where they’re spending most of their time online so you can build a presence on the same platforms.
A1: It all goes back to which platforms your audience is most active on and where you're able to utilize your strengths. Find that sweet spot! #ContentWritingChat
Not only do you want to be where your audience is active, but you also want to focus on platforms that allow your strengths to shine. When you enjoy creating content for the platforms you’re using, that passion shines through.
a1 the 🔑 to answer the question is to know very well what platforms are most aligned with your tone's voice. then you have to know how the platform works and see if there's a match 💏#contentwritingchat
It’s also smart to consider which platforms are aligned with your brand’s voice so you can determine what would be the best fit.
Q2: Once you’ve chosen your go-to social media platforms, it’s time to plan and create content. How do you figure out what your target audience wants to see from you?
A2: Use your existing analytics to determine which content topics generate the most engagement from your audience. That's a good indicator you'll want to cover them more often. #ContentWritingChat
Your analytics can provide a tremendous amount of information regarding what your audience is interested in. Pay attention to the data to see which posts performed well in the past, then use that to shape your content strategy.
a2 take time to watch and listen to the audience, ask questions and to be afraid to try content, rethink it, try again, adjust here and then. there's no "one size fits all" recipe. #contentwritingchat
It never hurts to ask your audience what they’d like to see from you. They can give you suggestions directly, meaning you don’t have to spend time researching or stressing about what to post.
A2. Once you’ve determined who your target audience is, you should be able to identify one or more persona’s, which should provide insights into what kind of content they are interested in, what forms, when they are online, etc #ContentWritingChathttps://t.co/OzCvWI9sE6
As you gather this information, it’ll provide clarity on who your target audience is. Then, you can create ideal reader personas that you can refer to in the future whenever you need to generate new content ideas.
Q3: What makes a social media post shareable? Are there certain elements that can be replicated to spark engagement and shares?
a3 I know this a vague answer: it depends. some communities enjoy "how to" posts, others just wanna have fun, others are interested in taking a deeper look at some topics.#contentwritingchat
The truth is, everyone is different. What works for one brand might not work for you. It’s ultimately going to depend on what appeals to your unique audience.
A3. The most shareable content on social media resonates with the user, supports their views, informs or entertains them and makes them look good for sharing it #ContentWritingChathttps://t.co/Om7cJT2l9k
The key to creating great content is ensuring that it resonates. That’s why it’s so important to get to know your audience on a deeper level so you can create content they’d be interested in.
A3: Ultimately, it's smart to replicate elements of your previous social media posts that have been successful. How long were the captions? Was there a graphic? Certain hashtags? #ContentWritingChat
Over time, you may notice patterns in your social media content. For example, you might discover that tweets with certain hashtags generate more reach and engagement. Or you could find that posts with images perform better than a text-only post. Replicate the success of your previous posts with future content.
Q4: Images and videos can make your social media content more eye-catching. Are there any dos and don’ts when creating imagery for your posts?
A4. Create visually appealing content that is on-brand and identifiable with the rest of your content across the internet and the real world. Try to stick with a theme. Don’t post anything that appears to be random because it could confuse your audience. #ContentWritingChathttps://t.co/MUmLjVwym9
Make sure your content is on-brand, as it’ll be easily identifiable for those who stumble upon your content. It’s amazing when someone can recognize your graphics without ever looking at your social media handle.
A3: Attractive visuals always make content more fun to share, whether it’s #NFTartwork or #datascience charts. Most people are scrolling for content to post and will stop at the most attractive accompanying visual. At least I do. #ContentWritingChat
— DiKayo | dikayo.eth ♠️❤️♣️♦️ (@dikayodata) January 3, 2023
All sorts of graphics can be appealing to your audience, even data-packed charts. Be willing to experiment to see what they like the most.
A4: You don't have to be a graphic designer to create amazing social media images. If you can hire one, fantastic! But if not, @canva is an amazing tool. #ContentWritingChat
And remember! You don’t have to be a graphic designer to create something that looks incredible. Tools like Canva make it easy to make quality graphics.
Q5: Social media is a busy place, so it’s easy for your content to get lost in the crowd. How can you ensure your posts are getting seen by your target audience?
A5: If you want your content to be seen, try posting at optimal times throughout the days (when your audience is most active). Also, use relevant hashtags to target your ideal audience. #ContentWritingChat
When you post matters. Experiment with posting at optimal times to see if your content gains more impressions and engagement. You can get this information from industry studies or through certain third-party schedulers that analyze your data.
A6: Look for industry benchmarks, but don't forget to experiment. Post at different times and frequencies for the first several months, then check the data on what performed best. #ContentWritingChat
Just make sure you’re experimenting with posting times. While it may seem time-consuming, it’ll pay off in the end when you’ve developed a posting schedule that performs really well.
a5 spend some time trying out some schedules to see what works best. also, consider repurposing and re-distributing your content, so you can reach different people in different times. #contentwritingchat
Don’t forget to also repurpose some of your older content, as many of your followers might not have seen it previously. This breathes new life into content you created previously, plus saves you time since you won’t have to come up with an entirely new idea.
Make sure social media is part of your overall content strategy, including your content marketing and email marketing efforts. It’s smart to have everything flow and work together.
Q6: How often should you post on social media to see success? And are there optimal posting times to stick to?
A6. Posting content regularly on social media is advisable, as long as the quality of content is up to par and it’ll vary based on the platform and target audience. Posting around lunchtime and the end of the workday has been optimal, in my experience. #ContentWritingChathttps://t.co/xCeLvgcXM1
Post regularly, but don’t forget that quality is important. You don’t want the quality to suffer because you’re trying to meet some sort of daily post quota.
Regularity definitely helps. And my engagement has sky-rocketed more than ever since I started attending #TwitterSpaces. You’re there in a virtual room that transcends even posting! #ContentWritingChathttps://t.co/TPMq9zL3Tw
— DiKayo | dikayo.eth ♠️❤️♣️♦️ (@dikayodata) January 3, 2023
Consistency is key when you want to grow your social media presence, so make sure you’re posting often to stay top of mind.
Q7: How do you know if your social media content is performing well? What are the key metrics you should track in your analytics?
A7. Establish Key Performance Indicator (#KPI) goals that tie into your overall business goals. Typically they could include impressions, likes, shares, clicks, conversions to a sale or consultation. Regularly evaluate to continuously improve the strategy. #ContentWritingChathttps://t.co/x8EYnedsEs
You want to establish KPIs based on your goals because this will tell you which metrics are most important to track. For example, you may want to track things like impressions, likes, shares, clicks, and conversions.
Want to join the next #ContentWritingChat? Follow @ExpWriters and be sure to join us on the first Tuesday of every month at 10 AM Central!
As the year winds down, everyone is thinking ahead to their 2023 content marketing strategies.
We find ourselves asking questions such as… Which content formats are worth focusing on? And which platforms deserve more time and effort?
One way to answer these questions is to pay attention to the trends and what the experts predict will be big in the year ahead. This way, you can stay ahead of the game.
To help you get started on planning for next year, we talked all about 2023 content marketing predictions in this month’s #ContentWritingChat.
#ContentWritingChat Recap: Content Marketing Predictions for 2023
As we close out 2022, many of us are looking ahead and mapping out our strategies for the next year.
So, today we'll be discussing content marketing predictions for 2023.
— Express Writers | Your Content Writing Partner (@ExpWriters) December 6, 2022
Our community had some amazing advice and valuable thoughts to share with us, so let’s dive into the recap!
Q1: Although it may be tempting to stick to the same old strategy, it’s important to be mindful of experts’ predictions and current trends when it comes to content marketing. Why?
A1. Marketing is dynamic. The platforms, content types, topics and approaches change often. It is important to stay up to date on these changes in order to be effective! #contentwritingchathttps://t.co/zYYNTynNax
As Andrew mentioned, marketing is dynamic. Because the industry is always changing, you need to stay on top of the latest news, platforms, and trends so you can adapt your strategy accordingly in an effort to boost success.
a1 you should listen to "data" in order to review your strategy and also be attentive to actual trends. don't get to excited with predictions, instead cultivate a culture of rethinking #contentwritingchat
However, you don’t want to get too carried away with trends. While they’re important to be aware of (and even great to experiment with), Joana knows that you ultimately want to rely on actual data when crafting your content marketing strategy. Pay attention to what works for you and your audience.
A1. Because our environment is ever-changing. What worked last year doesn't necessarily work now. Some things do and some don't. Algorithms are constantly moving the carrot. So it's important to do your best to keep a pulse on what's solid. #ContentWritingChathttps://t.co/2HEqDxe6espic.twitter.com/nmpijBmNTe
As Andrea pointed out, what worked last year might not necessarily work this year. By being aware of what’s happening in your industry, you’ll be able to stay on top of the trends and craft the most relevant strategy possible.
Q2: Let’s make some predictions! What do you think will be a must for a brand’s content marketing strategy in 2023? Will certain content formats will be the most valuable?
a2 "a must for a brand's content marketing strategy"?
nothing new: listening to your community, be consistent, try new things and ask feedback, be sensible to context.
avoid going with the flow (only dead fish go with the flow. stay alive.)#contentwritingchat
Some things never go out of style! Joana feels some strategies will always be important to implement. Those include things like listening to your community, being consistent, and trying new things.
A2. In 2023 brands will strive to implement more experiential and engaging content. Brands will invest in short form video, podcasts, polls, user-generated content, interactive and live audio events will continue to gain popularity #ContentWritingChathttps://t.co/wJDldkkqv7
Andrew feels 2023 will be the year of short-form video, podcasts, polls, user-generated content, and interactive audio events. All are great options that are worth experimenting with to see what performs well for your brand.
Q3: Are there any platforms you think brands need to be on, or at least test out, in 2023?
A3. I still say dive into video. Many are scared of it – your competitors included. But the sooner you can get over those fears and cringe-worthy moments of video (which we ALL experience), the better. Every successful platform incorporates video. #ContentWritingChathttps://t.co/hzwspQZv7X
Andrea knows that video is where it’s at! Video is a fantastic way to build a strong connection with your target audience while also providing valuable content. You simply need to decide which platform you want to focus on. Short-form videos can be uploaded to TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. Or you might opt to launch a YouTube channel to share long-form video content.
A3. LinkedIn is continuing to progress as an essential B2B platform with the following developments: interactive audio (and soon video) online events, built-in post scheduling platform and increased (forms of document) content publishing capabilities #Contentwritingchathttps://t.co/AO15SUxNbi
If you’re not already serious about LinkedIn, it’s time for that to change. Andrew feels it’s a worthwhile platform for B2Bs, especially due to some newer features that have been implemented.
a3 it depends, if you have someone on the team available you can test out reddit, mastodon, discord. if you have a small team, I will try to focus on less platforms and more quality content.#contentwritingchat
As Joana mentioned, it ultimately depends on whether you have someone on your team that can help with incorporating new platforms. After all, it’s better to do a few platforms really well than to juggle too many with lackluster effort.
Q4: How can you determine if pursuing a specific content marketing trend will be a worthwhile venture? Are there certain questions you should ask yourself before diving in?
A4: When it comes to content formats you implement as part of your strategy, ask yourself if it's something that would resonate with your audience. The same goes for choosing the right platforms to use. Is your audience there? #ContentWritingChat
You always want to consider what appeals to your target audience. Is there a particular content format that really seems to resonate with them based on past engagement? Are there certain platforms they spend more time on? Answering these questions will help you make smart decisions to shape your content marketing strategy.
A4. Consider how your target audience prefers to consume content as well as what has been the most effective forms either in the past or for you industry in general. Then consider you goals and resources to be able to adapt the content appropriately. #ContentWritingChathttps://t.co/Xjm5VPG2Sj
Andrew pointed out that you also want to consider your goals. That’s a crucial element because you want to develop a strategy that will help you get from where you are now to where you want to be.
Q5: Based on previous success, which elements of your 2022 content marketing strategy will you be carrying over into the next year?
Video is a big one for Andrea. She also feels it’s still worthwhile to invest time and energy into blogging, as it’s great for driving organic search traffic.
A5. Sharing relevant and credible industry news, expert insights, participating in #TwitterChats, creating polls and engaging graphics will continue to be a part of my content marketing strategy in 2023. #ContentWritingChathttps://t.co/J46ZdZSR2T
For Andrew, he intends to continue focusing on sharing industry news, polls, and graphics. He also wants to make sure he’s participating in relevant Twitter chats, which can also be a great way to learn and make new connections.
Q6: Of course, what works for one brand might not necessarily work for yours. How can you determine if your new content marketing strategy is paying off?
A6: First, set goals… What are you hoping to achieve? Then, you're able to track the right metrics. Are you growing your community, getting more engagement, or generating sales? #ContentWritingChat
Set goals first. This way, you’ll know which metrics to track to determine whether or not your content marketing strategy is working.
A6. Reviewing the engagement rate, clicks, feedback, leads, conversions and web page performance are a few ways to collect feedback and begin to identify trends. #ContentWritingChathttps://t.co/CdA53RoagN
Content Marketing Institute is a great resource as well!
Did you know? #ContentWritingChat happens on Twitter on the first Tuesday of every month at 10 AM Central. Follow @ExpWriters and mark your calendars so you can join us for the next one!
When building a brand, nurturing your relationships with those in your target audience is crucial to your success. You need to be able to position yourself as an expert in your field, as well as become a trustworthy resource of information. And you need to ensure you’re doing this consistently by staying in touch with your audience regularly.
But how can you do this effectively? Through email marketing!
Email is a powerful way to connect with your audience and build relationships over time. Instead of fighting with tricky social media algorithms, you can reach people where it matters the most: their inbox.
However, you might find it’s a bit tricky to truly master email marketing when you consider you need to build your list, create a welcome sequence, and develop a newsletter. Luckily, we’re here to help! That’s exactly what we talked about in this #ContentWritingChat.
#ContentWritingChat Recap: Mastering Your Email Marketing
Today, we're chatting all about email marketing so you can craft newsletters your audience will love. 💌
— Express Writers | Your Content Writing Partner (@ExpWriters) November 1, 2022
This month’s #ContentWritingChat was packed with valuable tips that will help you become a true email marketing master. Whether you’re just getting started or email has been part of your strategy for a while, you’re sure to find some great advice here.
Q1: Why is email marketing important to a brand’s overall marketing strategy? What benefits does it provide?
A1. Email marketing is generally recognized as one of the most effective forms of digital marketing. It allows brands to communicate on a more individualized and tailored basis to existing and prospective customers. #contentwritingchat
As Andrew said, email is one of the most effective forms of digital marketing today. It provides an easy way for brands to communicate with their audience while delivering content that’s tailored to their needs and interests.
a1 📩 email marketing allows brands to build a closer connection with the community of subscribers. ✅people give us their email, which means they are interested in what we have to say. #contentwritingchat
Joana feels email is fantastic for creating a strong connection between you and your community of subscribers. And that will go a long way when it comes to your brand’s success!
A1: Email marketing is a great way to connect and build relationships with your audience. It's also an opportunity to stay in touch with them and keep your brand top of mind. #ContentWritingChat
Another great element about email marketing is that it can keep your brand top of mind with your audience if you’re consistent when it comes to sending emails.
Email subscribers are often warmer leads than those who merely follow you on social media. That’s because your subscribers have taken that extra step to provide their name and email in order to receive a freebie and access your newsletter.
Q2: The first step to email marketing is building your list. What’s your advice for getting more subscribers?
A2: Make sure you offer some sort of freebie in exchange for their name and email when they opt in. It could be anything you think your audience would enjoy, whether that's a short ebook, free training, etc. #ContentWritingChat
A freebie is going to be essential to getting people on your email list. Everyone wants to know what’s in it for them, so give them a reason to sign up. This could be a short ebook, free training, or anything else they might enjoy.
A2. Optimize channels to build your audience. Create offers/discounts/specific content that is accessible with a Call-To-Action to sign up for an email list. Prominently feature the option to sign up for your email list on your website. #contentwritingchat
As Carla said, you need to pay attention to what your subscribers are responding to. Give them more of what they’re interested in and they’ll want to stay on your email list.
A3. As a main component of your content marketing strategy, you could share research studies, blog content, promotions, events, helpful tips, industry information and news should be included. Create emails that are providing value and inbound to your brand. #contentwritingchat
Andrew suggests sharing research studies, blog content, promotions, event details, helpful tips and tricks, industry information, and the latest news. Ultimately, it’s about providing value to your audience.
A3: Consider your audience. What information do they want or need to know that is relevant to your brand? Relay statistics, promotional content, updates on industry innovations or advancements. #ContentWritingChat
Nicole recommended sharing interesting statistics, promotional content, and updates on the happenings within your industry.
Q4: Inboxes get crowded! How do you write a subject line that grabs attention and gets people to open your emails?
A4: First, keep subject lines short and sweet. You'll also want to communicate what's inside the email to give them a reason to open and read. #ContentWritingChat
Your subject line will get cut off in an inbox, so you want to keep it short and sweet.
A4. Write titles that are capitulating, interesting and make a statement. Shake it up sometimes by using a call to action, depending on the content. #contentwritingchat
Andrew said to make a statement with your subject line. You can even try incorporating a call to action to entice people to open your emails.
A4: 1- Consult data on what subject lines have performed better (title case, sentence case, etc.) 2- I balance attention grabbing with descriptive. People want to know what they're getting into before clicking. 3- I ask myself, would I want to open this?-Kat #ContentWritingChat
It’s also helpful to pay attention to the latest data on what makes an effective subject line. Then, you can test and see what works best for your audience. And as Kat said, a great test is to ask yourself if you would actually open your own emails.
a4 👀 go for something catchy that leave people curious. I like to use questions and emojis.#contentwritingchat
Joana suggested asking questions or using emojis in your subject lines. Both can be very effective at increasing your open rates.
Q5: Are there optimal times to send your emails? How can you find out what works for you?
A5. There definitely are optimal times to send emails and it depends primarily on the audience that you have on the existing list. You can conduct some initial research and A/B test the times to begin to draw conclusions. #contentwritingchat
As Andrew said, you can do research to find the best times to send emails, but it’s ultimately going to depend on your audience. Run some A/B split tests to determine your ideal da and times to send your newsletter.
Q5: Typically, the best time to send out emails would be in the morning when most people tend to check their inbox. If unsure, you can test a few different times and see what yields the greatest response. #ContentWritingChat
Carla takes her own time zone into consideration when sending emails. She opts for 12 pm and 5 pm and they generate the highest open rates for her.
Q6: How can you keep your subscribers engaged, ensuring they regularly read and interact with your emails?
A6: Use captivating subject lines, be consistent with creating content and use analytics to determine which emails elicit greater responses. In turn, use that information to curate and create content that is most appealing to your audience. #ContentWritingChat
Great subject lines and captivating content are essential if you want to keep your subscribers engaged. Don’t. forget to monitor your analytics to see what performs the best as well.
A6: Bring them quality content that's applicable to their lives. If they can apply what they're reading for a transformation then they'll continue to be subscribed to you. #ContentWritingChathttps://t.co/GwVnxtnIq2
Send content that’s relevant to the lives of your subscribers. This will give them a reason to stick around.
A6: Create a schedule for sending emails and stick to it. You want to make sure you're keeping your list warm by sending content regularly. Subscribers will get accustomed to this and know when to expect your emails. #ContentWritingChat
Make sure you create a schedule and stick to it. This will create consistency for you, as well as your subscribers. They’ll always know when to expect a new email from you.
A6: Nurture email campaigns should be personalized. Use targeted ways to reach unengaged segments of your audience. Make sure you don't send your engaged readers emails with topics that don't apply to them. – Mike #ContentWritingChat
Take it a step further and create a nurture sequence that’s personalized to your subscribers. You can send a welcome sequence to introduce them to your brand and warm them up to potentially make a purchase, for example.
Q7: What’s your favorite email marketing platform? And what are the main features you suggest someone look for when choosing a platform to create and send newsletters?
A7: I've used @ConvertKit for years now. You want a platform that's user-friendly and offers features such as automation so you can trigger emails when people subscribe, make a purchase, etc. #ContentWritingChat
Carla uses ConvertKit as well, but has also used MailChimp in the past.
Want to join the next #ContentWritingChat? Mark your calendar for the first Tuesday of every month at 10 AM Central and follow @ExpWriters on Twitter for all the latest!
By now, you’ve probably heard the phrase “thought leader” thrown around quite a bit.
But what exactly is a thought leader? And how can you become one in your field?
That’s what we talked about in this month’s #ContentWritingChat! So, if you’re ready to establish yourself as a well-known industry expert, keep reading for all the tips!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: Establishing Yourself as a Thought Leader in Your Field
To establish yourself as a thought leader, you want to consistently offer new and unique information for your community to consume.
A1: Thought leadership is proactively sharing your high-impact, innovative and/or useful ideas to show others how they can get involved with your work/movement. #ContentWritingChat
A huge element of thought leadership is sharing your ideas and encouraging others to get involved at the same time, so don’t be afraid to speak up!
Q2: Why would someone want to establish themselves as a thought leader in their field? What benefits does it provide?
A2: Establishing yourself as a thought leader is also a great way to showcase your expertise and ultimately build trust with your audience. And of course, the Know, Like, and Trust Factor is essential for driving sales. #ContentWritingChat
Building the Know, Like, and Trust Factor is crucial for creating success as a brand. When people view you as a thought leader in your industry, they have developed a trusting relationship with you and will be more inclined to support your business.
A2. Becoming a thought leader in an industry is desirable because a level of credibility and respect in that sector. It can be helpful for being able to pursue new opportunities, make new contacts, discover helpful resources. #contentwritingchathttps://t.co/6HP7gpXi4q
As a thought leader, you’ll have a certain level of credibility and respect in your field. This is great for getting your content shared widely, but it can also lead to tons of new opportunities for your brand.
Q3: What are some of the top qualities you feel thought leaders typically possess?
Q3: A desire to help others. Truly, to be a valuable thought leader, I believe you're motivated by the desire to share ideas/info that you believe will benefit those who hear them. #ContentWritingChat
Q3: Also confidence, willingness to be "wrong," willingness to rethink/adapt. Some things may be good ideas now but not stand up over time. If they're well considered, TLs will share them and be okay later to amend based on new evidence. #contentwritingchat
Thought leaders have a desire to help others through their content. They are also confident and willing to adapt over time.
A3. Top qualities that leaders typically have are adaptability, flexibility, focus, accountability, willingness to teach and continuously learn. #contentwritingchathttps://t.co/xQUbmuDjQ7
Adaptability, flexibility, focus, and accountability are all characteristics you’ll want to have if you desire to be a thought leader. You also need to have a willingness to teach others, plus a desire to learn and grow.
Q4: What are the first steps in building a thought leadership strategy?
A4: Set goals based on your business and the needs of your audience. Research thought leaders in that space. Identify thought leaders in your company, prep them, and launch your perspective. #ContentWritingChat
First, you need to set goals. What do you hope to achieve by becoming a thought leader? It’s also smart to research other thought leaders so you can learn from them.
Q4: 1. Identify your audience 2. Identify their pain points 3. Identify your expertise and your voice 4. Find areas where 2 and 3 match up 5. Consider what you want to say and why 5. Build a plan/topic list. Then consider medium. Social, articles, podcast?#ContentWritingChat
Creating a thought leadership strategy starts with knowing who your audience is, what their pain points are, and what kind of expertise you have that will serve them. From there, you can begin creating content that appeals to their needs.
It’s important to have conversations with your community and other experts in your field. This is a powerful way to learn what others are looking for and what gaps currently exist in your industry that you can address.
Q5: Creating high-quality content is an effective way to position yourself as a thought leader. Is there a certain content format that’s best for doing this?
A5: The best content format for you is the one that plays to your strengths and appeals to your target audience. #ContentWritingChat
Always create content that showcases your strengths while also appealing to how your audience likes to consume content. You can also repurpose your content into multiple formats to reach a wider audience, as we all like to learn in different ways.
A5: The types of content are flexible, according to audience and the format in which thought leader is most effective. For example, podcasts, white papers, blogs, TED Talks, Twitter are all thought leadership formats – but not all the best for each person. #ContentWritingChat
Be flexible with your content formats and remain open to trying new things to see how they work for you. There are tons of options available to us today, so it’s smart to experiment.
Q6: Part of becoming a thought leader is getting your content noticed. How can you increase traffic and impressions on the content you’re publishing?
A6: SEO and unique (while still being good) perspectives. Obviously, you want to appear in search but don't make your content look or sound like everything else out there. #ContentWritingChat
Getting your content noticed starts with SEO. Make sure you’re taking the time to optimize your content so you can rank higher in Google’s search results.
A6: Start by focusing on quality of content. Once you're certain your content is worth people seeing, then work on having them see it.
Then you can work on SEO, cross-promotion with other blogs/podcasts, integrating 3rd party PR into your plan. #ContentWritingChat
Cross-promotion is another great tactic. If you can collaborate with other bloggers or podcasts, you can generate tons of traction for your brand and its content.
A6. A few great ways to broaden the reach of your thought leadership content would be to create a robust digital marketing campaign, contribute to industry-leading publications, reach out to local or industry specific organizations to provide insights. #contentwritingchathttps://t.co/jDAPmI4MVX
Make sure you have a digital marketing campaign in place if you’re serious about generating brand awareness. You may also want to contribute to leading publications in your industry for more exposure.
Q7: How will you know if you’ve successfully established yourself as a thought leader? Is there any way to measure this?
A7: When people start to come to you asking for help/advisement related to the areas you communicate through thought leadership. You'll also see others start to discuss your ideas. #ContentWritingChat
If you notice people are reaching out to you for help or advice, that’s a good sign! It shows they value your opinions and consider you a trustworthy source.
A7: Thought leaders think. If you're thinking, putting your audience first, and producing the best content you can create then you're a thought leader. Congrats! Keep it up and keep looking to optimize. #ContentWritingChat
Focus on putting your best content out there and serving your audience and you’re on the right track to becoming a true thought leader.
Want to join the next #ContentWritingChat? Mark your calendars for the first Tuesday of every month at 10 AM Central and meet us on the @ExpWriters Twitter account!
Looking for some copywriting hacks that will help you level-up your content?
Well, you’re in the right place!
For this month’s session of #ContentWritingChat, we asked our community to share some of their best copywriting tips that you can take and implement in your own content. Perfect if you’re looking to generate more traffic, engagement, and conversions. Let’s dive in!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: Copywriting Hacks to Up-Level Your Content
— Express Writers | Your Content Writing Partner (@ExpWriters) September 6, 2022
Be sure to check out our blog post, which is linked in the embedded tweet above. It was the inspiration for this month’s chat!
Q1: The first step in creating amazing content is to know your ideal reader. How can you learn more about those within your target audience to create content that serves them?
A1: You can't rush it or fake it. Take time to authentically know your audience. Even better, service a specific niche so you're always knowledgeable and up-to-date. #ContentWritingChat
Always take the time to get to know your audience by having conversations with them.
A1: Market research is crucial for getting to know your audience. One of the best ways to do that is to TALK to them. Get to know them through social media or even hop on 1:1 calls. #ContentWritingChat
You can talk to your audience via social media or even have 1:1 calls as market research if you have the time to dedicate to it.
A1. Once you’ve identified the target audience, begin to collect data on what kind of content they currently consume, painpoints in the industry and new trends. Typically industry leading media would have an array of this kind of content published regularly. #contentwritingchathttps://t.co/yDn9mecEe5
— Kathryn Lang – hopesmith and dream ignitor (@Kathrynclang) September 6, 2022
It’s important to define your voice if you want to stand out from your competitors. It’s what makes you unique compare to everyone else.
A2: The best differentiator I've found is to deeply care. Which starts with knowing your audience and caring about their needs. It shows up in your work. #ContentWritingChat
Showing you care about your audience goes a long way.
Q3: Part of generating traction for your content is creating a headline that will get people to click. What makes a clickable headline?
A3: Keep headlines short and sweet. And never write something misleading just to generate traffic. Headlines should always be honest and relevant to the content. #ContentWritingChat
Headlines should be on the shorter side and need to be relevant to your content. Never mislead your readers with a clickbait headline.
A3. Make a bold claim or statement, that is captivating and still provides a fair representation of the article. It should also appear as something that would be recognizable to your existing audience. #contentwritingchathttps://t.co/D7SQBBat0x
Bold claims can be an effective way to grab attention and drive traffic.
Q4: How do you ensure the body of your content is intriguing enough that people read it the whole way through?
A4: Use formatting that "moves their eyes" down the page. Short sections and clear sub-headings. And above all, make sure your writing is clear and each section is relevant so they won't want to miss out. #ContentWritingChat
Formatting plays a major role in your content, so don’t just focus on the copy. Sub-headings are a great way to make your content easier to consume.
A4. Split it up with topic headlines and even separate quote sections to highlight the major thoughts or points in the article. Also breaking it up with images and descriptive text can draw readers back in to get details on what is in the photo. #contentwritingchat#writinghttps://t.co/HkNerqOuSr
Urgency is great, especially if there’s a deadline. Just don’t lie about deadlines or limited spaces to fake urgency. Only use this tactic when it’s legitimate.
A5. Add some sort of time constraint within the text, or even by using an image to highlight the urgency. ‘For a limited time’, ‘Available through September 10th’, ‘Join us today for access to’ #contentwritingchathttps://t.co/JtWszCu3vc
These simple tips will allow you to effectively incorporate urgency!
Q6: Editing is key when polishing your content. What does your editing process look like?
A6: Editing process:
1st draft – read through make notes 2nd draft – search for grammar and spelling 3rd draft – overused phrases and words 4th draft – new set of eyes Final form#ContentWritingChathttps://t.co/nBjim2SwQT
— Kathryn Lang – hopesmith and dream ignitor (@Kathrynclang) September 6, 2022
Combing through your content multiple times will allow you to spot grammar and spelling mistakes, as well as overused phrases and words. Perfect for tweaking your copy.
A6: If there's a second editor available, that's great. Otherwise, let it sit for a bit (depending on format/length, even 30 mins can be plenty) and then closely read with the intention to streamline. #ContentWritingChat
If you can, have someone else review your content. A second set of eyes can be a huge help in spotting mistakes you overlooked.
A6: Cut out unnecessary parts, remove all repetition, break up any awkwardly long sentences, review for flow, review for spelling/grammar, read as a member of the target audience and ask questions, answer questions, peer review, and finalize. #ContentWritingChat
As you edit, remove anything unnecessary, revise for flow, and correct any spelling and grammar mistakes. Your readers will thank you!
Q7: How soon after your content is published do you monitor its analytics? Which metrics do you track to determine success?
A7: It takes a couple weeks for new content to get traction on Google, so start monitoring analytics 2-4 weeks after publishing, then monthly after that, especially if you're optimizing content based on metrics. #ContentWritingChat
You’ll want to give it some time for your content to gain traction on Google, so two to four weeks after publication can be a great time to start seriously tracking metrics.
A7. I’d recommend checking the analytics for the next few days and then weekly and monthly, per your typical process. I’d review clicks on the article, link clicks, time on page and acquisition #contentwritingchat#analytics#metricshttps://t.co/OQCEjiOcOx