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#ContentWritingChat Recap: Designing Your SEO & Content Creation Workflow with Diana Richardson

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Designing Your SEO & Content Creation Workflow with Diana Richardson

by | Nov 6, 2020 | ContentWritingChat

Let’s talk about creating optimized content.

How do you ensure you’re choosing the right topics? What can be done to increase the chances that your content will rank? And how can you incorporate keywords into your blog post without it seeming unnatural?

Well, we covered all of these questions (and more) in this #ContentWritingChat. Now, the tips you need to know are packed into this handy recap.

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Designing Your SEO & Content Creation Workflow with Diana Richardson

This month, we were lucky enough to have Diana Richardson be our guest host once again. Diana is a Social Media & Community Manager for our friends over at SEMrush. And she joined our chat to share some tips on SEO and developing an efficient content creation workflow. Let’s dive into the recap for all the advice!

Q1: What’s the first step in creating quality, optimized content?

Before you dive into writing, there are a few things to consider first. Here’s what you need to keep in mind if you want your content to be successful:

Diana suggests first knowing who you’re writing for and what your end goal is. You always want to create content with your target audience in mind. This ensures you’re writing about the topics that interest them, as well as communicating in a way that resonates. And of course, you need to know your end goal so you can tailor your content accordingly and track the ideal metrics afterwards.

Lexie agrees that it’s crucial you know who your target audience is. Otherwise, you run the risk of attracting all the wrong people (or no one) to your content.

Don’t rush into keyword research. Kate says you need to know why you’re writing and who you’re writing for first. That will get you started on the right path!

And as Michelle said, always remember that quality writing comes first. You cannot allow your writing to suffer for the sake of optimization.

Q2: When diving into topic research for your next piece of content, where should you begin?

Topic research can feel rather daunting sometimes. After all, there’s a lot you could potentially write about. So, how can you choose the topics that will resonate with your audience? Check out this advice:

Diana suggests starting with a few broad concepts and then using SEMrush’s Topic Research Tool to narrow down your search. She says to find a question that needs answering, then check out the existing content on that topic. From there, consider what you can add or if there are any other unanswered questions that come up.

Ask yourself what your audience is looking for. You want to create content that will be valuable for them, while also keeping in mind what you have to offer. The content you publish should showcase your expertise.

You can also see which topics are performing well in your field by checking out BuzzSumo. Answer the Public is another tool worth testing because you can find relevant questions that people want answers to.

Raquel knows that social listening is key in learning more about your target audience. Discovering what they’re talking about online can give you some helpful ideas on what you should write about.

And of course, social media is essential in social listening. Use platforms like Twitter to see trending topics and to check out conversations your audience is having. You never know when a new idea might pop up.

Once you have your fundamentals all laid out, you can move into SEO and data research.

Q3: What do you need to know when it comes to competitiveness and rankability?

We all want our content to rank high up in the search results because it helps us get discovered. But what’s the secret to landing that coveted number one spot? Keep these tips in mind as you create:

The factors you’ll want to keep in mind are keyword volume, audience interest, and keyword difficulty.

Higher volume keywords will be much more competitive and will be more challenging to rank for. Diana suggests checking out the first two pages of search results to determine the quality of the content already on the web. You may be able to publish something better or from a more unique perspective.

Then, we have audience interest. At the end of the day, your target audience needs to find your content appealing, otherwise they won’t be bothered to read it.

And finally, there’s keyword difficulty. The higher the percentage for difficulty, the harder it’ll be to achieve those high rankings.

Look at things from the perspective of your audience. As Rachel said, it’s smart to check out what has already been published on your chosen topic. Are they quality resources? How long ago were they published? She feels if you have an independent, timely take on the topic, it’ll help increase your competitiveness.

No matter what, you always want to aim to produce great blog posts. Quality is always going to win with your readers at the end of the day.

Kate isn’t afraid to target a variety of keywords with her content. Try going after keywords that have lower or medium competitiveness and see how that does for you.

Q4: How do you keep it natural when tying keywords into your content so you don’t go overboard?

There’s nothing worse than content that has been unnaturally stuffed with keywords. It seems forced and doesn’t read as being genuine at all. To make sure your keyword usage flows, here are a few tips to remember:

Diana feels there should be no problem writing naturally when you’re clear on your audience persona and the goals you have for your content. Try not to stress about it too much and focus on providing value. It also helps to use synonyms to your chosen keyword so you don’t overdo it.

Julia’s advice is to make sure the keyword is incorporate into your headers, intro, and end copy of your blog post. She also suggests using synonyms throughout the post.

Rachel also agrees that synonyms are key when optimizing your posts. She also likes to incorporate quotes that use her keywords and she changes up the sentence structure throughout her writing.

Q5: Are there any final steps you should take before hitting publish on your next post so you know it’s optimized effectively?

We’re all eager to get our content out into the world. But you don’t want to publish something before it’s ready! Take these final steps to ensure your post is optimized before it goes live:

Diana suggests using the SEMrush SEO Writing Assistant to check your work and receive any helpful tips for making improvements. She also said to evaluate things like tone, CTAs, etc.

Kate turns to the Yoast plugin for WordPress to do a final review of the post before publishing. This way you won’t overlook important things like alt tags, meta description, and other details.

Sometimes you just don’t feel like reading through a post after you’ve written it. But guess what? Those extra few minutes are crucial in helping you spot spelling and grammar mistakes, as well as any other errors.

If you can, take Lexie’s advice. Have someone else read through your post for feedback on things like readability and to see if they spot any typos.

Q6: What tools will be handy in helping you stick to your content creation workflow?

The right tools will make your job so much easier, which is why you’ll want to test these out:

Diana knows SEMrush is a great tool to manage your content creation workflow.

Lexie loves SEMrush as well, relying on their Topic Research Tool and Google’s Auto Suggest.

BuzzSumo, SEMrush, Answer the Public, and Yoast are always popular choices.

Here at Express Writers, we have a few tools we rely on. This includes Microsoft Word for writing posts, our very own platform for delegating assignments, and Airtable for keeping everything nice and organized.

Q7: How often should you revisit your workflow to ensure it’s actually still working for you?

Once you have a content creation workflow in place, it might need some tweaks. Or maybe not! Here’s what you should know:

Diana said you can change your content creation workflow as you go. You’ll likely have different types of workflows for various content. After all, creating blog content is different than creating social media content.

Rachel revisits her workflow every quarter, allowing her to spot any areas for change.

But sometimes there’s no need to switch it up! If everything is going smoothly, you likely won’t need to make any adjustments to your workflow.

Want to join the next #ContentWritingChat? Follow @ExpWriters and @writingchat for all the latest and mark your calendars for the first Tuesday of every month at 10 AM Central Time.

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Overcome Writer’s Block with Ann Gynn

by | Oct 9, 2020 | ContentWritingChat

As content creators, sometimes we fall victim to the dreaded writer’s block.

It’s frustrating. And it’s stressful. It’s the last thing anyone wants to deal with, especially with a deadline looming in the near future!

If you want to learn how you can overcome writer’s block, you’re in the right place. This #ContentWritingChat recap covers how to determine if you’re really dealing with writer’s block, how to confront it head on, and what to do if it keeps happening to you.

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Overcome Writer’s Block with Ann Gynn

Our guest host for this month’s chat is Ann Gynn. She’s an Editorial Consultant for our friends over at Content Marketing Institute. Ann wrote a post for their blog all about beating writer’s block, so we knew we had to have her guest host and share some tips with us. So, let’s dive into the recap!

Q1: What does writer’s block really mean?

Before we dive into the helpful tips, we need to get to the bottom of what writer’s block really is. Here are some of the responses we received from our chat participants:

Ann views writer’s block in two different ways, short-term and long-term. In the short-term, she feels it’s struggling to articulate what you’re trying to say. But in the long-term, she says it’s a mindset of those who generally find writing problematic.

Lexie also views writer’s block in a couple of different ways. On one hand, it could be feeling unsure of what to write, but sometimes it’s struggling to put your thoughts into a written piece that makes sense.

Katie believes writer’s block is all in your mindset. Sometimes you’re just not in the mood to write, maybe you’re tired or other thoughts are consuming your mind.

And sometimes you just might have too much going on in your head that it’s hard to get it all out onto paper or on the screen.

Q2: How do you know if it’s writer’s block or a problem with your preparation (i.e. research, interviews, etc.)?

Sometimes you might not be dealing with writer’s block. It could be a different problem holding you back! Here’s how to get to the root cause:

Ann’s advice is to review your notes and see if you have all the information necessary to create a great piece. If not, you’ll have to go back to the prep stage. She also finds it helpful to write a simple outline of your article to get started.

Lexie agrees that creating an outline is helpful. If you can create an outline, odds are it’s just writer’s block and not issues with your prep. However, if creating the outline is a struggle, it’s time to do more research.

Q3: How can you overcome writer’s block?

Now, let’s get into the really good stuff. Here’s some advice on how you can overcome writer’s block the next time it creeps up:

These tips that Ann shared are great, especially reiterating Michelle’s advice on snacking on some chocolate!

Another awesome tip that Ann shared was to break down your article into smaller tasks and assign deadlines for each. For example, blocking off time in your calendar for writing the introduction and then tackling the body later.

If you can, step away from the screen. Sometimes you just need to take a break because you never know when inspiration may strike.

Karly suggests turning on a Spotify playlist. While she goes for classical, you might want something upbeat that you can dance to. Whatever works best! She also recommends trying the Pomodoro technique to just start writing, even if it isn’t your best work. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Get the words onto paper (or the screen) and edit later.

Lisa turns to music as well when she needs to overcome writer’s block. Always a winning idea!

The next time an idea comes up, spend 5-10 minutes jotting down your ideas like Michelle suggests. That should be really helpful when it comes time to create the full article.

And remember that everyone is different. What works for one person may not work for you, so try a variety of things to see what helps you shake writer’s block.

Q4: How can you confront writer’s block when you can’t leave your desk?

While many choose to get away from the desk and take a break, sometimes you just can’t do that. Here’s what you can do if you’re struggling with writer’s block, but are chained to the desk:

Ann suggests getting away from the screen and doing something else on your to-do list. She even likes to play Scrabble Go on her phone, which is certainly a welcome distraction.

This would be a great opportunity to just get out a journal and start writing something else. Record details of your day, maybe write a gratitude list, anything. Just give it a go!

Q5: What happens when you overcome writer’s block, only to have it again later in the same piece?

There’s nothing worse than having writer’s block rear its ugly head yet again! This advice should help you out if it keeps happening:

Revisit your goals. Ann says to determine what you’re trying to accomplish and revise your plans as needed.

If you just can’t seem to overcome writer’s block, it may be worthwhile to just call it quits for the day. Walk away from the piece and come back to it the next day.

Karly suggests going for a walk outside or tackling something else on your to-do list.

Q6: What if I’m experiencing writer’s block with every assignment/task I tackle?

There might be something you can do differently if you find that you’re prone to experiencing writer’s block. Check out these suggestions:

Ask yourself if you truly enjoy writing or if some other thoughts are holding you back from being a great writer. Be honest with yourself about how you’re feeling.

Is the problem due to a lack of motivation? Or is it a lack of preparation or focus? Figure out what the root cause of your writer’s block is so you can address it head on.

It’s also wise to ask yourself if writing is something you truly want to do before continue to push forward.

It could just be a case of burnout and it might be time to take a break.

Q7: Are there steps I can take to prevent writer’s block in the first place?

These tips will really come in handy the next time you sit down to write. Jot down your favorites to put them to use!

Ann’s advice of creating a writing process you can replicate each time is great!

Make sure you do your research. When you have all the necessary information for your article beforehand, it’ll be easier to write.

Karly suggests paying attention to what helps you feel productive and do those things before you start writing.

And finally, figure out when you’re most productive and make that your dedicated time for research and writing.

Join us for the next #ContentWritingChat! It takes place on the first Tuesday of every month at 10 AM Central. Follow @ExpWriters and @writingchat for the latest.

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Create a Social Media Calendar That Engages Your Audience with Maura Hughes of MeetEdgar

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Create a Social Media Calendar That Engages Your Audience with Maura Hughes of MeetEdgar

by | Sep 4, 2020 | ContentWritingChat

There’s no denying that brands want a number of things from their social media presence.

They want growth in terms of their community, engagement, click-throughs, conversions, and more. No shame in that!

But how do you make sure you’re actually creating content and showing up on your social platforms in a way that will help you generate the results you want? You create a social media calendar!

Having a social media calendar encourages you to plan ahead and be strategic about what you’re sharing and how you’re serving your audience. And in this #ContentWritingChat recap, we’re teaching you how to create one!

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Create a Social Media Calendar That Engages Your Audience with Maura Hughes of MeetEdgar

Our guest host for this month’s chat was Maura Hughes. Maura is a Digital Marketing Manager over at MeetEdgar, a popular tool for scheduling social media content. In fact, it’s the one we use here at Express Writers! Maura had some amazing advice for creating high-quality, engaging social media content, so let’s dive into the tips!

Q1: Is it important to have a social media calendar? Why or why not?

If you’re not sold on the idea of planning out your social media content in advance, you just might be after reading these responses from the chat:

Maura feels a social media calendar is great because it helps you to be more consistent when it comes to posting on the platforms you use. That’s important if you want long-term success!

Not only is a calendar great for consistency, but it also ensures you’re posting with purpose. You’re thinking ahead and planning out content your audience would genuinely love, as opposed to throwing something together at the last minute.

And when you plan in advance, you don’t have to stress about coming up with content at the last minute! That’s never fun!

Plus, having a calendar with all your content outlined reminds you to think ahead to upcoming holidays and any social campaigns you’ll be running. You’ll never forget anything important this way.

Just remember that your social media calendar shouldn’t be set in stone. Allow yourself to make shifts as needed to provide the value your audience needs.

Lexie agrees that flexibility is key if you want to be successful! Never be afraid to make changes if something isn’t working or if there are timely topics you need to cover.

Q2: What types of content should go on your social media calendar?

Now that you’re probably sold on creating a calendar of your own, you’ll need to know what kind of content to fill it with. Here are some suggestions:

As Maura pointed out, your content should build the Know, Like, and Trust Factor with your audience. She also said to plan content according to your goals. For instance, if social media is a way for you to drive traffic back to your website, make sure you’re actually linking back to your site by sharing the latest blog posts, etc.

Always choose content based on your target audience. As Maria said, ask yourself what they’re likely to respond to. That will tell you exactly the kind of content you should be sharing.

If you’re creating a social media calendar for a client, always ask what they want to be posting more of. Take their suggestions into consideration. Rachel’s advice of creating different categories will really be helpful in staying organized with all of your ideas.

Share content that promotes your brand, talk about your offerings, and address timely events and holidays.

You can’t go wrong with things like informative blog posts, stats, videos, and infographics. It’s also smart to ask questions to get a conversation started.

Q3: Is it a good idea to re-share the same content in your social media calendar? Why or why not?

Before you rush to schedule some social media posts, here’s the scoop on re-sharing the same content:

It’s definitely okay to repost your content, especially if it’s evergreen. Evergreen content is always relevant and appealing to your audience, so why not make sure they’re seeing it? As Maura said, the shelf-life of social media posts is very short, so post things more than once to increase traction.

A smart tactic when re-posting the same content is to change up the copy, use different hashtags, and switch up the graphics. It helps keep things fresh.

By re-posting your content at different times and days, it ensures that even more people are seeing you’ve shared. Very important!

At the end of the day, make sure your content is reflecting what your audience wants to see. That’s how you keep them coming back for more.

Q4: What are some tactics for actually structuring your social media calendar?

Don’t get overwhelmed when planning content! Use these tips to make the task even easier:

Post with a purpose and ensure that the content you’re sharing is actually getting you closer to your goals. Otherwise, what’s the point?

So, if you haven’t set goals for what you want from your social media presence… Go ahead and do that today!

Make sure you’re testing to see what actually works for you in terms of the kind of content you share. It even helps to just ask your audience what they want to see more of.

This triple theme method that Rachel mentioned would definitely be helpful!

These ideas that Masooma shared are perfect for filling up your social media calendar!

Q5: What analytics and KPIs should you review to improve your social media calendar?

After you’ve started sharing all this amazing content, you’ll want to track your progress to ensure you’re reaching your goals. This is how you choose the right KPIs:

Go back to your goals! They’ll tell you if you should be more focused on link clicks, comments, shares, etc.

If you want link clicks, focus on that. If you want to see more interaction and brand awareness, pay attention to things like growth and comments.

When you track your engagement, it’s a good sign that your content resonates with your audience.

Ditch the vanity metrics! Maria says to focus on things like comments or shares.

For Katie, she focuses on tracking LinkedIn engagement. She likes to see that her content is driving conversations.

Rachel likes to view social media shares to see what insights people are sharing about her content.

Q6: How can we ensure our social media content is fresh and generating the engagement we desire?

No one wants stale social media content! Keep it engaging with this advice:

Maura suggests testing phrases, images, videos, etc. to see what performs the best. They’ll even send out one blog post with six different variations to test them all. It helps you see what works and what does.

Also, make sure you’re getting to know your audience through conversations so you can build strong relationships with them.

Sending out a survey is an amazing way to learn more about your audience and what they’d like to see from you.

If you find that something just isn’t working for you on social media, find out why. And focus on replicating the things that do work.

Q7: Which tools will come in handy when managing your social media presence?

And finally, it’s easier to manage your social media calendar with a few tools in your toolbox. Here are some great ones:

Maura recommends using MeetEdgar for scheduling, of course! She also likes Canva for creating graphics, as well as Google Analytics for data.

You definitely want to have a scheduling tool, a social listening tool, and something to create graphics.

The SEO Charge team suggests apps like Awario and Animoto.

Lexie loves Canva and Google Analytics.

Google Sheets is great for tracking stats. Social Oomph, Hootsuite, and CoSchedule are worthing checking out too.

And don’t forget about your in-app analytics!

Want to join the next #ContentWritingChat? It happens on the first Tuesday of every month at 10 AM Central. Just follow @ExpWriters and @writingchat for the latest.

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Successfully Optimizing Web Content in 2020 with Diana Richardson

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Successfully Optimizing Web Content in 2020 with Diana Richardson

by | Aug 7, 2020 | ContentWritingChat

If you need some help when it comes to optimizing web content, you’re in the right place! Whether it’s your latest blog post or a key page on your site, it needs to be optimized effectively if you want to rank in search results.

So, how can you make sure that happens? Glad you asked! This #ContentWritingChat recap is packed with awesome tips that will help you get discovered via Google.

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Successfully Optimizing Web Content in 2020 with Diana Richardson

Our guest host for this month’s chat was Diana Richardson. Diana is a Social Media & Community Manager at SEMrush (one of our favorite tools). She had some amazing advice for our chat, so let’s dive into it!

Q1: What is the first step we must take when optimizing web content to ensure we’ll get the desired results?

Before you just start diving in, we need to talk about what needs to happen first… Before you start optimizing everything. Here’s what you need to know:

As Diana mentioned, it starts with knowing your goal and who your target audience is. What are you working to achieve? And who is the desired reader for your content? You need to keep these things in mind in order to generate the right results.

Don’s advice is to set up your content pillars before diving into optimizing web content. Think about core topics and subtopics you’ll be covering and allow that to guide your keyword research.

Remember that quality is crucial. You never want to sacrifice quality in order to get your content to rank highly.

Q2: Should we be targeting high-volume keywords or is that merely a vanity metric? If you feel it’s a vanity metric, what should we focus on instead?

High-volume keywords or low-volume keywords? What about low competition? There’s so much data to look at! This is what you should pay attention to:

If you can rank for a high-volume keyword, that’s awesome! However, it’s not always an easy task because those keywords are often very competitive. Diana suggests finding some of the more unique keywords that still get search volume and targeting those.

Focusing on long-tail keywords that your target audience uses is definitely a great tactic when optimizing.

For those who are just starting out, it doesn’t hurt to go for less competitive keywords. This strategy just might pay off in the long run!

The team at SEO Charge says to go for both. Try targeting booth high and low-volume keywords and see what kind of results you get.

Finding that balance is key! Zala says to identify where you can compete and actually make an impact online.

Q3: Break it down! How can creators find the right keywords that will work for their content?

To find the perfect keywords when optimizing web content, just keep this advice in mind!

Optimizing web content starts with the right keywords. And finding the right keywords starts with knowing your audience. Diana relies on tools like SEMrush’s Keyword Magic Tool to help her get the job done. She also finds it helpful to have your ideal reader in mind. How would that person search? Which keywords would they be using?

Masooma suggests using tools like Google Related Search to help you generate ideas for potential keywords.

The typical SEO tools don’t have to be the only things you use! You can also check out BuzzSumo and Quora to see what people are talking about. That can generate a ton of new ideas.

Katie offered even more great suggestions, which are worth checking out!

Don’s advice might not be what you’d expect, but it’s definitely worth trying. He says to try some keywords that don’t work first. Then, you can use the data you gather to make improvements moving forward.

Q4: Is it possible to get too carried away and over-optimize your blog posts or web pages?

Is over-optimization really a thing? Here’s some thoughts from our community:

No one wants to sound like a robot, which is often the end result when people over-optimize.

Danielle said keyword-stuffed writing is awkward. Focus on creating quality first and foremost, then worry about optimization.

The key is to find a balance between writing for your reader and Google.

Q5: Are there any differences we should note when optimizing blog posts versus pages on our website?

Differences between blog posts and web pages? Well, here’s what you need to know:

The main difference between optimizing blogs and web pages is your goal. What are you trying to achieve with each? That should shape your content overall. Other than that, there isn’t really a difference.

You still want to make sure you’re paying attention to things like linking, images, keywords, headings, etc.

Q6: What are the most common mistakes creators make when optimizing web content? And how can we avoid them?

Don’t fall victim to these mistakes!

Not optimizing is a huge mistake! Failing to have a clean navigation on your site is a big no-no. And ignoring E-A-T is not wise, my friend.

Kate also agrees that paying attention to E-A-T is a must!

Other mistakes to avoid: overusing/underusing keywords, not using keywords in the URL, and ignoring factors like image optimization and page loading times.

Forgetting all about user search intent would definitely be a mistake!

If your CTA isn’t clear, that isn’t good for you or the reader!

Don’t create content for the sake of creating content. You should always be focused on quality and adding value.

Q7: Great tools are an important part of optimization. Which tools should we be using?

Make sure these tools are part of your arsenal when optimizing web content:

Diana’s favorite tools? Your own brain and SEMrush!

These are some great features to check out for anyone getting started.

BuzzSumo and Google Analytics are also very helpful.

And we can’t forget about Answer the Public, Yoast, and Hemingway.

Ahrefs is another great one to try!

Katie suggests utilizing some tools that will help improve the overall user experience of your site.

And finally, give CoSchedule’s Headline Analyzer a go if you want to create better titles for your blog posts.

Want to join our next chat? It happens on the first Tuesday of every month at 10 AM Central! Just follow @ExpWriters and @writingchat for all the latest with #ContentWritingChat!

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Conducting a Mid-Year Review of Your Content Goals

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Conducting a Mid-Year Review of Your Content Goals

by | Jul 10, 2020 | ContentWritingChat

Congrats! You have officially made it halfway through the year!

With six months remaining, there’s one very important thing you should do if you want to make sure you reach your goals. Your content goals, that is.

And what is that thing, you ask? Well, you need to make sure you conduct a mid-year review. This is the perfect opportunity to see how you’ve progressed in terms of reaching the goals you’ve set for yourself. Are you actually seeing the traffic, engagement, and conversions you hoped for?

If you are, that’s fantastic! If not, you’ll be able to see where you can make improvements to turn things around. So, we’re teaching you how to conduct a mid-year review of your own in this #ContentWritingChat recap.

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Conducting a Mid-Year Review of Your Content Goals

This month’s community chat was filled with some amazing, highly actionable tips that you’ll certainly be able to put to good use. Let’s dive in!

Q1: What are some common, big-picture content goals that creators are working towards?

As creators, we are often working towards some of the same goals when it comes to what we hope to achieve with our content. These are just some of the goals creators strive for:

Consistency is definitely one of the most common goals creators set for themselves. Being consistent when it comes to publishing new work is important in building your brand and serving your audience.

Learning how to better engage your target audience is something we should all be striving towards because those connections are crucial.

Establishing trust and authenticity will always be important goals.

Consistency, quality, building brand authority, engaging, and being willing to adapt are goals that are certainly worth setting for yourself.

Q2: Why is it important for creators to review their content goals once they’re halfway through the year?

The halfway mark gives you plenty of data to review in order to prepare for the remainder of the year. Here’s what some of our chat participants had to say about this:

You never know what could come up and change the course for you. That’s why taking time to review your goals and adjust your course is key to success.

In fact, things change so quickly that doing just a mid-year review simply isn’t enough. Keep reading to see how frequently people are conducting their content reviews!

As Maria said, you need to make sure your content is still aligned with the overall goals you’ve set for yourself. If not, this gives you the opportunity to get back on track.

Sometimes a change in priorities shifts things for you. Rachel knows it’s important that you give yourself grace to be flexible and make changes as needed.

By conducting a review, you can see what’s working for you and what’s not. This shows you what you should be doing more of and where you can make improvements moving forward.

Always check in to see if your goals are realistic and still aligned with your bigger vision.

By conducting a mid-year review, you’ll have plenty of time to correct your course if things aren’t progressing the way you’d hoped.

Q3: When reflecting on the past six months, which metrics are worth tracking to see how you’ve progressed?

Analytics can often be overwhelming, leaving us wondering what we should pay special attention to. These are the analytics you should keep your eye on:

The metrics you track will always depend on the goals you’ve set.

Engagement is definitely a metric that’s worth tracking.

Building off the previous response, not only do you want to look at engagement in general, but also the quality of the conversations you’re having with others.

You may also want to check in and see if people are using your contact forms, if they’re clicking through to certain pages, and how long they’re staying on your site.

And it’s also crucial that you check in with yourself… Are you enjoying the work you’re doing? If not, something needs to change.

Q4: If you discover that you’re not on track to hit your goals, how can you tweak your strategy moving forward to see success?

Remember, you don’t want to freak out if you see that you haven’t hit your goals yet. And don’t give up either! This is what your should be doing instead:

Once you know where things are going wrong, then you can take action accordingly to turn it all around.

Remember to be honest with yourself during this process. This is an opportunity to learn and grow, so don’t beat yourself up if things haven’t gone to plan.

Zala suggests reaching out to your social media community for feedback. You can learn a lot if you just ask.

Q5: What can you do to boost metrics such as traffic, engagement, conversions, etc.?

If your content isn’t performing as you’d hoped, you can’t just sit back. You need to take action. Here are some things you can do to boost your results:

If you want to amplify your results, you should be consistent with showing up and delivering value to your target audience.

Not seeing enough traffic? Make sure you’re optimizing your work effectively. Need more engagement? Encourage people to respond and connect with them first. And if you need to boost conversions? Create a simple sales page that communicates the benefits your client/customer will receive.

Always ask yourself the above questions to ensure you’re on the right track with your content.

Don’t be shy when it comes to actually promoting your work. You have to put it out there for the world to see.

Make sure you’re actually engaging yourself!

Prioritize building relationships and supporting one another. Those relationships will really go a long way.

Q6: Are there any tools that can help when conducting a mid-year review?

Conducting a mid-year review will be so much easier with with a toolbox like this:

Google Analytics and SEMrush are definitely essentials for any mid-year review.

Lexie turns to Google Search Console to see how people are discovering the content she and the team create.

Q7: From this point forward, how frequently should you measure your progress toward your goals?

Now that you know the value of a mid-year review for your content, make sure you’re doing this regularly. Here’s how often you should consider doing this:

Monthly and quarterly reviews are definitely a smart way to do things!

Checking in every month gives you plenty of data to track.

For some, every three months is the golden ticket.

You can even set mini goals to check in with each month to plan out on a weekly basis.

No matter how often you choose to check in, just make sure you’re doing it consistently.

Q8: What’s one step you’ll take after today to ensure you’ll hit your content goals?

Our chat participants shared some action steps they’ll be taking. Which of these suggestions will you be tackling as well?

Carla said she’ll be implementing the tips she learned during the chat for her next content review.

Hope you can join us for the next #ContentWritingChat! Mark your calendars for the first Tuesday of every month at 10 AM Central. And be sure to follow @ExpWriters and @writingchat for the latest!

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