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
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.
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.
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
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 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
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.
Make sure you get to know the business, their goals, and their challenges.
Q3: How is B2B content strategy different from a B2C content strategy?
Now that you know a little more about B2B marketing, how does the content strategy you’d use for a B2B business differ from one you’d use for a B2C? This is what you need to know:
A3a. B2B marketing content should be informational or educational. Focus on features + benefits. #ContentWritingChat
Anh said that B2B marketing should be information or educational. She recommends focusing on features and benefits you can provide. The process often takes a longer time than B2C as well, which is important to keep in mind. This is because a group is typically involved in the decision making in this case.
A3d. B2C buying is based on needs and benefits of a product. Decision is made by individuals for their own use. #ContentWritingChat
For B2C, buying is based on the needs and benefits of a product, but the decision is made by individuals for their own use. As Anh said, emotion often plays a larger part in a B2C buying decision.
A3 B2B strategy vs. B2C: personas will differ (ie. target decision maker in corp), content delivery/creation will differ #ContentWritingChat
Jason said B2B requires selling to executives or a C-level team. For B2C, you’re selling to an individual where their choice won’t be swayed by others on a team.
A3. In B2B, you need to shine a brighter spotlight on ROI. How will using your product help them save time AND money? #ContentWritingChat
Ken feels you’ll need to put more attention on ROI when working in the B2B space. Know how your product will save time and money and communicate those benefits to potential buyers.
As Colin said, you need to know the needs of your customer’s customers.
Q4: What struggles does a B2B business face? How can you combat them?
There’s no denying that any B2B business will face some difficulties, but what are they up against? And how can they stand up to challenges? Check out these responses from the chat:
A4a. Content creation is often a struggle. B2B content is viewed as boring, not ‘sexy’ or not fun. #ContentWritingChat
Anh feels content creation is often a struggle for B2B brands because their content is often viewed as boring. She suggests combating this by thinking of creative ways to share “boring” content. She even feels that humor can work in B2B when done appropriately.
A4: Creating content businesses want to read. Business execs are busy. What will grab their attention? #contentwritingchat
Many B2B brands are afraid to experiment, but sometimes it’s helpful to step outside the box. You can test out humor, unexpected visuals, and emotive copy according to Shelly.
Lauren said many B2B brands are afraid to take content marketing risks. She says they can combat that fear by experimenting and measuring the ROI it receives.
Make sure you find the right platforms to reach your audience. You want to be on the platforms they’re actively using to get your content in front of them.
Q5: How can you determine the success of your B2B marketing tactics?
Once you have a B2B marketing strategy in place, you need to measure the results you’re getting from your efforts. But how do you know if it’s a success? Keep these tips in mind:
A5a. What were the marketing plan goals? Did you reach or exceed those goals? Did you hit the KPIs? #ContentWritingChat
It all goes back to the marketing plan goals you set in the beginning. Anh said to ask yourself if you reached or exceed those goals and if you hit the KPIs.
A5: First you have to set goals then measure your success against those goals. #contentwritingchat
For Carla, she thinks ConvertKit and Hootsuite (to name a few) do a great job.
Ready to join the #ContentWritingChat party? Join us on Twitter by following @ExpWriters and @writingchat. The chat takes place every Tuesday at 10 AM Central Time!
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
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
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, 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.
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
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
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.
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 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.
Dennis knows it’s important to define which keywords you want your site to rank for. You can then record your current ranking for each one and watch it grow.
A2: May be a bit of a @google fangirl, but data from AdWords/Analytics about how people find you is my first step. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/k3S4ztJACv
Abbey, another Netvantage team member, also agrees that asking your clients for keyword suggestions is a great way to begin. From there, she likes to look at queries in Google Search Console.
A2: Also good to review popular forums and sites where customers hang out to look for topics & KWs. #contentwritingchat
Adam’s advice is to review popular forms and sites where customers are spending their time online. It’s a great way to see what they’re talking about and to determine the right keywords and topics to use.
A2. I really look to twitter chats because this is where I get a strong idea of what type of content readers want #contentwritingchat
Cheval recommends checking out Twitter chats for content topics. This can help a lot when it comes to your keyword research.
Q3: What tools do you use for keyword research?
Fortunately, there are a plethora of tools at our disposal that can help with keyword research. If you’re looking for some great ones to use, check out these suggestions:
A3: Google’s Keyword Planner is usually the first tool we use for keyword research. #ContentWritingChat
Sarah provided a list of amazing tools that are worth checking out! As she said, there’s no shortage of tools so you have plenty of options to find the ones that work best for you.
Sarah said the client conversation is an opportunity to lay out a sitemap of pages and sections. You can then get chosen keywords to fit into that structure.
A4 Focus on ONE long-tail, high-opportunity (low-competition) keyword per long-form post. Use synonymous keywords. #ContentWritingChat
As Abbey said, make sure keywords are placed on the most relevant pages. And of course, no keyword stuffing! Keywords should always be used in a natural way.
Q5: Do you create the content the keywords go in on the website?
Are you the one who creates the content that includes your chosen keywords? Or does someone else have this task? Check out what some of our chat participants said:
A5: It varies. If we can work off content that is already on the site, we usually do. #contentwritingchat
On the flip side, sometimes they add a paragraph or two to what’s already on the site. This helps increase content length. In some cases, they’ll recommend new pages for the website when doing the SEO audit. The Netvantage team will then create the content for those pages.
A5 I write a lot of the keyword-focused content at @ExpWriters, and our team of 40 amazing writers help me do even more. #ContentWritingChat
When doing an SEO audit, sometimes you’re lucky to create the content and other times you have to optimize what’s already been published. It just depends on the client!
Q6: What technical aspects do you look at for a website when doing an audit?
Don’t forget that it’s not just about the website’s content. There’s a technical side of things to check on as well. Here’s what else you need to look for:
A6: With Google putting an emphasis on site speed, we use Google’s PageSpeed Insights & @pingdom. #ContentWritingChat
Abbey seconds that by encouraged you to check for canonical errors on a website, as well as site speed. Make sure you’re also looking at whether or not it’s mobile-friendly and if there’s duplicate content.
A6: Sitemap and Robots.txt file errors. Crawling errors (4xx pages) both from internal pages and external websites. #contentwritingchat
The Netvantage tame uses Majestic to with a few key metrics during an SEO audit. They look at the number of linking domains to the root domain, as well as citation flow and trust flow of the homepage of the website.
A7.3: We’ll use @Moz Open Site Explorer to look at the domain authority & homepage authority. #ContentWritingChat
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
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 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
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
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
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
Remember that your subject line is your first impression. Take advantage of that and leave people wanting to open your emails.
Q3: What kind of content is inside your emails? How do you ensure you’re providing value?
Once you have an email list in place, you need to figure out what you’re going to send your subscribers. Sometimes that’s a more stressful task than you might realize! Check out this advice to make sure you always provide value:
A3.a: Email content must match the customer’s interests & needs. You want them eager to read your messages. #ContentWritingChat
Shayla said email content needs to match the interests of your subscribers. You should always keep them in mind when writing your campaigns so you can be sure you’re delivering what they want to see. If you aren’t sure what they want, take time to do the research. Analytics will provide plenty of information.
Exclusive content in your email campaigns give people something to look forward to. If it’s something they can’t get anywhere else, they’ll be more likely to check it out.
A3: Timely, thoughtful, and engaging content that provides value. Ex: an offer, informative content, etc. #contentwritingchat
When you give your audience something they can take away, they’re sure to appreciate it. Adding value is always key with any kind of content you produce.
A3: Content you’ve been asked for – relevant, value adding, & easy to digest WITH a CTA! No cta means lower conversion. #ContentWritingChat
Make sure you remember to add a CTA as well. This tells people what they next step is after they’ve finished reading your email.
Q4: How can you design an email that looks great, but is still easy to read across devices?
With people accessing emails on their desktops, as well as their smartphones, it’s important to make sure they’re easy to read everywhere. How can you do this when you create email content? Keep these tips in mind:
A4.a: Design is crucial in email marketing, and it should reflect your brand. #ContentWritingChat
Shayla encourages you to stick to a design that reflects your brand. Use specific colors, images, fonts, and layouts. When you can create a look and stick with it, it become recognizable as being unique to you.
Don’t forget to test your emails before you send them out. It’s worth doing a final check before it gets delivered to tons of inboxes.
Q5: What’s your best advice for keeping email list subscribers engaged?
When you’ve got people on your list, you want them to stay put. To do that, you need to keep them interested and engaged. Here’s some advice that will help you do just that:
A5.a: Engagement isn’t a one-way street. Ask questions and encourage recipients to reply to your emails. #ContentWritingChat
Shayla’s advice is to ask questions and encourage your subscribers to reply. This is a great way to get the conversation going. She also said segmentation is great, as this allows you to really tailor your content to specific people on your list.
A5: Keep your email list warm by staying in touch. Don’t let them go weeks without hearing from you. #ContentWritingChat
Don’t be afraid to change it up though! Brian’s advice is to surprise your audience once in a while. You have to keep things fresh.
Q6: Which metrics do you track to measure the success of your email campaigns?
After you create email content and send it out to your subscribers, you want to measure its success to see how it performed. Here are some go-to metrics you should keep an eye on:
A6.a: Measuring the success of email campaigns varies and depends on your team’s current goals. #ContentWritingChat
Shayla knows that the metrics you pay the most attention to will depend on the current goals of your email marketing efforts. Typically, she tracks click-through rates, open-to-sale conversion rates, and unsubscribe rates.
A6: CLICKS! – We try to have a link in every email! Any one can read your email – but a click means they’re interested #ContentWritingChat
As Alan said, it all depends on what your overall goal is. Make sure you set that in beginning before you start creating content. He knows that click-through rate can be a good indicator of how effective your content was as well.
Q7: What is your go-to platform for email marketing? Why do you like it more than others?
With so many email marketing platforms available, it can be hard to choose the right one. We asked our chat participants to share their favorites with you. Here’s what they said:
Chelsea needs a more robust system to handle her email marketing, so she relies on Infusionsoft.
Q8: Which brands are doing an amazing job with their email content? Tag them!
There are plenty of brands who are creating great email content, which means there’s lots to learn from them. Which ones are standing out from the crowd? Check out these suggestions:
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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:
Max likes using Facebook’s analytics to see what’s not working well for him and what is. This will help you create more content that resonates with your audience so you can see better results in the future.
A3: It varies depending on the social content. Some content, like photos, are for likes. Content is for clicks, etc. #contentwritingchat
Lexie knows that what you measure will also depend on the content you’re sharing. Your goal can differ, so know what you’re hoping to achieve.
Q4: What types of content track the most engagement in your experience?
So, what kind of content reigns supreme when it comes to encouraging social media engagement? That’s going to depend on your brand and your audience! However, here are some suggestions straight from our chat:
A4
-creative
-multimedia
-relevant/of value
-concise
-emotional (storytelling)
-consistent
Julia has seen great results from visuals we’ve shared, especially infographics. She even notices collaborative content that features others has gotten plenty of engagement.
Make sure your content solves problems your audience is facing to provide tremendous value. Martin also said content that engages asks questions. It’s a great way to get people talking.
A4: Content that address the customers NEEDS and PROBLEMS. If you’re not spending time identifying buyers, don’t bother. #ContentWritingChat
Q6: How do you manage engagement across multiple social media platforms?
Considering most of us are using numerous social media platforms in our daily lives, it can be a lot of work to manage them all. How can you get the job done with minimal stress? Take a look at this advice to help make your social media tasks a little easier:
Here at Express Writers, we rely on MeetEdgar to keep our social media queues filled with great content.
Q7: Where are brands going wrong on social media in terms of engagement?
Unfortunately, a lot of brands are still getting it wrong when it comes to social media engagement. Make sure you avoid making the same mistakes by reading this advice:
A7. Trying to be everywhere, instead of really being there for their customers on a couple of channels. #contentwritingchat
Jason feels brands need to share content that actually drives conversations and feedback. If you’re not, you’re missing out on value information! He also said to reply back when you receive responses to get the conversation going.
A7. Where to begin with this Q? ? No interaction or convo with their communities. Constant self-promotion/broadcasting. #ContentWritingChat
Ken knows that self-promotion is fine, but you can’t forget about engagement. Engagement should be something you do on a regular basis to build relationships with your audience.
A7
Be “human”
Show genuine interest
Follow up
Listen
Be appreciative
Empathize
Ask Qs
Be proactive
Be human and show genuine interest! Listen to what people are saying, ask questions, and take the time to respond. Gaby knows that being social is a must on social media, after all!
Q8: What are your favorite resources for learning about social media?
In order to step-up your social media engagement, you should stay updated on what’s going on in the field. There are plenty of resources you can turn to for this! Here are some great ideas:
A8. Twitter chats like this one! Seriously, I learn so much from other people’s experiences. #ContentWritingChat
Sarah knows being present on social media is really the best way to learn about social media. Be active on the platforms you use and don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things to see what works for you.
Join us for #ContentWritingChat every Tuesday at 10 AM Central Time! Be sure to follow @ExpWriters and @writingchat for the latest!
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
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:
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.
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
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.
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 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.
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.
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
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:
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.
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!
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 and keep them happy throughout the process?
When you work with clients, it’s important that you keep them happy throughout the process. To ensure their excitement remains high, keep these tips in mind:
Kristen knows that talking about potential results is one way to get clients excited. Let them know what you can really do for them! It also helps to share updates along the way so they see you’re making progress. It keeps them involved throughout.
Julia suggests sharing examples of finished pieces. It gives clients a look into what you can really do for them. They’re sure to see the value of your work and what you’re capable of.
A3: By being transparent when communicating your ideas. Creating a collaborative environment will bolster excitement. #ContentWritingChat
Remember, if you want clients to be happy and excited about a project, you should feel that way too. Clients will pick up on your vibes so make sure you’re truly invested!
A3: Be confident about the content. If you aren’t confident about it, the client will likely be able to tell. #contentwritingchat
Lexie’s advice is to be confident about the content you’re working on. Your confidence is contagious!
Q4: What do you do with clients that want no part in content creation? How can you deliver a product that meets their needs?
What happens when your client doesn’t want to get involved in the content creation process? How do you manage it and still deliver a stellar product in the end? Here’s some advice:
Make sure you ask plenty of questions at the beginning of the project. You want to learn as much as possible about the client you’re working with. Sarah said to also research their website for more information.
A5: By having an honest convo from the start to set a precedent. What do they want? What are their goals? etc. #ContentWritingChat
Lexie recommends researching your client’s competitors. You can learn a lot about their field and come up with content ideas their audience would be interested in.
A4: Map out your recommended direction, story angles, deliverables, & timelines. Get sign off & hit go! #contentwritingchat
Shelly’s advice is to make out everything for your project. You can then send it over to the client for approval, then you’ll be able to get started.
Q5: What are your go-to tools for keeping in touch with your clients?
Fortunately, there are a plethora of tools out there that can make communicating with clients even easier. Check out some of these for your next client chat:
One great tip to walk away with is that you don’t want to let clients see you sending emails late at night. They’ll start thinking you’re available that late and begin reaching out, thus expecting a fast response. Instead, use a tool like Boomerang to schedule your emails to go out in the morning.
Q6: How do you set communication boundaries in terms of how and when you communicate?
One of our top communication tips is to set boundaries with your clients. You need to have a clear expectation of how often you’ll check-in with clients and how you’ll conduct these chats. Here’s some advice to help you set boundaries:
Kristen knows that you are in the charge of your own boundaries. You need to set boundaries from the beginning and stick to them in order to honor your time.
Lexie recommends determining the communication schedule from the very start. If you ever have questions, don’t hesitate to ask and make sure your clients feel the same.
It’s also wise to let clients know how soon they can expect to receive a response from you. Make sure it’s in a timely manner, but give a time frame so they know your availability.
As Julia mentioned, our team here uses Nextiva to route calls. This prevents the phone from ringing outside business hours. Clients are then able to leave a message instead. She knows that it’s important to protect your time off, so our team doesn’t work outside business hours.
A6: I like to tell people when I’m available (give office hours). Plus I share when I’m able to text. #contentwritingchat
Shannon prefers monthly face-to-face meetings when making major decisions with clients. She relies on weekly calls for updates and check-ins and email for approvals.
Q7: What’s your strategy for stellar communication with clients who may be on the other side of the world?
Sometimes we land clients who are on the other side of the world, thus making communication difficult due to timezone differences. How do you manage this without losing your cool? Check out this advice from the chat:
Sarah’s advice is to set up a schedule with the client’s preferred mode of communication during your first meeting. Compromise will be necessary to make this partnership work.
A7: Alter your schedule occasionally to show you value their business. Even if not everyday, once a while is worthwhile. #ContentWritingChat
Sometimes you’re going to have to change your schedule to accommodate overseas clients. It shows you value their time and business, which they’ll appreciate.
