Did you catch #ContentWritingChat this past Tuesday? We talked all about how to creating social media content in 2017 and the chat was filled with amazing tips that will turn you into a social media sensation. Check it out in our recap and start putting these tips to use for yourself!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Create Brand Social Media Content that Stands Out in 2017 with Jessie Simms
This week, our guest host was Jessie Simms. Jessie is a Social Media Specialist at Page 1 Solutions and assists with their bi-weekly Twitter chat, #Page1Chat. She joined us to share her knowledge on creating social media content for brands so that you can stand out on the platforms you use this year.
Q1: Which social media platforms are important to be on in 2017?
With so many social media platforms available to us today, it can be hard to choose which ones you should invest your time in. To help you out, check out these suggestions for which platforms you should be using this year:
As Jessie said, you need to be where your audience is That’s always the number one priority when deciding which social media platforms are worth your time. She said that if Snapchat and live video make sense for your brand, they’re worth trying out. So, figure out if your audience is using Snapchat or if they’re tuning into live video broadcasts. If they are, give it a go!
Sarah from ThinkSEM agrees with Jessie’s advice. Figure out where your audience is and where you are getting the best results with your content. That will give you an idea of which platforms work the best for you and your brand.
A1 Standard answer: Depends. Where is your target audience? Which platform makes most sense for your content and goals? #contentwritingchat
This is great advice from Bill. Find out where your audience spends their time, but also consider which platforms make the most sense for your content and the goals you’re trying to achieve. It’s all about finding the platforms that for YOU and that might not be the same as what someone else is using.
Our CEO, Julia, said her top three platforms are Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Not only should you consider where your audience is spending their time, but it’s also a good idea to choose the platforms that you enjoy creating content for.
A1: One social media platform to be on in 2017 is Instagram. Instagram Stories and Live are just going to GROW! #ContentWritingChat
Instagram is a great platform to be on this year. If you already have a presence there, now is the time to step it up by using Instagram Stories and Instagram Live. These newer features are key ways to connect with your audience this year.
A1: Instagram and Snapchat, along with Facebook for FB Live. Video will be big in 2017! #ContentWritingChat
Kristi knows that video is going to be big in 2017, as it has been for the past few years. Video content provides a powerful way to connect and develop a relationship with your audience, so now is the time to use it. She recommends using Instagram and Snapchat, plus Facebook Live.
If you find that a platform just isn’t working for you, there’s no need to force it. Every social media platform won’t work for every brand. So, if you’re not getting the results you were hoping for, try switching up your strategy first. If that doesn’t work, it’s time to part ways. There’s no point in investing time and energy into a platform that just doesn’t click for you.
Q2: How can you figure out exactly what your audience wants to see on your social media profiles?
Once you’ve chosen the platforms you want to use for your brand, you need to begin creating content. However, that’s often easier said than done. To start off, you need to figure out what your audience is interested in seeing from you. Here are some tips to help you figure that out:
Jessie recommends seeing what your audience is already engaging with. You can do this by sharing content you think they’d like and seeing what their response is. Check your analytics to see which posts get the most clicks, replies, and shares.
A2: Paying attention to what they already engage with/share. Knowing who they are & what questions they have. LISTEN. #ContentWritingChat
“Listen” is the keyword in Erica’s tweet. It’s so important to take the time to actually listen to what your audience is saying if you hope to get to know them better. You’ll find out which content resonates with them and what they’d like to see more of.
A2: Look to see what the market leaders do. Don’t copy though. Look at questions asked most frequently #contentwritingchat
Andy said to look to some of the leaders in your industry. Check out what they’re doing to see what’s working for them and what’s not. You don’t want to copy them, but you can get an idea of what resonates with their audience and try something similar for yourself. You can even look at the questions they’re asked most often and address them with your own content.
As Julia mentioned, you can even go on sites like Answer the Public or Quora to find out what your audience is asking. When you know what they need help with, you can deliver it to them.
If you really aren’t sure where to get started, you can always ask your audience what they’d like to see. Ask what their interests are and what they’re struggling with. You can then create the content that appeals to them. It really is as simple as that! It’s also a good idea to run tests to find out what works for you and what doesn’t.
A2: Then, after you get a feel for what they want to see, do more of that! Track everything — especially CONVERSIONS.#ContentWritingChat
Once you figure out what your audience is resonating with, start creating more of that kind of content. Be sure to track the results you’re getting, including the all important conversions. If your conversions aren’t happening, then something needs to be tweaked.
Q3: Do you suggest using an editorial calendar to plan out your social media content in advance?
If you’re a blogger, you likely use an editorial calendar to plan out your post topics so you can stay organized. So, have you tried using an editorial calendar for your social media content? Here’s what some of our chat participants had to say on Tuesday:
Jessie agrees that it’s good to plan content in advance, but she said it’s important to be flexible. You may need to make changes in order to accommodate trends or hot topics that pop up. She also said to make sure you’re not just automating posts and forgetting to engage with your audience. In order to build a relationship with them, you need to be present by talking to them.
A3: Yes, but you have to be willing to allow the calendar to change. Sometimes social media is spontaneous. #contentwritingchat
Lexie from Netvantage Marketing and Jeremy both agree that flexibility is key when creating an editorial calendar for your social media content. You need to be open to tweaking your content.
A3: Calendars are a double edged sword, it keeps you organized but removes a lot of timeliness. Add a timely component #contentwritingchat
Make sure you also incorporate timely posts into your social media sharing as well. These are posts that can’t be planned, but helps to keep things “real-time” and more personable.
A calendar helps you to see what’s coming up in the near future. Plus, when you already have ideas planned out, it’ll help to alleviate the stress of coming up with content at the last minute.
Q4: What tools do you love for managing social media?
Here at Express Writers, we don’t hide our love for Buffer when it comes to scheduling social media content. We wanted to find out which tools our Twitter chat friends liked using and here’s what some of them had to say:
Buffer, Hootsuite, IFTTT, Crowdire, and TweetDeck are must-have tools for Varun. He also likes to use the native social media apps, many of which have their own analytics built-in. All of these tools will come in handy when scheduling social media content and tracking.
The Digital Natives team recently started using Sendible for their social media management. We haven’t heard of this one before, but it sounds like it’s worth checking out!
Michelle relies on social listening tools such as Mention, Brand Watch, and Google Alerts to stay updated. These are definitely worth checking out if you want to see what your audience is saying.
Q5: Talk about the kinds of content that stand out in a busy feed.
Considering social media is so populated and we’re often following a lot of people, it can be hard to stand out in a busy feed. If you want to get your content noticed every time you post, keep these tips in mind:
Jessie knows how powerful a great image can be when it comes to grabbing the attention of your audience and getting them to take notice. She mentioned that GoPro does a great job with the visuals they share and Tasty is fantastic at making mouth-watering recipe videos.
When sharing photos or videos, make sure they complement your written content by being relevant and telling a story. It’s a great way to connect with your audience and to inspire them to take action.
Here at Express Writers, we ensure our graphics are amazing by having a professional design take care of it. It’s made a huge difference in our social media content and our blog content.
Consider adding a meme, a GIF, or a photo to your posts. When people are scrolling through their feed, it’ll be your visual that catches their eye and makes them stop.
Outside of including a great visual with your post, you should also use the right hashtags to get noticed by your target audience. Hashtags will increase your likelihood of getting discovered, so make sure you’re using them.
Sarah’s recipe for a fantastic social media post includes: a catching headline, a great images, relevancy, and solving a problem your audience is dealing with.
Q6: Describe the types of posts that work best on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
If you’re cross-posting the same content to multiple platforms, you’re doing it wrong! You need to adapt each post you share to the platform you’re sharing it on. Here are some tips on what works for Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram:
When it comes to Instagram, it’s all about visuals. Share high-quality photos and have fun with Boomerang clips. For Facebook, give video a go and see how your audience responds to it. Keep it short and sweet on Twitter to get the best results with your social media content.
Due to the character limitations on Twitter, you don’t have a lot of room to work with. For that reason, Sarah knows you need to have a catchy title and an image that will grab the attention of your audience.
Even though Facebook may allow you to go well beyond Twitter’s character limit, that doesn’t mean you should. BuzzSumo recently released a study that said shorter Facebook posts perform the best.
On Twitter, share news and timely posts. Post amazing images on Instagram.
No matter what you share or where you’re sharing it, make sure that you have your target audience in mind. Create the content that is relevant to them and encourage them to take action.
A6: Simple, authentic, powerful, helpful with an emotional hook, storytelling, problem-solving. #contentwritingchat@ExpWriters
Great answer from Jeremy! Your content should be simple, authentic, powerful, and helpful with an emotional hook. It should also tell a story and solve a problem for your audience.
Jacob offered up a helpful tip when it comes to creating social media visuals. He said to make sure you’re using the right size. Each platform recommends a specific image size and tools like Canva make it easy to design specifically for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and more.
Q7: What steps can you take to make sure your content gets more traction and clicks?
When posting to social media, it’s all about making those conversions happen, right? In order to get results, you want to make sure your social media content is being seen and that people are actually clicking on your links. For some help, read through this advice from the chat:
You’re sure to see results when you follow Jessie’s advice! Make sure that you stay authentic and true to your brand with everything you post. Don’t forget to also engage with your audience instead of letting your profile because 100% automated. And, as always, be strategic about your content and track your results.
A7 Analyze and track!! If you don’t track what’s working, you can’t cater correctly to your audience and repeat success. #ContentWritingChat
As Julia said, you need to analyze and track your social media content. This is the only way to figure out what’s actually working for you and what’s not. When you know what does work, you can create more of that content to keep seeing great results.
A7: Step 1 – Ask the audience what they want. Step 2 – Create what they want. Step 3 – Share. Step 4 – Evaluate. #contentwritingchat
Ask your audience what they want to see from you if you aren’t sure. Then, create the kind of content they want and need. Make sure you’re following that up by evaluating how each piece of content did. Your analytics should be your best friend.
Lauren’s advice is to stop posting just for the sake of posting. You should only be publishing content that is valuable to your audience. There’s no need to clog up someone’s social media feed with a bunch of fluff.
A7 Get more traction and clicks by using proper keywords, and hashtags. But that only works if the content is relevant. #ContentWritingChat
Don’t get too caught up in the numbers game. The amount of followers you have isn’t doing you any good if they aren’t the right people for your brand. Attract your target audience by sharing relevant content.
One other thing you can do? Join us for #ContentWritingChat and implement all of the helpful tips you learn. You’ll be a social media sensation in no time at all! Thanks, Elliot!
Q8: Will live video be important to your social media strategy in 2017? Should it? Discuss strategies to succeed when going live.
Live video continues to be the popular thing when it comes to social media, so more and more brand are taking action. Here’s what we found out from our chat participants regarding live video:
As Jessie said, live video is great because it gives the audience the inside look into a brand. It’s fun, authentic, and relatable, which really speaks to your audience and draws them in. However, she also said you need to have a purpose for going live. Create a loose plan for what you want to talk about so you can provide value to those that tune in.
A8: If it’s something that fits your audience and plan, you should do it. Live video is VERY powerful. #contentwritingchat
If live video is something your audience is tuning into and it fits with your content marketing plan, it’s worth trying it out this year. If it doesn’t work out, don’t sweat it.
Because live video feels more personal and less formal, it’s what draws so many people to tune in. It’s sure to help in building that know, like, and trust factor with your audience.
Live video is something that Jenn has been experimenting with. Even if you don’t have it all figured out yet, such as where you’ll go live or what to talk about, that’s fine. It’s just important to recognize that it’s a growing trend and you should try it out at least once!
We look forward to seeing you at the next #ContentWritingChat! Mark your calendars weekly for Tuesday at 10 AM Central Time for great chats centered around content writing and marketing. Follow @ExpWriters to stay updated on our new topics and guests!
Did you catch this week’s #ContentWritingChat? Whether you missed the chat or you’re in need of a refresher, you’re in luck! We have a recap of our latest chat and it’s filled with all kinds of amazing tips that are sure to help you become a live video pro. Keep reading to check it out!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: Top Content & Strategy Tips to Support Live Video with Jennifer Radke
Our guest host this week was Jennifer Radke. She’s passionate about social media and is the CEO of the National Institute for Social Media. Jen joined this week’s chat to talk all about live video, as it continues to be very popular in the social media world. She shared some amazing tips with us that will help you make your your next live video (or your first) amazing!
Q1: Platforms for live video: how do you pick live platforms to fit you or your brand? Why?
There are many live video platforms these days and it can be hard to decide which one is right for your brand. You can use Facebook Live, Instagram Live, or even Periscope. So, how do you pick? Check out this advice:
A1: It is important to know 1) Where your audience (community) is and 2) the functions and features of each platform #contentwritingchat
Jen’s advice is to consider where your audience is already, plus the functions and features of the platform. You want to make sure that they live video platform you use is really going to work for you and allow you to get the best results possible.
@ExpWriters A1: Where are your followers? Do they care about your video? What do they talk about? All things to consider #ContentWritingChat
Tracy said to figure out where your followers are. Find out what they care about and what they talk about. These are all great things to consider when choosing a platform.
A1: We’re going to start with the platforms where the majority of our members and audience are – namely FB and Twitter #contentwritingchat
It’s always a great idea to start with the platforms your audience is already using. It’s the best way to ensure your broadcast is being seen by the right people.
A1: a) Is your target on the platform? b) Will it support your video objectives/goals? c) Can you repurpose it? #ContentWritingChat
In addition to determining where your audience is and whether or not it’s going to support your goals, Sara recommends finding out if you can repurpose it. Being able to repurpose your live broadcast is very beneficial.
A1. It’s easiest to start with platforms we’re familiar with + have an existing following! Experiment + build from there #ContentWritingChat
It’s often easier to start with the platforms you’re already familiar with. If you already have a following there, there’s a huge bonus. If you have a good following on your Facebook page, try Facebook Live. The same goes for Instagram.
This is great advice from the Digital Natives team!
Q2: Live video sessions: what steps should you take to prepare?
Now that you’ve chosen a platform to do your live video broadcast, it’s time to go live! So, what can you do to prepare? These tips will help ensure everything goes smoothly:
A2: Understand your goals, create an outline (not a script), make sure technology is working. #contentwritingchat
Jen suggests knowing what your goals are before you go live. What’s the reason you’re going live and what do you hope to achieve with your broadcast? You should also write an outline so you know what you’ll talk about. And don’t forget to make sure all your technology is working beforehand. There’s nothing more frustrating than technical difficulties!
Another great idea is to promote your live broadcast before it actually begins. If you’re going to be talking about a hot topic you know your audience will love, tell them beforehand so they don’t miss out.
A2: To prepare for a live video session, have notes written beforehand. It’ll keep you on track with your main points. #ContentWritingChat
Have some notes written before you go live. You don’t want to write out a full script because that’s not genuine and in the moment. However, it’s a good idea to have some main talking points in mind that you can refer to. This will ensure you don’t lose track and you can refer to it if there’s a lull in engagement from your viewers.
A2: Know what you want to talk about. Don’t rely on viewers questions in the comments. #contentwritingchat
Lexie advises not relying on the questions you receive in comments from your viewers. If no one shows up or you don’t get any questions, you’ll have nothing to talk about. Know what you want to chat about before you go live.
Cassandra said to write out your talking points and also knowing how you’re going to handle questions and engaging with your audience. This will help make sure your broadcast is great.
A2: I follow bullet points (no scripts), focus on timely value & showcasing personality #ContentWritingChat
Jen suggests repurposing your content in live videos as a way to reach a different audience. You can get even more people checking out your stuff this way.
Q3: People enjoy seeing “inside” the brand, and video can help give new perspective to the other content #ContentWritingChat
The Digital Natives team agrees when it comes to behind-the-scenes content. Give people a look inside your latest campaign, an event, or your day-to-day work.
Leah said to use your live video as a way to direct people to even more content. Provide a call to action and give them the next step so they know where to go when the broadcast is over.
A3: You can give existing content a new voice with video. Video can also be a great way to show the content process. #contentwritingchat
Video will give your existing content a new voice, which is a great way to connect with your audience.
A3
Live video can:
-Appeal to visual audience
-Humanize a brand/organization
-Connect emotionally via storytelling#ContentWritingChat
— Gabriela Cardoza (@CardozaGab) January 10, 2017
Gabriela said live video can appeal to a visual audience, humanize your brand, and help you connect with your audience emotionally via storytelling.
Q4: Discuss how to repurpose live video and how to use live recordings in other content types.
You don’t have to let your live video disappear after 24 hours or let it sit on one platform. You can repurpose it so more people outside of the live viewers can enjoy it. Check out these tips:
A4: Take smaller pieces of the live video and create a quote or share a statistic. You could write a blog recap. #contentwritingchat
Jen suggests taking smaller pieces of your live video and creating quotes or sharing statistics. You can even write a blog post recap about your broadcast.
A4: You can upload your live video broadcasts to YouTube so your audience can easily watch them later, over and over. #ContentWritingChat
For platforms that allow you to download and save your live video broadcast, you can upload them to YouTube. This will allow your audience to watch it again and again, whenever is convenient.
A4: Especially in a Q&A, you’ll get good content for blogs and articles. #ContentWritingChat
Don’t be afraid to experiment with new ideas. You can take transcripts from your live video and repurpose it into recaps for your blog, infographics, or quotes. They’re all great ideas!
@writingchat A4: Cut up your video & use it as quick tips. Add subtitles. Use it as a boosted post. Endless options! #ContentWritingChat
Tracy recommends editing your video into shorter snippets and sharing them as quick tips. You can also add subtitles or use your video as a boosted post on Facebook.
Q5: Authenticity is important in live video. How do you keep it authentic while prepping in advance?
You don’t want your live video to seem rehearsed, so you need to keep it genuine and authentic. Here’s how to do it:
A5: An outline vs. a script. Don’t over practice. Allow yourself to make a small mistake, your human and in the moment #contentwritingchat
Jen said not to over practice beforehand. You don’t want the video to have a scripted feel, so just go with the flow. If you make a mistake, it’s no big deal.
A5:Prepare topics but not a word for word script- force yourself to talk as you would normally, rather than just reading #ContentWritingChat
Come with a topic and talking points in mind, but don’t prepare a script. It just won’t flow and it’s not the way a live video on social media should be.
As Debi said, if you know what you’re talking about, it should come easily to you. You just need to relax and go with the flow during your broadcast. Don’t overthink it too much.
A5.
Keep it simple & keep it conversational.
Be your tribe’s friend.
Remember your USP.
Be you.
Be natural. #ContentWritingChat
— Gabriela Cardoza (@CardozaGab) January 10, 2017
A huge yes to everything Gabriela said here!
A5b It’s ok to be imperfect on #livevideo. Tell your audience you’re trying this platform and would love to chat & learn #ContentWritingChat
As Zala said, it’s okay to be imperfect. Odds are, you are going to make a mistake on your live video and that’s fine. We all mess up and your audience isn’t going to hold that against you.
Q6: How can you encourage participation and get more users to interact with you during your live session?
A great live session is all about engagement. You want to make sure people are tuning in and actually interacting with you. How do you make sure that happens? Keep these tips in mind for the next time you go live:
A6: Don’t make it about you. Ask questions. Be open to their interaction. #contentwritingchat
Don’t make it all about you. You should be engaging with your audience by asking questions and encouraging them to leave comments. Jen also suggests asking your audience to submit questions in advance. This will ensure you come prepared with plenty to talk about.
Cassandra and Sara agree that it’s a good idea to tell your audience when you’re going live so they can be prepared to join in and can come with questions ready.
Q7: How can you create topics for and keep your live content consistently helpful and valuable?
Do you want to make sure you’re always providing amazing content for your audience. Our chat participants had some great advice. Take a look:
A7: Make sure it fits into your overall strategy, focuses on your audience and answers the questions they are asking #contentwritingchat
Listen to your audience. Find out what they’re saying and what kind of content they’re already enjoying. Give them more of that through your live broadcasts.
A7: Again, engage with your audience. Ask them what they want to see and deliver. 🙂 #contentwritingchat
Fanny said to take a look at your competitors. See what they’re talking about and put your own spin on it.
Q8: What are some ways you can keep the conversation going after a live video session?
To really get the most out of your live videos, you want to keep the conversation going. You want to keep your audience engaged? How do you do that? Follow these tips:
A8: Follow up on other platforms. Twitter is great for this, but groups or forums also offer an opportunity to follow-up #contentwritingchat
Reach out to some of your viewers on a separate social media platform. It’s a great way to form a stronger connection and to get to know your people best.
Before you end a broadcast, direct people to your other social media profiles or to your website. It’s a great way to get them to take that next step with your brand.
We look forward to seeing you at the next #ContentWritingChat! Mark your calendars weekly for Tuesday at 10 AM Central Time for great chats centered around content writing and marketing. Follow @ExpWriters to stay updated on our new topics and guests!
Did you catch #ContentWritingChat this week? In honor of our Twitter chat’s birthday, we celebrated in the only way we know how. With a party, of course!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: The Secrets of Running a Great Twitter Chat (Celebrating One Year at #ContentWritingChat)
We figured there was no better way to celebrate #ContentWritingChat’s first birthday than by talking all about how the chat came to be and how we’ve grown it to where it is today. I guest hosted this week’s chat alongside our CEO, Julia, and it was a blast!
The questions were slightly different this week as well. There were questions geared specifically toward Julia and I and questions that everyone could answer. This allowed us to answer questions about the chat, while still giving our participants something to answer. Ready to dive into the recap? Let’s get started!
Q1: For Julia: Discuss the backstory of why you created #ContentWritingChat. / For everyone: What do you look for in a great Twitter chat (and one that you add to your weekly schedule)?
How did this chat get started and what makes a great one? We’re spilling all the details!
A1 I created #ContentWritingChat as a grassroots educational community around content, & an extension to my book and podcast launch in 2016.
Julia created #ContentWritingChat as an educational community around content. She certainly made that happen! She also wanted the chat to be an extension of her book and her podcast, which also launched in 2016.
A1: A great Twitter chat is one that teaches you something. Learning new things is key, as is an engaged community. #ContentWritingChat
What makes a great Twitter chat, in my opinion? I like chats that teach you something new and that have an engaged community. It’s always great when you can leave a chat having learned new tips you can implement for yourself.
A1: I look for innovative, actionable tips & tactics I can implement into my strategy immediately #contentwritingchat
For Sarah, she likes chats that have great topics, thoughtful questions, hosts and guests that are engaged, and great insights from participants. She’s also a big fan of puns!
As Jenn said, a great chat need to have interaction. If the host of the chat, the guests, and the participants aren’t engaging with one another, what’s the point? After all, a chat is meant to be social!
A1 I like a Twitter chat that has a great topic, well-respected guest, and deeper conversations beyond the Q&A #contentwritingchat
Bill enjoys chats that have a great topic, a well-respected guest, and deeper conversations that go beyond the Q&A. You don’t have to just stick with the questions asked in the chat. You can feel free to get deeper into the conversation with other participants. That’s what makes chats so great.
As a one-person team, Kristi uses Twitter chats as a creative outlet. The best ones allow her to brainstorm and learn new things. Plus, it’s great having that social aspect built into a day where you’re otherwise by yourself. It’s a virtual Twitter date every single week!
Q2: For Rachel: Tell us what inspired you to get involved in helping manage #ContentWritingChat. For everyone: What are your favorite Twitter chats to join?
I’m sharing how I got involved in the Twitter chat and we have plenty of new chats for you to join with these suggestions:
A2: I had been participating in + hosting Twitter chats for a long time, so stepping in to manage the chat was fun! #ContentWritingChat
Prior to joining the Express Writers team and taking over the behind-the-scenes tasks of the chat, I had already been joining Twitter chats regularly. I had even hosted some in the past. Starting to work on this chat was a great fit and it has been something I’ve truly enjoyed.
It should come as no surprise that our own team member, Tara, is a fan of #ContentWritingChat! She also enjoys #semrushchat, #bufferchat, and #brandchat.
This is a great round-up of chats from Tony. Have you joined any of these?
Q3: For Julia/Rachel: How did you get people interested in #ContentWritingChat? How did it grow? For everyone: What are your tips for getting the most from joining a weekly Twitter chat?
Getting people interested in your chat is easier than you might think! We’re sharing the “secrets” behind growing the chat!
A3 I was surprised how easy this was. I invited my list, & Rachel tagged followers before the hour. People showed up! #ContentWritingChat
Julia is right! Getting people to join your chat isn’t really that hard. If you already have a list of contacts, invite them to join you. It also helps to tag people in “reminder” tweets before the chat begins. We have grown the chat strictly through word of mouth and it works!
A3: If you want to get people interested in your Twitter chat, invite them! Tell them what you’re doing and invite them. #ContentWritingChat
If you want to get people to join your chat, you need to invite them. You have to spread the word and this is the best way to introduce them to your chat.
A3: Participate in chats dealing with subjects which interest you. More importantly interact with other participants. #ContentWritingChat
One great tip is to make sure you join the chats that are of interest to you. There are Twitter chats on a variety of topics these days and you’re sure to find one that you’d enjoy. Don’t forget to interact once you join.
It’s also important that you’re not just sharing your own answers, but listening to others as well. Not only is it an opportunity to start a conversation, but you could learn something too.
A3 Plan on following up with three people afterwards. Build those relationships outside the chats. #contentwritingchat
This is great advice from Bill! Make it a point to follow-up with people after the chat concludes. It’s actionable advice that will have you seeing results and forming strong connections.
Never be afraid to ask questions if you have them. Chats are filled with amazing communities of people who are willing to answer your questions and provide help. All you have to do is be willing to ask.
A3. I normally go old school and use a notebook. If it’s a topic I want to learn more about, I’ll have notes for later. #contentwritingchat
Christie comes prepared to learn by having a notebook by her side. If she learns something new, she’s able to quickly jot it down. This is a great way to ensure you don’t forget any valuable information you picked up during the chat.
Q4: For Julia/Rachel: How do you pick guest hosts for #ContentWritingChat? For everyone: What do you like to see from guest hosts when you join a Twitter chat?
How do you pick guest hosts for you chat and what makes a great one? It’s pretty simple! Here’s what you need to look for:
A4 Early on: I made lists of potential #ContentWritingChat hosts that aligned w/ our holistic/audience-centric content marketing values.
When the chat started, Julia made a list of potential guests that were aligned with the values of Express Writers as a brand. These days, Julia and I both collaborate on guest host ideas. If I think of a potential guest, I send it over for her approval before contacting.
A4: We like to choose guest hosts who can bring something of value to our chat. We want guests who can teach us. #ContentWritingChat
You want to make sure you choose guest hosts that are going to make people feel welcome. It’s so simple, but very important. You don’t want a guest who ignores chat participants.
A4. Engagement. I’ve seen hosts in chats who just ask the questions and that’s it. ENGAGE! We’re here to learn from you! #contentwritingchat
Guests should provide a fresh perspective for the chat’s audience!
Q5: Julia: Share how you got your first sponsor for #ContentWritingChat. For everyone: How long have you been joining #ContentWritingChat and what’s your favorite thing about it?
While most of our chats are not sponsored, we have done them before. It’s a simple way to monetize your chat, but it’s important to remember not to turn the chat into a sales pitch. In this question, Julia shares how she landed that first sponsor.
Our participants shared how long they’ve been joining our chat, plus what their favorite thing about it is. We received some lovely answers from this one!
After the chat reached a certain status, Julia reached out to our friends at Search Engine Journal to see if they would be interested in trading event tickets to their summit for advertising spots during #ContentWritingChat.
When their ads were incorporated into the chat, they were spread throughout the hour. The priority was always to make sure they didn’t take away from the value the chat provides. We didn’t want it to come off like a sales pitch or anything of the sort.
A5: I joined the team and started managing the chat shortly after it began. It’s been amazing to see it grow! #ContentWritingChat
For me, I joined the Express Writers team in January of 2016 when the chat was only a couple weeks old. It’s been amazing to see it grow from the very beginning to where it is now.
A5: Roughly a year. We started with #SEMrushchat & then tested out different chats & found what was best for us. #contentwritingchat
Tony said he started joining Twitter chats in September or October of 2016. After he discovered one chat, he started joining more. They can be pretty addicting, right?
As Julia said, we are truly grateful for everyone who has joined our chat and continues to be part of our community.
Q6: For Rachel: Share tips on how you put together a blog recap for a weekly session of #ContentWritingChat. For everyone: Do you read posted recaps of the chats you join?
Not all Twitter chats share a recap on their website afterwards, but we’ve been creating one since the very beginning. Here’s what some of our chat participants had to say about reading those recaps:
A6: When creating the chat recap, I like to choose some of the best tweets and try to include something from everyone. #ContentWritingChat
When creating the recaps, I try to pick some of the top tweets. Those tweets are ones that provide value and will be helpful to anyone who missed the chat and relies on the recap to catch up. I also try to include tweets from as many participants as possible to make sure there’s diversity.
A6: I typically read recaps of the chats I attend, answers can come fast & furious & recaps help me see what I missed! #contentwritingchat
Debi enjoys chat recaps because they contain some of the most intriguing answers from the chat. It’s a great way to go back and look through the conversation again. You just might find something you missed!
A6a Reading the recaps of #Twitter chats is a great way to find people to engage with after a discussion. #ContentWritingChat
Jacob, we hope this inclusion in the recap makes you feel special! 🙂
Q7: For Julia/Rachel: Share a few key tips for anyone wanting to start a Twitter chat. For everyone: What was your favorite #ContentWritingChat of 2016? What would you like to see in #ContentWritingChat in this New Year?
Are you convinced it’s now time for you to start your own Twitter chat? Julia and I have some tips. Plus, we got some great recommendations for another year of chatting in 2017. Check out these responses:
A7: If you want to start a Twitter chat, ask your audience if they would be interested in joining. They’ll tell you! #ContentWritingChat
Ask your audience if they would be interested in joining a Twitter chat. If your audience is interested, you’ll know it’s a good idea to move forward with. Then, choose a topic for your chat and select the date and time you’ll host it. Don’t forget to invite people and share all the details with them! To keep them coming back, provide value with every chat.
Julia has already created a document with notes on how to launch a Twitter chat. When asked if they’d like to see this as a full blog post, everyone said yes!
A7: The GIF party was really fun. It was something different that you don’t really see at other chats. #contentwritingchat
We’ve actually had a chat on this topic in the past, but it’s one we could definitely revisit for a future Twitter chat!
We look forward to seeing you at the next #ContentWritingChat! Mark your calendars weekly for Tuesday at 10 AM Central Time for great chats centered around content writing and marketing. Follow @ExpWriters to stay updated on our new topics and guests!
Did you hear? In honor of the holiday season, we got pretty festive for this week’s #ContentWritingChat! If you missed out on the fun, you certainly missed a great time. But that’s okay because we have a recap for you to check out. Let’s dive in!
It wasn’t just any old party over on #ContentWritingChat this week. It was a holiday GIF party! We asked participants to come prepared to bring their GIF A-game and we weren’t disappointed. Get ready for GIF overload!
Q1: GIF the weather where you are right now.
Considering our #ContentWritingChat participants are all around the world, we thought it would be fun to see what the weather was like in their neck of the woods. Is it feeling Christmassy where you are or is a white Christmas out of the question?
While it’s totally okay to show off your inner child all year long, it’s 100% acceptable to do so at Christmastime. So be sure to spread that Christmas cheer by singing loud for all to hear!
Christmas tip: Don’t eat the December snowflakes. Always wait until January.
Q4: What will dinner with the family at Christmas be like? GIF it.
Christmas dinner can be a very interesting time for many families. You might have a small gathering or a lot of people stopping by. And some of you may be dealing with one or two crazy relatives. Check out these responses from the chat:
There’s no shame in scheduling your blog posts and tweets in advance. In fact, it’s the best way to ensure you have great content going out while you’re enjoying the holiday.
Julia checks out for the day and is totally offline for Christmas day. It’s the best way to spend the day, right? Just enjoy the time with friends and family!
Thanks to everyone who joined us for our holiday GIF party. We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!
We look forward to seeing you at the next #ContentWritingChat! Mark your calendars weekly for Tuesday at 10 AM Central Time for great chats centered around content writing and marketing. Follow @ExpWriters to stay updated on our new topics and guests!
Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week or could you use a refresher on all the great tips that were shared? You’re in luck because our recap of Tuesday’s chat on content curation is here! If you’re ready to dive in, grab some paper to take notes and keep on reading!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: The Benefits of Curation in a Content Marketing Strategy with Sasha Laferte from Curata
Our guest host this week was Sasha Laferte. Sasha is the Content Marketing Manager for Curata. She’s also a digital marketer and storyteller. For this week’s chat, she joined us via the Curata account to share her top tips on the benefits of curation in a content marketing strategy.
Q1: What are the benefits of content curation?
To kick off the chat, we asked everyone to share their thoughts on why they felt content curation was beneficial. If you haven’t felt the need to incorporate content curation into your content marketing strategy, these tweets just might convince you! Here’s what some chat participants had to say:
As Sasha said, content curation can help improve SEO, increase lead generation, promote thought leadership, increase your content output, and more. She also shared a link to a helpful article on Curata’s website that’s worth checking out.
Jenn seemed to be on the same page with his answer. She said content curation provides a way to generate more content. It also helps to position you as a thought leader and adds value to your audience.
By curating great content, you’re able to share relevant articles and valuable knowledge with your audience without having to write it yourself. It’s also a great way to learn what others in your industry are saying.
As Angelica said, with content curation there’s less pressure to create all the things. You can have a balance of your unique content, plus content curated from other sources.
Q2: Is content curation plagiarism?
Many question whether or not content curation is considered plagiarism since you’re sharing content from another source. Here are some of the responses we received during the chat:
Sasha doesn’t think content curation is plagiarism. She said to make sure you add a new title, body paragraph, and credit the original article. This will ensure you’re in the clear!
Sarah has the right idea! If you’re sharing someone else’s content, you should always credit the original source. It’s always a good idea to add your own spin on the content to give it a fresh perspective for your audience.
Odds are, people will love when you share their content. It’s a great way to start building a relationship with someone as long as you curate the right way. They’ll appreciate that you thought highly enough of their work to share it.
A2: Great Q. If you present it as if it’s your content, it’s plagiarism. Respect the creators. Give explicit credit #contentwritingchat
If you publish a piece of content as your own when it’s not, that’s definitely plagiarism. Avoid any trouble by respecting the original creators, as Mike said, by giving them credit.
In case we haven’t made our point clear, make sure you give credit! Also, how appropriate is this GIF Jamie shared?
Q3: How much content should I curate?
Now that you’re sold on why it’s important to add content curation to your content marketing strategy, you need to know how much content you should be curating. Here’s some advice straight from Tuesday’s chat:
A3 According to our data 65% of content should be created internally, 25% should be curated and 10% should be syndicated #ContentWritingChat
Sasha shared some pretty interesting statistics with us. According to Curata’s data, 65% of your content should be created internally. 25% of your content should be curated and 10% should be syndicated. Do you agree with these results?
A3: Curate as much content as you think is valuable. Don’t curate just to churn out content. Be a gatekeeper for content#contentwritingchat
Mike is spot-on with his answer! He recommends only curating as much content as you think is valuable. Don’t curate just for the sake of publishing content. Everything you share with your audience should be relevant and add value.
Julia feels the amount of content curation you do will depend on how much unique content you’re producing. If you produce plenty of content, curate less. If you don’t, curate more.
A3. Difficult to be a thought leader in your industry if you’re only sharing other’s thoughts. I lean 80/20 #ContentWritingChat
Brittany said it’s difficult to position yourself as a thought leader in your industry if you’re only sharing thoughts from others. Balance your curation with original content. When you do curate, add your own take on it to provide your own unique thoughts and ideas.
In the end, it’s going to depend on your strategy. What works for one brand might not be what works well for you. One key thing to remember is to make sure you’re producing original content as well.
Sasha said curated content can actually improve SEO. She advises to avoid reposting full text or repeatedly doing so from a single source. Read the article from Curata she shared for more tips!
Sasha suggests turning to a variety of sources to find great content. Check out trade publications, blogs, news outlets, and more to discover valuable content.
A5: Trusted and respected sources whose content provides value to your audience. #ContentWritingChat
Right on, Lauren! A key thing to remember when curating content is to stick to sources that are both trusted and respected. You can count on them to provide accurate information that adds value to readers.
A5: Reliable sources with valuable content. If you aren’t 100% sure about the content, then you should not share it. #contentwritingchat
Lexie said to use reliable sources that share valuable content. She also recommends being 100% sure about the content before you share it with your audience. If you aren’t, pass on sharing it.
Turn to the thought leaders in your industry to see what they’re sharing. Curate content from them when you can. It’s a great way to start building a relationship with them.
Erika suggests turning to some uncommon sources that are still of interest to your audience. You never know what gems you might uncover! She uses Feedly as a way to discover new content.
A5) Find a handful of trusted sources (websites, blogs, news, social profiles) that you read/visit on a regular basis. #contentwritingchat
It’s a great idea to have a selection of sites that are trusted sources you can turn to any time. Read them on a regular basis to stay updated with what they’re sharing.
A5. Get a list of industry/thought leader sources that you trust. Don’t post content from the same source over & over. #ContentWritingChat
Sasha weighed the pros and cons of having a dedicated site for content curation. One one hand, she said it’s great for SEO, experience, and establishing you as a go-to resource. However, there’s also a big time commitment that comes along with that.
Ask yourself the questions Lex suggested. Would your audience use it? Do they need it? Considering you need your audience to be interested in it, you want to consider their needs before moving forward.
Q7: What are your thoughts on curated newsletters?
What do you think about curated newsletters? Do you enjoy them or do they automatically get deleted when they land in your inbox? Check out some of the responses we received during the chat below. Here’s a spoiler: If you enjoy creating a curated newsletter, give it a try and see how your audience responds. If they love it, keep going! If not, try something else.
A7 Pros: educate audience on a regular basis w/ out fail unlike widgets or microsite. Cons: Not indexed or real time. #ContentWritingChat
Over at Digital Natives, they feel a newsletter is better suited to provide an inside look at your own company. And it sounds like Robyn feels the same way! She thinks newsletters should tell a brand’s story to subscribers, instead of sharing content from others.
As Debi said, just make sure the curated content you add provides value to your reader.
Q8: How can I measure content curation success?
Now that you’re ready to dive into the world of content curation, you need to make sure your efforts are working for you. Here’s how to measure your success:
Make sure you set goals for your content first so you know exactly what you hope to achieve with everything you share.
We look forward to seeing you at the next #ContentWritingChat! Mark your calendars weekly for Tuesday at 10 AM Central Time for great chats centered around content writing and marketing. Follow @ExpWriters to stay updated on our new topics and guests!
