With the holiday season upon us, brands in every industry are putting together their holiday editorial calendar. It’s important to adjust your blog content, your email marketing, and even your social media presence to target the holidays your audience is celebrating.
We recently shared five tips to help you create “irresistibly tasty” content for your readers this holiday, but today we have some new inspiration for you. We are sharing six brands that consistently do a great job with their holiday content year after year.
6 Brands That Win at Fantastic Holiday Content
These brands may create festive content for their blogs and social media or they might give their product a fun twist around the holidays to get you feeling jolly.
Whether you’re in need of some inspiration for your own brand’s holiday editorial calendar or you just want to get in the holiday spirit, look to these brands for some help!
Starbucks: The Yearly Tradition
It wouldn’t be possible to have a round-up of brands that do the holidays right without mentioning Starbucks, would it? Although Starbucks isn’t exactly known for festive blog posts around the holidays, they are known for those classic red cups. And you know what? It works for them!
Each and every year, the coffee chain releases a brand new red cup design (or even multiple red cup designs, like they did this year). Their customers get excited to see what they have come up with, looking forward not just to the seasonal lattes, but the seasonal red cups as well.
Not only do people get to enjoy their delicious drink in a decorative cup, but Starbucks also encourages customers to share photos of the popular red cups on social media. For the past few years, Starbucks has run an Instagram contest where they ask people to share photos of their red cups. Customers are encouraged to snap a photo of their red cup with the hashtag #RedCupContest for a chance to win prizes.
This motivates customers to head to Starbucks and share photos, which likely prompts others to do the same when they see the images in their Instagram feed. It’s effective marketing for Starbucks and gets people in the holiday spirit!
The Takeaway: Create something your audience can look forward to every single year. Then, get people involved! Create a challenge of your own and encourage your audience to participate. You can even take it up a notch by giving back through giveaways people are sure to love. If you choose to do a photo challenge like Starbucks, it provides amazing user-generated content you can share on your own profile, too.
Target: Masters of Storytelling
The Christmas season is a pretty big deal for Target. Because many parents are shopping for presents to put underneath the tree and children are adding to their Christmas lists, Target is a popular destination for gift shopping. So, it should come as no surprise that the nationwide retailer puts a lot of effort into their Christmas ads each and every year.
In 2015, Target used their television commercials to tell a story of children and the store mascot, Bullseye the dog, as they set out to light up a giant Christmas tree. Throughout the commercials, you would see famous characters children are familiar with, such as the Minions. People would pay attention to the commercials so they could see what would happen in the end.
While it may seem the commercials were designed with only children in mind, Target slipped in details parents would want to know, too! They would add pitches about some of their holiday offers, such as free shipping for online purchases until Christmas.
Their goal is always to take the viewer on a journey, so it’s no surprise they plan to do the same thing for 2016. This year’s advertisements are said to be a Broadway-style marketing campaign that will feature some celebrity guests.
Target doesn’t just put a lot of effort into their advertisements every year. They also have the Kids’ Wish List App, which children a way to save all of the items on their Christmas wish list. And it gives parents a list of exactly what to buy! You’ll likely see pitches for this app in the commercials as well.
The Takeaway: Create a holiday marketing campaign that tells a story. Draw your audience in with a captivating story that leaves them wanting to know more.
J.Crew: Embracing Social Advertisements
Fashion retailer, J.Crew, is pretty savvy when it comes to their social media marketing, especially around the holidays. Last year, the company ran a few ads on both Instagram and Facebook. Now, it’s no secret that social media ads can be a great way to increase sales for your product and build brand awareness. So, what’s the big deal?
J.Crew knew what they were doing with the ads they created. They took advantage of the “Shop Now” button that can be placed on ads, which would encourage people to click over to the website and immediately start shopping straight from the ad.
The Takeaway: If you’re looking to boost sales this holiday season, don’t be afraid to experiment with social media advertisements. They can be a great way to reach your audience. Figure out which platform your audience is most active on and start building an ad. Promote your product and send people over to your website to encourage them to make a purchase.
Tone It Up: Cooking Up a Great Holiday
The mission of the Tone It Up girls is to help you get fit and healthy, no matter what time of the year it is. However, it’s not surprising that can be difficult this time of year. We often indulge in large meals and lots of sweets during Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Karena and Katrina of Tone It Up show that it doesn’t have to be that way!
Because the ladies also share healthy recipes on their website, they keep holiday dinners in mind when cooking up new recipes in the kitchen. They provide readers with recipes for healthy side dishes and pumpkin treats (which are perfect this time of year). The ladies even share their tips for hosting a fabulous dinner event in your own home!
The Takeaway: Keep the holidays in mind when planning your blog’s editorial calendar. Find ways you can work the desired holiday into your content. If you’re a food blogger, share seasonal recipes. If you’re a lifestyle blogger, share decor tips. If you’re a business blogger, you can even offer advice on how to manage your business during this busy season and tips for boosting sales. It’s as simple as that!
Kate Spade: Teaming Up With an Influencer
If you’re familiar with the Kate Spade brand, you know they are all about bright colors and having fun throughout the year. It’s basically the go-to brand for the classy party girl, which makes it perfect during the holiday season.
A quick scroll through their Instagram feed will reveal perfectly styled posts and images that will have you feeling festive and ready to dance, drink, and be merry in no time at all. Kate Spade has also enlisted the help of celebrities over the years to be the face of their brand, including for their holiday campaigns.
Back in 2014, Anna Kendrick starred in the brand’s first ever “Miss Adventure” episode. It shows the fun side of Kate Spade, as the two-minute video features Kendrick being locked out of her New York City apartment. Instead of freaking out, Kendrick makes the most of it, like any Kate Spade girl would! She chats on the phone, plays with an adorable puppy, tries on the clothes she just purchased, and even pops some champagne! All of this goes on while Anna is surrounded by the Christmas decorations on her front stoop.
This year, things are a little different for Kate Spade. While they are teaming up with an influencer, it’s not Anna Kendrick. Nor is it even a human! Miss Piggy is the star of this year’s Kate Spade campaign, which is quite an unconventional choice, but is sure to get people talking.
The Takeaway: Consider teaming up with an influencer for your holiday marketing campaigns. The key is to choose someone who resonates with your audience for maximum impact. If an influencer isn’t right for you, you could also consider a collaboration with another brand as a way to spread the holiday cheer!
Apple: Tugging at Your Heartstrings
Apple is pretty well known for doing a great job with their marketing campaigns. The company has had major success with their Mac versus PC television commercials from years back. (Who remembers those?) And more recently, they have created the ultimate user-generated campaign with their “Shot on an iPhone” advertisements. It’s pretty clear they have some smart people working behind-the-scenes on the brand’s marketing.
This year’s holiday commercial is no exception. At a time where the United States has become rather divided after a rocky election and the world remains on edge due to terrorism and other issues, Apple is promoting unity with their new ad entitled, “Frankie’s Holiday.” After all, that’s what the holiday season is all about. It isn’t about the gifts underneath the tree. It’s about bringing family and friends together while spreading love and holiday cheer.
The bigger message of this commercial is heard loud and clear, but Apple does still use it as a way to subtly promote their product without being in-your-face. It’s an ad that is sure to resonate with many people worldwide and tug at a few heartstrings.
The Takeaway: A great holiday marketing campaign has some emotion behind it. It’s the best way to draw in your audience and inspire them to take action, no matter what your message may be.
Wrapping Up Your Holiday Content
Now that we’ve given you tips for creating your holiday content and you have some brands to turn to for inspiration, it’s time to get started with your holiday editorial calendar (if you haven’t already).
Tweaking your content to fit with the holiday season, whether it’s blog posts, emails, social media posts, or even your product descriptions, can really boost brand awareness and increase sales this time of year!
Did you check out the latest #ContentWritingChat? If not, you’re in luck because we have a recap of our latest chat! We talked all about that content sweet spot and how to create content that gets both shared and linked so you can make the most of your content marketing strategy. Want to learn more? Keep reading!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: The Content Marketing Sweet Spot: Content That Gets Both Shared & Linked with Mark Traphagen
Our guest host this week was Mark Traphagen. Mark is the Senior Director of Brand Evangelism at Stone Temple. He’s also a speaker and author. He joined #ContentWritingChat to share his top content marketing tips with us, so you won’t want to miss the great insights he shared.
Q1: How much content builds both brand and SEO value?
So, exactly how much content builds both brand and SEO value? Find out what Mark and some of Tuesday’s chat participants had to say:
A1: The quick answer: not much. Most content is focused either on SEO or brand building. Hitting sweet spot is harder #contentwritingchat
Mark’s answer? Not much. He feels most content is focused either on SEO or brand building. So many people are focused more on creating content for SEO purposes or increasing social shares, that brand building is an afterthought.
One thing to always keep in mind when creating content is to focus on providing value. When you provide value to your audience, it’ll increase engagement and sharing. People will want to link to you when you’ve given them something beneficial.
A1. Quality > quantity. That being said, it’s best to put out content consistently and regularly! #ContentWritingChat
Quality over quantity every single time! You want to put out content regularly, but everything you publish should be high-quality.
Q2: Why are share metrics alone not the best measure of the value of your content?
These days, so many brands are obsessed with sharing metrics. They want to know how many social shares they’re getting on every piece they create and how many shares they receive on each platform. But the thing is, it’s not the best measure of how valuable your content is to your audience. Here’s why:
Mark makes a great point when he said that the majority of content that’s being shared is not actually being read. Yikes! That means that many times people are just sharing your content without knowing what it’s all about. In the end, that doesn’t help to build your brand.
A2: Most people just share without reading the content, they don’t get the value, visit the site or convert #ContentWritingChat
As Brandie said, if people aren’t taking the time to read your content, they don’t receive value. They also don’t visit your website and they’ll never have the chance to convert.
As Sarah said, it’s more important to see people linking to your content, engaging with what you’ve created, and converting. Social shares don’t mean that any of those things are happening.
A2: Sharing is caring, but how much of it turns into engagement or membership? That’s what we’re aiming for #contentwritingchat
Sharing is definitely caring, but it’s important to see how much of those shares turn into engagement or some other type of conversion. You want to see results from those social shares for it to truly make a difference.
As Mark said, if your content attracts good links, it’s a good sign that it was truly valuable for your reader. You want to see people taking the time to link to your work. Earning links is also much harder than getting social shares, so it’s a good overall measure of the success of your content.
If you’d like some extra reading on the subject, check out this post that Mark shared. It’s a study that shows backlinks are still powerful when it comes to SEO.
Julia knows that creating and promoting great content will encourage links to happen naturally. Moral of the story? Make sure you give your audience quality content that’s valuable to them.
Q4: What kinds of content earn the sweet spot of both shares and links?
As part of your content marketing strategy, we know you want content that earns both shares and links. So, how do you do it? Our audience shared the content types that they think work best:
The study showed that opinionated journalism hits that sweet spot between links and shares. If you’re going to try it yourself, make sure you present a clear point of view and your take on the issue. The study also revealed that content with data-backed research often gets both shares and links.
Create content that answers those burning questions your audience has. When you provide them with valuable information, they’ll want to link to you and share it on social media.
A4. It depends on your brand, but customer-centric, evergreen, high-quality content usually fits the bill. #contentwritingchat
Sarah also agrees that it largely depends on your audience. You want to figure out what grabs and keeps their attention. That’s what you need to create!
Content that is relatable and touches your reader on a personal level is a great way to earn links and social shares. Find out what resonates with your audience and create more of that to see results.
Tony knows valuable and informative content is always popular with readers. Include images, videos, and infographics to increase those links and shares.
a4: The sweet spot, is creating the right content, at the right time, and reaching the right audience – its always diff. #contentwritingchat
Creating the right content at the right time and reach the right audience for a winning formula.
Q5: How do you craft question-answering content that hits the sweet spot?
When creating content, it’s so important to address and answer the common questions your audience has. If you want to learn how to do it and get major results that hit the sweet spot, keep these tips in mind:
A5 Most immediate way is to pay attention to what your customers are asking #contentwritingchat
Pay attention to what your customers are asking. If you want to create content that answers their questions, you need to get to know them first. Figure out what they’re asking, then start creating.
A5 Ask your sales/cust svce people what questions they constantly get from prospects #contentwritingchat
As Mark said, one of the best ways to do this is to refer to your sales and customer service team. Find out what questions they get from prospective customers. He also suggests looking for questions in blog comments that have gone unanswered. Create a blog post that answers them.
A5: Really know your audience. That’s the only way to know the Q’s they truly want answers to-craft content around that #contentwritingchat
If you aren’t sure what your audience wants, don’t be afraid to ask them. Talk to your audience and your team members to get ideas. Figure out what people are talking about and what they’re looking for from you. Sending out a brief survey is a great way to get responses.
Julia knows research is a must to figure out what your audience wants. She uses BuzzSumo, Quora, and Answer the Public to find hot questions in her industry.
A5. Deliver detailed solutions that go above & beyond what others are writing about the topic. Put a unique spin on it! #contentwritingchat
Once you’ve found the questions you want to answer, you need to provide amazing content that gives an answer. Kristen said to deliver detailed solutions that go above and beyond what others are writing on the topic. This is sure to help you stand out and earn you those links and shares. Put your unique spin on the content as well to really make an impact.
Q6: Why is content with a strong opinion sweet spot content?
Mark previously mentioned that a study showed opinionated content hits that sweet spot of both links and shares. But why does it get such major results online? Let’s find out:
A6 B/c people want sources to back up their own opinions/thoughts #contentwritingchat
Mark said people want sources that back up their own opinions and thoughts. People are also drawn to opinionated content because they want to engage with it. They want to agree with what was said or challenge it.
A6 Good opinion content will also get you invited to speak, write elsewhere & guest in chats like this! #contentwritingchat
Julia said that strong opinions and taking a stand is the content of today and tomorrow. When you share your opinions, you being to attract your tribe and build a fan base.
A6: People like like-minded people. Same goes for the content they read. They want it to agree with their opinion. #contentwritingchat
Erika said opinionated content is authentic and can define the brand and what it stands for. Strong opinions also illicit an emotional reaction in readers, which can trigger engagement.
A6: Be controversial – be different from the crowd and don’t be afraid to offer an alternative view #ContentWritingChat
Strong opinions are sure to get people talking. They might agree or disagree with what you have to say, so be prepared for an increase in comments of people voicing their opinions.
Q7: Why is original research great sweet spot content?
Original research is also a great way to earn links and social media shares. Here’s why your audience will love it:
A7 similar to opinion content, good research content helps people prove a point, so they share and link #contentwritingchat
Mark said original research helps to prove a point, which often encourages people to share it and link to it. It’s also a great way to build your brand’s credibility and authority.
A7: It helps build your credibility, shows you care enough to do the research & not just write. People like proof! #ContentWritingChat
Kristi agrees that original research can build your credibility. It shows that you care enough to take the time to conduct the research, which your audience will appreciate.
A7: Providing original content can make you an authoritative figure in your field & bring people back for more. #contentwritingchat
Do you want to be seen as an authority in your field? Try doing some research of your own! It’s a great way to get people coming back to your content time and time again.
Kristen knows conducting research might be labor intensive, but your audience will certainly appreciate the information once it’s published for the world to see.
Content Marketing Institute and BuzzSumo are two brands that really stand out with their own original research.
Q8: Why is adding original insights to trending topics a sweet spot strategy?
Should you add your own insights to trending topics? Absolutely! Trending topics are great to add to your content marketing. It’s perfect for hitting that sweet spot with your content and here’s why:
A8 Everyone hops on a trending topic. The trick is to stand out with an original thought/take on it #contentwritingchat
It’s a good idea to put a fresh spin on trending topics by adding your own insights. It’s a great way to differentiate from what others are already saying. 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!
It wouldn’t be the holiday season without a fun giveaway from Express Writers, now would it? Of course not! And you’re in luck because we have a fantastic giveaway planned for the month of December, with a winner every single week!
The best part? All you have to do to be eligible to win is participate in #ContentWritingChat on Twitter. Keep reading to get the full scoop and find out exactly what you could win this month.
What is #ContentWritingChat?
#ContentWritingChat is our weekly Twitter chat that we have been running since January of this year. We chat every Tuesday from 10-11 AM Central Time and are lucky enough to welcome so many new faces to the chat each week. It really has grown into an amazing community that has become a go-to place to learn and develop connections online.
In our chats, we primarily talk about copywriting, content marketing, SEO, and social media. We make sure these chats are jam-packed with value by inviting guest hosts to join and sharing the questions we know our audience is asking. If you join us throughout December, you just might want to bring a notepad to take a few notes.
If you aren’t able to take notes, never fear – I post weekly recaps in the #ContentWritingChat section!
To visit the recaps, click Learn from the menu:
Hover and then click Twitter chat. You can see all our recaps posted there.
Join Us for 4 Weeks of Giveaways!
What can you win this month and what do you have to do?
Each week, one lucky participant will win one free blog written by the talented team right here at Express Writers. This blog will be written by our general writers, made-to-order around the keywords/topic of your choice, and tailored to your online presence and brand. This also includes one custom branded visual to go along with the post.
So, is this exactly what your blog needs? Here’s what you need to do if you want to win: All you have to do is join us during the live #ContentWritingChat hour on Tuesdays from 10-11 AM Central Time. You can also refer your friends to the chat and let us know you invited them to join the fun.
It’s as simple as that and it’s happening every week in December. That means you have four chances to win a top-notch post to share on your blog.
Best of luck to everyone who comes and joins us to enter – we can’t wait to see you in the chat! Mark your calendars for Tuesdays at 10 AM CST, and join us on @ExpWriters or @writingchat with our hashtag #ContentWritingChat.
Do you want to get caught up on the latest #ContentWritingChat? Well, you’re in luck! We have a recap of this Tuesday’s chat ready for you to dive into. It’s filled with great tips you won’t want to miss!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: How Entrepreneurs Can Lead Awesome & Healthy Lives with Chris Nadeau
Our guest host this week was Chris Nadeau. Chris is the co-founder of Evolving Solutions. He is also the blogger behind Eat Greens Every Day, which is all about helping you lead a healthier life. That just so happens to be the inspiration behind this chat! Chris shared a ton of helpful suggestions so you can lead and awesome and healthy life.
Q1: What are your key tips to balancing happiness and health with running and owning a successful business?
Entrepreneurs lead very busy, and sometimes hectic, lives. It can make it hard to find a balance between work and staying happy and healthy. To create more of a balance in your life, keep these tips in mind:
A1. The best tip I can share is “schedule time for yourself” Book 30-60 mins a day in your calendar for health. #doitnow#ContentWritingChat
Chris suggests scheduling time for yourself each day. After all, sometimes you need to make that appointment with yourself in order to fit self-care into that busy schedule of yours. He said to block off 30-60 minutes each day to focus on your health.
Jamie from HeyOrca! agrees. Sometimes you just have to schedule in that time in order to actually make it happen. Find at least 30 minutes in your daily schedule to block off for a little self-care.
Sarah from ThinkSEM is right! You have to know when to shut down. You can’t always pull those all nighters. Decide when you’re going to quit working each day and actually log off and shut down. Don’t fall into the trap of answering emails late at night.
Set boundaries for yourself and for your clients. If you are running a service-based business, it can be tempting to stay up all night responding to client emails. Don’t give in! You need to set boundaries so you don’t bring work over into your dedicated personal time. We also love this tip of scheduling time to learn new skills. That’s very important!
Because our cell phones and smart watches are basically glued to us, it can be hard to truly unplug. When you finish work for the day, log out of social media and your inbox. Silence the notifications and leave your phone in another room. Focus on the moment and be with family or take the time to enjoy your personal hobbies.
Zachary knows time management is vital when it comes to balancing your personal life and your business. If you don’t manage your time wisely, you might find yourself working late nights more often than you’d like. Instead, make the most of your day by managing your time better.
A1 You HAVE to stop & give yourself a break, daily. a) A lunch hour. b) 30 minutes for exercise/yoga/meditation #ContentWritingChat
The truth is, we sometimes get so wrapped up in the hustle that we forget to look up from our computers! Julia suggests stopping to give yourself a break throughout the day. Block off time for a proper lunch away from your desk. Take 30 minutes to do some exercise, have a yoga session, or do a little meditation. This can truly make a huge difference in how you feel and how the rest of your day goes.
Q2: How can a morning routine help you start the day off right? Tell us about yours.
Having a set morning routine that you stick to every day is essential for starting things off on the right foot. Check out what some of our chat participants had to say about the importance of morning routines and what they like to do to start the day:
A2. Your morning affects your entire day. It will influence productivity, energy & how successful you are. #Entrepreneur#ContentWritingChat
Chris said your morning routine can have an impact on your entire day. How you spend your morning can influence your productivity, energy levels, and how successful you are. So, don’t you want to make sure you’re spending the morning in the best way possible?
A2b I drink lemon water, wake up early enough to have time for myself, exercise, meditation and drink a green smoothie. #contentwritingchat
It sounds like Chris has a pretty great morning routine as well! He drinks lemon water (this aids in digestion), wakes up early enough to allow time for himself, exercises, meditates, and has a green smoothie.
A2: AM is my productive writing time So, I eat a good breakfast & write, while avoiding distractions like Twitter chats! #contentwritingchat
Laura knows she’s most productive in the morning, so she takes advantage of that time. She eats a good breakfast and then dives into her writing. By utilizing your most productive times, you’re bound to get even more work done!
A2: I’m freshest in the morning. No decision fatigue, no pressure. Things are quiet. There’s so much potential in the AM #contentwritingchat
For Asiya, she likes to have brainstorming sessions over a cup of coffee when she wakes up. It’s all about doing what works best for you! If you get your best ideas in the morning, try a brainstorming session early in the day like Asiya does.
Q3: How can diets impact our lives for the better? Describe your style of eating + how it helps you stay productive.
It’s no secret that the foods you eat can have a great impact on your life. They can change how you feel, can give you an energy boost (or deplete you of energy), and so much more. Check out these tips and keep them in mind the next time you head to the kitchen:
A3. What you eat impacts how well your brain functions, ultimately making it easier/harder for you to hit your goals. #ContentWritingChat
Chris said that what you eat can impact how your brain functions. As a result, some of the foods you eat could make it easier or harder for you to hit the goals you’re trying to reach. When it comes to your diet, he said to focus on greens, veggies, and lean proteins. Skip the processed foots and drink lots of water.
Sandi said to stay hydrated by drinking water. Keep a glass of water on your desk throughout the day and remember to actually drink it up. It’s also helpful to avoid a lot of sugar, junk food, and a caffeine overload.
Mike knows just how important probiotics can be as part of your diet. Make sure you’re incorporating them daily to ensure you feel great. You can get a good serving of probiotics for many yogurts or you can also take a daily supplement.
Q4: What are your best tips for leading a healthy, balanced life?
If you want to live a healthy and balanced life, these are the tips you need to know! Check out what some of the participants in Tuesday’s chat had to say about this:
A4. Start your day right, eat real food, personal dev., digital detox, get your sleep and hold yourself accountable. #ContentWritingChat
First, Chris recommends starting your day off right. This goes back to that question on your morning routine. Develop a routine that works for you and makes you feel great. You’ll notice a huge difference when you do. He also said to eat real food, focus on personal develop, do a digital detox, get some sleep, and hold yourself accountable.
Prioritize your tasks, create a list of everything you need to do, and then execute it. Great advice! This works for business plans, meal plans, workout routines, and more. When you plan and block off time in your schedule, you’re more likely to make it happen.
A4: Go play! Adults forget how important play reduces stress, relax, + boost creativity! I have geeky hobbies to help #ContentWritingChat
Don’t forget to get out there and have some fun! Doing something you genuinely enjoy can reduce stress and even boost your creativity. It’s absolutely okay to embrace those geeky hobbies!
A4. Also get ‘quality’ sleep! Essential to function well in the day. So a good bedtime routine too! #ContentWritingChat
Don’t fall into the habit of pulling all nighters all the time. As Sandi said, sleep is essential if you want to function well during the day. Set a bedtime routine and hit the hay around the same time every night. It helps you develop a routine that you can stick to.
A4: Laugh, spend time with the family – take regular exercise, eat the foods you like now and then – get plenty of sleep #ContentWritingChat
Andy suggests laughing and spending time with family. Make time for regular exercise, while eating the foods you like every now and then. And don’t forget to get plenty of sleep!
Jeremy has just about summed it up with his answer! He said to exercise daily, get some sleep, and eat healthy and nutritious foods. And remember that being positive makes a huge difference as well.
Q5: Discuss how to plan your day to ensure you stay happy, healthy, and productive throughout.
Do you want to make sure you always have a great day? To ensure you’re feeling happy, healthy, and productive, keep these tips in mind:
A5. I break my days into chunks. My first chunk is always my morning routine and taking care of my health every day. #ContentWritingChat
Chris likes to break his days into chunks. The first chunk is where he focuses on his morning routine and his health. It’s a great way to make sure your day starts off on the right foot.
He wakes up at 5:45 AM, completes his morning routine, begins to tackle his work, has lunch, then gets back to work.
This is advice everyone needs to keep in mind! You should plan your day according to YOU. So, when are you most productive? Morning, midday, or in the afternoon? You can plan your day around your productivity zones to get more work done.
A5. I create a list of what I have to do for the day. It’s extremely satisfying to cross out all of the things! #contentwritingchat
Becky creates a to-do list of all the things she needs to do during the day. Not only does a list keep you on track, but she’s right about it being satisfying to cross tasks off as the day goes on.
A5: Work breaks, stretching, and set goals to complete before end of day! #ContentWritingChat
Kathleen knows taking work breaks is essential to success throughout the day. Take a break from your desk to do some stretches. It’ll help you feel refreshed when you sit back down.
A5a Breaks. Time your work, have a to-do list. Drink green/clean juices! I love Naked, Suja, Daily Greens, True Organic #ContentWritingChat
Julia also suggests taking breaks throughout the day. Her other advice is to time your work, create a to-do list, and drink green/clean juices. Who wouldn’t want to a refreshing green juice to get through the day?
It’s also important to recognize how you feel so you can realize when you need to take a break. If you’re starting to feel stressed out, overwhelmed, or run down, take a break!
A5: Start by making good habits routine. Even one good habit is a start! #ContentWritingChat
It may seem overwhelming to make a lot of big changes in your life, so don’t be afraid to start small. As Zachary said, even one good habit is a start. So, what one thing can you change today to make a difference in how you feel?
Q6: Describe a good work-life balance when it comes to your business.
What does a good work-life balance look like when it comes to your business? Here’s what some of our chat participants had to say:
A6. I personally try to work 5-7 hour days on business stuff & the rest is on things I want to do that day. #ContentWritingChat
As Andy said, don’t get stuck in a job you hate. While sometimes this is hard to avoid, it’s important to love what you do. You don’t want to wake up every single day dreading work. You should look forward to it and feel passionate about what you do.
A6: You need to know when to shut down and walk away from the computer. Set virtual office hours for yourself. #ContentWritingChat
Just because you work for yourself and your office is in your own home, it doesn’t mean you have to work until 1 AM all the time. Set office hours for yourself and get in the habit of shutting down at the same time every day.
And here’s a tip: If you are working late and responding to emails, no one has to know. You can use Boomerang with Gmail to schedule your emails to go out a reasonable time. You don’t want clients thinking they can reach you at all hours.
Q7: Do you use any tools in your daily life to help you live better?
The great thing is, there are a ton of helpful tools available to us today that can make our lives even better. Check out these suggestions and give them a try for yourself!
A7. Some of my favourite tools are 8Fit, Cron-O-meter, Headspace, Beachbody On Demand and Mealboard #ContentWritingChat
Who doesn’t love a great playlist? Andy likes to use Spotify when listening to music. It’s a great way to get you in a better mood and energized to take on the day.
Sarah’s advice is to get outside. There’s nothing like a little fresh air to reinvigorate you. Plus, going for a quick walk can get you energy up and is great for helping you stay healthy. She likes to take her dogs for two walks every day, which is great exercise.
For Jamie, she relies on her Keurig to provide that morning cup of coffee, Spotify for great tunes, Slack for staying connected with others, and a treadmill for a stress-busting source of exercise.
A7 a) Reading books that help me learn & grow! b) Daily writing to sharpen my skills c) Motivational music playlists! #ContentWritingChat
Julia likes to read books that will help her learn and grow. After all, you should never stop learning! As a writer, she also knows it’s important to write daily to sharpen her skills. And she also loves some motivational playlists.
We like Lauren’s “no excuses” thinking. She streams her workouts on her phone, which means she can take them anywhere she goes. There’s no excuse for not hitting the gym because you can work out anywhere with the amount of exercise routines online today.
Q8: Which entrepreneurs do you look up to/follow when it comes to lifestyle?
There are a ton of entrepreneurs out there and many of them can provide a great source of inspiration for your daily life. Here are some awesome ones you can look to:
A8. My parents. Which we should all realize…our children are watching us. 😉 Make sure your video matches your audio #contentwritingchat
This is a great answer from Chris! He looks up to his parents. And as he said, this is a great reminder for those with children. Your kids are looking up to you and watching your every move. Make sure you’re setting a good example for them. Chris also looks up to Richard Branson and Kris Carr.
A8: @garyvee‘s hustle is definitely inspiring. It’s great to have that in biz, but don’t forget to take time for YOU. #ContentWritingChat
Debi looks up to those who are successful, balanced, kind, and intelligent. These are all great qualities to be admired!
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!
Search engine optimization (SEO) is pretty essential for anyone who is creating and publishing content online. After all, if you want your content to be discovered by your target audience, you need to do a little optimization. That’s why SEO was the focus of our most recent #ContentWritingChat. We talked all about the fundamentals of SEO, a great way to get back to the basics.
#ContentWritingChat Recap: Fundamentals of SEO (Doing it The Right Way) with Nicholas Coriano
For this week’s chat, Nicholas Coriano popped in to be our guest host. He’s an entrepreneur, motivator, and the CEO of Homescape LLC. He joined the chat to talk all about the fundamentals of doing SEO the right way and shared plenty of great tips with everyone.
Q1: What is SEO?
To kick off the chat, we asked the all-important question… What is SEO? It’s important to know what exactly what SEO is before you dive in and start implementing the strategies you’ve learned about. Here’s how some of our chat participants defined SEO:
As Nick said, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It’s the process of getting traffic from organic search results via search engines like Google.
A1: SEO is the means in which you can acquire the attention and action of search engine users thru ranking & attraction. #contentwritingchat
By taking the time to optimize your content, it will become easier for search engines to find. As Pamela said, you just need house the keywords you want to be known for.
A1 It’s one of the ways to make sure the content & work you do gets found & is ranked = visible, recognized by every1 #ContentWritingChat
Remember that you have to work with the search engines in order to get results. There’s no need for black hat tactics or anything like that!
Q2: Why is SEO important?
Now that you know what SEO is, you need to understand why it’s so important. These reasons are all great examples of why SEO is crucial for online content creators:
As Nick said, people turn to search engines to look for things. If you want your content to show up in those search results (and to rank high), you need to take the time to implement some SEO tactics.
A2: SEO helps Google understand what ur page is about & why it will help users. It’s the backbone of digital marketing. #contentwritingchat
Cheryl’s answer is a great way to look at it. If you want your content to be easier to find, SEO is very worthwhile.
Q3: What are keywords?
One of the fundamentals of doing SEO is choosing the keywords you want to rank for. They need to be relevant to your content and your audience so the right people find your work. Here’s how our chat participants defined keywords:
Leah said keyword are the words and phrases people use to search. You then need to use these keywords to target the right people and draw them to your website.
Keywords are commonly search words and phrases that bring traffic to your site. The Web Themes Plus team said keywords are based on relevance, intent, and purpose.
Q4: What tools and tactics do you use to find keywords?
The goods news is, there are plenty of tools today that help you find the right keywords for your content. Check out this advice from people in Tuesday’s chat:
Google has plenty of great tools to help you find the right keywords. You can use their Keyword Planner, Google Trends, or just do a few searches. Moz is great as well!
Great advice from Nick! Review, review, and provide value to your readers. You should never be spammy. Focus on becoming an authority in your field by consistently sharing great content.
A5: Answer questions. Be relevant. Provide right information & add value. Saw KW skyrocket just from updated content. #contentwritingchat
Just as you can do things on your website to improve SEO, you can do things OFF your site as well. Try implementing these tips in order to see results:
Guest blogging is perfect for building brand awareness and positioning yourself as an authority. It also helps you generate links back to your website.
Julia said to serve your customers well. Building offline word-of-mouth is a great way to grow your brand and to establish trust and increase your rankings online.
Make sure you’re sharing your content on social media. It’s a great way to send traffic back to your site.
Q7: How do I test to see if SEO is working?
Testing is one of the fundamentals of doing SEO. Once you have started optimizing your content, you need to do some tests to see if it’s actually working for you. Here’s how to do that:
Ryan recommends setting up Google Analytics, then monitoring your traffic to see how much is organic. You can also use various tools to see your rankings.
As Jacob said, well-written and relevant content leads to good SEO. Focus on providing value to your audience with everything you write. Learn about SEO so you can write better content.
A8. Tap into audiences you didn’t know you had! But don’t stray too far, or you risk alienating your core following. #contentwritingchat
Evergreen and long-form content are essential! Social media is also great to be using to improve SEO.
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!
