Express Writers
#ContentWritingChat Recap: Creating Amazing Content for Your Email Readers with Val Geisler of ConvertKit

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Creating Amazing Content for Your Email Readers with Val Geisler of ConvertKit

by | Nov 18, 2016 | ContentWritingChat

Could your email marketing use a major boost? Well, you’re in luck because that’s what we talked about in our latest #ContentWritingChat! If you want to learn how to get more subscribers, how to create amazing email content, and more, keep reading our recap.

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Creating Amazing Content for Your Email Readers with Val Geisler of ConvertKit


Our guest host this week was Val Geisler. Val handles marketing content over at ConvertKit, an email marketing software we absolutely love! She’s also the host of the Reach podcast. As part of the ConvertKit team, Val has a lot of valuable tips on email marketing that she shared with us.

Q1: What makes a quality newsletter? And how often should you send one?

To kick off the chat, we asked our participants what they thought made a quality newsletter. After all, if you’re going to send a newsletter, you want to make sure it’s great!

Val said a quality email newsletter is one your readers open and engage with. You want to think about what your unique audience is interested in, which will help you create the content they enjoy. Once you’ve figured out what to write, be sure to send emails consistently to keep your list warm!

As Annaliese said, make sure you’re providing value to your subscribers. That should be your top priority before focusing on what you want out of the email.

Sarah from ThinkSEM knows a great email newsletter is one that’s useful, helpful, relevant, and timely. It all goes back to giving your audience what they want.

Exactly right, Jason! Your email newsletter should contain content that benefits your audience. You can educate them or offer them something you’re providing.

Relevance is key! McKenzie said you shouldn’t bother sending emails that aren’t timely and aren’t filled with content your audience is interested in.

Before you click send, always take the time to read through for errors. Be sure to check any links to make sure they’re working properly as well. It’s always worthwhile to double or even triple-check before pushing that send button.

Q2: How can you write a subject line that increases open rates?

Let’s face it. The subject line of your email can make or break the success of the emails you send. If you don’t have a subject line that grabs the attention of your audience, they just might click delete without ever opening it. Here are some tips on writing amazing subject lines:

For some great tips on subject lines, read the ConvertKit article Val shared with us. It’s filled with advice you need to know!

You should also keep mobile users in mind when creating your email content. Val said to keep your subject line under 60 characters if you want people to read it on mobile.

My advice? Write a subject line that clearly states what subscribers will find in the body of the email. You want to let them know what they can expect to see if they open it. Don’t mislead subscribers either. Clickbait isn’t cool and if you do it too often, people will start unsubscribing.

Annaliese agrees that deception isn’t cool when it comes to your subject lines. No matter what you choose for your subject line, it should be relevant to the contents of your email.

One great idea is to pose a question in your subject line. It’ll leave them wanting to know the answer, so they take the time to open and read your email.

Julia knows emojis are a great addition to any subject line. Not only do emojis add a little personality to your emails, but they also stand out in a crowded inbox.

Test, test, test! McKenzie is absolutely right with this one. Everyone has a different audience and what works for one person might not work for you and your subscribers. Take the time to test your emails to see what works and what doesn’t.

Q3: What are your tips for creating opt-ins that increase subscribers?

In order to increase your email subscribers, you want to create an opt-in that will give people a reason to sign up. They should get something in exchange for handing over that precious email address! Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Val knows content upgrades are where it’s at today. Content upgrades are opt-ins that are specific to a blog post. It provides a little extra something for your readers and encourages them to join your list.

She also suggests trying an email course as your opt-in. It’s a great way to keep your audience engaged. The tricky thing about eBooks is that someone may receive the email with the eBook download and never download it or they may download it and never read it. An email course pops into their inbox for a period of time and keeps you on their mind.

As Pamela said, you should be specific about what people will receive when they join your list. It shouldn’t be a surprise! Let them know what to expect so they can decide if it’s right for them or not. In most cases, providing tips or updates isn’t really enough to get subscribers. You should give them something extra.

Lexie from Netvantage Marketing agrees that you need to be clear about what you’re providing those who subscribe to your list. Let them know what kind of emails they can expect to see from you.

Q4: Do you create an editorial calendar for your email newsletter? If so, how do you create it?

If you’re a content creator, you probably already have an editorial calendar for your blog posts. It comes in handy, doesn’t it? Well, creating one for your email newsletter is great because it can help you plan topics in advance and keep you on a schedule.

Val shared a link to a post on ConvertKit’s blog that’s definitely worth a read.

Maureen knows how important editorial calendars can be. She also reminds us that it’s important to make room for flexibility. Don’t be afraid to change your plan if needed.

The Jobs2Careers team relies on Trello for creating an editorial calendar. Having a tool to use is very handy for staying organized.

For Kristen, she loves using Google Docs for creating editorial calendars. It’s easy to use and perfect for sharing with team members.

While Sarah and her team members don’t have an editorial calendar, they do have meetings to discuss their email content each month.

As Lexie said, having an editorial calendar for your emails will hold you accountable. It’s the best way to stay on schedule so you’re regularly sending content and keeping your list warm.

Q5: How do you juggle creating content for blogs, social media, emails, and more? What are your tips for keeping everything in order?

When you have to create content for so many different outlets, it can be hard to keep track of everything. Check out these tips for some helpful advice:

Val’s tip is to batch your content creation. When you can batch things like blog post writing and social media scheduling, life is much less stressful!

Alberto is also a fan of batching tasks like writing, creating visuals, and doing research.

Zala said to create a plan for your content creation. As she said, it’s much better to share less content that’s high quality than it is to post for the sake of posting. Everything you publish should be quality content that serves a purpose for you and your audience.

As Sarah said, having an editorial calendar is a major help. It’s also important to know your audience and what they want to see from you.

An editorial calendar, helpful tools like Trello, and plenty of coffee are must-haves!

Bill’s advice is to figure out what you’re trying to accomplish with your content and take it from there.

Don’t be afraid to repurpose the content you create so you can get more use out of it. You can repurpose your blog content for social media, add a summary in your email newsletters, and even combine similar pieces into eBooks.

Q6: What kind of emails do you send outside of your regular newsletter?

Do you send emails outside of your regular newsletter? Find out what some of our chat participants like to send to their subscribers:

At ConvertKit, they like to send out feature announcements and inform readers of free events they might be interested in. Welcome emails are also great for guiding a new subscriber.

Maureen knows it’s great to send out emails that specifically address the interests of your audience. It’s the best way to ensure you’re providing value to your subscribers.

If you have any webinars or special events going on, don’t be afraid to let your subscribers know about it.

Annaliese sends a welcome email that’s custom to where the subscribers came from. It’s a great way to welcome them to your list and to provide value.

Q7: Fancy emails versus plain text emails – What actually gets opened and read more?

Which is better? Fancy emails or plain text emails? Does it even matter? Find out what some of Tuesday’s chat participants had to say:

ConvertKit is a big fan of plain text emails. Read the blog post Val shared to find out why.

The results of Maureen’s testing revealed plain text emails were the best for her market.

HTML emails can also reduce open rates because there are often deliverability problems. That’s not what you want!

Kristen feels plain text emails are more personal, but she also knows adding images or video can increase engagement.

Q8: Why should you worry about growing an email list? Isn’t social media better for connection?

If you think email marketing is dead, we’re sorry to say that you’re mistaken. It’s important to focus on list building, but also using social media in addition to that. Here’s why:

Val shared a great post from ConvertKit on this topic!

The reality is, you own your email list. You can take your subscriber data with you if you were to move platforms. If you strictly build your following on social media, you could lose all of that one day if the platform shuts down or it becomes less popular. It’s like building a house on someone else’s land. Focus on list building first, but that doesn’t mean you should neglect social media.

As Zachary said, you have more control over your email list than you do with social media platforms. Your email list is your space.

As Lex said, you never know when social media will change. Social media platforms introduce new algorithms that can make it harder for you to get noticed, but you can always count on your emails to land in the inboxes of your subscribers.

Kathy knows emails are effective for landing sales and communicating with your audience. You should use social media as a way to promote your list and convert followers into subscribers.

This is an important statistic to keep in mind!

Both email marketing and social media are important, so it’s essential to utilize both.

You can use social media as a way to get people to your website, get them to sign up to your list, and ultimately convert them into customers.

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!

Think you’d like to give ConvertKit a whirl? Sign up here.

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Content Marketing Strategies for Bloggers with Lilach Bullock

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Content Marketing Strategies for Bloggers with Lilach Bullock

by | Nov 11, 2016 | ContentWritingChat

Are you searching for some great content marketing tips? You’ve come to the right place! We’re recapping our latest #ContentWritingChat, which was packed with tips you’ll want to start using today. Keep reading to see what our chat participants had to say!

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Content Marketing Strategies for Bloggers with Lilach Bullock


Our guest host for this week’s chat was Lilach Bullock. Lilach is a speaker, as well as a social media consultant and trainer. She joined our chat to share some of her top content marketing tips for bloggers.

Q1: Discuss how important blogging is to content marketing.

Of course we know that there’s more to content marketing than just blogging. However, blogging does play a huge part in our content marketing strategies. Here’s what some of Tuesday’s chat participants had to say about it:

As Lilach said, blogging is very important to content marketing. She said it provides a way for you to give your audience valuable content. It becomes your place to consistently provide your audience with the information they need.

She also said a good blog offers value to customers and increases traffic to your website. After all, people will want to head over to your website to see what you’re sharing!

Our CEO, Julia, was spot-on with her answer! She said blogging is your consistent content platform. It’s also the voice for your brand, which is huge.

If you want to showcase your expertise and offer valuable knowledge to your readers, blogging is where it’s at!

Sarah knows just how powerful a blog post can be. She said you can send your audience to your blog so they can learn more. Then, you can encouraged them to take action from your posts. Of course, it’s also great if they share your posts because it sends more traffic your way!

Debi knows just how important blogging can be. As she said, it’s important to share great information that your target audience would be interested in. It keeps them engaged and keeps the information fresh for search engines.

Q2: How can bloggers get started with putting together a content marketing strategy?

Now that you know just how integral blogging is to your content marketing plan, it’s time to create a strategy. How do you do it, you ask? Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Lilach believes there are five important aspects to remember here. She knows how great short-form content can be for your blog, however we also know long-form content is great as well. It’s important to experiment and see what your audience enjoys the most.

She also recommends creating premium content for your subscribers. Next, she mentions SEO, designing visual content, and creating audio content.

As Sarah said, you need to know your audience. That’s where it all starts. You cannot expect to create content without first knowing who your audience is. Then, figure out the goals you want to achieve and start planning to make them a reality.

Tim feels the same way! He knows it’s important to understand your audience, define your objectives, and then plan from there.

Olivia also knows the importance of setting objectives. Once you have them in mind, you can determine the strategies that will help you get your desired results.

We can’t stress this point enough: get to know your audience. Speak their language so you appeal to them. And don’t forget to make an editorial calendar. When you plan in advance, content creation is much less stressful.

Bill recommends beginning with the end in mind. What actions do you want your audience to take? It’s important to remember this when creating content for your blog.

Stephanie knows that you need to think beyond your blog, too. You should create a content marketing plan for all of the platforms you use and make sure they work together to support each other.

Important things to keep in mind: who you’ll reach, how often you’ll write content, and which topics you’ll cover.

Q3: What tools can help you be successful when it comes to content marketing?

There are plenty of great tools available that can help you with your content marketing strategy. If you want to check some out, take a look at these suggestions:

Lilach uses CoSchedule to plan out her editorial calendar. It certainly comes in handy to have everything planned in advance! She also uses BuzzSumo to find out what types of content works within her niche.

Matt is also a fan of BuzzSumo!

Lex relies on the Yoast plugin to help with SEO. She also uses Trello to stay organized and Canva for creating amazing graphics.

Olivia shared a great list of tools that are all worth checking out!

Bill relies on Hootsuite for scheduling social media posts. He also uses Canva to create graphics, which we use as well.

Alternatively, Buffer is another great tool for scheduling social media content. We love it here at Express Writers!

Much like so many of our other participants, Brittany also likes Yoast, Canva, and BuzzSumo. It’s no wonder so many people like them because they’re all amazing tools.

BuzzSumo, Buffer, Google Analytics, and Canva are all must haves!

One thing you can’t forget is an email service provider! You need a way to capture the email addresses of visitors to your website so you can reach them after they’ve left.

Q4: How do you integrate content marketing with other marketing strategies?

It’s important that your content marketing strategies work hand-in-hand with other marketing strategies you implement. Here’s how to do that:

As Lilach said, it’s important your content stays true to your values and your tone. Everything you create should be representative of you and your brand.

Debi knows consistency is key!

As Sarah said, it’s all working together toward your goals.

As Julia said, content marketing is very powerful for us here at Express Writers.

Q5: What makes a great content marketing campaign?

So, what exactly makes a great content marketing campaign? These are the tips you need to know if you want your content to be a success:

Lilach knows it’s important to provide valuable content consistently. She also said never to forget what your brand is all about. It’s important to stay true to your vision.

Make sure you also set goals for your campaign so you know what you hope to achieve and can measure your results.

Provide value to your audience as a way to inspire them to take action.

It’s important that your campaign leads people to the end destination. What do you want people to do? Your campaign needs to move them in that direction.

Q6: What is the biggest misconception about content marketing?

There are quite a few misconceptions about content marketing that people still believe. Check these out:

As Lilach said, some believe all you have to do is create great content and it’ll do all the work for you. This simply isn’t true! It takes a lot more than just content creation.

Olivia knows the importance of quality over quantity. You need to focus on creating better content for your audience.

Creating a lot of content won’t guarantee leads, ROI, and exposure will start coming your way. It takes time to get results. You have to consistently create and promote your content to spread the word.

Remember that your content needs to actually provide value to your audience. Get to know them and deliver the content they want to see.

Q7: What are some of your top tips for bloggers?

If you’re looking for some great tips for blogging, this is what you need to know:

Create an editorial calendar to plan your content. When everything is planned in advance, content creation is less stressful. There’s no more scrambling to come up with content at the last minute.

Don’t post on your blog just for the sake of posting. The content you publish needs to provide value to your audience and should always be high quality.

Great advice from Olivia: find your niche and be authentic. And remember that success doesn’t happen overnight!

We couldn’t agree more with Brittany’s advice to be real. Your audience can detect when you aren’t being true to yourself.

You should always cater your content to your audience. Sarah also knows that creating evergreen content is a great idea because it’s always fresh. Writing in a conversational tone also helps people connect with you.

Create a plan first! You should have an editorial calendar, know your target market, come up with some great ideas, and then set goals.

Julia knows planning is essential! She recommends planning your best keywords and topics.

Q8: Which brands consistently do an amazing job with their content marketing campaigns?

There are so many brands who do an amazing job with their content marketing campaigns. It’s a great place to look for inspiration! Check out these brands who are creating fantastic content:

Lilach is a fan of Get Response. She said their infographics, white papers, case studies, and webinars all provide tremendous value.

Natalia likes reading The Muse and Buffer.

This is a great list from Julia! They’re all worth checking out.

You’re making us blush! Thanks for the compliment, Tim!

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!

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#ContentWritingChat Recap: Practical SEO Advice for the Online Creator with Caleb McElveen

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Practical SEO Advice for the Online Creator with Caleb McElveen

by | Nov 4, 2016 | ContentWritingChat

Are you ready to catch up on this week’s #ContentWritingChat? We’ve prepared an awesome recap with some of the tweets from Tuesday’s chat, so get ready to dive in!

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Practical SEO Advice for the Online Creator with Caleb McElveen


Our guest host this week was Caleb McElveen. Caleb is and SEO and content marketing specialist. He’s also a co-host on the digital marketing podcast, Search Talk Live.

Q1: What are the basics of SEO every content creator should know?

SEO doesn’t have to be hard to figure out! In fact, if you’re just getting started with optimizing your content, these basic tips are great to know:

Caleb said it’s important to know how to correctly optimize title tags, meta descriptions, headers, and more. All of these things impact the performance of your content, so it’s helpful to know the best ways to optimize them in order to maximize your results.

He also recommends understanding user intent when creating content because it can also impact your SEO strategy.

Sarah knows keywords are essential to SEO! She recommends figuring out how your audience is using and searching for keywords, which will help you choose the right ones for your content. You’ll also want to sprinkle those keywords throughout your content in heading tags, meta description, and more.

Jason also agrees understanding keywords is very important! He recommends finding the popular and relevant keywords that will help your audience find your content.

Kristen is right on with her answer! She said that SEO and readability should work together. You should never sacrifice readability for the sake of trying to rank higher. Providing great content for your audience should always be priority number one.

One big SEO don’t? Keyword stuffing! It’s not cool to overdo it on the keywords because Google doesn’t like it and neither do your readers. We’ll have some more SEO mistakes coming up in the next question!

Q2: What are the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to SEO?

There are some common SEO mistakes people make when creating their online content. It’s important to know what they are so you can avoid them! Here are a few mistakes you don’t want to make:

Caleb knows many people make mistakes when it comes to keywords. In some cases, people fail to use the keyword correctly or don’t even have one. Make sure you’re using your focus keyword in titles and throughout your content without going overboard. Keyword stuffing is a big no-no!

He also said not to forget about optimizing the images you share. They’re searchable as well and you want to make sure you take that extra step to optimize them.

As Jason said, using keywords that aren’t used as often won’t help you see results. You need to do your research to find the right keywords for your content.

Ignoring SEO is a huge mistake! If you want your content to be seen, you need to learn about the best SEO practices and start putting them to use with your own online content.

Remember that SEO is important, but there’s so much more to you content than just the optimization process. You have to start with a piece of quality content that shows personality and tells a story in order to really attract people.

Never stop learning. SEO changes and it’s important to stay updated on all the latest information. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you know everything about SEO. Make sure you’re actively learning about the best practices and implementing them.

Q3: What steps can you take to get your content on the first page of search results?

As an online content creator, one of your dreams is probably to rank on the first page of Google’s search results. It sounds like a dream, right? The good news is, it’s totally possible to make this happen! Here’s what you need to know:

Caleb’s advice is to research what’s already ranking on the first page. Study what they did right and what they did wrong so you can create your own plan to do it better. There’s nothing wrong with getting a little inspiration from your competitors!

He then suggests creating content that provides value to your audience. Answer their questions and provide them with the amazing content they’re looking for. It’s a sure-fire way to keep them coming back for more, too.

Kristi knows everything needs to work together if you want to see major results. She said to make sure relevant keywords are included in your content, tags, headlines, and images.

Research the best keywords. Optimize the body of your content. Get valuable links. All three of these tips will help you rank higher in search results.

Don’t forget to provide a great experience overall for the visitors to your website. It should be user-friendly and you need to make sure you’re writing good content.

Our CEO, Julia, recommends optimizing your website for speed, user experience, and Google. The next step is to add relevant, long-form content that’s useful to your audience. Utilize long-tail keywords in your content to increase discoverability!

Q4: How does social media factor into SEO?

Social media certainly plays a role in SEO. If you’re wondering how, here’s what some of the participants in Tuesday’s chat had to say:

Caleb said social media amplifies your content and increases your opportunity to earn links, which is great for SEO.

Kristen said social media extends the life and discoverability of your content.

Lex knows social media is great for pushing out content to get more visitors to your site. It’s also helpful for learning what your audience needs from you. Take the time to listen to them and create more of what they want.

Leah said social media adds the element of hashtag SEO. Hashtags are great for helping people find your content.

Q5: Share some of your best SEO practices.

What are the best SEO practices you should implement in your online content? Here’s the scoop:

Caleb recommends researching your competition. He tries to determine why their content performs well and how he can create content that outperforms it. Caleb also knows it’s important to understand user intent. You want to know how they’re searching because that impacts your content.

Get the whole team involved with SEO! Keep everyone informed on what you’re working on and allow them to voice their thoughts and opinions. Working together as a team will yield the best results.

Brandie suggests conducting research and talking to people. She also said it’s important to set up Google Analytics and regularly check to see which keywords are working and which ones aren’t.

A regular review of SEO, your strategy, and the goals of your clients is a must!

Do your research and think like a reader! Get into the mind of your reader to figure out what they’re searching, which keywords they’re using, and more. This will help you reach them.

Liliana said to set clear content goals, optimize your content, and make sure you keep everything fresh and relevant.

Q6: What would you say to someone who argues SEO isn’t important? How would you convince them otherwise?

Believe it or not, there are still plenty of naysayers out there when it comes to SEO. Many content creators still don’t understand the value it can provide and therefore don’t take it seriously. If someone says SEO isn’t important, remember this:

Caleb said SEO communicates to search engines and users what your page, business, or content is all about. Taking the time to optimize your posts will help search engines recognize you in their results.

You do want people to see your content, right? If so, you need to optimize your content to rank higher in search engine results.

Content is king. Distribution is queen. SEO is the lasting legacy. Great way to put it, Liliana!

If you want to prove the value of SEO to someone who doesn’t understand, come prepared with facts! Brandie recommends backing up your argument with facts and data that prove SEO is a must.

It’s all about those numbers! Stats will provide good, solid proof that SEO works.

Alberto suggests showing some reports that include traffic, conversion rate, and more.

Leah’s advice is to use an A/B split test to show the results.

That’s a lot of searches! You don’t want to miss out on that action, do you?

It’s safe to say that without SEO, it’s hard to put yourself on the digital map. Zala knows getting your content to rank is a must.

Q7: What tools do you use to help with SEO?

There are a ton of great tools out there that can help you become an SEO master. If you’re looking for some new ones to test out, check out these suggestions:

Caleb has three go-to tools he uses for optimizing content. Have you tried any of them?

He also said it’s important to familiarize yourself with Google Analytics and Search Console. It’s important to be able to interpret the data these give you.

Matt relies on Screaming Frog, Google Analytics, Moz, and BuzzSumo.

The Yoast plugin is definitely a must for anyone on WordPress. Getting that green light on a blog post is just so satisfying, isn’t it?

Great list, Sarah! These are essential.

Debi’s list of tool recommendations is pretty impressive! There are a lot to try out here if you haven’t already.

Zachary uses Google Trends to see which keywords are trending at any given moment. He’s also a fan of the Yoast plugin.

Debbie often turns to her network to learn more about SEO. Seeking advice from your peers is a great way to get SEO help. Which brings us to our final question…

Q8: Which influencers do you turn to for the latest in SEO news?

There are plenty of influencers who share great content regarding the latest in SEO. Check out these sources for the best information:

This is certainly an awesome line-up from Caleb! He also shared a great tip about reading something on SEO every day. It’s important to stay updated on the latest news. You can never been too educated on a topic.

These are all great sources!

Great round-up from Sabjan!

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!

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Grow Online & in Business by Improving Your Mindset with Michele Walsh

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Grow Online & in Business by Improving Your Mindset with Michele Walsh

by | Oct 28, 2016 | ContentWritingChat

Are you ready to catch up on this week’s #ContentWritingChat? We’ve prepared an awesome recap with some of the tweets from Tuesday’s chat, so get ready to dive in!

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Grow Online & in Business by Improving Your Mindset with Michele Walsh


Our guest host this week was Michele Walsh. Michele is a business confidence coach and the author of The Big Shift. She joined us to talk all about the importance of mindset within your business. It’s a different topic for us, but she provided a lot of helpful advice you can implement in your own business.

Q1: What role does mindset play within your business?

We kicked off the chat by asking our Twitter friends what role they felt mindset played within their businesses. We received some great answers in return! Check it out:

Michele shared a pretty important statistic with us. She said that our mindset is responsible for more than 80% of the results we achieve. So, it only makes sense that if we want to achieve big things in our lives, we need to be in the right frame of mind to make that happen. You need the right mindset in order to see major, consistent results.

To put it simply, a positive attitude will yield more positive results within your business. How can you expect to see positive results if you’re thinking negatively?

Amanda is right on with her answer. Positivity, determination, and focus are all key aspects of your mindset and important to achieving success in business.

Your attitude is imprinted in every piece of work you do. That’s pretty crazy to think about, right? When you have a positive mindset and you’re passionate about your work, people will take notice.

For our CEO, Julia, she knows that having the right mindset can impact her life on a daily basis. She chooses to have a mindset that empowers her to work hard every day, which is exactly how she’s built Express Writers.

Remember that having a positive mindset doesn’t just impact your business. It impacts you and your life in general.

Q2: How can your mindset impact your content marketing efforts?

Now that we know how important the right mindset is for business growth and success, let’s talk about content marketing. How could mindset possible impact our content? Here’s what some participants in Tuesday’s chat had to say:

Michele said it’s important to align your mindset with your intentions. You need to have trust and believe in order to see your desired results manifest into your life.

Kristen noted that your mindset, and especially how you handle the challenges you face, can determine whether you succeed or fail. Great answer!

As Julia said, it’s important to set goals and have a firm mindset that will help you meet them. That really is the secret to making things happen!

A good mindset breeds creativity and allows you to think outside the box.

The way you feel can easily show through in your content. It’s important to stay focused and positive!

Bill said that if your mindset is focused on serving your audience, you’ll be able to do just that. Providing great content helps, too!

Zala recommends keeping an open mind. This will allow you to be more welcoming of new ideas. It’s also important to understand the needs of your audience.

Brittany knows that the wrong mindset often means her content will suffer. If she’s thinking negatively or feeling uninspired, content isn’t likely to be its best.

Sherri also finds it difficult when she isn’t in the right frame of mind. She says it becomes difficult to think creatively and is hard to be optimistic or helpful.

Kristi’s advice is to take a break or focus on another project if you find your head and heart just aren’t in it.

As Leah said, if you don’t have a winning mindset, it’ll show in your marketing efforts.

So, before you start creating, make sure you’re prepared mentally!

Q3: What are your key tips for keeping the content ideas flowing within your business?

Sometimes it can be hard to keep the ideas flowing! How can you make sure you’re amazing at coming up with great ideas each and every time? Keep these tips in mind:

Michele’s advice is to set aside time and space to switch everything off and allow for content creation. You can’t always wait for inspiration to strike. Sometimes you have to sit down and seek those ideas. Close your inbox. Silence your phone. Log off social media. Let the brainstorming begin!

It always helps to analyze what resonates with your audience the most. After all, you’re creating for them and it’s important to give them what they want.

Jason also agrees that it’s important to look at feedback from your audience.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You should get involved and listen to what your audience is talking about. That’s the perfect way to figure out what your audience wants and needs.

Sarah is all about getting others involved in the content creation process. If you have a team working alongside you, don’t be afraid to ask them for ideas. Schedule team meetings or calls specifically for brainstorming.

Two heads are better than one, right?

Debi recommends using Twitter chats as a way to learn and engage with your audience.

If you have an idea, but it isn’t the right time for you to develop it, jot it down to come back to later.

Q4: What do you need to know in order to create great content for your audience?

If you want to consistently produce great content, there are a few things you should know. Here’s what they are:

It all starts with your audience. In order to create content they’ll love, you need to get to know them. Figure out who they are, what they are interested in, and what their pain points are. Create content accordingly.

Get to know your audience inside out FIRST.

Did we mention that you need to know your audience first? Seriously, it’s that important!

Kristen said you need to know what makes your audience tick, what their challenges are, and what their aspirations are. This will help you create the content that resonates with them.

You also need to know what will make your audience convert. If you aren’t sure, you can always test to find out. Try different things to see what your audience responds to and what they don’t.

Jason said to understand what your audience connects with emotionally. Your content should touch them. That’s the best way to make those aforementioned conversions happen!

Q5: How can you incorporate your team in the content creation process?

Getting your team involved is a great way to get fresh ideas flowing and to produce some amazing content. Here are some tips on how to incorporate them into the process:

As Julia said, Communication is key. Don’t exclude anyone from your team because you never know who will have the next great idea.

Make sure you’re asking your team for their ideas and feedback. Find out what questions are being asked and what they’d like to see.

When you have an office environment that welcomes teamwork and collaboration, you’ll see great results.

It’s helpful if you can set aside time to brainstorm with your team. Schedule a meeting and work together to come up with amazing content.

Your team will feel valuable when you give them the opportunity to contribute and also bring their ideas to life.

As Josh said, it’s important to also know the strengths of your team. If something isn’t your strength, ask a team member or consider hiring an expert for help.

Q6: How can having the wrong mindset hold you back in your business?

You already know having a positive mindset can encourage growth in your business, but do you know just how troubling the wrong mindset can be? Here’s what some participant’s in Tuesday’s chat had to say about having the wrong mindset in business:

Michele said that as your mind grows, the results in your business will grow as well.

If you have a negative mindset, it can also impact your team members. You don’t want them thinking negatively, do you?

A negative attitude just isn’t going to get you the positive results you want.

Gayane said you should be flexible and willing to try new things if you want to see results in your business.

A mindset where you’re so focused on perfection can be harmful as well. Things will never be perfect, friends! It’s more important to focus on doing your best.

Q7: How can you use your mindset to impact and maintain your business growth?

Here’s what you need to know straight from this week’s chat:

Michele reminds us that you get more of what you focus on. So, it’s important to only focus on the things you want. If you focus on what you don’t want, that’s exactly what you’ll see manifest into your life. It’s all about the Law of Attraction!

As Sarah said, a well-informed mind is a mind that is ready to succeed. Success is where preparedness and opportunity meet. Remember that!

Leah said you should always challenge yourself and try things that scare you.

Debi feels that if you do what you love, your work will be inspired and in spirit. Your audience is sure to pick up on that.

Ken’s advice is to make your content the opening line in a conversation. You want content that will add value to your audience and get them to take the next step with you.

Q8: What inspirational public figures in business rock at mindset and business?

Check out these awesome people for some major mindset and business inspiration:

Michele thinks Oprah, Richard Branson, and Bob Proctor are amazing at what they do.

Sue is a fan of Sheryl Sandberg.

Tony Robbins is definitely a great example!

Lori said Brene Brown is great at helping others become comfortable in their own skin.

Because Danielle LaPorte focuses on helping you figure out how you want to feel in your daily life, she does a great job at combining mindset and business.

Julia is a fan of Gary Vaynerchuk, Tony Robbins, and Marcus Lemons.
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!
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#ContentWritingChat Recap: Smart Instagram Strategies for Your Business with Sue B. Zimmerman

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Smart Instagram Strategies for Your Business with Sue B. Zimmerman

by | Oct 21, 2016 | ContentWritingChat

Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week? We have good news for you! We have a recap of our latest Twitter chat, which was packed with amazing tips on effective Instagram strategies for your business. Are you ready to dive in? Just keep reading!

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Smart Instagram Strategies for Your Business with Sue B. Zimmerman


Our guest host this week was Sue B. Zimmerman. Sue is a speaker and a top Creative Live instructor. She’s also known as the “Instagram Expert,” which is why she joined our latest chat. She shared a ton of amazing tips for building a presence on Instagram that you’ll want to put to use today.

Q1: How can you determine if Instagram is the right platform for your business?

With so many social media platforms available today, it can be tricky to determine which ones are best for you to invest your time and energy into. So, how can you figure out if Instagram is right for you? Keep these things in mind:

Sue feels Instagram can work for any business. People process visuals faster than text, which can make it a worthwhile platform for you to use.

Are your customers on Instagram? Are your competitors active there? Can you actually commit to building a presence there? Those are questions you need to answer when deciding whether Instagram is right for you.

Tracy agrees! If your audience is on Instagram, your business should be there.

It all goes back to knowing your audience! Are they on Instagram?

Can you accurately and effectively represent your brand on Instagram? You want to make sure it’s the right fit for your brand.

Bill raises a solid point. Can you provide value to your audience on Instagram?

As Sarah said, try it! You won’t really know if a platform works for you unless you give it a go yourself.

Q2: What are key strategies for growth on Instagram?

What do you need to know to see growth on Instagram? We have the answer! Check out some of the tips the chat participants shared on Tuesday:

Sue recommends having an “Instagram Mindset.” She said you need to make taking great photos a priority. After all, Instagram is a visual platform and your followers expect to see quality posts.

Liliana said consistency, quality content, and commitment are three things you need if you want to see growth on Instagram.

We all know hashtags are a must on Instagram. Pamela recommends choosing the right mix of hashtags. Pick those that are popular (but not so popular that your post will get buried in seconds) and align with your audience. Consistency is key, too!

Make sure you’re posting great content and actively engaging with your audience. You have to be present if you want to see results.

Varun said Instagram requires great visuals, relevant hashtags, engagement with your audience, and trend analysis.

Optimize your Instagram strategy by posting when your audience is actively using Instagram. Don’t forget to add relevant hashtags and be social with others.

It’s simple! Know what your audience likes, what they interact with, and which hashtags they’re using.

Sherri knows consistency is key on all social media platforms. You need to post regularly and engage with your audience.

Julia said you need to consistently post great visuals, add relevant hashtags, and include a link in your profile to direct people back to your site.

Q3: How do you ensure you’re posting quality content on Instagram?

Posting quality content is essential on any social media platform. How can you make sure you’re doing a great job on Instagram? Check out these tips:

Sue said engagement confirms if your content is high quality. Are people commenting and taking action on your posts? That’s key!

Pamela recommends seeing how your content sits together and determining the story it’s telling. Make sure the content you’re posting aligns with your brand.

Brittany brings up some great questions you should ask yourself before you hit that “post” button. Would YOU like what you’re about to post? Does it align with your brand? Does it provide value? These are important things to consider.

Make sure your’e also taking the time to take great photos for your Instagram profile. Don’t rush content creation just so you can get something posted. It’s more important to post something great.

As Julia said, you’ll know you’re on the right track when you see those engagement rates start to rise. When people are engaging with your content and starting to follow you, that’s a great sign.

Q4: What are the qualities of a great Instagram caption?

When it comes to Instagram, not only do you need a great image, but you also need a great caption. Here’s how to write one that stands out:

Sue said your caption should educate, inspire, or entertain your audience.

Kristen feels a great caption is one that is succinct and clever. She also knows asking questions is the best way to increase engagement.

Varun recommends finding a sweet spot with your captions when it comes to length. Don’t forget the important CTA to tell your audience what to do next.

Tell a story with your caption!

Don’t forget to proofread before you submit. No one likes typos!

Q5: What are your tips for choosing the right hashtags? How many should you use?

What’s the secret to mastering hashtags? Keep reading these answers to find out:

Sue recommends thinking about where your customers like to hang out. Which hashtags are they actively using?

You have to do a little research to find the right hashtags for your posts and your audience. Once you’ve chosen the right ones, don’t put them in your caption. Instead, post them in a comment.

It’s important to know the answers to the questions Sarah suggested. Which hashtags are your audience using and engaging with? Which ones fit your brand?

Spot on! Using hashtags that are too popular will only result in your posts getting buried within seconds. Choose hashtags that are still popular, but have a smaller audience.

Gary Vaynerchuk knows social media, right? In his book, Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook, he said 11 is the ideal number of hashtags for an Instagram post.

Pamela likes to use Hashtagify to find the right hashtags for her posts.

Q6: What are your favorite tools for managing Instagram?

Make managing your Instagram account even easier with the addition of a few tools! Check these out:

Sue provided a great list of tools! If you haven’t already, be sure to check these out.

Jason is a big fan of Grum. Have you tried it?

Stacey relies on Planoly to help with her Instagram presence.

Crowdfire is great for tracking followers and growth. Squarelovin provides a lot of statistics, including your best times to post.

Brittany loves Iconosquare and Hootsuite for managing her Instagram.

Michael is also a Hootsuite fan.

Sarah uses Buffer to schedule her Instagram posts. She also likes using the Repost app for reposting content from others.

Although it’s not specifically for Instagram, the team at globalHMA loves to use Trello for tracking post ideas and more.

Q7: How do you convert Instagram followers into ROI customers for your business?

So, how do you take someone from an Instagram follower to paying customers? Here’s what you need to know:

Sue knows that you need to provide a CTA if you want your audience to take that next step with you. Direct people to the link in your profile to get them to take action. It’s also so important to build a community first. They’ll be more likely to take action then.

Pamela recommends making a compelling offer in your caption, then directing people to click the link in your bio. You want to move people from Instagram to your website to make a sale or convert them into an email subscriber.

You can use bit.ly to easily track clicks on the link in your Instagram profile.

Make sure you’re taking the time to and effort to nurture the relationships with your followers.

Engaging with your followers is essential if you want them to convert. Show them why they need whatever it is you’re offering.

Sarah recommends offering coupons or contests on Instagram as well. It’s a great way to grow your audience and get them engaging.

Don’t forget to make sure you have a great bio for them to check out when they visit your profile. Include your website link and contact details.

Q8: Which brands are doing an amazing job on Instagram?

Are you in need of some awesome Instagram inspiration? Check out these brands:

Sue thinks Suja Juice does a great job on Instagram.

These are all great accounts that Julia shared! Especially that last one! 😉

Brittany loves Glitter Guide as well as Brit and Co. She’s also a fan of the creatives who are local to her area.

These accounts are definitely ones to check out!

Lori is a big fan of our very own guest host, Sue!

We look forward to seeing you at the next #ContentWritingChat! Mark your calendars weekly for Tuesday at 10 AM CDT for great chats centered around content writing and marketing. Follow @ExpWriters to stay updated on our new topics and guests!