#ContentWritingChat Recap: Let’s Talk Epic Content Marketing with Tor Refsland

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Let’s Talk Epic Content Marketing with Tor Refsland

Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week? There’s no need to worry because we have a value-packed recap for you to check out! Keep reading to find out what you missed from Tuesday’s chat.

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Let’s Talk Epic Content Marketing with Tor Refsland


Our guest host this week was Tor Refsland. He’s an award-winning blogger, a productivity coach, and an entrepreneur. Tor joined our #ContentWritingChat to talk all about content marketing and he shared some amazing tips with us!

Q1: What do the words “epic content writing” mean?

What does “epic content writing” mean to you? Our chat participants had their own interpretations of the phrase, which they shared with us. Check it out:

Pamela said epic content is in-depth and high quality. She knows how important it is to provide useful and accurate information for your audience to consume.

Epic content is content that’s created for your audience. If you don’t write with your audience in mind, how can you ever expect them to read it?

Your content should be engaging and tailored to your unique audience. That’s the key to reaching them and drawing them in!

Julia knows epic content writing will evoke some sort of emotion within your reader. It may shock them, or leave them in awe or utter gratitude after reading what you’ve written.

Q2: Why is it so important to make your content epic?

Now that you know what epic content is, you might be wondering why it’s so important for you to create. Let’s find out:

As Tor said, you only have one chance to make that first impression online. You should strive to over-deliver with your content, which is sure to make your audience fall in love.

Tara knows that we all want our content to be seen! If you spend a bunch of time and effort creating something, you expect great results.

Epic content can build your authority in your field. As Pamela said, you should ask yourself what you want to be known for. Then, choose your content topics accordingly.

Not only does great content build your authority, but it also helps establish trust with your audience. Through your content, they start to see that you really know your stuff.

If you consistently produce epic content, it’s going to help you stand out and get noticed by your audience. And they’re sure to keep coming back for more!

Q3: What can epic content do for your brand and business?

So, what exactly can epic content do for you? We have the answer! Take a look at what some of the participants in Tuesday’s chat had to say:

Tor said epic content can position you as an authority in your niche. Once you’ve proven yourself as an authority, you can influence more people and it allows you to charge a premium price for products and services.

Katria said your content can give your brand credibility, a human voice, and a reason for people to keep visiting your site.

Creating epic content on a consistent basis can help generate awareness for your brand, establish you as an authority in your field, and help you build a connection with your readers.

Do you want to be the go-to person in your field? Of course! Brittany knows your content can help establish your brand’s presence and position you as a leader in your industry.

Great content can also become amazing word-of-mouth advertising for your brand. When people read something epic, they can’t help but to share it with their friends.

When you put the time and effort into crafting amazing content, it shows your audience you care about a particular topic/industry as much as they do.

Here are Express Writers, we know just how important epic content can be! Julia shared a link to our recent case study all about how content fuels the Express Writers brand.

Remember that your content is an extension of your brand, so make sure you’re only publishing the best!

As Bill said, holding yourself to epic content standards will keep you accountable to your followers. You don’t want to let them down, after all!

Q4: How important is it to find your voice when it comes to creating epic content?

Finding your voice and injecting that into the content you create is so important! Here’s why:

Tor said the only way to truly stand out and attract people to your tribe is to write in your own voice. That’s what will draw people to you and make them like you and your brand.

Julia feels it’s crucial to know your voice. She said to be confident in using it!

As Megan said, your voice is what makes your content unique. It provides that human connection your readers are seeking.

Once you have found your voice, you should stay consistent by using that same voice with every piece of content you create.

Q5: Why do you think most people are struggling with creating epic content?

Why do some people struggle with creating epic content? Find out:

Don’t take shortcuts. Epic content takes time and effort to create. There’s no way around that, friends!

Tara said to ditch the imposter syndrome if you want to create epic content. She encourages everyone to own their expert status!

Many struggle because they don’t know their audience well enough. You need to know and understand your audience in order to create the right content for them.

It can take time to understand your audience and figure out what they truly want. If you aren’t sure what to write about, ask them what they’d like to see. They’ll tell you.

Remember: Writing is hard and it takes practice to create something great. You need to keep working at it and your skills will get better.

Q6: Is epic content enough to stand out in the overcrowded marketplace?

Is amazing content enough to help you stand out online? We asked and you answered! Here’s what some participants had to say during the chat:

Tor knows it’s all about a combination of epic content and epic promotion if you want to stand out online.

Epic content requires epic marketing! To get more eyeballs on your content, you need to spread the word about what you’ve created.

As Lex said, epic content gets people through the door. You need to provide a great product and an amazing customer experience if you really want people to take notice.

Zachary agrees with Lex. Customer service is so important when it comes to your brand.

Tony knows epic content is great, but engaging your audience is one way to truly stand out with your audience.

People need to like you if you want to succeed as a brand! Focus on making that personal connection with your audience.

Jessy got it right with her answer. You need to be human, engage with your audience, and provide help when they need it. Don’t forget that excellent customer service is a must, too!

Q7: What is the best way to get more eyeballs on your epic content?

So, you’ve created this amazing piece of content. Now what? You need to get people reading what you’ve created! Here’s how to do it:

Tor suggests promoting like your life depends on it! Start spreading the word about your epic content.

Promote, promote, promote! Don’t forget to spread the word about your own content.

Have a promotion strategy in place so you can test to see what works and what doesn’t.

Get to know your audience and figure out where they’re spending time online, what makes them convert, and more. Understand them so you can create and promote with them in mind.

Make use of social media and your email newsletter for promotion. You can also help spread the word through speaking engagements and conferences.

When scheduling for social media, make sure you’re hitting multiple time zones to reach extra eyeballs.

You can use influencer relationships as a way to spread the word about your content.

Zala said sharing is caring! Make sure you’re sharing the content others create and they’ll be more likely to return the favor by sharing yours, too.

If you want people to share your work, make it easy for them to do so. Providing great content will keep them coming back.

Zachary said to become a valuable member of your community. Contribute and be of service instead of only promoting your own content. That’s a must!

Q8: If you have epic content and PR, is that enough to run a profitable business?

Is epic content and PR enough to succeed? Here’s what we found out in the chat:

Tor said to know how to monetize in order to turn a profit. You have to start by connecting with your audience and serving them.

Julia said YES because that’s exactly what she’s been able to do here at Express Writers.

If you’re a service-based business, you probably need some clients to make a profit!

Debi said everything needs to be in synchronicity in order to run well.

Your product has to be as good as your promotion. User experience and quality make a huge difference when it comes to business.

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!

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Content Inc.: Strategies on Building Your Audience First with Joe Pulizzi

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Content Inc.: Strategies on Building Your Audience First with Joe Pulizzi

Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week? There’s no need to worry because we have a recap that’s jam-packed with amazing tips! Let’s dive right in!

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Content Inc.: Strategies on Building Your Audience First with Joe Pulizzi


Our guest host this week was none other than Joe Pulizzi! Joe is person who coined the term content marketing, and the founder of Content Marketing Institute. He’s also a speaker and an author on content marketing. He shared some amazing tips during our chat all about building your audience online.

Q1: How can content help you build your online brand or presence?

You probably hear others talk about the importance of content all the time, but how exactly does it help you build your brand? Let’s break it down:

The first thing to keep in mind is this piece of advice Joe offered. Content for content’s sake won’t do anything for your brand. You shouldn’t just create because that’s what you’re supposed to do. The content you publish should add value and serve a purpose within your brand. Remember that!

Joe’s next piece of advice is to find a niche that you can be the leading resource/expert for. It’s important that you show your audience that you know your stuff to help build trust with them.

Content can be what helps your company stand out from the rest. It’s also a great way to connect with your audience and establish a level of trust with them.

The content you create can lend itself to establishing you as a thought leader in your field. You just need to make sure you’re generating original and thought-provoking content. Great answer, Katie!

As Maureen said, content can also help build your presence through SEO. Focus on answering the questions your audience has and providing value to them. It helps to build trust and shows your expertise.

Malayna knows great content can help you grow relationships with your audience, which is crucial for your success.

Edanry summed it all up with his answer. Content helps build SEO while developing a framework for authority, expertise, and trustworthiness.

Q2: What do you need to know about your audience in order to create content they’ll love?

Now that you know why great content is so important, you need to understand your audience in order to create content that appeals to them. Here’s what you need to know about your audience:

What keeps your audience up at night? Where do they hang out online? Who do they trust? Who are your attention competitors? Joe recommends answering these questions to get to know your audience even better.

Many people from Tuesday’s chat agreed on this one! You need to know the pain points of your audience. What problems do they have? Create content that solves those issues for them.

Jenn said you need to know who they are, where they are, and what they’re all about. Knowing your audience is really the foundation of creating content.

Jessie said that once you know your audience and where they are, you can tailor your content to speak directly to them.

Once you know what your audience wants, make sure you create top-notch content that provides them with the answers they’re looking for. Your audience expects the best and they deserve it.

Q3: Which content formats should you create for your audience?

There are a lot of content formats you can choose from, which can make it tricky to figure out which one you should pursue. To help, keep these tips in mind:

As Joe said, any content format can work. He recommends choosing one and sticking to it. When you can do that one thing really well, it’s going to help you stand out from the crowd.

Tim’s advice is to consider what your audience likes the most. You want to choose a format that will resonate with them. If you aren’t sure, ask them what they’d like to see.

You also want to choose content formats that are enjoyable for you to create. For example, if you just aren’t comfortable in front of the camera and you feel awkward no matter how much you practice, don’t force yourself to do video. Choose content formats that feel good to you and show off your strengths.

Amalia shared some great content formats to try: video, podcasts, infographics, images, and written articles. Try creating these to see what feels right to you and what your audience enjoys.

A friendly reminder from David: don’t forget to repurpose your content. Don’t let the content in your archives go to waste. Find ways to repurpose it and bring new life to it.

Q4: How can you build your audience organically through consistent content creation?

If you’re ready to start building your audience through your content, keep these tips in mind:

Joe said the two drivers to building an audience are valuable, target content and consistent delivery.

Listen to the needs of your audience and serve them through the content you create. They’ll love you for it.

Make sure you’re consistently producing quality content to keep your audience coming back for more. Building that audience won’t happen overnight, so you have to keep at it.

That’s a great way to look at it, Bill!

Don’t forget to actually engage with your audience while doing all of that creating. Take the time to truly connect with them.

Q5: What are ways to use social media to grow your audience?

Social media is a great tool to grow your audience and connect with them. However, if you aren’t sure how to do that, the whole process can feel a little overwhelming. Here’s what you need to know:

Joe recommends building influencer relationships. Help them spread the word about their content and build a level of trust.

Josh said to join communities on social media. Use them as an opportunity to listen, learn, and help people.

The key is to figure out where your audience is on social media and be present there. Make sure you’re engaging with them.

As Liliana said, social media can amplify your reach and get you exposure in front of new audiences.

Make sure you share your brand’s personality. Allow people to see the person behind the logo. Giving followers a behind-the-scenes look is always great.

Tim agrees with showing your personality. It helps your audience build a stronger connection with you.

Jessie recommends trying Facebook ads as a way to expand your reach. You can also add hashtags on Twitter and Instagram to get your content in front of new people.

Don’t forget Twitter chats are a great way to build your audience.

As Zala said, social media provides communication channels that allow you to connect with your audience. You’re able to nurture your relationships this way.

Q6: How important is it to build the Know, Like, and Trust Factor with your audience?

How important is that KLT Factor? Here’s what some people from Tuesday’s chat had to say about it:

When people know, like, and trust you, they’ll be more likely to buy from you. Joe also said you don’t have to be liked by everyone. You just need your people to like you.

Quite a few people during the chat agreed. It’s hard to make a sale without first establishing trust.

This is a great way to view it, Maureen! Buyers won’t marry you on the first date. You have to woo them first.

Julia has heard something similar to what Maureen said. It all goes back to wooing your audience first.

You’re competing with a lot of other content creators out there. If you build trust with your audience, they’ll come to you first.

Building trust won’t happen overnight either. It takes time and effort.

Consistency and trust go hand-in-hand.

Q7: How can you measure which pieces of content your audience is responding to?

Once you’ve published your content, you want to make sure it’s working. Here’s how to find out:

Joe recommends focusing on what keeps subscribers and gets new ones.

Start by setting goals for your content so you know what you hope to achieve. Knowing this information will help you see what you need to measure and track. Google Analytics is always a great tool to use.

Julia said to measure conversations, real interest, leads, and revenue. That will show you whether or not you’re seeing results.

Don’t forget to check your analytics and social insights. Jessie likes to use Sprout Social for this.

Track engagement on social media, as well as comments, clicks, conversions, and sales.

Look at your open rates, engagement rates, downloads, site stats, and more.

Use Google Analytics to track clicks and conversions.

David knows email opt-ins are another great metric to track.

Q8: What tools can help you grow your audience?

Which tools can be a big help when trying to grow your audience? Give these suggestions a shot:

Joe said to start with analytics and an email tool. If you don’t have an audience already, be prepared to spend some money to grow.

David suggested having effective opt-ins on your site in order to land more email subscribers.

Julia is a big fan of Drift, SEMrush, Keyword Finder, and ConvertKit.

This is a great list of tools from the Legacy Consulting team!

Nicholas relies on Hootsuite and has been focused on video content.

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!

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#ContentWritingChat Recap: How Brands Can be at Their Most Productive with Content Marketing with Jess Ostroff

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How Brands Can be at Their Most Productive with Content Marketing with Jess Ostroff

Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this Tuesday? We’ve got you covered with a recap of our latest chat where we talked all about content marketing.

#ContentWritingChat Recap: How Brands Can be at Their Most Productive with Content Marketing with Jess Ostroff


Our guest host this week was Jess Ostroff. Jess is the Managing Editor at Convince & Convert as well as the CEO & Director at Don’t Panic Management. She joined our chat to share her tips on productivity when it comes to content marketing.

Q1: How do you maintain productivity in content marketing? What are your best tips?

Chat participants shared some amazing tips on Tuesday. Check out some of the ones that were shared:

Jess knows just how big of a difference planning can make. When you take the time to plan your content marketing efforts, you’re going to see a huge difference in terms of your productivity.

Julia agrees in the importance of planning. Set aside time to plan your content marketing strategy and don’t let anything distract you. Just stay focused!

The Convince & Convert team knows well-honed processes and communication are essential. They rely on their team member, Jess, to keep them accountable.

Brainstorm ideas and then move them into your content calendar. Having a content calendar is the best way to plan everything in advance. You should also set clear goals for your content so you know which metrics are most important to track

Automating certain tasks can definitely be helpful. Use social media scheduling tools like Buffer or create time-saving recipes in IFTTT.

Jenn’s advice is simple, yet effective. Set a schedule and stick to it.

While planning is great, Christoph knows that you shouldn’t let it stop you from catching an unusual and worthwhile story that doesn’t fit the list.

Q2: How can you hone in on where your ROI sweet spot is in content marketing?

How can you figure out what that ROI sweet spot is? Read these tips from the chat:

As Jess said, before you start you need to figure out what you’re going to use to measure. She reminds us that you shouldn’t just look at the return, but you should also consider the investment as well.

It’s important to listen to your customers. Know their pain points and address them with your content.

It all starts with having a clear picture of your goals and aligning them with your target ROIs.

Ross said it starts with understanding your business goals. You need to know what they are in order to create.

Andy knows you have to keep testing. Running A/B tests is a great way to see what your audience is responding to.

Q3: How do you begin the process of creating worthwhile content? Tips on planning/mapping?

The content creation process isn’t always easy, but our chat participants shared some awesome tips on Tuesday. Check out what they had to say and implement them for yourself:

Jess said you need to start with knowing who your audience is so you can figure out what they need to hear. She then recommends considering your deadline and working backwards from there. It’s a great way to keep you on track.

Jess even shared a helpful timeline for creating slide decks or eBooks. This is sure to come in handy!

It goes back to knowing and understanding who your audience is. Create the content that is valuable to them and provides some sort of benefit.

If you’re stuck for ideas, Ray said to ask your audience what they want to see. They’re the best ones to get an answer from after all.

Writing for SEO is not the way to go. You need to focus on solving problems and providing value first, then optimize for search engines.

For Andy, he suggests using a whiteboard and sticky notes or tool like Trello to map out ideas.

If Leah needs to do some brainstorming, she takes her dogs for a walk since it’s when she does her best thinking. Sometimes getting away from the desk, moving around, and getting some fresh air makes a huge difference.

If you have a team by your side, take advantage of that. Work together to understand your audience and come up with content they’ll love. Two heads are better than one, you know!

Q4: Which tools do you rely on to boost productivity in content marketing?

With so many tools available at our fingertips today, we had to ask everyone in the chat what they love to use. Here’s what some of them said:

Sometimes you just can’t beat good ol’ pen and paper! When Jess turns to tools, she loves CoSchedule for content planning and schedule plus BuzzSumo for finding and analyzing topics.

Sarah relies on analytics to see what’s working, as well as a calendar to stay on track. The boss breathing down your neck will certainly get you moving, too!

Awesome tools list, Ray! Hootsuite, Trello, WordPress, Asana, Google Docs, Canva, and Evernote certainly make a powerful productivity arsenal.

Buffer, IFTTT, Slack, and Hootsuite are all great tools to use.

Megan loves Write or Die, CoSchedule, Buffer, Excel, and OneNote.

Zala recommends setting up a system that keeps you running. It should be a combination of tools, workflow, and time to produce. Remember that what works for someone else might not work for you, so make your process your own.

Q5: How can you effectively scale your content marketing to get more ROI and reach?

Check out these tips from Tuesday’s chat:

Jess recommends thinking about creating at least 10 pieces of smaller content from one big piece. She said you can create graphics, sound bites, short videos, and more.

This is another important tip from Jess. Don’t create content for content’s sake. It should serve a purpose by helping your audience, solving a problem, or making them laugh.

Debi said to address the pain points of your audience and provide solutions. You can lead them to a resolution with your content or offering.

Segmentation will allow you to create custom content tailored for specific people in your audience, which provides you with better results.

Building relationships should always be a top priority.

Remember to have a clear plan in place and adjust as needed to increase your reach and improve ROI.

Q6: How do you know your content marketing is working?

How do you know you’re achieving the results you’d hoped for? Here’s what you need to keep in mind:

Jess recommends setting metrics in the beginning and then you should constantly measure. She suggests measuring 30, 60, and even 90 days later.

Know your goals so you can measure the right metrics.

Ask yourself if you’re getting closer to your goals and if your audience resonates with the content you’re sharing.

Lex brings up a great point about social shares. You may receive a lot of shares, but few conversions. Social sharing isn’t necessarily a sign that your business is growing because it’s not a guarantee someone actually read your content.

Debi said to keep an eye on engagement and conversions. It lets you know your audience is resonating with your content.

Engagement is key!

You want to see that conversations are happening and that leads are coming in. They mean much more than traffic and social shares.

Q7: Discuss favorite/unusual ways you’ve been able to achieve results with your own content marketing.

Do you have any favorite or unusual ways to achieve results? Here’s what some of the people in Tuesday’s chat had to say:

Jess says to tap into niche audiences and start creating content.

These strategies help Sarah and the ThinkSEM team!

When you can successfully turn one piece of content into a video and appeal to a new audience, that’s huge!

That sure sounds like a win!

Q8: What are 1-4 top content marketing platforms/tactics for 2016 and beyond?

What are the topic content marketing platforms and tactics you need to know about? Check these answers out:

Jess feels predictive analytics are going to take over. She also said that people will think outside the box to form a deeper connection with smaller audience as opposed to reaching the masses.

Great point from Sarah! Ultimately, it depends on your audience. You need to consider what’s right for them.

Andy said LinkedIn Pulse is a great tool for publishing.

For Jenn, she plans to launch a podcast, restructure webinars, and launch Snapchat for conferences. Sounds great!

Between live video and YouTube, video content is sure to grow even more!

Julia thinks Instagram Stories is where it’s at right now! She also thinks podcasting, video marketing, and webinars will continue to be powerful tools.

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!

A Guide to Twitter Chats: Why They’re a Huge Opportunity, How to Join, & 5 of Our Favorites

A Guide to Twitter Chats: Why They’re a Huge Opportunity, How to Join, & 5 of Our Favorites

Have you joined any Twitter chats before?

If not, it’s safe to say you’re missing out on an incredible opportunity. And I’m not saying that just because Express Writers has our own monthly chat, #ContentWritingChat.

Twitter chats bring likeminded people together from all over the world. They provide a place for everyone to share their thoughts, offer advice, and ask questions. Not only that, but the right chats could lead to new friendships and even potential clients for your brand. That’s why it’s time you take advantage of them.

To help you see the true value in Twitter chats, this guide shares their benefits, tips for joining in on the fun, and five chats to add to your calendar ASAP.

twitter chats

Why Twitter Chats Are a Huge Opportunity for Your Brand

Twitter chats are a live conversation in which a host asks questions and encourages participants to share their thoughts and opinions. These chats are an hour long and typically happen on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis. And there’s usually a specific topic for each new chat. It’s essentially one big hangout where people with similar interests can come together and talk.

It sounds great, right? But why do these chats present such a huge opportunity for those who are using Twitter to build their online presence?

Here are three reasons participating in Twitter chats is great for your brand:

  • They Help You Make Connections: With so many likeminded people together for a lively hour of Twitter chatting, it’s a great way to make friends or discover potential customers who may be interested in purchasing your brand’s offerings.
  • You Get to Share Your Expertise: Positioning yourself as an authority in your field is essential to establishing your brand and also building trust with your target audience. Through Twitter chats, you can share your knowledge, showing people that you really know your stuff.
  • They’re a Great Place to Learn: Not only do you get to share what you know, but you’ll be able to learn from others who are participating in these chats. You never know when someone might share a game-changing tip or trick that will help you take your online presence to the next level.

How to Join a Twitter Chat: 4 Tips for Being a Great Participant

To get started, you’ll want to identify different Twitter chats in your niche that you may be interested in. If you’re using chats as a way to grow your brand, you’ll want to be strategic about the ones you join. Meaning, it’ll be smart to participate in chats where you can showcase your expertise and connect with your target audience. Once you’ve selected a few, you just need to schedule time to join them.

Once that time comes, there are a few rules you’ll want to keep in mind.

1. Label your answers with A1, A2, etc. This is a pretty standard rule for all Twitter chats. The reason you want to do this is because it helps other participants match your answers with the correct question. If someone wanted to read all the responses to the first question, yours will be easy to identify.

2. Engage with others. Once you’re in the chat, don’t just share your answers to the questions and ignore the others who are also responding. Make an effort to interact with those who are joining in by replying to their answers and adding your own thoughts. You can even ask questions to further the conversation.

3. No self-promotion. Sharing a link to a blog post you know would be helpful is one thing, but you definitely don’t want to spend the hour promoting your content and offerings. Doing so may come off a little sleazy and kind of intrudes on the host of the chat.

Twitter chat rules for #ContentWritingChat

4. Follow any other rules the chat may have. Some hosts make it a point to share set “house rules” for their chat. If you find yourself in a chat with rules like this, please be respectful of them. For example, our chat has a few simple rules that you can see in the graphic above.

5 Twitter Chats to Add to Your Calendar

Now that you’re prepared to be an amazing participant in Twitter chats, you’ll need to find a few to join. Luckily, I’ve rounded up a list of some great options for content creators and marketers.

1. #CMWorld, Hosted by @CMIContent

If you’re a content marketing expert or wanting to learn more about being a content creation pro, mark your calendars for every Tuesday at 12 PM Eastern. That’s when #CMWorld from Content Marketing Institute takes place. This chat always features knowledgeable guests and educational topics, so you’re sure to learn something that you can implement for your brand.

2. #semrushchat, Hosted by @Semrush

If you love SEO, digital marketing, and everything in between, #semrushchat is the place to be. Hosted by our friends at Semrush, you’ll learn all sorts of amazing tips that will help you get your content ranking on the first page of those Google search results. If you want to join, this chat happens every Wednesday at 11 AM Eastern Time.

graphic for #TwitterSmarter chat

3. #TwitterSmarter, Hosted by @MadalynSklar

Don’t let the name fool you! While Madalyn Sklar’s #TwitterSmarter chat is often focused on Twitter-related conversations, she still covers general social media topics that appeal to all marketers. It’s a must for anyone wanting to stand out on social media. This chat is held every Thursday at 1 PM Eastern Time.

4. #ContentChat, Hosted by @SFErika

Here at Express Writers, we love Twitter chats that teach the value of creating great content. That’s exactly what Erika Heald does every Monday at 3 PM Eastern during #ContentChat. This chat covers topics like content marketing, social media, email marketing, and more.

5. #Digital360Chat, Hosted by @B2the7

Bernie Fussenegger leads the #Digital360Chat every Friday at 12 PM Eastern. The way he’s set up this chat is rather unique. One chat per month is dedicated to sharing tips focused on marketing (digital and social media). Then, the rest of the chats are an “In the Spotlight” feature that is centered around a specific marketer and their career.

Join Us for #ContentWritingChat!

While you’re adding these awesome chats to your calendar, there’s one more you don’t want to forget. And that’s our very own, #ContentWritingChat! It takes place on the first Tuesday of every month at 10 AM Central Time. We chat about all sorts of topics from content marketing to SEO and social media. It’s the place to be for content creators.

Make sure you follow us @ExpWriters and @writingchat so you don’t miss out!

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Your Best Content Marketing Tips with Barry Feldman

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Your Best Content Marketing Tips with Barry Feldman

Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week? You can get caught up with our recap of the chat! If you want to step up your game when it comes to your content marketing, this is one recap you’ll want to read through!

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Your Best Content Marketing Tips with Barry Feldman


Our guest host this week was Barry Feldman. Barry is a content marketing consultant, copywriter, creative director, social media advisor, and an author. We were thrilled to have him joining us this week to talk about content marketing.

Q1: Define “content marketing.”

To kick off the chat, we asked participants to define content marketing. While it’s a pretty common phrase, it’s not one everyone is familiar with, so don’t feel bad if you don’t fully understand it yet. This recap will help! Here are some of the answers we received:

Barry defined content marketing as publishing content to pull prospects closer to your brand. When creating a content marketing strategy for your brand, you want to make sure what you publish online serves a purpose and helps you achieve your goals.

Having a strategic plan for your content will help you see major results within your business.

It’s all about creating quality, valuable content that will help you reach your goals.

Tracy said it’s about providing content that meets the needs of your audience. Your content should add value and answer their questions.

As Tara said, content marketing is about getting the right content to the right people. That’s a must!

Bill has a pretty handy reminder of the definition of content marketing.

Q2: Could content marketing be a more powerful strategy than any other form of online marketing?

What are your thoughts? Is content marketing more powerful than other forms of marketing? Here’s what some of the participants in Tuesday’s chat had to say:

Barry definitely feels content marketing is powerful, but you have to commit to it.

Jacob feels the reason content marketing is so powerful is because it’s changed the conversation to understanding your buyers’ problems.

As Scott said, content marketing is important because it helps your brand connect and engage with your audience.

Liliana said that it’s impossible to acquire and nurture audiences without content.

Connecting with your audience is key!

Julia knows firsthand how powerful content marketing can be since she’s seen the results in growing Express Writers.

Q3: Define “content strategy.”

What does “content strategy” mean? Check out these responses:

Barry said content strategy is about creating a plan that answers the who, what, where, and why.

Sarah said content strategy is the planning/execution of useful, relevant, and shareable content for your audience. Great answer!

It’s all about finding the perfect audience for your stories, just like playing matchmaker. We like the way you look at this, Bill!

Andy said planning your content is about making sure the right audience sees your content.

You want to create unique content with your audience in mind. Focus on engaging them and teaching, then distribute it.

Content strategy is also about the development and collaboration process that comes along with content creation.

A content strategy shows how you will provide value to your audience and how you’re going to share what you create.

Cheryl and FirstFound shared some great answers for this question. They both agreed that it starts with knowing you audience. Who are you writing for? Figure out what they want and choose the best platform for creating and sharing that content.

Q4: Discuss the elements of an effective content marketing strategy.

What makes up an effective content marketing strategy? Check out these tips:

A key element of your content marketing strategy is knowing who your content will appeal to. You have to understand your audience and keep them in mind as you create. You also have to figure out what content you’ll publish. Figure out where you will publish your content and the purpose it will serve.

Jacob and Zachary know it all goes back to understand your audience. You have to start there.

It’s all about those goals! Have clear goals in mind for your content so you know what you’re working toward. Figure out who your audience is and how you’ll get conversions so you can see amazing results.

Brittany agrees. You need to understand your goals, your audience, and how you’re going to measure your efforts.

Bill said your content must be relevant and valuable. Define your target audience and create content with them in mind.

Your content should be engaging. Incorporating visuals is always a great way to grab the attention of your audience. You should also be informative and provide your audience with the content they’d want to see.

Tara said an effective content marketing strategy should address the pain points your buyers are facing.

Jenn shared a few questions that are important to ask yourself when creating a content marketing strategy. What are you saying? Who are you saying it to? Where/when are you saying it? Why are you saying it? How should you say it? It’s a lot of questions, but they’re important to answer.

Creating content that resonates with your audience is an absolute must!

Q5: What are ways to be consistent at and maintain a great content marketing strategy for your brand?

How can you be consistent and maintain your content marketing strategy? Take a look at this advice from Tuesday’s chat:

Barry feels it’s important to create a content marketing culture within your company. Get your team on board! He also said you should stick to your strategy, but don’t be afraid to experiment with new things.

An editorial calendar is a must to help you plan out your content. You also want to have resources and experience content assistance so you can grow.

Create an editorial calendar every month so you can enter each new month prepared. It helps to eliminate any stress. It allows helps ensure your content is strategic and serves a purpose.

Check in with your strategy on a regular basis and ask yourself a few important questions. Am I giving my audience what they want? Is my content converting? Am I getting there before my competition?

Justine said you should always be yourself. Speak with your unique voice and your audience will embrace it.

Keep the voice of your brand consistent. Even when you bring new writers on board, make sure they are aligned with your goals and maintain the vibe of your brand.

Debi also knows brand consistency is key.

Michael said a consistent content marketing strategy requires planning, scheduling, and monitoring.

If you want to be consistent, you have to make content marketing a priority.

Q6: How can you track the value of your content marketing strategy?

Once you’ve created a content marketing strategy, you need to be able to track your results. Here’s how:

Know what success means to you. What goals are you trying to reach? That will help you determine how you should track results.

Julia knows that social media shares aren’t necessarily the best reflection of your success with content marketing. Conversations and interactions are much more valuable.

Keep an eye on your analytics. Track number of shares, how many visitors you received, and which pieces of content are the most popular.

Track visitors, potential leads, and conversions on your content.

Keep an eye on pageviews, average time on page, and referral traffic to see how people are responding to your content and where traffic is coming from.

Take feedback from your readers into consideration. What are they saying in your blog comments? What are they saying in response to your emails? What are they posting on social media?

Google Analytics is definitely a must!

Brandie likes to use a tool called Sniply to track her conversions.

Q7: What are the major don’ts in content marketing?

When it comes to content marketing, what should you avoid? Check out these responses:

Barry said you shouldn’t expect fast results. If you stay dedicated and are consistent, you’ll see the rewards in time.

Don’t assume anything. Don’t forget to track and set your goals. Don’t create crappy content. Don’t stop trying for more success.

Don’t ignore your testing phase. You need to keep an eye on your metrics to know what’s working and what’s not.

Don’t oversell, create dry or boring content, ignore your audience, or offend anyone. Those are all no-nos!

Don’t put out content for the sake of putting out content. It’s more important to have quality content than a quantity of content.

Lack of consistency is a huge don’t.

Don’t forget to make your business stand out from the crowd. Find ways to differentiate yourself from others.

That’s one strategy you’d be smart to avoid!

Don’t give your audience what you want to give them. You have to give them what they want.

Don’t leave your audience hanging if they engage with your content. Respond to them!

Q8: Share a few wins you’ve had from your own content marketing.

We asked chat participants to share some wins they’ve experience. Here’s what they said:

For Barry, guest blogging has exploded his reach online. It’s definitely a powerful way to connect with a new audience. He’s also had great results with Slideshare and infographics.

Julia shared her major wins with Express Writers. Awesome!

That’s definitely a win, Jenn!

High-quality, high domain authority links are a win in Sarah’s book.

Great job, Andy!

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!

Want a free strategy call to discover what kind of content you need to reach your online goals? Contact us today!