Our guest host this week was Debbie Williams. Debbie is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer at SPROUT Content.
Q1: Why is it important to create the highest quality content for your audience?
You hear people say all the time that you need to create high-quality content for your audience. Why is it so important? Here’s what some of the participants in Tuesday’s chat had to say:
Our CEO, Julia, knows the content you publish is a representation of your brand. Make sure you’re putting your best foot forward by sharing only the best with your audience.
As Atulmaharaj said, he feels his audience deserves the best. Your audience does too! Make sure you provide top-notch content every single time you publish.
A1: I guess my question would be, why wouldn’t you want to provide highest quality content? Strive to be the best! #ContentWritingChat
Kristen feels great content is filled with actionable tips, detailed examples, and explanations. When you go that extra mile, it really helps to build your authority.
A2. Go deep. Show your expertise with solidly-written case studies. Provide answers, become a go-to source. #contentwritingchat
Consider sharing case studies with your audience. Not only does it show off your expertise, but it helps establish you as a reputable source.
Q3: How can you figure out what kind of content your audience is looking for?
Now that you know why it’s important to create high-quality content, how can you figure out what you should create? Here are a few tips to find out what your audience is looking for:
Great advice from Debbie! She suggests reaching out to the sales team for your brand to find out what prospects are asking. Create content that addresses those concerns. If you don’t have a sales team, you can still tune into your audience by checking responses you receive on email or social media.
Sarah knows that it can take a little trial and error to figure out what your audience is truly interested in. Make sure you’re keeping an eye on your analytics to see what people are engaging with and where they’re converting.
A3: This is where engaging w/ your audience is huge! Either ask them, see which content received the most feedback, etc. #contentwritingchat
Quite a few of you had the same answer for this question. Ask them! Don’t be afraid to reach out to your audience and ask what they’d like to see. Ask what they’re struggling with and what they’re interested in. There’s no guessing involved here. They’ll tell you what they want.
Debbie recommends writing a great introduction to your content. You want to hook them in the beginning to keep them reading. She also said to focus on quality over quantity. Don’t add more words to make your piece longer. It’s just fluff.
A4 Being THE most in-depth piece on the topic. Taking the time, research, WORK to get there. Be the anti of superficial. #ContentWritingChat
You should also write in a way that’s understandable and relatable for your audience. Always keep them in mind whenever you’re creating content. Don’t forget to use proper grammar!
#ContentWritingChat A4b: Make a piece easier to digest by including HELPFUL elements e.g. image demonstrations, videos, examples, etc.
Debbie’s advice is to provide your own insights. Don’t just copy what has already been said many times before. Be unique. Make sure you also take the time to optimize your content for search engines. Debbie also said you shouldn’t leave your reader hanging. Tell them what to do next by providing a call to action (CTA).
A6. Never plagiarize, never steal, always give credit where it’s due. #ContentWritingChat
Our Content Manager, Katria, knows having a reliable and passionate team behind your brand makes a huge difference. They can help you create amazing content your audience will love.
A7. Don’t sacrifice quality for quantity. Posting often is great, but every piece of content needs to be ? #contentwritingchat
Jenn knows that it’s not just the content powerhouses that make a difference. The ones who see things differently and provide their unique views really stand out.
Here at Express Writers, we’re focused on having more team members contribute to our blog. It’s a great way for you to see who is behind the brand. Make sure you keep an eye on our blog for more!
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!
Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week? If you did, you missed a pretty special chat! However, there’s no need to worry because we have you covered with a recap of Tuesday’s chat. Let’s dive in!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: Avoiding Duplicate Content- How to Ensure You’re Staying Original Online with Joshua McCoy
The reason this week’s chat was extra special is because we were actually joined by our very own, Josh McCoy. Josh is the CTO here at Express Writers and he’s the founder of soon-to-be-launched Copyfind, a new tool he’s building that will offer the deepest duplicate content search on the web! Our own Julia McCoy is the co-founder. Sign up to get on the waiting list here.
Q1: What is “duplicate content”? Define.
Do you know what “duplicate content” means on the web? Here’s what some participants in Tuesday’s chat had to say:
A1 Online content that matches substantive bits of other content, within domains or platforms. #ContentWritingChat
If you were wondering what Google has to say about duplicate content, there definition is in the tweet above. Thanks to Julia (our CEO who was behind the @Copyfind account) for sharing this!
Katria knows duplicate content doesn’t have to be word-for-word. If it’s very similar in wording or structure, Google may still pick it up as being duplicated.
Q2: How important is it for you to make sure you’re publishing only original content?
Check out what some participants said about the importance of publishing original content:
A2 It’s a no-no to copy content and post as yours – even if unintended. Always search & make sure you’re 100% original #ContentWritingChat
As Josh said, it’s important to make sure you’re always being 100% original. Copying content from someone else isn’t cool! It’s worth it to search and make sure you aren’t stealing from someone else.
Even if it’s accidental, you face consequences for duplicating someone else’s content. You risk being penalized by Google and could even face copyright infringement for serious offences. Those are two things you don’t want to deal with.
A2: I think original content is extremely important if you are trying to establish and build your reputation #ContentWritingChat
It looks like Stephanie agrees about original content being vital. She said it speaks to your voice, authenticity, knowledge, and authority on a topic.
A2. Utmost importance! Not only are you protecting your brand, but you’re also growing credibility. #ContentWritingChat@ExpWriters
As Josh said, news is good when it comes to syndication. News articles are often syndicated and picked up by multiple websites. However, he recommends being careful with syndicated blog feeds.
A3 If it’s news, syndication is fine. If it’s not news, be careful not to overdo. Originality is best on your key sites. #ContentWritingChat
The Digital Chic said syndication should be about curation, amplification, and further promotion to new audiences.
Q4: If you’re using someone else’s quote or idea inside a piece of original content, how do you properly source?
It’s perfectly find to use someone else’s quote or idea in your own content. You just have to make sure you’re properly crediting the original source. Here’s some advice on how to do that:
Attribution is key! If you quote someone, you should consider asking for permission first. You can easily reach out to the source via social media or email.
A4: Always give credit. I usually reach out on Twitter asking for permission to share/include. Then link to them in post #ContentWritingChat
You should always make sure you link back to the original source and credit the author. It’s simple, but it’s an absolute must. You should also respect their wishes if the source would prefer you didn’t include their quote or idea.
A4. Depends on the platform and the context; could be a handle, hashtag, link, or all of the above. #ContentWritingChat@ExpWriters
As Rachel said, you should consider the platform as well. You could include someone’s social media handle, add a hashtag, or just have a link. You could even use a combination of all three.
A4: Always source! Always mention the person / company and a relevant link if possible (website, article, or twitter) #ContentWritingChat
Melanie said to mention the person or company that the quote or idea came from. You should also include a relevant link back to their website, an article, or a Twitter handle.
Jenn said she hasn’t been monitoring as much as she should. She does track linkbacks in WordPress and searches Twitter to see when others are sharing her content.
A6. I honestly never even thought about searching to see if someone was copying me. Lol I guess I should do that ? #contentwritingchat
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!
Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week? Check out the recap and learn everything you need to know about leveraging your social presence and how to find clients with Twitter!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: How to Find Clients with Twitter with David Boutin of Social Quant
Our guest host this week was David Boutin. David is a digital marketer, writer, and marketer over at Social Quant.
Q1: What are ways to build potential customer/audience following and trust on Twitter?
If your business doesn’t know how to find clients on Twitter, you’re really missing out! These tips from Tuesday’s chat will have you building trust and attract all the right people to your account:
A1) It’s all about providing value. With every Tweet you make, ask yourself: “Will my audience care about this?” #ContentWritingChat
As David said, it’s all about providing value. If you want to build trust with your audience and show your expertise, you need to share valuable content with them. Before you post that next tweet, ask yourself if your audience will actually care about what you’re sharing.
A1: Curate content instead of going with 100% self-promotion. Respond with thanks when your content is shared. #contentwritingchat
Annaliese knows that you can’t promote yourself all the time. Instead of constantly pitching your own content, products, and services, you need to curate great content as well. Pull valuable articles from other sources and share them with your audience. And when someone shares your work, make sure you say thanks!
She also said to be human with how you use the platform. We agree that Twitter chats are a great way to show your human side by engaging in conversations and adding value.
A1: Talk to people, jump into conversations, offer to help & be consistent. It takes time to build relationships/trust #ContentWritingChat
It’s all about engaging with your audience! Brandie said to talk to people on social media. By jumping into conversations and offering your help, it can establish trust.
A1: Be sure to engage with your followers through social listening, curating content for variety, and memes for fun! #ContentWritingChat
Halle from CoSchedule agrees that engaging is a must! You can do some social listening to get to know your audience better and curate amazing content your followers will love. And you can add in some memes or GIFs for a little fun!
A1. Interact with like-minded ppl in your niche, share their content & look for opportunities to work together. #contentwritingchat
Kristen’s advice was to interact with like-minded people in your niche. You can share their content or potentially collaborate. Collaborations are a powerful way to not only grow your audience, but also establish trust with your audience.
A1: Join Twitter chats that have a huge following such as this one. Follow up with people you connect with afterwards. #ContentWritingChat
Remember that it takes time to build trust. It won’t happen overnight, so you need to be consistent about growing your social media presence and providing value to your audience.
Q2: Has Twitter played a role in helping your land customers for your business?
So, has it? Take a look at what some of Tuesday’s chat participants had to say:
A2) Yes! Twitter is great for content marketing b/c ppl want it there – sharing content on FB and IG feels intrusive IMO #ContentWritingChat
Brandie has had a great experience with using Twitter. The conversations she’s had on the platform have led to friendships, clients, and other opportunities.
A2: Yes! I have received book readers from using Twitter. #ContentWritingChat
As David said, it all goes back to providing value for your audience. If you want to convert someone into a customer, you need to establish yourself as an expert in your field by showing your knowledge and expertise. Share great content with your audience that they want to see.
A3: Communicating & engaging with them. Treating them like a human & not someone on the other side of a screen! #contentwritingchat
You also want to make sure you’re aware of who your audience is. What are they interested in? What do they need help with? Show them how you can help and those conversion rates will increase.
A3. Ask ’em to sign up for your email list! That’s where the relationship really blossoms ? #contentwritingchat
Kristen knows just how powerful email marketing can be. She suggested getting those Twitter followers on your email list. You can nurture the relationship there and encourage them to make a purchase.
A3 We’ve started including more CTAs in our blog posts for email grabs. Clickthroughs = subscribers = potential buyers #ContentWritingChat
Julia also agrees email is where it’s at! Once you get those subscribers on your email list, you can grow those relationships and promote your products to increase sales.
A3. Give away a LOT of value for free, to build that “know, like, trust” factor. Then charge for the best of the best. #contentwritingchat
Pamela’s advice is to give a lot of value away for free. This can help establish you as an authority in your field and it gives your audience a taste of what your paid content is like. It’s really going to help you build that Know, Like, and Trust Factor.
A3) Provide value to your followers. Value = trust. Trust = conversions #contentwritingchat
David knows Twitter chats are a great way to make connections online. They make it so easy to reach out and start a conversation with someone new. Just make sure you take the time to nurture those relationships after the chat.
Erika said the key is to finding the chats where your ideal customer is hanging out. Those are the chats you should participate in regularly. She also said to make sure you introduce yourself by telling people what you do and who you serve.
A4) Twitter chats are an amazing tool. Use them to monitor & engage customers, partners, vendors, prospects, local bizs! #ContentWritingChat
David’s advice is to wait until after the chat to reach out. Don’t do it in the middle of a Twitter chat. Reach out afterwards via a direct message or through email. You can read their responses to figure out what their struggles are and reach out later with specifics on how you can help.
It helps to touch on the topic you discussed during the Twitter chat when you reach out later. It shows you were paying attention. You can even start by sharing a relevant blog post from your website.
A5. Learn everything you can about them & reach out via email/DM. Having a fully-baked idea/pitch helps! #contentwritingchat
Kyle said to answer any questions this potential customer may have. If you have a solution to their problem, let them know about your product or service. It’s a great idea to do by following-up after the chat.
A5: Don’t sell, but communicate. Sharing products over and over and not caring about your audience is a no-no. #contentwritingchat
David said to make sure your profile is working together. Have a nice cover image, a captivating bio, a link to your website, and a pinned tweet with a call to action that’ll get your audience’s attention.
A6 Being present! Make sure you’re involved with your twitter account everyday & sharing content that’s worth looking at #ContentWritingChat
Annaliese said you shouldn’t only broadcast your content and services. You should retweet others, curate content from other sources, and interact with your followers.
A6. Sprinkle in some non-work stuff, to show you’re a real (and fun) person. People do business with people they like. #contentwritingchat
Brittany knows that authenticity is important when building your presence on social media. Be true to yourself. If you aren’t, your audience will see right through it.
Q7: How can you promote your service the right way on Twitter?
Promoting your services on Twitter doesn’t have to be hard! This advice’ from Tuesday’s chat will help you out:
A7) Nurture leads on Twitter and organize them w/lists. As they become warm, take the conversation off Twitter and sell #ContentWritingChat
David said to use Twitter to nurture leads, and then take the conversation off of Twitter to make the sale. He recommends using Twitter lists as a way to keep track of people and build relationships.
A7) Speak about its value to the customer – use case studies instead of simply pitching. Talk about the benefits. #contentwritingchat
Focus on the value your product or service can provide to a potential customer. Annaliese suggests using case studies as a way to show the benefits it can have.
A7: By sharing your knowledge. Show that you are good at offered services instead of telling potential customers you are #contentwritingchat
Make sure you give your audience a clear call to action. Thell them what the next step is. Pamela said to send them to your website or encourage them to sign-up for your email list.
@ExpWriters A7: use your banner, update bio, use Twitter ads for promotion, share content via graphics with hashtags #ContentWritingChat
Quite a few of you agreed about utilizing Twitter headers. Make use of your Twitter header and bio as a way to promote your latest product or service. You can even try Twitter ads if you’re willing to spend a little money.
Q8: What brands do a great job of promoting themselves on Twitter?
Who is doing a fantastic job on Twitter? Check out these brands:
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!
With Snapchat continuing to grow in popularity, it should come as no surprise that many brands are joining and creating “stories” of their own.
However, the social media app has left many people confused about how to use it and the ways it could benefit their businesses.
A Guide to Snapchat For Businesses & Marketers
To help you out, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how to use Snapchat, five key points on how to make the platform work for you, plus some amazing Snapchatters you need to follow!
How to Use Snapchat: Adding Filters & Stickers
Once you’ve taken a photo or video for your Snapchat story, you have a choice to post it as is or you can do a little editing first.
To add a filter to your content, all you have to do is swipe left or right to see the available filters. Snapchat offers a timestamps, temperature, speed, and color filters for both photos and videos. You can even speed up videos, slow them down, or have them play in reverse. You can really get creative here!
Timestamp filter and color filter used on a photo in Snapchat.
One thing that many people don’t realize with these filter is that some of them have other options that aren’t readily seen. For example, if you tap on the timestamp filter, it actually changes to the date. (There are currently two versions of the date you can use.) You can also toggle the temperature between Fahrenheit and Celsius and switch between miles per hour and kilometers per hour for the speed.
Previously, Snapchat only provided users with standard emojis for adding to their photos and videos. Now, theres a wide selection of stickers for you to choose from. All you have to do is tap the sticker icon (the square icon in the top right-hand corner) and move through each category of stickers to find the one that’s just right for your snap. You can even design your own Bitmoji through the Bimoji app and link it for use in Snapchat.
Creating a full-color image in Snapchat: Place a sticker on your image and expand it until it covers the screen. Apply text and stickers on top.
One way you can really get creative with stickers is to create a full-color background for your snaps. How do you do this? All you have to do is choose a sticker with the color you’d like, place it on your snap, and expand it until it covers the entire screen.
How to Use Snapchat: Face Filters 101
The great thing about Snapchat is that it’s one social media platform where you can really have fun with your content. You can draw on your photos and videos, add stickers, and even apply face filters to yourself and others. If you’ve been wondering how to try this out for yourself, the good news is that it’s actually pretty simple.
Applying a face filter in Snapchat: Long-press on your face until the filter menu appears. Swipe to move through filters.
To apply a face filter on Snapchat, all you need to do is long-press on your face (or the face of the person you want to apply the filter to), then a selection of available filters will pop-up on the lower half of the screen. Swipe through them and choose the one you like the best. Once you’ve picked your filter of choice, you can take a photo or video with it applied to your face. These filters update on a regular basis, so you’ll want to check them often. (You don’t want to miss out on the coolest new filter, do you?)
Occasionally, you’ll even see sponsored face filters (also known as Sponsored Lenses) from companies. If you’re a business owner, this is something you may want to take advantage of. You can even create standard filters for users to add to their snaps. Standard filters can be made available only to people within a certain geographical location so you can be sure to target the right customers.
Snapchat Memories
One of the newer features on Snapchat allows you to post straight from your camera roll or share previous snaps. If you think you may want to share a snap again one day, you can save it before submitting it to your story or save it after it’s been posted. All you have to do is tap the icon as shown in the screenshot. The photo or video you just took will automatically be saved for you to use again and again.
Five Key Ways to Make Snapchat Work for You
If you’re ready to start using Snapchat as part of your online strategy, these tips will help you out:
1. Tell a great story
As with any social media platform, you should make sure you’re sharing valuable content your audience would be interested in.
What would they like to see from you?
How can you solve a problem they’re facing, through your Snapchat story?
You should also make sure everything is cohesive when played in full. Your story should make sense to your viewers.
2. Give them a behind-the-scenes look
Allow your followers to get a look into what a day in your life is like. You can show them your work process and allow viewers to meet the members of your team. People want to get to know you and the others behind your business. You can even get your audience excited about an upcoming product with a little Snapchat teaser
3. Team up with influencers
If you want to expand your reach on Snapchat, consider teaming up with influencers in your niche. You can have someone take over your Snapchat for a day as a way to attract new followers and provide great content for your story
4. Provide incentives for followers
You can choose to host giveaways through Snapchat, offer exclusive discounts, and more. Get your audience involved by having them screenshot your snaps or ask them to send you a snap in response.
5. Don’t worry about being perfect
Snapchat is meant to be a fun, genuine platform. Your snaps don’t have to be polished and picture-perfect. Instead, you should enjoy yourself and be real with your audience.
10 Snapchat Accounts to Follow
1. Gary Vaynerchuk: If you aren’t familiar with Gary Vaynerchuk, he’s the entrepreneur to follow online. As the CEO of his company, Vayner Media, you can get a look into his daily life through Snapchat. You’ll see just how much he hustles. (Hint: He doesn’t stop!) He’s been pushing brands and business owners to join the platform for a while now and for good reason! Add by username “garyvee.” Click link for Snapcode.
2. Buffer: Yes, the social media scheduling tool is on Snapchat! Buffer does a great job of giving followers a behind-the-scenes look into their business. They regularly have team members from across the world take over their account for the day to give you an exclusive look at their jobs for Team Buffer. Add by username “buffersnaps.” Click link for Snapcode.
3. Hootsuite: Hootsuite is on Snapchat, too! Follow along to check out all of their fun snaps and to see what it’s like working on the team. Add by username “hootsuite.” Click link for Snapcode.
4. Mashable: Mashable is the go-to resource for social media, technology, business, and more on the web. But did you know they were on Snapchat, too? Check out their snaps for a look into the Mashable brand. Add by username “mashable.” Click link for Snapcode.
5. Food Network: While your brand may not have the opportunity to land a spot on Snapchat’s Discover feature, Food Network as. They take advantage of this spotlight by allowing some of the channel’s biggest stars take over the account to share cooking tips and tricks. Add by username “Food-Network.” Click link for Snapcode.
6. Sour Patch Kids: Sour Patch Kids is one brand that has been known for sharing fun and creative snaps with their fans. Just try watching their snaps without getting a craving for candy! Add by username “sourpatchsnaps.” Click link for Snapcode.
7. Brian Fanzo: Brian Fanzo is a keynote speaker, frequent Periscoper, and is making a name for himself across social media. If you want to see what he gets up to on a regular basis, check out his Snapchat! Add by username “isocialfanz.” Click link for Snapcode.
8. Pat Flynn: Pat Flynn is the creator of the popular podcast, Smart Passive Income. His Snapchat stories allow you to take a look into his life and business. Add by username “patflynnspi.” Click link for Snapcode.
9. Julia McCoy: Did you know our very own CEO at Express Writers is on Snapchat? Julia McCoy joined Snapchat and gives her followers a look into her daily life as she runs the company and spends time with her husband and daughter. Add by username “julia.mccoy.” Click link for Snapcode.
10. Rachel Moffett: And finally, you can check me out on Snapchat as well! See what I get up to on a regular basis as the Social Media Specialist for Express Writers. Add by username “redhead.rachel.” Click link for Snapcode.
Need social media coverage? Check out our social media plans over in the Content Shop. We hand-pick specialists that can manage your social media expertly: write custom posts tailored to your audience, create custom imagery, and post every day.
Mary was lucky enough to snag a free ticket to a conference she wanted to attend. (Pretty cool, right?) All she did to get attention was tag the conference on social media when she shared a link to her blog post about it. They got in touch and offered her a free ticket. It’s super simple, but highly effective. Tagging brands or influencers is a great way to get noticed.
A1 Free event tickets from my guest blogs. I’ve reached out to online writers on Instagram and sold my book to them. #ContentWritingChat
Our CEO, Julia, said she received free event tickets as a result of guest blogs she’s written. She’s also been proactive about reaching out to writers via Instagram as a way to promote her book.
A1: Tagging brands when sharing on social media has gotten me some free swag. Can’t argue with that! #ContentWritingChat
Amanda said starting conversations and sharing honest thoughts is a great way to get noticed. You can’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Start talking to new people.
@ExpWriters A1: Having conversations. Whether it’s through your blog or on twitter, everyone enjoys feeling acknowledged #ContentWritingChat
Mary likes to use her social media bios as a way to mention both of her businesses. She also makes sure to include some personal information about herself as a way to make her a “real” person. This is a great way to form a connection with your audience. Those personal tidbits are something they might really resonate with.
A2. Know that you’re talking to actual people and make your bio/ posts more conversational. Keep it real. #ContentWritingChat
Kyle is absolutely right with his advice. One of the best ways you can stand out is to just be yourself. You need to be genuine and people will resonate with that. If you aren’t true to yourself, people will see right through you.
A2: Be human, show personality. Display who your team is behind the brand to showcase who you are. #ContentWritingChat
Be human and show your personality through the content you create. If you have a team working alongside you, let your audience get to know them as well. When you give them a chance to see who the team is behind the brand, they’ll start to connect with you.
A2 Be PERSONAL! Don’t just share about biz. Coffee fanatic? Word nerd? Tea lover? Mom/dad? Add what makes you relatable #ContentWritingChat
Julia agrees! Allow people to get to know you outside of your business. That’s what helps you form that bond with your audience because they can relate to you.
A2. Have a distinct personality and point of view. And know what *types* of content you want to share on each platform. #contentwritingchat
Jane knows great images can be very powerful on social media. She suggests using high-resolution photos or sharing quick videos to help your posts stand out.
A2: Give them a reason to come back! What makes you or your brand worth a like or follow? #ContentWritingChat
For Mary, she tells stories about how she has approached situations that deal with her area of expertise. Not only does this provide informative content for her audience, but it can help build trust with them as well.
She also likes to share content from other sources and add her unique perspective.
A3) Find others passionate about your interests. Listen to what they have to say and then provide your own perspective. #contentwritingchat
Kyle said to make sure you’re listening to what others have to say on social media. (After all, you need to be social instead of just posting about yourself all the time.) Join conversations with others and share your own perspective on topics.
A3. Get involved with the community surrounding your niche. That means FB groups, Twitter chats & forums. #contentwritingchat
Kristen and Pamela agree that it’s important to get involved in your niche’s community. You can do this by joining Twitter chats, Facebook groups, and even online forums. As Pamela said, just make sure you’re engaging with others and adding value.
A3: Talk to people, share content (yours & Theirs), participate in chats, take it offline, connect on other platforms #ContentWritingChat
Brandie said to talk to people. You can participate in chats, connect on other platforms, and even take it offline. Make sure you’re not just sharing your own content, but sharing the content of others as well.
A3: I think it’s not just about sharing your opinion but sharing articles/opinions of others! Takes one to know one! #ContentWritingChat
Jane recommends also sharing the articles and opinions of others. It’s not just about sharing your opinions, but you need to know what others are saying as well.
A3: Showcase who you are and the knowledge you have within your industry. BE an expert, BE an influencer. #ContentWritingChat
Never stop learning! As Zachary said, experts are students of their niche. Even if you think you know it all, there’s always more to learn. Stay updated on what’s going on and keep an open mind.
Q4: Can you really connect ROI to a social presence?
Can you connect ROI to your social presence? Here’s what some of Tuesday’s chat participants had to say:
A4: Absolutely. I have people who see my TEDx talk from my LinkedIn account, and we wind up working together. #contentwritingchat
Mary said YES! You can definitely connect ROI to your social presence. She said people see her TEDx talk from her LinkedIn account and then they often end up working together. That’s results!
A4) Absolutely. You need to track the numbers, though. Engagements, checkouts, web traffic. Show progress over time. #contentwritingchat
You never know where you’ll find your next business deal! Social media can certainly help you gain the attention of someone who wants to work with you.
A4 Yes. Focus, engagement & conversations can lead to sth. A deal, a connection, referral, job, kind word, opps. #ContentWritingChat
Mary encourages those who send her LinkedIn invitations to join her email list. Once someone is on your list, it becomes a great way to make connections and drive sales.
A5. Social media builds your “know, like, trust” so you’r ready for the sale – whether that’s on social or not. #contentwritingchat
Pamela said social media can help build the Know, Like, and Trust Factor with your audience. Ultimately, this can help you convert a follower into a client or customer.
A5: Engaging in your community creates brand awareness. Consumers are likely to choose business from a brand they know #ContentWritingChat
Great points from Tim! Instead of promoting your business all the time, you need to make sure you’re also engaging with your audience. You want to be social and establish a relationship with them.
@writingchat A5. Have social goals tied to your business goals. Don’t do social just as a checkmark of todos #ContentWritingChat
It’s so simple, but it works! Mary knows a great way to start engaging with influencers involves sharing their content and updates. It shows that you’re listening and that you’re interested in what they have to offer. If you share an influencer’s content regularly, he/she is sure to take notice.
A6: If I use their name in content I’ve written I’ll tag them in my social share of my content. #contentwritingchat
Mary also recommends tagging people on social media if you’re mentioned them in your content. It’s a great way to start a conversation and the influencer just might share your work.
A6) Comment on their content, particularly their pinned content which is likely their featured piece. #contentwritingchat
You can’t be afraid to put yourself out there by starting conversations with influencers. Niall recommends asking questions as a way to get a chat going.
A6: I’m a firm believer in joining in on the conversation and making a platform for yourself. Build your reputation! #ContentWritingChat
Brandie’s advice is to connect with influencers and develop a relationship with them. You can share their content, talk to them, and find ways to offer value.
Julia recommends approaching it like you would in real life. How would you start a conversation with someone? You can retweet their posts and reply to them to get started.
A6. Find a common area of interest, start a conversation, build rapport & clarify how you can be useful to them as well. #ContentWritingChat
As Mary said, people likely didn’t see it when you shared it the first time around. No one is judging you for resharing your content, so don’t be afraid to do it.
@ExpWriters A7: Add an update, put a new perspective, or explain why it is still relevant. Good content seldom expires #ContentWritingChat
Here at Express Writers, we share blogs that are over a year old as long as they’re evergreen. You want to make sure it’s still relevant to the times and to your audience. You can change it up my writing a new blurb for each share.
Q8: What brands are doing it right with a powerful social media presence?
Who does a great job with their social media presence? Check out these brands:
A8) @Buffer are killing it online on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter (and probably more that I haven’t seen yet!) #ContentWritingChat
Brittany loves Travel Alberta and Everlane. She also knows Gary Vaynerchuk is awesome at everything on social media and we have to agree! 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!
