Express Writers
#ContentWritingChat Recap: Twitter 101, How to Build a Following, Write Compelling Posts, & More with Madalyn Sklar

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Twitter 101, How to Build a Following, Write Compelling Posts, & More with Madalyn Sklar

by | Jul 22, 2016 | ContentWritingChat

Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week? Well, you sure missed one busy chat! This Tuesday, we shared a ton of tips that will help you become a Twitter superstar. Keep reading to learn more!

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Twitter 101, How to Build a Following, Write Compelling Posts, & More with Madalyn Sklar


Our guest host this week was social media guru Madalyn Sklar. Madalyn is the host of the #TwitterSmarter podcast and Twitter chat. She has also been ranked #1 in social media for the Houston, Texas area. Pretty amazing! Be sure to check out Madalyn’s website and her podcast.

Q1: What are the best practices for building a following on Twitter?

Are you looking to give your following on Twitter a major boost? You just need to keep these tips in mind:

What are Madalyn’s tips for landing more Twitter followers? Listen to others, engage with your audience, share great content, be consistent, and be real. If you do these things regularly, you’re sure to see results. Also, make sure you’re always true to yourself. If you aren’t, your audience will see right through you.

Madalyn also said to think of Twitter as a cocktail party. Make sure you’re talking to people and connecting with them. That’s a great way to look at it!

Engagement is definitely key if you want to grow your following on Twitter or any social media platform.

Chris knows participating in Twitter chats is a great way to build your audience. Twitter chats make it easy to connect with others. You don’t have to worry about feeling awkward when jumping into a conversation.

Sarah from ThinkSEM said to get to know your audience and share the content they want. When you give your audience what they’re looking for, you’re giving them a reason to follow you and stick around. Don’t forget to also listen to them as well. What are they saying online?

Post content that is both useful and interesting to your audience and do so consistently. Don’t forget to select a relevant hashtag or two to expand your reach.

Bill has us all blushing over here! He knows that Twitter chats, including #ContentWritingChat, are a great place to find like-minded followers. He’s also spot on with his advice. If you’re providing valuable content, people will want to follow you.

Q2: What makes Twitter chats a must for anyone on Twitter?

If you haven’t joined a Twitter chat yet, you’re really missing out! (And you should absolutely be joining #ContentWritingChat.) If you haven’t yet figured out why they’re a must, just read these tweets:

Madalyn said Twitter chats are an amazing way to connect with like-minded individuals. With so many chats going on these days, it’s easy to find one where your audience is hanging out. She knows they’re also a fantastic way to learn and expand your knowledge.

As Sarah said, Twitter chats are the perfect place to network, meet new friends, and get insight from others.

Connection, collaboration, and expertise. Great answer from Brittany!

Tim thinks Twitter chats are a lot of fun. He knows they’re a great place to connect, but also to learn and share the knowledge you have.

Brett said chats are a must for genuine relationship building.

The best chats are ones where you can share your knowledge to help others and you can learn a thing or two as well.

Chats are a good opportunity to network and learn something new.

Q3: How can you create content that stands out on Twitter?

Dealing with Twitter’s character limitations doesn’t have to hold you back. You can still create amazing content that gets noticed by your audience. Here’s how:

Madalyn knows it all goes back to your audience when it comes to creating content. If you want to share amazing content on Twitter, you have to give your audience what they want to see. Provide value to them.
She also recommends using images, videos, and GIFs to get your content noticed.

Ray is on the right track with his answer. He knows how important it is to consider your audience when creating posts for Twitter. Think about what your audience would value and give that to them.

Kristen feels passion is key when it comes to sharing content on Twitter. If you want your tweets to get noticed, make sure you’re passionate about what you’re posting.

Adding a visual is always helpful if you want your content to stand out. Create eye-catching graphics that will grab the attention of your audience as they scroll through their timeline. Don’t forget to add relevant hashtags as well.

Shereese said if you want to stand out, your content needs to have a great visual, a great subject, and a great deal of subject-matter research.

Provide value to your audience. What are they interested in? What would help them? Give your followers what they’re looking for.

Jane recommends keeping your message consistent across all of your posts. Don’t forget to add hashtags and interact with others as well.

Ellie said to check out your analytics and find out the demographics of your audience. When you get to know them, you can optimize your content for keywords and hashtags so you can stand out.

To put it simply, write for your audience. Give them what they’re looking for and they’re sure to love your content.

Q4: Are there rules to how often you should post on Twitter?

How often should you really be posting? Is there such a thing as too many tweets? Check out what some of the participants from Tuesday’s chat had to say:

Madalyn said there are NO rules when it comes to Twitter. You can post as often as you’d like. Just make sure you don’t post too little or too much. Find a balance that works for you.

She also recommends to post 3-5 times per day if you’re just getting started on Twitter. Great advice!

As Sarah said, it all goes back to your audience. No matter how often you post per day, make sure you stay consistent.

Ultimately, you want to make sure you’re providing value to your audience with every tweet you post. You should always be focused on giving your audience the great content they want to see.

Bill agrees that providing value is key. The value you give to your audience matters more than how often you post.

Keep an eye on your metrics to see how well your tweets are performing. You can do this by checking Twitter Analytics. Is your audience engaging with all the tweets you’re posting?

It looks like Jenn agrees when it comes to checking your analytics. She knows they can help you grow and learn so you can better your strategy.

As David said, make sure you re-post content for different time zones. Keep in mind that your followers are likely located all over the world. You don’t want them to miss anything by limiting your posts to a certain chunk of the day.

Do what feels right for you and your audience. There isn’t a magic number that works for everyone.

Tim said you should experiment with your posting schedule. Find your peak times for posting and tweet the most during that time. If you have something to say, don’t be afraid to share.

Kristen also recommends taking advantage of your peak posting times. Find out when your audience is most active on Twitter and schedule your posts around those times.

Make sure you’re posting daily. You should create a schedule and stick to it.

Consider your industry and your community. They’ll respond to things differently than another online community.

For Nick, he likes to schedule 5-7 tweets per day. He mixes that up with live interaction with his audience.

Remember that social media isn’t just about talking about yourself or your business. You should also make sure you’re engaging with your audience and having conversations.

Q5: How important are hashtags on Twitter? What can they help you do?

Are you using hashtags regularly on Twitter? You should be! A relevant hashtag can help you expand your reach on the social media platform. Check out these tips:

Madalyn knows hashtags are great for finding tweets using a relevant keyword. They’ll help you to connect with your audience and others who are interested in what you’re sharing.

Jim said relevant hashtags give your tweet wings. Hashtags allow you to target your content to a specific audience, helps to extend its life, and makes your post more discoverable.

Hashtags are a must if you want people to find what you’re posting. They can help you to grow your following organically.

Tim said hashtags can help connect you to others who are interested in what you’re saying. They also help us to have amazing Twitter chats, just like #ContentWritingChat!

As Chris said, hashtags are essential but it is possible to overdo it. Limit yourself to two hashtags per tweet.

Use hashtags that are relevant to your audience and the content you’re sharing. Don’t go overboard either. Twitter is not the place for it!

Alexia said hashtags are vital for making sure your content reaches your target audience.

Relevant hashtags will help new people discover you. Try a tool like hashtagify.me to find the right ones for you.

Never, ever do this. It’s just not cool.

Think of hashtags as search keywords to help your content be seen.

Hashtags can help you generate brand awareness, plus help you build relationships with your community.

Great tip! Do some hashtag research and find ones that are relevant to your audience. Save them all by order of possible impressions and refer to them when scheduling your posts.

Q6: How can you take advantage of Twitter’s features such as Analytics and Lists?

Twitter Analytics and Lists are great tools to utilize if you really want to make the most of Twitter. Here are some great tips from Tuesday’s chat:

If you haven’t used Twitter Analytics yet, you can access yours at the link Madalyn shared.

Madalyn recommends checking out your analytics every month so you can see what’s working best. Which posts are resonating with your audience? Which ones didn’t perform as well as you’d hoped?
For lists, she feels they help you cut through the noise to see the most important tweets. Carefully curate your lists so you see just the updates you’re truly interested in.

As Ellie said, you can get insight into what your audience likes and doesn’t like when it comes to your posts.

Analytics can help you determine your best times to tweet. You can schedule your most important posts around these times for an increase in engagement.

Your analytics will give you insight into what’s working for you and what’s not. The metrics you see can help guide your social media strategy and set up up for success.

You can also discover the demographics of your audience, as well as their interests and locations. You can target your posts accordingly.

Varun knows lists are great for monitoring relevant and important accounts. You won’t miss a thing if you keep your lists in order.

As Andy said, TweetDeck is a great tool to use if you want to stay updated with your lists. The columns TweetDeck provides makes it easy to see what everyone is sharing. You’ll never miss a thing!

Q7: How can you write a targeted Twitter bio that earns more followers?

The bio you include on your Twitter profile is so important. It can make or break whether or not someone chooses to follow you. Take a look at these tips to ensure you maximize the characters you have for an amazing bio:

Madalyn’s advice is to be compelling and descriptive. Use your bio to tell your story. It can play a deciding factor in whether or not someone follows you, so you better make sure it’s a good one.

Brittany said you should tell people what you do and why you do it.

Sarah recommends stating your mission, describing who you are, and how you can add value to your audience. Don’t forget you have to do all of that in only a few characters.

Tim said to use relevant hashtags in your bio and summarize your unique selling point.

Zala said to keep it short and precise. You should share what you’re doing and why. Make sure you’ve also included your location and a link to your website. She said if your handle doesn’t include your real name, you should add it to your bio.

Kevin and Zachary know the combination of your bio and pinned tweet can make your account a winner.

Q8: Quick Q&A for Madalyn! Ask your questions about Twitter.

For the last few minutes of Tuesday’s chat, we allowed everyone to ask Madalyn questions. Here are a few highlights:

Madalyn has been a digital marketer for 20 years and has been in social media for 11 years.

In response to Kristen, Madalyn said she loves pinned tweets. The pinned tweet is prime real estate on your profile and you want to take advantage of it. Pin something you want to receive extra attention.

What does she see for the future of Twitter? She thinks the platform will continue to grow, so keep using it.

She thinks Twitter ads are hit or miss, but that they’re worth trying out. If you’re thinking about using them, just give it a go and see how it works for you. Everyone has a different experience.
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!
10 days to a better blog

#ContentWritingChat Recap: The Role of PR in an Internet-Based Media Age with Shannon Renee

#ContentWritingChat Recap: The Role of PR in an Internet-Based Media Age with Shannon Renee

by | Jul 15, 2016 | ContentWritingChat

Hey, friends! Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week? Have no fear! You can get caught up with our recap and learn all about public relations from our chat participants.

#ContentWritingChat Recap: The Role of PR in an Internet-Based Media Age with Shannon Renee


This week, our guest host was Shannon Mouton Gray. Shannon is the Managing Director of McKinney & Associates, a public relations firm.

Q1: Many argue that PR isn’t as worthwhile as it once was in today’s online age. Thoughts?

There’s been a pretty hot debate lately about whether or not PR is still important in this online age. What did people from Tuesday’s chat have to say? Find out:

Shannon believes PR is just as important today as it was years ago. In fact, she thinks it may be even more important now.

Brandie agreed that PR is still a necessity for brands. Even though times have changed, it’s still important.

Zala knows PR has changed over the years, but she still sees it as being relevant.

Q2: What would you say to those who no longer value PR to convince them otherwise?

If someone told you they didn’t value PR anymore, but you did, what would you say to them? Here’s what we heard from our chat participants:

As Shannon said, social media is a form of public relations and it has to be monitored. You want to know what others are saying about your brand.

Ray knows that having a positive brand message and telling it consistently is good for business. A PR team can help you with that.

Bill knows it’s not easy to change someone’s mind, especially if they’re stuck in their ways. The best thing you can do is to show someone the ROI that PR can provide.

Having a PR team behind you is also helpful in a time of crisis. If something goes wrong with your brand, your PR team can step in and take control.

Julia said you still need PR if you want to spread the news about your business. The channels in which you do it are just different. Here at Express Writers, we also know the power of a great press release. Show the naysayers exactly what a well-written press release can do for their brand.

Q3: How has PR changed in recent years due to this internet-based age?

As we’ve already discussed, PR has definitely changed over the years. What changes have occurred? Here’s what you need to know:

Shannon feels monitoring PR has become even more important than it once was. You need to monitor not only what your brand puts out there, but also was other people are saying.

It seems Halle from CoSchedule agrees with Shannon! There’s even more of a need for monitoring nowadays.

Katie from globalHMA said the methods of reaching publications have changed these days. Now, we have the opportunity to go straight to the audience with the help of social media.

Amanda feels it’s become easier to monitor and you now have a greater opportunity to spread your content far and wide.

Erika said PR has become more about strategic content creation and placement and building thought leadership. As she said, PR and content are basically joined at the hip with social media. They all go hand-in-hand.

Absolutely! Brandie is spot on when she says you need to have a strong digital footprint and social experience.

As Julia said, the channels have now improved. With the right distribution outlet, you can reach Fox and CNN. You can even utilize social media to start conversations with the right people.

Although there have been changes in the world of PR, the main premise stays the same. It’s still largely about building brand awareness and loyalty.

Q4: How hasn’t PR changed?

Despite the changes that have occurred over recent years, there are still many things about PR that have remained the same.

Shannon said PR is still about building relationships and creating content. Forging bonds with outlets is still relevant, but there are just a lot more outlets these days. She also knows good content is just as important today as it was before.

Kristen and Ray seem to be on the same page as Shannon. They both agreed that PR is largely about building relationships.

As Sarah said, the focus of PR is still about getting the brand out there. We’re just able to go about it in different ways, thanks to today’s internet age.

Halle feels PR hasn’t changed, but the media has. With all the social media outlets available today, there’s even more of a need for a public relations team.

Great answer from Bill! He said PR will always be the bridge between your organization and your audience.

Q5: PR writing tips: discuss how to write a great online press release.

How can you create your own press release for your brand? Check out these tips:

Shannon said to make sure your press release has a pithy headline and needs to be well-written. You should also include all the important information people need to know.

The McKinney & Associates team said you should make your press release shareable. In order to do this, keep it clear, straightforward, and accurate.

Kristen’s advice is to get straight to point. Answer the “So what?” question about your business.

Always keep your audience in mind, first and foremost. You’re writing for them.

Make sure you get your press release out in a timely manner. Halle also recommends keeping it short and sticking to the facts.

If you’re angling your press release for a certain publication, you should follow their style guide. Ray also said you should answer the 5 W’s when writing.

What’s Julia’s suggestion? Get a journalist! Get an expert to write the news for your brand. That’s something we can help with at Express Writers, too!

Our Content Manager, Katria, chimed in with her advice. She said to write a catchy headline and a precise summary. You should also mention social media outlets and include an about section.

Cheryl said to keep it precise, answer a question or solve a problem, and be useful.

Don’t make them guess what your brand’s press release is about. Be clear and make your most important points. Use descriptive language that will draw them in and keep them reading the entire thing.

Q6: How can you evolve your PR strategy to keep up in this internet-based age?

With so many changes occurring, how can you keep up? Evolve your PR strategy by following this advice from our chat participants:

Shannon said with some projects you just can’t afford to wait until tomorrow. That’s definitely something to keep in mind!

Cheryl knows monitoring is important. The good news is, there are a ton of tools available to us today. Take advantage of that by using them!

Make sure you stay up-to-date with where your audience is strongest. Great tip!

Halle said to never stop learning. You want to stay on top of the changes within the media so you know what’s going on and can adapt.

Erika’s advice is to hire a consultant. She feels you can learn a lot by working with someone to develop your strategy.

Katria suggests investing time into social media and knowing how to effectively use each of the platforms. After all, social media is a powerful tool if you know the right way to use it.

Don’t be afraid to try new things. Find other ways and outlets to reach your audience.

Q7: What do you see coming up for the future of PR?

What’s in store for the future of PR? Here are some predictions straight from Tuesday’s chat:

With the increase in trolls, bots, spam, etc., Shannon believes monitoring will continue to become even more important. Be prepared!

She also sees visuals becoming a larger part of PR with people using more images, photos, videos, and GIFs.

Could you see press releases becoming more focused on video? It just might be a great way to grab the attention of your audience.

Katie sees brands doing more work with thought leaders and ambassadors.

Andrew believes everything will continue to blend into inbound marketing as a whole.

Bill sees communications, marketing, and social media positions coming together to form one mega team. It sure is a great way to take advantage of each person’s skills and experience.

Halle sees an interactive and participatory future for PR. It’s all about getting involved and building relationships.

Cheryl sees better outlets on the way, plus improved ways to monitor each of them.

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!

blogging in 5 minutes a day

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Social Media Outreach- Best Practices, Writing Tips & More with Sprout Social

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Social Media Outreach- Best Practices, Writing Tips & More with Sprout Social

by | Jul 8, 2016 | ContentWritingChat

Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week? There’s no need to worry! You can get caught up right here with our recap and learn plenty of tips for great social media outreach.

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Social Media Outreach- Best Practices, Writing Tips & More with Sprout Social


Our guest host this week was Sarah Nagel. Sarah is the Community Outreach Manager over at Sprout Social. She also manages their Twitter chat, #SproutChat, every Wednesday on Twitter.

Q1: If you’re starting out on social, what are some best practices for building a following?

Whether you’re just starting out on social media or are working on building your presence on a new platform, check out these great tips for building your initial social media outreach:

Sarah said you should be interesting, interested, and provide value for your audience. Her advice was to start conversations with people, share smart content, and join Twitter chats.
She also reminds us that building a following won’t happen overnight. It takes times and you have to be patient.

Sarah from ThinkSEM said to provide useful, great content for your audience. It all goes back to content. If you’re not sharing the types of posts your target audience wants to read, they’ll have no reason to stick around. Don’t forget to also engage in conversation. Be social!

Kyle said to be consistent when it comes to posting. Create a schedule and stay active when it comes to scheduling and sharing content. Kyle also said you should research your target audience so you can provide posts they’re interested in.

Brittany said to engage with your audience! Let them know you’re present and that you’re actually listening. You should always be genuine as well. If you’re not, they’ll see right through you.

Jenn said to look for the social media channel you can best own. The truth is, you don’t need to be everywhere when it comes to social media. You just need to be where your audience is. Figure out where they’re spending their time and which platforms you truly shine on. Those are the ones you should be using.

Our CEO, Julia, agrees with Jenn. She said you don’t need to build on all platforms.

Erika recommends figuring out where your audience is spending their time. Are they joining any Twitter chats, using Facebook groups, or using LinkedIn groups? If so, that’s where you need to be.

Great answer, Jim! Be genuine and engage with others. Focus on building a relationship with people, not just gaining followers.

Make sure you have a plan in place. Your plan should include which platforms you’ll use, what kind of content you’ll share, and how you can expand your reach.

Having a content calendar is a great way to stay organized when it comes to posting content on social media.

Ray said to learn about your community so you can figure out what they want and need. Once you figure that out, you’ll be able to share the content that will draw them in.

Q2: What are ways to consistently grow your social media following?

Once you’ve gotten started on social media, you obviously have to work to keep the followers coming in. To help you out, here are a few tips from Tuesday’s chat:

Sarah said to provide unique content that means something to your audience. She said to be so good they can’t ignore you. When you share the content your audience finds valuable, they’ll want to stick around.

Hannah and Erika know engagement is important to your success on social media.

As Julia said, there isn’t an automation tool that can replace real engagement. When you take the time to talk to your audience, you form a relationship, which helps build trust.

Sarah said to keep reaching out to people. Don’t just rely on hashtags to help your content be discovered. Start conversations and make connections.

Brandie’s advice was to be active on the platforms you’re using and start conversations with others. You should aim to be helpful and develop a relationship with your followers.

Katria, our Content Manager, said to be active once you’ve built a following. Make sure you’re sharing and liking content, as well as following other people.

Georgie recommends using relevant hashtags on Twitter and Instagram. Hashtags can help your content be discovered by new people. You should also join conversations with those using those same hashtags.

Jim said to join Twitter chats to build your following. Not only are chats a great place to learn, but they’re helpful when it comes to making connections. If that’s not enough reason to join our chat every Tuesday, I don’t know what is!

If you’re willing to put some cash into your social media presence, Richard recommends using paid ads to build your audience.

As Cheryl said, building a worthwhile network takes time. Don’t give up if you feel like you aren’t seeing the results you want just yet.

Q3: Share your process for creating audience-friendly social media content.

Are you in need of some tips for creating great content for your audience? Here’s some of the advice from this week’s chat:

If you’re curating content, Sarah said to make sure the post copy is catered to your audience. When sharing your own content, she suggests keeping it short and being informative or entertaining.

Don’t forget that you can dig into your archives for great social media content. All you need to do is write fresh copy and schedule it to be shared again. As Julia pointed out, this is exactly what I do for Express Writers!
When it comes to curation, we only share content we find to be helpful, useful, or interesting. We rely on influencers in our industry for great content to share.

For Jenn, she loves a “snackable” infographic. Not only are infographics informative for your audience, but they’re great for sharing too.

Georgie knows it’s important to test and see what your audience is responding to. Try new things and check your analytics to see what works and what doesn’t. Create more of the content your audience loves.

Maureen said audience-friendly social media content should reflect what people are looking for from your brand and also be appropriate for the platform.

Having a schedule in place is a great way to stay on track and will ensure you get results.

Bill said good content solves problems. Consider what your audience is struggling with and aim to provide a solution with your social media posts.

Q4: What are ways to write social media posts that really grab attention?

It can be hard to stand out on social media when you consider just how busy these platforms are. To grab the attention of your followers, keep these tips in mind:

Sarah said to provide your POV. It’s sure to get your audience interested and spark a conversation.

Maureen recommends tailoring your content for the platform it’ll be shared on. Perform A/B tests to see what your audience is responding to.

Sarah has a few great suggestions: images, quotes, questions, relevant hashtags, and tagging influencers.

Brittany and Jenn know a GIF is a good way to grab the attention of your audience.

Bill said good content is both simple and poignant. If you can create something your audience will connect with emotionally, you have a winner.

Brittany’s advice was to share engaging content. Use good images, share well-written articles, and tell a story.

Julia said to ask questions on social media. Get a conversation started between you and your audience. You can ask something that aligns with their problem and solve it with your content.

Q5: How do you alter social posts to fit your platform? (Twitter vs. Facebook vs. Instagram)

Don’t forget that you need to tailor your content to the platform you’re using. Here are a few tips to help:

Sarah said Twitter posts should be search-friendly and include hashtags. On Facebook, make sure you’ve included media with your posts. When sharing to Instagram, use plenty of relevant hashtags. She also advises to test different copy so you can see what actually resonates with your audience.

Twitter engages, Facebook informs, Instagram showcases, Pinterest remembers, and LinkedIn educates. Great answer, Jenn!

Don’t just cross-post your content to every platform you’re using. You need to adapt your posts accordingly. What works well on one platform might not perform that great on another.

Ellie knows carbon copy content isn’t cool. You can share the same content on multiple platforms, but change it up. Use different copy or a new visual.

Zala said to align to the platform you’re using by considering things such as your style and tone.

Brittany said to know the strengths of each platform. Use that to your advantage when creating content.

Visuals are powerful on social media. Bill recommends using Canva to create graphics that are the ideal size for each platform.

Ryan said to understand the audience on each platform. Give them what they’re looking for.

Study data so you can see how users behave on any given platform. Tailor your content accordingly.

Q6: What content types are the most shareable on social media?

You want your social media content to be shared, right? Here’s what you should be posting if you want to see more retweets and reposts:

Sarah knows short videos are definitely shareable. Consider creating and posting them on your social media channels and see how your audience responds.

Amalia said infographics, news, and trending topics often get a lot of shares.

Bill recommends sharing content that stirs up emotions in your audience. You’re more likely to get extra shares when people form a connection with your post.

Ray knows that it also depends on the platform you’re using. He said long-form content is highly shareable on Medium, LinkedIn Pulse, and Google+. Images, GIFs, and videos are shareable on other platforms.

Brittany knows that visuals get a lot of reshares on social media. She said to try sharing videos, memes, and images.

You don’t have long to grab someone’s attention on social media. Eliza recommends posting GIFs, images, and quotes if you want to see a few extra shares on your content.

Q7: What key elements make up a successful social media presence?

How can you be successful on social media? Keep this advice in mind:

As Sarah said, how you define success may be different from how another organization defines success. No matter what, everyone should strive to build an engaged audience.

Bill seems to agree with Sarah. He said success is tied to your specific goals. What are you trying to achieve? Make sure your social media presence reflects your goals and measure to see if you’re achieving the desired results.

Maureen’s advice is to be authentic, helpful, and responsive. Make sure you’re also interacting with your audience and sharing content that aligns with your brand.

Remember that it’s not all about you! You should be sharing and interacting. Get involved in your community.

Be active! Don’t let your account go stale. Make sure you’re posting on a daily basis.

Great tips from Sarah! Engage with others, share great content, be “real,” and know your audience.

Your social media presence should be a mix of engagement, promotion, and sharing.

We think Jenn is really big on engagement. How about you?

Brittany suggests writing an optimized bio, sharing great content, and engaging with your audience.

Georgie said to have a strategy in place with clear objectives. Back it up with an amazing content strategy.

You have to be dedicated if you want to see results. You can’t expect to build a following overnight.

Q8: How can you approach an influencer on social media to do a collaboration?

If you’re looking to get exposure for your brand and help build your own authority, you can work with influencers in your niche. Here are some tips to help you approach them:

Sarah recommends building a relationship with an influencer before you ask for anything. Do this by giving value. You can share their content and get involved with what they’re doing. However, she also recommends that you should also build relationships with your brand champions. They will help promote and support you as well.

Make sure you’re following the influencer you want to work with and engaging with them regularly prior to asking for anything. You can start a conversation by asking a question regarding their content, which helps get you on their radar.

Maureen shared a great answer, but one key thing to keep in mind is to always be nice.

Erika said to understand who the influencer is, as well as what kind of collaboration would make sense for their audience.

Collaboration should be mutually beneficial for you and the influencer.

Focus on building a relationship prior to asking for anything in return.

Zachary said to provide thoughtful feedback to the influencer, not just a generic “amazing.”

As Gary Vaynerchuk says: jab, jab, jab, right hook. Engage and offer something of value before you pitch.
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 June 28 2016 Recap: Social Media Tactics to Build & Grow Your Online Presence

#ContentWritingChat June 28 2016 Recap: Social Media Tactics to Build & Grow Your Online Presence

by | Jul 1, 2016 | ContentWritingChat

Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this Tuesday? Dive into the recap below and learn some of the best social media tactics to implement for yourself!

#ContentWritingChat June 28 2016 Recap: Social Media Tactics to Build & Grow Your Online Presence


This week, Erik Fisher joined us as our guest host. Erik is the Social Media Manager over at Social Media Examiner, as well as a podcaster. We were excited to have him join us and share his expertise!

Q1: How do you find out which social media platforms are best for you to build a presence on?

With so many social media platforms available to us today (and even more being created), it can be tough deciding which ones to use. The truth is, you don’t have to be everywhere online. You just need to be where your audience is! Check out some of the social media tactics for best platform presence shared during the chat:

Erik said to consider which platforms you actually enjoy using and which platforms are optimal for your goals. The platforms that fit both of those categories are great ones to get started on.

Ray had similar advice to Erik. He also said to consider which platforms you are most comfortable using. For some of us, we naturally shine at one platform over another. For example, not everyone is comfortable doing a live streaming broadcast via Periscope or Facebook Live. Ray’s advice is to determine which ones work best for you.

Choosing the right platforms for your brand will take a little research. You need to figure out which platforms your audience is most active on. That’s where you want to be.
You can even use a tool like BuzzSumo to help you determine where people are most frequently sharing content. Take a look at some sites that are in your niche and see where their content is shared most often.

A few things you may want to consider: the goals of your business, the type of business you’re running, and the demographic for your ideal customer. All of these things will help you select the right social media platforms to build a presence on.

One of the best things you can do is to experiment with each platform. Give them a go for a bit and measure your results. Which ones work the best for you? Invest your time in those platforms.

Our Content Manager, Katria, recommends giving a platform a try to see if it works for you. Since they’re free, it never hurts to test them out and see how it goes.

It all goes back to your audience. Where are they spending their time? Where are they engaging? You have to be where they are in order to reach them effectively.

Once you’ve figured out which platforms to use, you need to be active. Join the conversation with your audience! Great advice, Zala.

Q2: Share tips for creating great content on every one of your social media profiles.

If you want to build a presence on social media, you need to share great content. How can you make sure you’re sharing the best content every time? Here are a few tips:

Erik knows that each social media platform is unique. You have to learn how to create the right kind of content for each platform. What works well on Twitter might not be great on Facebook or other platforms. You need to keep that in mind and adapt your content to the platform you’re sharing it on.

Amanda said you have to be consistent with your story across all platforms. Make sure the content you’re sharing is tailored to the platform you’re using and is relevant to your audience. An eye-catching visual always helps, too!

Canva is a fantastic tool for creating great social media graphics. It’s one of our go-to tools here at Express Writers as well.

Cheryl said to understand the platform you’re using. She said data and numbers work well on LinkedIn, while funny or adventurous posts work well on Instagram. You just need to test and see what resonates with your audience.

What’s a quick tip for getting your audience to engage? Ask a question! Our CEO, Julia, knows that if you ask a question and provide a link, it’s likely to make them want to click and read more. You can even ask a question (no link required) to get a conversation going.

Short and sweet advice! Be simple, be human, and be personable. It’s a winning combination!

Amalia recommends sharing products on Pinterest, talking about trends on Twitter, sharing news on Facebook, and posting great images on Instagram.

No matter what, you need to make sure the content you share is relevant to your audience. If it’s not, they won’t want to stick around.

Q3: What’s a good ratio of sharing your own content vs. content from influencers/other sources?

When posting to social media, you shouldn’t share only your content 24/7. It can be a turn off for your followers if they think you’re only interested in yourself. You should mix it up by sharing content from other sources as well. So, what’s a good ratio for sharing? Check out these tips from the chat:

Erik said some recommend an 80/20 ratio. Others recommend sharing 30% your own content, 60% from others, and 10 reshares. You need to keep in mind the platform you’re using as well. You can post more to Twitter and Pinterest within one day.

Julia said you should never over-promote. At Express Writers, we strive to share 60% our own content and 40% from other sources. In the end, you just need to see what works for you and your audience.

Kyle feels it really depends on your industry. If your industry is unique, you can get away with sharing more of your own content.

No matter which ratio you go with, make sure you’re giving your audience what they want to read and share. Great advice, Scott!

Cheryl agrees that content needs to be useful, whether it’s your own or curated from other sources. That’s the number one thing to keep in mind.

Kristen knows that sharing is caring!

Q4: What forms of content work best on social media?

Once you have your posting ratio down, you need to figure out what kind of content you should be sharing. Here are a few tips from Tuesday’s chat:

Erik knows live video is very popular right now. Your brand just might want to take advantage of it. You can share live videos on Periscope or on Facebook Live. He said images and video work on most platforms, but especially on Instagram and Pinterest.

These three know you can’t go wrong with amazing visual content.

We’ve seen great results here at Express Writers as well. We use branded visuals from our designers to increase clickthroughs via social media.

Jeremy said to share smaller bits of larger content as a way to pique the interest of your audience. It’s sure to leave them wanting more.

Ray said the content you share should start the conversation with your audience. Great answer!

Don’t forget to inject some personality into your social media content. It’s a great way to form a connection with you audience. Adding a little humor never hurts either!

For Jenn, it’s all about snackable content. Share stats, infographics, lists, and quotes.

Atulmaharai is also a fan of infographics. We are too!

Cheryl believes great social media content should do one of three things. It should engage your audience, provide an incentive, or promote.

Kristen loves seeing more businesses taking advantage of video and GIF. Are you using them?

Q5: What are the best practices for building a following?

You know where to find your audience and what to post, but how do you build a following? There are a few tips you should always keep in mind:

Erik said you should aim to serve your audience. Respond to them and be human. You should work to build a connection with your audience. And of course, you won’t see results if you aren’t consistent.

One of the best ways to build a following on social media is to engage with your audience. Social media is meant to be social, after all!

Kristen recommends getting to know people. Don’t be afraid to start conversations. Ask questions and answer some yourself.

Try thinking about it the way you’d handle networking in person. Be social!

Brandie said to do your research. Find out who you want to connect with and determine the type of community you want to build. It all starts from there.

GlobalHMA and Jeremy agree that you should think of it as if you were making friends in real life. You should be engaging, courteous, and grateful. Offer to help people. Be interested in what they’re saying. Be interesting yourself.

To build your presence, you should consider ways to expand your reach. Partner with influencers by getting involved in their conversations. It’s a great way to make connections with new people.

If you’re willing to shell out some cash, you could even create a paid ad. Target your specific audience so they’ll see your advertisement in their feed. Alternatively, you can join a Twitter chat because they’re free (and awesome).

Here at Express Writers, we also love joining Twitter chats as a way to make connections and grow our presence. It turns out the Elexicon team agrees with that, too! You can also use trending hashtags, follow influencers, and engage with your audience as ways to see growth.

It seems many of Tuesday’s chat participants agree: engage, engage, engage.

Q6: What are some social media etiquette rules everyone should follow?

Which etiquette rules apply to social media? Check out these tweets from the chat and make sure you aren’t breaking any of them:

Erik said you should do for others what you would want them to do for you. That’s always great advice.

You should always be respectful of the opinions of others. If someone doesn’t agree with you, it’s not a reason to start an argument. That’s never okay.

Ray feels that if you don’t have something constructive to say, you should keep it to yourself.

Brandie’s advice is to always be nice to people. Remember to also give credit where credit is due. You cannot use someone else’s content without crediting them.

Kelly said to thank the people who share your content. It may seem simple, but a thank you goes a long way to show your gratitude.

Even on social media, “please” and “thank you” are still important. Use your manners.

It may seem like obvious advice, but you should always read content before you share it. Kristen knows that many people are guilty of blindly resharing something without reading it first.

Don’t hijack someone else’s conversation. You can add to it, but don’t take over.

Erika said you should always remember to engage with your audience. That’s key if you want to build your following.

Alberto said you should never spam your audience. You should also be kind, show respect, share content from others, and say thank you. Don’t go crazy with hashtags either.

Shereese said you should always engage with your audience. Provide value to them with the content you share. Skip the automated DMs.

Kyle recommends trying to respond to all inquiries you receive. If you ignore someone, it truly is a missed opportunity and could reflect poorly on you.

Cheryl knows those “fake” followers aren’t cool. Don’t follow someone and then unfollow simply because they don’t follow you back. That’s not cool at all.

Q7: Share tips on growing your overall online presence through your social profiles.

Social media is a great tool for growing your online presence and sending traffic to your website. Here are some great tips you should know:

Erik said you should respond and engage consistently on the platforms you’re using. Engaging your audience is essential if you want to make connections and grow your online presence.

Be yourself. If you aren’t true to yourself, your audience will see right through it.

Atulmaharaj knows a great bio is a must on social media. Use your bio to share information about yourself and what you do. It’ll help you attract the right followers. Make sure you’re also sharing great content your target audience would be interested in.

Kristen said to join Facebook communities, Twitter chats, and LinkedIn groups that are relevant to your industry. It’s a great way to connect with new people and generate awareness for your brand.

Interact, engage, and build a relationship with your audience. This is always good advice!

Kyle recommends connecting with like-minded people who you find to be valuable. Make sure you’re engaging with them on a regular basis.

Shereese said to use Twitter lists so you can target your specific audience. Make sure you’re sharing valuable information so people see you know what you’re talking about.

Sabjan said to be consistent when it comes to posting content. Engage with your audience, respond to inquiries you receive, and be thankful.

Be human! Show your personality, be humorous, and show compassion and emotion. It helps people to connect with you.

Q8: Which platforms do you see becoming more popular in 2016?

Which platforms do you think are going to become more popular this year? You just might want to join them! Here’s what our chat participants had to say:

Erik said it’s all about Snapchat and Instagram.

It looks like Amalia agrees, as she also sees Snapchat and Instagram growing in popularity this year. She also thinks Periscope will get bigger as well.

For Ray, he said it’s all about live video. It really is one of the best ways to connect and built trust with your audience.

It looks like even more people agree that Snapchat is the place to be this year. Are you using it as part of your online presence?

The most popular platforms are the ones that will evolve with the audience. They need to be able to keep up with the times.
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 June 21 2016 Recap: The Basics of Optimizing Your Content Correctly for Search Engines

#ContentWritingChat June 21 2016 Recap: The Basics of Optimizing Your Content Correctly for Search Engines

by | Jun 24, 2016 | ContentWritingChat

Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week? There’s no need to worry, my friend. We have you covered with a recap of our latest chat (and it’s a good one). Go ahead and dive into our recap and brush up on your SEO skills with this week’s tips!

#ContentWritingChat June 21 2016 Recap: The Basics of Optimizing Your Content Correctly for Search Engines


For this week’s chat, our guest host was Sherry Bonelli. Sherry is an expert digital marketer (hailing back from 1998), the founder of Early Bird Digital Marketing, and has been featured on the TODAY Show, CNN, ABC. She joined us to share her tips on optimizing your written online content for search engines.

Q1: What are the basics copywriters should know about SEO?

You don’t have to be an SEO expert to optimize your online content. If you’re a natural writer, knowing the basics will just refine your existing skills to help you create fantastic content that Google will love. Check out these tips from the chat:

Don’t forget that everyone can learn the basics of SEO and even small optimizations can make a difference.

As Sherry said, the title of your content and its description will get the attention of potential readers. Make sure you’re using the right keywords to rank higher and attract your ideal reader.

Great advice from Kristen! Understand the language people use within your industry. You need to get inside their heads to choose the keywords they’ll be searching for.

Write with your audience in mind. You want to write for humans, not for robots. Keywords come second.

Make sure you know how to do keyword research. To find the ideal keywords for your content, you’ll need to know how to research them effectively and which tools you should use.

Brittany said to make sure you know why SEO matters. Of course, don’t forget about those all-important keywords either.

Varun suggested that you learn about title, tags, meta description, and headers. You should also understand how to choose the correct keywords.

Our CEO, Julia, said to make sure you know how to write good meta titles and descriptions. Those are key for ranking your content!

Cheryl said to focus on using the right keywords for your content and in your titles and headings. Don’t forget to tag your images with the appropriate keywords as well. This is a step that’s easy to overlook!

Zachary relies on the Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress to keep him on track when it comes to optimization. We’re right there with you!

Ryan knows keyword stuffing isn’t cool. Make sure the copy you write sounds natural, otherwise it can be a turn-off for your reader.

Jim said to keep your content natural. Don’t force your SEO.

Q2: Should you optimize every piece of content you create?

Is it worthwhile to optimize every piece of content you publish online? Here’s what some of our chat participants had to say:

Sherry believes in optimizing all of the content you create, even print material.

Sarah from ThinkSEM said you don’t need to optimize all of your content. Ultimately, it depends what the content is for. Certain pages on your site don’t necessarily need to rank.

Scott said pages such as your About page and your Contact page don’t need to be optimized. Make sure you’re optimizing what’s relevant.

For the content you want to reach a wide audience, make sure you’re taking the time to optimize it.

Varun questions the point of creating content if you’re not optimizing.

Do you want your content to be seen?

Michael said you should optimize all of your content. He also said the optimization process starts before you even begin writing. You have to conduct research, select keywords, and more.

Julia believes it’s not always important to optimize every piece of content.

You don’t want to neglect your older content. Kristen suggests going back and optimizing your best content first.

Q3: Is keyword density still important when optimizing content?

Keyword density was once a big factor when it comes to ranking your content. Is it still relevant?

Sherry said keyword density isn’t looked at so much anymore. She also said to make sure you’re not guilty of keyword stuffing. If you’re having trouble with your keyword, she suggested reaching for the thesaurus. You can find synonyms to use in your content.

Keywords should still be present, but providing engaging content is always the most important. Great answer, Kristen!

Sarah doesn’t think keyword density is still important. She said the way your content is written is much more important in the end.

Ray’s advice was to make sure you’re not stuffing your content with keywords. It’s not good for your readers and the search engines won’t like it either. Instead, focus on providing valuable content for your reader.

Rohan said keyword variation and natural language are more important.

Jim’s advice was to choose the keywords that feel natural to your content. Remember: no keyword stuffing ever!

Our Content Manager, Katria, knows quality is always the #1 priority.

Q4: How can you define and choose the right keywords for your content?

Choosing the right keywords is essential when optimizing your content. To help you out, check out these tips from the chat:

Don’t forget that Google will show you what people have been searching. All you have to do is start typing for suggestions to appear. She also said that you want to find content that’s being searched for, but doesn’t have too much competition.

Ray knows it’s important to consider your audience in this situation. He said to think about how your audience would ask a question to help in choosing the right keywords.

Similarly, you should spend time getting to know your audience. By doing some research and communicating with your target market, you’ll get to know their preferences and interests. This will help in choosing the keywords that will get you results.

Sarah also said you need to figure out how your audience is talking about a specific topic. Use the words and phrases they’re using because that’s what they’ll search with.

Focus on writing great content first. That’s always the most important thing. Optimize your content afterwards with common keywords.

Julia said to figure out what your audience is talking about. Use BuzzSumo to see what topics are popular at the moment. Keyword tools such as SEMrush and KW Finder are great as well.

Erika relies on Google Keyword Planner, Moz, and Keyword Tool for choosing the best keywords for her content.

Again, it all goes back to your audience. Know what they’re searching for so you can choose your keywords accordingly.

Q5: What tools do you use to help with SEO?

There are a ton of great SEO tools out there and it can be hard to choose just one to use. In fact, many people use multiple tools to help them out. Here are some tool recommendations to try:

Sherry likes to use SEMrush, RankRanger, SEOProfiler, and SEO Powersuite.

Ray, Brittany, and Erika are all fans of the Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress. It’s a great tool and we use it here at Express Writers.

Sarah turns to tools like ScreamingFrog, Raven Tools, Keyword Planner, and Google autosuggest.

Ryan said you can’t go wrong with Moz, Keyword Planner, and KW Finder.

Julia rlies on Quora, Uber Suggest, SEMrush, and KW Finder.

Screaming Frog and Yoast always come highly recommended.

Yoast, SEO Quake Team, Moz, and Hubspot are all tools worth checking out.

Jenn’s go-to tools include Google Analytics, Adwords, and Moz.

Amalia likes to use tools such as Yoast, SEMrush, Screaming Frog, and Moz.

Q6: Which SEO experts do you follow to stay updated on Google standards?

Because Google does change the standards from time to time, it’s important to stay updated with what’s going on. There are plenty of SEO experts you can follow online to help you stay up to date.

Erika has a few tools she turns to when it comes to SEO, including Randfish’s Whiteboard Friday.

Ellie’s suggestions include Randfish, Moz, Neil Patel, and more.

To stay on top of his blogging game, Zachary likes to read content from Jon Morrow.

All of these suggestions are definitely worth checking out!

We agree, Jim! Neil Patel is always a great resource to turn to for SEO tips and more.

Julia had quite a few suggestions to offer. Do you follow any of these people?

Q7: How can we handle the updates Google made to meta content standards?

Google recently made some updates to their meta content standards. If you haven’t heard about this, make sure you reader our blog post on it: https://expresswriters.com/new-meta-content-length

Sherry said to keep an eye on what experts are doing and learn from their mistakes.

With a little more room to write, Julia says we can get creative with those extra characters.

No matter what changes are made, Sarah said you still want to write meta content that’s descriptive.

It always helps to regularly test and analyze your results so you can get better.

For now, just keep going and doing things as you normally would.

Q8: What are the don’ts when optimizing content?

There are always a few don’ts you should avoid when optimizing content for search engines. Here are some tips from our chat:

Sherry said not to forget about adding alt tags to your images. This is key if you want your images to be picked up by search engines.

Kristen is spot on with her answer. Don’t alter the core message or readability of your content for SEO. Providing quality to your audience is always the most important thing. Never sacrifice that.

Erika had some advice that was similar to Kristen’s. Be human! Don’t make your content unnatural for the sake of SEO.

To sum it all up: no keyword stuffing.

Sarah knows there are quite a few “don’ts” when it comes to SEO. She said to avoid keyword stuffing, over-linking, and writing just for keywords/SEO. Avoid being spammy.

As Julia said, you should never focus solely on keywords. It’s more important to focus on creating high-quality 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!

P.S. Interested to learn how Julia created our chat from scratch and how I manage it? Check out our episode on The Write Podcast posted this week, where Julia and I discuss everything entailed in launching/running a Twitter chat!