Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week? Never fear! We have a full recap of Tuesday’s chat where we talked all about honing in on your brand story. Let’s dive in and review some of the tips that were shared this week!
#ContentWritingChat April 5 2016 Recap: Strategies to Hone In On & Tell Your Best Brand Story
Tamara Budz joined us as our guest host this week. She is a marketing consultant and brand storyteller/content marketer who owns the Silver Shade Group.
Q1: Define brand storytelling.
What exactly is brand storytelling? Julia, Tamara, Brittany, and Hannah all chimed in with great answers for our first question.
A1 What does YOUR brand solve for people? What are customers saying? Tell your best authentic story = brand storytelling #ContentWritingChat
As Julia mentioned, you want to focus on what your brand solves for people. What pain points are you helping them with? And what exactly are your customers saying about you and your brand?
Brittany shared a great answer. Your brand story is your past, present, and future. It’s about your reputation and the connections that you make with your audience.
Hannah said brand storytelling is about sharing your message in a meaningful and entertaining way. You need to make sure you’re speaking to your audience.
Q2: What makes a strong brand story?
Now that you know what brand storytelling is, what exactly makes a strong brand story?
Co-Op Social was spot on with their answer. A strong brand story includes authenticity, relevance, and connectivity. You need to be authentic, your story should be relevant to your brand and your audience, and it should form a connection with your audience.
A2. Once you know who you are, connect with people, be human, remember your values and be grounded in your integrity. #ContentWritingChat
Julia and Jeremy were on the same page with their answers. Both of them expressed the importance of focusing on your audience. Get them involved in your story and make sure it’s one they’ll feel drawn to.
A2 A deep understanding of your audience. Understand their painpoints, interests, influences & craft content to reflect #ContentWritingChat
Hannah said it’s important to understand the pain points of your audience, as well as their interests. Knowing these things can help you create the right content for them.
A2: The human elements (people) & struggles behind the story of a brand are what make it compelling #ContentWritingChat
Andrew said to focus on the people. Don’t be afraid to share the struggles behind the story of your brand because that can be compelling and relatable for your audience.
Q3: What are the benefits of storytelling for a brand in today’s era?
Developing and telling your story can have some major benefits for your brand. Check out these answers from Kim, Hannah, Michael, and Alberto.
A3: Again, it’s how you connect to people. Marketing today is all about the connection to the individidual. #ContentWritingChat
As Kim from McKinney & Associates and Hannah both said, it’s all about developing a connection with your audience. Your story needs to draw them in and help you start forming a relationship.
Pay attention to what your customers are saying. They can provide you with valuable advice. As Julia said, find out how you’ve been able to help your audience. Tamara agreed. She said your customers will tell you what they need. All you have to do is tune in to what they’re saying or just ask.
A4: Mix of creativity, empathy, and diligent stalking. …I mean listening. (But seriously consumer data really helps) #ContentWritingChat
Pratik suggested not just looking to your customer, but also looking at your competition. Take a look at what they’re doing. It’s sure to help give you some fresh ideas!
Q5: What are some ways to be unique as you tell your brand’s story?
When it comes to telling your brand story, you need to find a way to be unique so you stand out from the crowd.
A5: To start with, find out what clicks with your customers and prospects. #ContentWritingChat
Zlata reminds us that you should never forget your audience. What resonates with them? What are they drawn to? You need to create content with them in mind.
A5 Get creative on all mediums!! Explainer/animated vids are huge. Infographics, gifographics, SlideShares, blogs, etc #ContentWritingChat
As Julia said, make sure you get creative on every medium you use, whether it’s infographics, gifographics, SlideShares, blog posts, etc. Use your creativity and show it off in everything you do.
A5. Tell people about your challenges! Show vulnerability! Just be real & let your voice shine through whenever you can. #contentwritingchat
And finally, Brittany pointed out that we should never get stuck in our ways. We need to be willing to experiment and try new things. Step outside your comfort zone and try something different.
Q6: What are the best mediums to tell your brand story online? (blogs, videos, etc.)
This was another question people in the chat mostly agreed on. To determine which mediums are best for your brand, look to your audience and see what they’re responding to. Here’s what some chatters had to say:
A6: Use the mediums your ideal customers are using and engage with. Not all mediums will make sense for your customer. #ContentWritingChat
Affinio, Pratik, and Zlata all agreed that the mediums you choose will depend on who your audience is. Ask yourself, what are they drawn to? What resonates with them and what are they interested in? Do they prefer reading blog posts or watching videos? It all depends on your customer!
A6. The best mediums are the ones your audience loves the most. To find out what they prefer, just ask! #contentwritingchat
If you aren’t sure which mediums they prefer, take Kristen’s advice and just ask. It really is as simple as that. Don’t be afraid to just reach out to your audience and ask what they enjoy. They’ll tell you.
A6. Where & how you story-tell are reflections of your audience: who are they, where do they hang out? #ContentWritingChat@ExpWriters
As Rachel said, consider who your audience is and where they’re spending their time online. These are two things you need to keep in mind every time you’re creating content.
A6 Videos are key for getting a visual story across best! Copy, too: don’t be afraid of delving into the highly creative #ContentWritingChat
Julia and Sabjan both offered some great suggestions for popular mediums to utilize. Julia said videos are essential for getting a visual story across the best. They also provide a fantastic way to form a connection with your audience.
Sabjan also mentioned videos, but said blogs, infographics, eBooks, and podcasts are all amazing as well. It’s good to try a few mediums and see what works best for both you and your audience.
A6b @ExpWriters I insist on LiveStreaming, at least for trailers or previews of your content and stories #ContentWritingChat
Alberto is another fan of video, as he suggested live streaming. With so many live streaming apps available today, it just might be a great medium to try out for your brand. See how your audience responds!
A6) The location (say, YouTube) is secondary to the medium (say, video) which is secondary to the message. #ContentWritingChat@JuliaEMcCoy
Determine the medium that’s right for you. Don’t be afraid to try new things, but once you figure out what clicks for you and your audience, stick to it.
Some great examples from Pratik: Nike, Apple, Cadbury, and Coca Cola. 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!
Did you miss #ContentWritingChat this week? Or maybe you just wanted to check out some of the highlights from Tuesday’s chat? Either way, there’s no need to worry. We have you covered!
Unfortunately, our scheduled guest host was not able to make it to the chat, but our awesome CEO, Julia McCoy, stepped in as our host for the week. She joined us as we talked all about How to Develop Your Voice in Content Marketing. Now, let’s dive into the recap!
Q1: Why is finding your voice and story so important in content marketing?
Finding your voice and your story is important when it comes to content marketing. You need to be yourself in order to be unique and stand out from the crowd. Here’s what Julia, Sarah from ThinkSEM, Andrew, Kyle, and Michael had to say.
A1 Fact: Without a clear voice & story unique to YOU, you won’t stand out. There’s a sea of content out there #ContentWritingChat
As Julia pointed out, there’s a ton of content on the web today. If you want your content to stand out from the rest, you need to develop your voice and infuse your writing with it.
Sarah mentioned that knowing your voice and your story can actually help you reach the right audience. Your voice is important when it comes to attracting your target market to your content.
A1: Your personal voice and story are what will engage your audience and bring them in #ContentWritingChat
Andrew and Kyle both know the importance of finding your voice when it comes to content marketing. They agreed that using your personal voice will help draw people to you and your content.
Both Village Print & Media and Andrew agreed that part of developing your voice comes from knowing the core values behind your brand. What does your brand stand for?
A2: Track what style of voice engages your users. Know your buyer persona and appeal to them. #ContentWritingChat
Ryan shared a great tip with his answer: keep track of what your audience is engaging with. When you get to know your audience and you understand what kind of content resonates with them, it can help you in developing your voice and story.
Q3: What are some key tactics to creating great content today?
Do you want to start creating better content? Take a look at some of these tips that were shared during Tuesday’s chat and start implementing them as part of your content strategy:
A3 Tactics / rather, fundamentals: time, investment, creativity, genius, storytelling… great content isn’t simple! #ContentWritingChat
As Andrew and Sarah pointed out, you need to do some research on your audience if you want to create great content. After all, you’re creating it for them! Figure out what they want and need and how you plan to deliver it to them. Then, you just have to go for it!
A3) Write pieces that not only inform ppl, but also leave them with new questions & make them think! They’ll want more #ContentWritingChat
As Liliana said, great content is informative, but you should also leave your audience wanting more. That’s the key to coming them back every single time.
A3) Provide a unique POV on a current event or topic.Stay up to date in your industry! That is vital! #ContentWritingChat
Another great tip is to stay updated on current events and trends. (Both Kyle and Village Print & Media know this is a must!) As Kyle said, you just need to make sure you put your own unique spin on it. Share your thoughts and opinions as a way to add to current events or trending topics.
Q4: What are some don’ts in creating content today?
To make sure you’re creating awesome content for your audience, you’ll want to make sure you avoid these “don’ts”:
A4: You need to be strategic & have a specific target audience & promotion plan in place BEFORE you start writing! (2/2) #contentwritingchat
Don’t forget to target your specific audience. And don’t forget to have a promotion plan in place. You need to be able to spread the word about your content once it’s published so you can get more readers.
Don’t create content for the sake of creating content. It’s much better to create a few high quality posts for your audience than it is to create a bunch of posts that aren’t up to par.
Don’t forget to optimize your content for search engines. Learn the basics of SEO and take the time to implement it for every piece of content you write
Q5: How is storytelling part of finding your voice in content marketing?
Storytelling plays a major part in attracting customers to you and your brand. To make it part of your brand’s voice, check out these tips:
A5 Use your story in social media ads, blog copy, About pg. In storytelling, think about a) authenticity b) creativity!! #ContentWritingChat
As Julia said, you can use your story in a variety of ways to draw in your audience. You can implement your story into your social media ads, blog copy, your about page, and more.
A5) It’s not. #ContentWritingChat Just kidding, storytelling motivates us to care about the content, there’s a drive to want to know more.
As Rohan said, when you’re passionate about your story, it will help you discover your voice.
Q6: What are some tools that can help the storytelling process?
To help with the storytelling process, we got some amazing recommendations from people in Tuesday’s chat. Take a look and start checking out these tools and tips for yourself:
A6 Foremost, human CREATIVITY 😉 Secondly, @canva, taking pictures/making videos, taking time to get/be inspired #ContentWritingChat
Julia knows that creativity is very important! She also recommended Canva, which is a tool we love to use here at Express Writers. It makes designing captivating images so much easier.
Analytics are another great tool to use because you can see what is resonating with your audience. When you see what actions they’re taking and what content they’re enjoying the most, you can create more of what they like.
Jeremy knows you can’t underestimate the power of editing. Before you share your content, review it to make sure everything is relevant and interesting to your audience. Eliminate anything that doesn’t fit or add value.
Q7: What are key content formats of today (i.e. blogs, videos, etc.)?
There are so many ways you can create content these days, but what you create will largely depend on you and your audience. Here’s what some people in the chat had to say:
A7 DUDE. Podcasts are HUGE right now. Only 3% of marketers are using them – it’s not saturated yet! #ContentWritingChat
Julia said podcasts are huge right now. And she should know! She just launched one of her own: The Write Podcast. She’s been joined by some amazing guests so far to chat about content marketing. Be sure to check it out!
For some other popular content formats, she also suggested livestreaming. Apps like Periscope and Blab continue to grow in popularity. What was her most important tip? Make sure your content is evergreen. Create content that will remain relevant and won’t be quickly outdated.
A7: Key content formats depend on where your audience is. If they’re on YouTube make videos if they’re on IG focus there #contentwritingchat
As Andrew said, the content you create depends on where your audience is. Think about where they’re spending their time online and what types of content they enjoy the most. Create with them in mind.
Village Print & Media knows that video content is important right now, especially on apps like Instagram and Snapchat. Are you using these platforms for your brand?
We saw even more love for video from Alberto who suggested utilizing Snapchat, Blab, Periscope, YouTube, and Facebook Live. Is your audience using any of these? If they are, you should give them a try!
Q8: What do you think is ahead for the content marketing industry?
We always love to hear the thoughts of people in the chat. When we asked what they thought was ahead for the content marketing industry, many of them had the same answer (video).
A8 More video, livestreaming. More platforms, technology & ways to share content types! #ContentWritingChat
Julia, Kyle, and Michael are all tuned in to what’s hot lately because they know video is only going to get more and more popular. Video content is a great way to stand out from the crowd and help you develop a connection with your audience.
Sarah said that content marketing will become more about connecting with your audience and starting a conversation with them, as opposed to being so focused on selling.
A8 a unique way of finding, expressing and telling your STORY. Creative ways to be *of use* and provide value #ContentWritingChat
As Zala pointed out, no matter what, you need to find a way to be creative. That’s always a must!
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!
Did you miss this week’s #ContentWritingChat? Well, you’re in luck because we have a full recap! We talked all about finding and creating media (images, videos, and audio) to go with your content. Keep reading for some of the highlights from the chat and start implementing these tips into your online presence.
#ContentWritingChat March 22 2016 Recap: Strategies for Finding/Creating Great Media to Go With Your Content
For this week’s chat, our guest host was Kelsey Jones. Kelsey is a Marketing Strategist and the Executive Editor at Search Engine Journal, where our CEO Julia is a guest contributor. We love SEJ and we were honored to have Kelsey join us! She shared her best tips on creating great media to go along with your blog posts, social media, and more – our hour was packed full with information!
Headed out. First time I have to leave my own chat LOL 🙁 But my sick baby needs me! #ContentWritingChat is in good hands w/ @redheadrachel
Julia was unable to make it, unfortunately, due to her baby toddler being sick – but we still managed to have fun. 😉
Q1: How do you find or create the perfect video/image/audio?
When we’re creating media, we always want to ensure it’s our absolute best! How do you do that? It seems the participants of Tuesday’s chat were pretty unanimous with their answers.
A1 It takes time to figure out what works best w/audience. Find a tool that makes it easy to search for media. #contentwritingchat
Kelsey, Village Print & Media, and Hannah all agree that you need to keep your audience in mind when creating images, videos, and audio content. Your audience is the most important thing and you want to ensure you’re creating media that will resonate with them. Plan your message and figure out what your audience is most drawn to.
Q2: What are some tips on creating great images to share in blog posts?
When it comes to blog posts, it’s important to add at least one image to your written content. A great image will help get your audience’s attention and keep them interested. To create amazing images for your next posts, read these tips:
A2) They have to be a reflection of your content and eye catching. #ContentWritingChat
Liliana and Amel are spot on! Make sure the images you create for your posts are actually related to your written content. You can’t just put any old image together. It needs to complement your post.
A2- I have 3 tips. 1. the featured image needs to relate 2. Learn-test-optimize: try new image styles 3. be on brand #contentwritingchat
Hannah offered some good advice with her answer: Learn, test, optimize. Don’t be afraid to try new things to see how your audience responds. You just want to make sure you always stay on brand!
A2. The other thing I would share is compress your images to increase your blog’s response time. #ContentWritingChat
Make sure you don’t go overboard with your images! As Brittany pointed out, images that are too large can slow down your page loading time. If your page takes too long to load, you risk losing out on potential readers who don’t want to wait.
A2: Pull the strongest quotes from your post and turn them into images instead of bolding them. Helps for skimming, too #ContentWritingChat
If you’re looking for another way to step-up your images within blog posts, try Kate’s tip! She recommends creating graphics out of some of the strongest quotes within your posts. It’s a great way to ensure they stand out and are seen by your audience.
Q3: What are some tips on creating great images to share on social media?
It’s important to have a great image to include with your social media posts because it helps your content stand out in a busy timeline. Kelsey, ThinkSEM, Varun, Village Print & Media, and Partha all shared some helpful tips:
A3 Fonts play a HUGE part in initial impression. It can clearly show your company culture, personality, etc. #ContentWritingChat
When creating images, you should always keep Kelsey’s advice in mind. Use the right kind of fonts for your brand/business. Fonts convey a certain personality and you want to make sure you’re using the right ones for your images.
For example, fun and playful fonts won’t be the best fit for a corporate company, but work well for a creative business.
As ThinkSEM and Varun said, make sure you keep sizing in mind when creating images for social media. Each platform has guidelines when it comes to an ideal size for graphics. Figure out which sizes work best for each platform and make sure you design accordingly!
A3. Grasp the attention of your audience. Make sure your images are relatable, inviting, creative, neat & not too busy. #contentwritingchat
As always, make sure you have your audience in mind when creating any kind of content! Village Print & Media suggests designing images that will get your audience’s attention and are relatable, inviting, creative, and neat.
Partha offered some fantastic advice with his answer: include a call to action (CTA). Use your images to tell your audience what to do next.
Q4: What are some of the best tools for creating great media?
If you’re looking for some new tools to try out to help you create amazing media, our chat participants offered a lot of great suggestions. Check them out:
ThinkSEM recommends using Photoshop/Lightroom, Canva, or PicMonkey. Although, sometimes it just doesn’t get better than getting behind the camera, right?
So many people in Tuesday’s chat raved about Canva, which should come as no surprise because it’s a fantastic tool. We use it here at Express Writers too! Pablo by Buffer is another good way to create images quickly and easily.
A4 to go beyond photos, we use Instagram & Facebook for events, people should also be checking out Blab & @periscopetv#contentwritingchat
Thinking beyond images, Kelsey says she loves to use Instagram and Facebook for events. She also recommends everyone checks out Blab. It’s an awesome way to add live streaming video to your online presence.
Q5: Are there limitations to what you can create? When should you hire a designer?
Should you hire a designer? Should you do it all yourself? It depends! Here’s what we learned in the chat:
Kelsey and the team at Search Engine Journal know the importance of a great designer. Their designer helps create images for podcasts, webinars, and more.
A5. (1/2) Honestly, if you are willing to learn the process & code behind content, you are only limited by yourself. #ContentWritingChat
As Brittany said, you’re only limited by yourself. If you want to get better at creating graphics, start reading up on design tips and implement them. You can get better the more you learn and the more you practice!
A5- If design is holding up the publishing process or affecting the quality of content – seek help! #ContentWritingChat
If you find that you’re still struggling to get your designs just right, consider hiring someone to help.
Q6: What kind of media works best in blog posts?
Are you wondering what kind of media works best in your blog posts? Netvantage Marketing, Shannon, Kelsey, Kate, and Kristen all offered some great advice.
A6: It varies; media that your audience is drawn to and fits in with the message of your post is best. #contentwritingchat
As Netvantage Marketing and Shannon said: consider your audience. Give your audience the types of media they are looking for and make sure it fits the content of your post.
A6 At @sejournal we usually embed social instead of screenshots, embed videos, images are standard but go beyond! #contentwritingchat
As Kate pointed out, you need to keep mobile users in mind due to load times, user experience, and data limits. Make sure you always test your content on mobile before you publish it. Your blog posts should not take long to load and they should always be easy to navigate on mobile devices. Also, remember that some people are limited to how much data they can use on their phones. If you embed a video, consider adding a written transcript for people who can’t watch.
A6. GIFS are awesome for illustrating product features and workflows. #contentwritingchat
Kelsey said it’s important to take the time to get your images right. It’s not just about what your images say. You need to make sure they have the right style and that they are high quality.
Both Varun and Kristen know the importance of incorporating real people into your media content. Varun says to share real stories of people who have been positively impacted by your product/service. Kristen agreed, saying that it helps to humanize your story.
Q8: What are safe practices to be aware of when using/creating visuals to avoid licensing issues?
Don’t think you can just go around the web pulling any images you like. There are copyright issues you need to be aware of. If you want to avoid any licensing issues, keep these tips in mind:
A8 always use proper creative commons attributions, stock photos when needed, avoid memes #ContentWritingChat
You cannot just Google Image Search a topic and use whatever you find. Most of those images are copyrighted and could get you in a lot of trouble if you use them.
If you’re buying photos, make sure you know what the limitations are. Some photos can be used for any type of media, while others are for editorial use only. Make sure you take the time to read the fine print.
A8: CC0. When in doubt, do not use. If at all possible, take your own photos. iPhones make us all photographers, kinda #ContentWritingChat
Finally, if you really want to be on the safe side, try taking your own photos. You can’t get in trouble if you’re taking the photos for all of your graphics.
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!
Did you miss this week’s #ContentWritingChat? If so, there’s no need to worry because we have you covered with a full recap! We talked all about social media this week and our chat participants shared some amazing tips. If you’re looking to boost your presence on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more, keep on reading.
#ContentWritingChat March 15 2016 Recap: Strategies to Maximize Your Outreach on Social Media
Our guest host this week was the one and only Shane Barker: a #1 ranked Digital Strategist in social media, a major influencer in the social media marketing space, and a consultant that works with clients providing them with SEO and Internet marketing advice and strategies. You can learn more about him on his website, ShaneBarker.com.
Q1: What are steps every brand/business should take when starting out on social media?
Whether you’re just starting out on social media or you’ve been at it for a while now, there’s still plenty to learn from the responses to our first question. Shane, Netvantage Marketing, Jessica, and Ai all chimed in with great answers.
A1) Test multiple social media platforms and see if building a community there makes sense. #ContentWritingChat
As Shane mentioned, it’s wise test multiple platforms to see if they’ll work for you. Remember that you don’t have to be on every social media platform available. Instead, you should invest your time and energy into the platforms your target audience is using.
A1: Be sure to fill our your profiles completely. Use a recognizable/well-branded profile image. #contentwritingchat
When you create a social media profile, don’t forget to add all the necessary information. Write a bio, upload a cover photo (on applicable platforms), and choose a great profile image. As Jessica and Ai pointed out, it’s all about building relationships. Don’t be afraid to dive in and start talking to people. Make connections by starting conversations with new people. You can’t start selling right away. You have to build trust first.
Q2: Which social media platforms are best to be on in 2016 and beyond?
New platforms are always on the horizon when it comes to social media. So, how do you know which ones are worthwhile to be on? Shane and Dagmar both offered up some great advice. When you’re trying to decide which platforms to build a presence on, consider your audience as well as the product/service you provide. You want to make sure you invest your time in platforms where your audience is spending time if you want them to help grow your brand/business.
A2) This all depends on your product/service you provide & how willing the business owner is to create content & engage. #ContentWritingChat
Don’t forget about what’s most enjoyable to you, too! For example, if you’re great on video, build a presence on Periscope, Blab, or Snapchat. Our CEO, Julia, knows some of the best platforms to be on are the tried and true favorites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google+. Even though they have all been around for a long time now, they’re still worthwhile. Newer video platforms such as Periscope and Blab continue to increase in popularity though.
A2 Facebook and Twitter are top. Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, G+, Periscope, Blab #ContentWritingChat
Q3: What are a few strategies for success on Twitter?
Here at Express Writers, we love Twitter! It’s one of our favorite social media platforms to use and connect with our audience. If you want to step-up your Twitter presence, check out these tips. Shane recommends utilizing Twitter Lists. Lists are a great way to create a curated timeline of people whose updates you don’t want to miss.
A3) I would recommend using Twitter Lists to organize your people. You can organize them by groups, events or location. #ContentWritingChat
Try creating a few Twitter Lists for yourself! You can have lists based on a certain topic, a select group of people, or even potential clients you want to build relationships with.
Both Grenae and Kristen know the importance of building relationships on Twitter. Put yourself out there and start connecting with new people! You just might find your next clients or customers or even a new friend.
A3: Twitter chats; it’s learning and engagement in one spot. #contentwritingchat
And much like Netvantage Marketing, it’s no secret that we love Twitter chats! Not only are they a great place to connect with new people, but many are quite informative!
Q4: Name some best practices for Facebook outreach.
Facebook’s algorithm can make it tricky to get eyes on the content you post. Put these tips to use for a better Facebook strategy.
A4) Make content that resonates with your audience. Link dropping doesn’t cut it anymore. Competition is stiff. #ContentWritingChat
Kyle shared some great advice when he said to create content that resonates with your audience. When it comes to any platform, you need to create with your audience in mind.
A4) I think the best form of @Facebook outreach is through FB ads. You can drill down & market to your perfect client. #ContentWritingChat
Many people these days are turning to Facebook ads to reach their audience, which Shane knows. You can target your exact audience and make sure you’re reaching the right people.
Q5: How should you interact on LinkedIn?
A few people in Tuesday’s chat admitted they haven’t been putting too much effort into their LinkedIn profiles. If you’re feeling the same way, put these tips to use:
A5) For @Linkedin, make sure to provide value. Nobody likes to receive a new LI connection & be pitched instantly. #ContentWritingChat
Shane’s advice could really work for any social media platform. Make sure you provide value and don’t pitch people as soon as you meet them. That’s not cool!
A5- I’m a big fan of #LinkedInPulse. Publish valuable content for your audience & connect with others in your space. #ContentWritingChat
Dagmar suggests setting social media goals. Know what you want to achieve with your social media presence and have a clear idea of who your audience is.
A6: Follow people who you’d like to be like in business, stay engaged and perhaps you’ll find yourself a mentor. #ContentWritingChat
Amanda says to seek out people that you aspire to be like when it comes to business. Start engaging with them and build a relationship. You never know where it might lead!
A6. I like Twitter chats and the Explore page on Instagram. #ContentWritingChat
You can’t talk about your business and your product/service all the time. The focus should be on providing great content to your audience first and foremost.
A8) Scheduling time to engage with content from others. It means the world to them! People want to be heard/understood. #ContentWritingChat
And of course, you need patience. It takes time to build a community on social media and to build strong relationships. If you put in the time and effort, you will see results.
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!
We had so many new participants in this week’s Content Writing Chat – we couldn’t have been more thrilled with the turn out. Lots of new faces joined us. We were even a trending topic in the USA again, reaching our highest rank so far: #40!
If you missed it, there’s no need to worry because we have a recap of some of the best tweets of the chat. Keep reading to learn all about content curation!
#ContentWritingChat March 8 2016 Recap: Best Practices for Content Curation in 2016
Our guest host for this week’s chat was Guillaume Decugis. Guillaume is the Co-Founder and CEO of Scoop.it, and an all-around awesome entrepreneur and influencer in the content marketing space. Julia has interviewed him previously on G+ Hangouts and Blab. He joined us to share his thoughts on best practices for content curation in 2016.
It’s all about discovering and publishing content that is relevant to your audience. Grenae said you should add your own insights, examples, and experience when sharing content from others. As Kyle mentioned, it’s a good way to advance the conversation.
It seems everyone agrees: you can’t have creation without curation! Guillaume mentioned that we should all have a balance between creating content and curating content. Kyle said it’s important to create great content ourselves, but to also promote others who are creating great content as well.
Even our CEO, Julia, agrees. She said she can’t create without curation. Curating amazing content can be a huge source of inspiration!
A2 As a content creator, I CANNOT create without curation. Finding/curating great content/news/etc is huge inspiration #ContentWritingChat
Although Guillaume and Julia don’t have a specific ratio they follow, they both recognize that balance is KEY. Provide your audience with a mix of valuable content from you and from other sources.
Both Chris and Kyle are fans of a 60/40 ratio. Your goal should always be to give your audience useful content and to tune in to what others are saying.
A3)Whatever the balance, using curated content shows you care about what others are saying. Can’t just be our own voice. #ContentWritingChat
And as Jeremy said, curation shows that you care about what others are saying. You let others know that you’re listening when their content is part of your curation.
We received a ton of suggestions for great content curation tips from everyone in the chat on Tuesday! As Netvantage Marketing said, you should consider where your audience is getting their information. Check out the websites and sources they’re reading.
Guillaume mentioned using his tool, Scoop.it, but also said email newsletters are a great place to find content. Make sure you’re subscribed to some of the influential blogs within your industry to see what people are talking about!
Kristen is a fan of Feedly and Paper.li. Varun likes using Twitter Lists to find awesome content. If you create a List of influencers in your industry, you can easily scroll through updates and find a ton of new content. Tajah suggests checking out some of your favorite hashtags to see what others are posting.
When it comes to content curation, there are a few things you should always keep in mind. Guillaume stressed the importance of always giving proper credit to the original source. Never try to take credit for something you didn’t create!
Tara said you should always read content in its entirety before you share it with your audience. Never blindly retweet or share something without checking it out first.
Omni Sodo suggested using tools to save you time when curating content. Kyle recommended using Twitter Lists as a way to track people and brands who consistently publish great content.
Some content curation don’ts: Don’t be unethical. Don’t steal content and try to pass it off as your own. Don’t curate for search engines. (Curate for your audience instead!)
Here are just a few of the amazing tools you should use when curating content: Scoop.it, Storify, Feedly, Buffer, Quora, BuzzSumo, social media platforms, and Google Trends.
We had an open Q&A session at the end of the chat and invited everyone in the chat to ask Guillaume questions. Check out a couple of his answers below:
@irishtara I’ve found working in sessions and scheduling things in advance helped. Weekly or couple of times a week. #contentwritingchat
We look forward to seeing you at the next #ContentWritingChat! Mark your calendars weekly for Tuesday at 10 AM for great chats centered around content writing and marketing!
