This week was the last #ContentWritingChat of 2017. *cue the tears*
We’ve had a tremendous year growing this community and connecting with so many amazing content creators from around the globe.
Throughout 2017, we’ve had amazing guests and topics week after week. And it’s only going to get better from here! However, before we move forward into 2018, we wanted to use this week’s chat to reflect on the past year.
So, let’s dive into the recap!
#ContentWritingChat Recap: Best of 2017 with Gini Dietrich & Madalyn Sklar
Join us for #ContentWritingChat on Tuesday, December 19th to celebrate the end of 2017! ? @ginidietrich and @MadalynSklar will be our guest hosts! pic.twitter.com/9llbBIIeTU
— Express Writers (@ExpWriters) December 13, 2017
To wrap up the year, we wanted to make sure we brought on some powerhouse guests. Two ladies that came to mind were Gini Dietrich and Madalyn Sklar. Both of them have hosted #ContentWritingChat in the past and provided great value to the community. It only made sense to have them join us again!
Q1: Which content marketing and social media trends really stood out in 2017? What was worth the effort for brands to implement?
To kick off the chat, we asked everyone to share the top trends they believed were worth the effort in 2017. Was it live video, podcasting, or something else? Here are a few responses we received:
A1: Lots more video marketing and Facebook Live—both good and bad. #contentwritingchat
— Gini Dietrich (@ginidietrich) December 19, 2017
Gini knows that video marketing and Facebook Live broadcasts really stood out in the past year. There’s no denying that this will continue to grow in popularity during 2018.
A1: A larger shift toward paid media to amplify content. #contentwritingchat
— Gini Dietrich (@ginidietrich) December 19, 2017
She also said there’s been a greater shift toward paid media. With the algorithms social media platforms have put in place, it’s almost become a requirement if you want your content to be seen.
A1: The trends that stood out for 2017 was video, podcasting and livestreaming. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/9ZjnF8cbTf
— Madalyn Sklar ? Speaker. Podcaster. Chat Host. (@MadalynSklar) December 19, 2017
Video, podcasting, and live streaming are the three trends that caught Madalyn’s attention this year.
A1: I’d say video was the most-talked about topic in 2017 – everyone looked so interested in starting their own journey on YouTube and similar platforms!#ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/WygMq2z20e
— @AndreaTorti90 (@andreatorti90) December 19, 2017
Video was certainly one hot topic this year! As Andrea said, more brands started creating YouTube channels and sharing video content with their audience.
A1: Live streaming and video content stood out the most in 2017 for brands. A trend that won’t go away and will only become more popular in 2018. #ContentWritingChat
— Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) December 19, 2017
Besides YouTube channels, live streaming has been pretty popular. Brands started using tools like Facebook Live and Instagram Live.
A1: Live streaming was huge in 2017, which is pretty easy for brands to do to connect to their audience. Live streaming 2018 will only grow off of that. #ContentWritingChat
— Allegheny Answering (@Answering_Svc) December 19, 2017
But why was live streaming such a big deal? It’s a great way for brands to connect with their audience. If you haven’t tried it out, it’s worth it!
A1. Live Video, Short Video, VIDEO! (also paid content). Live/authentic videos allowed audiences to connect with brands and paid put that content infront of their audience. I don’t think either will going away anytime soon. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/j0cXJnZ8x3
— Rebecca Wegscheid (@MarketerRebecca) December 19, 2017
Brands were even using videos in their paid content on social media. And let’s face it, this isn’t going away anytime soon.
A1. I’ve noticed a shift in tone from the stiff and boring to more conversational and edgy. Companies have finally figured out that they have to be “social” and a little less corporate to build real relationships with their targeted audiences. #contentwritingchat
— Doris Shadouh (@DShadouh) December 19, 2017
Doris said she’s noticed a shift in how brands communicate with their audience. Many have taken a more conversation appreciate instead of being stiff.
Q2: Were there any trends or platforms that kind of died off for you in the past year?
Was there anything you stopped doing in 2017? Were there any platforms you said goodbye to? Check out what a few of our chat participants ditched this year:
A2: I stopped using Snapchat completely in 2017. My two cents: there’s no need for it unless you use it to chat with friends. But that’s what Facebook is for. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/wD0SFAAwSb
— Madalyn Sklar ? Speaker. Podcaster. Chat Host. (@MadalynSklar) December 19, 2017
Madalyn said she stopped using Snapchat in 2017 and she isn’t alone.
A2: For me personally, it was Snapchat. I tried and tried, but it was just one more thing that added more noise. #contentwritingchat
— Gini Dietrich (@ginidietrich) December 19, 2017
Gini also dropped Snapchat this year.
A2: Snapchat use def dwindled for me, but that said, while that platform itself died off for me, the concept and use of “stories” has grown #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/KgmJf9VFZZ
— Mike Connell (@themuna) December 19, 2017
Even Mike said that Snapchat dwindled for him as well. Although the platform is still active, many people have ditched it in favor of others. The “Stories” concept that Snapchat created has simply become more popular on Instagram.
A2 We started off the year trying to push Snapchat and Geofilters and then decided that it wasn’t really worth it. Instagram has made significant improvements, and I don’t think I’ll be trying Snapchat again. #ContentWritingChat
— Cristy (@lacristysalinas) December 19, 2017
Cristy said her team was pushing Snapchat and Geofilters at the beginning of the year, but realized it wasn’t worth it. As she pointed out, Instagram made major improvements which really stood out and drew more people in.
A2: As live streaming became a hit, I think organic Facebook posts took the backseat. The platform itself has lost most of its charm. #contentwritingchat
— Narmadhaa (@s_narmadhaa) December 19, 2017
Organic posts on Facebook have taken a backseat due to their algorithm. Many brands have turned to live streaming on the platform as a way to expand their reach.
A2: Facebook was the biggest disappointment for us this year. It’s hard to be noticed unless you pay to play. #ContentWritingChat
— bmpromotional (@bmpromotional) December 19, 2017
Facebook has become a difficult platform for many brands as of late. Many of its users are resorting to ads to get traction on their content.
A2: Thanks to the transparency of Facebook’s algorithm, I’ve been able to show clients that simply posting more content isn’t a good strategy for improving reach or engagement. They’re slowly coming around to an audience-focused appreoach. #contentwritingchat
— Bill Skowronski (@BillSkowronski) December 19, 2017
Bill said he’s been able to show his clients that simply posting on platforms like Facebook isn’t a valuable strategy. You need to be focused on your audience to truly see results.
A2: Producing generic content to spread to all of the social media platforms. I think that you have to create content to a specific platform. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/CpGA8Vb8d8
— Carlarjenkins (@carlarjenkins) December 19, 2017
Producing generic content that is cross-posted to all social media platforms just won’t cut it. As Carla said, you need to create your content for a specific platform.
A2: With much regret, I’ve scaled down my efforts on #LinkedIn – too many groups have lost momentum, publishing on the platform gave me much less results… I have mostly switched to @Medium#ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/E47456wB0u
— @AndreaTorti90 (@andreatorti90) December 19, 2017
Andrea has scaled down efforts on LinkedIn.
A2: I’m sure many will disagree that it’s a “trend,” but we just don’t care about LinkedIn anymore…
…it seems to have switched to be very “salesy” and we’re just not into it.#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/6JkY6TnUFy
— ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) December 19, 2017
Sarah also feels like LinkedIn just isn’t worth the hassle for her anymore.
A2: Periscope kind of died off for me personally in 2017. Other live stream platforms have taken over. #ContentWritingChat
— Aleq Miller (@aleq_miller) December 19, 2017
Periscope was one of the platforms that really got people excited about live streaming. However, Facebook Live and Instagram Live have really taken over in the past year.
A2: I wouldn’t say “died off” when it comes to influencer marketing but there was definitely a shift in the approach. Now, it’s not just about the big wigs in the influencer world, people are starting to care about micro influencers. #contentwritingchat
— Maria Marchewka (@_MariaMarchewka) December 19, 2017
While influencer marketing is still a powerful tactic, Maria recognizes that many brands are focusing on micro-influencers instead of big celebrities.
Q3: What were your favorite publications to read and learn from this year?
Get your Feedly account ready! We asked everyone to share their favorite publications from the past year. So if you’re looking for some new resources to learn from, these are great suggestions to check out:
A3: I’m an avid reader of @SMExaminer @socialmedia2day @TechCrunch @AgoraPulse @Buffer @Hootsuite @BuzzSumo and @PatFlynn’s Smart Passive Income Blog. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/QYeLwU4xIP
— Madalyn Sklar ? Speaker. Podcaster. Chat Host. (@MadalynSklar) December 19, 2017
Madalyn’s list of favorites include Social Media Examiner, Social Media Today, TechCrunch, Buffer, and more.
A3: I always read @moz, @crestodina, @muckrack, @mitchjoel, @LouisGudema, @aly_saxe, @rebekahiliff #contentwritingchat
— Gini Dietrich (@ginidietrich) December 19, 2017
For Gini, she loves to read content from Andy Crestodina, Moz, and many other sources.
A3 Fave publications this year, beyond a doubt…@CMIContent @smartbloggerhq @CoSchedule @newscred
I also watched live shows to learn!@MariSmith‘s live broadcasts@MadalynSklar‘s #TwitterSmarter@aiaddysonzhang‘s show Classroom Without Walls#ContentWritingChat
— Julia McCoy | Author. CEO. Content Educator (@JuliaEMcCoy) December 19, 2017
You can find Julia reading posts from Content Marketing Institute, Smart Blogger, CoSchedule, and NewsCred. She’s also turned to a few live shows to expand her knowledge as well.
A3: We have our go-to sources such as @sejournal, @semrush, @socialmedia2day, @ExpWriters & @Moz. #ContentWritingChat
— Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) December 19, 2017
Lexie’s go-to publications include Search Engine Journal, SEMrush, Social Media Today, Moz, and our team here at Express Writers!
A3. I think that @Entrepreneur was one publication I looked at a lot this year #contentwritingchat
— Cheval John (@chevd80) December 19, 2017
Entrepreneur was one of Cheval’s must-read sites in the past year.
A3: Not just this year; any year! We love @moz, @neilpatel, @sejournal, @sengineland, @orbiteers, @semrush…to name a few!#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/1TOlkEb0KB
— ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) December 19, 2017
Neil Patel, Search Engine Land, and Moz were just a few of Sarah’s favorites!
A3 Can’t just choose one but @TechCrunch and @socialmedia2day are the essentials. But the newsletter of articles I receive from @Flipboard and @Pocket are perfect. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/MasfYsQp6b
— ☃️ Tony wants 3.141592653589793238 (@SirKingofGifs) December 19, 2017
Tony enjoyed reading content from TechCrunch, Social Media Today, Flipboard, and Pocket.
A3: Content Marketing Podcast by @BarryFeldman has been an amazing source of inspiration and fountain of knowledge https://t.co/vx9j3VJ4zf #ContentWritingChat
— Warwick Brown (@warwickabrown) December 19, 2017
Warwick’s go-to has been Barry Feldman’s podcast.
A3: Absolutely obsessed with @garyvee‘s #DailyVee. Beyond that, @socialmedia2day is always up-to-date on the latest and greatest in the social media world. #ContentWritingChat
— Maria Marchewka (@_MariaMarchewka) December 19, 2017
And who doesn’t love a little Daily Vee from Gary Vaynerchuk?
A3: We wouldn’t say that it’s a publication but, we have found that Twitter chats have been extremely beneficial in keeping our thumb on the pulse of the industry! #ContentWritingChat
— Flying Cork (@flyingcorkpgh) December 19, 2017
Another great way to learn is through Twitter chats. Finding the chats in your industry will help you make connections online and learn tons of valuable information.
Q4: Share a piece of your best work from the past year!
To spread the love, we asked everyone to share their best work from 2017. It could be a blog post, podcast, or something else they were really proud of. Here are a few things that were shared with us:
A4: For real? We are in the middle of a book pre-launch, https://t.co/W0GvND3rrK #contentwritingchat
— Gini Dietrich (@ginidietrich) December 19, 2017
It sounds like Gini is pretty proud of a book she and her team are launching!
A4: Best #TwitterSmarter podcast episode this year was Ep 43: Tips to Making Twitter Work Best for You with @LUCYrk78. It’s like listening in on two friends enjoying a great conversation! https://t.co/QCCjgi7D7S #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/lyIyHTEykE
— Madalyn Sklar ? Speaker. Podcaster. Chat Host. (@MadalynSklar) December 19, 2017
Madalyn shared one of her favorite episodes of her #TwitterSmarter podcast with us.
I should probably share @JuliaEMcCoy‘s & @MadalynSklar‘s #GSDChat episodes as my favorites ? Awesome insights from both and not *just* about content/social marketing:
Julia’s: https://t.co/G7JXgV3CpH
Madalyn’s: https://t.co/9RP6smCPWN#ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/LFbJXpCs8Y— Jason Schemmel – Podcaster. Speaker. #GSDChat?️ (@JasonSchemmel) December 19, 2017
Jason has previously interviewed both Julia McCoy and Madalyn Sklar on his podcast. He shared those episodes, so you’ll want to check them out.
A4 Beyond a doubt, the 365-page book I published this November 30…and the accompanying 75+ video lecture course, housed on the new site we launched in September: https://t.co/a4POcwdrTx.
? ? ? #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/a0n0ps7DMC
— Julia McCoy | Author. CEO. Content Educator (@JuliaEMcCoy) December 19, 2017
It should come as no surprise that Julia shared her brand new book, Practical Content Strategy & Marketing! It’s truly an incredible book that every content creator should own.
A4: This blog post is a high performer for us: https://t.co/HtZH5aRdTr#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/6vzfXDHXPF
— ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) December 19, 2017
This blog post on internal linking was a top performer for the team at ThinkSEM.
A4. This blog post I written in February about @BeLiveTV_ and @BlueJeansNet became the most viewed of all time: https://t.co/lzow3CwD7R #contentwritingchat
— Cheval John (@chevd80) December 19, 2017
Cheval’s post on the pros and cons of BeLive.TV and BlueJeans Network was a hit with his audience.
A4: This was an article I wrote on using Pinterest visual search to optimize your pins and ads!#ContentWritingChathttps://t.co/kGOTqPr3xw https://t.co/Z9DDSO9TwI
— Jeff Higgins Needs To Snap Into A Slim Jim (@ItsJeffHiggins) December 19, 2017
Jeff shared an article he wrote on Pinterest. If you need some help on the platform, give this one a read.
A4 my fave post from the last year was this one, on why you shouldn’t use apps to automatically follow and unfollow people on Twitter. https://t.co/vEuI4LJk2o #ContentWritingChat
— Erika Heald | Freelance Chief Content Officer (@SFerika) December 19, 2017
Erika said you shouldn’t use apps to automatically follow and unfollow people on Twitter. She shared why in this article she linked to.
A4b) For my personal work, I can’t tell you how proud I am to have launched the @FractureSaga podcast, and how hard it was to share my personal experience with the sensative issue of #MentalHealth #contentwritingchathttps://t.co/XRKDF9J0W2 pic.twitter.com/NaOh2e29n1
— Jeff Reno(e) ??? (@Renoe) December 19, 2017
Jenn shared a link to her podcast, which is all about mental health.
Q5: What was your biggest struggle when it came to content creation in the past year?
We all have struggles when it comes to content creation, which is a nice reminder that we aren’t alone when things are challenging. These are a few things our chat participants had difficulty with in 2017:
A5: My biggest struggle is not having enough hours in the day. I think time hinders so many of us. Because of this, I was not being consistent with my #TwitterSmarter podcast. I’m looking to publish it weekly rather than bi-weekly in 2018. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/F7p95Oa4hj
— Madalyn Sklar ? Speaker. Podcaster. Chat Host. (@MadalynSklar) December 19, 2017
It’s safe to say everyone can relate to Madalyn on this. Not having enough hours in the day is something that plagues each and every one of us.
A5: Time! It’s always time. We made a big push this year to increase the quality of our content #contentwritingchat
— Gini Dietrich (@ginidietrich) December 19, 2017
Gini also knows that time is a big struggle when it comes to content creation. Sometimes we just feel as though there isn’t enough time to get everything done.
A5: Many of us struggle with consistency in content creation, especially when there are so many other tasks to work on.
Having an editorial calendar and dedicated writing time really helps. ?? #ContentWritingChat
— Rachel (@redheadrachel) December 19, 2017
If you struggle to stay consistent with your content creation, you aren’t alone. Having an editorial calendar and planning out your content certainly helps though.
A5: Getting it done. Wearing several hats and trying to balance all of it and still create good, strong content.#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/tynOnB6uYf
— ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) December 19, 2017
Sometimes the struggle is just getting it done. When you balance so many other tasks, it can be hard to find time and energy to create amazing content.
A5: Is keeping up an acceptable answer? Creating quality content for the company and clients is very time-consuming. Quality content, in general, can be a struggle! #ContentWritingChat
— Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) December 19, 2017
Lexie knows that it’s challenging to create quality content for your company and for clients. It’s time-consuming for anyone to take on.
A5: Other work responsibilities cutting into #content production time. #ContentWritingChat
— Danielle Bullen Love (@daniellewriter) December 19, 2017
Not to mention, you have other work responsibilities that cut into your writing time!
A5. Finding the time while balancing all of the hats I currently wear (events coordinating, advertising, social marketing strategy, website management, business development, etc.) while driving online traffic through content creation #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/MeJTBbBrUS
— Rebecca Wegscheid (@MarketerRebecca) December 19, 2017
Rebecca knows the struggle of balancing content and other work responsibilities all too well. She takes on many different things, which can make it challenging.
A5 Workflow + productivity.
I struggled so much with not getting overwhelmed between creating a 75-lecture course + giant book + 2-3 weekly blogs.
Luckily, I found my flow & my workflow is smooth now. I plan to write a guide on content productivity soon. #ContentWritingChat
— Julia McCoy | Author. CEO. Content Educator (@JuliaEMcCoy) December 19, 2017
To manage your tasks and content creation, Julia feels it’s all about finding your workflow.
A5: I agree with everyone that time was a challenge, but for me it wasn’t just the amount of creation time that was difficult, but the short turn around time. Great execution needs ‘mulling’ time and breathing space around those work hours #ContentWritingChat
— Ellie Hubble (@ellie_hubble) December 19, 2017
For Ellie, it’s also about short turn around times on content. It can be challenging to get things done in a short period of time.
A5: One of the biggest struggles is finding your own voice on a topic that’s being passed around like Thanksgiving dinner and still trying to sound authentic.
Find your voice and tone.#ContentWritingChat— Jeff Higgins Needs To Snap Into A Slim Jim (@ItsJeffHiggins) December 19, 2017
Finding your voice on a topic that many others are already talking about can surely be a struggle. This is something that Jeff has dealt with himself.
A5: I’d say my main struggle has been choosing what was worth trying and what was not – so many platforms, so many kinds of content!#ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/hXQ2QzBM9C
— @AndreaTorti90 (@andreatorti90) December 19, 2017
With so many platforms and so many content formats, it’s hard to know what to focus on. In the end, it all comes down to what works best for you and what your audience enjoys.
A5 Idea burnout. Sometimes you stare at the same content and ideas for too long, and they become stale to you. Getting a second opinion helps. It’s great o have someone else look at your list of ideas and find out what is interesting to them. #ContentWritingChat
— Cristy (@lacristysalinas) December 19, 2017
Idea burnout can definitely happen to content creators. Cristy’s advice is to get a second opinion on the ideas you have to determine what to move forward with.
A5) I’ve always found inspiration to be the hardest part of this job. Sure, there are tons of ideas to be had, but what ideas are you passionate about? Those are the ones that always turn out the best. #contentwritingchat pic.twitter.com/uyinR0huHU
— Jeff Reno(e) ??? (@Renoe) December 19, 2017
Finding inspiration can be a struggle as well. As Jenn said, you need to find the ideas that you are passionate about.
A5 Actually doing it, having self doubt if it will be read, will I be able to finish it. How many typos will I find? #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/6GWhXytMDb
— ☃️ Tony wants 3.141592653589793238 (@SirKingofGifs) December 19, 2017
And sometimes getting started with writing is the hard part. Many of us experience self-doubt that holds us back from creating something amazing.
Q6: Which brands have really done an amazing job with their content in 2017?
Have any brands stood out to you in 2017? These are the ones that caught the eye of our Twitter chat friends in the past year:
A6: I love pretty much everything @coschedule does and @leeodden and his team always do a great job #contentwritingchat
— Gini Dietrich (@ginidietrich) December 19, 2017
CoSchedule and Lee Odden are a couple brands that impressed Gini this year.
A6: Brands that do an amazing job with their content: @ExpWriters and I’m not just saying that. You guys are amazing! #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/AOjlxya5VP
— Madalyn Sklar ? Speaker. Podcaster. Chat Host. (@MadalynSklar) December 19, 2017
Madalyn very kindly shared her love for us here at Express Writers!
A6) May I suck up for a minute and just say, all the brands we work for? Even if it’s been a slow start, the knowledge we’ve all gained in chats like this and from experts like @JuliaEMcCoy @MadalynSklar and @ginidietrich has put us all on the right path. #contentwritingchat pic.twitter.com/ztN1tk61fC
— Jeff Reno(e) ??? (@Renoe) December 19, 2017
Jenn said she’s learned a lot from Julia, Madalyn, and Gini.
A6 I’m going with @buffer since their content has worked on multiple platforms, they have a podcast and a Twitter chat. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with everything. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/bhh0jqO9Vb
— ☃️ Tony wants 3.141592653589793238 (@SirKingofGifs) December 19, 2017
Between Buffer’s blog, their podcast, and their Twitter chat, they really do a tremendous job.
A6 Can I just say, 2017 feels like the year when content either fell flat, or SHONE? Some marketers that I follow actually stopped putting out quality. ?
Marketers/brands that did AWESOME with content this year:@MadalynSklar @CMIContent @CoSchedule #ContentWritingChat
— Julia McCoy | Author. CEO. Content Educator (@JuliaEMcCoy) December 19, 2017
Some of Julia’s favorites include Madalyn, Content Marketing Institute, and CoSchedule.
A6: I love @Wendys tweets this year. They always make me laugh. #contentwritingchat pic.twitter.com/aTGz3pwAvO
— Jenn Baker Blog (@MindofaDiva) December 19, 2017
Wendy’s is one of the brands that stood out on social media this year.
A6: I really love the videos the @PooPourri folks have been putting out. Hilarious! https://t.co/O3DmE70gh2 #ContentWritingChat
— Erika Heald | Freelance Chief Content Officer (@SFerika) December 19, 2017
PooPourri created funny content that made many of us laugh this year, including Erika.
Q7: How are you preparing for your 2018 content? Do you have a process you follow?
With 2018 fast approaching, many of us have already been planning for the year ahead. When it comes to content creation, we asked how everyone is preparing and if they have a set process they use. Here’s what a few of them had to say:
A7: I ordered a big wall calendar. I’m visual and need to see everything. This will help me map out my content. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/yf5pY2xqSG
— Madalyn Sklar ? Speaker. Podcaster. Chat Host. (@MadalynSklar) December 19, 2017
Madalyn ordered a large wall calendar to help her map out content. If you’re a visual person, this could help you out as well.
A7: This year, we’re all grown up! We have themes for our guest columnists and a sophisticated editorial calendar #contentwritingchat
— Gini Dietrich (@ginidietrich) December 19, 2017
A7: We are FINALLY launching a @spinsucks podcast. My team has taken me kicking and screaming into the 21st century #contentwritingchat
— Gini Dietrich (@ginidietrich) December 19, 2017
Gini is all about having themes for guest columnists and a proper editorial calendar. Not only that, but her team is also launching a podcast.
A7: I follow @ginidietrich‘s content planning process from her Modern Blogging Masterclass, then everything goes into an editorial calendar. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/v7WeR4ziuA
— Erika Heald | Freelance Chief Content Officer (@SFerika) December 19, 2017
Erika follows Gini’s content planning process and plugs everything into her editorial calendar.
A7: I love doing a reader survey towards the end of every year. It’s a great way to get to know your audience better to create the content they need. #ContentWritingChat
— Rachel (@redheadrachel) December 19, 2017
Conducting a reader survey will help you determine exactly what your audience needs from you.
A7: Trying to prepare 2018 content based on trends we are seeing for our audience. Finding the sweet spot between video, and blog content. #ContentWritingChat
— Aleq Miller (@aleq_miller) December 19, 2017
Aleq is preparing for 2018 by observing audience trends. Then, it’s important to balance those ideas between video and blog content.
A7: I’ll visit old posts and rewrite them in a new light. I like the idea of repurposing blog posts as different types of content like videos and infographics. That would be my way in 2018. #ContentWritingChat
— Narmadhaa (@s_narmadhaa) December 19, 2017
Updating older blog content and repurposing what you’ve created is a great way to see results in 2018.
A7) I’m working on building a site for my #GSDChat brand, which is something I wish I had done sooner, but I’m still Getting S*** Done.
I’m also working on planning & prioritizing more. Something my not-so-reliable attention span desperately needs.#ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/LH4Fmc5gPV— Jason Schemmel – Podcaster. Speaker. #GSDChat?️ (@JasonSchemmel) December 19, 2017
Jason is planning to build a site for his brand. He’s also going to work on his planning and prioritization in the new year.
A7 I plan on revisiting my 2016 and 2017 reports and nailing down what worked, what didn’t, and what I can do to improve. Plus, there are always new things to try and test. #ContentWritingChat
— Cristy (@lacristysalinas) December 19, 2017
Cristy knows it’s smart to review reports from the past year to see what worked and what didn’t. This will help influence your plan for 2018.
A7. I am staying with the same routine of doing social listening and also writing twice a week on the blog. #contentwritingchat
— Cheval John (@chevd80) December 19, 2017
Cheval plans to continue social listing to learn more about his audience. He also intends to continue writing twice a week on his blog.
Q8: What goals have you set for your content creation in 2018?
To wrap up the chat, we asked everyone to share some of their content creation goals for 2018. Read on to see a few of the responses we received. These just might inspire you to set a few goals of your own!
A8: My goal is to create more content in the form of videos and podcasts. Those are my favorite platforms. I’m going to focus more attention on documenting my journey. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/HYppI4z4YV
— Madalyn Sklar ? Speaker. Podcaster. Chat Host. (@MadalynSklar) December 19, 2017
Madalyn’s goal is to focus more on videos and podcasts in the year ahead.
A8: Our goals for content are focused solely on business growth and revenue. #contentwritingchat
— Gini Dietrich (@ginidietrich) December 19, 2017
For Gini, it’s important to focus on business growth and revenue. You want to make sure you’re taking action on the things that’ll help you meet your goals.
A8: Do more of what works!
Try not to focus so much on a calendar/schedule; instead take the time to create thoughtful, useful content.#ContentWritingChat https://t.co/aT1WOo5YRf
— ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) December 19, 2017
Sarah’s goal is to do more of what works.
A8: Keep the audience happy & engaged. That’s always our goal with content. #ContentWritingChat
— Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) December 19, 2017
Lexie knows it’s important to keep your audience happy and engaged.
A8: Consistency for the work blog. Also, planning ahead so we’re not scrambling for #content during busy season when there are competing priorities.#ContentWritingChat
— Danielle Bullen Love (@daniellewriter) December 19, 2017
Consistency is something that many of us are aiming for next year.
A8. To set my schedule earlier than normal and stick to it as much as possible – sometimes that schedule just goes out the window! #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/wSCWFdnCv8
— Rebecca Wegscheid (@MarketerRebecca) December 19, 2017
Rebecca wants to create her schedule earlier and stick to it as much as possible.
A8: Refresh, repurpose and repackage content. And that’s just for starters in 2018. #ContentWritingChat
— Roselle Cronan (@MahoutMkt) December 19, 2017
Roselle said she plans to refresh, repurpose, and repackage content in 2018.
A8 One of my big goals for 2018 is to get my sales teams more invested. I work with both B2C and B2B teams who are still not sold on social. I’m working on getting them to think about a goal each quarter for us to focus on to generate more quality leads. #ContentWritingChat
— Doris Shadouh (@DShadouh) December 19, 2017
Doris has set a goal to get her sales teams more invested. She wants to show everyone the value of social media and setting goals.
A8) DOING. Jumping in when inspiration strikes, not worrying about a particular calendar or frequency, or making up for lost time. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/R3GxaH7spu
— Jeremy Bond (@JeremyDBond) December 19, 2017
For Jeremy, he’s focused on getting it done in 2018. He wants to jump in whenever inspiration strikes.
A8 Take more risks! #ContentWritingChat
— Cristy (@lacristysalinas) December 19, 2017
Cristy’s goal is to take more risks!
This was a fantastic way to end our 2017. We really enjoyed seeing everyone, and having two power influencers, Madalyn Sklar and Gini Dietrich, co-host Tuesday’s session. What a great hour!
Don’t Forget: #ContentWritingChat is Off Next Week! Merry Christmas!
REMINDER: There will not be a #ContentWritingChat next Tuesday because of Christmas.
We’re wishing you all a very happy, safe holiday season! We’ll see you in 2018! ? pic.twitter.com/LXvJnCxqRU
— Express Writers (@ExpWriters) December 19, 2017
Want to make Twitter chats part of your strategy for 2018? Join us for #ContentWritingChat every Tuesday at 10 AM Central. Follow @ExpWriters and @writingchat so you don’t miss a thing!