If you’ve been online for any time at all then I’m sure you’re aware the benefits of having an effective content strategy. However, just because you know the benefits doesn’t mean you’re going to know how to construct an effective strategy from the ground up.
After all, you’d hate to pour a ton of time and energy into creating content, only to have it fall flat. Creating an effective strategy begins with finding the intersection between your expertise and what the market is actually looking for. This overlap is the goldmine where you’re going to be creating all your content.
Laying The Content Creation Foundation
The foundation of any solid strategy begins with having an in depth knowledge of your business and the value you’re providing. This will help you stand out as an authority and give you better positioning.
You’ll want to feel confident about every piece of content you’re publishing. So, naturally you’ll want the topics you’re talking about to fall within the realm of your expertise.
To get this information down all you have to do is make a list of every possible topic you could write about that relates to your business. Once you have this list down you can start to simplify it, by crossing off anything that your customers wouldn’t find value in.
Once you have this solid list of topics you can start creating epic content based around these ideas. Some companies also use the power of curation to spread their message. Curation allows you to essentially borrow the voice of another content creator through sharing their content. Just make sure you only choose great content to share as it will reflect back on you.
No matter what kind of content you’re providing just make sure you’re always adding value to your readers.
The Nuts And Bolts Of Content Strategy
Once you have a basic idea of the style of content you’re going to be creating or sharing, it’s time to build out a strategy you can execute on a regular basis.
1. Methods Of Distribution
How are you going to share you content and spread your message? This includes any email lists you’re using to reach your customer base, as well as social media platforms that will be used to amplify your message and share content.
Make sure you only choose social media platforms that make sense for your business, as it doesn’t make sense to have a scattered presence just because you’re trying to be on every platform.
2. Building An Editorial Calendar
An editorial calendar will help you keep track of your content needs. This can be as simple as a calendar that has a schedule of when your posts will be published and their links one they go live.
You can also use this as a means to track your most popular pieces of content, so you can tailor your content strategy to the style of posts that are working.
3. Always Experiment
The beautiful thing about content marketing is that there are no rules or boundaries. This is one aspect of your marketing strategy where your creativity will be rewarded. If you have a strange idea for an article you want to write you should give it a shot.
You’ll never know when some crazy idea you have is going to resonate with your customers.
Overall, a solid content strategy will help you become an authority in your niche and grow you audience. If you’re interested in building an effective content strategy get in touch with our creative team today.
by Calvin Bryant
Digital Marketing Geek
