“Content is king.” This phrase has been around for quite some time, but it still rings true today. Content is the most effective way of reaching your target audience, but do you know what sets a killer content strategy apart from one that’s just “meh?” We’re about to show you!
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Sure, it sounds cliche, because everywhere you research, SEO is a topic. But, there’s a very good reason for that, and it’s because it works. Getting started with SEO is easy. There are a myriad of resources available to help you determine the best terms to use. Google Analytics is a valuable tool in showing you not only what keywords you should use, but also what keywords your competitors are using and how they’re ranking with them.
If you don’t have the time to learn, or you simply don’t understand how it works, you need to hire an individual or team that does. Without an effective SEO strategy, you’re not going to be as successful as you could be. SEO also comes in handy for running ad campaigns. Targeting the right terms and defining the target audience both work in conjunction to get views, and more importantly, clicks.
High-Quality Blogs and Articles
One area of a website that many people visit is the blog or knowledgebase. Make sure there’s good content for viewers to read. It should be high-quality, or in other words, well written. Don’t cut corners in this regard. Blogs should be informational, yet engaging. Know your audience, who you’re speaking to because it can be a real turnoff to readers if you get the voice wrong. For example, on a science site, you expect well-researched content that digs deep into the subject matter. Try this on a beauty blog and the results won’t be the same.
If your writing skills are subpar, which let’s face it, not everyone has the best grammar and spelling ability, then consider outsourcing. There are plenty of freelancers who would be happy to help you expand your brand with a little guidance. Just make sure your expectations are clear. Tell them what you want and don’t want, and be specific. There are plenty of different style writers and hiring a freelancer skilled in white papers isn’t the same as one who is skilled in copywriting for a website.
Research Ecommerce Trends
If you’re selling, it’s important to know what’s shaping ecommerce’s future. These trends tell you where the future of the niche is going, and how to make sure you’re included in that future, not left behind in the dust. Trend forecasts are important, and most people need to outsource this service because it requires analyzing a lot of data, some of which might not be up your alley.
Like you would do financial forecasts, this is a critical aspect of running a successful business online. These forecasts will also help you determine how to alter your content so it fits the changing times.
Plan Out Your Content
In some situations, flying by the seat of your pants is perfectly acceptable. This is not one of them. Instead of creating whatever content tickles your whimsy, plan it out months ahead of time. That’s right, months. Because you never know what events are going to come up between now and the holiday season, so planning out content a few months in advance gives you one less thing to do.
Look at your most successful competitors, what type of content do they have on their site? How do they interact with their customers? You don’t have to mimic this completely, but it never hurts to take hints from someone who is already doing well. Let them be your inspiration, then evaluate how you can do better.
The plan should include all types of content, including newsletters, videos, blogs and articles. If you have a busy holiday coming up, it’s okay to write content ahead of time and schedule it, that’s the beauty of technology. Continue to add to the plan, or schedule a meeting with your content team at least three times a year to determine how to proceed in the coming months.
If you find yourself looking for ways to grow your business, these are a few great tips to help you up your content game. Life may be different right now because of unforeseen events, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to slack off. Instead, put your free time into building up your business and putting more effort into making it the best it can be. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
