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How to test the credibility of the experts you highlight
Though most of the time random quotes and mentions of an author or creator won't have an impact on your brand or reputation, doing a little extra work to vet the people you highlight in your content is a good way to reinforce what you stand for.
It’s almost inevitable that consumers will draw parallels between you, your business, and the content you’re sharing. Whether those associations are positive or negative is largely up to you.
Don’t risk losing the trust of your audience because of something that could be avoided with some upfront time and energy on your end.
Prioritizing diversity of sourcing in your content
With recent news and emphasis in the media on diversity (and the sad lack thereof), systematic and systemic discrimination, and the need for companies to prioritize inclusivity in their business, you’ve likely been rethinking how your company is currently running, and what changes you need to make.
An area that’s often unfortunately overlooked, as business owners make their way through revisions to their hiring practices and procedures, putting guidelines in place to ensure the marketing media and copywriting they use are more inclusive and representative, and surveying current and past employees for feedback, is prioritizing the diversity of sourcing in your content.
Your marketing needs more than one perspective: the importance of diversification in marketing
It’s no surprise that consumers expect more from the brands they’re supporting.
Recent years have shone a light on the broken and unethical systems that are in place in our society and the general public, particularly younger generations, want to support brands who are instead demonstrating values like diversity, accessibility and inclusion.
As business owners, it’s our job to respond to this public demand, and ensure we’re making authentic diversity and accessibility a priority in our marketing. (Not just because it’s being demanded, but because it’s the right thing to do).
Here are a few common issues that I see far too often in marketing.
Case study: Don’t write "how-to" articles that aren't helpful
There are probably hundreds of millions of marketing-related articles out on the internet. A big portion of those articles are "how-to" guides for various activities us marketing types like to encourage business owners like you to implement.
The problem is that way too many of these articles have little to no real value in them.
Let's break down the points of one of these articles and instead review what real value looks like.
Your marketing isn't annoying to your people
One of the more common issues clients raise about creating and sharing content (especially repurposing content or repeating ideas) is the fear that their audience will be annoyed.
Let me put your fears to rest: if people in your audience are annoyed, they aren't your people.
If anyone shares that they are unhappy or annoyed with your content, they aren't the right fit for you!
3 important questions your content needs to answer
You need to approach all of your content, particularly your sales pages, thinking about how what you’re writing is going to serve the reader, and plant the seed that working with you or purchasing your product is potentially their next step.
Good content is about more than simply being well-written. It’s about providing your readers with the answers to the questions they’re searching for.
Here are 3 critical questions your content needs to answer.
5 prompts to inspire your content marketing (to engage your audience and make more sales)
Creating content for your marketing strategy is a never-ending process. That’s essentially the name of the game! Continue to show up, continue to serve, continue to add value to your audience, and you’ll see tangible results over time in the form of sales and community growth.
Knowing that content curation is beneficial and showing up across platforms, though, are two very different things.
If you’re struggling to know what to post, content prompts can help to fuel new ideas and inspiration around telling your story, providing value, and sharing your offers to better engage your audience.
Benefits of being a podcast guest (and what to do before you book)
Podcasting can offer incredible opportunities for small business owners looking to develop more authentic relationships with their current audience and get in front of new audiences. It’s a low-cost medium with millions of engaged listeners, and is predicted to continue to grow.
Even if you don’t have the capacity to start your own podcast, you can still take advantage of these opportunities by being a guest, as long as the show is aligned with your business and exposure goals.
How to find research that supports your content
When you think of citing your research do you get flashbacks of your high school or university days, and the frustration you felt when having to properly cite sources in your academic papers?
Well, I’m sorry to break it to you but unfortunately, if you’re creating content for your company, those days aren’t quite behind you (though the explosion of the internet has made things a lot easier).
Even for content on sales pages or blogs, citing sources is incredibly beneficial for you and your brand -- and will likely result in more sales down the road.
Should you start a podcast? Tips and suggestions on using podcasting as a marketing tool
One of the many marketing tactics you might feel inclined to try is starting a podcast. The audio-only medium seems like a relatively easy gig, and advocates of podcasting suggest it can help to increase your authority and reach new people. But before you get started, let’s uncover whether podcasting is right for your brand so you’re not spending your limited time, money, and energy on something that isn’t going to propel your business forward.
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