“Why don’t you start a blog, write a free report, author a newspaper or magazine article, and create a video explaining your product for YouTube?”
“I don’t know. I don’t have time, and I doubt anyone would watch or read my stuff. It seems like a ton of work.”
There’s a saying that drifts in and out of the online marketing world which exclaims that “Content is King.” It implies that the more content you offer your customer, client or the person who stumbles onto your website for the first time, the better the chance that they convert into a repeat buyer of your product, promoter of your brand or lover of your message.
People want substance. They want proof that you know what you’re doing. The easiest way for you to provide the proof and build trust is to educate…a lot!
Our favorite brands are the ones who are fun to connect with, and do an amazing job teaching us about their product rather than simply expecting their audience to fall in love with them because they think they’re cool. By harnessing the power of the internet, every single business, regardless of size has the ability to share their story on a global scale.
I am a huge fan of blogs. Just like the post you are reading now, blogs give the author a chance to connect with their followers, while at the same time providing content that’s jam-packed full of useful tools, tips and tricks. People keep coming back in order to learn more about a subject that they feel can help build their business and boost their bottom line. Websites like Blogger.com have made starting a blog super simple. You don’t need your own website to get started with blogging. Blogger allows you to create your own customized slice of the web that can be shared with your customers.
Not a writer? Spreaker.com allows you the opportunity to host your very own radio show. Again, this site is very easy to use, and provides the creator with a mixing board, sound bites and a social media integrated link to your broadcast. And I am sure you’ve heard of YouTube! That phone inside your pocket, or sitting on your counter is capable of taking some amazing video. Download a few useful video editing apps, and you’re literally sitting on a full-blown production studio right in your own back pocket. Start making videos of you and your staff showcasing your products or services, do a quick 2-3 minute demonstration or give a virtual tour of your store.
Take advantage of these opportunities to show your customer what’s going on behind the scenes. People are inquisitive with a dash of nosy, and love feeling like they are being shown the recipe to your coveted secret sauce!
After you have some content created, I like to do what I refer to as the “content double-tap!” I’ll sit down and author a blog post covering the topic of social media marketing. Next, I’ll publish that post to my blog. And then to get double the impact, I’ll submit that same content to a number of publications such as magazines, newspapers and content distribution sites like Reddit.com. This extra step increases the exposure of my message, and also helps better optimize my website for online search engines like Google.
Even cooler, after you’ve spent a year creating content for your blog, you’ll be amazed to find out that you’ve written more than enough to transform your ramblings into a full-scale eBook!
How awesome will it be when you can tell someone that’s questioning your knowledge that you have in-fact, “Wrote the book on it!”
Building a massive amount of substance will be beneficial for both your customer, as well as your own professional growth. By writing new content on a weekly basis, you’ll be forced to do research on your subject. This research will boost your level of industry specific knowledge, and help ensure that you’re on the cutting edge of any changes or innovations in your market.
Now back to the short conversation I started this post with. Creating content is time-consuming, but the rewards are well with the effort. If you truly want to be successful in marketing your business, you have to take the time to give your customers what they want. And right now, they want to know more about what you have to offer. They want to better understand your business, and learn how you plan on making their lives easier!
These questions are already being asked inside their heads.
All that’s missing is your response.
P.S. If you need more guidance on the subject of content creation, consider scheduling a time to meet with me so I can demonstrate just how EASY it is to get started.
–You can call 815-441-2219 or email [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you, and I’m excited that you’ve chosen to start marketing your business!