You don't have to start from scratch when it comes to your content marketing. I read an interesting content strategy today by Joe Pulizzi on Content Marketing Institute - take one idea/topic and repurpose it into 20 new pieces of content. Obviously, this won't work for every topic (or industry), but it's a great idea and makes perfect sense. This helps strengthen your brand across multiple digital and offline channels, and reinforces your online reputation and industry expertise.
Choose a topic that relates specifically to your industry and resonates with your target markets, customers, and clients. Don't be afraid to dive deep into the minds of your audiences--give them what they want! Not every content channel I listed below will be appropriate for your industry or niche, so be mindful of what works and doesn't work when it comes to your target markets. Remember to focus on just ONE idea or topic.
As I read Joe Pulizzi's article, I thought, hmm, where and how could I take one topic and produce content in 20 new and interesting ways? These are the 20 content pieces I came up with--off the top of my head.
1. Write content for your website
2. Write and publish a blog post - if you don't have a blog, it's easy to create a WordPress blog.
3. Create a video and upload to YouTube and other video sharing sites
4. Upload a Powerpoint presentation on SlideShare and other free multimedia presentation sites
5. Create and publish an ebook focused on this topic (i.e. CreateSpace) - take your most popular blog posts or articles and turn them into an ebook
6. Write articles - contribute to article marketing sites such as Ezinearticles
7. Write a white paper/report or case study - offer as a free download on your website or blog
8. Share information in your e-newsletter. Write a short article centered around the topic or take key highlights from your blog post (cross-promote and include a link back to your blog)
9. Guest blogging & industry sites - reach out to bloggers and writers in your industry for guest blogging/writing opportunities
10. Be a guest on a podcast or online radio station - search out podcasts related to your topic or industry and pitch your topic idea. You can reach a wider audience by sharing your expertise and knowledge via online radio stations and podcasts.
11. Share content on social media. Take key points from other articles and highlight them in your social media posts.
12. Create an online course or webinar focused solely on your topic.
13. Connect with other industry experts and participate in online teleconferences that compliment your topic.
14. If appropriate, speak at local industry/business networking events and clearly focus on the topic. Hand out supplemental materials (repurpose a blog post or article tied to this topic)
15. Answer questions on LinkedIn or Facebook that relate to this topic--share your expertise and knowledge.
16. Join or start a group on LinkedIn or Facebook that centers around your topic/idea. Be active in these groups and share your content--just remember not to spam social media groups with advertisements or blatant promotions.
17. Use topic-related hashtags when tweeting i.e. #howtoattractcustomers, #socialmediamarketingtips, #socialmedia, #Internetmarketing etc.
18. Write online editorials, reviews, and helpful comments on other industry blogs, websites, and ezines that tie back to your topic.
19. Create visual infographics related to the topic - share on Pinterest and Instagram.
20. Create and share a useful tool, template, or content freebie. Make sure it is "user-friendly" and easily accessible to your target audiences. For example, I have a free social media editorial calendar template that I share with my colleagues and clients. This is a handy tool and those I have shared with appreciate the fact that the work has been done for them. It helps them stay organized and focused on the big social media marketing picture.
Whew! That should give you plenty of ideas on how to get started with repurposing content in new and exciting ways. If you have other content marketing/repurposing tips that I missed, please feel free to share!
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Monday, July 1, 2013
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Help! Your Blog Has Fallen and It Can't Get Up!
Yesterday I had a meeting with a business contact that I haven't seen in awhile, and we discussed blogging. She knew she wanted to start a blog, but she didn't know where to begin or what topics to choose. After our blog discussion, I started to think about what makes a blog really stand out and what makes a blog fall flat on its face.
It can be difficult to figure out what topics fit well with your blog readers. I struggle myself with blog topics sometimes, and that's when the trusty search engines like Google come in handy.
Does your blog content feel stale lately? Do you read your blog and don't feel excited by the topics? It might be time to revitalize up your sleepy blog with a fresh, creative spin.
Where do you start? Set aside time to review your blog content and figure out what's missing:
1. Review past posts. Do you spend too much time on topics that only interest YOU as opposed to topics that interest your readers? Your blog is meant for your readers - it's not a platform to get on your soapbox and preach to the world.
2. Do your posts read too long? Too short?
3. How many times per week/month do you write posts? Be consistent - don't blog every few months.
4. Are you speaking 'at' your readers? Is your tone too preachy?
5. Do you include topics centered around timely current events that directly affect/influence your readers? If your blog lacks newsworthy content, check out these helpful resources:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/news/lists.html
http://www.toptenlinks.com/cat.php/News%3ANewspapers%3AResources
If your blog has fallen short, take some time to review and then revitalize your blog content with new information and topics.
Monday, April 11, 2011
How to Pack Valuable Punch With Blog Posts
It's easy to get on a roll when writing blog posts. I definitely don't want to discourage you to share lots of valuable content - I'm all for blog posts that entertain, educate and inform! However, once you have found your blogging mo-jo you might get carried away with rambling sentences in blog posts. Remember that less is more. Here are four easy editorial blogging tips to help create content that packs a punch with your readers.
1. Think like a journalist and write your lede in the first paragraph. A "lede" summarizes your entire post and gets across your key point from the very beginning. Don't wait until the second paragraph to tell your readers what the post is about - you'll lose their interest quickly.
2. If you ask a question within your post title, then answer it within your post. For example, my blog title is 'How to Pack Valuable Punch With Blog Posts.' My content is answering that question so you, the readers, understand how to improve your blog posts to make them more 'readable' and valuable to your audiences. Make sure to summarize key points and don't leave them hanging - tie up your blog post with a short and concise conclusion.
3. Do your research! Add credible links and resources to enhance and build your online credibility. This goes back to your company branding. Make sure the links support your content and add value to your blog posts.
4. Use sub-headers, bullet points and lists. It's important to break up your content and use sub-headers, bullet points and lists to emphasize your main points. It also makes your content easier for your readers to understand. When people read run-on sentences and jumbled content, it only frustrates them and it's an easy way to turn off your readers.
Even if you add just one of these tips (preferably all four tips), you will pack a valuable punch with blog posts, Your content says a lot - it further brands you as an industry expert and professional resource to your blog readers.
Remember to say MORE with less! Please share your blogging tips - how do you create content that packs a punch every time?
Friday, February 4, 2011
How to Syndicate Your Blog with Social Media Tools
You just spent hours re-designing your blog. You wrote one of your best posts to date – but that’s it. You didn’t do anything else with your blog. No one on the Internet will know your blog exists unless you actually promote it. What’s the point of having a blog if it floats around in the cyber ethers?
With the many social media plug-ins out there, it is very easy to syndicate your blog – an efficient and cost-effective way to market your blog. I’ve discussed the power of social media automation in my past series, How to Automate Social Media Posts in 5 Easy Steps – and automation also applies to your blog. Why make more work for yourself?
Use these social media tools and your blog will take off in no time:
HootSuite is a web-based social networking application that lets you bring together content from various online sources. Access and manage your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and many other accounts all in one location. You then have the option of manually updating them all, or setting up an auto-update for your social sites.
RSS Graffitiis the easiest way to update your Facebook page. It takes your blog post title, a small sample, and an image from the post and updates your status.
TwitterFeed is one of the most effective way to syndicate your blog. It can update Twitter and Facebook (among a few other social networking sites) and integrates hash tags, keywords and URL shortening services.
Keep in mind that while these are helpful tools for auto-syndication, it is not a good idea to solely rely on them to market your blog. Automated updates, coupled with personalized updates and comments (mention your posts on other blogs, forums, LinkedIn, etc.), are effective channels to create buzz around your blog. Remember to create impactful content that keeps readers coming back for more!
What other social media tools do you use to market your blog? Please comment/share!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
How to Plan Your Blog Editorial Calendar
Before you sit down to actually plan your blog editorial calendar, make sure you read the steps I outlined in my previous post about How to Create Your 2011 Social Media Calendar.
Before you start planning, consider the following questions.
What is the editiorial purpose behind your blog?
- What are you trying to achieve with your blog?
- Is it entertaining, serious, educational, etc.?
- Before you pick topics for your posts, figure out the purpose behind your blog. Don't write a blog just for the heck of it - think niche and be specific. Don't be 'general' with your blog's purpose and focus.
- For example, don't write a blog about general "green-friendly" topics. Hone into a targeted topic - green-friendly fashion or even more specific: green-friendly clothing for babies and toddlers.
- Do you have sub-markets you want to reach besides your main audience? For example, your blog appeals to real estate professionals but mortgage lenders, home appraisers and title companies would also highly benefit from your information.
- What are your readers' likes, dislikes, wants, needs, demographics, etc.?
- What's the latest hot industry news?
- What problems can you solve for readers in your blog?
- Get a pulse for what's going on in your industry.
- Dig into competitors' posts and find out what's hot and not - read their comments.
- Are their posts well-received? Do they have a huge reader following?
Step #1 Look at your calendar for the year. Pick months, weeks and days according to significant milestones, events, news, etc. within your company or industry. For example, if you're a tax consultant April would be a great month to post tax tips.
Step #2 Figure out how many posts you'll write and publish each week. If you post only two times per week then remain consistent. Don't write one post every other month and forget about your blog - that's the kiss of death for a blogger. You can save time with posts by writing and auto-scheduling posts ahead of time. Hint: Mix up your blog with longer posts/articles and shorter posts. Some bloggers post every day and some only once a week - it's up to you how many posts are feasible to write/publish each week. Just be consistent with your posts!
Step #3 Create a calendar spreadsheet in Excel or Word that details the following: title of blog post or topic and "to be published" dates.
Step #4 Optimize your blog with keywords by reviewing your blog research, topics, information etc and include key words in your calendar.
- For example: Topic: How to Write Winning Content, Date: March 1, 2011, keywords: content writing, copywriting, how to write better content
WordPress and other blog platforms allow you to schedule posts at any time - day or night & 24,7. Look into social media automated software such as HootSuite or Postling - makes it easy to write, manage and schedule posts.
There is a great WordPress Editorial Calendar plugin that is very helpful and will move you in the right direction - saves you a lot of time!
Stay tuned for Part Three in my blog series...How to Plan Your Weekly Social Media Updates
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