Content is king. If you’re a digital marketer you’ve probably heard that phrase since you first started in the industry. Saying content is king is still important. Developing content strategy has become a vital part of digital marketing. Without a strategic content plan in place your competitor can easily outrank you in rankings and brand awareness.
Here are some great tips to focus on when you are developing your social media strategy:
- Build a content calendar
A content calendar is the best way to map out your content for the month and ensure it’s streamlined with all the platforms you are using (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, your blog, your videos etc.) Rather than publishing at the last minute and appearing scattered to your customers and fans, you will have a strategy in place for the month and you can share it with the company so everyone else has an idea of what’s planned for the month.
- Curate your Content
Let’s put it this way, the people who are following you and reading your content already love you, and probably already want to buy what you’re selling. Rather than writing content that’s pushy and sales-y, give your readers something they can value. Provide them with information – internally and externally. You can direct them to other content (that is not your competitor of course) while also providing them some of your own stuff too.
- Re-purpose Content
Re-purposing content is okay. Many people fear re-posting blogs they have written, website content or articles they have found because they think that they only have one chance to post it. It should not be feared – especially if it’s something that can drive traffic to your website. Give some time in between postings if you’re re-posting a blog so it’s not overwhelming or redundant for the reader. But the second time you post it, you may catch a few other people who didn’t see it the first time.
- Segment Your Audience
Segmenting is a great way to really make your content valuable to readers. Facebook is a great example of this – their ads are so targeted that they deliver you content based on your interests (posts you’ve liked in the past, articles you’ve read or posted etc.). If you segment your content to the exact audience you are trying to target, your content will perform better and not go to waste. Social media is also a great place for segmentation. With the amount of tools that are out there, you can segment your audience in different ways, such as using a tool to show who your influencers are so you can reach out to them and engage with them.
- Include Video Content
Video is part of content. More and more brands are starting to include video content in their marketing strategy and they are capitalizing on it. It’s important to get on board with this, and start incorporating it. If you don’t have the budget, a well-planned video shot with your Smart Phone can even work – or a schedule Q&A on SnapChat or Periscope as an option. There are also many different options for publishing your video content, which makes marketing it a breeze.
You should have a plan in place each month to distribute quality content. If you outsource your content, make sure it’s quality and not purchased on a budget (you will get what you pay for). Your content should be constantly re-evaluated and freshened up, otherwise you will go unnoticed.