There are a lot of fish in the sea. That bit of wisdom can be applied to both content marketing and dating. There are billions of people in this world and thanks to the internet, there is a limitless amount of content to consume.
Let’s examine how to keep your desired audience interested in the fish located in your part of the ocean…
Building Your “Dating Profile”
Just like in dating, you need to examine your priorities and reflect on what is most important to you. Before asking strangers out on dates, you should probably get down to the basics and ensure that you are making a good first impression.
Ask yourself a few questions:
– What results do I want to see from my content marketing efforts?
– What tone, voice, and personality do I want to infuse in my brand communications?
– What kind of audience do I want to snap up? What are their defining attributes, habits, and interests?
– What content strategy do I need to use to reach these particular people?
– What kind of content do I want to cultivate?
– What kind of time do I have to devote to cranking out quality content?
– What should my content calendar look like?
– Where do I want this original content to exist and be shared? (Are your ‘favorite haunts’ Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr…?)
First Date
Now that you have a solid plan, it’s time to put yourself out there. Make your content absolutely irresistible!
– Utilize striking images such as professionally produced stock photos, colorful diagrams, or infographics. (People are visual creatures and do judge on appearance.)
– Don’t get too long-winded or overly complicated. (Just like a bored date, your reader will check out… No second date for you!)
– Invite feedback from your audience and adjust strategy accordingly. People love to give their opinions, be open to listening.
– Be gregarious and humanize your brand.
They Like Me, They Really Like Me!
If your brand-audience relationship is blossoming thanks to your stellar content, be sure to shake it up a little. You wouldn’t take a date to the same restaurant over and over again. Don’t grow too comfortable and totally forfeit being surprising for the security of a pair of comfy sweatpants, I mean… overly familiar content.
– Create insightful case studies that display your brand’s value and discoveries.
– Consider weaving stories into your content mix.
– Produce opinion pieces covering timely topics of interest.
– Add in interviews or allow guest bloggers to chime in with their expertise.
– Throw in a slideshow or snazzy video to keep things lively.
– Create how-to’s that show readers how to master certain skills.
A little content marketing self-evaluation, strategy, and old-fashioned wooing will lead to a healthy long-term relationship with your audience and the realization of your goals!