Content marketing - it’s a buzzword in the marketing game, but it’s often misunderstood. Put simply, content is any video, graphic, blog, etc., that you create with the intent of marketing. The trick is that it’s valuable, relevant, and consistent. But that’s the hard part, isn’t it? Consistently coming up with ideas that are valuable and relevant. To help, here are six ideas to keep the content flowing.
See what other businesses are doing - but do a better job.
I absorb all of the billboards, commercials, social media posts, emails, blogs, and podcasts. And most of the time, it’s not for entertainment; it’s for inspiration. Day in and day out, I’m constantly consuming and analyzing content. How could they improve the copy of that billboard? Why do I like this social media post so much? What buzzwords are they using on blogs? But most importantly, I always try to think of a way to improve them and use them for my clients. Adopt that mindset, and your content wells will never run dry.
Listen to your audience and let that guide your content marketing.
“Listen twice as much as you speak.” It’s an old quote that still rings true today, especially regarding Social Listening. Social Listening refers to examining the conversations and trends within your audience as they relate to your business and industry. But it simply means listening to your audience when they discuss your business, products, or services. When developing content, try listening to your audience to see what they want.
Instagram stickers are your friend.
Did you know there are 16 Instagram stickers? And each of them counts towards your overall engagement, which is pivotal to organic growth. You can use a sticker anytime you share a story, but here’s a few ideas:
Reuse (or repost) content from your grid to your stories.
Use the poll sticker to pit one product against another. For example, are you pro Thai Tea or Butterfly Pea Lemonade?
Don’t forget to use the link sticker to drive traffic to your website.
Always add the location sticker to drive some organic reach. Pro tip: Make it small so it doesn’t appear on your story.
Add the music story to encourage engagement!
Feel free to explore and experiment with Instagram stickers!
BTS content is gold.
BTS (behind-the-scenes) content is the bread and butter of a content strategy. It’s as simple as setting up a camera while packaging orders, taking a quick video, or snapping some pictures while creating your product. This type of content gives a look inside your business and gives your audience ownership and insight into your business. And it’s the type of content you don’t necessarily have to plan for because, as I said - set a tripod up and forget about it!
Google it.
Need more content ideas? Google it! When looking at Google Search results, you’ll notice a box titled “People also ask” that features questions related to your search. Google generates this box based on searches from users who searched the original term.
For example, if I Google “how to market your small business,” the following shows up. This can be a great tool to figure out content ideas!
Be smart about re-using content.
Have you ever heard of the Big Rock Content Method? It’s a strategy that hinges on creating a type of material so substantial that it allows the brand to own any conversation. For example, let’s say you write a meaty blog like this one. You could use each point as a series of videos that note different content creation methods. I could break this blog into pieces and dive further into each point. I could also create a series of Instagram stories that dive into the topic.
The point is to work smarter, not hard, and be creative when re-using your content!
