Hey, marketing managers, how’s the pulse feeling on your digital content strategy? If it’s a little weaker than you’d like it to be, check out these tips.
Marketing sure does get crazy sometimes.
It’s non-stop change at a furious pace.
Before you know it, the quarter’s just flown by … and the big picture starts to get a little fuzzy.
If you haven’t reviewed your digital content strategy in a while, you can’t be sure that it’s reaching its full potential.
Does Your Digital Content Strategy Need a Check-Up?
Your digital content strategy is your roadmap to connecting with your audience online.
It keeps you focused on providing prospects and followers with the info they need when they want it, and how they want it.
You want to be the go-to leader in your field, and there’s only one way to do it.
Establish authority in your niche by building trust with your audience.
If you’re not feeling confident about how you’re doing on that score, then it’s time to go back to revisit this “back to basics” checklist.
1. DEFINE YOUR AUDIENCE
Who are you trying to get your message to out in the Wild West of the internet?
- What keeps them up at night?
- What puts a smile on their faces?
- What are their aspirations?
If you want your audience to respond to your brand story, you have to give them a reason to care.
And the only way to craft content that resonates is by first understanding your audience inside and out.
2. ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS
If you’re not sure what questions your target audience is asking Google, don’t worry.
Thanks to super-intuitive tools like the Mangools suite, you can easily identify the keywords and phrases that are the core of your audience’s questions.
(Of course, if you have the resources – staff, dollars, time, etc. – surveys and focus groups are also great for getting additional insight from your existing audience.)
Ideally, you want to answer these questions through diverse formats and channels.
Beyond text-based blog posts, articles, and website copy, include videos and infographics in the mix.
And don’t lean on just one channel alone. Social media, emails, and podcasts all play integral parts in your digital content strategy.
3. GUIDE THEM ON THEIR JOURNEY
Your strategy is like a “content conveyor belt,” leading your target audience from one piece of content to another.
Think of it as a people mover with multiple stops, from an engaging social media post or email to an informative blog, to a web page, to a contact form.
Make sure your content pieces are integrated as seamlessly as possible into one cohesive narrative.
How smoothly is your content conveyor belt running these days? Find the gaps. It’s never too late to fill ‘em.
4. HELP FIRST, SELL SECOND
I know, I made a pretty big deal about just answering questions. But what about the product or service you have to sell?
Content strategy is about first offering your target audience insights and answers to earn their trust, and then making a stronger offer than you ever could have before.
- Meet your prospects where they are.
- Offer them help for free.
- Build a relationship.
- Ask them to take the next step.
It’s always a good idea to invite your audience to engage further with you after you’ve provided helpful content.
Depending on where you believe they are along the content conveyor belt, that invitation might be to sign up for a newsletter, make an appointment, or, yes, make a purchase!
5. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS
Your content strategy isn’t a “set it and forget it” task.
Keep tabs on all your key performance indicators (KPIs), such as:
- Keyword rankings
- Email opens and clicks
- Blog impressions and click-throughs
- Contact form submissions
These metrics provide valuable insights into your strategy’s effectiveness and areas for improvement.
WRAPPING UP YOUR DIGITAL CONTENT STRATEGY ASSESSMENT
As marketers, we tend to get really excited about tactics.
Sometimes it makes us miss the forest for the trees.
It’s never a bad idea to revisit the basics of core strategy.
Which at its heart is connection.
Digital content strategy is:
- Conversing with your audience
- Understanding their needs
- Delivering content in a diversified way
- Inviting them to engage
- Tracking your KPIs to measure how well you’re doing
Speaking of which, I’d love to connect with you! Let’s discuss ways you can create or enhance your own digital content strategy.