How Effective is Your Content? Content Creation Guidelines

Content is the foundation of all things web. Everything you see on the Internet is content. Facebook posts, tweets, YouTube videos, Pinterest pins, and Instagram posts included. But have you ever wondered if your content is working to its fullest potential, producing the outcome that you want it to? Let’s talk about some of the most critical aspects of successful, hardworking content that will do you proud!

Content can be summed up as:

• Images
• Video
• Blog Posts & Articles
• Ebooks & Reports
• Podcasts
• Infographics
• Social Media Updates

Content is used to teach, inform, advertise, and entertain. For businesses online, it is also the primary way to attract the attention of clients and customers, as well as search engines like Google.

A good content strategy is one of the best things that you can do to promote your personal or business brand, but that content must be good to be effective. Make sure to create a content calendar and publish regularly, so your audience has something to look forward to. Putting out new content at least once a week is an excellent foundation to build upon.

If you’re going to invest resources to create content, make sure the content you’re sending out to the masses is doing its job and not just sitting around taking up virtual space. Here are some guidelines for creating valuable content that gets noticed and shared.

Why are You Creating This Piece of Content?

Your content needs to have a specific purpose, or it will go unnoticed in a crowded and busy web environment. Do you want to drive sales, teach a particular subject, or entertain for viral purposes? Knowing what your goal is will also make content creation easier.

Add Color

Visual elements stand out and attract the eye, causing your target audience to stop and take notice. You’ll want to do this one right; amateurish-looking images don’t reflect a professional vibe and may turn potential clients and customers off.

Titles Sell Content: Curious?

Intriguing titles and images make the viewer want to know more. Catch them with curiosity and keep them with great content. Your content should deliver on the promise hinted at in your title or image. Clickbait that doesn’t deliver won’t keep them around for long and will cost you credibility and a return visit or purchase.

Relate to Your Audience

Offering content your audience can relate to creates an instant bond with them. Use terms and catchphrases that only someone genuinely familiar with that niche would use. Doing this adds credibility and lets them know you’re not just putting together generic materials to get views or sales. Being genuinely invested in the content you share is a great way to build relationships. However, this step requires building a persona for your typical audience before you start creating content so that you know exactly how to “talk” to them through your content.

Bonus: make it sharable!

Some of the most successful content marketing results come from content that gets shared all over the Internet once released to the public. It’s like having an entire team of people passing your content around the world without any further effort on your part – the best of both worlds!

Entertaining, inspiring, or shocking content often goes viral more than any other. Think of a clever idea that relates to your business and then set it free. Keep an eye on your stats to hone in on your most shareable pieces and create more of the same type for the ultimate results.

Although providing valuable content that serves your audience doesn’t seem like selling, it’ll keep them coming back for more, and they will remember you when it comes time to buy. Use the guidelines above to check your current content and plan future awesomeness. Let’s get results!

Need help with your content creation?