When most people start blogging, whether it’s business or personal, there usually isn’t a definite strategy. Most people just write and see what sticks. Of course, you may have some inkling of what you need to write but no real clue if it’s the right content. I write for my own blogs, as well as newspaper articles for an alternative newsweekly and I manage the blogs of several businesses. That’s in addition to the press release services I provide and the article marketing and web content writing I do. My point is, I’m often called “prolific.”
Turns out it’s not hard to be prolific. You already know your market inside and out. In fact nobody knows your market better than you. And that’s an important point to remember because that’s where your killer content is going to come from.
How to write killer content for your blog
Create a strategy
Don’t go at it haphazardly. What is it you want your content to do for you? More than likely you want it to bring in money. Some people write for fame. But most people want money. So that is an important element of your strategy to recognize. You want your content to cause people to open their wallets, take out some coin and give it to you. So your content has to persuade them to do that. Keep that in mind as you go forward.
Give to receive
If someone is going to feel obligated to give you something you need to first give them the feeling of obligation. Or more accurately, the feeling that they’ve received something of value. Give that to them in knowledge. Your content should make their life better, solve their problems, pick up after their dog. (Whoa, wouldn’t that be cool if your content could do that?) Seriously, though, your content needs to provide something so valuable that readers think “Wow, this is so awesome I’m going to share it with others. I can’t believe this information is just out there for free.” Or something like that.
Most importantly think in simple terms
Because you are an expert you probably think you need to pass on wonderfully insightful information on your topic. But it’s likely that your readers aren’t as expert as you. They are probably looking for the simple answers while you are busy trying to provide insight into new trends. Most people are looking for answers to common questions and most questions require the how-to type of answers. If you sell products provide a series of “how to assemble,” “Other common uses” “How others have used this product” “How to extend the life of” blog posts. It doesn’t always have to be written text. You can run a series of “How others have creatively used our products” and run pictures submitted from readers.
If you sell services you can do something similar. Write blog posts on topics that cover the very basics. If you are an accountant for example, you can certainly win points with a post about the latest tax breaks, but what about “the best way to organize your paperwork now to make filing easy next year” or the “top ten changes you can make now to save $1,000 by Dec.”?
Ask for the money
You’ve provided something of value and it’s an unspoken that you’ll want something in return. But people won’t just be compelled to give up their hard earned dollars if you don’t ask. So ask. Do that with a call to action. Make sure that customers know how to reach you. If you sell products your blog posts should reference your main site whenever possible. It should be a link like “Here’s a list of features of this product” or to see options availble with this product visit our main site www.YourSiteHere.com For services you can always add to certain posts a link that invites readers to contact you for more information. Don’t overdo it however, or you run the risk of coming across like you are selling and that defeats the whole purpose of your blog.
Keep your blog content simple and you’ll not only have plenty ideas for valuable posts you’ll hit the target when it comes to giving your readers what they want.