3 critical questions you need to ask before creating your content
You are already aware of the fact that inbound marketing and in particular, content marketing, is one of the most powerful ways to develop trust and build credibility with your target audience.
So the question on many content marketer’s lips is…’How do I create great content that resonates with my target audience?’
In this blog post we are going to run through the top 3 most critical questions you must ask before you create your shiny new piece of content.
The 1st question you need to ask is…
What is the goal of this content you are looking to create?
Now your goal may be to have your content go viral and spread to millions of people, which then results in hundreds of thousands of dollars transferred to your bank account, but you’ve got to be a bit more realistic.
So you need to start by mapping out the goal of your new piece of content. Often this is a one liner clarifying your goal.
Some realistic goals for your new content might be:
- to boost the authority of your company;
- to become the thought leader in your industry;
- to get new subscribers; or
- to make a sale.
Once you are clear on the end result, the content will fall into place that much easier.
The 2nd question you need is ask is…
If this piece of content could achieve just one thing, what would it be?
This is a perfect question to ask as it really gets you to focus on the most critical goal you want your new
content to achieve.
By having a clear focus, your content will likely resonate more with your audience and you will find it much easier to write clear call to actions at the end of your piece.
People love to be led and if you can provide quality content that provides easy to action advice, then people will be happy to follow through and take the next steps you outline.
The 3rd question you need to answer is…
How are you going to promote your content?
Derek Halpin is one of the most respected bloggers online, has a brilliant YouTube channel and suggests he spends 20% of his time creating his content and 80% of the time promoting it to his key influencers.
Pareto’s principle is certainly being well applied in his business and we can all take a leaf out of his book and work towards the same goal.
Many content writer’s may believe their job is finished once they write the last word, but the truth is, their job is just beginning.
You need to think about how you are going to distribute and boost your content via the key online channel’s, such as:
- social media;
- key influencers;
- niche markets;
- guest blogging; and
- paid media channels like YouTube, Google and Facebook.
If you and your team struggle to create new content or really lack the ability to promote your content far and wide, then it might be best to work with a company who can take all the heavy lifting off your hands.
That way you can focus on what you do best.
Never let your team suggest ‘content marketing is too painful and we don’t have enough time’, as there are professional teams you can delegate your work to.
This will allow you to have some scale to your business, look much bigger than you are and continue the conversation with your target audience.
We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. Are you struggling to come up with a clear focus when mapping out your content calendar? Do you have other questions you ask before you put pen to paper (or start typing)?
