Creating engaging and relevant content for your website involves a strategic approach. Here's a guide to help you determine what articles to feature, focusing on your audience, subject matter, scheduling, and production.
Know Your Audience
Define Who You Are Speaking To: Understanding your audience is the first step in content creation. Identify the demographics, interests, and behaviors of your target audience. Are they professionals, hobbyists, beginners, or experts? Knowing who you are addressing will shape the tone and depth of your articles.
Their Expertise on the Subject Matter: Gauge the expertise level of your audience. If they are beginners, offer introductory content with simplified explanations. For a more knowledgeable audience, provide in-depth analysis and advanced insights.
What Will They Want to Know?: Anticipate your audience's needs and questions. Conduct surveys, read forums, and check social media discussions to understand their interests and challenges. Understanding their needs will help you tailor content that meets their expectations and solves their problems.
Define What Articles to Feature
Determine What Subject Matter Will Resonate with Your Audience: Choose topics that align with your audience's interests and your website's niche. Monitor industry trends, popular keywords, and competitor content to identify what resonates with your audience.
What Do They Want to Know? What Do They Need to Know?: Strike a balance between what your audience wants to know and what they need to know. Address their immediate curiosities while providing essential information that adds value.
How Can You Help Them Achieve Their Goals?: Offer actionable insights and practical tips that help your audience achieve their goals. Whether improving a skill, solving a problem, or staying informed, your content should be a resource they turn to.
Create a List and Prioritize Articles for Production/Publishing: Brainstorm a list of potential article topics and prioritize them based on relevance and audience interest. Consider the timeliness of the issues and their potential impact.
Determine Publishing Schedule
Frequency: Decide on a consistent publishing schedule that you can maintain. Whether daily, weekly, or bi-weekly, consistency helps build a loyal audience.
Publishing Promotion: Plan how you will promote your articles. Leverage multiple channels to reach your audience effectively.
When: Choose optimal times for publishing and promoting your content based on when your audience is most active.
How Will You Notify Your Audience of the Article? Email newsletters, social media posts, and website notifications are effective ways to inform your audience about new content.
Ongoing Reference: Consider incorporating your articles into ongoing engagements with your audience. Share relevant articles in email follow-ups, new order confirmations, and customer service interactions to keep the content alive and valuable.
What Is The Plan to Produce The Content
Writers on Staff vs. Hiring Writers: Decide if you can produce content in-house or if you need to hire freelance writers. In-house writers often better understand your brand, while freelance writers can bring diverse expertise.
Writer Brief Template: Provide a detailed brief to your writers to ensure the articles meet your expectations and resonate with your audience. Here's a simple template:
Title: The working title of the article
Audience: Description of the target audience
Objective: The main goal of the article
Key Points: Outline the key points to cover
Tone and Style: Specify the tone and style, e.g., formal, conversational
Length: Desired word count
Deadline: Submission deadline
Resources: Links to relevant resources, references, and examples
In-house Writers: If you choose to use in-house writers, here are some tips:
Keep It at an 8th-grade Reading Level: Use tools like Hemingway Editor to ensure readability.
Avoid Industry Jargon: Simplify technical terms for broader understanding.
Acronyms: Define acronyms at the beginning of the article and use them consistently.
Start with an Outline: Plan the structure before writing.
Review Process: Have a small team of at least three people review each article:
Writer: Initial content creation
Editor: Grammar, style, and coherence
Peer Reviewer: Consider all points of view to ensure the article is comprehensive.
Engage with your audience and enhance your website's value with an effective content strategy. For more information on content strategy, consult with Imagine Business Solutions today.