Content Mastery Guide

Editor and Ghostwriter

Five Ways to Find More Time For Content Marketing

By

TypingWhether you're starting a new blog or trying to keep one going, a common concern for all of us is finding time to write.

Here are five concrete actions you can take to free up time for this crucial task:

  1. Batch your tasks – Dividing up your article writing time will make the most efficient use of your time and energy, and you'll accomplish more in less time. And once you're in brainstorming or writing mode, don't stop with one post; use that same mindset to work ahead on the next few.
  2. Be purposeful on social media – As soon as you publish a new post and it's fresh in your mind, preschedule 3-4 updates to announce the post to your social networks (I call these conversation starters). That way your content marketing task is done, and it won't get pushed aside or delayed if you get lost in conversation.
  3. Plan ahead – Have you ever zigzagged through the aisles of a grocery store because you didn't have a list? You'll also spend more time on content marketing if you don't have a plan. Your actions here may include laying out your blog categories, following a weekly blogging system or using a weekly/monthly blog planner. 
  4. Blog on the go – Grab some writing/blogging time while you're standing in line or waiting for an appointment. You may not be at your freshest creative time, but you can come back to polish later. Save and store your work online, either as a draft post in your blogging platform or in a system like Dropbox or Evernote.
  5. Maximize your brain power – Give your blog the best part of your day. You'll get more done faster because you're at the peak of your creativity.

How are you finding time to blog? Add your best tips below and let's learn from each other.

Blogging is Giving: How your business blog can help you give and gain, again and again

By

People-giving-freely-w250-h315 “For it is in giving that we receive.” – St. Francis of Assisi “We make a living by what we get;we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill “You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” – Kahlil Gibran “Love grows by giving. The love we give away is the only love we keep. The only way to retain love is to give it away.” – Elbert Hubbard “The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.” – Albert Einstein “Among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” – Maya Angelou “The fragrance always remains in the hand that gives the rose.” – Heda Bejar “Givers gain.” – Ivan Meisner

Whether in business networking or in life, it’s a widely accepted fact that when we freely give, we receive multiple benefits in return. The good news is that a business blog can help you carry out this philosophy all month long.

If you’re already a natural giver, these ideas will help you spread your gifts even farther. If you’ve been looking for ways to give more, here are four places to start:

1) Highlight a charity or a charitable campaign that someone in your network is part of, and include links or instructions so your readers can contribute.

What this says about you: You care about your community and you value and support charitable activities.

2) Write a testimonial about someone’s work and how this person helped you. Include the details of the problem you were having, why you chose this particular service and what the results were. Photos are a nice touch if that’s appropriate for the situation. Be sure to include contact details.

What this says about you: Sharing your own experience shows people that you’re human, and that helps them get to know, like and trust you. It also shows that you’re supportive of other business owners and committed to sharing valuable resources with your audience.

3) Comment and/or build on a blog post written by a colleague. You might write a brief introduction, or simply provide a link to the blog so your readers can explore for themselves.

What this says about you: You are at the forefront of your industry and you have access to the latest and greatest news, tips and solutions. You respect your readers enough to introduce them to other service providers and let them decide for themselves who is the best person to help them solve their problem.

NOTE: If you’re using my weekly blogging method, these three types of posts would be perfect for the weeks in between your monthly feature articles. And that leads us to the final way you can give with your blog:

4) Write an article that provides concrete tips, suggestions or strategies and teaches your readers how to solve one of their most pressing problems.

What this says about you: You are an expert in this area, and you have the tools and knowledge to solve the problems that are causing your readers the most trouble. If your article helps them this much, they will think, just imagine what hiring you could do for them!

Giving back in your blog helps your community and your colleagues, by drawing more attention to worthy causes and useful services. It also helps your readers solve their problems. In turn, it helps your business by revealing more about you, what you value, and how much you know.

For more ideas about how to give back with your business blog, see 12 Most Altruistic Reasons to Keep Blogging.

Content Marketing for Coaching Business Success

By

I'm thrilled to announce that my article about content marketing is featured in the June 2011 issue of choice, the magazine of professional coaching. Please click on the cover below to read the article.

Content_Marketing_cover_choice_magazine_v9n2_Jun2011 Inside, you'll find insights into the three stages of the relationship-building process, and learn how producing high-quality content on a consistent basis will help you attract your ideal clients.

I also reveal my three must-do writing activities, and tips for applying the five-part content marketing strategy outlined in my book, Write Your Way to More Clients Online.

Click on the cover or click here to read the article. I hope it's helpful to you – please let me know!

To subscribe to choice magazine, visit their website.

Is Anybody Out There? Providing Good Customer Service On Social Media

By

Social media is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to customer service. But once you attract a prospective client into your virtual storefront, will they find you behind the counter or are you nowhere to be seen?

There is a lot of pressure for business owners to jump into social media ("You have to be there," you're told, "Or you'll be left behind!") before you truly understand what will be required of you.

Over-automating is ugly

Yes, there are plenty of online marketing tasks that you can outsource and automate, just be sure that customer service is taken care of by a real person in real time.

It's very easy to see who is automating instead of engaging, because their social media accounts display a stream of announcements, links and advertisements, with no replies, referrals or conversation.

And to someone who sends you a message or replies to one of your updates, but gets no response (just more blasts of information), that silence speaks volumes about you and your business.

Sorry-this-business-is-closed

Once you've put yourself out there on social media, the customer service is only beginning. There must be a response, and it must come from you.

Are you concerned about missing messages but you don't want to spend time checking your account? Hire someone else to monitor it for you, or subscribe to a service like Postling or Nutshell Mail to get email updates of all your account activity.

NOTE: It is sometimes appropriate to outsource your ongoing social media conversations, just be sure your audience knows that someone is writing on your behalf, e.g., with a note in your profile that says, "Tweets by _____, on behalf of _____."

Content marketing is customer service

Social media is simply another mode of communication; a chance to demonstrate your commitment by responding to your clients and potential clients – quickly, courteously and professionally.

And perhaps the best way to respond is to create new content that addresses the questions and comments you're hearing. I've written before about how blogging improves your customer service. By being constantly focused on what your ideal client needs, you will be more tuned into delivering those solutions. Denise Wakeman calls this growing "blog antennae," while Jeff Korhan says, "blogging gives you clarity."

Sharing your content via social media is another way to be of service to people in your network – with tips, tools, insights and strategies to help them in their lives and/or businesses.

After all, helping out is one of the key principles of networking – whether you're offline or online – and it allows you to turn social networking into business networking.

Whether they're prospective clients, referral sources or fellow business owners in your community, show your online network that you're here and you care. That's good customer service. And that's good for business. 

Summertime and the Blogging is Easy

By

Summer-fun-water-skiing-250w-167h As I’m settling into my first summer in the waterfront community of Barrie, Ontario, I’m noticing that my new neighbours sure take their recreation seriously! I only hope it rubs off on me. As local translator and copywriter Ashleigh Grange linked to on Twitter last week, summer vacation eludes many of us entrepreneurs.

Here are five ways to make blogging easier this summer, so you can keep building your business relationships (and your mountain of content) while still enjoing a vacation or staycation:

  1. Batch your tasks to make the most out of your time – When you’re feeling creative and buzzing with ideas, draft two or three posts instead of just one.
  2. Get ahead of the game – Pre-schedule your blog posts and emails so they continue to be on a predictable schedule, even if you’re not.
  3. Write easier posts – Ease off the pressure to be a thought leader and write the posts that come naturally to you, whether those are top 10 lists, product reviews, frequently asked questions, or connective content.
  4. Catch the sparks – Whenever you head out into the world, you’re bound to feel revitalized by the new people, places and ideas you encounter. Keep a notebook or smartphone app handy (I’m experimenting with Evernote for iPhone and Dragon Dictation for iPhone) so you can build on your experiences and share them with your readers.
  5. Make creative connections – What does staying up on water skis have in common with whatever your readers are striving for? What can packing for a vacation teach your clients about the techniques they need in their toolkit? What business lessons can you adapt from a popular vacation spot with long lines of happy customers?

So enjoy your summer, take some time off, and most of all keep blogging!

P.S. If you want to make your blogging even easier, check out my blogging services!