Maybe I’m having too much fun at work, or maybe content marketing really is exactly like throwing a party. A content party. Let me break it down for you.
Pick a venue
Where is this party taking place; where will you be marketing your content? There are a lot of great venues, I mean, social media channels, blogs, email, we could even have this party in print.
There are a lot of channels you can use, but the most important element is that it’s visible to the audience you want. Do some research and figure out which channels your target audience is already using, then go there.
Keep it manageable, you’re only one host and you don’t want to spread your party too thin. Don’t feel like you need to put content out on all channels at once. Start small and build your way up.
Plan your menu
If you are going to host a successful party, you need a strategy. What is your overall theme? What’s on the menu? Who is going to be at your party; are there any food allergies or aversions you need to consider? This is where strategy comes in.
Know your audience. Put your goals in writing. Consider what content areas you’ll focus on. Jot down four or five categories for content to help keep your message consistent. You should even include specific keywords you want to incorporate into your content.
Create an itinerary
Break it down. You need to know when it’s time for the pinata to come out and when it’s time to dim the lights for dancing.
Of course, I’m talking about creating content calendars. Build a schedule with planned posts across your marketing channels keeping your content categories and keywords in mind. Of course, you can’t plan everything, you’ll still need to log in and check for conversation, but you can create a content calendar to help you plan and organize what you’ll post a week or month out. Content calendars help you keep posts consistent; you can even schedule them in advance.
Invite guests
Everything is planned, it’s time to send out invitations. You can literally invite guests to your Facebook page with the Build Audience options in your admin panel.
When it comes to Twitter, following others first is a good way to let them know you’re out there and encourage them to follow you back. Cross marketing is important too. If you want your Web visitors to find you on Pinterest, make an icon on your home page that leads them to your Pinterest account.
Remember, when it comes to party guests, I mean, Twitter followers and Facebook likers, quality trumps quantity. Create content to appeal to the audience you want, not to attract the most followers. A million likes and followers won’t do you any good if no one is engaging with your content or none are prospective clients or customers.
Party!
You have a venue, a strategy, you’ve invited guests, now it’s time to party. Don’t be a wallflower, you’re the host!
Post, say something; get a conversation started. Don’t be worried about putting the wrong thing out or looking stupid, you can always delete. Besides, the more you post, the better feel you will get for what your audience responds to. Cater your content to what’s working; to know what that is, you need to join in.
You are the host, but that doesn’t mean you have to do all the work. You put all the pieces together so others can help you spread your message. Encourage conversation by sharing others content and commenting on it yourself.
When you’re planning your content party, keep in mind that content marketing isn’t about pushing products, it’s about creating conversation. You aren’t throwing a Tupperware party here, it’s more of a Jay Gatsby style party. So, let’s do it; let’s get this party started!
Leave a Reply