The Foundations of Great Content

Anyone with a website has undoubtedly heard someone say that ‘content is king’ already. However, it is one thing to understand that your content needs to be top-notch and an entirely different matter to deliver that top-notch content. In addition, those that don’t have strong writing chops feel like they can’t succeed online. To further compound this problem, some people simply don’t have the time to develop and hone strong writing skills.

If that weren’t enough, some talented marketing professionals absolutely abhor writing. If you are frustrated with your content development and want to improve but simply don’t know where to begin, consider the following techniques to improve the quality of your content.

Not All Content is Written

This should be a no-brainer, but sometimes people – especially bloggers – forget that not all content is written. There are a variety of other platforms you can use to generate high quality content and communicate your message to your audience.

One of these platforms is video, and video content is extremely valuable. That is, as long as you execute it well. In fact, YouTube is the second most popular website worldwide, and also the second largest search engine in the US.  Ignoring this statistic means ignoring a LOT of potential traffic.

One reason videos are so popular is because they can be much more engaging than writing (at times). Some people actually want to seek guidance from a person in a video to feel like they are interacting with them. Furthermore, some people are auditory learners and don’t learn as effectively when they need to read content.

As opposed to purely written content, there are audio platforms as well. Podcasts are a fantastic and effective way to garner a targeted audience. Another benefit of podcasts is their mobility. Your audience can listen to your message almost anywhere. Whether on their daily commute, some downtime during their lunch break, or a holiday in the Bahamas, your audience can receive and digest your message.

You must keep in mind, however, that podcasts are most appropriate for messages short-term in nature. Short pieces, interviews, and testimonials are perfect for podcasts as long as they aren’t too lengthy and don’t bore your audience.

Outsourcing is Still a Viable Option

Outsourcing is a double-edged sword – it can help you as much as it can hurt you. Though we like to think that outsourcing is as simple as the 4 Hour Workweek makes it out to be, you simply must be on top of your outsourcing efforts.

Although, if you absolutely detest writing, a solid outsourcing plan may save you a lot of time and aggravation. Instead of personally generating unique content, you can edit it. Let other writers do the heavy lifting for you, and you can spend minimal time polishing your message.

Outsourcing is typically pretty inexpensive, and it can save you a lot of time. Even if you aren’t completely thrilled with the content you receive that was generated from outsourcing, it is very simple to edit the content or provide the writer with revision directions.

What to Do without a Writer

If you don’t already have an in-house or an on-staff writer, outsourcing may be your best (and only) option. However, you must take every outsourcing option with a grain of salt. Basically, you get what you pay for.

You need to ask yourself a few questions. Are you outsourcing your work to a native Indian? Does your writer come from the Philippines? Perhaps your writer has little-to-no experience in your industry. If you find yourself paying less than five bucks per post, it is likely high time to move on. It is hard work finding a native English speaking writer who can craft copy to your liking, but finding someone with the right background can save you a lot of time.

Create a Dialogue and Tell Your Story

More often than not, kingly content that generates shares and virility doesn’t consist of a high volume of posts, perfect grammar (which is important in many industries), or even expert technical knowledge. Quality content, more often than not, is based upon two things – an intimate connection with your audience and the ability to solve their problems in language they can understand.

Your audience will both trust and believe you much more if you have experienced the same problems they have experienced and found viable solutions to these problems. If you can solve your audience’s problems from your unique perspective, you can cast yourself as an authority figure in your industry to gain support.

Quality Content Summary

Ok, so you are the worst writer that has ever graced the Earth. Heck, through middle school, high school, and college, you received nothing but F’s for your writing projects. Well guess what? That doesn’t have ANY impact on your personal ability to send a quality message to your audience.

There are many alternatives that can capture the interest of your visitors and help solve their problems – all without the application of a pen to paper or even a single keystroke.

The secret to great content isn’t always a strong blog post creation acumen. There are many options at your disposal. If you need help creating kingly content, it is well past time to reach out to an online marketing professional.