How to Develop a Content Strategy in 7 Steps

Most people understand the power of seo content writing and marketing. It's one of the easiest ways to build your brand, increase awareness about your business or product, and attract new leads. But many struggles with actually creating a good content strategy that delivers results. Without an overarching plan, it can be difficult to hit all your intended targets.

What Is Content Strategy?

Forward-thinking businesses are building their reputation and converting prospects into customers with the help of targeted Content Marketing. When someone is directed to a landing page or piece of engaging seo content writing which provides them with what they're looking for, they're more likely to become a customer. It's how brands, big or small, are building audiences and awareness online with blog posts, videos, infographics, anything that engages your target market on the web.

Step 1: Define Your Goal

Decide what you're trying to accomplish with your content strategy. Are you looking for increased brand awareness? Do you want to educate people about a specific topic or product line? Are you hoping for better lead generation? Think of your end goal, and use that to guide your content development from the start.

Step 2: Look At Your Resources

Now that you have a strategy in place, it's time to focus on your resources. How much time and money do you have to dedicate to this project? Knowing how much you can realistically invest will help determine what materials you'll create and where you'll distribute them. More than ever before, it's easy to get your content in front of new audiences, but you need funding to do that.

Step 3: Set A Schedule - And Stick To It!

Your content strategy needs a schedule that is realistic and achievable. The last thing you need to do is create a vague guide with too many moving parts, only to be overwhelmed when it doesn't work out. Instead, choose specific days of the week for posting, and set clear expectations with your team members or contributors. You might even want to create a calendar that outlines when specific types of seo content writing will be delivered.

Step 4: Define Your Audience(s)

This is one of the most difficult steps in the process and one of the most important. Whom are you trying to reach with this content? You can't create a strategy that appeals to everyone, so narrow down your audience as best as possible. Who's using your product or service regularly? Are they mostly male or female? Your answers to these questions will help you determine what types of content will appeal most to your ideal customer.

Step 5: Develop A Process For Creating An Effective Content

The process that works best for you will depend on various factors: your industry, your business model, your target audience, and where they spend their time online. For example, if you're working in the B2B space and need to create content for your sales team, you'll need to develop a different approach than working in the B2C space and connecting with consumers.

Step 6: Shape Your Message To Fit Different Platforms

Once you determine whom you're talking to, it's time to figure out where they hang out online. According to HubSpot's 2016 State of Inbound Marketing report, "the most popular social media networks are Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, Instagram and YouTube." However, it's not as simple as posting your content on each of those sites. You need to create a unique strategy for each platform based on its unique audience and best practices.

Step 7: Measure Your Success

You cannot improve what you cannot measure. This might seem like a no-brainer, but it's amazing how many marketers forget to track the impact of their content campaigns. If you want to create an effective content marketing strategy, you need to align your content with your business goals and track whether or not you're achieving them. Your strategy needs to help you get there, and that means measuring the right metrics is essential.

Conclusion

Now that you have a better idea of creating an effective content strategy for your business, it's time to implement it. After all, creating a strategy is only half the battle. You also need to drive results. And that means helping your prospects find you and turn them into subscribers or customers. It will be time to claim your place in the content marketing hall of fame when you do.