5 Must-haves for your 2014 Content Marketing Plan

If you own a business, then you will know the importance of content. It is the content on your web, blog or marketing material that gets you customers and makes your firm stand out from the crowd. Does your business have a solid content marketing strategy to go by in 2014? If not, then it’s time you came up with one, as a good content marketing strategy can take your business to a whole new level. Here are five must-haves for your 2014 content marketing plan:

1. Work on your website

When was the last time that you had a look at your business website? Is your website bringing in the right traffic? Update your website and make sure that it is doing the job. If you are planning on creating a new website or wish to refresh your existing site, use the following steps to transform your site:

  • Ensure that your content is targeted towards your target market
  • Audit the site content on your website and look for opportunities/gaps
  • Transfer your website to a content management system like Hubspot, which is user-friendly
  • Optimize your content for search engines and visitors

2. Start writing a business blog

If you don’t have a business blog, then it’s time to start one right away. With regular blogging, you can improve search engine rankings and gain added credibility with your prospects and customers. Writing a business blog is a great way to share expertise, remain relevant and offer helpful information to prospective customers. Make sure that your blog includes:

  • A SEO keyword strategy
  • Strategic topics based on your services/products
  • Social sharing capabilities
  • Regular posts, preferably weekly
  • A call to action (CTA) at the end of every post

3. Broadcast your posts on social media

Sharing your posts on social media is a must-do for businesses of today. No matter the type of business that you are in, there is a channel today that you can use to promote your content. Social media is a great way to make a connection with your target market, build solid relationships and attract new visitors. Here is how you can make the most of social media: Continue reading

Minimize Time & Maximize Results by Outsourcing Blog Writing

Do you feel that there aren’t enough hours in a day to run your business? Have you always added content creation to your “to do list”, but have never found the time or energy to actually put your thoughts into words? If your answer is a “yes”, then its time you gave outsourcing content writing a serious thought.

Why maintain a business blog?

If you have been ignoring your business blog for several months, you may be missing out on opportunities to engage with your customers. Moreover, without an effective blog, you will only be making it more difficult for your target audience to find you in the online world.

Since blogs use user-friendly platforms like WordPress and are search-engine friendly by nature, it is relatively easy to create content with targeted keywords. A regularly updated blog, with the right keywords can give your business website authority on leading search engines like Google or Yahoo.

An informative business blog also paves the way for you to position yourself as an expert in your industry. Posting resourceful articles on your blog will make you the “go to” person for important and relevant industry-related news, tips and tricks.

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