It can be difficult to attract the right audience for your brand. Developing content pieces that promote interest and engagement makes a difference in the way your brand is perceived, but there’s no cookie-cutter formula that can give you every detail on how to market your small business.
As a small business, there are a number of things to accomplish with limited time and resources. Even if you have a content calendar, coming up with the right ideas and concepts for your themes can pose a problem if you don’t know where to begin. When planning your content, creativity is key. Today’s customers are very engaged, so instead of thinking “out of the box,” you must move “beyond the box” to make an impact.
Usher In the Creativity
You may have a series of items that help determine how your content pieces are developed and planned. This could include the time of year, certain events, upcoming meetings, or a product launch. Although these are standard reasons for developing content, restructuring your thoughts can help you think and see things differently. Here are a few ideas to incorporate into your plan:
- Go Global
Look at international trends to generate ideas. Looking at things from a new perspective can help you tailor messages for a broader audience. Some of the best creative ideas come from diversification and doing something different.
- Pair Products
Cross-promoting products can help you plan CTA (call to action) pieces that give your audience a reason to keep reading. This encourages total engagement with your brand, and works as an additional advertising resource.
- Be Visual
Visual content helps audiences engage on a number of levels. Approximately 90 percent of information that comes to the brain is visual, so capitalizing on imagery that adds depth and dimension to your messages is key. Infographics are a great way to introduce content in an informative and interesting presentation. Videos or SlideShare documents are also good ways to be visual while sharing your content. A transcribed webinar where the reader can see the content on-screen can be very effective.
- Use Lists
Lists can be effective in getting your messages read. Lists are quick to read, easy to understand, easy to develop and provide tons of information.
- Create a Series
Developing an interesting series is a good way to address the needs of every audience. Your plan should include an e-book series, a whitepaper series, an infographic series, and other elements to integrate your pieces and diversify the content you are developing.
As your team works together to plan creative pieces, utilize the things around you to foster creativity. Have your strategic meeting outside, discuss industry news and keep things light. The planning process should include numerous brainstorming sessions where everyone adds their thoughts and ideas. Using these strategies will increase the productivity of your team while adding creativity in the development of your content marketing plan. Remember – some of the best content starts with a creative idea!
Allaire W is a professional writer with a love for the written word and a sweet tooth that turned a hobby into a business. You can find her “cooking” up assignments while covered in flour or cake batter.
