EP: 97 - Plug n' Play Content Strategies ...

“Marketing is telling the world that you are a Rockstar, content marketing is showing the world that you are one.” ~ Robert Rose, Author
 

Welcome to Episode 97: Plug n' Play Content Strategies ...
 
As we all know, we are living in the age of information. Yet despite this advantage we’re all still starved for more knowledge. Your audience know what to do when they see your content (if it’s done right!) but in the very same breath, they don’t know what they need to know all because they’re just plainly overwhelmed with all the scrolling content in their feeds. So, give your audience what they want – and deserve -- by focusing on one BIG IDEA at a time that solves their pain points. Because when you do, it won’t be the idea they will be attributing their success to, it will be YOU! 

Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ...

• Common goals through plug n’ play
• The “Buy-In Conversation” checklist
• Our favourite “plug n’ play” content strategies
• Creating with the 80-10-10 rule 

Are you ready?
Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

Transcript

Okay, let’s be honest … We all want killer content! But we don’t always have the time, or the creative juices left at the end of the day to build up the momentum we need on our own business strategies. Especially if we’ve worked all day on someone else’s.

Well, it just so happens that’s where today’s short n’ sweet “untangling” podcast episode comes in handy …

Let’s begin with a step that will assist you long-term, your strategy guide.

You can’t achieve strategy success unless you fully understand what success means to you and your business. Some of the most common goals used for marketing through plug n’ play content includes:

• Brand awareness
• Lead generation
• Audience engagement
• Audience loyalty
• Profitability

In order to figure out which goals you and your business should be prioritizing or if you’re looking to expand your plan, I have found a truly great online resource that includes 23 templates, checklists and guides to make this process easier. It’s called “The Buy-In Conversation checklist” and you can find the link within the transcript of this episode.

Once you go through that guide and your official planning stages are complete, it’s time to start thinking and planning WHAT content you’d like to build your brand with. I know it can be overwhelming because the problem in today’s social savvy day-in-age is there is so much information available online. Our minds are always moving so fast and are already so full … So, to help with sorting out of some simple and easy strategies, I’ve created a quick list of some of the best “plug n’ play” content formats for you.

Some good examples of content formats you can use:

• How to’s
• Case studies
• eBooks
• Tool reviews
• Giveaways
• Q&A sessions
• Webinars
• “Day in the Life of” scenarios
• Infographics
• Interviews
• Lists and mind maps
• Vlogs and videos
• Surveys and quizzes
• Niche related resources
• Quotes
• Newsletters
• Blogs and podcasts
• Pinboards
• Company news

And the list goes on. But those are some good tried and true starters!

Once you have your strategy figured out, your brand voice fine-tuned and your graphics perfected it’s time to start using these publishing ideas to put together your social schedule – while of course keeping in mind the 80-10-10 rule. As a recap from a previous episode or for those are you who may be unfamiliar, here’s the scoop …

• Curation and OCP (“other people’s content”) = 80%
• BTS (“behind the scenes”) Marketing Messages = 10%
• Sales-y Messages/Content (e.g. blog sign-up) = 10%

This kind of 80-10-10 content mixture ensures your business is providing quality, helpful and valuable content more than being an annoying sales-y Sally. People aren’t always cruising through their social profiles to buy – sometimes they’re just curious or not ready yet -- so don’t bombard them.

Quick sidenote to remember … if you’re going to DIY your designs to go along with your content that there are some graphic design “rules” that should never be broken. 

To learn more about creating branded designs that pack a punch and align with your mission and values, dive back into episode 46 of the Digital Glue Podcast; “The Deadly Sins of Graphic Design” for a quick refresher! Or perhaps even episode 63; “Brand Mistakes You’re Making Without Realizing”.

To end things off lightly and as short n’ sweet as we promised … Robert Rose (Author) said it best … “Marketing is telling the world that you are a Rockstar, content marketing is showing the world that you are one.”

As we all know, we are living in the age of information. Yet despite this advantage we’re all still starved for more knowledge. Your audience already knows what to do when they see your content (if it’s done right!) but in the very same breath, they don’t know what they need to know all because they’re just plainly overwhelmed with all the scrolling content in their feeds. (Just like you were at first building your plug n’ play content.) 

So, give your audience what they want – and deserve -- by focusing on one BIG IDEA at a time that solves their pain points. Because when you do, it won’t be the idea they will be attributing their success to, it will be YOU!

Let me end off by asking you this …

Have you developed your foolproof plug n’ play strategy yet?
 Or are you still fighting FOMO?