What are you creating content for? For fun? Maybe.
For no reason? You fool.
But perhaps maybe you're doing it to actually GET TRAFFIC and GENERATE LEADS so people BUY YOUR STUFF? What are you doing all these articles, videos, images and audios for? If you're doing it to look cool, then that's okay.
If you're doing it to learn and practice your skills, then I have no problem with that.
If you're doing it to brand yourself, then I have no beef with that either.
But are you actually CREATING CONTENT (or trying to) because you WANT TO MAKE MONEY? Then we're on the same page.
There's a reason why we're content MARKETERS (yes, we're actually trying to MARKETING something).
We're creating content for that very purpose so let's not be dork-bags and just be honest about it for a moment.
So many people I see and read off Facebook groups, article directories and even other people's blogs often fail to do these FOUR SIMPLE PRINCIPLES I'm about to teach you that could be the very difference between the traffic to your sites and ultimately money in your pocket (or lack of it).
Have you ever been through the phase of blogging EVERY SINGLE DAY, creating some content that you think is awesome, for about 30 days...
60 days...
or even 90 DAYS STRAIGHT without even a single sale or even a lead? You're working hard, hammering the typing, or getting in front of the camera all the time, pumping out the value, pumping out the content each and every single day but then you check your Aweber or whatever e-mail lead capture thingy and not a single lead? Imagine doing 100 blog posts, 50 videos and yet not getting steady consistent traffic? Then maybe you should listen to the doctor and take the advice below.
So are you ready? I want to get straight to the point.
Because you're awesome (or you want to be), you will read on and APPLY these strategies that ANY content-based MARKETER should be applying! I'll cut to the chase.
The first principle is probably the reason why you're here...
BREAK STATE - Anyone who knows copywriting or knows marketing should be doing this.
You need to get attention! It's no secret that everybody including you and I get marketed to constantly over and over again multiple times during the day.
So amidst all the noise, we have to REALLY grab attention and STAND OUT from the crowd.
This should be applied to all of your content, including articles AND videos.
Don't be dull.
Be the MAIN EVENT.
BE THE ICON! Some tips to break state: -Have an interesting title.
This may take practice, but it's probably one of the most important.
Notice the title of this blog post? What is it about the title that made you want to read it? For those of you article marketers trying to rank for Company Reviews, think about this: What would you rather read? A blog post called "Company X Review" or "Secrets of Company X That Top Producers Don't Tell You"? -Add a bit of controversy.
This is just my personal touch.
Notice my title and headings are a little edgy and have a bit of attitude? This is because other titles just sound too professional or just plain boring.
Would you pay more attention to a dull-looking middle-aged professor who's half bald wearing a suit and tie or would you pay more attention to a good-looking, half naked woman with big breasts? Again, adding a little bit of spice could be the difference maker between content that gets attention and content that doesn't.
BE THE SHOWSTOPPER! -Add a bit of mystery or cliff-hanger on your title.
Give the audience a bit of a teaser of what they'll expect when they click on your link.
Notice I said in my title 'these four principles' but you obviously have no way of finding out what 'these' are until you read my post, right? -Add some sort of quantifiable value.
I said 'FOUR' principles because...
well, four sounds kinda cool.
You're not just getting one, not two, not three but FOUR principles in this post.
Because four sounds just a little more important than three.
-I also mentioned 'SIMPLE' principles.
I said that to make the audience relate and feel that these principles are not complicated (which they are not) and makes the reader feel at ease and makes them feel like they will get relief if they read the post.
STORY TELLING -Story telling is actually what a lot of people use to engage their readers and even sort of play with their emotions a little bit.
Stories are just a lot more interesting than facts.
Remember the saying, "Facts tell, stories sell"? People love stories because they can relate and often conjures up certain emotions that can even lead them into a buying state.
Don't forget - people buy based on emotion and justify it with reason.
Some tips on story telling: -Notice near the beginning of this post how I mentioned a brief 'story' about doing articles and videos without getting any results? That may either be you right now or may be a lot of other people right now.
Often people can relate to this.
It paints an ugly picture that you just want to fix.
In fact, it's even PAINFUL to think about.
Speak to your audience's PAIN to get them to wake up.
Remember the old saying "Sometimes you have to hurt them before you can heal them.
" -You can use your own or other people's stories too (if you have their permission).
As long as it's real, authentic and relevant.
-You can play with metaphors and analogies with your stories.
Always be clear on the intention you want to create for the audience.
How do you want your reader to feel when they read the story? ADD VALUE - Of course you have to deliver on your content.
You actually have to come up with the goods.
You obviously have to provide what your audience came there for.
You have a purpose for them to come see your content.
But they have a reason too.
You must obviously give them that reason.
Remember, there's always an exchange when you want someone to do something.
Make sure you didn't waste your audience's time and make them feel good about viewing your content.
Fulfill your promise! Some tips on adding value: -Adding value can be done in a variety of ways depending on your intention.
You can either entertain, inform, educate, discuss or all of the above.
-Encourage interaction.
Discussion, questions and opinions help with this.
You want to encourage two-way communication with whatever content you create.
-Try to over-deliver as much as possible.
Really steal the show.
Leave an impression with your audience that really makes them feel like they got more value than they expected.
Most marketers focus on this very intently.
-You don't always have to be perfect.
So you misspelled a little bit and your grammar is a little crappy.
Whoop-dee-doo.
As long as your message was effective then your mission is complete.
Remember, a perfectionist marketer is a BROKE marketer.
-If you're content is highly opinionated - then don't hold back.
Just be honest and screw the haters.
It's better to let the 10% be attracted to you than try to please the 90% who will hate on you no matter what anyway.
CALL TO ACTION - This is where it all ties together.
There's really no point to all the previous steps above if you don't finish up with a good CALL TO ACTION.
What do I mean by this? Basically tell your audience what to do next.
What do you want them to do? It could be clicking your link, it could be asking for some feedback or comments, it could be all of the above.
But of course, you need to ASK for it.
Let them know.
If you DON'T ASK, the answer is always NO.
Some tips on creating a call to action: -Be specific.
Remember that most of the people who see your content have pretty lame attention spans (especially myself).
Tell them specifically what you want them to do CLEARLY.
For example, if you want them to comment, tell them exactly how and where.
If you want them to 'Like' and 'Share' your content, tell them where the buttons are.
If you want them to opt-in to your forms, tell them to do so.
-Don't be shy.
Just do it.
In my case, I tend to be a bit aggressive with my call to actions.
I often literally say things like "Stop wasting time and click the damn link below" or "Quit being a jabroni and click the link below" etc.
You don't have to do it like this of course, but it's a personal preference for me because it suits the tone and style of my content.
Add your own personal touch if you please.
Do it with confidence and belief.
-Keep it relevant most of the time.
For example, if you're targeting people who are looking for vacuum cleaners, then don't sell them a blender.
So there you have it.
I do admit, it does take time to refine and improve this craft.
Just like in Martial Arts, just because you've mastered the basics doesn't mean you stop practicing them.
I've written hundreds of articles that sucked, but the thing is I took action anyway.
Even if I didn't know what I was doing at first, I just went in and did it anyway while learning as I go.
Don't expect to be ultimate right from the get go.
Remember, copywriting is learned by either reading other copy or freakin' attempting to WRITE YOURSELF.
Or you can get the same loads of audio training I've been listening to daily.
I've listened to hundreds of hours of audio training and I'm still learning all the time to improve my craft.
I'm still blogging myself all the time even though I've got ghostwriters sharing the workload too.
So the key is really, to just start taking action.
Start doing the work.
Start blogging.
Start creating content.
Apply these four principles or face the stupidity and pain of cold-calling and prospecting for your business.
Yeah, ouch - you hate that, don't you? You also hate the fact that you had to do it because the gurus told you to do it.
And they hate me because I can make money without talking to anybody or while I'm at the beach making love to my woman.
But that's okay because you have a choice.
Make that decision you know you should make.