I’m going to be brutally honest with you here…
Creating content is hard work. It really is.
It’s time-consuming, mentally draining, and requires a lot of effort, even with tools like ChatGPT to assist you.
As a marketer, your ultimate goal is to turn browsers into buyers, and that means your content must have a clear purpose.
Before you even write the first word, you should know the end goal of your content.
Writing for the web is nothing like grabbing a notebook and scribbling, “Hello Diary…” and going down a meandering road of pointless nonsense.
Your content MUST have a point. If not, why create it at all?
If you wish to build a successful online business, remember: Good content is king, but not all content is created equal.
Whether you’re writing an article or recording a video… or posting on social media…
If it’s related to your business, the content should fall into one of the 3 categories below…
- Content that gets you subscribers/followers
- Content that makes your tribe love you
- Content that converts into sales
Let’s look at each category in more detail!
1. Content That Builds a Following
Generally, most people come online either for information or entertainment.
If they have a problem and they Google it, they’re looking for information.
If they’re doom scrolling on social media, they’re looking for entertainment – and they may have liked topics related to the niche you’re in. So your content may have shown up in their feed.
Whatever the case may be, this type of content should be informative in nature – and designed to get people to sign up to your email list.
Listicles, blog posts, how-to guides, tutorial videos on YouTube, social media tips, etc. are all examples of content that build a following by offering valuable information.
Your key takeaway here: Always have a way to build your email list when publishing such content.
For example, if you’ve published a listicle, “7 Ways To Overcome Procrastination“…
You may choose to have an in-line form embedded within the content to encourage readers to sign up for your Daily Productivity Newsletter.
By using pop up software such as Thrive Leads, you’ll be able to install scroll mats, exit intent pop ups, in-line forms, etc… to build your list.
You must do whatever it takes to get more eyeballs on your landing page.
This will increase your sign ups and build the one asset you truly own – your email list.
If it’s a video on YouTube, you’ll tell your viewer to click on the link in the description to get the latest productivity tips delivered to them.
If you’re posting on Instagram, you’ll want to use Manychat’s RIP Link In Bio feature to skyrocket your conversions.
Just tell them to comment ‘Info’ on your post, and Manychat will automatically send them a private message pointing them to your landing page.
2. Content That Makes Your Tribe Love You!
People love hearing from other people. Injecting emotion, entertainment, drama, etc. into your content will turn a group of followers/subscribers into a tribe of fans.
Be willing to be polarizing – and you’ll increase loyalty like no other. No one person on this planet can ever be liked by everyone.
The key to building a following is to have strong opinions, a personality and to take a stand for what you believe in.
Polarizing personalities such as Andrew Tate, Donald Trump, Dave Chappelle, Elon Musk, etc. have tons of fans… but also hordes of detractors.
It’s okay to have haters. That’s part of the game.
In fact, to succeed online, all you’ll need are about 1000 true fans who love you for who you are and will gladly buy whatever you’re selling.
If you’ve not read the ‘1000 True Fans’ article, you can read it here.
Here’s what you need to do to turn followers into fans:
- Weave your opinions into your content.
- Inject emotion into your writing.
- Tell personal stories about your life.
- Express your beliefs without fear. Be willing to be polarizing.
- Share your wins… and losses.
- Add a touch of humor to your content.
- Ask your subscribers/followers for their opinions & feedback.
Any piece of content that’s emotionally-driven will help to personalize you to your readers. They’ll know that there’s a real person behind the content.
Over time, they’ll feel like you’re a friend. They’ll grow to like you, trust you… and pay attention to your content.
You now have a ‘tribe’ of fans… and NOT just an email list of subscribers or a bunch of followers on social media.
Having a loyal, engaged community that shares your vision is way better than a bunch of followers who may only passively consume your content.
3. Content That Gets Sales!
Once you’ve built your tribe… and they’re on the same page as you, getting sales will be much easier.
That said, you’ll still need to create content that’s persuasive and highlights how the product you’re promoting/selling solves problems.
Your key takeaway here: The content must ultimately show how the product delivers results!
Here are 6 types of content you can create to get sales:
Product Reviews: Dive deep into products relevant to your niche. Share personal experiences, list pros and cons, and guide readers towards making a purchase.
Case Studies: Explore real-life examples showing how your product or service solved specific problems and achieved measurable outcomes for customers.
Comparison Guides: Pit your product against competitors with a detailed analysis, proving why yours is the superior choice for your audience.
Customer Testimonials: Highlight glowing customer feedback and success stories, emphasizing achieved results and improvements.
Problem-Solving Content: Tackle common challenges and show how your solution effectively solves them.
Success Stories: Inspire with stories of life-changing outcomes from your product or service.
Creating such content will give your tribe a gentle nudge towards buying the product.
They’ll have all the info they need to make a smart buying decision which translates into more conversions and sales for you.
Excellent!
Let’s Wrap It Up!
At the end of the day, your content only has 3 objectives…
- To build your list
- To build your tribe
- To get sales
That’s all there is to it.
By staying true to your voice and creating content with these objectives in mind, your email list will always have fresh subscribers.
You connect authentically with your tribe and your business will thrive.
Remember these tips when crafting future content!