‘Inbound Marketing’ is all about creating valuable content and reasons for your target audience to come to you. Thus, an effective inbound marketing strategy should include innovative and appealing materials. In this post, we will highlight six ways to get you started!
1. Take Advantage of SEO
One of the simplest and fastest forms to make sure your content reaches your desired audience is by using SEO or ‘Search Engine Optimization.’ Simply create a list of words that match your business’ main categories and features. For instance, if you are selling Antivirus Software use words as protection, antivirus, software, spyware, infected, Internet security, computer, etc.
Once you have created your list, complement it by using similar terms or phrases. Draw on your own experience and think as a consumer would! We all have searched Google when we are looking for an answer, products or services. The most effective way to do this is, by checking the keywords suggestions in Google Adwords and the website Answerthepublic.com.
Now that your list of keywords is bulletproof (or at least close to being) start using those phrases and terms to get new ideas to write about. Ideally, one keyword can suggest you one different blog post.
2. Include FAQ Within Your Keywords… and answer them!
Above we mentioned that creating a list of ‘keywords’ for SEO is a great way to drive traffic to your website or blog. An efficient practice that becomes even more effective when you add frequently asked questions to that list. Remember that you must think as a consumer to be able to reach them.
Adding ‘Question Keywords Optimization’ appeals to semantics and how people usually look for answers through search engines. Whenever someone searches using a question phrase, Google (for instance) tries to respond to the question by getting the most appropriate response to the asked question.
Moreover, if you are looking for inspiration for this kind of blog posts, we suggest you look for ideas on the web by typing question words followed by a keyword. For instance: what “your keyword,” which “your keyword,” etc.
So in a nutshell, you should ask (and answer) a lot of questions! If we go back to the Antivirus Software example, a good headline for a blog post would be “How to get rid of spyware on my computer?” or “How can I improve my Internet security?”
3. Think Negatively
When you are looking for ideas as to what to write on your company’s blog and what would be the best way of making that content relevant, think negatively. Believe it or not, people are more prone to click on a headline or link that includes some negativity.
You shouldn’t always have negative headlines as that could position your company or brand as a ‘downer,’ and you wouldn’t want consumers to associate you with only negative terms. However, if you can write down a list of common mistakes or ‘Don’ts,’ this can be an effective way to drive traffic.
Another great way of weaving in negativity without sounding like a pessimist is to include articles that show data or facts. For example, “9 out of 10 computers get infected with spyware, find out how to avoid it.”
4. Do Your Homework
Yes! Make sure you are constantly researching what your competitors are doing, what clients are saying, what people are posting on social media, and what is trending. All of these are excellent sources of inspiration.
You can also research blog comments. Many users make questions in the comments’ section of websites or blogs – and if you answer those questions in your blog, you will be organically driving traffic towards your site.
In addition, this very effective method may help you fill gaps whenever you have writer’s block.
5. Take Advantage of What Users Have to Say: Allow Guest Contributors
People working their own SEO will be happy to post in your blog in exchange for a link. If you allow guest posts, more often than not, users will contact you to pitch you their ideas. This will enable you to feature fellow experts on your site, adding diversity and switching up the routine.
Working with guest contributors is also a great way to make connections or establish relationships with specialists or influencers within your industry.
6. Share Your Secrets!
Sometimes explaining how or why you do something the way you do is more than enough to write an article. People like stories, so from time to time; you can tell the story of how your company had a special event or how you collaborate with an NGO. This is perfect if you are trying to portray a more human-like brand. However, keep in mind that this should be done sporadically, you do not want to bore your audience.
To keep up with your audience, you should be continually innovating. Your worst enemy when it comes to posting is predictability.
What other ideas are you using that could help others improve their content?
Author bio
Miguel is a Spanish freelance content writer working at Spanishwriterpro. He has more than 5 years of experience providing texts for blog posts and guest posts to clients that need texts in Spanish. His specialties are SEO-oriented texts but also works with a copy for advertisements. Some topics he usually writes about are an investment, marketing, gambling, retail websites and legal.