High summer coming, and as well as holidaying, this is a great time to gather stock and have a reboot of what you offer online to prospective clients and customers. Being creative with content can raise your Google ranking and save you marketing money, as you get attention for ingenuity, rather than blasting out relentless 'please buy me' messages.
Here are some key questions worth asking, to better use your time and attention:
1. With very limited resources, is it worth hustling to get a) attention to your website or more effective to focus on b) getting reach across social media? Or of course, doing both. If you decide it's a), then does your website state very clearly what you'd like visitors to DO?
2. Are you reaching new contacts online, or stuck in a social media silo, where you just communicate with people you already know? If they fit your client or customer demographic, maybe time to charge up Instagram, Pinterest, You Tube or podcasting as new platforms.
3. Could you make more use of video? Certainly on Facebook, video gets eyeballs. The video at the top of this post was created for a community festival, and with no paid for advertising has had 1489 views in 5 days. OK so it's not viral, but this is for a village with population of 875...so strong reach. Regularly, we find video gets over 1000 views on Facebook, with no cash spent.
4. Are you creating content based on a sense of story? The video above again taps into the story of a village, but story can be used for humour and fun, like the Jackie James video below. Your work, your town or village, what you truly value above all else will all have stories. They are how we make sense of things.
https://www.facebook.com/mark.tancock/videos/10156733746269560/?t=11
5.Could you get creative with how-to? Paul of Tea Traders in Carmarthen is doing a great series on how to brew some of the several hundred different teas, served by the cafe. Let's face it, who doesn't love a tea nerd? And what a wonderful subject to be expert in!
6. Are you linking what you produce online to live experiences? Spiffy in Carmarthen runs cracking personal development workshops which reinforce the effects of their products: spreading positivity and happiness. Not going to argue with that now, are we?
7. Is it worth thinking about narrowing down what you create online, to something a) you enjoy creating b) is distinctive c) is easy for you to produce regularly and predictably? In the churning seas of the internet, it's easy to become highly reactive and forget our innate desires and skills. Why not put effort and invention into the streams you like, enjoy being in and where you know you can connect with others who like your freestyle?
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