For many of you (in the U.S.) who celebrated Thanksgiving last Thursday, you may have been fortunate to sit down to a bountiful meal. I hope you found yourself in the company of those you love, enjoying turkey (unless you’re a vegetarian) and all the trimmings.
Like many, you probably walked away satiated and experienced the typical turkey coma. After the celebration, you retreated to bed and what did you discover on Friday morning?
Your belly may no longer have felt bloated, but perhaps an overstuffed inbox awaited your arrival instead. After all, it was “Black Friday.”
There must have been at least 40 emails in my inbox before I stopped counting. Not just emails from retail stores, but from many an online marketer as well. And, their subject lines were all fairly similar.
When so many others were shouting, “It’s Black Friday, here’s a special offer,” I didn’t want to be lost in the sauce. Therefore, I didn’t jump on that bandwagon. Did you?
Those who have heard me speak know that I talk about the value of building relationships and the art of engaging as they apply to attracting clients and generating leads.
Three Content Marketing Pointers to Consider
To be successful, you need to recognize that marketing is not about pitching, but about developing and nurturing those relationships. Don’t get me wrong. I know you (and I) have bills to pay and therefore, need to close sales. However, you’ve probably heard that while most people like to buy, they don’t want to be sold to – even at the holiday season.
There is a balance between sharing valuable content and promoting valuable products/program/services. It’s important to find that balance so that you keep not only your clients and prospects happy, but you are happy too.
As you proceed with your email and content marketing goals during the holiday season, keep this concept in mind. What your prospects and customers seek is engaging content that delivers value. And when you deliver, do so without the expectation of anything in return.
Therefore, as you approach the holiday season and the new year, when moving forward with your content marketing goals, keep these 3 tips in mind:
- Have a goal when using live streaming video. The explosion of live video has brought with it impromptu streams of content. Anything from “here I am at a concert” to lengthier broadcasts sharing a lesson. If you have built an enthusiastic audience, you may find they’ll stick with you throughout a longer broadcast, but before you get started be sure to have a goal in mind. What is the point of your live stream? Do you have tips to share that deliver value? It doesn’t have to be scripted, but stay on point.
- Tell a story. However, it’s not all about you so be sure your story ties into something your audience can relate to. Is there an obstacle you faced that your readers/viewers resonate with? Share it along with how you overcame the challenge – and they can too.
- Be relevant. Understand your audience and the challenges/issues they face on a daily basis. Then, share a message that resonates with them – one that has them thinking, “Yes, this person understands me and what I’m dealing with in my life.” When you do this, you’ll start to build a following of loyal fans who will come back for more.
Are you balancing your content? Have a pointer you’d like to add to this list? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below because I’d love to hear from you. Thanks a million and here’s to your sweet success.
