Every day, 60% of marketers put their heads together to create one piece of content. This monotonous task is driven by the need for good content and the fight for visibility in the online world. Whether you want to call it digital marketing, content marketing, or SEO, you need quality content.
However, creating quality content sounds easier than doing it. Since custom content is the way to go, 57% of marketers say creating customized content is their primary concern. So, what techniques could help you count yourself among such marketers? Let us dig in and find out.
#1. Write for Your Audience
Not understanding the audience is one of the significant mistakes of writers these days. Bear in mind that you are writing for a person looking for queries. You need to impress them and answer their questions. So, how do you go about doing that?
What Does Your Audience Want?
First off, understand what your audience wants. Before you put one word on paper, think like your reader. One of the many reasons that 93% of B2B marketers use content is because it helps them connect with their audience. So, make sure you understand the needs of your customers.
Understand Their Questions
Keywords are a remarkable way of looking at common questions in your target clientele. If you look up one keyword, you will find a plethora of questions connected to them. This suggestive method is Google's subtle way of telling you related questions and queries, so use it accordingly.
#2. The AIDA Technique
There's a very thin line between content and copy. Perhaps the only difference between both content & copy's spot on the funnel. Copy is top of the funnel, where content is bottom to mid-funnel. However, the AIDA technique works the same in both of them. Here's how you can use it in your content:
Awareness
The 'A' in AIDA stands for awareness. Therefore, your content needs to build awareness about whatever you're selling. Think when a product or service came to your attention because of content or copy, and then use that inspiration.
Interest
Then you need to build interest, but how will you? Almost 70% of marketers believe content generates interest in a product than emailing. Therefore, you need to agitate the problem in the mind of your customers through your content.
Desire
Once you stir a problem long enough, the reader/customer will be itching for a solution. That's when you strike with a solution. The AIDA model of writing copy or content is all about it. It would be best to stir the pot long enough before presenting a way to cool it down. Make your readers desire that solution.
Action/CTA
It is time to call your reader to a possible action once you have raised awareness about a problem, agitated your reader, and presented a solution. This part of your content generates leads and converts them to sales. So, you have to make sure it's seamless and not enforced.
#3. SEO Elements
Before you move forward and post your content, you need to make sure your content is up to SEO standards. Search engine optimization is all about quality. Therefore, there's no space for plagiarism. So, it would be best if you check plagiarism before posting it.
Then, these additional elements can help too:
Keyword Density
Keyword density is one of the most important things about content writing. If your keyword density is above 5%, then Google's crawler will blacklist your content for keyword stuffing. To avoid that, make sure you use keywords only adequately.
Internal Links/External Links
Internal links leading to other pieces of content in your domain are essential to help your content stick. In contrast, external links can help draw traffic from different domains to your site.
Ensured Quality
There's no room for compromising content quality in SEO. So, you have to make sure your grammar is correct, the content structure is excellent, and optimization elements are there.
#4. Content Structure
The structure is one of the most important things to ensure any content's performance. How do you go about structuring a content piece for online marketing? Follow a film's script. For example, in the first act, raise a problem, in the second half, show methods to deal with it, and in the final section, present a solution, just like the AIDA technique.
Raise the Questions
Questions are essential in writing good content. You can always go for the old-school technique of asking a question right off the bat. Hook your audience in and then answer each question gradually.
Present a Solution
The online audience is all about solutions. The more you present solutions in your content, the better. Don't ask too many questions, and definitely don't agitate your audience too much.
#5. Readability
Nobody likes to read complex content filled with jargon or overcomplicated terms. Bear in mind that you're not writing an academic presentation or dissertation. Using small and simple words is the best way to write online content. Then, you need to ensure these two as well:
Short Sentences
The first enemy of any good piece of content is long sentences. If you are presenting good information but in long sentences, then there is no chance people will read it through. In simple words, a sentence of 15-20 words is acceptable, but 10-15 words are ideal.
Avoiding Jargon & Fluff Words
Fluff words will not only harm your SEO chances, but they will also throw off your audience too. Then, using industry jargon will do the same. As mentioned above, you have to keep it simple and make it crisp. If you're running out of words, try using a paraphrasing tool to help with that.
#6. Focus on Educating the Reader
When your reader is through your article, they must learn something new. If you raised questions but didn't provide answers, then your content piece failed. They need to leave your website with further information. How do you do that?
The 80/20 Approach
The good old 80/20 approach can never let any writer down. Make sure you write 80% of the content for educating your audience. Therefore, focus on providing informative value. Then, use the rest of 20% to sell your product or service. You will see a significant difference.
Use Facts & Stats
Facts and stats attract the audience more than your opinions or examples will. So, the best way to educate your audience is by providing stats, preferably the latest ones.
Final Word
Good content creation is all about devising your approach. You can learn a variety of techniques or look up tips. Yet, the best way to write content is by focusing on the content's objective, audience, and target industry.