Content Marketing as the New Freelancing Advantage
If you’re a social media enthusiast, you may have encountered the term ‘content marketing’ a lot of times. Social media consultants are highly recommending it as the most effective way to market your brand as a solopreneur, and that’s not without a reason. To make things drop dead simple, content marketing is all about creating valuable content so you can attract and engage with your dream clients. Think of it this way: Content Marketing is like silently marketing your expertise, minus the need to shill. If big brands like P&G and Microsoft are in the content marketing loop, that’s good enough reason for you to do so… because, it simply works!
Does Content Marketing Mean Copywriting?
Competition gets high when it comes to freelancing these days and it’s not enough anymore to have a portfolio website or be active in social networking sites. Think of content marketing as harnessing the power of information to show off your knowledge and expertise. You may give out free stuff without asking for anything in return, and the value of the content you’ve shared will help you generate qualified leads. This is achievable through blogs, white papers, slides or viral videos. Copywriting on the other hand is getting readers to take an action from what you shared, and you can see this in many sales pages on the Web. Still, copywriting skills will come in handy when writing a good content, as you want to have that WOW factor that will attract your readers to your headlines, compelling them to read what you’ve got to offer. The next thing to ask is: Do you have what it takes to share valuable, juicy content?
How to Master the Art of Content Marketing
Just because you’re not into writing doesn’t mean you can’t take a dive into content marketing. It’s all about the adage: ‘Practice Makes Perfect’ and you can always start with finding content that will solve the pain of your potential clients. You can:
Stay Up-to-Date With the Latest News and Trends in Your Niche
Take advantage of many RSS feeds on the Web, so you get fresh news about your industry on a daily basis. This gives you a competitive edge over other freelancers, helping you gather important data that your target audience will find useful.
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
The only way you can share great content is to become a master in what you do. You’re a writer, so, why haven’t you written a book yet? If you’re a graphic designer, aim for excellence in your work. When you push yourself beyond your limits, you can share your unique experience with others – and they’ll take your word for it!
Grab Their Attention
The key to attracting your audience is having a compelling title to your content. Think of it as a thick icing over your birthday cake. You want to create that interest and desire for your audience to eat what’s beneath. You don’t have to sound like another salesman making a pitch; just think of your content as something that’s good enough to share. Ask yourself: What benefits are you offering in your content?
Convert that Attention!
Good writers know the art of capturing attention, but not everyone knows what to do after they have done so. This is where consistency comes in, where you share content to build trust with your audience. You can always insert a call-to-action, like inviting your readers to subscribe to your blog, or sending them a killer email.
Give Freely Without Advertising
People these days have mastered the art of avoiding the pitfalls of traditional marketing. If your content looks more like your favorite billboard ad, it will be thrown away in a split second. You may not like working for free, but sharing free content will help you build your personal brand and rapport, minus the salesy feeling that turns clients off. Think of it as good karma..
Content marketing doesn’t have to be all about writing; you can share stunning infographics, podcasts, or videos on the Social Web. So, how does it really work? After you’ve posted your content, you can share it with your peers on social networks… and let them do the talking for you. Is it worth doing so? In a world of content scrapers and time wasters, quality content is hard to come by – If you do share one, you’ll surely get more than the big chunk of traffic on the Web; you’ll get fans and customers instead. Are you ready to walk your talk?
What If…
You share content so good that some folks may be doing the work themselves, instead of hiring your services? It can happen, no doubt, and these people may not have enough budget to hire you. You don’t have to worry about them. Your ideal clients will see your worth through the value of what you shared… and the word will spread like a plague, a good one, that is.
Just Sharing
We love Content Rules by Ann Handley and C.C. Chapman, where content marketing is explained crystal clear. Do you have any other favorite book on the subject of content marketing? Please feel free to share, thanks!
Content Marketing and the Power of Story
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