When I started Write RN as a business I was clueless. Coming from a nursing background, content marketing was not my strong suit, but I loved it. I loved learning about SEO, business tips, etc., and started to use them with my client base. Now, along the way, I have seen a lot of content marketing mistakes (some being my own!). This list will help you try to avoid the content marketing mistakes I made!
Content Marketing Mistakes You Should Get Rid of Right Now
1. You don’t KNOW your reader
I can’t stress this enough. Figuring out who your ideal client can be a struggle. I suggest you read the book Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen to figure this out. The last thing you want is a sea of readers that are not interested in what you are trying to sell.
2. Your website is loading…loading…loading
This is one of the common content marketing mistakes most businesses ignore. Back in the days of dial-up internet, nobody cared to wait. When your phone goes into the 3G mode it feels like an eternity to get to a website. Don’t let your readers feel that way. If your website is taking more than 3 seconds to load you may need a new WebHost. Right now I use Bluehost and it seems to run well.
3. You have a poor traffic strategy
Check your strategy on how you are gaining traffic to your website. Is everything on your website clear and understandable? Writing copy for websites should be straightforward and simple. Though, the hardest writing to do can be straightforward and simple writing. Have someone read your website who’s not familiar with your business to get some feedback. Check Facebook Groups to do that for you.
4. You’re writing for SEO only
Writing for SEO is important, but writing for your reader is what’s most important. Writing for only SEO actually makes your website looks spammy. Keywords are important but knowing where to put them in your context is what’s most important.
5. You’re being too pushy
Sales are scary for an introvert like me. What I have learned about sales is it’s not about being the used car salesman or the telemarketer that annoys you. It’s about pushing educational information to your potential client, leaving them to trust you to take their business to the next level. I recently had a call with a client who said that I was so comfortable to talk to, which is exactly how I want my clients to feel. She opened up the conversation about working together before I could. Entertain your audience with informational content instead of selling…selling…selling.
6. You’re not pushing content to Social Media
Another most common content marketing mistakes that a lot of business owners do is overlooking the benefits of social media. They usually look at it as “just another thing”. I’m here to tell you, you have to include it in your content marketing strategy to gain traffic. The statistics are true about the number of users that are utilizing social media. People are searching on Google, but if you are on their feed on Facebook or showing up on LinkedIn or Twitter, you will gain engagement and therefore generate leads.
I hope these tips help you not make the same content marketing mistakes a lot of my clients and I have made. If you’re looking to take your content strategy to the next level go ahead and book a call with me. It’s free. I want to hear all about your blogging issues, struggles, and how we can attack and conquer them.
Need more tips? Read Creative Ways to Market your Business in 2020.
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