The web publishing landscape has evolved into a diverse and profoundly important ecosystem over the last few years. Targeted publishers like Stratechery have blossomed into major players, and savvy digital creators have become serious influencers overnight. Overall, more and more people are creating digital content in order to establish credibility and build an engaged audience.
Creating useful and insightful digital content has become a cornerstone of effective brand strategy. It affirms your position as an expert and thought-leader and drives extremely valuable search engine optimization. In fact, 60% of marketers now say content creation is their top inbound marketing priority. However, it can be difficult to be heard amidst the noise of this crowded space.
Having spent the majority of my career working with professional content creators (at YouTube, Vine, and now Verst) and helping them grow their audiences, I’ve learned a lot about how to get the most out of your content and your publishing platform. Here are eight tips to set you up for success.
1. Choose a niche.
The best way to stand out is to become a trusted expert. Choosing a niche (e.g. “the best pizza in New York City”) instead of a broad topic (e.g. “food”), will keep your content focused and make it more discoverable. Gaining credibility and devoted followers in niche markets can happen quickly, as continued coverage of a specific topic draws in readers who share that interest. As you choose a topic and create content, think in terms of common searches for your ideal audience and how you can stand out from the other pizza aficionados of the world.
2. Publish frequently and consistently.
Statistics show that B2C companies that blogged 11+ times per month generated 4x more interested leads than those that blogged only 4–5 times per month. By frequently publishing quality content, you will remain top of mind for your audience. In addition, maintaining a consistent publishing schedule will encourage your audience to build a habit of coming to your site, knowing, for…
