Tag Archives: Content Creation tips

April 23, 2014 · 9:08 am

The Top 5 Benefits of Content Creation

Here at the Grammar Chic blog, we talk frequently and passionately about the need for small businesses to invest in custom content creation—and okay, we’ll admit it: It may seem like a bit much.

We understand that business owners and entrepreneurs have plenty on their plates as it is; devoting time and resources to content creation may seem, initially, like a needless overcomplication of your daily business operation.

Thus, with this post, we’d like to simply remind you of why all of this matters—to refresh your memory regarding some of the major benefits of content creation.

There are five, in particular, that we’ll herald as being reason enough to invest in content development!

First, there is brand awareness—which may seem a little too soft and unquantifiable at first, but in reality is essential for any business. Simply put, you’re not going to grow your company if nobody is aware that you exist. You’ve got to establish your brand’s voice in the marketplace, to get your name out there where customers and clients are, and to ensure that your brand is associated with positive values. The best way to do that—the only way to do that, we would argue—is to craft content and distribute it on blogs, social platforms, websites, and press releases.
Content creation also helps with lead nurturing. When you make content creation a priority, it means that, at every step of the sales process, your leads are being educated about the how and the why of your products—ultimately, about the benefits those products can offer. Good content can also help guide leads through the sales process, steering them toward an email sign-up or a landing page.
Customer retention is another big one. Say that a customer does business with you, and is sufficiently pleased with the experience that he or she likes your company on Facebook, or starts following your blog. Regular content updates ensure that you’re keeping your name in front of that customer, and regularly reminding him or her of the value you offer—making repeat business and ongoing customer loyalty far more likely.
Content creation can also be a form of customer service. Ongoing customer education, in the form of FAQs, product demos, and how-tos, can make the entire customer experience far richer and more satisfactory.
Finally: Good content proves value. Educational content shows that you know what you’re talking about—that you not only have mastery over your field, but also that you’re prepared to share that mastery with customers, in a way that benefits them.

Is content creation a big commitment? Absolutely—but it’s also a worthy investment. It’s important to either work on content creation on your own terms, or else to outsource it to the pros—and as far as that goes, the Grammar Chic team stands ready to assist! Contact us today at 803-831-7444, or check out grammarchic.net for more information.

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Tagged as Benefits of Content Creation, Brand Awareness, Content creation, Content Creation tips, Content Marketing Advice, How Outsourcing Content Creation Benefits Business Owners, professional writing services, Social Media Content Management

October 9, 2013 · 7:09 am

Fight Writer’s Block: Understanding What to Say When You’re Creating Content

Many business owners are well aware of the importance of online content, but clam up when it comes time to actually write a blog post, tweet, or Facebook status. If you’re new to the content creation process, consider these tips:

Keep it personal

When it comes to blogging and using social media, the people you connect with want to hear an authentic voice. Decide on a tone that’s appropriate for your business (light hearted, informative, quirky) and then apply this tone to all the content you craft. If your blog posts and statuses sound like some unidentifiable corporate voice is talking, your readers will quickly lose interest. Make it real and make it sound like a human wrote it for the best results.

Learn what’s worked well in the past

There’s no need to try to reinvent the wheel when it comes to content marketing. Before you begin, take some time to figure out what kinds of posts and tweets have been well received in the past. When you read blog posts that have garnered attention from your audience, you know that this type of information is relevant and important to them, and you can continue to touch on it with your own work. However, make sure not to just repeat the same information as everyone else. In order to make your content stand out, you need to put your own unique spin on it.

Keywords count

In an era where SEO is becoming more and more important, content marketers have to pay attention to the keywords that relate to their industry. To do this, you can pay to use a keyword research tool or can rely on free services like Google Words. Either way, you should know which keywords are the most popular, as this can help shape the content you create.

Use Twitter to listen to your audience

“Social listening” (or understanding what people are talking about on social media) is another important step when it comes to keeping your content relevant across all platforms. One of the easiest ways to do this is by using a Twitter search. When you head to search.twitter.com, you’ll be able to access all sorts of search criteria. This allows you to take a closer look at the conversations that relate to your industry. If you own a hair salon and it becomes clear that everyone’s talking about a particular cut or color, consider doing a blog post on the topic. If you own a restaurant and Twitter users are raving about a particular dish, add your thoughts to the discussion.

Write about what you know

Users are most intrigued by posts or statuses that contain useful information. To make sure that your content offers something of value to readers, it’s smart to write about what you know. If you’ve been doing acupuncture for years, cover the topic thoroughly. With enough solid posts, you’ll be viewed as an expert in the industry. On the other hand, if you’re only semi-aware of massage therapy techniques, it’s best to steer clear of that area and let experts in that field handle it.

Though a blank web page just waiting for a blog post or status update can feel intimidating, writing about what you know and are passionate about allows you to create content that is compelling and share-worthy for your readers.

The team at Grammar Chic specializes in a variety of professional writing and editing services. For more information about how we can help you, visit www.grammarchic.net or call 803-831-7444. We also invite you to follow us on Twitter @GrammarChicInc for the latest in writing and editing tips and to give a “like” to our Facebook page. Text GRAMMARCHIC to 22828 for a special offer.

How Outsourcing Content Creation Benefits Business Owners

You know you need to update your blog and marketing materials, but you just don’t seem to have enough hours in a day to get it all done. This is a common concern for overloaded businesses. For professionals in this situation, outsourcing content creation can become a lifesaver. Using a blog or article writing service allows you to get the fresh material you need to keep your brand growing, without forcing you or your employees to spend time getting it done.

But how will they learn about my company and my industry?

This is a common fear that many business owners express when they consider the idea of outsourcing content creation. While the team who is handling your content may not work in your industry, the job of a professional writer is to do research and take time to understand the tone, values, and target audience of that particular organization. At Grammar Chic, we offer a personalized consultation so that we’re sure that we understand exactly what matters to your business. In other words, if you’re catering to new moms, you can rest assured that you won’t get back a bunch of blogs about topics that are outside of the realm of interest of the targeted audience.

Now that this concern is out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the perks associated with outsourcing your content creation:

Save money on employee benefits

Any business manager knows that employees are expensive. When you think about salary, paying for vacation time, and benefits, the cost of taking on a new staff member adds up. These prices only increase when you have to take time out of the workday to train this person to create content for your company. When you outsource your articles, newsletters, and other projects, you can avoid having to hire a new employee and can simply turn the work over to a trained writer. This means no time is lost for training, and you know that you’ll get a finished product that is flawless and ready to go live.

Save time

Professional writing services will get your completed work back to you quickly. In many cases, this means that blog posts and articles will come back to you within a week, sometimes shorter depending on your needs and the company’s internal editorial calendar. While you’re spending hours coming up with possible topics to cover on your site, a professional writer is putting the finishing touches on a piece. Save time and effort by entrusting this work to an experienced writer. This allows you to focus your creative efforts elsewhere, while still getting the material you need to further develop your brand.

Use others’ expertise

At Grammar Chic, we understand the details involved with blogging and SEO writing. We hire writers who are well-versed in these areas, not to mention passionate about what they do. Instead of spending time trying to figure out the rules of proper blog or SEO writing, turn it over to people who do it day in and day out. You’ll know that your content will work with search engines and appeal to readers, and it won’t take hours of research to make it happen.

In many instances, an outside perspective allows for writing that is fresh and enthusiastic. Those who practice a profession every day may have a harder time seeing the aspects of the field that appeal to clients and business partners. A professional writer can zero in on these high points and bring them to the forefront of your content.

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Filed under Content Writing

Tagged as Content Creation tips, Content Writing Advice, How Outsourcing Content Creation Benefits Business Owners, professional writing services