Web Site Content Development and your Marketing Strategy
Posted by Beth Hrusch on Fri, Sep 17, 2010
I probably don’t need to remind you all that this is the 21st century, where information travels at the speed of light and people are finding the sites they’re looking for faster than you can say “Google Instant”. One thing that makes this possible (other than fabulous technology, of course) is the power of content.
Web site content development has become an integral part of online marketing strategy for business, because content is where the money’s at. It’s what gets you found, keeps people at your site, and converts them into paying customers. It’s not the only thing, but it’s the big thing.
And it works best when it’s part of your marketing plan from the beginning. Web site content development is influenced by your goals and objectives, your time frame, your audience, etc. So, when you hire SEO copywriters to create your website content, you should already have a clear idea of what you want your content to do for you.
Here’s a rough plan:
1. Lay down goals and objectives with timelines.
2. Research content ideas and the forms that the content will take.
3. Work with the writer(s) to develop SEO content and schedule the launch date(s).
4. Get the word out on social media, your site, press releases, company blog etc.
5. Analyze results on a regular basis.
A skilled SEO copywriter can produce content that gets you found. But, the groundwork needs to be laid in order for the writer’s efforts to be effective. Product knowledge, research, keyword analysis and a clear timeline are all necessary for success with web site content development.
Your marketing strategy works hand in hand with your web site content development process to ensure that your content reaches the target audience through many communication platforms. The best way to score with content? Keep it relevant to your customer’s needs. Meet the needs of the target audience. Listen when the buyers are talking to you (i.e. what are they saying in forums and blog comments) about the products or services. Capture that information and apply it to your content development strategy.
And the copywriter? His or her job is to take the web site content development plan and use it to facilitate your online marketing strategy. This keeps your business relationships alive and growing by engaging customers and convincing them that you have the answers they need.
The relationship between your web site content development plan and your marketing strategy is kind of symbiotic—each depends upon the other for success. So chart out your course first, and then find the writer or writers who can turn your vision into a reality.