Content is the meat and potatoes of any blog or social media campaign. Content can include a simple idea written on a white board that triggers a thread of blogs or it can be the culmination of hours of research on a specific topic. You need to have these meat and potatoes to keep your networking campaign active, growing, and beneficial to your business.
Content is all around you. Open your eyes, open your ears and allow the ideas to flow. If you are not sure where to look or who to listen to, you can use the following ideas to get you started.
Demographics
Study your audience. Who is your client base? Most businesses target a niche. They focus on a specific age group, gender, hobby areas, etc. Who your audience is, will help you determine the things that may be of interest to them. A 90 year old is most likely not going to be interested in rock climbing supplies. A 20 year old is more likely to have an increased knowledge of personal technology products. Use the knowledge you have about your client base to decide what knowledge needs to be built on and what information is unnecessary to share.
Ask your clients for ideas on what is important to them. Use contests which reward clients for suggesting blog topics or providing links to interesting news articles. Review your social media feedback and see if there are unsolicited resources in the comments section.
Keyword Searches
If you have a blog or social media campaign you know what keywords are. Make a list of the keywords that you focus on in your networking efforts. If you sell kitchen appliances you probably use terms like blender, appliance, kitchen appliance, dish washer, bread maker, etc. Think about derivatives of these keywords. If you are searching for bread maker topics, you can use terms like bread maker review or bread maker recipes. Enter your main keywords into the search query field and execute the query. The bottom or side of the page will provide alternative search options. These alternatives can lead you in a whole new direction. When you execute each of the queries review the results, you may find a news article, a review, or a photo that strikes a chord.
Use the News
We have newspapers, magazines, internet, press releases, and radio shows for good reasons. People want to know what is going on in the world. They want to keep up to date on current events, new music, products and everything else under the sun. Don't let these sources of content opportunities pass you by. Subscribe to publications that focus on your product or service. Review news frequently and note anything that is of use to you. Visit leading news outlets and search for articles specific to your keywords, products, or services. Use these articles to spur ideas or for facts and figures to beef up your post.
Fix the Problem
One of the best ways to retain clients and get new ones is to prove that your company cares about your customers. If a client reports a problem with a product, share the problem with your audience and see if others have had the same issue. Fix the problem and share the solution with your clients. If a client has a problem that can't be fixed with one of your products, help them find a product that will. What a great way to earn more income, satisfy clients, and build your business.
The Go To List
Once you have reviewed your social media feedback, pumped your clients for ideas and information, perused the news, and executed multiple search queries you may still be stumped as to the content of your next blog. Don't worry; visit your go to list. Your go to list is simply when you write what you know. Share your knowledge, skills, and experience. Share a review of your product, write a review on a product, or give your customer a sneak peak at an upcoming project. Share a unique way that your product was used or a great customer service story.
If you are still stumped, take inspiration from the late night talk shows. Create a top 10 list. List the top 10 products in your business, talk about the worst products that you have ever sold and how you fixed it. If you can't think of 10 things, focus on five and expand each one with a great short story or explanation.