If you’ve been following my podcast series, From Discovery to Design: 5 Steps to Designing your Website, then you heard this week’s segment on the importance of content in a website build. In this day and age, strategic content is a challenge and is often not given the attention it deserves. There are so many different media venues available to place content and each one requires a different voice. Building a new website is the perfect time to get a content marketing strategy in place.
I have always considered myself to be a pretty routine reader. I dedicate roughly 50% of my reading to learning about ways to improve as a business owner, especially in this ever-changing technological industry. Over time, I have kept several books close as ones that have really impacted my business and myself. These books are certainly applicable to many industries, not just technology, but I feel they give great advice on modern communications- especially when figuring out a content marketing strategy.
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1. Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuck.
New York Times bestselling author and social media expert Gary Vaynerchuk shares hard-won advice on how to connect with customers and beat the competition. A mash-up of the best elements of Crush It! and The Thank You Economy with a fresh spin, Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook is a blueprint to social media marketing strategies that really work.
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2. Everybody Writes by Ann Handley.
Finally a go-to guide to creating and publishing the kind of content that will make your business thrive. Everybody Writes is a go-to guide to attracting and retaining customers through stellar online communication, because in our content-driven world, every one of us is, in fact, a writer.
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3. Your First 1000 Copies by Tim Grahl.
In Your First 1000 Copies, seasoned book marketing expert Tim Grahl walks you through how successful authors are using the online marketing tools to build their platform, connect with readers and sell more books. Though this book is technically for authors, I found the advice included to be applicable across industries. It includes excellent tips for generating content and building a following.
When you sit down to think content, think about all the ways you want to reach your consumers. This is important when creating your sitemap, user flow, and acquisition funnel. To reiterate, know your audience. Know what they want and how to convey the right information. If all of this is in place you will generate sales and reach a larger audience, thus paying for your website investment.