My content plan of attack
I feel I have a lot to say about my marketing platforms, and I also want to share the latest insights from my coaching sides, so I feel I will need to come up with a program where I can effectively share both without my audience getting too confused. Let's start with marketing.
Write about what you know: The Content Writing Breakdown
In developing multiple pieces of content for our coaching client Mark Del last spring, we made sure that all of the content we were writing with him was:
- Titled in a way to grab attention
- Engaging and informative to the reader
- Spoke to Mark's strengths and authority
- All followed the same formula
- We're scalable
Here's how we went about it:
Mark and I discussed a problem he wanted to solve for people in his Facebook group, he wanted a script of bullet points to read during a Facebook live event. We discussed the solution at length in an attempt to break it down into its important pieces. We did this exercise not to make the content more digestible for the audience, but for Mark- because he tends to talk way off-topic and forget what point he was trying to make.
We decided the smartest way title the event was to call out the pieces of the solution like this: 'The 5 things you need to know to "fillintheblank"
Other titles read similarily: "Ten mistakes THESEGUYS make when FILLIN THEBLANK"
"4 smart ways to make a fillintheblank happen." etc.
Using this format we found that by pointing out specific problems viewers were having, and offering solutions in a simple checklist format, we get an unprecedented amount of attention.
We saved the Facebook live events video and reformatted it for Mark's Youtube channel, and repurposed the audio for a podcast channel. We used the Youtube channel and podcast to promote the website, and the Facebook event to promote the Youtube channel and podcast until Mark's phone was ringing and his inbox was stuffed with viewers who wanted to learn more. The formula isn't difficult, and you don't need to be an expert copywriter to make it work. I've broken the process down into 5 simple steps that anyone can follow.
5 simple steps for writing engaging and eye-grabbing content
THE BREAKDOWN
Before you begin, you should have a list of the problems you want to solve for your audience, these will become your post topics. Pick one of these problems you intend to solve and begin.
problem example: Shirts are being folded wrong
First- Create a dynamic title for your post by naming the solution to the problem and breaking it down into a number of parts:
Example: The Four important steps you need to know to fold your shirt the right way!
Next: Create an introductory paragraph illustrating the problem you'd like to solve.
Example: Dozens of grown men in Pugsley. ND have no idea how to properly fold a t-shirt. This inability makes it extremely difficult for these men to keep a tidy shirt drawer at home. [and cap it with what your article intends to do] Here are the four steps you need to take to ensure a properly folded shirt.
THEN- Make a list of the solution steps to the problem.
Example:
1. Fold in half horizontally
2. Tuck in the sleeves
3. Fold in half vertically
4. Press out the creases
Step 4: Go into detail for each solution step individually:
- Fold in half horizontally: Take your time and grab the shirt by the shoulders. Lift above the folding surface and then lay back down so the bottom half is neatly tucked under the top half of your t-shirt, making sure your fold line is as straight as possible and falls directly in the center of your shirt body.
Do this same process for all of your solution steps- this is the body of your article.
Finally: Create a closing paragraph : Example: I hope our little article helps you keep a clean and tidy shirt drawer. For more basic clothing care tips, visit my website at www.cleanyourroom.com
I know this system seems super-simplistic, but I promise you it works every time. Sometimes it's the no-brainer solutions that are the most effective. What's even better is that THIS article follows it's own formula, and you probably didn't even notice. Try it yourself and see how you do. Good luck.
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