Content writing is probably one of the biggest challenges a business owner faces. I mean, let’s face it–what you write on your website and social media platforms is what attracts your customers and eventually turns their interest in your product or service into a sale.
We’ve put together a tidy manifest for you to think about when you write on your blog, website, or social media outlet. Take a look below for some great ideas.
Remember Who You Are Writing For
While it’s important to include keywords in any type of content writing, you need to keep in mind that whatever it is you are writing appeals to the masses. Who is your audience? Are they teenagers or baby-boomers? The style of writing is critical so you don’t abandon the people you are trying to sell to. When writing for a certain demographic keep in mind the slang terms you use. Also, speak in layman’s terms. People who are visiting your site or social media outlet may not know anything about a surround sound stereo system, or cloud computing. Explain it simply so your audience understands.
Take Us on a Journey
Who doesn’t enjoy a good adventure? While you are focusing on who you are writing for, tell people a story using important keywords you’ve researched. Engage the reader with your effervescent writing skills to capture their attention; attempt to captivate them for a little longer. They will be tempted to turn the page, so to speak, and want more information about your product or service.
Make Them Laugh
Simply put, making the reader laugh shows you are not only engaging as a person and/or business, but you are human. Throwing emotion into your content writing to evoke humor is one of the best ways to keep the customer reading. Who doesn’t enjoy a hearty laugh? No need to throw in, “Why did the chicken cross the road” stuff, but you get my point. It’s content that educates while entertains, and that’s the best stuff you can possibly write.
A Fresh Point of View
A lot of things you read across the internet tends to be regurgitated and whipped up into a new recipe. How many times have you seen chicken breast recipes with essentially the same ingredients? I’ve seen my fair share to the point of picketing chicken breasts. Why not give the reader something new to chew on? A fresh point of view about your product or service lets people know what sets you apart from everyone else. A chicken breast that wears an edible plaid jacket? Now that’s what I’m talking about!
How to Write for Social Media
All social media outlets are different. In a nutshell (I hate to use that term, but the amount of writing required for social media just about fits into a nutshell), grasp the reader’s attention fast. Make them act. Tell them to do something. Make them an offer they can’t refuse. There’s a catch though: with Facebook, you need to do it in eighty characters or less. That’s the average amount a person will read before they go onto the next item on their news feed. For Twitter, you have a little more room to spread your wings at 140 characters, but that includes the link you embed. Which reminds me–always shorten your links so you have the ability to allow people to re-tweet your original tweet (say that fast three times). I’ll wait.
Let us not forget Linkedin, Google+ and YouTube. All of these platforms don’t necessarily have a character count requirement, but the same rules apply. The purpose of social media is to get people to do something or advertise that you have an offer they can’t pass up. Tell people to share your link (most will if it’s educational and interesting content with a great offer).
Last, but not least, we need to talk about the hashtag. I know, I know. You’re thinking, What the heck am I supposed to use the (#)hashtag for anyway? Well, most importantly, it provides people a way to search for information they are looking for within the vast ocean of social media. For instance, if you write something on Twitter with regard to technology, you will want to type #technology within your tweet. If you have a post on Facebook about your restaurant and are offering a Sunday special wine sampling, you may want to use the hashtags #wine, #restaurants #food.
At times you may see ridiculous hashtags by people who hate the weather. #Iwishwinterwouldgoaway. This type of hashtag won’t get you any type of results. People just type in those type of #hashtags because they’re fanatics and should be medicated. When it comes to your business, keep the hashtags in short, yet searchable order.
I understand that some of this may sound a little overwhelming, and sometimes it is–especially if you’re too close to the subject matter. Cyber-Construction is a reliable source for content writing and can help re-word your website pages, engage your followers on social media, and also write your blogs with engaging and educational content with proper keywords so you have more time to sell your wares.
