EP. 013 | How to Develop a Content Strategy for your Small Business in Five Steps
Podcast Summary
In this episode, I guide you through the foundational elements of creating a content strategy for your small business. I offer practical advice and actionable steps in five key areas: mapping out your goals, identifying your target audience, choosing content types and platforms, building a content system, and determining your brand voice and visuals.
I emphasize the importance of starting with clear business goals, understanding and addressing the specific needs of your ideal customer, strategically selecting content types and platforms, establishing a repeatable content workflow, and creating a unique brand voice and visual identity. The goal is to simplify and demystify the content strategy process, making it accessible and effective for small business owners.
Episode Highlights
01:05 Mapping out your business goals to define your content strategy.
03:51 Identifying your target audience and understanding their psychographics for effective content creation.
07:35 Choosing content types and platforms that align with your business goals and audience preferences.
10:34 Building a content system, including creating a repeatable content workflow for consistent content creation.
14:55 Determining your unique brand voice and visuals to make your content easily recognizable.
resources + tools mentioned
Whether you're a web designer, online business owner, or an author on a book tour, this episode offers actionable steps to build a content strategy that resonates with your target audience and drives business growth. If you want to access the airtable content planner template mentioned in this episode, you can grab it HERE!
Creating a content strategy for your small business
I've built my career around content marketing, and I understand the overwhelming and complicated nature of building a content strategy. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the essential components of a successful content strategy that will enable you to consistently market your small business and generate income.
Mapping Out Your Goals
Creating a content strategy should always start with a clear understanding of your business goals. Before jumping into content goals, it's crucial to be crystal clear about your overall business objectives. By defining your one overarching business goal, you lay the foundation for a coherent content strategy that aligns with your business's bottom line.
Understanding Your Ideal Audience
In the vast sea of potential customers, it's vital to remember the golden rule: If you're talking to everyone, you're effectively talking to no one. You have to start the process of identifying your ideal audience and understanding their psychographics. By creating a detailed persona, you gain invaluable insights into your ideal customer's behaviors, preferences, and pain points.
Choosing Content Types and Platforms
The next part of the decision-making process is to select the most suitable content types and platforms for your small business. By aligning your strengths in content creation with your audience's content consumption habits, you can tailor your content strategy to yield maximum impact. Whether it's leveraging Instagram for visually appealing content or diving into email marketing for a more personalized approach, the choices you make should resonate with your business's unique requirements.
Building a Content System
A successful content strategy isn't just about coming up with brilliant ideas; it's about implementing a systematic approach. Here, we explore the importance of building a content workflow and emphasize the significance of planning your content in advance. By developing a content workflow, you streamline the content creation process and pave the way for consistent, high-quality output that aligns with your overarching business goals.
Content Analysis and Iteration
Analyzing the performance of your content is the cornerstone of refining and optimizing your strategy. We discuss the importance of setting measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Return on Investment (ROI) metrics to gauge the effectiveness of your content. By analyzing your content and uncovering trends in performance, you gain the insights needed to enhance your strategy and drive impactful results for your small business.
Determining Your Brand Voice and Visuals
Your brand's voice and visuals play a pivotal role in shaping your online presence and fostering brand recognition. From choosing the right tone and language to establishing distinctive brand visuals, this section guides you through the process of crafting a cohesive and authentic brand identity. By infusing your brand with a unique voice and visual style, you can carve out a distinct space in the digital landscape and forge meaningful connections with your audience.
Implementing Your Content Strategy
Remember, your content strategy should be dynamic, adaptive, and ALWAYS tied to your business objectives. So, whether you're a budding web designer, a seasoned author, or an aspiring entrepreneur, harness the power of a well-crafted content strategy to propel your small business to new heights. Let's embark on this exciting journey of content strategy mastery together!