Social media sites, blogging, tweeting, YouTube – the internet is littered with a veritable treasure trove of usable content for savvy marketers. Yet for the uninitiated, understanding where to start can prove a daunting – if not near impossible – task.

Welcome to part two of our 10 step guide towards building a better content strategy. In our last article we looked at understanding your audience, creating the right message, pacing yourself, planning a content calendar and collaboration.

Creating Great Website Content
Whilst it can be tempting to grab the nearest social media platform and launch a marketing assault, the absence of a measured, viable strategy will ultimately spell failure. Following are the remaining five steps towards building a better content strategy.

1. Multimedia is the Way Forward
In the age of YouTube, written content alone is unlikely to keep your readers engaged for long. Whether you're using images, photos, videos or audio – a little multimedia content can go a long way. Stand out from the crowd, by livening up proceedings.

2. Share the Load
Ultimately, content is still king. Yet ensuring a fresh, steady flow of content can prove a daunting task, especially if you're trying to run a business at the same time. The solution? Use those around you – colleagues, readers or fellow professionals. Don't be shy, get others involved.

Whether you're encouraging comments, reviews or regular guest slots, interaction is vital in establishing a strong profile and attracting credibility amongst your readership.

3. Stand Back and Observe
Have a hot piece of news? Don't be fooled into thinking you're the first to report it. You won't be. With a camera in every pocket and the ease of publishing content via social media sites, news travels faster than ever these days. Instead, focus on providing a considered, unique commentary that encourages debate and social interaction.

Commentary is also a useful way to establish an identity for yourself or your brand. If people like what you're saying, they're going to want to hear more.

4. Don't Fear the Feedback
Whichever platform you choose, it is vital to ensure that comments are enabled, easily visible and monitored. Reader feedback not only demonstrates client interaction, but is the most useful tool available for measuring your success. Google analytics may be one thing, but there is no better gauge than hearing it direct from the horse's mouth.

Feedback also provides a useful breeding ground for fresh content and feature ideas.

5. Stop Talking and Listen
Remember – it's not all about you. Part of building an established a credible profile lies in community participation. Spread yourself around a little and get involved with what's being discussed by others in your arena.

Offering advice, commentary or recommendations can be an effective tool for raising your profile and attracting others to your own page(s).

If you would like assistance with creating fresh content for your web presence, call 08450-740068.