Every company–big or small or medium-sized–needs a content marketing plan. Without a solid plan in place, content marketing can easily get pushed to the backburner. However, 84% of companies have a content strategy because they work. Content works. Content is one of the most versatile and important aspects of your business because it does a variety of things, such as increase brand awareness, engagement, leads, and conversions. If you are ready to up your content strategy, follow these 6 steps to create an awesome content marketing plan.
Steps To Creating a Content Marketing Plan
When it comes to developing a content strategy for your business, there are six key steps to take from start to finish. The thing about content marketing is that it isn’t a set it and forget it type of strategy. It takes work, but the results are worth it. So, get started today with these six steps.
1. Identify What You Are Doing Now
Chances are, even if you haven’t explicitly tried, you are doing something related to content marketing. Are you posting on social media? That’s content marketing. Do you publish blog posts on your website? That’s content marketing. Have you sent an email to your audience? That’s content marketing. So, take note of what you are currently doing now that can be part of your larger content marketing plan.
2. Identify What You Need to Do
It’s also important to take note of the things you’re not doing. Do you have a social media page but don’t post consistently? Or maybe you have a page for a blog on your website, but there isn’t any content on it. Take note of where there are gaps in your strategy so you can fill them in as you build your content marketing plan.
3. Prioritize Your Content Strategy
Prioritizing your content marketing plan is key to executing it effectively. Unless you are a huge business with multiple teams all dedicated to content marketing, you won’t be able to do it all. And that’s ok! You don’t need to be on every single social media platform, or post a new blog every day, or send weekly emails. Start with what is most important to your business goals and relevant to your target audience.
Ask yourself: Where does my target audience spend most of their time online? If you don’t know the answer, do some research. Identify your ideal audience and learn about their online behaviors and habits. This will help you determine where to put your time, money, and energy.
At Synergy Content Marketing, we suggest your content marketing plan focuses on three key areas: your website, your email marketing, and your social presence. How often you post on each of these depends on your time, budget, and business goals. Email us today to plan a strategy call where we help you create the right content marketing plan for your business!
4. Plan Ahead
Once you prioritize your content strategy, plan ahead. This is the only way to not get overwhelmed with all of the content that needs to be created. (Well, that and hiring a content marketer to help you!). Create a content calendar, task yourself or team members with content to create, and try to have a plan in place a month in advance at all times.
5. Do the Work
Then, do it. Don’t let your content marketing plan fall to the wayside. The more consistent you post content, the quicker you’ll see results–increased engagement with your brand. Consistency is key when it comes to helping your audience move through their journey with your brand.
6. Measure Results and Make Adjustments
Once you start to do the work, it’s important to measure your results and make adjustments where necessary. Take a look at your best-performing social media posts and create more content like that. Find your most read blog and dive into similar topics. Identify the most clicked link in your email marketing campaign and determine how to increase engagement in the next email you send. This is how to consistently improve your content marketing plan and make it work for you!
You Just Can’t Beat Content Marketing
Content marketing is one of the best ways to grow your brand right now. So, hop on board if you haven’t already and develop a content marketing plan to get the results you’ve always wanted. While it does take time and work to execute well, you are not alone. At Synergy Content Marketing, we specialize in writing and managing your blog and email marketing strategies for you so you can focus on other aspects of your business. Contact us today to find out how we make your life easier by making your content marketing plan even better!
