As human beings, we all love to hear a good story. Whether gossip or news, when the story is good, we are hooked. In content marketing, it is all about how good your story is. If you must do well in content marketing, you need to get your storytelling right. Storytelling has to do with how you present your content to your audience. In an earlier post, we talked about marketing in the 6 stages of the consumer buying process. What we should also know is that it starts with a good storytelling. Storytelling guides the buyers all through the journey the buying process. Creating a successful content marketing plan requires quality storytelling, which engages and educates your audience too.
Content writing is fun but can be difficult. Coming up with ideas on the daily can sometimes be so hard, you feel like “that’s it, I can’t do this”. Content writing is critical and should not be approached with a haphazard attitude. Like everything else, great content writing has a foundation. The foundations for great storytelling and content writing are as follows:
1. Figure out your niche
Great storytellers are considered to be thought leaders. Here’s the truth, no “thought leader” knows everything about everything. Thought leaders know everything or almost everything about a particular niche or niches. So to excel at storytelling, it is important that you figure out your niche. Figure out the topics or industries you have excellent knowledge or expertise in. For example in online marketing, one can have excellent knowledge of social media marketing, SEO, web analytics, online PR etc. Pick content topics within your niche and write about it. This allows you to be creative and write in your own unique way, thought leading contents.
2. Keep a schedule
As a content writer/storyteller, it is required that you are consistent. Your audience wants new and engaging content. As your audience grows, maintaining a consistent communication and interaction with your audience should be the center of your content market. At this point, a schedule is necessary. Make a weekly schedule and stick to it. When scheduling, give yourself enough time to write your content. You don’t want to be writing under pressure.
3. Research
Carry out research on your topics so as to learn more. No one person has all the knowledge. Read other articles or blogs relating to your niche/topic. As a storyteller, it is true you are expected to give your unique opinion on a topic but you are also expected to back up your opinion with facts. Whatever point you intend to make, carry out a research and find solid facts to support your opinion. Reference results of your research in your content. By referencing a supplementary source to your post, you’re attaching it to your brand. Your audience will attribute the benefit of this knowledge to you, which amplifies the value you provide.
Written by:
Tega Gabriel Ogigirigi