Four Steps to Creating Content for a Social Media Community
By: Amanda Nelson
November may mean Thanksgiving to some, snow to others and Movember to some others but in addition to all of those things, to us, it also means content. This month, we’re climbing the staircase to social media success with our latest eBook, 4 Steps to Creating Successful Content in a Social Media Community.
So what are these steps? How steep are they and how quickly can you get to the top? Let’s start the climb.
Step 1: Build a Content Strategy
Time to do some upfront thinking. Why are you creating this content? Who is it for? Is it going to help your audience (and executives) sleep well at night? These big picture questions will help set the stage for your content approach. And the answers will help shape your big idea, or what you’re writing about.
Step 2: Go Beyond Text
It’s not always about press releases, blogs and white papers. While these are great to have, the opportunities for content are as massive as the infamous Rocky stairs. Consider podcasts, video and infographics where the use of audio and/or visuals can enhance your community’s experience with your content. Webinars can demonstrate your story in an interactive presentation format and they’ve even proven to bring in key business decision-makers.
Step 3: Organize and Share Content with your Community
With our strategy and content tactics underway, it’s time to organize. When are we running our blog posts? How often are you uploading videos to YouTube? As you put your calendar into play, you can promote it using social media channels. After all, social media is a conversation hub. And with so many options ranging from Google+ to Slideshare, and Facebook to Linkedin, your message can be catered to each outlet to maximize your appeal.
Step 4: Build Community Relationships through Content
This is the learning step. As you share your great content with your community, they will begin sharing back in the form of feedback. This is where an open ear and an open mind can help enhance your brand. As you listen to the feedback, whether it’s online surveys or tweets, consider how applying these changes can positively impact your business. It will also please your community to know you’re implementing their ideas.
We mustn’t forget a key piece to this story – search. As Aaron shared in yesterday’s post, social strategy and search can work together to enhance your digital plan. Content and search can, and should, be friends as well. Using key terms in your copy and tagging your posts and videos will help your community find your content in the first place.
Ready for more? Check out the eBook.
What other steps would you add to this journey? How has content benefited your business? Share your content stories here!
Amanda Nelson is a Community Content Manager at Radian6. She is an avid writer, content curator and border collie fanatic. Find her on Twitter at @mileigh13.
