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BLOG SMARTER DASHBOARD :: COMMUNITY

Even after you zero in on your target market and what they’re trying to achieve, you have an endless amount of content you could create. So how do you decide which content will best help both your target market and your business? In this lesson, you’ll discover the five criteria you need to meet in order to attract new readers in your target market and connect deeply with the readers you already have.

But first, a warning: This lesson is like a whole content marketing class compressed into one power-packed session. So when you switch gears to your own audit, take your time looking at each post and evaluating it against these criteria. You don’t have to rush through your audit. And you certainly don’t have to implement all the improvements you uncover right away! Take this process one post at a time, knowing that every single step in the right direction will pay off.

Audit Your Content (9:32)

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5 Criteria for Content That Will Build Your Brand (6:36)

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Make It Evergreen (8:52)

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Deliver on Your Brand Promise (13:50)

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Connect With the Reader Emotionally (18:21)

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Make the Ask (3:35)

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Start Your Content Audit (11:45)

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Examples

• How Much Should You Spend on Groceries? Chart of Average Food Costs Per Month from Affording Motherhood (authority goal-based)
• The Dream Feed: The Why, The How, and When to Stop from A Mother Far From Home (authority goal-based)
• Everything You Need to Know About Sugar-Free January from Pinch of Yum (authority mindset shift)
• How to Be a Toddler Whisperer: 7 Things Your Toddler Wishes You Knew from Happy You, Happy Family (authority mindset shift)
• Hey Tired Mom of Teens, This Is for You from Finding Joy (authority encouragement)
• Can You Do the Whole30 Forever? from Melissa Hartwig (authority encouragement)
• Why James Chartrand Wears Women’s Underpants on Copyblogger (know-like-trust)
• How to Build the Ultimate DIY Garage Workbench from Dream Design DIY (know-like-trust + authority)
• White Slipcovers are NOT Easy to Keep Clean! from Home Made Lovely (know-like-trust + authority)
• Organic Apples + Diet Coke: How Mindful Moderation Helps Me Life My Best Life from Mindful Momma (know-like-trust + authority)
• 3 Right Now Steps to a Guest-Ready Holiday Home from The Nesting Place (know-like-trust + authority + call to action)

Bonus Examples: Food Blogs

If you’re a food blogger and having a hard time envisioning what authority content might look like for you (hint: it’s not just recipes!), check out these examples of food bloggers who’ve made names for themselves with authority content:

• Deliciously Organic
• 5 Dollar Dinners
• Traditional Cooking School
• 100 Days of Real Food

Checklist: Brand-Building Content

• Title: Does it call out to your target market, align with their wants and needs, and/or make it clear how it will help them?
  • If “no”, you can jot down any quick ideas that come to mind, but don’t get wrapped up in rewriting the title now.
• Evergreen: Will this post still apply next year? In 5 years?
  • If “no”, could you update the post to become evergreen? It’s always easier to rewrite or “tighten up” an existing post than it is to start from scratch again. So…can you salvage this post to make it evergreen?
• Authority: Does this post deliver on your Brand Promise? Specifically, does it help your reader accomplish one of her goals, give your reader a mindset shift, or inspire or encourage her by showing her there is another way?
  • If “no”, could you update the post to deliver on your Brand Promise?
• Know-Like-Trust: Does this post connect with the reader emotionally? Specifically, does it include a personal anecdote that allows the reader to see herself reflected in your experience, do you let your personality shine through with personal details, and/or do you share your failures?
• Ask: Does this post have one clear main call to action, without overwhelming the reader with too many options?

Resources

• WordPress plugin: WordPress Hide Posts

Steps to success…

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