First, they want some basic information about you and your business. This information should be available on your web site. Your site is extremely important because your content creation strategy will drive people to the site for additional information or for contact information.

Second, the information on your web site must be readily searchable. Most people will find your web site by using one of the search engines (Google, Bing or Yahoo). In addition, the site needs to be written in a way that helps the search engines find the right information on your web site. This means your site must be coded correctly for search for each bit of information and the content of the pages must be written in a way that optimizes certain keywords (words people most commonly use to search for that information).

Two of the most important ways to share your ideas with the world is by writing a blog and writing articles. We suggest starting with writing one or two articles each month and posting to a blog at least three times each month.

Post the articles to your web site and to online article directories. The point is to become comfortable expressing your ideas and to begin to build your visibility online. In addition, your articles become available to editors of other e-zines, magazines, newsletters and blogs. Good articles are frequently included in other publications (with appropriate recognition of you as the author).

Your articles should focus on the things that make you different from your competitors. They communicate your innovative ideas and practices, products or services. You should write your articles in a way that uses the keywords (others use to find you or your business) appropriately to help the search engines find and identify this content (called SEO, search engine optimization). Your articles (in the directories and listings of these sites) become another way prospective and current clients can find your unique ideas and move from them to your web site in order to contact you.

Blogging accomplishes three primary goals: first, it provides a regular delivery of fresh content for your web site. Second, it creates a new platform for you to share ideas, thoughts and comments related to your business. People can either “subscribe” to the blog (perhaps through an RSS feed) or they can visit when they expect you to post something new. Third, when written to optimize keywords, it is another tool to help search engines find the content you know your clients/customers or prospects value and desire.

If you need help with these first steps in creating and implementing your content strategy, contact us today at 732-397-8489. We can help you with the planning and the implementation.