Creating sensational juicy content is only half the battle.
The other half is getting it noticed. And that’s where most people fail.
To make an impact, you need to ensure your content not only gets read, but reaches a wide and engaged audience. In this article, we’ll explore five effective ways you can achieve this, without even investing a single dollar in paid ads:
1. Collaborate: Amplify your reach through partnership
You probably have a simple problem → You’ve got content but no audience.
But guess what? Some people have the opposite problem: they’ve got the audience but they need content. Lots of it!
By teaming up with other creators or businesses in your niche, you tap into their audience base and introduce your content to a whole new set of potential followers.
The ‘catch’ is your content has to be GOOD. Really, really good.
After all, no one is going to let you leech off their audience for no benefit to themselves. So you either have to pay them …or better yet… give them exactly the kind of content their audience is going to LOVE.
But how effective is this strategy, really?
Just ask Ryan Holiday and Ramit Sethi.
As two of the biggest non-fiction authors on the planet, they sure know a thing or two about content. Both made their mark in the world (and gained hundreds of thousands of readers) largely by guest posting on other people’s blogs.
So it works. But you have to be smart about it. Look for opportunities to guest post to other people’s audiences, participate in podcast interviews, or co-create content with influencers. Cross-promotion can provide mutual benefits, helping both parties increase their visibility.
Collaborative efforts can take various forms, such as joint webinars, co-authored articles, or even social media takeovers. When selecting potential collaborators, ensure that their audience aligns with your target demographic. This way, you’ll be reaching people who are more likely to resonate with your content.
2. Ride the wave of big trends
We’re hardwired to be drawn to news and trends, like moths to a flame. Which is why social media algorithms absolutely DIG fresh hot trendy content.
Search engines and news aggregation sites are always on the hunt for a news scoop. So be sure to monitor social media platforms, news outlets, and industry blogs to identify emerging trends that are relevant to your niche.
Having said that, it’s important to strike a balance between trending content and your core message. While it’s tempting to chase every trend, ensure your strategy aligns with your brand’s values and message.
By adding your unique perspective to trending topics, you can establish yourself as a thought leader and attract a larger audience eager to hear your insights.
3. Give your readers good reasons to share
To encourage sharing, first focus on creating content that provides value, evokes emotions, or solves problems for your audience. With that taken care of, you also want to give other direct reasons for them to share your stuff. Here are some ideas:
- A Challenge: Set up interactive challenges that require content sharing as a crucial step. This not only engages your readers but also amplifies your content’s reach organically.
- Make your reader look good to their people: Content isn’t just about imparting knowledge; it’s about empowering your readers. Deliver in-depth insights that make your readers feel like ‘bigshots’ by sharing it. They’ll only be glad to share their newfound wisdom.
- FOMO offers: Fear of missing out is a potent motivator. Offer limited-time deals, exclusive access, or time-sensitive offers. The urgency triggers sharing, as readers want their friends and family to seize the opportunity.
- Inspire Positivity: Inspirational stories ignite a fire within readers. When they’re emotionally moved, they’re more than keen to spread that inspiration.
- Shock, Drama and Newsworthiness: Humans are drawn to the unexpected. So craft content that has the power to jolt them out of the daze of everyday life. They’ll be more likely to share with their network, leading to more conversations and engagement with your posts.
4. Help Google help you
Yup, I’m talking about good ol’ Search engine optimization (SEO).
Do some keyword research to identify the terms and phrases your target audience is searching for. Then, incorporate these keywords naturally into your content, including titles, headings, and body text. When your content ranks higher in search engine results, it’s more likely to attract organic traffic.
But don’t make the mistake of blitzing your posts with a million keywords and turning it into a jumble of nonsense. Keep your content readable, interesting and shareable. That’s always priority numero uno.
5. Capture contact info and utilize retargeting
Are visitors tiptoeing in and out of your website like ninjas? Then you better start getting them out of the shadows and into your email lists.
Chances are, you already have a sign up form and popup set up on your website.
But there’s a lot more you can do to increase signups. Give readers every incentive to let you have their contact information. Test multiple lead magnets, how-to’s, webinars, brochures until you can find the perfect lure to snag them.
This gives you the opportunity to email new content straight to their inboxes. Plus, you can also run retargeting ads to keep your brand top-of-mind. These types of ads are displayed to individuals who have visited your site, encouraging them to return and explore more. Once you capture their contact info, the possibilities are endless.
So there you have it — collaborate, surf trends, encourage sharing, optimize for search, and capture contacts. Each step goes a long way in amplifying your content presence.
And if you’d like to find out what I can personally do to help with your content strategy, here’s a magic button for you: