In the era of the Internet, content can be simply defined as any information that is being distributed. Whether that content is a book, a magazine article, a video, or a picture, creating content has become accessible and actionable by anyone who wants to put in the time and effort. Just because content is easier to make, though, doesn’t mean it’s easier to make GOOD content, and it certainly doesn’t mean it’s any easier to get that content to the people you want to read it.
Content As a Circle
I think about content as a circle, not something independent floating around in cyberspace. Creating engagement around the content you create is essential. This circle must include four parts:
- You
- Your content
- Your audiences
- Your advertisers and affiliates
The focus of this circle is creating continuous interaction and communication between all four elements. When you think about what content to create, you need to think about all four of these elements. What can you bring to the content, what form should it be (text, video, picture, etc.), who are you creating it for, and how will it interact with the advertisers and affiliates you are associated with. All of these elements contribute to and take cues from each other- your job is to bring them all together and create compelling content that generates engagement and keeps that engagement going.
Creating the Right Content
Before you can monetize your content, you have to create the right kind of content.
Bringing these four parts together means creating the right content for the right people. Whether that content is going on your own website, social media, online forums, guest blog posts, whitepapers, ebooks, or something else, creating conversation and engagement is essential.
Useful content that creates good conversations will help you build a network of relationships. To do this, define your target audience. Who are you trying to reach? What do you want them to do? Make sure that those things are clear both in your mind and in the content you create.
To increase your online visibility, give people a reason to interact with you. If you are sharing on social media, ask questions so that you get answers you can interact with. If you are on forums where others are asking questions, be the one who answers them. If people are already on your blog reading your post, give them reason and opportunity to click on other content you have created.
And no matter what the content is, it’s all about providing value. People will remember what content helped them out, and they will return.