5 Content Marketing Tips

1) Everything is content.

Let's face it, you're so close to your brand that you may miss some amazing content opportunities... but relax... here's how you will never miss anything ever again. Just remember 'everything is content'. Whether you're a B2B or B2C, the stuff you do, the hallways you walk, the people you work with, the emotions you feel, the challenges you face are ALL RELATE-ABLE BY SOMEONE. Sorry for yelling. Tell those stories. Snap a photo, write a blog entry, take a video. I promise you, great content opportunities completely surround you at this very moment. The skill - which can be taught - is to recognize that everything is content and content is all around you.

As a life long Marketer I was always searching for that unique thing that would put my brand over the top. It hit me one day that I was surrounded by these things. In fact, the 'things' were endless and limitless, and through technology we can tell every single story we have. We just have to start.

2) Tools In Your Tool Belt

Are you part of a staff of hundreds whose sole purpose is to build content? Didn't think so! It's probably just you, am I right? Okay, maybe you and some others all chipping in to build up your social channels with relevant material. Marketing Mangers and Digital Marketers (like that's two different things now-a-days, right?) joining forces with Social Media Managers and Community Managers all for the greater good. Now, who does what? Core strengths I look for - beyond a person being awesome - are:

• Social Channel Know How: I know that could mean many different things, but some brand experience is always best for me. Just because you have have a personal FB account does not qualify for anything. Well you may be qualified to be someones' friend, but that's about it. Add Me. lol.).
• Skill in video creation, editing video, and Photoshop.  
• The actual equipment to do each of the points in (b)
• Ability to hold a conversation. I'm not joking.
• Live the mantra that 'Everything Is Content' and have no fear to capture that content. 

3) Document What Your Competition Doesn't (Or just do it better)

Here's an experiment  Go to your competition's YouTube channel. Probably some cool stuff there. Most companies (if they even have a YouTube channel) put what they would consider the 'gold' up. Most stuff is highly produced, maybe even 'production house' produced. Don't be afraid of stripping it down. (Note: I am not saying you should strip) Customers, fans, clients, employees can live with a shaky video if the content is great. Show your stuff. Show what goes on in your world.  I always like to think of video as a show. Like TV shows, even if it's 30 seconds long. YouTube is just one place. There are many places where you content can live. Is your business in these places? What type of content are you putting there? What type of content is your competition putting there? Something you see everywhere now is "Behind The Scenes" content. Is yours better than theirs?

4) Swing Away!

Hit Homeruns! and Triples, and Doubles, and Singles, and Bunts, and Fouls, and just about everything else. Let's be real... If you try and hit a homerun every single time, you may strike out more than often. But that is totally okay. Not every piece of content is going to get those shares or likes or comments that you're hoping for.  Just be consistent and pay attention to what is getting traction, where it's getting traction, and when it's getting traction. Your content plan should be super easy to build next year. if you pay attention this year.

5) What's Your Plan?

I've always thought that "Awesome Stuff Gets Shared", but that just doesn't cut it in a boardroom. A plan is needed. A long term strategic plan with a tactical and itemized slant is my choice. Did that sound too corporate? Whatevs. But here's the good news: Building a plan should be super simple. Ideas are the easy part; proper execution of ideas is the hard part. Also the beauty of a Content Plan in this day and age is that it can change tomorrow. Technology changes and evolves everyday, so should you and your plan.

Hope that makes sense. As always, any thoughts or opinions on the post are greatly appreciated. I'm JonSinden on Twitter and I always enjoy feedback.

::js

Social Media is.... not Twitter.

Twitter is just one spoke in the wheel. Social Media is about people. People sharing, learning, laughing... you know... being people. Social Media is starting and developing relationships. Social Media lives online, but also in person. Social Media is pretty much part of everything, and it's everywhere.

Saying a Social Media person's job is sending Tweets, is kinda like saying a Marketing Director's Job is buying billboards. Seems kinda small in scope, non?

If you work or play in this world, please let's all make an effort to educate. But not in a preachy know-it-all kind of way... just in how-friends-talk-to-friends kind of way.

What are your thoughts? Am I way off? Do you agree?

Big Thinker Gets Some Press!

Twitter can be a powerful tool for a brand.
We just partnered with Pizza Nova and had some great success.
Story is below.
js

http://www.mediaincanada.com/articles/mic/20090617/pizzanova.html

5 reasons Twitter is awesome... or Twaesome!

I love Twitter. I spend all day on it. It's a huge part of my business. Twitter is the perfect social media forum... Here's why:

1)Short attention spans unite! Keeping things under 140 characters allows just enough text to get your message out there, post a link, and/or show some creativity. At the same time 140 characters is not enough space to ramble.

2)It's not exclusive. I don't need permission to be a part of a world. If I choose to follow, then I follow. If someone chooses to follow me, then they can. Be my guest.

3) Less me, More us. I will do you a favour and not show you the 72 pictures from my weekend at the cottage and you will do me a favour and not ask me to join many groups or play many games like f'n Knighthood.

4) Instant info. If you see something in the Trending Topics, then it's news happening right now. You do not need to sign up to someones breaking news alerts, to receive breaking news. It's always breaking on Twitter.

5) Experimental. You can say whatever you want. Tweet & ReTweet away! (Just remember that whatever you say is forever and your name usually appears right next to your tweet)

@BigThinkerJon

js

Social Media Experts - Wha?

Social Marketing is big business. Sometimes it's my business.
Sometimes people even pay me to create and execute campaigns thru social media. So needless to say, I spend a lot of time online; Twitter, facebook, etc.

But I am no expert. I repeat. NOT AN EXPERT. Not even close.

Although... I have noticed that there sure are a lot of experts out there.
I like that I'm surrounded by so many experts.
It's like if you went swimming. Wouldn't it be so much better to go swimming with dozens/hundreds of lifeguards?

I'm not judging. After all, my company is called Big Thinker. I guess I'm making a claim right there. Truth be told, someone else came up with the name for me. I'm not really a 'naming' expert either. lol.

What qualifications do u need to be a Social Media Expert?

I'm curious to know what u think.

js