Content creation has become one of those days parameters business owners use to actually stand out and build authority in their specific industry or niche.

However, not all business owners understand the concept and importance of creating a content strategy to help guide them through the process of planning and distributing their content.

That is the purpose of this blog post; to guide you as a small business owner, entrepreneur or founder to understand the basics you need to put in place to create a formidable content strategy that will help you stand out with your own brand voice in your industry.
Therefore, with that being said, let’s get started.

What Is A Content Creation Strategy

While content creation is simply creating relevant, engaging and valuable contents for your audience, a content creation strategy does a lot more.

A content creation strategy encompasses all the processes from planning your content to actually creating and distributing it in different formats and platforms.
At its core, content strategy helps you keep your foot grounded in the digital space.

For a business owner, creating a content strategy should be undisputed as it’s one of those fundamental steps to take when you’re just getting started in the digital space.

What happens when you don’t create a content strategy

The first time I started creating content on social media platforms, I had no prior knowledge of what was expected of me. I spent months putting out content that spoke to no one and had zero base.
I’m sure you know how that turned out.

With zero strategy in place, I put out contents that spoke to no one and basically solved no problem. At some point, I believed my target audience was everyone.
That was until I understood the power embedded in having a strategy for creating and distributing your content.

One week after creating a strategy, I noticed my contents started having a pattern. It started sending out a message and more importantly, I discovered who I wanted to speak to.

It can seem overwhelming starting out, however, when you follow the simple strategies that we will talk about, you will have a content strategy ready to be implemented and get results.

How to get started with your content strategy.

With so many platforms and formats of putting out post, it’s easy to get stuck and confused. However, a simple rule of thumb states that you don’t have to churn in so many informations at once.

All you have to do, is to take action on the little you’ve learnt. Because with the right strategies, you can build a solid foundation for your business while creating engaging and relevant content that makes them come for more.

Therefore, let’s go ahead and see the simple actionable tips that will help you get started with your content creation as a beginner.   

1. Understand your purpose and audience

Before you create a single piece of content, you need to clarify why you want to create content. Are you trying to educate your audience, Inspire them or to just promote your business?

Understanding the reason why you want to start creating content makes it easy to understand who your content will work for.
When done right, your content will bridge the gap between problem and solution.

Therefore, it’s important to understand who your target audience is and the problem you’re going to solve for them.

Having this intact helps you create SMART goals that will help you gather more traffic, build authority and make sales.

For instance, as a small business owner, if you’re targeting founders, your focus should be on topics like productivity, marketing, or financial management

2. Choose your posting platform

Different platforms are used best for different goals. With so many content formats at your beck and call, choosing a platform might be tricky.
However, as a business owner still getting started in the world of content creation, it’s advised that you start with social media platforms as they’re a bit friendly and can allow you to tweak your content as much as you want.

3. Choose your content format as a form of content strategy

Content can be formatted in different ways and styles to suit the audience’s needs. Therefore, it’s important you choose the best kind of format that allows you to express your thoughts properly and then diversify from there.

We have different kinds of content formats like:

• Written content
• Video content.
• Infographics.
• Audio content.   

Start with one or two platforms where your audience is most active. For example, if your target audience are professionals, LinkedIn might be the best fit.  

4. Create a content plan for your content strategy and stick with it

Just like the word implies, a content plan is a plan that helps you determine the kind of content you want to create, what format you want to use and what platform would be suitable for it.

In other words, it is a plan that helps you plan and distribute your contents in an organized way.

A content plan in its own way, helps you stay consistent with your content marketing goals.

For instance, as a founder who is just starting to create content for his business, you can create a content plan that helps you choose relevant topics in a systemized way, Brainstorm your topics, Create a content calendar that will help you determine when and where to post.

5. Create high quality content

Creating high quality content that is both engaging and also solves your audience’s problem is a strategy on its own.

To create engaging content, you have to understand the basics of creating content.

• Your hook: This is your opening sentence or headline. This determines whether your audience will scroll past or have a read.  
  
• Your Intro: This is the first few sentences that comes immediately after your hook. Sometimes this is known as the rehook as a reader can easily skip your post from here. It’s important to make it as catchy and interesting as the hook.
• The body: The body of your content has to make use of white spaces. And more than that, it has to deliver on the promise made on the headline.
• The conclusion: This is where you recap and close off your content. For some, this can be used as a CTA(call-to-action).

However, all these can be achieved if you’re focused on solving your audience’s problems, answering questions and sharing your perspective.

6. Leverage Free Tools for your content creation strategy

There are so many free tools in the digital space right now. And although most paid tools help you do more, Here are some beginner-friendly tools you can use to make the most out of your content strategy.

1. Canva

This is a friendly tool that can be used for designing your graphics and infographics.

2. Grammarly

This can be mostly used to make your writing better.

3. Google trends

Utilized when trying to identify trending topics for your industry.

4. Trello

Used for organizing your tasks and increasing productivity.

5. Notion

Can be used to create a content calendar for your business.

These tools are handy and will help you in your content creation strategy. However, it’s important to note that the most basic tool you need to get started is your phone/PC, a pen and then a paper.

7. Engage with your audience

This is a content strategy most business owners tend to overlook. Creating high quality content is just one piece of the puzzle. You have to consistently engage with your audience to build a loyal community of people who trust you.

The value of relationship building can never be overemphasized—whether you’re looking to just increase visibility, generate leads or improve your sales—you need people.

8. Stay Consistent| Keep Posting| Keep learning

The one thing that makes a huge difference between a creator, founder or business owner who makes his content strategy work and one who doesn’t is your consistency.

You have to be consistent enough and put your self in front of your audience in such a way that you’ll become unforgettable.

More than that, being consistent helps you to analyze what’s working and actually understand what to change and what to double down on.

Also, follow top creators in your industry or niche, learn, tweak to your style and keep improving in your content creation strategy.

9. Analyze what works in your content creation strategy

The only way to know your strategy works is by monitoring your performance using tools like Google analytics.

Conclusion

As a small business owner, starting out with your content creation journey can feel overwhelming. However, with a clear content strategy, you can build momentum and more importantly, find your audience in the online space.

Therefore, always have it in mind that consistency beats perfection every day , everytime. Create value, give value and connect with your audience. That’s what matters most.
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