5 Ways to Create Content that Converts with Ease

“Content is king”.

This phrase is synonymous with email marketing.

And regardless of the kind of online business you have.

If you are not generating valuable content for your audience on a consistent basis, you might as well be leaving money on the table.

But creating content for the sake of creation is not the answer either.

I should know because it’s a lesson I’ve learnt when I was over in my head ‘blogging just to blog’ so that I could stay visible and attract clients.

I say ‘blog’ because that’s my content strategy; but this applies to any kind of content creation.

So if you’re a podcaster or like delivering your content via videos, then I think you’ll find the rest of this post useful.

If you’re blogging just for blogging sake then stop right now.

But if you blog with a purpose you can make strides in your business.

So before you create a new blog post ask yourself; what is the purpose of my blog?

• Do I want clients?
• Grow my social media following?
• Grow my list?
• Make sales?

Once you answer this question, your weekly blog posts won’t be random paragraphs with no focus. They’ll pack a punch!

Now that you’re fired up with your blog’s purpose, next comes the challenging part.

To create the blog post itself!

Feels like a big mountain to climb doesn’t it? Brace yourself because you can do it!

So the most common objection to creating weekly content I hear is: “I don’t have any ideas”, or “I’m afraid I’ll run out of ideas”, or “everything I want to write/create/produce has been done 1000 times already.”

I totally get it. I’ve been there myself (I’m not immune!)

So let’s address some of these objections and how  

# 1: “ I don’t have any ideas”

If you’re saying that you don’t have ideas then I’m going to say to you that you have  A LOT on your mind!

Ideas thrive when you create a conducive environment for them.

Sometimes in this online race of entrepreneurship, it feels like we have so many hurdles to overcome and can’t stop running.

Constant chatter, constant planning, thinking, processing, learning……aaarrghhh!

No wonder you’re out of ideas to create inspirational and valuable content for your peeps.

Energetically speaking, you need to create a vacuum for the ideas to flow in.

When your head space is all crammed with “stuff”, you’re blocking the flow of ideas to come to you because you’re filled to the brim in every way.  

So refuel your creativity using these tips:

• Take a pen and paper and do a brain dump. Empty your thoughts, ideas, questions, emotions on paper.
• Go on an email fast for a week (So tough I know). Don’t answer, read or send emails. Have your VA take care of it for you or put an out of office message.
• Disrupt your routine and do something fun. Even if it’s sipping wine at the pool, binging on Netflix, putting your high heels and strutting around (confidence booster I tell ya!). If it’s making you feel good and putting a smile on your face then do it.

# 2: Are you being specific enough with your content?

If you are using your blog as a means for attracting and converting website traffic then your blog has to be about your niche.

A business blog has to be about your specific niche and not what you had for breakfast or if your adorable pup came down the stairs on his own (just watched this one on Youtube, #lovepuppies)….

I digress….

But let me make myself clear because this doesn’t mean you rob your readers to get to know the real you, aside from your kickass ninja spreadsheet skills of course.

The apt question to ask is, are you blogging for lifestyle or blogging for business?

It is okay to inject your personality, likes and dislikes in your blog posts but not let them run the whole show.

Find a way to link your story, quirks and foibles to your content.

Chances are if you’re reading this, you want to blog about your business, grow your impact, and make sales.

So choose 3-5 core themes in your business  that are your main focus.

For example, as an online sales funnel strategist, my core themes are  sales funnels,  list building, content marketing and a dash of mindset.

If I talk about chia seeds do you think my audience is going to care? Not so much.

So pick your core themes in your business; these are centered around how you help your clients get results.

But whatever your themes, just add a human touch to it…aka your personality.

After all people buy because of how they feel when they read/see/hear your content.

Your readers will get the message and you will become the go-to person for creating ninja spreadsheets. Or whatever it is that you do.

# 3: Have writer’s block? Don’t start with a blank screen to create your blog post.

I confess that I suffer with this the most.

Nothing worse than looking at a blank screen and coming up with the words.

But here’s the thing; you don’t need to write your blog post in one sitting!

Here’s my process for writing my blog posts:

I type all my topic ideas on Google sheet (beating the blank screen syndrome). The topics are related to my core themes in my niche. So for every theme, I brainstorm at least 3-5 topics.

That’s 12 blog post topics! More than a month’s worth of content (if you’re publishing weekly).

Next, I decide on what kind of blog post I am going to write about.

Here are some categories:

1. The Ultimate Guide
2. Lists
3. Case studies
4. Your personal lessons/story
5. Tools and resources
6. Product/service review
7. They said/you said (taking a stand)
8. Behind the scenes in your business

Bonus tip: You can pick one topic and write in more than one way as per the list above. This is a great way to repurpose your content without worrying about running out of ideas.

Then I create my blog post outline.

Outline of a blog post – Every blog post has an introduction, 2-3 main ideas of your topic, a conclusion and a call to action.

I like to create a headline for my blog post AFTER I’m done writing the post.

Once you have an outline created you don’t have to fear the blank screen! Of course the writing part takes time, it’s not easy. But at least you have something to work with once you’ve got the outline in place.

# 4: Schedule your writing in chunks.

I recommend you write everyday for at least 30 minutes.

Not only does this get you in the flow but also the more you do it the better you become.

I am not a prolific writer by any means. 

But I do know what makes good copy and what information is valuable to my readers. 

So keeping that in mind, I bang out writing my content every.single.day.

I schedule an hour in my calendar to write daily. Because what gets scheduled, gets done. As simple as that.

What time works best for you? Pick a time, lock yourself in the room and write until the timer goes off.

Don’t wait for the night before to crank out a blog post especially when you’re a newbie. You’ll feel pressured and will burn out soon.

Write everyday. ‘Nuff said.

# 5: Have a call to action on your blog posts

You’ve worked hard and created a blog post (not easy!) that you are proud to publish.

But publishing a blog post that doesn’t have a call to action (CTA) is as good as getting a lot of website traffic and not converting them to subscribers.

Total loss of time, effort and money.

Remember when I mentioned earlier that if you’re blogging for the sake of blogging you might as well stop?

Not engaging with your readers through your blog posts would qualify too.

One way to avoid doing that is by putting calls to action on your blog posts to engage readers, get them on your list and buy from you.

So what kind of CTAs’ can you include in your blog posts?

1. Ask readers a question so that they leave a comment and/or provide feedback.
2. Ask readers to share your blog post on Social Media for SEO boost and visibility.
3. Ask readers to opt-in for your content upgrade offered as a bonus on your blog post (more about content upgrade later this month!)
4. Share relevant links to other blog posts and have your readers click on them to learn more about the topic.

Bonus Tips on creating amazing blog posts – Last few tips I want to share with you that have helped me create some kickass valuable blog posts:

• Carry a notebook with you and jot down ideas when inspiration strikes.
• Talk to your audience, whether it’s through surveys, on Social Media and encourage them to send you emails or hit reply to your emails.
• Take pictures on your phone (whatever inspires, motivates, engages, entertains).
• Draw from your own experiences and day to day life to make the posts interesting, inspiring and entertaining (you don’t have to do all three!)

Conclusion

Creating valuable content and publishing it on a weekly basis is tough and takes discipline.

It’s important to create content that has a purpose, converts readers into subscribers and eventually buyers.

Answer these questions to determine your content (blog) purpose.  

• Am I promoting my offer or getting ready to launch?
• Do I want to grow my social media following?
• Do I want to grow my email list?
• Make sales?

Armed with a purpose, you need to create your blog post and here are 5 ways you can do this:

#1: Brainstorm topic ideas.

#2: Ensure the topic ideas are within the 3-5 core themes of your niche.

#3: Select the type of blog post you want to create  and draft an outline.

#4: Schedule time to write your blog post.

#5: Add a call to action for your blog post.

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When it comes to creating your blog post, which one from the list above comes easily to you?

Which one is a challenge to implement?

Let me know in the comments below.