Back Pocket Business Solutions

What is content marketing?  Content marketing is using relevant and valuable information to attract potential customers to you. This information will not only attract but, if done correctly, will engage your target audience and drive profitable action to your business.

I’m quite amazed at the number of clients that don’t understand the concept of this marketing.  I’m then almost always questioned “why?”

Think of content as a way of interacting and communicating with your customers without selling.

A great article can market your product or service in a way that the consumer is not interrupted. You are using that article to educate your consumer and create an awareness on information that is important to them. This makes your potential buyer more intelligent.  When the customer is educated, it’s easy for them to make a buying decision.

A successful content marketing strategy will deliver consistent valuable information to your target market, when this strategy works you turn the consumers you have targeted into buyers.

Look, it’s no secret that consumers are tired of traditional marketing. This is why you see a rush to social media and permission based marketing rather than intrusive marketing that doesn’t allow consumers to make the choice of when they want to be marketed to. Why do you think consumers skip commercials, tear out magazine advertisements, and turn on online ad blockers? Because they are taking back control and they will decide when they want to be marketed to.

As a business, you have to be smarter in your marketing efforts and this includes writing content that is not only interesting but relevant and valuable to the market you are targeting.

How do you know if your content is marketing for you? It’s easy really. Answer the following questions when reviewing your content or use them as a guideline when creating new content.

• Is it targeting a specific market? If not the content will be too broad to attract a targeted audience.
• Is your content informative, relevant and valuable to those you are targeting? Or is it just a sales pitch?
• Does it educate your target audience about your industry without being too sales oriented and pushing just your products or services?
• Does your message include a subtle marketing message that grabs the reader’s attention and gets them interested in what you offer? The key is the marketing message must create an interest and a desire for what you have to offer without trying to close a sale. Think of it as leaving a faint fingerprint on the mind of the consumer who is reading.
• Does it leave the reader wanting more?
• Does it stir emotion within the reader and inspire action?

If you answered “yes” to the above questions, you have a good piece of content that you can use to market the products or services that you offer. If you were unable to answer “yes” to all of the questions you will want to tweak your content until you can.

You can use content marketing in all areas of your marketing including print, media, events and online. You want to make sure that your website has content that markets to your audience. You also want to make sure that if you have a blog, you are also using it for content marketing. Content marketing is valuable and often leaves a longer impression than any other method of marketing.

You may have heard the term “Virtual Assistant” and you’re wondering what it is?  Well, here is a description of what a VA is and how they can help you and your business.

A Virtual Assistant (VA) is an independent contractor who are highly skilled professionals that use the latest technology to provide off-site solutions and services as well as technical and creative support for professionals, solo entrepreneurs and small businessess.

So, how can a VA help you?

Ask yourself a few questions:  Do I run out of time to complete all the TO DOs on my list?  Can I delegate duties to someone else, so that I can be more productive?  Am I knowledgable enough to implement adminsitrative, marketing or sales concepts?  Do I suffer from anxiety attacks?  Do I loose sleep at night?

If you are answering YES to questions like these, then you could use the services of a Virtual Assistant.  Even though they work from their own office, they are able to get the TO DOs completed, take on additional projects, streamline your processes, provide customer service, contend to your marketing needs, design and implement administrative duties, and become your sounding board. 

Many businesses are turning to VAs because it saves them money, time and employee benefits!  Talk to a VA about their services and find out how you can free up time, energy and save valuable money.

What romantic plans do you have for your loved one this year?

Chocolates, flowers and candies are all OLD and now a days we are more adventurous.  Tell me what you are planning.

Ok Saskatchewan, where are all the blogs

As I surf on the internet for businesses in my area I am shocked at the number of businesses that are not utilizing the most cost efficient method of advertising – a WEBSITE with a BLOG.  Please don’t tell me that it costs too much or you don’t have the time to get one up and running or your friend is making one when they have the time!

Today’s world is fast pace and full of high tech gizmo’s that only benefit the current business owner today.  The newest trend is to blog to your followers.  As someone who has wanted to blog full time for quite some time, I realized that a few minutes a day to add a post is not that bad.  Yes, you need to set some time aside for this and know what you are going to blog about but it can almost be anything.

Whether you want to help others understand your services, promote your new products, provide free information or let everyone know what your doing for weekend is strictly up to you.  Having a mix of content is probably more fun.  Today, a mass amount of business owners throughout the world are blogging so they can make connections with customers or potential customers.  It’s a committ on their part but a good decision that will pay off in the long run.

If you are currently blogging…keep up the good work, if you haven’t started yet….get to it.