TThe Perfect Template for Writing a LinkedIn Article That Makes You Sound Smart

Call it thought leadership, call it authority marketing, call it anything you’d like. Positioning yourself as someone who has useful ideas—and is ready to share them—is a sure-fire way to build your personal brand.

Sitting on your best stuff and hoping someone notices your experience? Not so much.

So, if you’re looking to build your credibility, jump into a new industry, or impress the pants off hiring managers, this crash course will show you the best way to share your ideas!

1. Choose a Topic

People tend to overcomplicate picking what they’ll write about.

If you’re job hunting, just ask yourself: “What area of my expertise is most valuable to my dream company? Which ideas can I share to show them I know my stuff?” Now, if you’re simply looking to reinforce your brand, you can move past writing content that shows off your skills and write an article that also reflects your work style, values, or personal philosophies.

And, of course, with anything you write, you want to present valuable resources and a relatively fresh perspective on your topic.

Ask yourself these questions to get started:

• What challenges do people face in relation to [topic]?
• Where do current mindsets and solutions totally miss the mark?
• Are there three to four tips or solutions your audience should try? (Outline why people should try each one and how to overcome snags along the way).

Doodles, question marks, and scratch-outs—or their digital equivalent—mean you’re on the right track. Remember, you’re not writing the article just yet. You’re just getting thoughts on the page and figuring out which one of your ideas actually has enough to it that you could craft an article around it.

2. Lay it Out

I’m not here to teach you how to be a better writer, but I will fill you in on my process, because it makes crafting a 500+ word masterpiece a lot less daunting.

Really, all you have to do is think of your article like a series of fill-in-the-blanks. Write down the following categories:

• Title
• Intro
• Idea #1
• Idea #2
• Idea #3
• Conclusion

Bonus: We've already done the legwork for you. Head on over to this free worksheet to fill in this outline.

Dumping and organizing your ideas is easier when there are a few sections on the page to catch them. (Oh, and some pieces may revolve around one or two points—that’s OK, too.)

3. Get Writing

I know: Finally!

Start by filling in a working title that describes what you’ll generally be writing about, knowing the whole time that you’ll refine it once you’ve worked through your ideas on the page.

Next fill out each of your idea blanks. These should be the main ideas or tips you’ll be sharing. Start with just the sub topics, then circle back to flesh out each one with your ideas. Don’t get too concerned about how one section impacts another. You can weave everything together as you edit.

I know it seems backwards, but fill out your intro and conclusion last. Waiting until I’ve worked out my ideas in the body of an article helps me open an article on a stronger note (because I know what’s to follow), and filling out my introduction and conclusion blanks at the same time keeps my message unified from end to end. Try it once: You’ll love it!

Finally (and most importantly): Walk away from your computer!

Eat lunch. Talk a walk. Sleep on what you’ve written.

Then, come back to polish your new content. Which parts need more detail? What can you trim? Would it make more sense if Idea #1 came before Idea #2? Where could you use more personality?

It’s not exactly scientific, but this approach works. If you’re just cutting your teeth as a writer, try these resources:

• How to Write Anything and Everything Faster (and Save Yourself Some Time)
• 7 Free Tools That'll Help Anyone Become a Better Writer Today
• How to Write a LinkedIn Article If You’re Not a Writer

And don’t forget: Many people with published articles or interesting blogs aren’t operating alone. They bounce ideas off more experienced friends or team up with freelance editors to make sure their stuff is top quality.

Hire an editor on Fiverr if you have to. Sneaky? Some might say so, but others would probably call that very smart. Another option’s to ask a friend to look it over for typos, and share any questions they have. 

4. Share It

Publishing your article and sitting back to wait for some viral action sounds too easy, right? That’s because it is. But don’t worry, you don’t need to become an SEO guru or social media strategist to get your article some well-deserved attention.

One of the easiest ways to create some traction for your piece is to directly reach out to your network and ask them to share your article. You message might look something like this:

Hi [Name],

I just published a new article that I think might interest you. It’s called, “[Title].”

Here’s a link to it: [Link].

Thanks for taking a look; I’m excited to hear what you think of it!

Best,

[Your Name]

Make your article a visible staple in your personal brand by sharing it across your social media platforms and network, but don’t stop there.

Plug it into your email signature “Check out my latest article at [Link].” Include it within your resume, or as part of your interview follow-up: “You mentioned XYZ during our chat. My latest article might help with…”—you get the idea. You worked hard on this bad boy, so don’t let it go overlooked, even if it means leveraging a little shameless self-promotion.

Establishing yourself as a voice in your field takes time, which is all the more reason to get started already. Stop sitting on your best ideas! Even if you don’t identify as a writer, give the steps above a shot, and then keep at it. The more you put your ideas out there, the sooner you’ll start getting noticed by influential companies (and people) in your industry.

Source: https://www.themuse.com/advice/the-perfect-template-for-writing-a-linkedin-article-that-makes-you-sound-smart

The 7-Point Smart Solopreneuer Social Media Checklist

90 percent of businesses say social media is crucial to their marketing. But the point is, are you doing yours right?

In a world where (according to an Adweek study), over 90 percent of businesses say social media is crucial to their overall marketing strategies, solopreneurs arguably have the most to gain and lose via social networks.

Sure, those platforms often have a reputation for being total time-sinks or wastelands of marketing ROI. But savvy solopreneurs understand how to use platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to spread the word about their businesses. In many cases, these same solopreneurs are growing those businesses and bottom lines without spending a dime.

But, when you're using social media to pursue networking opportunities or seal the deal with new customers, how do you know whether you're using your time wisely or merely spinning your wheels?

Fear not. The following checklist is a guide for solopreneurs looking to pinpoint their social strategy and use their time on these platforms wisely, to build their investment in their business.

1. Pick a primary channel.

Simply put, you need to decide on a single social channel that's going to command most of your attention. That's not to say you can't focus on both Facebook and Instagram, for example, but trying to be in multiple places at once will inevitably burn you out.

For many solopreneurs in the B2B space, Facebook is the number one channel to focus your efforts. There's a good chance that your clients and customers are already connected to the platform in some way, shape or form, especially considering that users spend an average of 50 minutes on Facebook per day.

Niche businesses, however, are booming on Instagram, especially those within B2C industries such as fashion and beauty. Growing and monetizing Instagram followers is arguably easier than ever; meanwhile, Instagram has one of the highest average order values via ecommerce, at $65 per order.

When in doubt, you can pick your primary channel by answering one simple question: "Where are my clients and customers hanging out?" If there's a clear answer, then you know where to start.

2. Don't spread yourself too thin.

Despite popular belief, you don't need to be active on each and every social site. In fact, there are no "must-have" networks for solopreneurs, truth be told.

But, think about it: There's absolutely no way you can effectively manage a presence simultaneously on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn by yourself. If you try, you'll neglect at least half of your social sites.

Solopreneurs have two options when it comes to attacking the various social channels available.

• Pick a primary channel coupled with one or two secondary channels (for example, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn).
• Focus on a primary channel while using a social automation solution to help push content and maintain a presence on secondary channels

For example, apps such as Buffer and Sprout Social allow solopreneurs to curate and queue content to their social network of choice without lifting a finger. While such solutions do require a monetary investment, they allow your brand to be in multiple places at once, so to speak.

3. Never stop networking.

The old adage, "Always be prospecting," rings incredibly true for today's solopreneurs on social media.

There are seemingly endless opportunities to connect with new clients, win over customers and share your business's content all at once.Private Facebook groups based around your industry represent potential gold mines of new business. Likewise, sites such as LinkedIn put you on the same level as CEOs and industry bigwigs.

4. Position yourself as an influencer.

Oftentimes, making yourself heard via social media means playing the role of a bigwig yourself. By positioning yourself as an influencer, you grow your authority within your niche and make yourself more attractive to potential clients and customers. Some smart yet simple positioning strategies on social media include:

• Thoughtfully responding to questions and comments on industry-related Facebook or LinkedIn groups
• Republishing your own content to the various social channels, including LinkedIn's own publishing platform
• Regularly commenting on the updates of major players in your industry, showing that you've got the chops to be a bigger player yourself

Any combination of these strategies not only puts your name out there, but also publicly displays your commitment to your industry.

5. Look for opportunities to curate social proof.

Especially if you're a new solopreneur, social media represents a great place to curate social proof on behalf of your business.

Ever leave a comment that got tons of positive feedback? Created pieces of content that just about went viral? Have clients who've given you a digital "thumbs up" or a public "thank you" via social?

If so, you can use such social proof as a way to seal the deal with future clients and customers. By highlighting your positive social experiences either on site or throughout your marketing materials, you can break down the trust barrier for any skeptics who may not think you're the real deal.

6. Professional imagery goes a long way.

This point is crucial but so easy to ignore: Something as simple as your professional headshot can make all the difference when it comes to networking via social media.

If you want to be taken seriously, present yourself accordingly. Bathroom selfies and party pics aren't going to cut it if you really want to make an impression on your audience.

7. Don't let your profiles gather cobwebs.

Finally, don't let your social presence fall to the wayside. Period.

Consistency is key to gaining followers and traction via social: The more you post, the more you will grow an audience that's hungry for what you have to say.

On the flip side, if a certain channel is netting you absolutely no engagement, don't be afraid to cut it loose for the sake of your time and energy.

Today's solopreneurs are living and dying by their social presence. By sticking to this checklist, you can save yourself from scrambling for a social strategy and focus on what really matters: growing your business.

Source: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/295463

Posting Your Blog Content on Facebook

Having a corporate blog is an important digital marketing strategy. It helps with SEO, gives your customers and clients important information, helps educate new customers and clients, and is a great platform to talk about what you do and how you do it.

Undoubtedly you spend a fair amount of time curating the content for your blog. You come up with ideas, write the content, optimize it for your website, and more. After it’s written, you want to make sure that people actually read it.

One of the best ways to get your blog content out there is to post it on your social media channels. Facebook is an especially powerful tool for posting your blog content and having people read and share it.

There are a few tactics that you can use to your advantage when you post your blog content on Facebook. Here are the ones that work the best:

Share your blog on Facebook

 First thing is first, you should share your blog on your corporate Facebook account fairly soon after publishing it on your website. This ensures that the content is timely and lets people know that you published a new blog.

As an added bonus, sharing your blog on Facebook is totally free and it has the potential to spread far and wide. Encourage people to share it. Share it with your friends and business associates. The more eyes that see your blog post on Facebook, the better.

Boost the blog post on Facebook

Using Facebook’s boosting options is a great way to get your blog content to the right people. When you boost a post, you choose who it goes to and can see how many people it can reach with a certain budget.

You can choose to pay per click, per 1000 impressions, or per engagement. This allows you to customize your boosted blog post to garner the action you want from your readers. Boosted posts can not only help ensure that your current customers and clients see your new blog content, they can also help new people see your blog and learn about what you do.

Use great headlines

When you post a blog on Facebook, the headline is one of the first things people see. In fact, almost 80% of people never even make it past the headline. Because of this, you want a powerful headline that encourages people to click into and read the whole blog post.

Keep the headlines short and to the point. Tell readers exactly what they should expect to get out of the blog. If there are any important or eye-catching numbers or facts, those can be great to incorporate into the headline.

Imaging matters

When you publish a blog post on Facebook, it is important to add an eye-catching image to make the link stand out in the newsfeed. Stock images are okay, but images that you take or create are better.

Whatever you choose to use, make sure all the images are high-contrast and colorful. That helps them pop in the hectic and crowded space of someone’s Facebook newsfeed.

Write top-notch copy

While there are some tricks and tactics that can help your blog get attention on Facebook, nothing can beat solid copy. You can have the best headline and imaging and people still may not click on your blog post due to weak or uninspiring Facebook ad or post copy.

Those 140 or so characters that you write to describe the blog post in the Facebook post or Facebook ad are vitally important to getting people to read your blog. Make the copy stand out.

Use testimonials, ask questions, give a solution to common problems, use a clear call to action, appeal to people’s emotions. You need to capture people’s attention with your copy to get them to read your blog.

Facebook can be a powerful tool in promoting your blog content if you want to learn more about how to make it work for you, check out my done-for-you system.

6 Content Marketing Strategies That You Need to Rethink

Content is king. At least, that’s the phrase that’s been tossed around for the past few years. One of the biggest factors in the success of any internet marketing campaign is the quality of the content. While you might think that you’ve got a handle on content marketing, there are a few strategies that you may need to rethink.

If your marketing strategies are getting stale, it could be time to refresh your perspective. Review some of the latest strategies. The following 6 content marketing tips can help you reshape your approach to content marketing.

Write Longer Content

One strategy for surpassing your competition in search engine rankings is to write longer content. Take a look at the blog posts and content released by your competition. Copy and paste the content into a word processor to determine the length of the content. You’ll find that most content is less than 1000 words.

Focus on Long Tail Keywords

When you perform keyword research, look for long tail keywords. Work these keywords into the title of your content. As you write the content, you’ll naturally find that you include variations of these long tail keywords. This lets you cover all your bases and include a wide variety of phrases.

Quadruple Check Spelling and Grammar

It’s amazing how much content contains spelling and grammar mistakes. While a customer may overlook one or two small issues, content that’s full of mistakes is difficult to read. It hurts the brain and the eyes. The majority of readers will leave your site if they find too many spelling and grammar errors in your content.

In addition to using the built-in spell checker on your word processor, consider installing one or two additional spell checking programs. Afterwards, give your content a good read through to catch any other mistakes.

Create Helpful Content

Along with writing longer content, you should ensure the content is helpful. Include actionable steps, suggestions, and tips that your readers can actually use. The majority of the content that you release should provide some benefit to your readers.

How-to articles, lists, and even video tutorials are all incredibly popular options. By creating helpful content, you’ll increase the likelihood of your readers sharing this information with their friends and family.

Share Everything on Social Media

You’re probably already aware that Google and other search engines don’t include social media likes and shares in search engine rankings. This doesn’t mean that you won’t benefit from sharing your content on social networking sites. The more people share your posts, the greater chance of people finding your content and linking to it.

Schedule Your Content

As a final tip, you should consider scheduling your content. If you post new blog articles several times per month, it’s hard to gain repeat traffic. But, if your visitors are aware that you add a new post every Monday afternoon, they’re more likely to check back at the same time every week.

In order to ensure you stay on track with the release of your content, you should schedule your content. This is easy with WordPress, as you can set the publication date. For those using other platforms, you might need to install a third-party application to schedule your posts. Another option is to always have a few posts ready as a backup.

The strength of your internet marketing is often dependent on the quality of your content. Begin using these strategies as a part of your content marketing approach. If you’d like to benefit from additional internet marketing and lead generation tips, then click on this link to learn about my done-for-you system.

How to Drive Traffic and Build Links Simply by Answering Questions

Some great advice here if you're looking to start building backlinks and drive traffic to your website.