Find out how the sales team can help improve your content and content strategy can help your sales team:

Want to Improve Your Content? Make Friends With the Sales Team.

How Great Content Helps Your Sales Team

Ready to start a new content marketing project, but not sure where to start? Take a look at these two editorial calendar articles I wrote for the Content Marketeer:

Editorial Calendars: Where to Start

Editorial Calendars: A Tale of Two Processes

Please join us for our February content meet up in central Denver!

This Month’s Topic & Leader:
Brian Naslund is the Content Manager at TravelShark, an online travel startup based in Boulder that produces content for over 200 location-based travel websites. Brian manages a large team of freelance and in-house content producers that cover everything from the nuances of Singaporean law to topless pools in Las Vegas. He will be speaking about his experiences recruiting and managing a large content team, juggling assignments across time zones and topics, and generating quality (SEO-friendly) content.

When: February 22, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Panera Bread @ Capitol Heights, 1330 Grant Street

Please RSVP via email, Twitter or phone (303.952.0842).

From marketing execs to small business owners to content consultants, I think everybody can benefit from building a community of smart, capable content folks. Which is why I wrote two posts on the topic for the Content Marketeer. If you haven’t read them yet, check them out below:

Why should you build a content community?

How do you do it?

I get all sentimental around the holidays–thinking about what I’ve done during the year and what I’d like to do next year. As so many people do. But this year I’ve been thinking about resolutions a little differently. Sure, I made some of my own–to build up certain parts of my business, to live like a minimalist, to be generous, etc.–but I also want to challenge my clients to make some content-related resolutions this year.

For small businesses and non-profits, you end up having to wear a lot of hats. And one of those hats, even with a little start up help from my team, is usually the content hat. So, here are a few suggestions…things I think small businesses and non-profits can do well in the coming year. Things we haven’t always done well in the past. And things that can really impact your business in a positive way.

So, without further ado, here are my suggested 2012 Content Resolutions:

1. Update the online on time.
   When asked what made them leave or distrust a website, site selectors said out-of-date content. Specifically on your news page or your home page. And other studies suggest that other types of users feel the same way. The number one thing I’d love to see this year is up-to-date websites, blogs and news feeds. I think it’ll make a big difference in reputation and user actions.
2. Tweet like a human.
   This is something I wrote about back in 2010, but I think it’s still a struggle in many cases. Twitter is a social networking platform. It’s not a broadcast system. It’s not a monologue. Instead, treat it like you would treat an in-person networking event. Have conversations. Be interested in the people who follow you. And when you tweet about yourself, make sure the content is useful to those listening.
3. Don’t get ahead of yourself.
   When you start a new website project or content project or marketing project, it’s easy to get really excited. To think about all the other stuff you can do, all the social networks you can join, all the newsletters you’ll send! But don’t forget that every journey starts with a few steps. And all marketing, content and website projects require continued care after that initial push. If you overcommit yourself, it’ll only make you tired and affect the quality of your marketing/content/website in the future. So, start small. And add things to your plate as your time allows.
   
   
4. Ask “why?”
   When you’re working with content, whether adding something new, updating something that exists or removing something you no longer need, ask yourself why. And let the answer to that question dictate whether you take the time to add, remove or update. For example, if you ask “why are we adding a Facebook page?” and the answer is “because we think we should” or “because Facebook has lots of users” you may want to do a little more research before committing yourself. Not every company will find its audience on social networks (do you search for a plumber on Twitter?). And not every popular trend is the right one for you. Asking why before you take on a new project will make sure you’re using your (probably limited) resources in the most effective way possible.
5. Surround yourself with resources you can trust.
   Whether it’s a consultant, a meet up group, a book or a series of online resources…find experts you can trust to help you build your small business or non-profit. A solid meet up group or smart consultant can help you know what you can reasonably try to do on your own (and help you figure out how to do it) and what you really need outside help with. If you’re a non-profit, said group or consultant can probably also help you find (at least in part) some reduced or pro-bono options that will still work well. There’s no reason to go it alone in 2012 — find a resource you can trust.

Any other content resolutions you’d like to see in your small business/non-profit?