6 Buzzwords Every Content Marketer Should Know and Use

After recently having an interview for a new marketing position, I realized something: for every job or career field, there are certain words that make people's eyes pop with excitement. Terms and phrases that trending in the industry or jargon that every expert should know and use correctly. For example, when chatting with this interviewer, terms like marketing automation software, click rates, and user generated content really got him going.

So I thought to myself, what are some words related to content marketing that create the same sort of excitement? What are phrases that I would want to know before going into a position related to content marketing?

Here are six content marketing related buzzwords that might get your interviewer's attention:

1. Storytelling

As a marketing tactic, the term storytelling is based on the idea that people remember information and connect with products and brands better when it is told as a story rather than presented as a list of facts. Take a simple product like Kleenex for example. Their advertisements aren't 60 secs full of stats about what the tissue is made of, how it's manufactured or how many tissues are in a box. Instead they tell a story of little boy too sick to play in the snow with his friends. That is until he uses Kleenex and his nose begins to hurt less. That kind of story will resonate more with mothers of sick children.

2. Storyscaping

Similar to storytelling, storyscaping is a new marketing approach that brings together the power of stories with the excitement experiences to create immersive worlds where brands and consumers connect. By using Storyscaping, brands can move beyond making ads and into creating worlds where their story becomes part of the consumer’s story. One way companies do this is through user generated content and marketing campaigns.

3. Tailored Content

All marketing content should be segmented, personalized and tailored to exactly what your target audience wants to hear. This seems like a no-brainer but many companies don't utilize this as much as they should. Simple data mining and analysis will help to give insight on what types of content and text your customers want to see.

4. Holistic

A holistic marketing strategy is developed by thinking of the entire business entity, not just the one division or product you are marketing. This helps to create a cohesive message of the business and it's goals to its customers and community. Holistic marketing can be challenging, especially for larger companies, but in the long run, a well planned, comprehensive message will resinate more effectively.

5. Relationship Marketing

This type of marketing activity is focused on creating long-term and trusting relationships with customers. Fostering and maintaining customer relationships is more than just checking in on past customers every once in a while. Customer profiling, analyzing buying patterns, maintaining purchase records and fielding complaints or questions is all part of creating a loyal customer.

6. Sticky Content

No, I don't mean physically sticky like covered in honey and gum, but the same idea applies. You want your marketing message and brand to stick with the potential customer long after they've seen your ad in a way that they'll easily recall it. For example, whenever you hear "ba da ba ba ba," you'll automatically finish it with "I'm loving it."

Next time you're in an interview and discussing content marketing, or even marketing in general, work some of these terms into your responses. You might just impress the interviewer enough to land the job!

Can't Stop, Won't Stop...Until Writer's Block Hits

We've all been there - working on a great writing piece when suddenly your mind goes blank. You have no idea what to say anymore. You know there's more content somewhere in your brain, but you just can't seem to find the connection to get it onto paper.

So how do you spark that connection again? Fear not, I have done a little research and have the solution to your problem.

8 Tricks to Overcome your Writer's Block:

1. Just write. 

Many times, people get hung up on making their first draft a work of art. Reality check, it's called a first draft for a reason. Lower your expectations, put down any thoughts that come to mind and revise it later. Rome wasn't built in a day and your work doesn't need to be either.

2. Put on some music. 

Be inspired by other people's creativity! Listening to music can help you relax and let the ideas flow. Depending on your style you may like simple instrumental music or high energy tunes. (Or if you're like me you'll choose instrumental hip hop; high energy but without words to distract me.) Find what works for you and get back to the writing.

3. Go for a walk. 

This one is actually three-fold. First, exercising gets more oxygen to brain, which makes it pump and work more. Exercising also makes you more awake, alert, and open to inspiration. And third, try walking and talking. While your up and walking around, talk out the topic you're trying to write about. You might just find an angle you haven't seen yet.

4. Take a cold shower. 

Now this one I don't necessarily agree with, but the internet tells me otherwise. Taking a cold shower sends a shock to your system, which will boost your energy levels. For other ways to boost your energy levels, refer to number 3.

5. Do a Mark Twain.

Break down your writing into smaller, more manageable tasks. Mark Twain advised that this would help to lower the expectations and pressure on having a complete and perfect piece.

6. Or a John Steinbeck.

Steinbeck's advise was to imagine yourself writing a letter to a friend or your mother about the topic. The casual nature of the letter will let the words flow right out. And similarly to Twain, it helps to relieve the pressure of needing a perfect piece.

7. Rise and Shine.

Fact: the brain is more creative in the morning. This is most likely because we've just woken up, we're refreshed, and we haven't gotten bogged down with all the stress of the day yet. Try setting aside some time every morning to get your thoughts down while your creative brain is at its peak.

8. Get a Pet.

How is it even possible to be worked up around fuzzy animals? Hang out with your furry friend for a little while, let yourself relax, and then try writing again. Odds are your pet will help to reduce your anxiety and lower your expectations, and it'll give you something else to focus on for a bit.

Try one, try them all. Find what works best for your style and get writing!

The Physics of Marketing

Yes, you read that correctly - The Physics of Marketing. Now I know what you're thinking, "How in the world are these two things possibly related?" Just hear me (and Dan Cobley) out here. 

A lot of non-marketing people think that what we do is easy work. That we just throw words and pictures together into a pretty, catchy advertisement. But in reality, marketing is much more than that. There are techniques and strategies to be learned about marketing. There is research involved in finding the right audience and sending them the best message through the right media. There is analyzing being down around every corner to determine effectiveness. Good marketers know these things, study them and are constantly working to perfect them. 

So in many ways, like physics, marketing is a science. There may not be perfect equations or constant truths. But, there are several theories that can be taken from physics and directly applied to marketing. Watch Dan Cobley's video below to see what I mean. 

Dan Cobley: What Physics Taught Me About Marketing

TedGlobal 2010 @dcobley 

Now, I wouldn't recommend everyone go start some new science experiments, but think about how this theories can effect your business's marketing and brand image. Are there things you could change based on what you've learned? If they are easily changeable, try something new and analyze the results. Who knows, you could be the next Bill Nye of marketing!

3 Books to Improve Your Marketing Content

Knowledge is power. And where does knowledge come from? From learning and absorbing new ideas from things around you: people, images, books, etc. Everything we know we learned from someone or something else. We learned to speak by listening to others talk. We learned to ride a bike and drive a car from others teaching us. But once we learn all of the basic things, how do we learn more advanced things? By reading.

Marketing is a complex and constantly changing field of study. New trends and new media are introduced everyday. Because of this, marketers need to learn from each other. Reading books, like the following three, from experienced experts is the best way to help craft your skill. If you're in the market for a new book to read, consider of these three!

1. Hey Whipple, Squeeze This: The Classic Guide to Creating Greats Ads by Luke Sullivan

Not only does Sullivan's book cover every aspect of advertising, from TV to radio to print and beyond, it also talks about several topics related to marketing, like a brief history and explanation of why you should want to get into marketing. But what makes his work truly awesome, is Sullivan's funny and witty way of writing. If you didn't catch it, the title itself is a jab at old Mr. Whipple from the Charmin commercials. This is not just another hum-drum, textbook style piece. This is the type of book that you actually want to read.
"Hey Whipple" has been rated 4.6 stars on Amazon.com with customer testimonials calling it their "marketing/advertising bible." According to Heywhipple.com, this book will "help sharpen your writing chops, unleash your creativity and raise the level of your work whether you're new to the business or a practicing professional. "

2. The Doodle Revolution: Unlock the Power to Think Differently, by Sunni Brown

Admit it. When you were younger and daydreaming during class, you drew little doodles on the side of your notes. Whether they were hearts, animals people, etc., those doodles were an expression of your creativity. Now think yourself, when was the last time you doodled? According to Sunni Brown, it should be more often. 

In her book, Brown explains why doodling should be viewed as "one of the most powerful, practical and pleasurable tools" available to us and everyone can and should use doodling to "unlock the power to think differently." Customers on Amazon.com rated this book 4.4 stars, saying "this is the real deal."

3. Difference: The One-page Method for Reimagining Your Business and Reinventing Your Marketing, by Bernadette Jiwa

Although not specifically a marketing book, "Difference" is a book for all types of organizations and all aspects of business. Unlike the previous two books which discuss ways of doing, Jiwa's book talks about a new way of thing; difference thinking. As the author explains, “Difference thinking is more than the ability to connect the dots. It’s about seeing the truth, recognizing the opportunity in that truth and then acting on it. You need to learn how to see the dots and understand the significance of connecting them before you can begin.”
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com, "Difference" customers call this book "refreshing."

Sticks and Stones and Words can Hurt You

When we were kids, all of us at one time or another repeated the old adage, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." When we were five years old and in a name-calling fight with a classmate on the playground, saying this phrase meant we were big, tough, invincible and no matter what they called us, we weren't effected by it.

Marketing is completely the opposite. The words you say in an email, TV, or radio advertisement or a Facebook or Twitter post can effect how customers view your brand and their likelihood of buying your product or service. 

Don't believe me? Here are three reasons why good content matters:

1. The proof is in the pudding...I mean the search results

Don't even try to fool Google's algorithm. It can sniff out quality sites and content like a fox hound. This algorithm can see right through any black hat's rule breaking SEO practices. By looking at time spent on pages, bounce rates, and number of times shared (among tons of other site characteristics) and not just keywords and phrases, Google is getting better and better at finding the real content. 

2. Learn about the people behind the clicks

This part takes a little bit of extra work on your part, but in the end it's worth it. Track clicks, comments, likes, anything and everything you can. Try to find patterns in the data you collect. Are there certain topics that get more viewers, what taglines get more clicks, what kind of comments are people making? If you find that certain things aren't working, try switching up your strategy. You won't know until you try!

3. Good content gets noticed. Period.

It's as simple as that. With today's consumers being bombarded almost constantly with advertisements and messages, it takes really strong content to grab their attention and hold it long enough to get your point across. Not only that, but if you can capture and keep someone's full attention, there's a higher chance they will share your message with their friends, furthering your campaign even more.  

U.N.I. Fight!

In honor of my last  homecoming as student at University of Northern Iowa this weekend, I decided to dedicate a post to the place I call home and one of the many aspects of UNI student life that makes this school so special - The Interlude Dance.

For those of you who don't know what The Interlude is, you have four minutes to click here and catch up with the rest of the world.
...

Okay, I'm glad you're up to speed now. Almost five years after it's creation, this crazy dance invented by a group of UNI alumni has become a staple hype song for all Panther Athletic events. If you're a UNI student, you know The Interlude Dance. It's basically taught to every freshman on the first day of class.

So now, without further adieu, the song and dance that will describe my college experience for the rest of my life performed by true UNI fans. Enjoy!




And with that said, GO PANTHERS!!

Content Marketing 101 - Get in the Know!

The idea of content marketing is a fairly new concept in the business world. It has only really taken hold in the last several decades, and with the constant advancements in the world of online marketing, the possibilities for consumer targeted content are becoming endless. Yet many people are still not fully sure what content marketing is.

Enter Intrapromote, LLC and their Content Marketing 101 video. 
The IP Team, as they call themselves, is a group of search engine optimization, social media, and content marketing experts. They created and shared a quick video to explain content marketing, highlight how it's different than traditional marketing, and even debunk a few myths. Check it out!





Content marketing will soon be the main focus of many business. Always remember, consumers are only interested in content that is relevant to them. Find your target audience, and give them the relevant content they're looking for!