Greetings on this beautiful Friday Fix day! I just had the weirdest revelation –it’s five months until New Year’s Eve. Let that sink it. We’re closer to 2016 than we are the beginning of year…how’s your content doing? Even if you’re not having the best year yet, it’s not too late to turn it around. This week, we talk about giving video a heart, fitting storytelling into your content, who in content marketing to stalk on social media, and the summer’s three hottest summer content marketing trends among other awesome things. So, take a few hours to yourself (you’ve earned them!), kick back, and enjoy the Friday Fix! TGIFFD!
The Art of Storytelling in 6 Content Marketing Context Questions
As J-P De Clerck explains it, storytelling is both an art and a science, a claim that might throw some truly artsy storytellers; however, particularly in the context of content marketing, it’s true. Sure, there’s the creative part that involves crafting an emotionally transformative story that is memorable and compelling, but there’s also the part where you have to figure out its placement within your brand. There’s also a science to telling the story itself, as evidenced by the Periodic Table of Storytelling featured at the end of the piece, which I have a copy of framed and (soon to be) hanging in my home office.
Storytelling Can Improve Your Content Marketing Strategy [According to the Fresh Prince]
huffingtonpost.com
It seems that content marketing pundits can’t get enough of referencing The Fresh Prince, which is cool because neither can I. In this article, Tony Adranga starts by reciting the first few words of the memorable theme song (“West Philadelphia born and raised”). He points out that people can sing the whole blasted thing without trying (it’s stuck in your head now, too, isn’t it?) because it tells a great story. While you hum the rest of the song, read this article about establishing your identity and telling your story from introduction to climax to resolution.
6 Simple Ways to Fit Storytelling into Your Content
So, as we all know, storytelling –like the Internet—is here to stay and for a darn good reason. Stories are the memorable, emotionally compelling component that gives you and your brand an identity and that make your audience want to be your BFF. Naturally, like all things that are incredibly awesome, good, effective storytelling is much, much easier said than done, which is why Dan Brotzel brings these six smart tips for fitting storytelling into your content.
The Tin Man: Video Marketing Needs a Heart
genius.com
It must be song week because Steph Ferrell launches this article with the Tin Man’s memorable Wizard of Oz lyrics, “Just to register emotion, jealousy, devotion—and really feel the part…If I only had a heart.” She ties it into her article to explain that without heart, video is just…eh…video. She talks about videos that have both heart and memorable story (like the Jake from State Farm videos) and then shares how best to give video heart.
Meet 3 of the Summer’s Hottest Content Marketing Trends
Consequently, complaining about the thermonuclear heat isn’t one of the top three content marketing trends Austin Talbert covers; however, I think it is a trend generally speaking because I start sweating just looking outside now like Pavlov’s lesser-known dog. I digress, Austin’s article talks about hot trends like capturing audiences with stunning cinemagraphs, partnering with SnapChat stars for sponsored stories, and partnering with YouTube channels for sponsored content. I should mention there’s a clip of a guy in panda suit on a motorbike, so if the article itself isn’t incentivizing enough (it is), you should check it out just for that.
Hate Writing? How to Still Leverage Content Marketing
theservicecoach.com
Melinda Emerson’s article addresses a very real group of people who I seriously don’t understand: people who hate writing. Of course, most of them are doctors, so they probably feel the same way when I say I hate math (and then they think it’s cute that I still call it “math”) or blood and guts. Anyway, we live in such a culture that nowadays, even if writing isn’t your forte, you still need to be able to communicate in content. Thank goodness for Instagram and Pinterest and other resources suggested by Melinda in this piece, am I right?
How to Find Budget for Content Marketing
Though I’m a dunderhead at most math, I can say with confidence that good content marketing creates money; the more money you have, the more you have in your budget. Therefore, you need content marketing in your life. Even if you don’t have the excess funds laying around, you still need to scrape them together to make content marketing happen for you; however, don’t fire Pam the receptionist just yet! Read Liz Bedor’s article to find a content marketing budget In your existing infrastructure.
What to do When Content Marketing Fails to Improve SEO Performance
netsuiteblogs.com
I wouldn’t be telling the truth if I didn’t tell you that yes –your content marketing efforts can fail; however, it’s not content marketing’s fault, and it may not be your fault per say; though, if things aren’t going the way you anticipated or you’re falling into the red, chances are, there’s a kink in the operations somewhere, which is why Derek Edmond’s article on assessing your content marketing to find and fix the problems is a must-read.
7 Content Marketing Buzzwords Explained
Have you ever been somewhere and someone says something that you should know what it means, but you have no idea; however, since you should know, there’s no way you’re going to ask anybody so you discretely grab you phone and Google search the word, but by then, you’ve lost the conversation and you look like a jerk for getting on your phone in the middle of a conversation? Or am I the only one? In this article, Mary Ellen Ellis defines things like inbound marketing, digital marketing, storytelling/storyscaping, and snackable content, a word that –until now—has only served to make me crave mini Babybel snackable cheeses.
15 Marketing Experts to Follow on Social Media
think-katink.com
You probably are already following a lot of people on your Twiter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social media accounts; however, Jennifer Lonoff Schiff is adding a few more to the pot in case you’re not already following them. These folks specialize in things like search engine marketing, social media tips, and digital marketing trends, which definitely makes them worth social stalking.
How to Create an Editorial Calendar for Your Company (and Why You Need One)
If you like making to-do lists and feeling in control of your life, then you’re going to love editorial calendars. Even if you prefer to fly by the seat of your pants, you still need an editorial calendar. An editorial content calendar essentially helps you plan ahead. It forces you to consider your audience and purpose for your content and plan your blogs and publishing efforts accordingly. What will you post on social media? When? This added level of deliberation adds consistently to when you produce content, and it gives you time to evaluate it for quality. The positive impacts an editorial calendar has on your business will be obvious when you measure your ROI.
Amy Delcambre is a freelance content and travel writer from Mobile, Alabama with a Master's in Creative Writing. When she's not painting the page with nouns, verbs, and adverbs, she's slaying grammar beasts as a freelance editor and saving the world one sentence fragment at a time teaching university writing classes. In her free time, Amy enjoys cooking, traveling, and testing which plant species best survive prolonged neglect.
Connect with Amy: LinkedIn