Content (articles, videos, podcasts, infographics, etc.) is the basis of all online marketing and the foundation of your small business website. Without it, people would have no reason to visit your website. In fact, they probably wouldn’t know your website exists. It’s your web content that makes it’s way into search engines or onto social media sites where it can be discovered by potential customers and, hopefully, convince them you’re an expert in your niche. But creating content takes time…and time is in short supply when you’re busy running a small business.
Fortunately, there are ways for you to speed up the process of creating content without sacrificing quality. If you follow these tips, you’ll actually increase the quality of your content while decreasing the time it takes to create it.
1) Eliminate Distractions
When creating content, it’s important to stay focused. Make a point of eliminating any distractions in your environment. Find a quiet, comfortable workspace. Close any browser windows that aren’t relevant to what you’re creating. Log out of Facebook, Twitter, email, etc. Turn off notifications on your computer and mobile devices so you’re not distracted by the sound and sight of alerts. If necessary, install an app or browser plugin that blocks distracting sites (we use Freedom at eBiz NYC).
2) Start With an Outline
Creating content is a lot easier when you have a clear vision of what you want to communicate to your audience. Start every project by creating an outline of all the points you want to get across. Use headings to capture the main points and bulleted lists to capture supporting details. Before you actually start working on your content, review your outline to ensure you:
- Did not leave out any major points or supporting details;
- Did not include anything that isn’t relevant or useful;
- Presented the information in a logical order.
Once you’re satisfied you’ve captured the right information in the most logical order, you can start working on your first draft.
3) Don’t Edit While Creating Content
A first draft is just that–a draft. It’s not supposed to be perfect. Resist the urge to edit as you go and focus on getting the draft done. There will be plenty of time to edit later. Editing along the way wastes time and will often halt the creative “flow”, so don’t start editing until you’ve finished your draft.
4) Keep it Short and Simple
Try to keep your content short and simple as possible without sacrificing its usefulness. Your goal should be to communicate what needs to be said in a clear and concise manner. As long as your audience is getting what they need out of your content and feel as though you are delivering value, there nothing to be gained by dragging it out. Shorter content take less time to create and consume, so it’s a win/win.
5) Consider Outsourcing
If you find that creating content is taking up too much of your time or not producing the desired results, you should consider hiring a professional content marketing service. By outsourcing the task of creating content for your website, you free up time to focus on other aspects of growing your business. Prices and quality vary widely, but with a little research, you’re sure to find someone who can create content your audience will love at a price you can afford.
As you can see, creating content doesn’t have to take up all of your time. Follow these five simple tips and you’ll be well on your way to filling up your website with great content.