NewsCred Insights post says “marketers who produce high-quality, relevant content enjoy audiences who spend significant time on their sites.” The median time people spend on articles is 37 seconds. While many people simply skim content, there are consumers who actually read the articles marketers post.
So how do you produce high-quality, relevant content your audience enjoys?
I’m going to let you in on a well-guarded secret. There are 6 elements to high-quality content.
- Research, research, research
This is where many writers fall flat on their faces. Research is the crown jewel of any written piece. Without research, the words are just words slapped on the page. But with research, the words can sing and resonate with the reader because they speak to the audience.
What is the point of research?
It’s simple – to get to know the audience before writing a single word.
So how do you research that?
Well, you look for places your target audience hangs out. Visit the sites they visit. Enter the communities they belong to. Read comments they post. Why? Because this gives you valuable insight into the mind of your audience. You can find out what they are concerned about, what keeps them up at night, and what problems they have.
I could write volumes on this topic alone. But for sake of this article, the above should be sufficient.
- The Power of One
The best articles ever were written with only one topic of focus. This is called the Power of One. Any article that introduces too many topics in the same piece will confuse their audience.
Make the piece about one thing. Every word added should strengthen that one message, not subtract from it.
- The 4 U’s of Effective Headlines
This is one of my favorite tools in my writer’s toolkit. Once you know this, you’ll never write another dull headline again! The 4 U’s stands for four things to check in a headline or sub-headline. First look to see that the headline conveys “Urgency.” Next, look for if it conveys “Usefulness.” Move on to see if the headline is “Unique” or not. Lastly, make the headline “Ultra-Specific.”
This one tip is worth its weight in gold! If the headline doesn’t get the reader to read the rest, it’s not doing its job!
- The 4 P’s of Body Copy
The main body of writing occurs in what’s known as “the body.” Here we utilize four P’s to remember the following: Promise, Picture, Proof, Push.
First, ensure your piece conveys a promise to the reader. Then strengthen this by picturing the promise being fulfilled. Offer proof. And close with an effective call-to-action.
- The Four-Legged Stool
In addition to the 4 P’s, this next tool adds oomph to your body copy. Here you focus on adding elements to strengthen and balance your copy. Ensure to show your track record to highlight proof. Add elements to demonstrate your credibility. Convey the Big Idea (The Power of One). Lastly, remind readers of the future benefit.
- Powerful P.S.
When closing a piece you want to end with a powerful 1-2 punch. You want to lead the reader to take action. Therefore, you want to remind them of the benefits. Make another promise and introduce a surprise benefit you haven’t mentioned before. Add more credibility. Communicate urgency. Finally, restate or expand your guarantee
So there you have it. I’ve spilled the beans. You know my secrets on how to test content to see if its High-Quality or not.
Now, it’s your turn. Are you going to take the next step with me?
Book a call with me now before my schedule fills up!
