Written content has something of an advantage online – it’s easier for search engines to find. Then again, you shouldn’t be creating your content for search engines – you should be creating it for people – and people like pictures. And sound. And video.
So don’t be afraid to experiment with different content formats.
Try Video Content
Sites like YouTube make it easy to host video on your website and share it with the world. The guys over at Wine Library TV use Viddler to show their content and do a good job of attracting viewers and selling products on the back of their personality and expertise.
Video is great for demonstrations too – a la my personal favourite “Will It Blend” series.
Audio Anyone?
Podcasts may have lost some of their initial buzz but audio is still an effective way to communicate your content – think interviews and Q&A. Of course, content isn’t just an online thing; try contacting your local radio station and see if they might be interested in your expertise in a regular slot or as a guest.
A picture tells a lot of words
Pictures add another dimension to your content – they can be used to create context, add personality and colour, illustrate written explanations or simply liven things up a little to help keep your audience’s attention.
Go Live
And who says content has to recorded? Try offering a free demonstration to a local audience or speaking at a business event. You could host a free workshop on an important topic – estate agents could talk about getting a mortgage, a gym owner about healthy living or a landscaping company about greener living.
Content should be used to inform, to engage, to build relationships and – where possible – to entertain. To do it well you need to pick the format that suits the message.
One last idea … a cartoon perhaps.
