Content marketing is a technique where you develop and distribute the best possible content to directly engage your target market and ideal clients. It’s not so much about selling a product to your customers as it is about creating an ongoing relationship where you communicate relevant information to them as a value-added service. The theory being that the more you provide consistent, valuable content to your users without trying to push them to buy something, the more likely they are to give you their business.
One of the most critical aspects of content marketing is keyword research. The more effective your keywords, the greater your chances of increasing your visibility and driving traffic to your website. So, how do you find the best keywords for your ideal market?
In a previous post, we discussed several “Cool Tools for Keyword Research” that will help you come up with a comprehensive list, but you still need to make sure they’re relevant to your target clients. As Internet marketers, we sometimes forget that the jargon we use in our field doesn’t always reflect the terms our potential clients would use when searching for information. Try to think from your target market’s perspective. Brainstorm a list of possible keywords or phrases that your users would use then do a little research to find out how effective they might be.
One great way to see how folks are really looking for things in your market is to check out social media. Twitter’s search function, for example, is a good place to find out how your clients think and talk about topics relevant to your business. Simply input a specific subject or concept that you’re focusing on to get an idea of the conversations that are going on around your topic.
The more you know about what’s being said about the things that relate, directly or indirectly, to your business and your market, the more you’ll understand how your target consumers might be researching topics related to your services. And, when you’re able to meet your potential and current customers on their level, you’ll have a much better chance of gaining their trust and their loyalty.
