1. Assemble All the Pieces in Advance
Some businesses may have a clear marketing strategy but no content to put toward toward, or a content writer but no clear strategy for putting that writer to work. Or maybe they have both the content creator and the marketing strategy, but no system in place to implement that strategy through everyday social media, print marketing or website tasks.
Don't just hire a copywriter; put an entire team together, like assembling the engine of a car so all the pieces perform in unison. I would recommend starting with the marketing strategist, because this professional can then point you toward the other experts your system needs.
2. Don't Rely on Last-Minute Brainstorms
This one applies mainly to the generation of blog articles, drip-marketing email articles, and other pieces that need to go out on a regular basis. You know you have to create them, and you know when you're likely to need them, but it's all too easy to fool yourself into thinking that you can wait until the last minute to address the issue.
Unfortunately, even the most brilliant copywriter needs a little heads-up and ideation time to craft high-quality work. If you wait until too late to request the latest pieces, you may find your copywriter otherwise engaged, out sick, or otherwise unable to leap into action. Plan ahead, ideally with the aid of a permanent editorial calendar, so you'll have the content you need when you need it.
3. Decide on a Voice Before You Draft
I've been in situations where clients weren't entirely sure what the style and tone of their marketing content should be. "Try something, and we'll adjust it as we go," they said. This approach is like the part of your vision test where the optometrist keeps saying,"Is it better like this or better like this?" Dialing the tone and style into a work in progress isn't impossible, but it is a waste of time and effort (and money, if you're being charged by the revision).
Take the time to sit down with your marketing strategist and settle on a voice for your brand, something aimed specifically at the target market you want (which may be markedly different from the audience your current content is attracting). Once you've nailed that voice, your writer can apply it consistently across all your marketing channels.
4. Avoid "Too Many Cooks" Syndrome
Do you have too many cooks in your content marketing kitchen? I can't tell you how many times I've gotten 90 percent of the way through a requested revision, only to have another set of requests come in that directly contradict everything I just did. Do I bill extra for that fresh headache? You bet I do, and so will just about any other freelance copywriter. The main cause of this disconnect stems from the draft going through multiple reviewers, none of which are aware of (or in agreement with) the others' remarks.
Make absolutely certain that your content creation process is wrangled by one designated individual -- a liaison who receives any and all comments, checks them for consistency, and approves the final set of comments that go to the writer. This important step could make all the difference between two quick, easy drafts and a dozen confusing, sloppily-coordinated ones.
Want more tips for optimizing your content creation process? Contact me and tell me about your current challenges!
