2017 Content Planning for Solopreneurs and SMBs

This week, #ContentChat welcomed content marketing consultant Berrak Sarikaya sharing her tips for creating effective content plans for solopreneurs and owners of small and medium-size businesses (SMBs).

Q1. Why do SMB owners and solopreneurs need a content plan? Doesn’t it take more time than it’s worth?

A1 Making a content plan now saves time later. Work towards a goal/plan, not aimlessly. #ContentChat @SFerika
— Eric Sachs (@EricSachs_SEO) December 5, 2016

A1: No matter who you are or what you’re doing for content marketing, you need a plan or you’ll lose track and go astray. #contentchat
— Annaliese Henwood (@MktgInnovator) December 5, 2016

A1. Without a plan, you’ll end up wasting even more time trying to figure out why certain campaigns work and others don’t #ContentChat
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

A1: It’s even more crucial for them to have a solid #content plan, especially if they have a limited advertising budget. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A1: It takes less time to have a plan to do it ad hoc. Despite the massive amt of content, you still have to publish a lot to get noticed. https://t.co/Rwi85Ka42N
— Carrie Hane (@carriehd) December 5, 2016

A1: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. #contentchat
— Lauren Scarpa (@LScarpa22) December 5, 2016

1. Being a #SMB owner or #Solopreneure doesn’t exclude you from needing good planning 🙂 #ContentChat @SFerika pic.twitter.com/2jalKi8zQf
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

A1: Taking the time to plan valuable content that gets results is definitely worthwhile! #ContentChat
— Express Writers (@ExpWriters) December 5, 2016

A1) As a former #SoloPreneur, it’s essential mkting. We live in a world where if you can’t be found digitally, you don’t exist. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/dZfuUmGykZ
— Jason Schemmel (@JasonSchemmel) December 5, 2016

A1: SMB and solopreneurs are business owners. Their work needs to be aligned with a business plan, hence the content plan also #contentchat
— Spin Sucks (@SpinSucks) December 5, 2016

A1b: Having a content plan takes the stress out of the content creation. You’ll already know what to write. #ContentChat
— Express Writers (@ExpWriters) December 5, 2016

A1: It does require time to complete, but it’s better than all the wasted time from mistakes from not having a plan at all. #contentchat
— Annaliese Henwood (@MktgInnovator) December 5, 2016

A1: A good #content plan needs to be aligned with your business goals to help you save time and money in the long run. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A1. A solid plan helps you better understand when to spend your dollars. Even more important for #SMB owners! #ContentChat @SFerika pic.twitter.com/c6x6ypDMoG
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

A1: #SMB owners don’t have time to waste repeatedly answering the same basic ?’s. So use them! Answers > #Content > #SEO > $$$ #ContentChat https://t.co/xX9HOCsUG5
— Tim Mohler (@TimothyMohler) December 5, 2016

A1 Having a game plan is crucial to save time & build brand awareness when your company is lacking in an ad budget. #ContentChat @SFerika
— Victoria Gordon (@VictoriaGordon_) December 5, 2016

A1 With a plan or without, we always end up somewhere. With a plan we can better guide our path. #contentchat
— Jeremy Jones (@jerejone) December 5, 2016

@Sidneytoldme @SFerika Content themes are so helpful when planning & creating! #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

@MelEdits Agree – business, marketing, content plans go hand in hand – whatever type of business you have. #ContentChat
— Eric Sachs (@EricSachs_SEO) December 5, 2016

A1: No matter how small you are, a plan keeps you on track and increases likelihood of success. Also allows for measurability. #ContentChat
— Rachel Macklin (@rmacklinrecruit) December 5, 2016

A1: If you want to see REAL results from content, you can’t afford to skimp out on a #content plan – your audience can tell! #contentchat https://t.co/vUNSZyANm7
— HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) December 5, 2016

A1 #SMB & #solopreneurs are the very ones who need content plans the most b/c they have the least time/resources to waste #contentchat
— Shannon Mouton Gray (@ShannonRenee) December 5, 2016

A1: As a #solopreneur, my biggest issue is task management. Having a plan helps me avoid #content falling through the cracks. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A1 “I don’t have time to plan content” is an excuse translating to “I don’t know how to plan my content.” #contentchat
— Bill Skowronski (@BillSkowronski) December 5, 2016

A1: Blind content creation does nothing for entrepreneurs. Who are you targeting? Is the content valuable? Analyze! #ContentChat
— Kathleen Burns (@katbu) December 5, 2016

A1 Content plans don’t have to be elaborate 50 documents. A couple of pages w/ who, what, where, when & how will suffice. #contentchat
— Shannon Mouton Gray (@ShannonRenee) December 5, 2016

A1: Research, then plan your goals, write them down make them real then create. You need to know your scope. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/hFV1fu1ToJ
— Danielle Siarri (@innonurse) December 5, 2016

@SFerika Oh, absolutely. Especially when I do content marketing for my clients. I tend to forget my own. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

@Fancy_Guppy We run lean, way lean. And although our plans are loose, there is always a plan. #contentchat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) December 5, 2016

A1 #SMB owners and #solopreneurs are often used to doing everything themselves but aren’t #contentmarketing experts. Get help. #contentchat
— Bill Skowronski (@BillSkowronski) December 5, 2016

Good point – it’s easy to get sidetracked when you wear a lot of hats. #ContentChat https://t.co/7glS9zmGp0
— Rachel Macklin (@rmacklinrecruit) December 5, 2016

A1 #SMBs & #solopreneurs need to put thought into their content & write it down so it’s not forgotten & can be acted upon. #contentchat
— Shannon Mouton Gray (@ShannonRenee) December 5, 2016

A1 When you are small, you have to make sure your voice is heard with all those big names flooding the market with their stuff #contentchat
— Jay Miller (@kjaymiller) December 5, 2016

#ContentChat twitter poll: Did you have a documented content plan for 2016?
— Erika Heald (@SFerika) December 5, 2016

A1. Often times people think a plan has to be super detailed. Just map out general concepts to get started! #ContentChat
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

A2. Start with your goals and objectives – what do you want to achieve in 2017? #ContentChat
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

Q2: What are the primary components of a content plan for a solopreneur or SMB owner?

A2: Who, when, what, why? Who’s your target audience? When is it relevant? What’s the topic? Why is it relevant to your biz? #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A2. Start with your goals and objectives – what do you want to achieve in 2017? #ContentChat
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

A2: Primary components are (not limited to): target audience + pain points; Calendar; Platforms; Measurement goals… #contentchat
— Annaliese Henwood (@MktgInnovator) December 5, 2016

A2. Then move into what audiences will help you achieve this goal – what behaviors do they have to exhibit? #ContentChat
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

A2) Congruency with the brand!!! Keep everything similar so that people will recognize who it’s coming from when they see it! #ContentChat
— Jason Schemmel (@JasonSchemmel) December 5, 2016

A2: I’ll probably repeat myself with this: What are your business goals? How does your content plan ladder up to them? #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A2: Content plan basics: Who is your audience? What #content are you going to provide them? How often? Through what channels? #ContentChat
— Erika Heald (@SFerika) December 5, 2016

I content plan so I can use Hootsuite and other tools to schedule my content ahead of time, freeing me up in day to day tasks #contentchat
— GoGirlsMusic (@GoGirlsMusic) December 5, 2016

A2. Move into a content strategy on how you can direct these behaviors to your way #ContentChat
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

A2. Lastly, outline and calendar what tactics will help you achieve this strategy #ContentChat
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

Yes, I learned a long, long time ago, if it isn’t written down, it doesn’t exist. Plans need to be in a tangible format. #ContentChat https://t.co/LJqWmf6Dby
— Shannon Mouton Gray (@ShannonRenee) December 5, 2016

A2: VISUAL ORGANIZATION – like a calendar! It’s the easiest way to see all of your content and campaigns in one view! #contentchat pic.twitter.com/3sJrilItzU
— HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) December 5, 2016

A2: Your content plan should be customized to you. Templates are great and all, but you have your own components to include. #contentchat
— Annaliese Henwood (@MktgInnovator) December 5, 2016

Top elements include determining the best:
-frequency
-message
-conduit
for relationship-building.#ContentChat https://t.co/viRObtNcgp
— Thec3Space (@Thec3Space) December 5, 2016

A2: Content topics driven by biz goals: What problem does your prod/svc solve? What is the larger industry-wide issue? #contentchat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) December 5, 2016

A2: Primary components for a content plan: scope, time, cost, risk, and communication to construct the plan. #contentchat pic.twitter.com/j5THQkN7WH
— Danielle Siarri (@innonurse) December 5, 2016

A2: You need to know and understand your audience. It’ll help you choose topics and content formats. #ContentChat
— Express Writers (@ExpWriters) December 5, 2016

A2 Define who your audience is, choose key messages, create integrated targeted campaigns to reach them #contentchat https://t.co/kIYMeUOOzo
— Katie Harrington (@wildewords_PR) December 5, 2016

A2: The end goal, strategy to get there and tactics to put into practice #contentchat
— Spin Sucks (@SpinSucks) December 5, 2016

@MktgInnovator Agreed. You need to include whatever information YOU need to stay on track, and reach your goals. It varies. #ContentChat
— Erika Heald (@SFerika) December 5, 2016

A2 Purpose+Audience+Channels+Content+Goals = Inspire Action by Giving Audience Value. #contentchat pic.twitter.com/lCUTBSGCxQ
— Bill Skowronski (@BillSkowronski) December 5, 2016

A2. Calendar, content & target audience are 🔑 to creating a successful audience. Be fun by incorporating unofficial holidays #ContentChat
— Victoria Gordon (@VictoriaGordon_) December 5, 2016

A2: Calendars are super helpful way to snapshot what’s coming up, what’s planned, and who is working on it #contentchat
— Kathleen Burns (@katbu) December 5, 2016

A2: Not a primary consideration – but piggy backing off events in the area that align with your business goals #contentchat
— HannaLizKnowles (@HannaLizKnowles) December 5, 2016

A2 The Five Ws or another Marketing mix methodology / frequency / style guide .. be as specific as possible but remain flexible #contentchat
— Phil Siarri (@philsiarri) December 5, 2016

A2: Create content maps with the keywords you want to rank for. More on this 👉 https://t.co/oMatFRXuYe #contentchat
— Spin Sucks (@SpinSucks) December 5, 2016

A2: I always tell ppl to start from their organisational goals- if it’s not tied to something you want to achieve, y do it? 1/2 #ContentChat
— Fancy Guppy (@Fancy_Guppy) December 5, 2016

A2: For #solopreneurs, you may have a lot more to track if you serve a variety of clients. Map it out accordingly. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

Always think about your audience and the important information you’re supplying to them! #ContentChat https://t.co/dtTPHo8yWE
— Eric Sachs (@EricSachs_SEO) December 5, 2016

@SFerika A2. Objective, audience, brand voice, KPIs, calendar (incl. content type, channel, frequency, etc.) #contentchat
— Elizabeth Yao (@YaoElizabeth) December 5, 2016

A2 The content plan for the firm where I work is a 20+ page document. I scaled down as #solopreneur to the basics. #contentchat
— Shannon Mouton Gray (@ShannonRenee) December 5, 2016

A2: Also, really important, who is your target audience. And ‘kind of everyone’ is not a valid answer, niche down a bit more! #ContentChat
— Fancy Guppy (@Fancy_Guppy) December 5, 2016

A1: Plans allow them to have pre-scheduled content (seasonal/relevant) & free up time for real time engagement w/ audience. #contentchat https://t.co/MiYToUh4xf
— Elise (@EliseasaurusRex) December 5, 2016

A2 b When you’re small your unfair advantage is your speed and adaptability / don’t act like you’re IBM or a big content shop #contentchat
— Phil Siarri (@philsiarri) December 5, 2016

A2b: C) best times & achievable frequency & D) tools to simplify . #contentchat
— Tim Mohler (@TimothyMohler) December 5, 2016

A2: Oh, and don’t forget about branding! Your voice should be consistent across all of your content. #ContentChat #ContentMarketing
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A2c: Though 1st, answer What do I hope to achieve? Why do this? Break out the content & channels accordingly. #contentchat
— Tim Mohler (@TimothyMohler) December 5, 2016

A2. If multiple people are creating and sharing content, mock up a messaging doc to keep the brand messages unified! #ContentChat
— Victoria Gordon (@VictoriaGordon_) December 5, 2016

A2 Lack of planning–all kinds–tends 2 B how #SMBs & #solopreneurs fail. We are busy working, we forgot to run the biz. #contentchat
— Shannon Mouton Gray (@ShannonRenee) December 5, 2016

@ShannonRenee For some clients I had lengthy plans to meet the needs of stakeholders who’d otherwise want to be in the weeds. #ContentChat
— Erika Heald (@SFerika) December 5, 2016

Q3: How can a solopreneur or SMB owner identify the right content channels?

A3: You can study up on best practices if you know of experts you trust, or do your own experimentation to see what works. #contentchat
— Annaliese Henwood (@MktgInnovator) December 5, 2016

This should already be part of your overall marketing strategy. Where are your customers? Where will you make the most impact? #ContentChat https://t.co/DNrvsUYzZf
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A3 Where is your audience? Don’t try and make the shoe fit if it doesn’t. #ContentChat @SFerika
— Eric Sachs (@EricSachs_SEO) December 5, 2016

A3: If you’d developed your personas, the right channel is just research, quiz and test what works best. #contentchat #smallbizsayswha
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) December 5, 2016

A3: Research, research, research. As a #smallbiz, you also have the advantage of just being able to ask your customers. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A3: Know your target audience. Go where they are. #ContentChat
— Rachel Macklin (@rmacklinrecruit) December 5, 2016

A3: It’s probably best for you to take expert tips with a grain of salt because what works for them might not work for you. #contentchat
— Annaliese Henwood (@MktgInnovator) December 5, 2016

A3. Understand your limitations. If you can’t learn a popular channel well enough to use it right, wait until you can! #ContentChat @SFerika
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

A3 If your target audience is 35+, don’t put time into Snapchat. If your audience is men, don’t use Pinterest first. #ContentChat @SFerika
— Eric Sachs (@EricSachs_SEO) December 5, 2016

A3 Do plenty of experimentation early on: Mine Google Analytics to see what’s working and go with that. #contentchat https://t.co/Z7ZIrL2HSQ
— Katie Harrington (@wildewords_PR) December 5, 2016

A3 Choose the channel(s) that most effectively delivers your content to your audience. Diversify owned/paid/earned #contentchat
— Bill Skowronski (@BillSkowronski) December 5, 2016

I struggle with benchmarking data unless it’s EXACTLY the same industry. And it’s hard to find that data. #contentchat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) December 5, 2016

A3: For #solopreneurs, it’s where your target clients are the most engaged online. It varies with each industry & client. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A3: Pay close attention to where your audience is – don’t force a channel if your audience isn’t there. #contentchat
— HannaLizKnowles (@HannaLizKnowles) December 5, 2016

A3. Do you have competitors? See what they are doing and using well and make it your own! #ContentChat @SFerika
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

A3: Whatever you do, do NOT stretch yourself too thin. You do not have to be on every channel. In fact, you shouldn’t be. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A3: Research & A/B testing. For example: if you’re audience is HR professionals, LinkedIn is better than Pinterest. #ContentChat https://t.co/BWkj5uQ1sy
— Elise (@EliseasaurusRex) December 5, 2016

@SFerika A3. Conduct customer interviews/surveys. But the right channel w/o the right content doesn’t work either. Need both. #contentchat
— Elizabeth Yao (@YaoElizabeth) December 5, 2016

@SFerika A3: Understand where the competition and the audience is! Spend time on each channel to understand #ContentChat
— Sid says (@Sidneytoldme) December 5, 2016

@carriehd Do your homework. I do extensive research, starting with their websites & subscribing to their newsletters. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A3: By determining their audience and then figuring out how that audience wants to receive their content – social, email, etc. #contentchat
— Lauren Scarpa (@LScarpa22) December 5, 2016

A3: Be where your audience is so you can actually reach them! #ContentChat
— Express Writers (@ExpWriters) December 5, 2016

@carriehd For local #smallbiz, I actually try to meet the biz owners face-to-facte to ask them about their pain points. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A3 Ask customers/clients how they found you & how often they go there. Most folks will tell you w/o even blinking. #contentchat
— Shannon Mouton Gray (@ShannonRenee) December 5, 2016

A3 Two words: Market research. Observe your competitors (direct / indirect), partners, industry trends. Be aware. #contentchat
— Phil Siarri (@philsiarri) December 5, 2016

A3: Finding right channels is abt knowing ur audience &where they are, knowing ur brand/message &how it’s best communicated 1/2 #ContentChat
— Fancy Guppy (@Fancy_Guppy) December 5, 2016

A3: What channels are your ideal customers using to talk about you+your competitors? Start with those channels. #ContentChat
— Erika Heald (@SFerika) December 5, 2016

A3 #SMBs & #Solopreneurs shouldn’t complicate content w/multi-channel blah, blah, blah. Find what works & work it #TimeisMoney #contentchat
— Shannon Mouton Gray (@ShannonRenee) December 5, 2016

A3 Find out where your audience is and the most logical place for your content. I’ve seen many ignore their biggest markets #contentchat
— Jay Miller (@kjaymiller) December 5, 2016

A3 Prioritize, focus, do a little test & learn. Prioritize, focus, do a little test & learn. Rinse & repeat for success. #contentchat
— Shannon Mouton Gray (@ShannonRenee) December 5, 2016

A3 Treat each channel like an employee with a job to do. Evaluate periodically, promote or fire when data indicates. #contentchat
— Bill Skowronski (@BillSkowronski) December 5, 2016

@SFerika A3: Looking at competitors’ models. Getting on social media and seeing what is out there/what is missing. #contentchat
— Rebecca Bretana (@rbretana) December 5, 2016

A3: Wherever your audience is, but don’t be ‘meh’ on every channel just for the sake of being on every channel #contentchat pic.twitter.com/LdOXeKUwcz
— HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) December 5, 2016

A3c: Think through their mindset as they engage each channel. Is it the right fit? Their frame of mind needs to be right. #contentchat #SMB
— Tim Mohler (@TimothyMohler) December 5, 2016

A3: e.g. If u love writing blog, if not podcast. If ur audience is young go on Snap, if not Facebook. Etc (but more detailed!) #ContentChat
— Fancy Guppy (@Fancy_Guppy) December 5, 2016

Keeping in mind that new channels come and go-experimentation should be regular,so should dropping channels that aren’t working #contentchat
— GoGirlsMusic (@GoGirlsMusic) December 5, 2016

A3 you can also check where your competitors are. If no one is there, it’s probably for a good reason. #contentchat
— Jay Miller (@kjaymiller) December 5, 2016

A3 It’s ok 2 B boutique/niche. I don’t need, nor do I want to compete w/ big boys. I’m good where I am w/ manageable growth. #contentchat
— Shannon Mouton Gray (@ShannonRenee) December 5, 2016

A3d: Of course- talking to your customer is the easiest way to find out what they’re interested in, and where they find it! #ContentChat
— Tim Mohler (@TimothyMohler) December 5, 2016

Where is your tribe? What types of content do they consume? #ContentChat https://t.co/UhlihvCyVE
— Erica (@wickdchiq) December 5, 2016

Q4: How does an SMB owner or solopreneur pick the right content topics?

A4. What are your clients’ common questions? Answer them in advance with your content (blog post, etc.). #contentchat
— Melanie Powers (@MelEdits) December 5, 2016

A4. Search for the “Buzz” within your industry. What are people talking about? That’s what you should write #ContentChat @SFerika
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

A4 Talk with people, not at them. You’ll learn what they care about and what content might engage them. #contentchat
— Martin Lieberman (@martinlieberman) December 5, 2016

A4: Do content on three levels: industry-level topics/challenge-specific topics & service-specific topics. Covers each persona #contentchat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) December 5, 2016

A4: Look at your email & customer reviews. What are the questions you get most often? Create content around those. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A4: Starts with Q1 – plan, plan, plan. Create goals & let that guide your content choices. Listen to your audience/competition. #contentchat https://t.co/unVHCjtCE3
— Elise (@EliseasaurusRex) December 5, 2016

Tip:
-notice what hashtags your audience uses
(develop content that aligns). #ContentChat https://t.co/R8htbybFld
— Susannah the Geek (@greatergoodgeek) December 5, 2016

A4: Talk to your customers- what do they want to know? What did they think thu before purchase? Who else did they consider? #contentchat
— Tim Mohler (@TimothyMohler) December 5, 2016

A4 Your content should give your target audience value. What is their need that you are uniquely positioned to address? #contentchat
— Bill Skowronski (@BillSkowronski) December 5, 2016

A4: Answer the questions your customers already have. Or, do some market research. Talk to followers, note their concerns. #contentchat
— Rebecca Bretana (@rbretana) December 5, 2016

A4: Participate in conversations with your audience. Challenges and ideas come from there. Also, read what they’re reading. #ContentChat
— Rachel Macklin (@rmacklinrecruit) December 5, 2016

A4b: Industry-level content should elevate your brand in the larger industry and generate awareness. #contentchat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) December 5, 2016

A4: Choose content topics based on your audience. What are they struggling with and how can you help? Make sure you add value. #ContentChat
— Express Writers (@ExpWriters) December 5, 2016

A4. Utilize A/B testing to find what works! Social involves a lot of testing bc channels & audiences can vary a lot. #ContentChat
— Victoria Gordon (@VictoriaGordon_) December 5, 2016

A4: Figure out what questions your audience is asking/problems need solving and provide answers/solutions. Keyword research! #contentchat
— Lauren Scarpa (@LScarpa22) December 5, 2016

A4: What conversations are they part of? (Social, Industry, Conference). What do they search for, questions, etc. Provide value #contentchat
— Kathleen Burns (@katbu) December 5, 2016

A4b: Your big competitors w/ big budgets: What do they talk about? Try talking about that w/ a potential customer- do they care?#ContentChat
— Tim Mohler (@TimothyMohler) December 5, 2016

A4c: Challenge-level topics should help drive search traffic and move prospects through the funnel #contentchat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) December 5, 2016

A4. Test. Test. And test again! Find which content works the best and expand on it #ContentChat
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

A4. Don’t be afraid to ask your audience what they like or would like to see. It’s all about appealing to them. #ContentChat
— Victoria Gordon (@VictoriaGordon_) December 5, 2016

A4: Think about topics related to your biz and see where your expertise can add value.
Ex: Bakery? Write about kitchen care. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A4 Again Market Research are the magic words #contentchat
— Phil Siarri (@philsiarri) December 5, 2016

A4: I’m also a fan of the 80/20 rule – 80% industry related content (news, tips, trends) & 20% your services. Don’t just sell. #contentchat https://t.co/unVHCjtCE3
— Elise (@EliseasaurusRex) December 5, 2016

A4: What problem(s) are you solving? Highlight this through your content. #contentchat
— HannaLizKnowles (@HannaLizKnowles) December 5, 2016

A4: Picking the right #content comes from daily research and response from audience based on #analytics #contentchat pic.twitter.com/AMRa0DLD3r
— Danielle Siarri (@innonurse) December 5, 2016

A4 : What you’re passionate about bc ideally your audience will share those values, and VOILA – you’ve got a conversation!#contentchat pic.twitter.com/tmA76bwIQa
— HeyOrca! (@HeyOrca) December 5, 2016

A4 As solopreneur, you only have to answer to yourself. So let your passion come through in your content. It’ll be contagious. #contentchat
— Martin Lieberman (@martinlieberman) December 5, 2016

A4 Talk with customers about what matters most. Listen on social. Maybe even eavesdrop as they shop. #contentchat
— Ken Gordon (@quickmuse) December 5, 2016

A4 – I get #tax and accounting questions from people all the time. Many of those answers become the basis or content #contentchat
— Chris Farrell, CPA (@CFarrellCPA) December 5, 2016

Q5: What are some ways SMB owners and solopreneurs can outsource some of the execution against their content plan?

A5: #SmallBiz owners can ask employees to create content. You can also partner with other #smallbiz serving the same audience. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

To clarify, the other businesses would be non-competitors with the same audience. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A5. When you have a clear plan, you can outsource a lot of the writing to contractors for your blog, articles, etc. #ContentChat
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

A5. I have a virtual assistant who finds & schedules content for me each week. I review & tweak to give my own voice. #contentchat
— Melanie Powers (@MelEdits) December 5, 2016

A5: I’m a huge fan of on-demand services like @Scribendi_Inc @WeeblyCloud and @rev -interview/transcribe/write/edit #contentchat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) December 5, 2016

A5. If you’re NOT a designer, don’t try to be. Find a freelance designer to keep costs down #ContentChat
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

A5: User-generated content or employee advocacy. Get your audience and employees to contribute to feel like they have a voice. #contentchat
— Annaliese Henwood (@MktgInnovator) December 5, 2016

A5. Have some great marketing ideas? Students are always willing to do internships to gain experience! #ContentChat @SFerika
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

A5 Partner with other SMB owners / solopreneurs / small shops you trust #contentchat
— Phil Siarri (@philsiarri) December 5, 2016

A5 Get content from their audience! Ask to submit photos/stories/quotes/tips… whatever’s relevant to the business. #ContentChat @SFerika
— Eric Sachs (@EricSachs_SEO) December 5, 2016

A5: For content: leverage employees, customers, partner w/ complementary co’s or curate content lists of interest. #contentchat
— Tim Mohler (@TimothyMohler) December 5, 2016

A5. There are a lot of great tools out there now to help you generate content ideas without you having to spend a lot! #ContentChat
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

A5 VIRTUAL ASSISTANTs, find 1 or 2 you gel w/ and make magic. #contentchat
— Shannon Mouton Gray (@ShannonRenee) December 5, 2016

A5: Partnerships with like-minded solopreneurs #contentchat
— Spin Sucks (@SpinSucks) December 5, 2016

A5: If you have the budget, work with other solopreneurs who complement your skills. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A5: Don’t try to do everything yourself. If you create what you’re not skilled at, you’re lowering the quality of your content. #contentchat
— Annaliese Henwood (@MktgInnovator) December 5, 2016

I’m not a designer, so I had someone else design a logo for me. #ContentChat https://t.co/R0ZrS41sji
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A5: internal influencers to create content is a must. Also looking for aggregate tools to share industry content on social #contentchat
— Joe Martin (@joeDmarti) December 5, 2016

A5: Freelance content creators are great for kickstarting your content efforts. Content admin tasks can also be outsourced. #ContentChat
— Erika Heald (@SFerika) December 5, 2016

A5: User-generated content is also incredible! #SmallBiz owners can ask customers to submit pictures to share on social media. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A5: #SMB outsource using student interns, #Fiverr, and cross marketing from other disciplines that want to learn a new role. #contentchat pic.twitter.com/LBoQHEkWmB
— Danielle Siarri (@innonurse) December 5, 2016

A5. My business is writing so I don’t use my virtual assistant to write my content, but that’s a good task for a lot of VAs. #contentchat
— Melanie Powers (@MelEdits) December 5, 2016

A5 I’ve used my family in (very) limited ways, especially for informal focus groups. They’re my target audience. #contentchat
— Shannon Mouton Gray (@ShannonRenee) December 5, 2016

A5: @Upwork is great, as is partnering w/ colleges for internship opps or allowing brand to be sr. class project for semester. #contentchat https://t.co/o1WePnAp8r
— Elise (@EliseasaurusRex) December 5, 2016

A5: Hire experienced Writers to help you out! That’s why we exist! 😉 #ContentChat
— Express Writers (@ExpWriters) December 5, 2016

A5b: 4 process, tools like Rev to turn conversation into content, @buffer / @hootsuite, Edgar for maintaining evergreen posts. #contentchat
— Tim Mohler (@TimothyMohler) December 5, 2016

Read a great article the other day on the rise of micro-influencers! https://t.co/8QBj0UOIwg #ContentChat https://t.co/fCAALQ68w2
— Eric Sachs (@EricSachs_SEO) December 5, 2016

A5: Partnering w/ complementary orgs-Create a common flipbook, site, or virtual magazine where you share content creation. #contentchat
— Tim Mohler (@TimothyMohler) December 5, 2016

A5. Hiring a VA or intern to help with the execution side of content marketing can release a lot of the pressure. #contentchat
— pamelahughes (@pamelahughes) December 5, 2016

Q6: What are some areas of content opportunities for solopreneurs and SMBs for 2017?

A6: For #solopreneurs, conferences! Even if you can’t attend an event, create content aligned with the agenda. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A6. Unofficial ‘fun’ holidays, local events, topics that trend weekly. There’s opportunity everywhere if your eyes are open! #ContentChat
— Victoria Gordon (@VictoriaGordon_) December 5, 2016

A6: #VideoMarketing; infographics; live-streaming; the standard long-form blog post; I wonder if anyone uses #SlideShare still? #contentchat
— Annaliese Henwood (@MktgInnovator) December 5, 2016

A5. Hiring a VA or intern to help with the execution side of content marketing can release a lot of the pressure. #contentchat
— pamelahughes (@pamelahughes) December 5, 2016

A6: Live video is an easy, low-cost way to connect with your customers. How can you give them an inside view to your biz? #ContentChat
— Erika Heald (@SFerika) December 5, 2016

A6: It’s important to create a variety of content types to give your audience a mix. 2017 = opportunity to expand. #contentchat
— Annaliese Henwood (@MktgInnovator) December 5, 2016

A6: Live video is massively outperforming on Facebook. Is there something people need to see that is timely? #contentchat
— Tim Mohler (@TimothyMohler) December 5, 2016

A6. I think live video is going to continue to be a huge area of opportunity. Especially for SMBs/solopreneurs! #contentchat
— pamelahughes (@pamelahughes) December 5, 2016

A6: There is so much opportunity for content & it’s literally all around you. Ask your customers what they’d like to see, too! #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A6: Ebooks! For a variety of industries. If you’re an expert, write what you know! Good incentive for subscribers and leads #contentchat
— Rebecca Bretana (@rbretana) December 5, 2016

A6: I #periscope my travels to events to promote them and share #content. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/bFotJ2IYMq
— Danielle Siarri (@innonurse) December 5, 2016

A6 With the seeming resurgence of TwitterChats, find a few & get to tweeting. #contentchat
— Shannon Mouton Gray (@ShannonRenee) December 5, 2016

A6: Video, definitely, huge growth area. Audio too, e.g. podcasting #ContentChat
— Fancy Guppy (@Fancy_Guppy) December 5, 2016

Q7: What are some content planning tools and resources for SMBs and solopreneurs?

A7: Well, this free content planning template, for starters: https://t.co/v0cCYARgJA #shameless #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A6: I #periscope my travels to events to promote them and share #content. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/bFotJ2IYMq
— Danielle Siarri (@innonurse) December 5, 2016

A7. I love @buffer for scheduling, and have heard great things about @meetedgar. #contentchat
— pamelahughes (@pamelahughes) December 5, 2016

A7. Hubspot is full of templates to start off with, then build your own off of! #ContentChat
— Uniform Nations (@Uniform_Nations) December 5, 2016

A7 Again I’m going to cite my friends at @CMIContent , who often cover such topics #contentchat
— Phil Siarri (@philsiarri) December 5, 2016

A7. For content curation, @flipboard, @buzzsumo, and @klout are great spots to search. #contentchat
— pamelahughes (@pamelahughes) December 5, 2016

A7: I often use a spreadsheet for my editorial calendars. @Kapost, @CoSchedule also good options. #ContentChat
— Erika Heald (@SFerika) December 5, 2016

A7: I really like @CoSchedule. It’s visual, easy to see gaps in content and fairly intuitive. Great for collaboration! #contentchat
— Rebecca Bretana (@rbretana) December 5, 2016

A7: We love using @BuzzSumo! #ContentChat
— Express Writers (@ExpWriters) December 5, 2016

A7: Spreadsheet for editorial calendar, @feedly and @buffer for curation & scheduling, @coschedule on my blog. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A7: I’m a fan of Marketing.AI. Really simplified content tracking for my employer, but may be pricey for small shops. #ContentChat @SFerika
— Jason Webb (@JasonLWebb) December 5, 2016

A7: Google Sheets is one of my favorite planning tools. I also use Basecamp. #contentchat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) December 5, 2016

A7: Cannot forget @trello for workflow. It’s a lifesaver for me. #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

A7: If you want to have it all, I recommend @CoSchedule or the not-yet-released tool @FlypChart. #contentchat
— Annaliese Henwood (@MktgInnovator) December 5, 2016

A7: #Content planning tools: @Slack_HQ, @zoho #social, #BaseCamp3, & complete task in the moment. Never wait or procrastinate. #ContentChat pic.twitter.com/y4WuRzXtqg
— Danielle Siarri (@innonurse) December 5, 2016

A7. I use Asana for tasks for my virtual assistant (intern, employees also works). Trello sometimes. Buffer is my new friend. #contentchat
— Melanie Powers (@MelEdits) December 5, 2016

.@ShannonRenee A7 Best invest in an experienced product/service photographer who knows your biz, your audience & quality shots. #contentchat
— Mike Godleman 🎯 (@MissingATrick) December 5, 2016

A4 – I get #tax and accounting questions from people all the time. Many of those answers become the basis or content #contentchat
— Chris Farrell, CPA (@CFarrellCPA) December 5, 2016

Q8: What are some examples of SMBs and solopreneurs who are knocking it out of the park with their content?

A7. I use Asana for tasks for my virtual assistant (intern, employees also works). Trello sometimes. Buffer is my new friend. #contentchat
— Melanie Powers (@MelEdits) December 5, 2016

A8: I’m a fan of @DeathWishCoffee! #ContentChat
— Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) December 5, 2016

I know we’re doing pretty good over @point_it … our resource section just keeps growing! https://t.co/9hWpuyGMP1 #contentchat
— Maureen Jann (@MaureenOnPoint) December 5, 2016

.@ShannonRenee A7 Best invest in an experienced product/service photographer who knows your biz, your audience & quality shots. #contentchat
— Mike Godleman 🎯 (@MissingATrick) December 5, 2016

Can’t get enough #ContentChat?

Check out our #ContentChat archives. See you next week!

December 5 Content Chat Recap: 2017 Content Planning for Solopreneurs and SMBs

2017 Content Planning for Solopreneurs and SMBs

Q1. Why do SMB owners and solopreneurs need a content plan? Doesn’t it take more time than it’s worth?

Q3: How can a solopreneur or SMB owner identify the right content channels?

Q4: How does an SMB owner or solopreneur pick the right content topics?

Q5: What are some ways SMB owners and solopreneurs can outsource some of the execution against their content plan?

Q6: What are some areas of content opportunities for solopreneurs and SMBs for 2017?

Q7: What are some content planning tools and resources for SMBs and solopreneurs?

Q8: What are some examples of SMBs and solopreneurs who are knocking it out of the park with their content?

Can’t get enough #ContentChat?

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2017 Content Planning for Solopreneurs and SMBs

Q1. Why do SMB owners and solopreneurs need a content plan? Doesn’t it take more time than it’s worth?

Q3: How can a solopreneur or SMB owner identify the right content channels?

Q4: How does an SMB owner or solopreneur pick the right content topics?

Q5: What are some ways SMB owners and solopreneurs can outsource some of the execution against their content plan?

Q6: What are some areas of content opportunities for solopreneurs and SMBs for 2017?

Q7: What are some content planning tools and resources for SMBs and solopreneurs?

Q8: What are some examples of SMBs and solopreneurs who are knocking it out of the park with their content?

Can’t get enough #ContentChat?

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