Let’s Create Three Months of Blogs With These 5 Steps

Content Creation, Marketing

Let’s Create Three Months of Blogs in these 5 Steps!

Welcome back, if you are familiar with my blog. If you are new here, I’m jen Vazquez a Marketing Strategist.

I help female entrepreneurs go from overwhelm to an easy streamlined marketing strategy that includes Pinterest + repurposing content to grow their business with very little time.

1| Determine Content Pillars or Buckets For Your Blog

When it comes to blogs, the question I hear the most is: What the heck do I even blog about?  This of course means what do I blog about that people want to read.

The best way to figure this out is to consider what your business focus is and what services/products you sell.  This will center around what your expertise is and what you feel confident about teaching. You should blog about things you are an expert at (and sell services for) and what your ideal client is searching for.

What you should blog about by Jen Vazquez Marketing Strategist
There are typically 3-5 different types of content which are often called content pillars or content buckets.

As an example for my coaching business it’s Pinterest Strategy, Marketing Strategy, Repurposing Content, and Keywords

If you are a wedding photographer, your pillars or content buckets are weddings, engagements, and wedding planning.  You aren’t a wedding planner, but you can talk about the steps that couples take when first planning a wedding. In their wedding process where they typically hire a wedding photographer like picking a venue, wedding dress shopping, picking a date, etc.  

Just remember that the point of providing these free tips, advice, and resources on your blog goes to building that know, like, and trust process with a potential client. 

2 | Brainstorm Topic Ideas For Each Category

For this brainstorming session, we are ignoring the wedding and engagement sessions that you blog.  But ensure you use the venue, city, county, etc. when writing that blog.

First, spend 20-30 minutes and just write out all the things you can think of that your ideal client is struggling with or is searching for.  Consider what your leads or current clients ask.

You can use these tools to consider what is being searched for the most:

The goal is to come up with 4 blogs for each content pillar or bucket, so you have a minimum of 12 blogs ideas.

3 | Research the titles that you have to make them better

The sweet spot for the best blog titles is to find a title that has a good search volume but low competition. 

Also, consider if you are a service-based business locally to use multiple city/location keywords.  You can use the tools I mentioned above.

4 | Create a content calendar for the next three months

Identify which blogs you’ll use for which week.  Consider what you may be launching or for wedding pros where your clients are in the wedding planning process.

You can use software (asana, notion, Monday, Trello) or spreadsheet-like I offer.  The KEY is to ensure that you plan and schedule this content so you know what to do each week.

Bonus points for those that take a few days to write out the three months of blogs.  You can also take a day each month and write four blogs.  For that type of planning, definitely try different things to see which one works best for you.

Also consider your busy season and how much help it will be to not have to write blogs during that time if you do it ahead of time.

5 | Create 5-7 social media posts from each blog

If you do this, you’ll end up with a minimum of 15-20 social media posts for the quarter that you don’t have to come up with.

For the rest, consider Introductions, lead magnet invites, educational and inspirational posts.

Get my blogging content calendar for FREE by clicking the button below.

 

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If you need help with Pinterest, let me know by clicking here.

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5 steps to create three months of blogs
Let's Create Three Months of Blogs in 5 Steps
How To Create Three Months of Blogs in 5 Steps
Let's Create Three Months of Blogs in 5 Steps
Let's Create Three Months of Blogs in 5 Steps

Here is more information that may be helpful!

Blog My Simple Core Content System and How To Repurpose It!

Content Creation, Marketing, Pinterest

Core content is simple. It’s content that aligns with your audience’s interests while simultaneously generating demand for your product or service.

An example, I’m a wedding photographer. So my core content in that business is education or sharing my service which helps my ideal client find me on Google or social media. 

It may be a blog of a wedding I did, featuring the city and venue (keywords) so google serves it up to couples searching for wedding vendors or venues. 

It may be wedding planning advice (how to find the best photographer, you’re engaged now what, how to pick a venue for the best images, etc).

Your core content can be a blog, Youtube video, or Podcast.  Let’s use a blog as an example.  

So after you create the blog, research the title to use the best keywords, you’ll want to repurpose to YouTube or podcast, or Instagram live. 

Then here is how you’ll repurpose. 

Here are just some ways that I repurpose for you to get the gist.  Here they are:

 

  • Start with a blog about your expertise 
  • create a YouTube of slideshow images
  • create a reel of behind the scenes
  • it becomes a video on Pinterest
  • video on LinkedIn
  • video on tik tok
  • video on YouTube 
  • add a video to blog
  • create an idea pin featuring the venue 
  • turn that info another reel 
  • create a IG carousel post tagging all vendors
  • create a venue guide by adding all images for that venue
  • create a carousel on bouquets and include one of the images from this wedding
  • google my business. Add a review of the venue saying how you love photographing there and add your images
  • share any of the above from time to time on stories 
  • share stories from the past (tag all vendors)
  • write a spotlight venue blog with the images from any wedding there
  • top 10 or 20 wedding of the year blog
  • anniversary IG post

That’s just a few ideas.  If you do this for each wedding and educational blog, you’ll never have to worry about creating more content.  Creating a core piece of content each week is the best to really drive traffic. And all of that content will help to get you found.

In addition, don’t forget that each piece of core content can create around 5-7 IG posts, reels, or other social media content.

 

If you need help with Pinterest, shoot me an email HERE.

Don’t forget to pin it!

My Simple Core Content System and How To Repurpose It!
My Simple Core Content System and How To Repurpose It!
My Simple Core Content System and How To Repurpose It!
My Simple Core Content System and How To Repurpose It!
My Simple Core Content System and How To Repurpose It!

Here is more information that may be helpful!

How to make marketing easier and less time consuming in 2022

Content Creation, Marketing, Pinterest

The question I get most asked from clients and potential clients is…… How to make marketing easier and less time-consuming in 2022.

Today I’ll be sharing my answer with everyone.  If you have a plan and a strategy that is focused on your business goals, it makes the whole process of marketing easier!

The plan and strategy are around your process for marketing and of course consistently, which is the hardest part of marketing.  If you are consistent, you’ll see growth in terms of analytics.

The other key to making it easier and less time-consuming is REPURPOSING.

Repurposing existing content is secret!  We’ll cover a few different ideas of how to take content that already exists, as well as, creating a process for your marketing that starts with one piece of content which turns into content for all social media platforms and more.

I excited for you to walk away from this episode with a bunch of new ideas.  AND…. a mindset to follow a process that will give you more time to spend doing what you love, instead of creating content!

If you want more in-depth help with this, I’d love to personally invite you to join my friend Kim Baker Gomez and my free masterclass discussing how to use video and repurpose it EVERYWHERE!  You can sign up for free here.

Quality vs. Quantity

When you are a solopreneur, you feel like you can never create enough content.  Every time you turn around, you need something else.  The key is to understand that you always want to start with quality content.  Quality content is what your ideal client is typing into that search bar to find your content.  

Google as well as your ideal client wants quality content.  The better your content is, the more trust you are building with that person and Google’s algorithm is very good at finding quality content and sharing it far and wide.

Consistency creates trust with the google algorithm.  It sees you consistently pumping out quality content and will drive more traffic to your blog, and ultimately your business will grow.

Consistency

Consistency is something I talk about a lot.  It’s typically the one missing piece for success on social media and online. 

Algorithms love consistently and tend to produce better engagement and your stuff gets seen more.  And people love depending upon your steady stream of content.  Oftentimes if consistency falls, so does follows and engagement.

The Most Effective Pinterest Marketing Strategy for 2022 by Jen Vazquez Pinterest Strategist

Marketing System

What makes marketing easier is if you have a system or process that you replicate week after week.  When you have a system or process, it helps you be consistent and over time you get faster at doing it.

Most of my clients come to me with inconsistent marketing because they have little to no time.  Whether they are running multiple businesses, have young kids at home, or something else, my typical ideal client has no time and is looking for help.  If they don’t outsource to me, the next best thing is to create a simple system that they follow each week. 

Here’s a peek into what that looks like for most of my clients:

Start with CORE CONTENT. 

This is typically a blog, youtube video, or podcast.  (if you want a quicker way to do a blog, I’ve recommended clients talk out loud on their cell phone voice recorder or even better use Otter.ai.  You talk and it types.  You would then obviously edit so that it’s good but this way you talk to type and it comes across far more authentic and readable.

Create Graphics/Repurposing Content.  

Once the blog writing and editing are complete.  At a different time of day, you will sit down and create graphics.  Here’s a list of the main things, but you can add many more to that.

  • Header graphic
  • Facebook/LinkedIn Graphic
  • Pinterest pin graphics which can also become IG stories
  • Idea Pin which becomes a Pinterest Video, IG carousel, IG Reel, Tik Tok, IG video post

 

Store these graphics in a folder on google or dropbox with the title of the blog so you can quickly find it and use graphics throughout the year.

I have mentioned above ways to repurpose the content but the key is to create all the graphics at one time.  When you are writing/editing, it’s a different part of your brain than when you are creating a graphic.  I find I save a ton of time by doing like-minded things at the same time.  

Storing them in a folder on google or dropbox helps you to find them quickly when you are in a pinch for new content on social media!  YES, you can use them again.  Almost NO ONE sees all your content in total and will notice when you use something again.  Especially in IG stories.  For posts, wait 3 months and you should be good!

Keywords

I know it feels and sometimes is time-consuming, but it’s super helpful to ensure that your content is being seen by your ideal client and spread as far as possible.  

There are two times when research can be done. 

The first is when you have a topic.  You can research to find the best title for the blog, video, or podcast.  I like using ubersuggest, google keyword planner, Keywords Everywhere which is a chrome plugin that will automatically give you options when you search on google to the right side. In addition, you can also simply type your idea into google to see what appears in the drop-down menu.

The second is after you write the blog and are looking for alternative keywords to use in the blog to use different types of keywords to attract your ideal client.  Also, you can use the keywords to use on Pinterest pins, titles, descriptions.

Here’s the key to not overwhelm yourself especially if you are inclined to be a perfectionist (hmm I’m offended by what I just wrote ).  Even if you set a timer for 5 minutes and that’s it, it will be helpful to know what words are highly searched to boost your blogs (and all content) reach.

If you struggle with writing blogs or being consistent and research is that roadblock, ignore it for right now and just write a blog.  While I’m on that topic, blogs should be more than 300 words, but if that’s a roadblock, even doing a few paragraphs to get a groove on consistency will really help and then increase it over time.

How Often Should I Create Core Content?

Since there really isn’t a perfect rhythm that Google recommends. Consider what you will commit to, what feels doable, and doesn’t overwhelm you. Whatever you choose, ensure that it’s consistent!  If you can, try doing it weekly or biweekly.  But if all you can do is monthly, that’s fine, as long as you commit and do it.

PRO TIP:  Batching is the key to being consistent and making it easier.  Remember when I spoke about working on like-minded things? If you create your four pieces of core content all in one day, you’ll be working so much faster than doing it each week.  Then each week you can work on the graphics for each piece of core content.

Let me know if I missed anything or if this was helpful over on Instagram! 

​don’t forget to pin it!

HOW TO MAKE MARKETING EASIER AND LESS TIME CONSUMING IN 2022 BY JEN VAZQUEZ MARKETING STRATEGIST
HOW TO MAKE MARKETING EASIER AND LESS TIME CONSUMING IN 2022 BY JEN VAZQUEZ MARKETING STRATEGIST
HOW TO MAKE MARKETING EASIER AND LESS TIME CONSUMING IN 2022 BY JEN VAZQUEZ MARKETING STRATEGIST
HOW TO MAKE MARKETING EASIER AND LESS TIME CONSUMING IN 2022 BY JEN VAZQUEZ MARKETING STRATEGIST
HOW TO MAKE MARKETING EASIER AND LESS TIME CONSUMING IN 2022 BY JEN VAZQUEZ MARKETING STRATEGIST

Group Coaching for Pinterest

If you’d like help, I have a group coaching program called Pinterest Strategy Academy with two live sessions each week.  Also, there is a mastermind where we dive deep into one topic and workshop-style do the work, guest speakers and 10 Pin templates each month. Find out more!

Here is more information that may be helpful!

Why You Should Take Advantage of Social Media Stories

Content Creation

Social media stories are a series of small fifteen-second clips that are live for twenty-four hours or longer, depending on your platform, that works together to tell your audience an engaging story. Of course, the story you tell depends on your overall goals, niche, and objectives as a business owner. In 2019, over a billion and a half people and businesses utilized the stories featured on their platform every single day. This fact should show you just how important and vital this tool is today as a business owner. 

3 most important reasons to take advantage of social media stories for your business: 

To Increase Brand Awareness and Exposure

Social media stories are highly shareable content, making it easy to increase your exposure and awareness on the internet. Bringing value to your audience ensures that they want to share it with their peers, increasing your views and exposure. A vital step to the success of any business on the web. It’s simple, the more people you can get to view your content, the more likely your viewership or audience will grow. Social media stories are another creative and interactive avenue to do this.

To Humanize and Personalize Your Brand

Social media stories are powerful because they are viewed as a more personal and less informal way to communicate with your audience. Showing your human side effectively increases your reputation as a business, as many viewers see this as a more trustworthy trait. This inspires more trust and credibility required to transition your readers or viewers into loyal or paying customers. Being more personable and human also shows your relatability beyond your business responsibilities and goals. You can understand what your audience goes through daily.

To Increase Audience Engagement and Interaction

Audience engagement is how you keep them interested in your business. It also provides them value or solves a problem, further increasing your exposure and reputation as a brand or business. Again, the more value you bring, the more successful you will be. Engaging content keeps your viewers wanting more and provides you more resources to update and perfect your products or services.

Take advantage of these benefits by adding social media stories to your marketing plan today. The more tools you use within each platform, like stories, the easier it can be to build your awareness and exposure as a business while improving your audience engagement and participation. In other words, not taking advantage of social media stories is a poor decision and only shows your audience that you don’t care to adapt or provide them more value.

FYI I have a membership that may help you!

I talk a lot about my membership is about repurposing content and getting your lead magnets and freebies out there.  If you’d like to see what that is all about you can check it out here.

If you need help with anything email marketing, shoot me an email HERE.

3 most important reasons to take advantage of social media stories for your business:
3 most important reasons to take advantage of social media stories for your business:

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3 most important reasons to take advantage of social media stories for your business:
3 most important reasons to take advantage of social media stories for your business:
3 most important reasons to take advantage of social media stories for your business:

Why you should use an email list in marketing and 6 ways to grow it

Content Creation, Marketing

Why you should use an email list in marketing and 6 ways to grow it

Why you should use an email list in marketing and 6 ways to grow it

One of the most effective ways to go about getting, developing and keeping clients is an email list.  Why? Because you information is delivered directly to their personal email (with permission) vs going through an algorithm on social media.  

So, it’s a direct communication channel between you and your customers and typically those who have signed up to your list are considered warm leads.

It’s also the best way of communicating with previous clients, which can be a powerful way of scoring repeat clients or setting up a type of referrals program, as well as provide new offers.

FYI: If you’d prefer to watch a video rather than reed, scroll to the bottom of the page.

So now you know you need an email list, next is to pick an email client. I started on MailChimp as it’s free but I chose to use ConvertKit a few years ago and saw a 32% open rate when I changed over.

ConvertKit also has a free option but you’ll want the automation which has a cost on Convertkit.

Next you’ll need to consider ways to grow your list, but before we get to those tips, I want to encourage you to email your list every time you write a blog. 

Simply create a curated version of your blog post (like instead of 10 tips to XYZ, in your email list use three tips to XYZ with a button to read the remaining tips on your blog. Driving people to your website also helps your google analytics! 

One thing to note — your email marketing contact database degrades over time.  Your contacts’ email addresses change as they move from one company to another, opt-out of your email communication, or abandon an address they only used to fill out forms on websites.

As a marketer, it’s your job to make sure you’re constantly adding fresh contacts to your email lists so you can continue generating growth.

Now to the tips you came here for on growing your email list. These are proven opt-in ideas…

Tip 1 | Quizzes

The fastest and most fun way I’ve ever grown my list is by using a personality quiz. They are fun and people really love them. You know they work because you’ve probably seen one on Buzzfeed and taken it yourself. 

Just make sure that you are collecting emails. There’s a lot of systems like Interact that is free but to collect emails, you have to have a paid offer.

They are effective because they collect emails before the quiz and the answer is delivered in their email. 

It’s true some people unsubscribe right after but most don’t. Especially if it’s geared to your business. 

Tip 2 | Lead Magnet or Freebie

Another very effective way of growing your email list is the classic “lead magnet” or Freebie” strategy. 

A lead magnet can be any digital download. We’re talking PDF’s, checklists, videos, audio files, templates, mini courses, masterclasses, mockups, guides, cheat sheets, discounts, and so much more!

You create the freebie and include the code from your email client (ConvertKit) to insert on a blog or anywhere on your website. When someone opts-in to your freebie, your email client automatically sends them an email with the download link to the freebie. 

Why you should use an email list in marketing and 6 ways to grow it by Jen Vazquez Marketing + Pinterest Strategist

Tip 3 | Vault or Resource Library

One thing a few of my clients use so effectively is a resource library of all your free digital downloads.   I’m actually working on mine now.  This can be in addition to your lead magnets or instead of individual lead magnets. 

You have a sign-up page that explains a password and link to the library will be delivered to their email.  Then you have that page on your website behind password protection.  When they sign up, they get all your goodies at once and can come back anytime they want or need help. 

It helps to save time so you don’t have a landing page for each lead magnet and only one nurturing sequence to create.  A nurturing sequence is a brilliant way of using automation to consistently deliver a series of 5-8 emails that go out daily or weekly.  

Tip 4 | Challenges

Another fantastic opt-in idea to grow subscribers is to use challenges. Challenges can be extremely effective in growing your email list and provide so much value. 

They are a variety of ways to set them up, you have to see what makes sense for you. The easiest way is to run challenges via a series of emails. 

That way whenever someone starts the challenge, the get emails dripped out from their start date.  

What I’ve found about challenges versus pdf download is people are more committed and are probably your ideal client.  This brings you farther along that “know, like + trust” process and means you are closer to potentially working with them. 

Why you should use an email list in marketing and 6 ways to grow it by Jen Vazquez Marketing + Pinterest Strategist

Tip 5 |  Masterclass, Workshop, Webinar, or Virtual Event

These type of opt-in ideas require a bit more prep and energy, but often they are the best way to get one step closer to working with them as a client because they see how you educate. 

These gather signups via a registration page. Then you prepare for the scheduled pre-recorded video or live session via zoom or whatever webinar platform you use. 

Tip 6 | Pop-ups on website/blog

Building your email list on your website by installing pop-ups works really well. 

Website pop-ups can be a nuisance, and nowadays it can feel like you have to wade through an eternity of cookie notices and ads just to get to the good stuff you want to read. Still, pop-ups can be a great way to grab people’s attention if done properly.

Once a visitor has spent a certain amount of time on a specific page or when they move their cursor to exit the page, or after scrolling through a certain percentage of the page the pop-up will happen. 

I recommend the Edit Pop-up as it’s when they are leaving so it doesn’t interrupt their viewing of your blog or website.  The pop-up should be sweet and to the point (Before you leave, download my free checklist for XYZ).

Summary

So that’s it. Hopefully you learned why you should use email lists and some ideas on how to grow it!  I hope that this helped to encourage you to signup for an email client or revive your almost dead email list.  

I believe if you are running a business, you have valuable information and not sharing that information could be considered selfish 😘

I KNOW you can go it!!

What free Marketing Education?

I hope you sign up for our FREE Creative Marketing Summit.  I’m busy gathering marketing experts to help in all sorts of areas of marketing from blogs, to email lists, to social media and everything in-between!

Reserve your Spot
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23 Motivational Quotes from Impressive Women

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