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It's official.
You keep hearing the phrase "content is king" but how do you get there? Where do you start?
In this guide we have out together a full simple rules to help create better content
First, ask yourself these simple questions:
Already, the path toward shareable content may be a bit more clear.
Let's explore these questions in-depth to learn how to finally create content that will drive valuable traffic to your website.
You're not seeing things. Those cat videos on YouTube really do have hundreds of millions of views.
But why can't people get enough of watching cats open refrigerators?
Simple: it makes them feel good.
In the recent Wharton School study, The Science of Sharing and the Sharing of Science, researchers found that people share content that speaks to them emotionally, but they're more likely to share content that makes them feel good more than anything else.
Moreover, the same study found that people are more likely to share positive content because it bodes well for their digital footprint.
A Buzzsumo study went a step further and broke down the top emotions people feel when sharing content. According to their study, social sharing corresponds most to the following emotions:
The New York Times elaborates even more on the motivations behind content sharing in their Psychology of Sharing survey.
The publication surveyed 2,500 of their own readers and discovered the following motivations for sharing content:
When brainstorming, don't forget to consider the science behind social sharing to ensure your content is valuable enough to be shared.
A great way to find new content ideas is to use the SEMrush content tool to find what popular topics are available in your niche, if you are not a member already they have a free trial available.
A key discovery in the New York Times study is the motivation to add value to yourself and others' lives, and what's more valuable than finding a fulfilling answer to a question?
Ask yourself: why do you, along with 93% of online users, start with search engines?
To find an answer, right?
It doesn't matter if it's movie times, restaurant menus, scholarships, or vacation planning advice, an honest answer is extremely valuable.
That's why search engine optimization, or SEO for short, is so important for shareable content.
So how do you create content that both humans AND search engines will love?
Let's start with this example: Suppose you run an organic pet food store online. What questions would a potential customer ask to find a website like yours?
Now that you have a few questions (keywords), it's your job to create content that answers those questions, and them some!
SEO also makes the content creation process easier. check out our SEO guide for beginners for more!
Think about it: the most relevant questions, or keywords, you have, the more search-friendly content you can generate.
Don't leave your blog out to dry.
People are more distracted online, so when they read your content, they're actually scanning it more than anything.
That's why shareable content must be structured for scannability.
List-style articles, or "listicles," are another popular format because they directly speak to how information is absorbed and processed by the brain.
Lists "hit an attentional sweet spot", making information easier to remember and pass on to others, a key ingredient for shareable content.
A consistent theme you may be noticing by now is accommodation of the reader. The less your website visitors have to work to understand, retain, and share your content, the better.
Anything less than three seconds will make your visitors run for the hills, and 44% may even relay their bad experience to friends.
Forget that.
Improve your content's functionality so you don't miss out on those valuable re-shares.
You know why content is king, but now you know how to finally achieve it!
Don't let your content sit and collect dust. Use it to your advantage to drive lucrative targeted website traffic to your business.
Remember to create fulfilling content that adds value, focus on search-friendly questions, and use a functional format to ensure your content is readable, scannable, and shareable each and every time.
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