Why Quality Matters.
In today's digital age, building trust with your audience is more important than ever. With so many businesses and organizations vying for attention online, it can be difficult to stand out and establish yourself as a reliable source of information. One of the best ways to build trust with your audience is through high quality content.
So let’s get right down to it… Why does quality matter?
Quality content is essential for building trust with your audience because it demonstrates your expertise and credibility. When you create content that is informative, well-researched, and well-written, you show your audience that you are knowledgeable and passionate about your story. This, in turn, makes them more likely to trust your opinions and recommendations.
In addition to demonstrating your expertise, quality content also shows your audience that you care about their needs and interests. When you create content that is tailored to their specific concerns or questions, you show them that you understand their touch points and are committed to helping them find solutions. This, in turn, builds rapport and fosters a sense of loyalty.
Over the last several years, I’ve leaned on the following 5 tips when building out a strategy for our content:
Know your audience: I can’t stress this one enough! The first step to creating high quality content is to understand your audience. Who are they? What are their interests and concerns? What questions do they have? Answering these questions will help create content that is tailored to their needs and interests.
Do your research: As a consultant, I have to spend a lot of time with this one. Whether it’s water, homelessness or a specific political issue - I personally need to have an understanding of the subject before I start crafting content. Focus on reliable sources to gather information, and make sure you understand the nuances of the subject matter. This will help you create content that is well-informed and accurate.
Write for your audience: This often gets overlooked. When crafting content in a room of experts, it’s easy to use to language and visuals that are “industry standards”, but often times you aren’t speaking to your industry. Remember to use language, tone and visuals that will resonate with them; avoiding jargon or technical terms that may be confusing.
Use visuals: Proper visuals can be a powerful tool for engaging your audience and making your content more memorable. Use images, infographics, and videos to break up text and illustrate your points. And while there are tons of options for “stock” imagery - nothing beats heading out onsite and grabbing your own!
Be consistent: Consistency is key when it comes to building trust. Make sure you are creating content on a regular basis, and that it is consistently high quality. This will show your audience that you are committed to their needs and interests.