Companies and content marketing agencies are all working towards the same goal: create a content strategy that engages and delights audiences. With so many competing distribution channels, voices, and different audience segments, it can be difficult to pinpoint where your consumers are online, what they want and expect from the blog posts, social shares, and information your brand offers.
In a recent report, Adobe has laid out 5 straightforward rules that promise you more engaged consumers, and promise your audience better content. Based on a survey of over 12,000 consumers in 6 Western countries, the “The State of Content: Rules of Engagement” report offers these key takeaways to help you produce quality content:
- Design for the Multiscreen Reality: Consumers aren’t focused on a single screen anymore, and your content needs to reflect this with optimized design and attention-grabbing copywriting. 59% of consumers would rather engage with beautifully designed content than simple content. Don’t leave the layout and photographs as an afterthought!
- Don’t Fall Victim to TLDR (Too Long; Didn’t Read): People prefer to skim, watch videos, and quickly get the gist. If your posts or blog content is too long and dense, 67% will stop engaging and move onto something else. Keep it short and useful.
- You Really Need to Lighten Up: Humour increases the humanity of your brand and can help you increase audience engagement. Of those surveyed, 70% said humour makes a company more relatable, so don’t be afraid to inject some levity into your blog copywriting.
- In Our Relationships We Trust: People are skeptical of the content and reviews they read online. They are more likely to share content from friends or family (65%) than a brand, so focusing on building a following of ordinary users is more important than chasing celebrity endorsements.
- Don’t Show Up Uninvited: Be transparent when it comes to accessing and using the data and personal information consumers share. If you are collecting data, 75% of consumers would be willing to share one piece of information to get better content recommendations. If you are asking your audience for something, be sure you are providing value in return.