More and more small business owners are outsourcing their content marketing needs; rather than do it all in-house, they’re enlisting the time and talents of professional content gurus. We believe this is highly advantageous—but then, you probably knew that already.
What you might not know is how best to work with your content marketing firm. How do you make sure you’re getting the kind of messaging you want without hindering the process? How do you relinquish control of your business baby and let the marketers work their magic? How can you make sure you’re involved and invested in the process without it taking up too much of your time?
How do you make sure your content marketers get results?
A few tips come to mind.
- First and foremost, talk to them. Make communication with your content marketing team a major priority. Speak with them regularly, and not just via e-mail. Phone conferences are significant. If nothing else, insist on a kick-off call and some meetings to go over possible content angles, and simply make sure you feel comfortable talking with your content marketing professional. Some tips on preparing for your initial consultation can be found here.
- Communicate your goals. In order for your marketing team to get results, they’ll need to know what kind of results you’re looking for—increased website traffic, a more visible Facebook presence, thought leadership, more conversions, a better educated clientele… the possibilities are endless. Decide what you want, and communicate it clearly.
