Contently

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If you think being conversational and customer-centric is enough for your brand voice, you’re only going to join a chorus of clones. Developing a distinctive voice defines your brand’s unique identity and builds a sense of authenticity with customers—an increasingly important factor in sales. Research from Asendia found that 65 percent of consumers are more likely to shop with brands they feel are authentic. Getting there isn’t easy, though.

A woman jolts awake in the dead of night, awoken by a thud from downstairs. A wizard, who’s been training in the magical arts since he was a boy, is about to face his first great test. Plane crash survivors on a remote island grapple with their new circumstances. Each sentence is the start of a brand-new story. And somehow, in one sentence, these stories have the power to capture our attention and spark our curiosity—something content marketers aim for with every piece they create.

Let’s say your team’s content strategy has been rolling along according to plan for months or maybe even years. You’ve got an efficient pipeline pumping out blogs, ebooks, infographics, social media, and thought leadership. And yet, the results still don’t reflect the effort. This is your cue to take initiative in the next planning meeting and suggest a deep dive to see why. This process—going through your backlog to see what is effective and what is lacking—is called a content audit.

Visual marketing design trends are evolving more rapidly than ever, thanks to a highly interconnected media culture that provides nearly instant feedback. Sometimes, that feedback is good, and other times, not so much. As a result, designers and marketers are constantly experimenting with new aesthetics to create content that resonates with audiences and keeps them engaged long enough to turn them into loyal brand advocates.

Remember when every brand seemed to be having a “brat summer?” I’m being a little facetious — I enjoyed the chartreuse memes and apple dances as much as anyone. But in recent years, the concept of timeliness in a content marketing calendar has become less about utility and more about jumping on trends for the sake of relevancy. Don’t get me wrong: there’s a time and place for incorporating memes and internet discourse into your content strategy. Staying “with it” is important.

Creating a fintech case study can feel like a never-ending trip to the DMV. It requires navigating a maze of regulations and endless rounds of approval before the content gets its moment in the spotlight. Why bother with all the hassle? While a fintech case study isn’t as straightforward to create as other types of content, these powerhouse stories offer unparalleled value for brands. They can highlight real-world successes and build trust and authority.

I’ve always been a data nerd at heart. Words like “audit” and “A/B testing” don’t scare me. Still, when I set about refreshing more than 10 years’ worth of branded content to bring The Content Strategist up to date with our current web optimization and brand standards, I knew I had my work cut out for me. We started writing blog content in 2011—back when Facebook fan pages and Klout scores were the marketing trends of the moment. Needless to say, a lot has changed since then.

Everyone loves a good story, and your customers are no exception. But with endless ads and marketing noise, it’s hard to get your story heard, especially if you’re using the same marketing tactics and jargon as your competitors. But fear not; there’s a secret weapon that can lift your brand above the noise: customer storytelling. It’s not just about spinning a good tale; it’s about building trust and creating connections by allowing your customers to do the talking for you.