Are you a content marketing manager?  If so, your main responsibility (among a million others) is to create content that attracts consumers and converts them into repeat customers.  And not only is it your responsibility to attract customers, but also to get them coming back again and again to make future purchases.

How can you do this, though, especially when you have so many tasks to be taking care of?  Just when you get one task finished, it seems that another is calling your name.  Your employer is constantly hagging you for more content, but you only have so many hands (fingers).  If you had more hands, you could surely type up a higher amount of content, right?  

Tips for a Content Marketing Manager

I have a solution to your problem.  I can provide you with more hands (fingers).  In fact, I have access to thousands of writers who have been heavily screened according to their writing skills and capabilities.  Each of these writers can produce for you the type of content that you are in need of.  

You say, "but Whitney, my employer operates in an industry that you've never worked in!"  That's no problem.  I know people who have worked in the industry that you need content for.  Whether it be the LED lighting industry, the dental industry or even the inflatable balloon industry, I know people who can create high-quality content for you.  

What's so special about outsourcing content through me?  First of all, you get the main advantage of me creating content for you.  I have many years of experience in creating content.  From feature articles to managed content to white papers, my expertise extends into many areas.  I mostly enjoy writing about topics related to addiction, the health care and legal industries, how to earn a degree, and business financing. 
 
Even if I can't create the content you are in need of, I can outsource it to a highly-experienced writer who can.  After doing so, I'll make sure to edit and proofread the content, as well as add highly-valuable sources to it.  

Gone are your days of editing.  With the content that I provide you, you can simply accept, pay and publish.  It's as easy as that.  Does it get any simpler?  Absolutely not!  

I can't stress enough how advantageous it is to outsource your content marketing needs through me.  And to top everything off, you don't have to pay me until you are completely satisfied with the content that you are in need of.  That's right!  Check out my Fee Schedule to learn more about my pricing and kill fees.  

If you aren't satisfied with the work I provide, you don't have to pay me at all.  If, however, you send me a project and choose to kill it before the project is complete, a 50 percent (of the original price quote) surcharge will be applied, and you will be expected to pay.  This means if you send me a project for which I quote a $50 fee and you choose to kill it before the project is completed, you will still owe me $25.  

I'm a trustworthy person, and I trust you to pay me for the content you order, or in the very least, I expect you to pay me a kill fee.  If, however, you aren't satisfied at all, then I'm the one who loses and you're the one who gets to keep your money, but please remember that you won't own any rights to the content that I provide you in regards to a particular project that you fail to pay me for.  

All in all, I like things simple, and I know you do too.  So, here's a major tip for you as a content manager, let's keep things simple and get your content created!  In the end, it will be a win-win situation for the both of us.  

There's always been the never-ending debate on how to properly hang a roll of toilet paper on a toilet paper holder.  Some people prefer for their toilet paper to be front-facing, meaning "over the roll," while others prefer it to be back-facing, aka "under the roll."  And then there are always those of us who could really care less and we simply sit the roll of toilet paper on the back of the toilet.  Point is, everyone has their own preference on how to use or hang a roll of toilet paper . 

Everyone also has a preference for decent-quality toilet paper.  If you're anything like me, I don't have to have the fanciest toilet paper, but it definitely needs to be at least 2-ply, preferably 3-ply, and it needs to get the job done right the first time around.  

Why am I writing about toilet paper?  Well, mostly it's because it's something that we all use.  And for those of us who buy our own toilet paper (moms, single dudes), we usually skip past the generic brands and opt for decent toilet paper.  The exact same should be applied to content creation.  

When it comes to getting your hands on a good writer, you need to skip past the fluff-filled content wrote by an amateur writer who knows nothing about "good" content.  This isn't to say this person can't learn how to write good content, but it's going to take time, and you don't need to be the one who suffers while this person is learning.  Instead, you need a writer in your corner who can consistently produce good content.  

So, this brings us to two different questions.

How to choose good toilet paper?

First of all, to choose toilet paper that will meet your needs, you must first determine what your needs are.  

Do you need paper that can be flushed?  Are you hard on toilet paper, meaning you need a type that won't tear easily?  How many squares do you tend to use?  You should always be striving to use fewer squares.  

Most importantly, you have to determine what your hygiene needs are.  Sure, everyone wants to feel clean after wiping, but if you require "harder" wipes, you're most definitely going to need an ultra-durable brand of toilet paper.  And although such toilet paper may be more expensive, if it gets the job done the way you like it, the extra money will be well spent.  

Once you have determined your needs, you will now need to do a bit of research.  Fortunately, the Internet makes things super easy when researching toilet paper.  You can visit review sites where people give their own testimonies about different types of toilet paper, and more importantly, you can visit actual toilet paper websites to identify the ins-and-outs of each brand. For example, by visiting Charmin.com, you can compare this company's different types of toilet paper, including how thick each type is, how durable it is and much more.  

After you have conducted thorough research, you'll be able to find peace of mind in the toilet paper decision that you make.  You won't have to worry about purchasing toilet paper that can't be flushed because you will have already learned this.  And you won't have to worry about making the mistake of buying toilet paper that everyone hates because you will have already visited review sites.

See, buying toilet paper isn't all that hard is it?  I prefer White Cloud 3-Ply Ultra Bathroom Tissue.  It's inexpensive--about a quarter for 100 sheets--it's durable, and most importantly, it gets the job done according to my needs and preferences.  

How to choose a good writer?

As you can imagine, I'm going to equate the steps in choosing a good writer to those followed when choosing good toilet paper.  

At first, you need to determine your needs.  Does the writer need to provide content on a consistent basis (daily, weekly, monthly)?  Does the writer need to enter into some type of employment agreement with you?  Or can the writer be hired on a freelance basis?  What type of content do you need (blog posting, press release, white paper, etc...)?  What is your budget for a writer?  Can the writer produce content in a short amount of time (believe it or not, most can't, or won't)?   

Just the same as determining your needs for toilet paper, once you have identified your needs and wants in a writer, you can then start doing research for this type of content creator.  If the person needs to live in Kentucky, you could do a quick Google search for content creators in Kentucky. You'll immediately be provided with a long list of writers who meet this criteria.  You can also research according to the type of content you need.  For example, a search for "press release writer" will provide you with thousands of people who can write a press release for you.  

How are you to choose the best writer though?  Well, in all honesty, it's your choice, just the same as it's your choice on the type of toilet paper that you buy.  My advice is to find two to three writers that you're interested in, and then give each writer a small assignment, such as producing a 300-word blog posting.  Whichever writer does completes your order according to YOUR needs is your go to content creator.  

You'll also want to take into consideration the fee schedules of the writers.  There are writers out there who will create a 300-word blog posting for under $3, but this content most likely won't be good (maybe not even understandable).  And then you have writers who charge $200 for a 300-word blog posting (Boo!).  Unless there are 10 hours of research that need to be conducted, there's no reason to pay a writer $200 for a 300-word blog posting.  Lastly, you have writers like me.  For a 300-word blog posting, I charge right at $17, and yes, the content that I produce is good.  

The Take Away

Any good toilet paper that's worth spending money on will come with a refund policy, meaning if you don't like it, you can get your money back.  A good content writer will have the same type of policy.  If you don't like the content and you don't want to buy the copyrights to it, then so be it.  You can keep your money and the writer can keep the content.  

All in all, the main point of this posting is that choosing good toilet paper is a lot like choosing a good writer.  Who would have ever thought the two were similar to one another?  Crazy!

Let's face it.  You've been looking for ways to better meet the needs of your customers and clients.  Aren't we all?  

Even as a content creation specialist in Kentucky, I'm constantly on the lookout for ways to please my customers to my utmost ability. 

Fortunately, by following five simple tips, I've noticed extreme improvement in customer satisfaction.  You should follow these tips too!

1) Implement software

Whether you realize it or not, technology is booming and it's here to stay. You need to take advantage of all that technology has to offer, including the implementation of a CRM software program. With a program that is customized to fit your business's needs, you'll be well on your way to improving your CRM management.

2) Ask your clients for feedback

Managing your customers effectively means asking them for their feedback. More importantly, it means documenting this feedback and using it to your advantage, which in the end will result in happier customers. And you know what this leads to--an increase in your sales revenue.

3) Segment your customers

You need to carry out marketing campaigns that are based on segmentation, and in order to do this, you'll need an easy way to keep track of your customer segments.  CRM software is your go to solution in being able to divide customers according to specifics, which makes it easy to market to select groups based on the promotions that you have to offer.

4) Use a cloud-based CRM system

If you want to effectively manage your customers, you must be able to keep track of their data in real time, which means you'll need a cloud-based system that can be used both in and out of the office.  

5) Be honest

If you're not honest with your customers, you lose the ability to effectively control them because they will no longer trust you. Customer loyalty should be your top priority, and although a CRM management system can go a long way in helping you meet the needs of your customers, you must still be genuine and honest with them. 

The Take Away

Now that you know a few tips for improving customer service, you still need to be well aware that providing them with top-notch content is key in making them happy.  Your customers want to know that the products and services you have to offer them will be of great use, and there is no better way to do this than by providing them with great content on your blog.  Contact me today and we can talk more about providing your customers with great content. 

So, here's the thing.  I'm so sick and tired of not being able to afford the highest-quality of everything.  That's right!  I want high-quality products, and I can't afford them.  

Take for example the new outdoor furniture that I've recently been looking at.  Man, a new outdoor sectional that my husband and I could layout on while our son dips and splashes in our 15' inflatable pool (lol) sounds awesome, right?  Yeah, that's what I thought.  

I hope you can tell that I'm not being superficial.  I'm being sarcastic, and more importantly, I'm completely grateful for all the things that God has blessed me with, including my wonderful family (and our 15' wide, 4 1/2' deep inflatable pool).  

But, when you get down to it, outdoor furniture is expensive.  I would love to blow my savings on a great outdoor sectional, but I know that's not the smartest move for  me to make.  

Thankfully, though, there are many high-quality services and products in life that you can buy without having to empty your bank account.  

In fact, if you're in need of high-quality content development, you can rest assured that I'm here to provide it to you without an expensive price tag.  If you don't like the content that I produce, you can even choose to pay me absolutely NOTHING!  If you do like it, you'll get to purchase it at a pre-determined, reasonable rate.  

Does it get any better than that?  Absolutely not!  

If you're in need of content, take a look at my writing samples and contact me today.

Man, I really wish buying high-quality outdoor furniture was that simple :-) 

So, I had one of those "aha" moments today.  It was purely genius really.  Then again, when I look back on it and I'm completely honest with myself, it was nothing more and nothing less than pure common sense.  

I've been trying to think of ways to boost my brand awareness and attract new clients.  To do this, though, I have to think about who it is that my customers are.  As a content creator, I have to think to myself "who is that needs my content?"  Duh, it's marketing managers.  

Marketing managers are responsible for what?  Marketing the businesses that they work for.  

What is my job as a content creator?  To create content that attracts the attention of readers.  

Put these two together, and you get a marketing manager who is looking for a content creator who can attract the attention of consumers.  

To put it simply, the clients that I'm trying to reach are marketing managers.  And the content that I create is for marketing managers.  

Now, how do I persuade them that they need me to create content for them?  Well, the only reasonable answer that I can come up with is that I need to tell them how important content creation is.  If I tell them about the importance of content creation, maybe then they will consider me to create it for them.  So, let's get to it.  Let's take a quick look at the importance of good content. 

Importance of Good Content

With so many people using the Internet these days, it makes perfect sense that good content is imperative to attracting consumers to a certain brand, product, service, etc...  And that's about it folks!  It's as simple as that!  Good content equals an increase in customer count. 

Wait a minute, you say?  That's all you have to tell me about good content?  Well, I'm just being honest with you.  The importance of good content is that it increases your customer count.   

Exactly how does good content increase customer counts, though?  Well, this is pretty self-explanatory too, but I'll go ahead and explain it.  

Showcases Your Thought Leadership

First of all, good content showcases thought leadership.  It proves to a consumer that your business is well-versed and knowledgeable in the products/services it is selling.  Consumers want to purchase a product or service that comes from a business that knows the ins-and-outs of the industry it is operating in.  

Would you want to buy lollipops for your 5-year old from a plumber who only has experience in cleaning and unclogging toilets?  Of course not.  You would want to purchase the candy from a company that has plenty of experience in purchasing and distributing candy that comes from a reputable candy manufacturer.  

When your business is able to showcase thought leadership, it's able to increase its customer count. 

Explains Benefits and Advantages

Good content is useful.  It doesn't simply explain the specifics of a product or service.  It paints a clear picture of how the product or service can be of use.  

From a marketing manager's standpoint, it's important to realize good content can be used on social media sites, blog posting, websites, etc...  All of these online avenues attract the attention of consumers, and when displaying top-notch content, a business is able to persuade a customer to actually make a purchase; thus increasing its customer count.

It's Shareable

Lastly, good content is shareable.  Sure, all content is shareable, but it's only the content that is worth sharing that actually gets shared.  This is why marketing managers must ensure they are publishing good content.  

When a reader is finished reading a piece of content that truly strikes him or her as 'good,' it is then that the Google+, Facebook and Twitter share buttons get pressed.  

Seriously, how many times have you shared something that you didn't think was worth reading?  Probably none.  

The main point I'm wanting to convey is good content gets shared, and when it's shared, a business has a much higher chance of increasing its brand awareness, and this is what increases customer count.  

The Take Away

So, there you have it.  I'm a copywriter living in Kentucky who is extremely interested in expanding my client base.  I can create top-notch content, and if you're a marketing manager, I know that your primary responsibility is to increase your employer's brand awareness and customer count.  I can help you achieve this goal.  I can create "good" content for you that clearly shows consumers what it is that you're selling and how it can be of benefit to them.  

Best of all, you don't have to live in Kentucky to take advantage of my services.  In fact, you can live on the other side of the world.  

Contact me today if you're a marketing manager in need of content.  Actually, regardless of your title, if you need good content, I'm the person to create it for you, so please contact me today.  And to be quite honest, I've had more than a few clients tell me that my content wasn't good: they've told me that my content has "exceeded their expectations."  In other words, the content that I tend to produce is as Tony the Tiger would say "IT'S GREAT!"

Freelance writing.  Is this a career path that you're thinking about jumping into?  If so, you should first realize that even though making the jump is the first step, the fall down can be quite bumpy (as well as tickle your stomach a time or two) before you land on solid ground.  

Unfortunately, for some of you, there is no solid ground to land on.  Although writing skills can be practiced and mastered over time, there's one thing that always remains true about successful freelance writers: you either are one or you aren't.  

The most important thing to keep in mind is that establishing a successful freelance writing career TAKES TIME!  

I freelanced for 1.4 cents a word for nearly 3 1/2 years before I landed a gig that now pays me about $750 a week.  3 1/2 years was a long time, but it was during those years that I was able to get the feel for what freelance writing was, including how to deal with clients and how to properly network with both clients and other freelancers.  

Was writing for peanuts (pennies) 3 1/2 years worth the wait?  Most definitely!  But it should be noted that I was blessed enough to be at a point in my life where working 20 hours for $200 a week was feasible and paid the bills.  I know that not everyone can survive on $200 a week, and I couldn't have had it not been for my husband making the money that he made.  

I wrote a blog posting earlier for a client about the mindset of a boxer.  This is exactly what you need to have if you want to be successful as a freelance writer.  

You must persevere through those days when there is no work (it's these days that you need to be marketing yourself), you must have courage to take on an assignment that you're not quite so-sure about, and you must find what motivates you.  

And as any true writer will tell you, it's not the money that primarily motivates you to write.  Instead, it's your passion for writing!  

Writing is what I love to do, and I am very blessed that I have found clients who are willing to pay for me for the content that I produce for them.  

My hope is to expand my clientele as well as my writing skills, and hopefully, keep living this dream that I've been living for the past several years.  Don't get me wrong, this dream is not perfect.  I most definitely have difficult days just like everyone else, but for the most part, being a freelance writer is more than I could have ever hoped for.  

If you have content that you need created for your website, blog, signage, etc..., please contact me today.  With a deep passion for writing and top-notch communication skills, I'm confident that I can create the content you're in need of.