Creating content can be rewarding and fun for your business. But it’s easy for a message to get lost in translation if content isn’t branded.
Small businesses often focus on “churning it out” instead of creating quality. Here are a few things to think about before, during, and after the content creation process.
A Consistent Voice Speaks Volumes About Your Business
Big pun intended.
- Shirt via Uncovet.com
Not having a consistent voice throughout your content is like sounding like a different person every time you talk to someone. How absurd is that? How would you feel if each time you talked to a friend his voice had a different pitch? You’d probably be weirded out. And you’d probably not trust that “friend” because you don’t really know who’s on the other end.
Don’t let your content have a multiple personality disorder.
Find a consistent voice that represents your brand – and speak from that same pitch throughout your content. Don’t be fun and engaging in one blog post. And then boring and bitter in another. It’s not amusing. It’s confusing.
Hook on a Feeling
When you speak honestly about what you know well, your message resonates. Consumers can tell when someone is making up facts to sell. And the truth is, it doesn’t matter what the facts say. Customers don’t buy based on intellect. They often buy based on feelings.
An Italian restaurant sells more Mama’s Minestrone on a cold, winter day because it provides the feeling of warmth. It’s more about how customers feel when they put the warm soup to their mouths. It’s less how they feel when they buy it at half off.
Offer a sense of identity
Branded audio content is one way to give your business a sense of identity. When I worked in national radio for a talk show, we played Cannonball by The Breeders for the show open. The cannonball rolling down suburban streets in the video matched the “loose cannon” personalities of the hosts. Listeners rarely knew where their conversations would go – but no one seemed to care. They rolled along. Choosing this particular song gave the show an even greater sense of identity.
Branded audio and video content allows small businesses to be their own radio show. But it’s important to make sure the music that you choose vibes with the rest of your tone and messaging. Can you imagine if Meet the Press played Notorious B.I.G. in their show open? (clearly I’m going through 90s music withdrawal).
Make It Uniquely You
Replicas of the Mona Lisa may exist. But everyone knows the original is the unique work of Da Vinci.
Branded content is distinct. It’s unique. And if you treat it as a labor of love, and pursue value and meaning, it’s art. And no one can steal it. Because it’s purely about you and your business.
Why is branded content important for your business? Please comment below.
@itsjessicann
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Branding my content is something I need to think more carefully about. I'm looking for emotion to connect to my blog, but it is sometimes difficult when the topic is sterile. Thanks for the prompt.
it's easier said than done, especially w/ a sterile topic. think about the topic from all angles and see what customers want to *feel* instead of what they can "get out of" the topic. let me know if you need further guidance. thank you for your comment!
"When you speak honestly about what you know well, your message resonates." Just love that line, it says so much. I think people definitely can feel the difference between those that work from the heart and those that churn out "copy". I understand the difference between the two, but I personally would much rather read material from the first group. Nice job Jessica…
thank you, Gerry! passion and knowledge can't be faked. thank you for stopping by :)