Listen. 2023 was riddled with tech layoffs, talks of recession, and lots of uncertainty with the explosion of AI.
Jobs were replaced as more businesses embraced generative artificial intelligence (i.e. ChatGPT) to accomplish workflows faster, easier, and cheaper–with minimal human effort.
Yes, your girl was a casualty of the massive 200K+ tech layoffs in 2023.
But for many companies, especially for women-owned businesses, 2023 proved to be an amazing year of profitability and progress✨.
In fact, at SlayYourContent, it was our biggest year in revenue!
Friend, there’s so much hope and expectation on the horizon for us to make bolder moves, embrace AI technology as a tool, and harness the power of digital marketing to continue pumping content that resonates with the hearts of our people.
And I’m here for it!
I know you are too❤️
I’m kicking off this content strategy guide with an inspirational tone so you know you have everything going for you. The game plan I’m about to lay down is well within your wheelhouse: an all-organic playbook that we and our clients have used to create a profitable year.
Now, this strategy is best if you have at least a team of two: you + 1.
If you’re a team of one…wonderful! Focus on numbers 2, 3, and 4 to start. Consistency here can empower a six-figure year.
So, grab your notebook (or simply bookmark this post so you can reference it again and again), and get ready to build your content marketing strategy for 2024.
Let’s go!
The Prerequisites
Acht! Before I drop these bombs, you must have the following working for you before building a content strategy.
You see, this playbook is an injustice if you’re not clear on your what, who, and how.
In other words, it’s important to have a clear understanding of…
- What makes you different? (Your USP)
- Who do you serve? (Your ideal client)
- How do you serve them? (Your offers–products or services)
With this foundation, marketing performs like a beautiful symphony–everything is in harmony and cohesive.
Without it, your strategy is a disjointed effort.
Now that you’re locked and loaded, here’s your five-part content plan to shine bright like a diamond in the spaces you’re called to serve💎
1. The Resurgence of Long-Form Content
Written and video long-form content has seen a renaissance in 2024. If you’re a natural storyteller—or a conversationalist with a webcam—this format is your sweet spot!
See, long-form quickly positions you as a thought leader and expert in your industry. In the age where short-form content is all the rave (don’t get me wrong, it does have its place in content marketing), the meaty, value-rich piece stands out like a beacon.
Why Long-Form?
- SEO Dominance: Search algorithms by far favor long-form, authoritative, comprehensive pieces.
- Sustained Engagement: For readers and listeners who linger on your every word, long-form content offers a narrative that keeps them invested from start to finish.
- Conversion Magnet: Each extended paragraph presents another opportunity to convert a potential lead into a paying customer, a subscriber, or an evangelist for your brand.
What to Do?
Do you prefer to write (blog), talk (podcast), or video (YouTube)? Choose one.
Commit to publishing one long-form piece of content weekly.
Not sure what to talk about? Check out my blog post and never run out of ideas.
2. The Reign of Email: Still the ROI King
Listeen!! Queen Email remains one of the highest ROI-generators in the content marketing realm. It’s direct, personal, and—for those who’ve mastered the art—anticipated by your subscribers.
Plus with sponsorships and programmatic ad opportunities, you can increase your ROI even more!
The opportunities are massive with email, a big reason why our agency is making it a priority this year.
Why Email Works
- Brand Awareness: Regularity is the key. Sending at least once a week keeps you top of mind with your audience without cluttering their inboxes.
- Personalization at Scale: CRM tools and consumer data allow us to craft messages that speak directly to the recipient’s needs and interests. This is tailor-made at its finest.
- Optimization Evolved: A/B testing, AI-infused subject line selection, and responsive design are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to making your emails the best they can be.
- The Call-to-Action Crusade: Every email should have a goal: to get the subscriber to take action. This is where the marvelous happens when your CTA buttons lead to reading a blog post (traffic), booking a call (MQL), or making a purchase (cha-ching)!
What to Do?
Plan to email your subscribers at least once a week.
3. Social Sovereignty: Mastering the Platform
Oh, the sprawling kingdoms of Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn wait to be claimed, but which will you rule?
While it’s tempting to be everywhere, sensible queens start with a single domain and expand their empire with conquests planned for the future💃🏽.
Why Focus On One Social?
- The Platform of Choice: For most, the treasure lies with the platform that features the majority of its audience. Invest your time and resources here first and get really good at that platform.
- Unleash the Algorithm: We know each platform has an algorithm. Regular posting, curated content, and understanding the platform’s nuances are crucial–again, the mastery of!
- Storytelling Anew: Whether it’s through reels, tweets, or articles, each platform demands a different form of storytelling. Mastering these formats ensures the crown stays on your head.
What to Do?
What do your people hang out the most? Stake your flag there and invest in your business on how to fully optimize and leverage that social media platform.
Btw, this is not to say you shouldn’t have accounts on each platform. You should! However, where you spend most of your time is the strategy here.
4. Community: Invest in Connection
Joining a mastermind and another paid community had a huge impact on our agency. Sitting in rooms with multiple 6 & 7-figure business owners expanded my belief as a CEO, grew my clientele, and increased our revenue exponentially.
We are not meant or equipped to walk this entrepreneurial journey alone. The support and accountability alone can prevent years of going around the same mountain year after year.
Why Paid Communities?
- Investing in Investment: Paid communities are not an expense—they’re an investment in your success, connecting you with serious professionals who understand your aspirations and pain points.
- Masterminds and Collectives: These are your people, your advisors, your confidantes. Surrounding yourself with the right community can propel your business forward with unprecedented speed.
- Cultivating Collaboration: You reap what you sow in communities. Be a noticeable, engaged presence, and the opportunities for collaboration and mutual growth will be abundant.
What to Do?
Find you a paid community of like-minded business professionals who can be your mentors and biz besties.
5. Monthly Collaborations: Brand Expansion
Strategic collaborations can catapult your visibility 10x than you can on your own. Whether you’re co-hosting a webinar, invited as a podcast guest, or writing as a guest blogger, you’re strategically leveraging someone else’s stage to get in front of new ideal clients.
They👏🏽Are👏🏽Powerful👏🏽. By collaborating monthly or quarterly, your brand will expand dramatically!
The Art of Collaboration
- Strategic Alliances: When selecting partners, be strategic. Find those whose audiences complement and could benefit from an alliance.
- Cross-Promotion as Currency: A rising tide lifts all boats, and in the digital realm, an audience’s boat is their following. Cross-promotion effectively expands your reach and exposes new eyes to your throne.
- Unifying Messages: While each party brings its own unique voice, keeping the message unified across collaborations ensures a neat, consistent brand story.
What to Do?
When collaborating, consider formats that are aligned with your choice from Step #1 – that’s where you shine. Use the bullet points above as a guide. Keep in mind collaborations take a lot of work. But with equal efforts from both parties, it can serve as a win-win.
Conclusion: Create, Test, Repeat.
There you have it, your 2024 content marketing strategy!
Now, a complete strategy would also include a content creation workflow–a clear process on how you’ll create your content and a way to measure and analyze your results to repeat what’s working.
Let me know how it’s going by dropping a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!
Rooting for you,
~Charlene
