Here's the long-awaited second installment in our ongoing series "Making the Most of Your Localism Sponsored Communities."
To access the first part in this series, go HERE.
So you've created a stellar community description that rivals the likes of Chaucer and Balzac. So now what?
Well, it's time to start populating your community page with good, quality, relevant local content.
And what exactly constitutes good relevant local content, you ask? Ah, therein lies the answer to the meaning of life and proverbial pot of gold at the rainbow's end.
Ultimately, that's for each of you to decide. But I would suggest that you try to see things through the eyes of your intended audience - the residents, the merchants, the consumers, and potential clients in your particular community/city. What information/resources could you share that would offer value to their lives? What would they find interesting and engaging?
These may not be the best our community has to offer, but let me just give you a few of my own personal examples:
Silver City Restaurant & Brewery - Local Business on the Kitsap Peninsula WA
"Feelin' Crabby?" - Life on the Kitsap Peninsula WA
Costco Warehouse Silverdale WA - Local Business on the Kitsap Peninsula WA
Town & Country Auto Repair - Local Business on the Kitsap Peninsula WA
For me, I typcially include some kind of geo-target reference in my titles, whether the specific community, city, or County. You always want to include key search terms within the context of your blog post, but don't stuff it so full that it makes it difficult or uncomfortable to read.
Always remember that you're not simply conveying cold, hard facts about your community or whatever subject matter you've chosen. Don't shove an encyclopedia in your reader's face and expect them to be hungry for more. People can find such fodder on static websites a-plenty. In all of your writing, allow your unique personality, your experienced and professional perspective, and your enthusiastic passions to shine through!
Don't clutter your articles with redundant and blatant self-promotion. ActiveRain offers more than enough links for today's Internet savvy consumer to 'find' you. You definitely know there's a problem when the majority of your article content consists of annoying banners, slogans, glamor shots, widgets, and links telling eveyone you're the best thing to happen in real estate since Donald Trump. This isn't the stuff people want. They get bombarded with that message constantly throughout their day. Consumers today are more sophisticated. They've learned to ignore it. Do yourself a favor, and go read Seth Godin's take on Interruption Marketing. It will provide a fresh perspective and revolutionize the way you approach business.
There are a number of really exceptional authors here on ActiveRain who specialize in writing local content posts for Localism. To get some additional examples, check out the blogs of Jeff Dowler, Teresa Boardman, Kristal Kraft, Margaret Woda, Sally Cheeseman, Lenn Harley, and many more.
At least once a day I will 'feature' an article here on ActiveRain that represents a good example of Local Content posting. In addition to being 'featured,' you'll see the terms (LOCALISM FEATURED) in the title. This way you can view other excellent examples of what constitutes good relevant local content. Who knows, maybe one of your articles will be 'featured' soon?
Feel free to throw in a link or two here in the comments section to some local content posts that you're proud of. Let's all learn from each other, and work towards improving the quality of our blogging!
Well, there ya go! Hopefully another helpful element/strategy that you can implement in effectively developing your sponsored community and attract potential business,.... so Stay Tuned!
(P.S. If you're a Twitter Bug, be sure to follow the new Localism Tweet!)
Great post... I am going to bookmark this one. It is getting late and I want to read all your links. I am new to AR and sponsored a community... then I said what am I going to post? So your post will be very helpful. Thanks a bunck brenda :)
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