Skip to main content
Find Writers Products Industries Plans Become a Writer 1 (866) 501-3116 Sign In Get Started

Products

Blog Posts Press Releases Web Pages Product Descriptions Newsletters
Transcriptions Social Media Posts Video Scripts Custom Projects Content Tune-Ups
Ad Copy Ebooks Editing Q&A Content Whitepapers
Facebook Post Instagram Post

Industries

Agriculture Art & Design Automotive Building Materials Cannabis Career Construction Counseling Customer Service Dental Education Energy & Environment Engineering
Fashion & Beauty Family Practice Food & Beverage Gaming Health & Wellness Healthcare Higher Education Home & Garden Human Resources Injury Law Interior Design IT & Security
Insurance Legal Manufacturing Media & Entertainment Medical Law Nutrition Parenting Payments Personal Finance Real Estate Relationships
Retail & Ecommerce Religion & Spirituality Restaurant and Bar SaaS Sales Senior Services Software Sports & Fitness Technology Transportation & Logistics Travel
x Close Menu Find Writers Products
Blog Posts Press Releases Web Pages
Product Descriptions Newsletters Transcriptions
Social Media Posts Video Scripts Custom Projects
Content Tune-Ups Ad Copy Ebooks
Editing Q&A Content Whitepapers
Facebook Posts Instagram Posts
Industries
Agriculture Art & Design Automotive Building Materials Dental Gaming Fashion & Beauty Family Practice Cannabis Career Construction Counseling Customer Service Injury Law Interior Design IT & Security Retail & Ecommerce Education Energy & Environment Food & Beverage Personal Finance Healthcare Health & Wellness Higher Education Home & Garden Human Resources Transportation & Logistics Insurance Legal Manufacturing Media & Entertainment Medical Law Nutrition Parenting Payments Real Estate Religion & Spirituality Restaurant and Bar SaaS Sales Senior Services Software Sports & Fitness Technology Travel Relationships Engineering
Plans Become a Writer Login Get Started 1 (866) 501-3116
  1. Blog Home
  2. Content Marketing
  3. Michaela M
  4. Steer Clear of These 5 Content Marketing Mistakes In 2015

Steer Clear of These 5 Content Marketing Mistakes In 2015

Steer Clear of These 5 Content Marketing Mistakes In 2015
Avoid these five mistakes to ensure your content sends the right message next year.

Some mistakes lead directly to painful consequences -- eat a slice of boiling hot pizza and your tongue is burned. Sometimes, though, we don't notice our mistakes nor do we experience the consequences. Unlike consuming a slice of hot pizza, content marketing mistakes can be left online for all to see. Think of 2015 as a fresh, new start for your content marketing strategy, leaving 2014's mistakes behind.

1. Keyword Stuffing



Good content captures attention and engages your readers, moving them to share, comment and convert. Content that is stuffed with keywords doesn't read naturally - plus, readers can always tell it's for Google's eyes. After all, ranking number one is meaningless if readers leave your site within seconds. This doesn't mean you shouldn't keep SEO in mind when creating content for content marketing, it means you need to create quality and relevant content that the reader will see as valuable.

Takeaway: Keywords are like water; a little is great, but too much and your readers risk drowning. Sprinkle two or three uses per keyword per post. Make sure your keywords sound natural, use tall terms and spend time researching the proper keywords.

2. Neglecting the Editing Process



A personal blog can be forgiven for grammar and punctuation mistakes, but businesses seeking to create a professional image won't always find that forgiveness. One way to ensure your content is free of grammar mistakes and spelling errors is by establishing a concrete editing process. It's easy for the human eye to glance over an error which is why a second set of eyes is always helpful. If you don't have a copy editor in-house, ask a co-worker. Another helpful editing tip is to read your article backwards.

Takeaway: Bad grammar and spelling errors can be prevented. Make sure each piece of content goes through an editing process before publishing.

See also: Masterful Editing: Best Practices for Catching Errors

3. Creating Content Your Audience Doesn't Care About



Generic content that your audience isn't excited to consume doesn't benefit either party involved. Creating a buyer persona will help you focus your content to posts your readers appreciate. A buyer persona is essentially a definition of your ideal customer, which includes needs, wants, income and other demographic information. You can have multiple buyer personas, but each piece of content should speak to one of them.

Takeaway: Buyer personas help you learn essential details about your customer. Check out our guide to creating buyer personas to get started.

4. Omitting a Call-to-Action



When your reader reaches the end of your content, remember to include a call-to-action (CTA). A few examples are:

* Click here to download our report

* Subscribe to our email newsletter

* Share or comment

Every piece of content needs one. You're doing your content a great disservice if you aren't including one.

Takeaway: Users need direction. Don't leave them hanging; always try and keep them engaged.

5. Selling at Every Turn



You run a business. You need content that helps you make money, but it should also solve a problem for your potential customer. Readers will tune you out if you attempt too many overt sales pitches. There's nothing wrong with selling, but give your readers a reason to read first. It also shouldn't be the main driver of every piece of content you publish.

Takeaway: Readers know you need to sell products to continue providing good content. But they might be turned off if you make a sales pitch before they're ready.

See also: How Udemy's Content Marketing Strategy Drives Sales & New Users [Interview]

It's easy to continue business-as usual, but taking a break to question your methods is incredibly important. Keep these mistakes in mind when you're outlining your 2015 strategy.

What mistakes do you think marketers were guilty of this year that should be left in 2014? Share your thoughts with us below.

To Read More About Content Writing, See Below:



True or False? 7 SEO Content Myths Explained
Why SEO Experts Are Supporting Original Content Writing
What's a Content Writing Service? An Overview For Content Marketers


Published by Michaela M on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 in Content Marketing.

Sign Up For Your 30 Day Free Trial Today!

You agree to Scripted’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Login
©2011-2022
Our Company
About Us Privacy Terms of Use GDPR Trust
For Members
Enterprise Agencies Publishers Customer FAQs Newsletter Customer Sign In
For Writers
Writer Services Agreement Writer FAQs Writer Sign In
Additional Resources
The Scripted Blog Industries Podcast Technology Affiliates Competitors
Social Buttons