Does your content connect to your target audience?

Getting the basics right to create compelling content that connects to your audience is essential for growth and engagement. 

Let's look at some of the bare necessities for engaging content put together by Efreeder.com, a leading agency providing content writing service in India.

  • Understanding the audience

The first and most crucial stage in content creation is defining your audience. 

An in-depth understanding of your audience's challenges, motivations, inspirations, and expectations is the first winning step to effective content creation. 

"Focus is the key to getting things done."

Ask the following questions to define your audience:-

What is the age group of the target audience?

What is the geographical location of the audience?

What inspires them?

What are the challenges or problems they face?

What are their desires?

What are their expectations or benefits from the content?

Where do they look for information?

Whom do they trust?

You can also approach companies that provide content writing service in India, to conduct audience research using online tools.

  • Deciding the type of content

Once you identify the target audience, you can shortlist a few people that fit your target audience definition and Research to determine their preferred content type, the social media platform they primarily use, and the topics. 

The following questions were put together by Efreeder – an agency that provides content writing service in India, in English and regional languages. The questions can help you to understand the content type and subject:

Do they like short or long-form content?

Do they prefer visual/video content?

Do they prefer podcasts or audio content?

Do they like a formal writing style?

What are their expectations from content?

Whom do they follow?

Do they like the direct or indirect writing style?

What are the topics that interest them?

  • Structuring the content

Content structure plays a crucial role in engagement and effectiveness. 

Any content should start with a powerful headline, followed by an introduction. An introduction will help set the audience's expectations and convey the content's importance. 

You should structure the remaining content with proper sub-headings so that audience can skim through the content and go through the content that is important to them. 

"Structure adds stability and flow."

The sub-headings should also seamlessly connect to ensure a smooth flow and connection from beginning to end. 

If it is a video or podcast, you can create it in skippable format by indicating major headings with time stamps. 

You can use sub-headings, white spaces, bullet points, font formatting, images, and highlights for textual content.  

If you look at sample content by agencies that provide content writing service in India, you can see the importance that they give to content structure.

  • Keyword research

Once the structure is ready, the next stage is to research and identify the appropriate focus keyword that the audience would use to search for your content. 

Using a focus keyword is essential for better visibility and ranking of your content, especially if it is textual. However, ensuring that the focus keyword smoothly blends with the content is necessary. 

"They listen to you when you speak their language."

The content should also contain keywords that complement the focus keyword. 

For example, if your focus keyword is "Coffee shop in Kochi," you could use keywords like Coffee Bean, Hot, Beverage, Roasted, or Brew to complement the focus keyword. 

Companies that provide Content writing service in India, have a special team for keyword and hashtag research.

  • Research, gathering information and generating insights.

Now that you have everything you need, you must collate information that would fit into your core article, including various headings and sub-headings. 

You can also use content aggregator software for gathering information. 

The content needs to provide value to the reader, which is why content should deliver facts, trust, thoughts & insights on the subject. 

"A novice gives information; an expert gives insights."

However, the components that differentiate your content are the insights & your reflections on the topic. The rest of the information is already available to the public. 

  • Putting it all together

Once you have all the required information, insights, and reflections, you must compose your content seamlessly. 

And the most obvious but under-looked component, grammar: ensure that the content does not have grammatical errors. 

Unless necessary, avoid jargon and complex words that will prompt the reader to get the help of a dictionary. 

Avoid long paragraphs and lengthy sentences at all times unless it is necessary. 

"Keep it short and simple."

If your content is visual, avoid information clutter - significantly less text and use high-resolution images. Avoid using stock images if possible. If it is audio content ensure sufficient quality of audio.  

  • Final check

Once you complete the content, keep it aside, revisit it later, and make necessary modifications if required. Editing and re-editing can improve your content to a great extent. 

"Never underestimate the power of Editing."

You could also run your content through a plagiarism check to ensure that your article is at least 90% unique. 

Now that you have figured out the basics take that bold step to create your content. 

Remember that there is no blueprint for the basics of content creation. But the basics do wonders when it comes to the effectiveness of the content. 

To summarize, "Keep it focused, simple, structured, and unique with insights."

Efreeder World Private Limited is a leading agency providing content writing service in India.