Content marketing can be tricky, especially if you’re just starting out.

One of the biggest mistakes I see people making is forgetting how users interact with information on websites and social media platforms.

If you pay attention to the way you interact with your newsfeed, do you find yourself scanning through? That’s basically how everyone reads content these days.

The good news is that with my 7 simple content marketing tips, you can create engaging content on Instagram without wasting time figuring out what you’re doing wrong.

 1. Write visually structured copy for easy scanning on any device

 Make sure your content is structured in a way that people can quickly scan through, read your content without making their eyes or brain strain.

Keep in mind that when people don’t know what they want, they often look for bold headlines or stylized words that prompt them to stop scanning and start reading. Content may be King, but creating an engaging visual presentation is what connects with your reader and might lead to a conversion.

 2. Use white space optimally for easy scanning

 White space is one of those overlooked design elements that play a big role in drawing users’ eyes toward your content. The most important thing you can do is use white space optimally.

This means inserting lots of blank lines throughout your text and spacing out content to create breathing room. The goal here is simple: make it easier for readers’ eyes to move between each point of information (and ultimately, convert them into customers).

 3. Use captivating images to convey the spirit or emotion of your message

 Content marketing is about building an emotional connection with your audience in an authentic way. Therefore, it’s important to balance it with visuals that pull at the heartstrings.

You want to create content that provokes an emotional response or communicate it’s message in a meaningful way. It is well known that emotions drive decision making – so if you can communicate an emotion with your picture, people will be more likely to read and engage with your content.

 4. Use legible fonts and contrasting color combinations for better visibility

 Legible fonts are easier for people to read, making your content more engaging. You should be using Helvetica or Arial as they’re simple and easy to read.

Contrasting colors help people notice what you’re saying and make it easier for them to understand. There are three color combinations that stand out easily, black and white, blue and orange, and reds with greens. The combination of any two contrasting colors is better than a single color.

 5. Write content relevant for your target audience

 The most important content marketing tip. Creating engaging content is to make sure you’re actually providing value. Make sure you have a thorough understanding of your target audience and cater your content specifically for them.

A great way to do that is by using social listening tools like Hootsuite Social or using platforms like Facebook, Reddit and Quora to find out what questions they are asking. Spending a few minutes in research will help you determine what sort of posts resonate best with your audience.

 6. Add statistics, quotes and references for credibility

A study from Convince & Convert found that tweets with images receive 150% more retweets than those without. Do you see what I did there? Now, whether you like it or not, subconsciously you will follow the Twitter advice because it was backed by data. That’s just how content marketing works!

 7. Your content must have a clear, measurable business goal

Whichever content marketing strategy you implement – blogging or social posts, ensure your content is solving a problem for your target audience. In addition, keeping track of your content’s performance through analytics will tell you what is and isn’t working, so you can better utilize it.

You want your content marketing strategy to attract relevant audiences that align with what you offer to grow your business revenues.

Always remember that people do not read, they scan. When creating your content, keep these things in mind. These simple content marketing tips will help you write more effective and engaging content. This will lead to more followers, likes and comments, and eventually hot leads for your business.

Not sure what you should be creating as part of your content marketing strategy?

Take a look at this article about what types of content can help you boost your online presence.

If you are looking for more help with your content marketing strategy,  you can book a free consultation with me, and get your content engaging more with your target audience.