Written by: Vickie Sullivan | September 05, 2019
Go Beyond Being Handy
Those who know me well will tell you my list-making skills are legendary (and not always in a good way). So, Social Media Examiner’s recently-published list of handy tools and apps for marketers immediately got my attention. It’s packed with ideas to help you implement your content marketing campaigns.
The tactic of publishing lists of tools or ideas is effective, but it can easily backfire. So, you have to be careful. The trap: You can appear handy but not knowledgeable enough to stand out. Which begs a bigger question: how can thought leaders strategically use list making?
What I tell clients: Don’t use lists in a vacuum. You can show that you know a lot more when you get specific in these two ways:
• Include scenarios: Outlining the situations where this idea/tactic/app whatever work best makes you appear more diagnostic. The unspoken message: There is a strategy behind my recommendations.
Listen: How to Make Your List Stand Out
• Explain why it works. Tips and tricks can also drill down on the strategy. It also answers the unspoken question: “Why is this better than other alternatives?” The “why” allows folks to decide if this recommendation works in their situation. Again, the approach here is diagnostic.
The marketplace is littered with lists that brand the list-maker as “nice to have but don’t need to pay.” Don’t let that happen to you.
Now Read This:
- A Great Way to Explain a Complex Subject
- Strategic Sounding Boards Give Real-World Advice for When the Rubber Meets the Road