To have content that drives visits and generates leads you need a strategy. There are 3 stages to a content strategy:
Stage 1: How to begin
Stage 2: Build a content machine
Stage 3: Become an authority
Stage 1: How to begin
Begin with an overall outline of the elements that an effective content strategy requires. These elements include:
A commitment to be different. Simply being another voice shouting the same words that are repeated in thousands of other websites will serve no purpose.
Listen first. Begin your seach for your own voice or persona by listening to others who are closely followed.
Engage second. Use your persona to attrach others to your conversation. This is best accomplished at this point by contributing to the content/message/dialogue of others.
Find your American Idol. Complete your persona by personalizing it with your unique way of thinking, expressing yourself, selection of material, and interacting with others.
Stay focused. As you expand your content stay focused on your uniqueness and the consistency of your message.
Create Re-Markable Content. Now is the time to become the authority or favored voice to those whom you once followed yourself.
This outline closely follows an outline created by Junta42 in Higher Purpose Content Marketing in 6 Steps.