Why Create Quality Content?
Value Driven Content is Important, Especially for non-profits
Many companies today churn out generic, mass-produced blog posts from content mills as a way to direct traffic to their website using SEO techniques.
Their goal is to rank higher on Google searches, and they often don’t actually expect anyone to read the content involved, based on the premise that most people nowadays don’t read articles, and just skim through the title and first paragraphs.
This technique can work in some brick-and-mortar companies that are selling widgets or web services: If you’re selling shower curtain rings or sales software, no one particularly cares if you write well or produce interesting or original content and no one likely reads the articles anyway, so they serve their purpose as long as they create traffic and more google searches for your company and in turn more sales.
As you know, a mission-driven organization that exists and fights in the public arena and wants to achieve social goals is a very different animal, and has different objectives.
Content written for a non-profit organization should not only generate web traffic but can also serve as the main vehicle to:
The Process
Quality content means writing that meets a high standard, that is informed and entertaining, but most of all that conveys a sense of your voice and vision as an organization.
This requires a good deal of research and prep work, especially at first. Creating quality content is a multi-step process, whether it takes the form of a blog, press release, or campaign. Take the example of a blog post:
Research
This step is essential both to choose a topic and to start writing. This can in some cases be the most important and time-intensive part of the whole process. The difference between a well and poorly researched blog is immediately palpable, and thorough research helps you see what other people have to say about your selected topic and come up with a unique angle. It also helps avert marketing catastrophe and gaffes, which is especially important in the political or social spheres but applies across the board.
Topic Selection
Many factors play into selecting a great topic for a blog post, including current trends, keywords and topics that generate web traffic, and issues that are central to the organization’s focus.
Clarifying Voice
Possibly the most important part of the process, especially early on in a blog, is establishing the voice, tone and message. This should be done before the blog is even started to determine the general tone going forward, and requires before each post, at least initially, to decide on a viewpoint. Finding the right tone is a process, and might shift over time or take a few posts to refine fully.
Briefing
A brief should be put together that defines the final product in as much detail as possible to make sure it is in line with the organization’s mission. This includes things like tone, format etc.
Drafting
Then there is the messy process of outlining and writing the post itself, which might also involve further research. If the steps above have been completed, drafting should be pretty straightforward.
Edits
A few rounds of edits are often required to ensure a polished, compelling final product that is perfectly in line with the organization’s vision.
Following all the steps in this process makes a palpable difference in the final product, and is essential to create writing that people engage and connect with. Remember that every piece of writing you generate is an opportunity to create relationships based on authenticity with your readership, and to communicate your organization’s voice to new readers!
Their goal is to rank higher on Google searches, and they often don’t actually expect anyone to read the content involved, based on the premise that most people nowadays don’t read articles, and just skim through the title and first paragraphs.
This technique can work in some brick-and-mortar companies that are selling widgets or web services: If you’re selling shower curtain rings or sales software, no one particularly cares if you write well or produce interesting or original content and no one likely reads the articles anyway, so they serve their purpose as long as they create traffic and more google searches for your company and in turn more sales.
As you know, a mission-driven organization that exists and fights in the public arena and wants to achieve social goals is a very different animal, and has different objectives.
Content written for a non-profit organization should not only generate web traffic but can also serve as the main vehicle to:
- establish a distinctive voice
- tell people what you stand for
- build trust and credibility among your readership
The Process
Quality content means writing that meets a high standard, that is informed and entertaining, but most of all that conveys a sense of your voice and vision as an organization.
This requires a good deal of research and prep work, especially at first. Creating quality content is a multi-step process, whether it takes the form of a blog, press release, or campaign. Take the example of a blog post:
Research
This step is essential both to choose a topic and to start writing. This can in some cases be the most important and time-intensive part of the whole process. The difference between a well and poorly researched blog is immediately palpable, and thorough research helps you see what other people have to say about your selected topic and come up with a unique angle. It also helps avert marketing catastrophe and gaffes, which is especially important in the political or social spheres but applies across the board.
Topic Selection
Many factors play into selecting a great topic for a blog post, including current trends, keywords and topics that generate web traffic, and issues that are central to the organization’s focus.
Clarifying Voice
Possibly the most important part of the process, especially early on in a blog, is establishing the voice, tone and message. This should be done before the blog is even started to determine the general tone going forward, and requires before each post, at least initially, to decide on a viewpoint. Finding the right tone is a process, and might shift over time or take a few posts to refine fully.
Briefing
A brief should be put together that defines the final product in as much detail as possible to make sure it is in line with the organization’s mission. This includes things like tone, format etc.
Drafting
Then there is the messy process of outlining and writing the post itself, which might also involve further research. If the steps above have been completed, drafting should be pretty straightforward.
Edits
A few rounds of edits are often required to ensure a polished, compelling final product that is perfectly in line with the organization’s vision.
Following all the steps in this process makes a palpable difference in the final product, and is essential to create writing that people engage and connect with. Remember that every piece of writing you generate is an opportunity to create relationships based on authenticity with your readership, and to communicate your organization’s voice to new readers!
