by Cara Lumen
Where ever you are in the development of your blog – stop! And start here. The very first content you want to put into your blog is Core Concept Cornerstone Content. It is a series of articles that explain the core of what you do and that you will refer back to over and over through internal links in later copy. You may also want to place this content on its own page since it will deftly explain what you teach or sell or think. It contains core information you want your readers to have immediately. And when you start brainstorming these cornerstone concepts you will find yourself filled with ideas for products and services.
What do your services do for others?
Every time I need to explain something in detail to a client I write it up as a handout and put it in my Coaching Library to be used again for the next person. I can’t tell you the hours I’ve saved by having these handouts ready. This Core Concept Cornerstone Content is like that. It is a series of articles that explain what you want people to know about what you offer. Begin with the concerns of your clients and start brainstorming the types of things you have to help them with when you first begin working with them. For instance, I have to be certain my clients know their target audience and have defined their niche and I want them to think big so I have Is Your Ideal Client Big Enough for Your Vision? in my pillar content.
Everyone goes into business to support themselves financially. Write about how you help them do that. 10 Ways for You to Start Earning More Income
I’m a business coach so some of my pillar content is How to Choose Your Strongest Marketing Strategy and How to Create a Magnetic Sales Cycle
I am a content developer so of course I’ll include How Hiring a Web Content Strategist can Save you Money
And I help people create signature products so 12 Tips for Better Time Management When the Ideas Keep Coming In and How to Write Content so it Organizes Itself would be valid concepts to include.
You get the picture. Look over the benefits you give your clients and write articles that show that you know their concerns and needs and how you help them achieve their goals. Then you have some strong positional material to refer back to through external links in future posts.
What products do you offer?
I have a series of home study courses so I could write about the advantages of home study. For instance, How to Learn More When You’re Full Up or How to Keep Learning Even if You Think You’re Too Old I could have “How a good template can save you hours and keep you on target” ready to go with my Idea Generator book that is filled with templates. Write about the use of your product. How it will solve problems. How it has changed lives.
What affiliate products do you offer?
Of course you only promote affiliate products and services that you use yourself. As a web content developer I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used What’s in your Shopping Cart It was one of the early pieces in my Coaching Library. I send it to new clients who are setting up their web sites. It is an affiliate and I use affiliate links. Write about the products and services you recommend in a useful way that helps the reader learn how to use the product to their best advantage. My resource page is filled with useful tools I use and recommend and many of them are affiliate links.
What philosophy do you expound?
This may not be appropriate for every situation but I find I’m writing a mix of philosophical personal development posts and practical application posts. So articles like The Starting Over Syndrome and How to Learn More When you’re Full Up and Believe You Can!
Start wherever you are and do this now!
When you start thinking in terms of writing a Cornerstone Series you’ll be amazed at how the ideas come rolling in. Create a separate page to list your series like my Business Building Ideas page and use the Organize Series plug in to keep a list of the full series in each post so the reader can keep on reading I’ve created a brainstorming tool to help think up ideas which will be included in my Idea Generator Workbook and of course I am developing it as I make the end result happen for myself. Just start thinking “series.”
This concept is worth stopping what you’re doing and to make certain this is in place before you proceed further with your blog. And you know what. Writing this core content, these basic, foundational principles of what you do will help you clarify your niche. I bet you come up with some great new marketing phrases too. And of course, all of these ideas can be leveraged into other products and services.
Go for it – today! Write that core concept cornerstone content and start back linking to them.
© 2010 Cara Lumen
