With the growing power of online platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and blogs, customer engagement has become an essential aspect of conducting business. But simply implementing those tools will not compel customers to interact with your company; you must create content that captivates, informs, and entertains your desired audience. Teaching businesses how to produce this kind of content is the mission of Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and More) that Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business, written by online marketing professionals Ann Handley and C.C. Chapman. The book’s subtitle says it all: this book will guide readers through the necessary steps for utilizing any online platform to its fullest potential with the ultimate goal of driving successful business.
The book is divided into four major parts. The first part argues the authors’ case for compelling content, and lays down the rules for defining your brand and your voice, understanding your audience, communicating your message, and having meaningful conversations and interactions with customers. The second part of the book delves into the “how-to” of content creation: each chapter tackles a different form of online media, including webinars, white papers, podcasts, and blogs. The third part contains success stories of businesses that have put the aforementioned theories into practice, and shares the ideas that helped them along the way. The final part of the book serves as a conclusion but also as a call to action inviting businesses to connect with the authors.
Content Rules is useful tool for any business looking to boost existing social media and web platforms or begin a new plan from scratch. It is easy and enjoyable to read and quick to navigate, meaning that one does not need to read from cover to cover in order to extract the information most valuable to any given business’s strategy. Businesses struggling with the with the task of producing content, connecting with customers, and communicating a brand’s message can learn a lot from Handley and Chapman’s rules. To learn more about the book, visit www.contentrulesbook.com.
DivergingSoul, the media production practice at GraVoc Associates, Inc., can assist with web design and the set up of social media platforms. DivergingSoul will work with your company to enhance your business’s online presence and deliver your message to a wider audience. Please visit www.gravoc.com for more information on our services.
Editor’s note: This book review is purely for informational purposes. GraVoc Associates, Inc.is in no way affiliated with the authors of the book or the company that published it.