Fresh Content Ideas

Written by Lisa Chapman | Edited by Rory Hart
Sections of this topic
    A writer creating fresh content ideas
    4-1-1 Rule
    Courtesy of Tipping Point Labs

    Follow the 4-1-1 Rule

    Need fresh content ideas? Who doesn’t? By using the 4-1-1 Rule, you will attract and engage your target audiences, give them value, and come out the winner!

    The 4-1-1 Rule was coined by Tippingpoint Labs and Joe Pulizzi of the Content Marketing Institute. The rule states:

    “For every one self-serving tweet, you should retweet one relevant tweet and most importantly share four pieces of relevant content written by others.”

    Why? Because when you lift someone else up by circulating their content (with appropriate credit and links), you create a win-win-win. The original author wins by gaining more exposure, your reader wins by receiving valuable information, and YOU win in many ways.

    How You Win with the 4-1-1 Rule

    First, you establish yourself as someone who acknowledges and helps others. Immediately, and in the most important way, you create a very positive impression. If you help others, you must be a generous and trustworthy person, right? Second, it will come back to you. The individuals you lift up (and others) will notice, and you will be lifted up. It may not come from the same individual, but it will happen. That’s how it works. And Third, you create for yourself a value system of helping, not selling.

    Since your postings will likely be searched by search engines, think of ‘helping’ when you sit down to write your posts. This is an important aspect of your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategy.

    Your SEO Strategy

    The effectiveness of your SEO strategy – getting found online – depends on how well you know and appeal to your Target Audiences. Spend clear-thinking time to profile your Target Audiences by listing:

    • 30 of their pressing needs
    • 20 unique problems they face
    • 10 of their issue-related likes and 10 dislikes
    • 25 top questions they have

    … the answers to which are information topics they would search for, and be eager to read and pass on to others. Now find others’ content or write your own.

    Apply the 4-1-1 Rule

    Try to apply the 4-1-1 rule to your posts on all content platforms and social networking platforms. It certainly works with blogs, LinkedIn and Facebook.

    As Jay Baer says, “If you sell something, you make a customer today, but if you genuinely help someone, you create a customer for life.”

    Where do you find content of great interest to your Target Audiences?

    For more resources, see the Free Management Library topic: Marketing and Social Media.

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    ABOUT Lisa M. Chapman:

    Ms. Chapman’s new book, The WebPowered Entrepreneur – A Step-by-Step Guide is now available at:

    Lisa M. Chapman serves her clients as a business and marketing coach, business planning consultant and social media consultant. She helps clients to establish and enhance their online brand, attract their target market, engage them in meaningful social media conversations, and convert online traffic into revenues. Email: Lisa @ LisaChapman.com

    Lisa Chapman