How to build a content engine for Dark Social - with Chris Walker
Jun 14, 2024
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Chris Walker is the CEO of Passetto and Chairman of Refine Labs, while Erik Jacobson is the CEO of Hatch. They dive into building a content engine tailored for Dark Social in 2024. Key discussions include how organic social media drives marketing success, the advantages of live events for boosting engagement, and effective content creation strategies. They also explore using AI to streamline the content process and emphasize the importance of companies creating their own podcasts for brand visibility.
Organic social media is essential for effective marketing, yet it presents challenges in measuring outcomes and timing effectively.
Building a strong content engine relies on creating long-form, valuable content that can be repurposed across multiple platforms for wider reach.
Incorporating live events within content strategies enhances audience engagement and dialogue, facilitating better understanding and retention of complex topics.
Deep dives
Building Trust with Future Buyers
Companies today must focus on engaging buyers who are not immediately ready to purchase, as this can significantly enhance long-term sales opportunities. Success lies in being present where potential customers frequent online, fostering relationships through valuable content before they even initiate the buying process. Organizations that have integrated proactive content marketing strategies have been able to build trust and maintain visibility, setting themselves apart from competitors. As case studies will illustrate in future discussions, these strategies can lead to a higher conversion rate when buyers are ready to make decisions.
The Power and Challenge of Organic Social Media
Organic social media is identified as a crucial component of an effective marketing strategy, but it comes with unpredictability regarding its results. While clearly effective, businesses often struggle to gauge the timing and milestones for achieving desired outcomes through organic channels. Therefore, establishing a sustainable and efficient approach to content creation is essential to prevent team burnout and ensure long-term success. This means developing repeatable processes that can adapt over time while bearing in mind that the organic nature of sharing content is not always straightforward to track or measure.
Creating a Content Engine from Scratch
Developing a robust content engine involves establishing recurring, long-form content pieces that provide ongoing value to audiences. This could include regular webinars, interviews, or podcasts that provide insights while also inviting audience interaction. Once this foundational content is created, it can be repurposed into various shorter formats for distribution across channels like LinkedIn and YouTube. The emphasis is on maintaining structure in content production, which not only ensures consistency but also paves the way for utilizing different media channels effectively.
Leveraging Live Events for Engagement
Incorporating live events into content strategies enriches the interaction between thought leaders and their audience by providing real-time feedback and engagement. This format increases accountability for speakers and fosters a valuable dialogue that enhances content relevance. Additionally, live sessions allow audiences to participate actively, which can lead to better understanding and retention of complex concepts shared during the event. Utilizing tools for registration and follow-ups can also help collect valuable insights and connections for future content.
AI's Role in Content Creation and Efficiency
AI is becoming an increasingly valuable asset in streamlining content production and improving overall quality. By leveraging historical transcripts of past discussions, businesses can create new written content that reflects their established voice, facilitating better SEO and audience reach. This strategy not only saves time but allows for a scalable approach to content creation, turning existing resources into fresh materials. Moreover, as organizations adopt AI-assisted methods, it's crucial to keep human expertise at the forefront, ensuring that the content generated aligns with the brand's message and audience expectations.
Chris Walker (CEO @ Passetto and Chairman @ Refine Labs) and Erik Jacobson (CEO @ Hatch) share the playbook on how to build a content engine for Dark Social in 2024.
Here's what we covered:
Chris’s content background
Why organic social content is the #1 driver for effective marketing today
How Dark Social works to build trust
The content engine playbook
Why a recurring live event is ideal
How to get better at producing quality content
Running an efficient content production process
AI use cases in the content process
How to pitch this strategy to your leadership team
Creating your own podcast vs. podcast guesting
Strategies to grow a podcast
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Hatch is a video-first content production agency that helps B2B marketing teams create video podcasts, video series, and short-form video content so they can run an efficient content engine, and be seen as experts in their industry.