#micro-content

Today we’re going to discuss a little about the underused micro-content in other aspects besides social media. We see on social media everywhere that there’s a compilation of short words that help us define the reason or purpose of the attached article, meme, or pictures. We post 140 characters on a tweet (now it’s 280, well now you can write about your whole life in one tweet), captions on a Facebook post that tells us what it is they want us to read, etc., it’s a form of content marketing, micro-content.

What exactly is micro-content?

It’s just like what the words imply, it’s a small group of words which can be skimmed by the reader to understand the wider message of the article. It’s a short-form content that makes a great impact.

Clear and inviting to the reader

An example of micro-content in social media is a tweet, with less amount of characters the curator curates carefully what can capture the reader in seconds time. An example of micro-content in videos is Buzzfeed, 20-30 seconds short videos make a BIG difference. Consumers/audiences have an attention span of 8-10 seconds, how can you captivate them in those 8-10 seconds?

Think of an elevator speech, what can you say to raise awareness or make an impact in those mere seconds?

Yes, micro-content is often used in social media but it doesn’t have to be limited to. It’s an under-used content type in general. It often makes significant impact upon use.

Mirco-content and its uses:

Like I said, it doesn’t have to be limited to social media, but it is important regardless to form a set of words that will inform and engage customers in seconds time.

Areas that it can be used (but it isn't as much): tools to help your sales rep SELL! Job Performance Aids Marketing and Selling Content Content Source for New Content Creation

Salespersons need guidelines and set of tools that they can use during times of prospecting assets. Having a set of those guidelines (basically what to say) can help new customer acquisition and revenue growth. Not to sound like a broken record, but basically sales need a handbook (not like those 10 inch thick company handbooks that they tell you to read and you never even lay eyes on it, it can be a document or anything remote that can inform you that it’s what suitable for the situation) that tells them what to say and how to say as well as emails and that type of micro-content is underused.

Companies like Asana take advantage of this option that marketers lack and provide them for profit. It’s an SAS that provides tools and services to teams to curate there workspace remotely. That means teams can access micro-content repositories that are set up for them and access them.

Aside from that, as marketing and selling content, sales rep needs visual support as well as customers. And with the attention span of 8-10 seconds, you need to capture attention and generate interest. With that means, it is usually the first then readers see and aligns with the readers' preferences in cases where they should be a use for it.

How-tos:

How do you do micro-content? Honestly, I hope this question is never asked because it's something you already do every day. All you need to do is dilute it into words that can immediately make the reader understand and engaging. When can you use it? I believe you can use it whenever there's a long-form finished asset or when it's necessary to rapidly respond to prospects or candidates.  And you can use it anytime when you're delivering through social channels or sales channels.

According to Jim Burns In the article, MICRO-CONTENT: THE MOST IMPORTANT CONTENT TYPE YOU DON’T MANAGE, micro-content is not limited to marketing and can be utilized to create new customer prospects and increase revenue. He then states that there are uses that can be identified under micro-content. These uses can be in a company setting whereas your sales rep can utilize the function to easily find information that relates to the situation.

In respect to our fan page media project in our marketing 3810 class, I intend to use this type of content to engage prospects and as well as using for my online business where I can make templates with to respond to customers questions and situations and making it easier to find, I will apply micro-content.

Image source: The Found Animals Foundation. 

Friday Reads | A quick collection of the best things we’ve been reading this week. This week it’s all about content strategies. 

Harnessing the Power of Micro-Content by Dustin W. Stout [dustn.tv]

“A good content marketing strategy incorporates regular micro-content distributed throughout social media that will keep your audience engaged.”

How B2B Businesses Can Use Instagram by Jenn Herman [Maximize Social Business]