The Perfect Recipe for Compelling and Engaging Content

If content is the king, then content creators are the makers of the the king. Content creation is one of the critical aspects of the marketing communications profession. It is a pre-requisite for aspirants who want to build a successful career in this fascinating field. Content creation has evolved from long-form content to short and crisp audio-visual format. Advanced technologies like Generative AI have changed the dynamics of modern-day content creation. But the pulse remains the same, i.e. engaging story backed by captivating narration. Whether a long-form article/ opinion piece or a 30-second reel, content has a significant role in influencing and shaping the perspectives of people. Hence, it is inevitable for content creators to master the perfect recipe for compelling and engaging content.

Here are six ingredients required to create content that helps brands build a reputation and recall.

Purpose: The first ingredient required to create captivating content, is the purpose. What is the purpose of your message and what impact do you intend to have on the audience? Is your purpose brand building or lead generation? Determine your purpose and start curating the content which is aligned with your organisation’s goals and anticipated KRAs.

Target Audience: The content consumption preferences vary for different consumers. For instance, people from the old school generally prefer to consume content in text form such as newspaper articles, research papers, books etc. Whereas the young generation, especially Gen Zs are more inclined towards digital content such as short format videos, podcasts, audio books etc. Learn the art of packaging the brand story in different formats to reach out to all segments of potential consumers.

Research: Research plays an important role in creating unique and innovative content. You can gather information from online research or reaching out to subject matter experts. Become a social animal to develop 360-degree views on a variety of topics. Learn the art of active listening to understand different perspectives and nuances of the issues that influence your brand messaging. Spending time in quality discussions will help you expand the horizons of your creativity and generate creative ideas. Invest time and money in quality case studies/ whitepapers to understand market trends and technological advancements that influence consumers’ choices.

Curiosity: Be ready to go deep into the subjects of your interest and start asking questions. It will help you bring innovation and explore untapped territories to produce compelling content. Be bold to experiment with radical ideas even if they fail at times. However, understand the intricacies of the issues and the cultural nuances to avoid backlash arising out of campaign fiasco. Be respectful and truthful in your message to avoid a reputational crisis.

Practice: Content creation is an art and science. You can learn the basics of content creation with the help of frameworks and tools. However, consistent practice will help you develop a craft. Explore different forms of content creation and shortlist one or two formats that you feel most comfortable with. Regular practice will help you to expand the horizon of your thinking and improve content quality. There are several tools available on the internet which come handy for improving language and grammar. However, you can improve vocabulary only by reading and using new terms in your communication.

Patience: Generating traction on content is a time-consuming process and requires constant effort. Have patience and keep focusing on improving your craft. Avoid pressing your message on the audience. Instead, facilitate conversations and make them part of your storytelling. Evaluate your engagement regularly to understand the patterns of your content consumption. Data analytics can help you get insights into your campaign and make necessary improvements for optimum results.

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Priyanka Pugaokar

Priyanka Pugaokar is a communications professional with expertise in internal and external communication, crisis communications, content generation and media relations. She holds over ten years of combined experience in communications and business journalism. She is currently associated with Rashi Peripherals Limited as Corporate Communications Manager and leads several strategic projects. She is an avid travel explorer. A lifelong learner, she holds interest in yoga, naturopathy, energy healing and crystallography.