After 15 years of continued social media domination, I guarantee the content marketing tips I’m about to share with you are the best in the game… 

Way back in 2007, I started this little YouTube channel to get my message out to the world. A year later, I jumped on Twitter, and soon after that, I made my Facebook page.

Since then, I received the “#1 Marketer to Watch” title by Forbes, with millions of followers on every important platform. And I’ve probably done that number in articles, emails, episodes, and any other type of content you can imagine.

But it wasn’t always like this.

From 30 to 45 years old, before getting online, I spent every waking moment pushing my name out there — the slow, cumbersome, old school way. 

Knocking on doors… 

Cold calling on companies… 

Putting three million miles on my body, flying across the United States up to 250 days a year… 

Just for people to know me.

That all came to a halt when I got online. That’s when I became obsessed with content creation.  And it changed my life, fueled my businesses, and skyrocketed my income.

Now, here’s how my 10X content marketing strategy could do the same for you.

Check Out the Content Marketing Tips I’ve Used to Build a Following Multi-Millions’ Strong

There’s something you need to know before you set out to create a great content marketing plan…

If you’re not already doing at least some of the stuff I’ll cover in a sec, it’s not going to be easy. By the time you get to the end of these content marketing tips, you’ll likely feel overwhelmed. 

But that should only push you to work hard, keep learning, and dominate. Besides…

IF A SMALL-TOWN KID WHO GREW UP WITHOUT RESOURCES CAN DO IT, SO CAN YOU.

Let’s get to it.

I) Social Media Marketing

I’ll ease you into everything with a tool you’ve definitely come into contact with before, even if only on a personal level. Of course, I’m talking about social media.

The thing is… you need to be looking at these apps as the ultimate FREE weapon for your business.

Why?

As of April 2022, statistics show that 5 billion people qualify as internet users. Guess how many of them use social media?

4.65 BILLION.

Take a good look at that number. That’s exactly how many people you should strive to reach with any new content you put out.

Here’s how you can do it the smart way, based on every major platform.

1. Facebook

Let me guess… You’ve heard that people have stopped joining Facebook?

Well, you’re right. Because 2.9 billion people are already using Facebook. Nearly 37% of the world’s population is on this damn site.

So, I don’t care what you feel about Facebook — you’ve got to stop looking at it like a consumer and start thinking about it as a business owner.

But if you want to get real results on Facebook, you have to feed it the right content. 

This can look different based on your target audience, industry, and whatnot. But here’s what’s been working for me and my 6.7+ million Facebook followers…

Quote Graphics

For years now, this type of asset has never failed me on Facebook. 

When you have a strong message and can place it in a visual context, you’ve struck gold on this platform. And putting it into practice isn’t as hard as you may think…

Nowadays, there are a bunch of apps, sites, and software with free templates you can use. Upload a great photo, add a powerful statement you’ve said in the past, download the graphic, and post.

When you share the quote graphic, try adding a question in the caption to get people talking in the comments. And when they do, reply to as many as you can. The engagement will push your post in the algorithm, letting Facebook know that people are interested in the content.

Text Posts

Speaking of messages, you’d be surprised to see how far a simple text post can go on Facebook…

Using the same approach we talked about earlier, pick a powerful statement and post it as a status update. 

From time to time, switch things around and ask a question. Share your business wins. Heck, even stir things up, pull a stunt, and post a hot take. You’ll definitely see people engage on these ones.

No matter what kind of status post you go with, it’ll seem like a personal note to your followers. And when you’re using Facebook as a business tool, this will remind people of the human behind the company.

Family Photos 

This leads me to the #1 way to humanize your brand on Facebook… sharing unforgettable moments with the most important people in your life.

You might be thinking, “Grant, what does my family have to do with my business?”

And I’ll flip that back to you with a question of my own…

WHAT DO YOU THINK PEOPLE WILL RESONATE WITH — A FACELESS BRAND… OR A LEADER WHO TAKES CARE OF THEIR FAMILY THROUGH THEIR BUSINESS?

Even when I have massive back-to-back events I have to promote, I always make time and space for family photos on my Facebook page.

My wife and daughters mean the world to me, and I’ll never stop letting my followers know it. 

And Facebook wants this, too. Otherwise, ol’ Markie Z. wouldn’t have made “face” a key word in the platform’s name, now, would he?

2. Instagram

By now, I’m sure you know that Facebook owns Instagram and the two operate under the Meta parent company.

This might lead you to believe that all the good content you’re posting on Facebook will work for IG. However, that’s not always the case.

Sure, personal content — like family photos — is bound to work on any platform. But you need to study what’s working on Instagram right now. 

THE ALGORITHM IS ALWAYS CHANGING, AND IF YOU CAN’T KEEP UP, YOU’LL BE LEFT BEHIND.

Quick note here. I don’t want this to scare you. Understanding how these social media algorithms work is as simple as spending time on the platforms. 

Continuing with the Instagram example, dedicate 10-15 minutes each day to scrolling down your feed. As you do, notice what pops up most often.  

In late 2022, as I’m writing this article, you’re definitely going to see a LOT of the following…  

Stories

Ever notice how certain pages always show up at the top of your Instagram home page?

Well, these people or brands stay up there for a reason — by constantly posting Stories.

Don’t underestimate the power of these quick, 24-hour social media posts. If you do them often enough, you’ll be at the forefront of your community’s mind… and purchase decisions.

Make sure you take advantage of all the features available on IG Stories, especially these stickers:

• Shopping sticker: Set up Instagram Shopping for your page and add products which customers can tap to buy.
• Question sticker: Boost engagement by inviting people to share their thoughts on a topic that’s relevant to your business.
• Link sticker: The holy grail of all Instagram Story stickers, which you can and must use to push offers, events, and anything else you have going on.

And there’s only one thing Instagram likes to prioritize at the top of feeds more than Stories…

Live

Although live streams aren’t unique to Instagram, this app still loves ‘em as much as the day the feature rolled out.

You’ll see live users even before you get to the people who upload a bunch of Stories every day. And as a business owner, this is a massive opportunity to get and hold your followers’ attention.

NOTHING COMPARES TO THE RAW, REAL, UNEDITED IMPACT OF A LIVE VIDEO STREAM.

I mean, think about it. When you sit down and openly talk to your followers, it feels like you’re having a personal FaceTime call with them.

You can talk about anything, and when the time is right, you pitch whatever you’re selling.

Reels

If you go to my Instagram page right now, you’ll see that 90% of my posts are Reels. I throw in some photos and quotes here and there, but I’m pushing these bite-sized videos because they work.

You see, IG is trying to keep up the pace with the hottest app at the moment, TikTok, which I’ll talk more about in a minute…

But until then, I want you to start thinking about ALL the videos you could shoot and upload as Reels:

• Top three mistakes you’ve made as a business owner
• Origin story for your best-selling product or service
• Day-in-the-life at your office, introducing your team

These are just a few ideas to help you begin, but I know you can get even more creative with your Instagram Reels. 

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3. TikTok

Honestly, the only reason Instagram is pushing Reels so hard right now is the absolute domination of TikTok in the social media space.

WHAT TIKTOK GETS RIGHT IS DELIVERING THE BEST CONTENT TO THE RIGHT AUDIENCE.

What does this mean for you as a business owner?

If you know your customers like the back of your hand, you have an unprecedented opportunity to reach them — for free.

Step into the shoes of your buyer and ask yourself, “What would I want to see?” My TikTok followers, for example, love seeing snippets from my interviews, keynotes, and events. But it’s your job to figure out what works for you.

@grantcardone

Where do you live & how much money do you make a year?

♬ original sound – Grant Cardone

Anyway, as with all great things in life, TikTok requires massive action to be successful. 

For your content marketing efforts to shine on the platform, you have to upload a lot of these videos. Every day, even multiple times a day. 

But I’ll let you in on a secret to do this without losing your mind in a little bit…  

4. YouTube

Man, YouTube is a beast. When you think about it, it’s the oldest social media platform which continues to remain relevant to this day. 

I’ve been on YouTube for 15 years, and I ain’t leaving it anytime soon. It has served me and my businesses tenfold. And it can do the same for you… if you play your cards right.

After posting well over 5,000 videos to this platform, here are some of the best tips I can share for using it as a content marketing tool.

Tutorials

You might not realize it, but YouTube is one of the world’s best search engines. 

Think about how many times you’ve used the platform to look up “how to” do something. I bet more times than you can count. 

With this insight, brainstorm all the ways you can help other people and promote your business in the process. Some successful examples from my own channel are:

• How to Turn $5K into $1 Million
• How to Close Over the Phone
• How to Promote Yourself

Advice

Similar to video tutorials, you can also share the best tips, tricks, hacks… whatever unique insights you have into your industry.

PEOPLE OFTEN GO TO YOUTUBE FOR INSPIRATION AND MOTIVATION, SO WHY NOT BE THE ONE TO GIVE IT TO THEM?

Here are a few of my audience’s favorite advice videos:

• Best Advice for 20 Year Old
• 5 Tips to Become the Best Salesperson
• The Best Financial Advice for Getting Rich

Shorts

Right now, 8 of my top 10 most popular YouTube videos are Shorts, and half of those have well over 10 million views apiece. 

Just like Instagram is promoting Reels like crazy in the big TikTok race, YouTube is following suit with Shorts. 

The question is, how the heck are you supposed to handle so many videos, especially if you’re a one-person team?

Here comes the part I have a feeling you’ll like… And it applies to way more than YouTube Shorts.

The secret to nailing ALL these short-form videos is to repurpose a piece of content as many times as you can. 

For example, let’s say you have a 10-minute YouTube video you just uploaded. Instead of leaving it on your channel and hoping for the best, cut out multiple 20 or 30-second pieces that pack a punch.

All you have to do next is post these snippets across all the short video platforms I covered. YouTube Shorts. Instagram Reels. TikTok.

Repeat the process and use content you already have every chance you get. 

If you had to walk away with just one of these content marketing tips today, I guarantee this strategy alone can 10X your digital marketing efforts. 

5. LinkedIn

Although my list of social media pages could continue with Twitter, Clubhouse, and more, I’ll stop at the last one I want you to focus on as a business owner…

CONTACTS LEAD TO CONTRACTS, AND LINKEDIN IS WHERE YOU’LL PLANT THE SEEDS FOR THEM.

Think of LinkedIn as Facebook designed specifically for professionals. Here, you’ll find fellow entrepreneurs. Job seekers. Business influencers. Top executives from Fortune 500 companies.

As such, you can leverage LinkedIn in multiple ways, depending on your marketing goals:

• Want to promote your business? Celebrate your milestones, spotlight your team, and focus on publishing content with a business angle. Statistics, infographics, and industry trends are all great for LinkedIn.
• Looking for leads? Keep an eye out for people requesting help, advice, or solutions. Your business might have the right product or service to fix their issue.
• Hiring new employees? Publish and promote job postings. There’s no better platform right now for attracting top talent.
• Targeting C-level leaders for high-ticket deals? Build relationships with top industry players. Interact with their content, request to connect, and send direct messages. 

At the end of the day, LinkedIn is a goldmine for networking…

Use it wisely. 

II) Shows & Podcasts 

So far, it may seem like a lot of my content marketing tips revolve around short videos… 

However, it’s equally important to have longer, high-quality content formats so you can:

• Demonstrate your expertise and unique insights as an industry authority
• Dig deep into the problems your business provides solutions for
• Build an expand an audience of loyal customers

And the best way to hit these targets is through shows and podcasts. 

I’ve been doing ‘em for years, and my businesses have only grown with each episode. In fact, you can see a bunch of my shows right here, on the GCTV Shows page.

Anyway, I’m sure that many of you reading this might not have the resources I do for high-production shows. The good part is… when you start out, you don’t need all the fancy equipment.

YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BEGIN IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND.

Yup, you can do anything with that little device. 

If you don’t have a production budget right now, start recording episodes with your smartphone. As your business grows, you can invest in high-quality lights, cameras, microphones, and the like.

Until then, your duty is to put out consistent episodes, invite guests to double your reach, and heavily promote your show on social media.

III) Email Marketing 

You may have heard average people say that email marketing is dead…

Yeah, right.

THE ONLY THING DEAD ABOUT EMAIL IS THE PRESIDENTS PRINTED ON THE PAPER I’M MAKING EVERY TIME I SEND AN EMAIL.

To date, I’ve generated millions of leads from emails — and hundreds of millions of dollars in sales from those leads.

And when done right, email marketing can help you turn potential customers into countless paying clients. It’s all in how you build your audience, write the copy, and refine the process based on stats.

Lead Magnets

First, you need a solid email list. Whether or not you have one already, your priority should be continually expanding your contacts. 

One proven way to go about this is with lead magnets — freebies in exchange for contact information.

For example, let’s say you have an eCommerce store. Getting more email addresses is as simple as offering a 10% discount on the first order if the user subscribes to your newsletter.

If you have a service-based business, you can let people download eBooks, checklists, webinars, and free courses… if they sign up for emails.

You get the idea. 

As long as you offer high-value resources, people will be willing to give you their contact info to access them.

Copywriting

Once you have a good audience going, you have to address them with the right words. This is where copywriting comes in, which is an art in and of itself.

Essentially, great email copy will:

• Hook and reel in the reader from the very first sentence
• Tell a fantastic story that will make the person forget they’re even reading an email
• Strategically work in all the features, benefits, and details about your product or service
• Conclude with a powerful CTA (Call to Action) which pushes the recipient to a landing page with a time-sensitive offer

IF PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE, URGENCY IS DIVINE.

Conversion Rate Optimization

After you send out your first few emails, it’s time to fine-tune your system. Marketing folks call this conversion rate optimization, but it’s just a fancy way of saying more clicks and sales.

Without getting too technical, here are some simple tips to boost your email content marketing results:

• Personalization. Make readers feel special by inserting their first names at the beginning of emails. And don’t worry about manually pulling names from lists; your CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software does this for you.
• Segmentation. Divide your full email list into smaller segments so you can target specific groups of customers. This can be as simple as location, purchase history, or buyer persona. Then, tailor your emails to each segment.
• A/B Testing. In email marketing, A/B testing refers to sending two versions of the same email to smaller parts of your list to see which performs better. Whichever variation gets more clicks is the winner for your audience.

And in addition to emails, there’s another highly effective way to use words as a tool to get new customers…

IV) Blogging 

As far as organic traffic goes, the in-depth article is your golden ticket… just like the one you’re reading right now.

As a business owner, blogging allows you to:

• Educate prospects on your industry
• Gift free knowledge to build a relationship of trust
• Bring in customers who might have never heard of you before

BUT HOW CAN YOU REACH THESE NEW PEOPLE THROUGH BLOGS?

In comes SEO — the process in which you optimize evergreen content to rank in Google search results.

Before you get lost in all the industry jargon, let me show you how writing SEO-friendly content is NOT as complicated as it seems…

HERE’S A SIMPLE YET EFFECTIVE BLOGGING BLUEPRINT THAT WORKS BOTH FOR BEGINNERS AND CASUAL BLOGGERS…

Keyword Research

Start with the actual ideas for your articles — the topics you can talk about forever.

You want to aim for a mix of what you know well and what your target customers are seeking online. That’s the sweet spot for showing up in their search results.

To do so, use a keyword research tool to find out what words people are using when they look up something related to your industry on Google. The more specific the phrases, the better.

Editorial Calendar

If you’re big on organizing stuff, you can then create an editorial calendar to plan and track your articles while covering all relevant bases. 

A quick and easy way to do this is to think of all the subjects you can write about. I’ll use my platform, GCTV, to put this into perspective.

On this website you’re on right now, all of my articles fall under one of these broad categories:

• Business
• Money, Mindset & Motivation
• Leadership
• Real Estate
• Tech

While I may focus on some categories more than others, I make sure I give my readers all the info they could ever need in these spaces.

Then, when I get to writing the blogs, I sprinkle in the secret ingredient that pulls everything together…

Cross Promotion

Even though I’m sharing all these articles for free, I’ll always use them as a vehicle to promote other parts of my business.

For example, in this blog post you’re reading, you’ll see a bunch of my social media posts included to complete the content. This way, readers can check out and follow my other channels, too.

After that, you’ll find ways to get free copies of my books all over the website. These are lead magnets in action — the free resources in exchange for contact details I told you about earlier.

Plus, you’ll find my products, services, and events promoted everywhere. Although my purpose here is to give you information, I’ll always slide in opportunities to expand your knowledge even more.

No matter how you decide to go about blogging, the key takeaway here is to provide high value while bringing readers back to your business. 

V) Social Proof

Last but not least, public customer feedback is essential for marketing small businesses as great companies. 

I mean, look at the steps you take as a consumer before buying a product. I’m sure your decision-making process includes at least one of the following:

• Testimonials. You go on the company’s website or social media and see how other customers feel about the business. 
• Reviews. More often than not, before committing to a purchase, you’ll look up reviews on external websites as well.
• Case studies. If you want to invest in a bigger deal, you’ll likely want to see an extensive breakdown of how things played out for other people. 

Now, look at your own actions through the eyes of a business owner… 

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO INCORPORATE THESE PIECES OF SOCIAL PROOF INTO YOUR OVERALL CONTENT MARKETING?

Go back to all the platforms we talked about and see how you you can squeeze in feedback from your customers:

• Spread testimonials across your blogging site. Even write dedicated articles about your customers’ experiences. For example, after the last 10X Growth Conference, my team interviewed four attendees and wrote about the impact the event had on them.
• Ask your clients to send you quick videos you can share with your social media communities. This will also help you with creating content for all the big video-focused platforms (TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.)
• Include customer review screenshots on your website, in emails, and even when editing episodes for your shows or podcasts.

All in all, reports show that 97% of customers consult product reviews — so make sure you have them available at the tips of their fingers.

But All These Content Marketing Tips Would Amount to NOTHING If You Don’t Have This…

When all is said and done, you can have a great content strategy on paper, but it would be useless without omnipresence.

You hear me talk about this all the time… being everywhere on the internet, at all times. It’s crucial to your success — and success is your duty.

You see, the real secret to 10X your brand awareness, business goals, and marketing results is to promote, promote, promote.

Why?

MONEY FOLLOWS ATTENTION.

And to really understand how powerful this is, check out these charts from my personal archives:

As you can see, the more active I became online and got people to know my name, the more my revenue exploded.

To get here, I put all these content marketing tips I shared with you into practice. And I continue to take massive action and show up every day on every platform there is out there. It sure as hell isn’t easy, but every post, episode, email, article, and piece of content is well worth the commitment. 

If you need more support, guidance, and resources to make all this work for you, check out my 10X Marketing System: 

Until then, I challenge you to start posting each day. 

Tackle every medium you can get your hands on. 

Over time, you’ll reach digital omnipresence, and it will reflect across all areas of your business.

I’m rooting for you every step of the way. 

Be Great,

Grant Cardone

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