Prepping for Content

Prepping for content will vary depending on your role, and of course you have your favorite local news sites, as well as the tried-and-true national sites. But if you’re short on time you can always cheat a little and check the Steve Reynolds Hot List. It’s like the SparkNotes of “what people are talking about right now.”

Localize

Localize everything. Listeners don’t just want to know what’s happening in Washington, they want to know how it affects their potholes, property taxes, and why their favorite coffee shop just raised prices again. Also, nothing hits closer to home than making an emotional connection with your audience. This is easily accomplished by choosing the right words. That’s where the Emotional Word Matrix comes in. Think of it as a code for making your listeners laugh, cry, or text you in ALL CAPS.

Make it Personal

Your most relatable and memorable content will come from… you guessed it… you. Your thoughts, feelings, and observations are gold. So, keep a notes app handy to jot things down. Yes, even the weird shower thoughts. (In fact, especially those.) Add photos, audio, and sketches if you like. Microsoft OneNote is a good, free choice. Weave your lived-experiences in whenever you can.

Amplify

Often, social media is no longer an option, but a part of your job. Posting to multiple social media accounts all at once is an efficient time-saver. There are many, but the free ones often lack handy bells & whistles like scheduling, analytics and multi-account management. Here, you can Compare Social Media Management Tools.

And finally, words to live by, though we may never know the genius who said it first: “Become obsessed about meeting your listeners’ expectations.”

More about Cheri Marquart.