Got SlideShare?
There are still many businesses not using SlideShare to its full potential, but wonder why they are not getting the desired results. In this article, I’ll go over why it is critical for marketers to understand how to create visuals that stand out from the crowd, with various tips on optimizing SlideShare content to generate more traffic and leads. With a little creativity, research, and persistence, your business can harness the power of SlideShare to enhance your content marketing strategy.
Most businesses today are aware of the importance of visuals in their content marketing strategy. Visual content helps drive traffic and generate leads because of the very shareable nature of the material. Because of this new visual emphasis in content marketing, the slide hosting service SlideShare has grown in popularity with businesses from all sectors. Even so, many businesses using SlideShare could improve their presentations to drive more traffic to their website or blog and generate better leads. Here are some techniques to enhance the power of your SlideShare presentations.
Make the Title Slide Count
The very best presentations on SlideShare all have one thing in common: an outstanding title slide. In the same way that websites need to project the right image to first-time viewers, presentation title slides need to make a good first impression. To increase the amount of clicks your slide gets, maximize its impact. Use striking colors, strong images, and a memorable title. Just make sure the rest of your presentation lives up to your promise. If your presentation is good enough, it could even feature on the SlideShare homepage.
Create Teaser Content
Everyone knows about including persuasive calls-to-action within marketing content, but there are similar, more subtle ways to generate quality leads. One trick used by many marketers on SlideShare is to provide a sample of your content, or “teaser content.†If your sample is compelling enough, viewers will want to know more. Include a form to capture leads and tell viewers where to go to get the entire content. Using this method will filter out the poor quality leads and leave you with more qualified prospects. For example, if you are promoting a white paper, create a slideshow that presents highlights from the report.
Keep It Simple and Stunning
You may have a compelling narrative and the perfect words in your presentation, but if your visuals are not up to scratch, you might as well not bother. SlideShare is, after all, a visual platform. During the planning process, ensure your message is clear and supports your specific marketing goals, but make sure you assemble enough visual material to support your presentation. When possible, use charts, graphs, photos, and graphics. The most successful marketers keep it simple. They use uncomplicated language that clearly communicates the message, use striking visuals, and avoid filling each slide with too much information.
Size Matters
Unlike other content marketing channels like YouTube and Facebook, SlideShare has an audience that is generally looking for more in-depth content. A social media report highlighted on Hubspot indicated that longer presentations – with 60 slides or more – were actually more popular with viewers. SlideShare has become the preferred channel for professionals looking for statistical data and detailed presentations that explore particular topics in depth. For this reason, if you want to effectively use SlideShare for content marketing, focus on creating detailed presentations with plenty of visual data, and don’t be afraid to address very specific topics.
Do Not Neglect SEO
Regularly uploading new content to SlideShare is a powerful way to strengthen your SEO power. Like YouTube, your presentation title, description, tags, and links all have an impact on how you will rank in search engine results pages. Remember that search engines will index every word in every slide, so include keywords that reflect your marketing goals.
Go Pro
For a small fee, you can take your content marketing strategy to the next level with the SlideShare Analytics and LeadShare tools. Send Tracker, the SlideShare Pro analytics tool, can give you details about your audience. It can also send alerts when people interact with your emails and SlideShare content. LeadShare lets you embed opt-in forms within your actual presentations. Try inserting forms at the end of a presentation and analyze the results. Response rates may improve with forms inserted in the middle of presentations, so experimentation is key.
Spread the Word
If you already have a solid presence on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media channels, use it to your advantage. Promoting your other social media channels is essential if you want to drive more traffic to your content and generate leads. Embed SlideShare presentations into your company blog, and link to your SlideShare channel from other social platforms. Connecting your social channels and promoting new presentations will help extend the reach of your content marketing.
The Next Step
If you are unsure how to maximize your presence on SlideShare, use some of these techniques to help reinvigorate your content marketing strategy and then measure the results. Try browsing the presentations in your industry sector to develop ideas and work out which approach would suit your specific marketing goals. By experimenting with different presentations and asking for feedback, you can generate more leads and ensure your content reaches the widest possible audience.
We love these types of projects as part of content repurposing. If you need help with turning your current blog posts into SlideShare presentations for reach expansion, we are just an email away.
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