
Let's be real. Texas isn't just one big place. This area has a lot of different cultures tastes and ways of doing business. So getting to know your audience isn't just a job it's an adventure. There are many ways for businesses to connect in Texas because the people there are as different as the barbecue styles.
First get to know the people who live near you. Do they live in Austin and like new ideas and are good with technology or do they live in Dallas and like things that have worked in the past? The Pew Research Center is a great place to start if you want to learn about demographic data and trends that can help you make choices. But don't just look at data from your own country. The Texas Demographic Center and other resources can help you learn more about differences between regions.
If you write content that is personal and easy to understand your business will stand out. Use words and phrases that are common in Texas as well as pictures that show what life is like there such as cowboy boots tacos or the colorful art scenes. The content should reflect the authentic culture of the target area. For instance a campaign in El Paso might use content in both English and Spanish to reach the mostly Hispanic community. Texas isn't just one market it's a lot of small markets each with its own character.
You have to use social media now you can't just choose to. But not every platform is good for every kind of business and not every Texan uses them the same way. Businesses need to know which platforms their main customers use the most. Statista says that Facebook and Instagram have the most active users but TikTok and Twitter are also reaching people with different interests.
Texas businesses that care about their families and communities can use Facebook well. You can use it to set up events share interesting content and build an online community. Instagram is the best place to go if you want to see a brand's visual story. For instance food trucks in Houston show off their spicy briskets and Dallas boutiques post pictures of their new fashionable items.
Then there's LinkedIn which is great for B2B companies that want to network with the powerful oil and tech industries. Writing content that is both useful and relevant to your field can help you get better. Regular updates articles that show you know what you're talking about and even live "lunch and learn" events can all help you build your professional reputation.
Now that you know who your audience is and where they spend time online it's time to get things in order. The content calendar is a simple but useful tool. It's very important to be consistent when you do content marketing. If you don't have a plan it's easy to not post for weeks or even months which can make people lose interest.
First get your ideas for content in order. For example you could write about upcoming holidays new products or events in your area that you can connect with. For example if you own a restaurant in Austin it might be a good idea to have a Go Local theme during South by Southwest (SXSW). You can use tools like Trello or Google Calendar to help you keep track of your schedule.
To keep your audience interested a good content calendar should have a variety of posts. It could involve writing blogs to improve search engine optimization (SEO) posting interactive content on social media sending out email newsletters and making videos. There is a lot of information on HubSpot about how to make good content calendars and other tools that can help you.
SEO is more than just keywords. It's important to make your online store a welcoming and easy to find place to shop. Texas businesses need to use SEO methods that are right for them in order to stay at the top of search results.
First do some research on keywords. You can use tools like Google Keyword Planner to find out what people are searching for. Use phrases that include both your location and your field such as "Austin real estate" or "San Antonio taco catering." You can stand out by using long tail keywords that show what someone wants to buy.
This is when on page SEO comes into play. It's important for Texans who are always on the go that your website is easy to use loads quickly and works well on mobile devices. Content should not only be useful but it should also be interesting. Make guides or write a blog about things that your readers will find interesting. For instance a gardening center in Houston might talk about the best plants for the weather in the Gulf Coast.
You can't finish a plan without checking it out. Regularly looking at your content marketing efforts can help you figure out what works and what doesn't. A lot of people forget about it even though it seems easy. You can find out a lot about your website's traffic and how people use it with analytics tools like Google Analytics.
Check out the stuff that people are reading and commenting on the most. What are people posting? Which of your posts are bringing people to your site? You can also tell how well your content is doing by looking at engagement metrics on social media. When people comment like or share your posts it's like giving you a high five.
Change your campaigns based on what you learn from these. You might not be getting the results you expected from one platform or a type of content you didn't think would do well is doing well. You need to be willing to change your approach and be flexible. Keep in mind that content marketing doesn't last forever. It's more like art where changes help you get your point across.
Content marketing in Texas is a lot of fun but it requires a lot of work focus and knowledge of your audience. Your business might do well just like bluebonnets do in the spring if you keep going and learn as you go.