Romance your customers with content marketing is key to success.
Without adding some love, you risk turning prospects off before they have the chance to experience your products and services.
I’m not saying to do this just for Valentine’s Day because romance doesn’t need a special holiday to celebrate your relationship and care.
Rather build your relationships with your audience through the use of quality consistent content to show you care.
The Urban Dictionary describes romance best:
“True romance is doing something special or unexpected for someone you love, even though you don’t have to.” 
As marketers, let’s romance our key audiences by paying attention to them on a consistent schedule, not just when we need them to buy from us.
14 Ways to Romance Your Audience With Content Marketing
Here are 14 content marketing tips to romance your audience.
1. Put yourself in your customers’ shoes.
Not sure what your prospects are seeking from you? Then ask your existing customers what information they need to select your products and services. To this end create a marketing persona.
2. Speak in a human voice, not like a formal machine.
Sound like a real living person. Nothing will turn your prospects off faster than a dose of corporate jargon. Be real. Relate to your customers’ needs using words they understand.
3. Provide the information your prospects actively seek.
As Marcus Sheridan says, ” They ask, you answer.”
Further, make it easy to find your information when, where and how your audience wants to consume it. Give them the product information, answer their questions, show them how to use your products, help them style your products and offer them product ratings.
Take a page from Brooke Sellas’s playbook. Combine social listening with social media customer care to be ready to answer the questions potential buyers seek before purchase. Also, use her BIC breakout:
- B= Brand
- I= Industry
- C=Competitors
4. Skip the words (or at least add some images!)
Sometimes we trip over ourselves trying to find the best way to say something. Instead show your audience what you mean by using images. The benefit is that images increase the speed of your message. Buffer found that tweets with images increased retweets by 150%.
5. Show them the videotape.
Make your content easy-to-consume with videos. Leverage your favorite video platform to show your audience how to use your product or even just talk to them. Let your audience be a part of your community by seeing you talk to them.
6. Talk directly to your audience, where possible personalize your message.
Don’t underestimate the power of the human voice. Create a podcast to deliver your audio message. The magic of a podcast is the one-to-one communication.
7. Tell stories.
Everyone loves stories. Even better, they make your content more memorable. Gather the stories about your business, history, employees, products and customers. Don’t forget the beginning, middle and end structure. By telling very specific stories you make your content more universal.
8. Introduce your employees.
Pull back the curtain and introduce the people who work for your firm. It helps make the purchase experience feel more personal.
Remember that people buy from people. Let your employees be themselves. Of course, you must provide the tools and support that they need to shine in their content.
9. Be available to answer the questions your prospects and customers have.
Many of you are thinking that this isn’t content marketing – but it is. It’s information your prospects actively seek. Responding to your audience when they have a question is key to closing the sale. Keep a record of these questions and answers. Then convert them into attractive, easy-to-find content for future prospects.
10. Take your cue from Dear Abbey.
Don’t just think about corporate marketing efforts. Take the time to write old fashioned thank you notes. Add specific details so that it’s not one size fits all.
11. Ask customers for their feedback.
Yes this can be scary. But it’s way better to hear it from your customers directly. B
TW—Bazaarvoice found that customers still bought from businesses with mediocre reviews since they qualified the product. One of the best sites for user input is TripAdvisor. 
12. Spotlight your customers.
Everyone loves to be recognized. Give them a shout out and show your love for your customers. Use your Facebook, Instagram or blog to call out one of your customers with a photo of them. 
13. Make your audience laugh.
There’s nothing like laughter to make your audience feel better. Create content that amuses them and it helps give them a push. While not everyone will buy from your content, it will help build your brand.
14. Treat your audience with special content.
Apply this content marketing tip broadly. Don’t limit yourself to user manuals and recipes. Think in terms of events that get your prospects into your business. For example, The Lion’s Brand Studio shows a “Flicks With Sticks” monthly movie that includes a knitting scene. Guess what many of the viewers do before the movie? Purchase. 
Romance Your Audience With Content Marketing Conclusion
When it comes to winning your customers with content, think about romance. Not the type where Prince Charming rides in on a white horse. But rather the non-promotional consistency, they make time to pay attention too.
Be ready to provide the information they want and need when, where and how they want to consume it on the device of their choice. Or you may risk losing a buyer to one of your competitors.
Don’t forget to include a way for customers to contact you directly including a link, QR code, chatbot and/or phone number.
Happy Marketing,
Heidi Cohen
Photo Credits:
www.pexels.com/photo/love-inscription-on-biscuits-for-valentines-day-5874595/
www.pexels.com/photo/3144/
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on February 13, 2015. It has been significantly updated and revised.