{"id":71438,"date":"2024-01-08T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-08T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marketinginsidergroup.com\/uncategorized\/how-to-humanize-content\/"},"modified":"2025-02-20T07:56:52","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T12:56:52","slug":"how-to-humanize-content","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marketinginsidergroup.com\/content-marketing\/how-to-humanize-content\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Ways To Humanize Your Content"},"content":{"rendered":"

At Marketing Insider Group, we\u2019re all about quick communication. But here\u2019s the catch: To truly connect with your audience, you need to humanize your content.<\/p>\n

You might think that going full-on tech with your marketing is the way forward. Sure, tech has its perks, but giving your content a human touch could take you even further.<\/p>\n

Now, let’s strip it down to the basics: How do you start humanizing your content<\/a>? We\u2019ve talked about breaking through the noise with humanized content before, starting with what ‘humanize’ actually means. It’s about making things more relatable and giving your content a human feel.<\/p>\n

So, why does this matter for your business<\/a>? It\u2019s simple: When your brand feels more human, your marketing resonates more, making a bigger splash and drawing in more business. This human touch is essential in today\u2019s marketing world.<\/p>\n

Let’s dive into some content guidelines, tips, and examples to help you bring that human element to your content:<\/p>\n

1. Commit to the long-term approach of content marketing<\/h2>\n

When you commit to the long-term approach, you can boost the ROI of your business<\/a>. This happens because you\u2019re operating on a different timeline than the traditional advertising approach.<\/p>\n

Advertising is the loud, rapid-fire way to \u201cmake noise\u201d for your business. Content marketing is the more quiet (and often slower) way to convert leads. This has the added benefit of making your marketing more unique and engaging through thought-provoking<\/a> online conversations around your industry.<\/p>\n

A great example of a company who took the long-term approach to content marketing is American Express with its Business Class.<\/p>\n

\"screenshot<\/p>\n

Image Source: American Express<\/em><\/p>\n

They\u2019ve created an online community where small business leaders can ask experts for advice and share knowledge. Community managers facilitate conversations and help users connect in the most meaningful ways possible.<\/p>\n

When you take the long-term route, you build brand advocates and make your message more meaningful.<\/p>\n

Tip: Have patience.<\/h3>\n

Patience is one of the most important qualities that you need to humanize your brand. Here\u2019s why: If you\u2019re a more traditional marketer, you\u2019re probably used to seeing results right away with your marketing efforts. And while it\u2019s only natural to doubt your strategy if you don\u2019t see immediate success, you\u2019ll want to learn how to see it through.<\/p>\n

Think of using social to build relationships<\/a> as taking the more scenic route. You may not get to your destination as quickly, but when you do, you will have enjoyed the ride.<\/p>\n

2. Provide journalistic value<\/h2>\n

Content marketing allows leaders in an industry to communicate their expertise directly to their readers. This can often provide more informational value than if it came from traditional news media. When your content marketing provides more insight into issues in the news than many of the reporters who are covering that same news, you\u2019re providing solid journalistic value.<\/p>\n

For example, The Law Practice Podcast nails humanized content by showcasing how a lawyer uses content marketing to provide value to his audience (yours truly is featured in one of these episodes!)<\/p>\n

This podcast engages in meaningful conversations around how to successfully market the (often dry) industry of law.<\/p>\n

Tip: Think like an editor.<\/h3>\n

The future of branded content is in the ability to think like an editor. When you use this approach, you start to seek out insightful conversations to develop the most compelling content for your business<\/a>. This puts you more in touch with consumer trends.<\/p>\n

According to trendwatching.org, a consumer trend is \u201ca new manifestation among people \u2013 in behavior, attitude or expectation \u2013 of a fundamental human need, want or desire.\u201d Consumer trends are the secret sauce to evolving your business.<\/p>\n

3. Use social to build relationships (not to pitch your product or services)<\/h2>\n

Many businesses today think that social media<\/a> is the place to sell. Breaking news! It\u2019s not.<\/p>\n

While selling on social media is necessary (sometimes), it\u2019s often seen as ugly noise in the ears of your customers. It makes them tune out. If you\u2019re selling on social media (and you\u2019re not bringing in business) it\u2019s time to rethink your approach.<\/p>\n

Instead, use social media as a way to build relationships with customers and fellow business owners. When you stop \u201cscreaming\u201d by selling your services on social media, you\u2019ll start to take the more scenic route with your marketing \u2013 and win more business.<\/p>\n

For example, Buffer is one brand who does this right. They share transparently about all aspects of what they\u2019re doing \u2013 and they use it to connect and learn from others.<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/p>\n

Image Source: Buffer<\/em><\/p>\n

Tip: Make sure you\u2019re responding on social.<\/h3>\n

Social media is a way to connect and build meaningful relationships. While everyone likes to communicate on different platforms, make sure that you stay consistent with how (and when) you interact with your audience.<\/p>\n

4. Curate your content accordingly<\/h2>\n

Content curation is the process of sorting through the vast amounts of content on the web and presenting it in a meaningful and organized way around a specific theme. According to The Content Marketing Institute, a full 85%<\/a> of content marketers rely directly on curated content as part of content marketing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You may already be aware of the need to \u201ccurate content\u201d today. And while this is solid advice, it\u2019s easy to get stuck in the vicious cycle of sharing every article that you come across. But when you curate your content in this way, it means that you\u2019re adding more noise to the already noisy mess that is the Internet. To stand apart from the noise, you\u2019ll want to look to brands who are curating accordingly.<\/p>\n

Believe it or not, Pinterest is one of the most powerful content creation tools<\/a> that you can use today. Pinterest provides a ton of quality content to pull from with the added benefit of having the guided search option so that you can find things more easily. For example, I did a search on \u201ccontent marketing\u201d in Pinterest and found a number of helpful infographics and articles on this topic.<\/p>\n

Tip: Use the right metrics.<\/h3>\n

Make sure that you use the right content metrics so that you can assess the real impact of your curation.<\/p>\n

5. Create experiences<\/h2>\n

When you create experiences around your brand, you not only provide useful information, but you also entertain. This leads to more awareness for your brand and fun experiences for everyone involved. Warby Parker nails this marketing strategy by creating remarkable experiences around the process of buying eyeglasses.<\/p>\n

For example, in this video the head of online experience, Tim Riley, tells the narrative of the company and explains the importance of continuing to create these experiences for their customers through using hashtags and social media.<\/p>\n