8 Secret Daily Habits from the World’s Best Content Marketers

If you want to be a better rock guitarist, you jam out to a lot of Hendrix. If you want to be a better portrait photographer, you focus in on Leibovtiz.
And if you want to be a damn good content marketer, you devour anything written, spoken or shared by industry leaders like Pulizzi, Baer and Handley.
8 Secret Daily Habits from the World’s Best Content Marketers
Well, good news, all you aspiring content marketing come-uppers (myself included): I asked the content marketers I most admire to give me the dirt about what makes them so darn good. I begged, I pleaded for that one secret ingredient that makes their stories so telling.
And they delivered.

Here are the top 8 daily habits of some of the world’s most effective content marketers:

ann handley content marketing quote cursive
I pay attention to the words I use in social media and in any content I produce. I write every day. Whether for publication or not. Writing is a habit, not an art, and so I feel better when I work the muscles daily. Creating good content is part habit, part education of some fundamental rules, and part giving a damn.
Ann Handley // MarketingProfs
marcus sheridan content marketing quote cursive
Ultimately, what has helped me grow in this space is that I’m fascinated, if not obsessed, by two things:

  1. How can I (and the world) be a better teacher?
  2. What are the behaviors of consumers showing me each and every single day?

Because of these two questions that I’m always asking myself, the inspiration that comes from the thoughts and impressions I get daily have led me down a road of success in multiple industries while implementing content marketing, and I think that success will only continue if I remain passionate about what I can learn from others and do better.
Marcus Sheridan // The Sales Lion
jay baer content marketing quote cursive
You can’t be a good creator if you’re not a great consumer. I read dozens of blog posts and email newsletters every single day.
Jay Baer // Convince and Convert
lee odden content marketing quote cursive
Empathy.
If there’s one thing that has been instrumental for me in becoming a more effective content marketer it’s making a daily effort to try and think of things from the audience perspective. What do they care about? What are their pain points and goals?  Sure, I have the things I want to say, but me me me is boring boring boring.
In many cases it’s a focus on the customer experience with content that I try to imagine, oftentimes with support from data. I think about where the discovery this kind of information and what topics, formats and devices they might use to consume it. Of course I also have to imagine the kinds of messages that will resonate and inspire action.
When I do those things, as a daily habit, the content I plan and create becomes more meaningful and effective because its all about them, not me. The bonus of course is that when content is created with the readers’ needs in mind, they end up doing what you want them to do more often. Everybody wins.
Lee Odden // TopRank Online Marketing
joe pulizzi content marketing quote cursive
Focus. Focus on content niche and choice of channels. Most brands are all over the place with their content. My goal is to focus on being the leading expert in the world in a particular niche. It’s easy to get distracted, and focus is key.
Joe Pulizzi // Content Marketing Institute
jeff bullas content marketing quote cursive
Content marketers need to create quality content or know what it is. Often it is blog posts and the written word. The inspiration for this doesn’t come from a vacuum. As Stephen King says: “If you want to write a lot, you need to read a lot.”
Jeff Bullas // JeffBullas.com
michael brenner content marketing quote cursive
I think one of the best ways to be an effective marketer is to constantly search for the best and most effective content techniques of others. Everyday I search for, subscribe to, and read the best content from many different channels including newsletters from certain publishers and social networks, the best presentations of the week on Slideshare, best photos on Flickr and more.
That was the inspiration behind my 20+ examples of content I wish we created. I am always trying to understand what works and why. And then we emulate some of those best ideas. And that’s what drove our own 99 Facts On The Future of Business. Now with over 224,000 pageviews!
Michael Brenner // SAP
doug kessler content marketing quote cursive
My key daily habit is putting on headphones in the office. They’re a signal that I need some un-interrupted time to do some writing (or simulate thinking).
Doug Kessler // Velocity Partners
Thank you, thank you, thank you to these influencers for sharing their tips and ideas. The best education we can get as marketers is found within the insights of our peers and mentors. So definitely read up on each of these leaders, and share your own daily habits in the comments below.

Comments are closed for this post.
  • Fantastic post. You’ve gleamed words of wisdom from some of the brightest and best in content marketing – so a huge thank you for taking the time to put this together!

    Ryan - March 14, 2014 at 7:15 am
  • Thanks Ryan! Glad you enjoyed it!

    cursivecontent - March 16, 2014 at 6:02 pm
  • Great article. I am always looking for new ways to reach my audience and improve my skills. I really enjoyed reading this.

    Theresa - March 17, 2014 at 11:51 am
  • Thanks Theresa; I’m glad you liked it.

    cursivecontent - March 18, 2014 at 1:11 pm
  • This is a great blog post! I’ve met Joe and spoken with him, he is so down to earth and really, really incredibly knowledgeable. I think it was a great idea to gather all the Marketing Rockstars in one place! Kudos to you.

    Anastasia - March 18, 2014 at 12:01 pm
  • Thanks Anastasia! I agree; we can always learn from the leaders. It was nice to be able to pick their brains.

    cursivecontent - March 18, 2014 at 1:12 pm
  • It’s always a great reminder that the people who excel work their asses off.

    Gen - March 18, 2014 at 9:17 pm
  • No shortcuts! Thanks Gen, very true.

    cursivecontent - March 23, 2014 at 3:48 pm
  • What the audience wants is something new, better and something that they have never heard or seen before. You can not give them that if you are not aware of what they have already seen, what is old and how you can make it better. Great article.

    Alexandra Nicola - March 20, 2014 at 9:31 am
  • Thanks Alexandra; I agree, understanding the audience and where things have been are both critical to moving forward. Thanks for commenting!

    cursivecontent - March 23, 2014 at 3:48 pm
  • Thank you for this great education! I am a beginner and these topline, simple how-tos are enlightening and inspiring. Like every good teacher, you make me feel like I can do it!

    Elizabeth - March 25, 2014 at 11:05 am
  • […] 8 Secret Daily Habits from the World’s Best Content Marketers […]

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  • Hello,

    I was wondering if we could talk about options for assistance with writing/generating content for my school?

    Best,

    Lisa

    Lisa Brairton - February 24, 2021 at 4:54 pm
  • Looking forward to chatting this week Lisa!

    emily - March 1, 2021 at 6:04 pm

Set Your School Marketing Up For Success.