Use Content Marketing To Create Boundaries With Your Clients #243

As a content creator, you know that the internet is a vast and sprawling place. It can be tempting to cast a wide net and try to appeal to as many people as possible. However, it’s important to remember that not every person or business is a good fit for you. That’s where boundaries come in. Specifically, there are breaking points where a previously happy audience member unfollows you. This isn’t a bad thing, and we’re covering why using your content as a “best client” filter helps you set boundaries with clients.

Here are three key points to help create boundaries using your content:

1. Creating Intentional Marketing By Knowing Your Lane

Before you can create effective boundaries, you need to understand what your lane is. This means having a clear understanding of your focus, niche, and target audience. Are you a food blogger who specializes in vegan recipes? A business coach who works with small startups? A fashion influencer who focuses on vintage clothing? Whatever your specific area of expertise, it’s important to stay within it and not try to be everything to everyone. By being the go-to resource for a specific niche, you can establish yourself as an expert and attract the right audience.

Beyond that, you need a value-based lane to stay in so you know where you stand culturally. A recent “ripped from the headlines” story about Anheuser-Busch (or BudLight in this case) and Kid Rock perfectly identifies what happens when you don’t stay in your lane. The BudLight marketing team chose a controversial spokesperson, which isn’t a new concept–Nike has done this for years with people and causes like Colin Kaepernick. But when there was outcry, their marketing team essentially got sacked and the higher-ups backtracked. This is not knowing your lane.

You have to share authority opinions

Putting out plant-a-flag statements, or authority opinions, is a must in today’s noisy world. This does two things:

1. Separates you from the sea of sameness
2. Tells your audience who you are and what you stand for–so they can decide if they want to be a part of your world.

What does Kid Rock’s viral video have to do with successful marketing strategies? Kid Rock definitely decided he no longer wanted to be a part of BudLight’s world. And he made a big stink about it. BudLight and Anheuser-Busch could have capitalized on this free marketing and leaned into a new customer base but instead backtracked. 

But that’s the thing, isn’t it?

“Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” Kaepernick said that, and it rings with truth and bravery. It’s also what the world wants to see in marketing today. They want to vote with their dollars more than ever before.

2. Use Core Values To Set Boundaries 

Your core values are the guiding principles that drive your life (and business) decisions. They are the non-negotiables that determine what you stand for and what you won’t tolerate. When you lean into your core value work, you can attract clients and customers who share the same values and beliefs. For example, if one of your core values is sustainability, you can create content focusing on eco-friendly products and practices. Doing so will create a loyal following of like-minded individuals who will appreciate your content and become loyal customers.

When you’re working on crafting your authority opinions, lean into your core value work for clarity. It helps you figure out what you care enough about to plant that flag. From there, you begin to incorporate it into your content plan, creating a filter that your best client easily passes through. This is how to set clear boundaries.

3. Creating a Content Filter

One of the best ways to set boundaries and create a filter is using your content. By creating content that reflects your niche and appeals to your ideal audience, you can create a filter that helps weed out the wrong clients or customers. For example, if you message about the Black Lives Matter movement, that says something about you. If you talk about watching Fox News the other day, that also gives a clear answer about what you stand for and believe in.

Easter egg content helps build the know, like, and trust factor

You don’t need to create a separate video on your YouTube channel to do this–you can weave it into your regular content. I call these Easter eggs. Much like the easter eggs you’ll find in video games or certain holidays on the Google homepage, you can do this in your content. I talk about being a tea drinker often–and I also mention being a chicken mama, a mother of two boys, and a gardening enthusiast. 

Easter eggs don’t have to be heavy topics! The key is weaving in enough details that your audience can feel a relationship growing as they read your subject matter content. As Bob Burg said, “All things being equal, people do business with, and refer business to people they know, like and trust.” You’re using your content to increase those odds for the right people.

Every interaction with clients is an opportunity to make them happy–and likewise every interaction with your audience is an opportunity to show them whether that’s a likelihood. That’s what the filter is about and why you want to intentionally create content.

Doing so will attract the right people and discourage those who don’t share your niche or whose needs don’t align with yours.

Why boundaries are both good for you and good for your audience

There are a ton of content strategists, just as there are immense numbers of freelancers and scads of dog trainers. You don’t want to, nor can you, work with everyone. To maintain a workload even 10% over your capacity will hurt both you and your clients. Using your content marketing as a filter to weed out the clients who aren’t a good fit for you–whether it’s from personality, needs, or working styles–serves you both. You get to focus more of your energy on the people you’re most effective at helping. And those that aren’t a good fit can refocus their time into finding someone who is.

It’s a win-win situation when you employ content to do this job for you, because it saves you both the time of a sales call or failed project. 

In conclusion, creating boundaries using your content is key to attracting the right clients or customers and establishing yourself as an expert in your field–and should be a part of your overall content strategy as a solo-ish service provider online. By focusing on your niche, leaning into your core value work, and using content to set boundaries and create a filter, you can establish yourself as an authority and attract the right people to your business. Remember, it’s not about pleasing everyone–it’s about creating the best possible experience for you and your ideal customers.

Music by Michael De La Torre. Thanks, Mikey!