What do you get when you join forces with Penguin Random House? You get the Guerrilla Marketing Hall of Fame. The #Guerrillamealty recognises the opinion writers, columnists and other media personalities that develop and advocate for compelling content that resonates with potential, existing and lapsed customers. We recognise their influence and their ability to drive business results.
Opinion writing is an increasingly popular area of journalism. According to HubSpot Blogs research, over 24 million people in the UK read an average of 4.8 articles each week, with 17% saying they read articles on current affairs, politics and social issues. This makes up 28.8% of total weekly news consumption.
Meanwhile, 37% of adults use Google+ to search for content on current affairs, politics and social issues, followed by politics-related blogs (22%), magazines (20%) and newspapers (13%).
As a digital marketer, you’ll likely see, hear or read something that sparks an idea or thought for an article. Perhaps you came across an engaging essay about leadership, or a profile of a successful businesswoman. That’s the type of content we’re looking for. The perfect story to tell our readers. The kind of thing that will draw them in and make them want to learn more.
An engaging personality that we can relate to; a strong opinion that we can get behind; a topic that interests us as humans; a successful business that we can learn from; a subject that the media is just ignoring – these are all qualities that will make your article stand out.
The Rise In Online Opinion
The trend of moving from print to online media is clear. In the US, for example, more people than ever are reading opinion pieces; 50% of adults are reading something online, and 15% are reading both print and digital media. This is a sharp rise from the 20% who were reading just digital media a few years ago.
According to HubSpot Blogs research, people are increasingly searching for content on social media platforms; 40% of searches are now happening on Google+ vs 37% on Facebook. Why? Well, it’s a combination of things. The platform is relatively new and so is the habit of searching for content. In addition, it’s the place where conversations happen. People are engaging with others around shared interests, so when you have something to say, you’ll have an audience. Finally, it’s where people look for the content that interests them most. If you’re interested in reading more, here are some fantastic resources on the subject.
An Opportunity To Be A Force For Good
What makes the Guerrilla Marketing Hall of Fame special is that these journalists, bloggers and others have chosen to use their platforms to do some good. To drive business results for brands and organisations that they believe in. For creators who believe that a world full of exciting opportunities awaits those who are brave enough to seize them. This is a world away from the fake news and biased media polarises that we see today. We want to support these individuals, and celebrate their work.
This is quite a unique opportunity. A once in a lifetime chance to be a part of something that is making the world a better place. To write something that will be remembered for years to come. A chance to be a journalist that people will want to read. This is your chance to shine.
So how do you become a Guerrilla Marketing Hall of Famer? It’s not easy, as you’ll discover. You have to prove to us that you’re one of the best in your field. By consistently generating compelling content that attracts, persuades and retains an audience. You’ll also need to make sure that your content encourages people to do business with you or support a cause that you believe in. Your aim is to encourage people to become brand ambassadors for your product or service and help them do so through compelling content that is both entertaining and informative. We want to see articles that entertain us while educating us on a topic that is influencing our lives – or at least, the potential for our lives in the future.
The Stages Of Opinion Writing
Before you begin your journey to become the next great opinion writer, take time to consider the stages you’ll need to pass through. These include deciding what you believe; thinking of a hook (or two, or three); coming up with an idea for an article; and drafting, redrafting and editing your work. Don’t worry, you don’t have to do it all in one go.
Deciding what you believe is something that needs to be done through deep consideration. You might be strongly opinionated about politics or the environment, for example, and so you’ll need to do some research into these topics. You don’t want to write something without having some firm beliefs about it. This could leave you open to the misinterpretation of your words or even make you seem dishonest. So take the time to really think about this. Consider what you know and feel strongly about, and use that to inform your writing. If you’re still deciding what to believe, take a step back. Consider what others say, and how others say it. Learning to trust your instincts and opinions is something that will make you a better writer.
Opinion Writing: A Career To Launch Into
Once you’ve decided what you believe, it’s time to think about your next step. Does journalism appeal to you? Is social media the place you want to be? Does business blogging seem like a natural fit for your skillset? These are all questions that you need to ask yourself. The honest answer is probably ‘no’ to all of them. That’s OK. We understand that you may not be particularly interested in answering these questions through traditional methods. That’s why we want to present you with an alternative. An opportunity to prove yourself. An opportunity to succeed. An opportunity to be a journalist that people will want to read. An opportunity to become a Guerrilla Marketing Hall of Famer.
Why should you choose to write for us? Why should you want to write for a digital marketing blog that is dedicated to encouraging and inspiring people to be better writers? Well, for a start, we want to see more female voices. More people from diverse backgrounds. More people from outside of the UK. More people who are passionate about various issues. More people who are unafraid to think for themselves and speak their minds. Above all else, we want to see more people using their talents for good. Writing for a digital marketing blog that encourages businesses to do good is a perfect way to do this. To influence people for the better. To inspire people to be the best that they can be. To create something that will be remembered for years to come.
So, what are you waiting for? Launch into your opinion writing career today. Get started by reading some of our favourite opinion articles.