2/12/2024 - In the world of film and TV blogging, staying ahead of the curve is crucial for maximizing online presence and audience engagement.

Drawing from the HubSpot Blog’s 2023 Web Traffic & Analytics Report, which surveyed over 400 web professionals, Maxwell Iskiev, Senior Market Research Analyst at HubSpot, distills key findings and hosts the full report for free download.

In this blog post, we'll explore three key insights from the report to inform strategies specifically tailored for movie and TV bloggers who want their writing to reach more audiences.  

Interestingly, according to the HubSpot report, while the median website draws around 20,000 unique visitors monthly, only 40% manage to secure a spot on the first page of search engine results.

"While our high-ranking participants demonstrate that ranking highly on SERPs is achievable, it's essential to acknowledge that it doesn't happen overnight – and it won't happen that quickly for you either,” says Iskiev.

Even still, I do believe that being discovered on search engines organically is a worthwhile goal, but what I am starting to see clearly and what the HubSpot report indicates is that modern SEO success is relying more heavily on social media, design, and user experience.

Movie and TV bloggers should embrace a ‘social content strategy’. 

I’ll explain what I mean by that term, ‘social content strategy’, in depth in the following sections, but one of the main points I’m trying to make is that social media and blog content should go hand-in-hand, rather than kept as two different strategies as they often are.

Your feedback and thoughts on these strategies are warmly welcomed in the comments below!

Insights Tailored for Film and TV Bloggers

If you're like me, you've embarked on the journey of movie and TV blogging fueled by a passion for these art forms and the desire to share your interpretations. 

Personally, my passion started in writing.

Crafting logical narratives and unraveling the meaning of movies, TV shows, music, and modern art. I aimed to organically grow a dedicated following by providing valuable content on my website and that’s what I have done.

In 2023 my blog saw an increase in unique visitors by 127% compared to the previous year.

Making content useful was my primary goal, recognizing it as the cornerstone of expanding my reach as a movie and TV blogger. 

While effective copywriting and SEO optimization was essential (and are also often the bread and butter skillset of movie and TV writers) a ‘social content strategy’ sets you apart from the competition.

I’m using the term ‘social content strategy’ slightly different from a “social media strategy.”

A robust ‘social content strategy’ for a movie and TV website involves treating the finished blog as the first piece of a valuable package of multimedia content all providing value around one topic.

Once you’ve written a good movie or TV review that you’ve wanted to write that is original and of use to your target demographic, these are three keys to making that content stand out:

1. Create Multimedia Packages

Every new blog published should come packaged with at least two forms of multimedia with it. 

For example, my most recent blog has an infographic I created on Canva and a short TikTok video. 

Here’s a list of more multimedia ideas for movie and TV bloggers:

• Video Reviews: Create short video reviews of movies and TV shows, offering commentary, analysis, and recommendations, or summarize what you talk about in your blog.

• Podcast Episodes: Host discussions with co-hosts or guests where you delve deeper into reviews, share opinions, and discuss industry news.

• Interviews: Conduct interviews with actors, directors, producers, and other industry professionals to gain insights into the filmmaking process and behind-the-scenes stories.

• Live Q&A Sessions: Host live Q&A sessions on social media platforms or through streaming services where viewers can ask questions about recent reviews or upcoming releases.

• Interactive Polls and Surveys: Engage your audience by creating polls and surveys to gather opinions on movies, TV shows, and related topics.

• Interactive Reviews: Allow your audience to participate in the review process by inviting them to submit their own reviews or ratings, which you can feature on your blog or social media channels.

• Collaborations with Other Bloggers or YouTubers: Partner with other bloggers or YouTubers in the movie and TV niche to create collaborative content such as joint reviews, discussions, or cross-promotional activities.

• Fan Art Showcases: Feature fan art inspired by movies and TV shows, showcasing the talent and creativity of your audience.

• Merchandise and Giveaways: Create branded merchandise such as t-shirts, mugs, or stickers, and host giveaways to reward your audience and promote your brand.

Incorporating multimedia elements like this not only enhances engagement on the blog itself, but opens the door to new audiences on social media to discover the points I am making in the blog.

This is not groundbreaking, but the key step of using your blog as the core information piece of the package minimizes the work of creating the other forms of multimedia. Lean into the work you’ve already put into writing the review and flip it into more pieces of valuable content.

Research from the HubSpot report indicates that social media serves as the primary channel for Gen Z and Millennial audiences to discover new content, with 31% of consumers using it to find answers to their queries. Additionally, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok have the strongest ROI — and these align with where marketers are investing in 2024. Twenty-seven percent of marketers who don’t use YouTube plan to start in the year ahead.

By providing value-added content alongside responsive customer service, movie and TV bloggers can cultivate a dedicated following and establish themselves as trusted sources within their niche.

2. Use AI

The HubSpot survey showed approximately 58% marketers are actively exploring AI integration into their content creation processes. This move aims to streamline workflow and enhance efficiency, ultimately supporting their efforts to grow their audience through a social content strategy.

While 75% of professionals anticipate positive effects on their blog's performance, there's apprehension about potential decreases in traffic if AI readily provides answers without users visiting the website. 

This underlines the importance of adapting strategies to ensure continued engagement amidst evolving search dynamics.

Utilizing AI tools, 50% of marketers reported that it enhanced their content performance, leading to improved SERP rankings and audience engagement. 

In my opinion, AI serves as a valuable editing companion, providing constructive criticism and grammar checks. However, maintaining authentic and reader-centric content remains paramount. 

AI aids in generating multimedia content, adding value to social media posts and reviews, thus enriching the overall audience experience and bolstering growth strategies.

3. Think About the User Experience (UX)

For movie and TV bloggers aiming to expand their audience through a revamped social content strategy, mobile and channel optimization are paramount. Given the rising trend of consumers using mobile devices for entertainment consumption, ensuring mobile-friendly content is crucial.

This entails using content management systems (CMS) like Wordpress, Squarespace, or Wix that prioritize mobile responsiveness. Integrating social content seamlessly into the mobile experience, such as embedding trailers or snippets from shows, enhances user engagement.

In addition to mobile optimization, channel optimization offers significant potential for audience growth.

Bloggers should tailor their content for each social platform, email newsletters, blog URLs, and emerging platforms like TikTok.

This involves repurposing blog articles into engaging formats such as video reviews, Instagram story highlights, or infographics. Implementing SEO-optimized URLs across channels enhances discoverability and drives traffic to the blog.

Standardizing and automating content creation processes streamline operations and ensure consistency across platforms. By repurposing written articles into various formats tailored for each channel, bloggers can efficiently reach broader audiences.

Leveraging automation tools for scheduling and distribution enables bloggers to maintain a consistent presence across platforms without sacrificing quality. Ultimately, optimizing both mobile and channel strategies empowers movie and TV bloggers to maximize audience engagement and drive sustainable growth in the competitive digital landscape.