I recently had the pleasure of being a guest on Christian Costa's podcast, Sales and Marketing Nation. Since the interview is fairly long (about 40 minutes), I thought I'd do a quick recap of the topics we discussed so you can get the gist if don't have time to listen in.

I've pulled out a few of the best questions I was asked as well as their responses.

The subject: Content Marketing.

Q: Can content marketing really work for those small businesses and entrepreneurs who are strapped for time and financial resources?

A: Definitely. While it seems like a huge commitment, if you can set aside 30 minutes to an hour each week to produce quality content and interact with your audience, it can go a long way. I've seen so many small businesses and non-profits use these free resources to grow and expand their reach. I learned this with my own online jewelry business; I used social media (and no paid advertising) to connect with customers all over the globe.

Q: When it comes to paid advertising on social media, is it the right thing to do if you're just getting started?

A: No. You'll want to build up your platforms and actually have some great content there for people to see before you launch any paid campaigns. Much like you wouldn't want to invite customers into your store if your products weren't in yet, you shouldn't reach out to social media audiences until you have everything finished on your website and you have some decent content (blog posts, case studies, etc.) for them to explore.

Q: When someone has everything up and running and is ready to start branching out a bit more, how do they get started?

A: If you're in a specific industry, you probably have a few go-to blogs or influencers that you follow on a regular basis. The next step is to just reach out and introduce yourself and say, "Hey, I'd love to partner with you for a giveaway or a guest blog." You can think about what strategy you want to take...but just stick out your "Internet hand" and say, "Hey, this is who I am, this is what I do, would you like to work together?" You might be surprised to get more "Yes" answers than you think.

Q: What's one book you recommend for listeners?

A: I'm a big fan of Gary Vaynerchuk's Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook. While it's more social media focused, it really drives home that message of "It's not all about you." And with content marketing, you need to consistently provide quality material and THEN make your ask, so you've provided something in exchange for that request.

Listen to the Full Episode

You can listen to the full version of this podcast here and hear all the other questions I didn't cover in this space.

Have you ever walked into a business and been surprised by great presentation? The décor is on point, it’s clean, organized, there's a cohesive theme—a fantastic first impression for you as the customer. But have you also walked into a business and been a little…well…let down? Appearance is a huge reflection of your business—and that extends to your online presence as well.

We've said this before, and we’ll say it again: People know when you’re not trying very hard. If your Facebook page has small blurry photos, lengthy text posts, and a bad habit of not responding to users that engage with you there—that’s a bad first impression to someone who comes looking for you online. It’s highly likely you’ll be written off and the user will look elsewhere for someone who can fit their needs.

A sloppy social media presence shows that your attention to detail, aesthetics, and customer service are lacking. If your Twitter feed is full of links to other social networks, what’s the point in following? There’s no quality content. If a person comes to find images of your restaurant’s food but only finds poorly-lit, unappealing photos on your Instagram account, will they be enticed to come in and try it? Again, an interested party has taken the time to find you—so what will they find when they do?

Here are five quick tips for cleaning up your online presence:

1. Make sure your photos are properly sized for the image requirements of the medium. Here’s a cheat sheet for your social media outlets.

2. Respond ASAP to users who ask questions, comment on posts, and serve as your online cheerleaders.

3. Be interesting and showcase your best features with high quality images that give a unique perspective.

4. Don’t push social media streams through to other social media platforms. Unlink your Twitter from Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram—each platform should offer something tailored to its appropriate user base.

5. Customize your profiles with current links and as much information as possible.

Even if you don’t have the time to post content every day, make sure that when you do, it counts. Quality content that’s well thought out speaks volumes for your brand and is a positive reflection of you and your business.

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Listen to the Full Episode