Adam Oakley - Express Writers

15 Rookie Press Release Mistakes (And How Pros Avoid Them)

September 14, 2022May 4, 2020 by Adam Oakley

This post was originally published in October, 2013 and completely updated in May, 2020. Press releases have radically transformed along with technology over the past decade. In days gone by, PRs followed a traditional format, ignored social media, and left crafting a story up to the journalist who received it. These days, it’s just the opposite. If you’re a new PR writer, or if you established your career more than 10 years ago, brushing up on these common press release mistakes will help you incite more action and gain more media traction. Let’s deep-dive into how NOT to write a press release. [bctt tweet=”Press release rookie? Brushing up on these common press release mistakes will help you incite more action and gain more media traction. Read all 15 here:” username=”ExpWriters”] 1. Write a Bland Headline Journalists slog through hundreds of PRs daily. If your headline doesn’t sizzle, your press release may not be read. Here’s an example of a boring press release headline: While it’s direct and concise, the formal investor-facing tone waters down the hook. And here’s an example of a headline that pops: Adobe’s news appears as a blog. This allows for a shift toward a conversational tone, boosting the PR’s relevance. The takeaway: craft an intriguing, relevant, and to-the-point headline. Make sure it’s immediately clear how your news engages your target audience. If you’re new to writing for the web, consider using a scoring tool to measure potential engagement. My favorite headline analyzers are from AMI Institute and Co-Schedule. 2. Use the Same Headline And Lead for All Pitches, Regardless of Audience Think sending everyone the same announcement press release will lead to the best results? Think again. For the wire, a generic PR will do. For your website, a reformatted version can appear on your blog. However, don’t risk alienating your network of journalists by using the same copy for everyone. Eileen Baumann, a leading PR writer on the Forbes Agency Council, recommends boosting your coverage by “taking the time to customize a headline and/or lead when sending to individual press contacts.” 3. Forget Your Audience – It’s All About You While a PR may feel like it’s about you and your company, successful PRs focus on how their news is relevant to the target audience: journalists. It’s bad enough when news orgs just run press releases. This is a press release about a PR agency. It’s essentially an ad. [slowly bangs head against counter] https://t.co/UMJcM9MXA4 — Steve Cavendish (@scavendish) April 7, 2020 Before hitting the send button, make sure your PR is providing real value for your readers. Ask yourself: how is this news relevant to my audience? If your copy doesn’t answer that question, it’s time to edit. Remember, the goal of any marketing endeavor is to drive action – not to pat yourself on the back. Garmin demonstrates how to send a press release to announce an award and keep it relevant: 4. Rely Solely on Distribution Platforms In the past, blasting the wire was sufficient. Websites like PR Web, PR Buzz, and PR Leap allow you to jump directly into journalist’s inboxes nationwide. In 2020, the context has changed. Fewer journalists are wading through WAY more PRs. News outlets are web-focused, which means content optimized for social media, with video, images, and graphics are often published over traditional news articles. For goliath brands, crafting traditional PRs and distributing to thousands of publications makes sense. For up-and-coming brands, it’s significantly more cost-efficient to invest in relationships with a select group of journalists. Think of journalists as influencers rather than merely writers: add value by sending them a full media package, including product samples, images, videos, and pull quotes. Organize interviews, or reveal an industry viewpoint. The more you simplify covering your news, the more journalists will want to work with you. 5. Focus on Driving Traffic to Your Website The game’s changed: PRs aren’t about driving traffic or SEO anymore. Modern PRs focus on promoting transparency, growing brand awareness, and audience engagement. If the sole target of your PR is building backlinks, your announcement is likely not newsworthy enough. However, if used sparingly, dropping links in your PR can be a great way to boost your credibility and promote audience action. 6. Don’t Optimize Your Press Release Format Publish your PRs as content marketing on your company blog, or reframe them for social media. Nintendo separates their advertorial, fan-centered “news items” from their investor-facing PRs. Notice the different press release formats: the fan-facing PRs break the rules and use 2nd person. They’re sharable, and images are embedded. The investor-platform takes a traditional approach to PRs. They use concise, direct headlines and 3rd person to emphasize the business focus of these PRs. This simple separation is an effective way to target two very different audiences. 7. Don’t Cross-Pollinate on Social Media For every piece of news that goes out, at least 2-3 social media posts should follow. Here’s a fun example press release from Sesame Workshop. The 2 goals of this PR: announce their TV special and extension of the #CaringForEachOther initiative. Here’s that same release after getting picked up by The New York Times. NYT writer Melena Ryzik spins major details from the PR for a touching micro-story and adds a new link to the PBS YouTube channel, which was likely included in Sesame Workshop’s press kit. Then Sesame Workshop turned to social media to promote their special. Afterward, they followed up with fans on Twitter, fulfilling their second goal: engaging and caring for children. This strategy can work for a variety of brands. The most important takeaway: read the room. If your news is getting lots of engagement, continue the ripple-effect with more content. Write a follow-up blog post, create a video, craft an image. Most importantly, stay on-message. If your news isn’t gaining traction, don’t exhaust your audience. Instead, focus on other aspects of your brand’s social media strategy. [bctt tweet=”Press release DON’Ts ‍♀️: 1) Write a bland headline, 2) … Read more

When to Send a Press Release: An Expert Cheat Sheet

January 13, 2024April 29, 2020 by Adam Oakley

Your mouse is hovering over “send”. Are you ready to make the final leap? The path from PR to published is crisscrossed by hurdles to overcome: crafting a story tailored to the publication, developing lasting relationships with journalists, supporting your news through social media, and more. Before you click “send”, check your watch. The time and day you send your PR is critical to its success. [bctt tweet=”When’s the best time to release a press release? Before you click ‘send’, check your watch. ⌚ The time and day you send your PR is critical to its success. @JuliaEMcCoy breaks it down here:” username=”ExpWriters”] What’s the Best Day to Send a Press Release in 2020? In a 2015 study of 100,000 press releases, Ragan suggests Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the best days to distribute a press release. However, a 2020 analysis by Prowly found that PRs sent on Wednesdays were not opened as often, with an open rate of only 15%. According to Prowly, Thursday is the best day to send a press release, when email open rates climb up to nearly 27%. The next best day is Tuesday, which averages a 19% open rate. What average open rate should you be shooting for? Freshmail recommends an open rate benchmark of 18-30%. This number fluctuates by industry, as some niches receive more mail than others. However, if your open rate is significantly lower, it’s time to brush up on how to pitch a press release via email, check your email etiquette, and most of all, reevaluate your timing. Let’s look at press release standards of when NOT to send a press release. Don’t Send a Press Release On Monday or Friday Every morning, journalists have an average of 300 emails waiting for them. On Mondays, that number toes the line toward 1000. Short of wizardry, there’s simply no way for them to read everything. By issuing your press release on Monday, you risk it going unread. How about Friday, when most of the week’s work is complete? Prowly’s study notes one of the worst days to send a press release is Friday, especially Friday evenings. Just like you, at the end of the day on Fridays, most journalists are wrapping up and getting ready for the weekend. Don’t Send a Press Release on the Weekend Journalists don’t open their work email on the weekend. If they do, it’s likely not to read your PR. At an open rate of barely 2%, it’s not worth it to send a press release on the weekend. What’s the Best Time to Send a Press Release? Roughly 33% of all PR emails are opened between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. However, it’s not as simple as sending your email in that time frame. Many companies – especially those that use distribution services – schedule their PRs ahead of time. Whether for simplicity or due to technological limitations, the bulk of scheduled emails arrive on the hour or half-hour. This means your target journalist might be dealing with hundreds of new emails exactly at 10:00 AM or 10:30 AM. By choosing a slightly different time, such as 10:23 AM, you’ll sidestep the competition and increase the chance that your PR is read. Don’t Send Press Releases in the Early Morning Even on Thursdays, open rates plummet between 6:00 and 10:00 AM. According to Cision, a leading press release distribution service, 9:00 AM is the most popular time to send press releases. Unfortunately, that popularity means much more competition for your PR. In this case, the early bird does not catch the worm. Leave the wee hours for the rookies. Don’t Send Press Releases At Night The same logic applies to press releases sent at the end of the day, or late at night. If you’re heading home from work or sleeping, your journalist is likely doing the same. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, it’s best to avoid these low-open rate times. Example exceptions include financial releases sent after the market closes to comply with regulation, and breaking news. Be Aware of Your Target Journalist’s Time Zone With a growing remote workforce, being aware of varying time zones is more important than ever. Consider this example timing fail: it’s 11:23 AM CDT on a Thursday, so it should be an ideal time to send a press release. You proofread, add a press kit with multimedia, and hit send. As the release jets off into the ether, you realize you’ve forgotten some key details. Your contact is located in Egypt, where it’s already past the end of the workday. What’s more, the local workweek starts on Sunday and ends on Thursday. Unfortunately, your PR has a very low chance of being read. This fumble could have been avoided by doing a quick search for the time difference, holidays, and local customs using tools like Time Zone Converter or Time and Date. If you’re working across time zones and cultures, consider including this game-changing information in your media list. [bctt tweet=”For best results, DON’T send a press release out in the early morning or at night. Instead, keep tabs on your target journalist’s time zone and send during the day. ☀” username=”ExpWriters”] How Far in Advance Should You Send a Press Release? The short answer is: it depends. First, consider the nature of your news and current events in your industry. For example, political press releases will gain the most traction before or after an election. Why? An election is major news, which will create tough competition for your PR. Next, determine whether it would be more newsworthy now, or at a later date. Also, consider whether your news needs to remain confidential before a certain date. If journalists must wait before publishing your news, use an embargo. Here are a few examples of when to use an embargo: Funding announcements Mergers Acquisitions Partnership announcements New Leadership Not sure if you should release your news in advance? Let’s explore how far in advance to send a press release … Read more

How to Write an Epic Press Release: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide

January 1, 2021April 28, 2020 by Adam Oakley

This post was originally published in October, 2013 and completely updated in April, 2020. Let’s face it. Some press releases are anything but epic. Flavorless headlines and dry, unemotional storytelling can fumble a potentially great PR. If you’re new to PR writing or looking to boost efficiency, templates are a dependable solution. However, relying too heavily on a standard copy will leave your PR sounding bland and cold. So what’s the secret ingredient that makes your reader’s jaw drop? How exactly do you write a good press release? Newsflash: there’s no secret. Like all great writing, it starts with hooking your audience. [bctt tweet=”Like all great writing, a press release starts with hooking your audience. Get more tips AND a fill-in-the-blank press release template right here ☑: ” username=”ExpWriters”] Who is a Press Release Written For? A PR is your direct line to journalists, influencers, and news editors. They receive a deluge of emails every day, so they only read the best PRs. Unfortunately, if yours isn’t up to snuff, it’s likely not even opened. Want to write PRs journalists can’t resist opening? Make sure your PR hits these three points: It’s relevant. Your content is newsworthy and cutting-edge timely. It’s straightforward. Your formatting is consistent, clear, and ready to print. It’s juicy. Your story is engaging and gets people talking, which results in increased ROI. Types of Press Release (And What a PR Can Do for Your Brand) In this ultra-digital era, brands can tap into countless channels to announce innovations to the public. So, are press releases outmoded? No way! PRs are still one of the most budget-friendly ways to hit diverse brand targets and gain news coverage. Check out these 5 examples of press releases from 2020 to see what your brand can do with a PR. 1. Shine a Spotlight on New Products and Services Apple is constantly innovating, so to foster serious buzz for the iPad Pro they make sure to announce cutting-edge new features. It’s a stellar example of how to write a press release for a product. Here’s why: it’s social media-ready, with plenty of images and to-the-point details. Consider using this press release as a sample for your next product launch. 2. Highlight How Business Partnerships and Developments Connect to the Public Google’s short and direct PR announcing a new business partnership is ready to be published as-is. By emphasizing fan experience, Google and MLB keep it hyper-relevant to the public. 3. Reveal Events From conferences to concerts, 2020’s events are going virtual. Social Media Week is no exception – they created #SMWONE and used this PR to announce their agenda and speaker lineup. It’s a solid example of how to write a press release for an event, even the way we host events is changing. In true SMW fashion, they keep it fun with emojis, hashtags, and plenty of ways to share. 4. Build Brand Awareness and Bolster Reputation PRs help new brands cultivate a name for themselves. They’re also integral for pivoting from a social media snafu (it happens). For research-driven organizations, PRs can announce new studies to show authority on a subject. Cisco’s summary of their Digital Readiness Index works on several levels: it displays social responsibility, demonstrates industry leadership, and provides an opportunity for backlinks. 5. Beware the Bandwagon In the thick of the COVID19 crisis, this is one aspect of PRs we can’t ignore. Journalists’ inboxes are stuffed daily with brands eager to weigh in. Whether well-intentioned or opportunistic, this type of behavior isn’t new. However, it’s more concentrated than ever before, causing facepalms and frustration across Twitter. It’s enough to make any company wary of sounding tone-deaf, but KFC gets it just right. Partnered with non-profit Blessings in a Backpack, KFC’s PR focuses entirely on supporting food-insecure children. Here’s why it works: it’s 0% focused on selling. Getting It Right the First Time: A Checklist for Beginners Wondering what to include in your first press release? Use our sample press release template below to check you’ve covered all the key elements. It’s especially well-suited for traditional press release distribution services, such as PR Web. Building your own media list? Check out our distribution guide for new press release formats for 2020. Fill-in-the-Blank Press Release Template [PRESS RELEASE] [SUMMARIZE THE TOPIC OF THE PRESS RELEASE IN AN EYE-CATCHING HEADLINE] [Provide Key Additional Details in the Subheader. If the Headline Reframes News to Amp Up Excitement, Here’s Where You Can Be More Direct] [DATE AND LOCATION] [This first introductory paragraph contains the most important information in the PR. It answers who, what, where, when, and why.] [Give secondary details in the next paragraph, if necessary.] [In the body copy, include authority quotes and stats. “If your organization has a chief spokesperson, remember to name them in full and give their job title,” said Jane Doe, CMO of XYZ Company.] [Next is the boilerplate. It’s a precise about section that gives insight into your organization.] [Include your press contact details last.] ### = Bold and centered, these three pound signs signify the end of your PR. How to Format Your Press Release Should you use Word or submit a PDF? A quick perusal of 3 press releases from major companies reveals that in 2020 PR writers: 1. Provide Several Formats Chipotle’s PR keeps it professional by offering PDF and print format. For larger publications, RSS and email buttons make sharing easy. 2. Don’t Embed Images in the Document Providing downloadable images makes your PR easier to copy-paste. By making them available in several formats, you’ll reach a wider array of journalists. 3. Write With Copy-Paste In Mind Disney’s recent news is a great example of a good press release headline. Here’s why: it’s direct, relevant to the reader, and primed for Twitter. Looking For More Examples? For more killer PR samples, check out this Google Docs press release template. If you’re writing a more traditional PR, the American Library Association provides a useful sample press release pdf. … Read more

What to Do if My Content Doesn’t Rank: 13 Reasons Your Site Is Dead in the Rankings, and How to Fix It

June 14, 2022April 14, 2020 by Adam Oakley

Today on the Write Blog, we’re answering this question: Why isn’t my content ranking? For today’s topic, I’ve featured the original insights and stories of three experts in SEO, marketing, and web development. Currently, the ROA on ads is as bad as .6x (average!), and ad accounts are being closed down or locked up. Organic SEO content rankings are of massive value to the smart marketer of today. Featured in today’s blog is Jessica Campos, J.D., a local influencer here in Austin that I’ve mentored. She shared her tremendous success story with website content. I also interviewed Jeremy Knauff of Spartan Media, and Jill Caren of 2DogsMedia on what they see that stops content from ranking. This blog is full of PRACTICAL advice you won’t find really anywhere online. There’s even a FREE downloadable checklist. We put so much time into this topic because I see this question in our sales chat and email more times than I can count: …What to do if my content doesn’t rank? You’ve already spent hours typing away at your keyboard. You’ve poured your heart and soul into your words. Or maybe you’ve even hired the perfect content team. What’s more, you’ve recently updated your editorial calendar. You’ve done topic research. You know you’ve done everything right. So, why isn’t your content ranking? Why are you seeing your piece on page five of Google, with a 0% success rate? If this is you, make sure to first give yourself a pat on the back. That’s it: congratulate yourself! Because you’re already halfway to your goal: content that drives a ton of traffic and converts like crazy. You’ve done things right so far. And you’ve come to this blog, where I’ll show you what you’re still doing wrong. Ready to turn things around for your own content? Let’s begin! Get the free checklist-style version of today’s blog here. In this post: What to Do if My Content Doesn’t Rank? 13 Issues that Prevent Content from Ranking (And How to Fix Them) A Story of Google Ranking Success: A Content Agency Built on Awesome Content 1. Google’s Web Crawlers Are Confused about Duplicate Content 2. You’re Trying to Rank for the Wrong Keywords 3. You Don’t Give Visitors a Clear Site Map 4. You Don’t Use Links in Your Content 5. Your Content Doesn’t Have any Backlinks 6. Your Website Isn’t Mobile Friendly 7. You’re Competing against Huge Brands 8. You Skipped Registering on Google My Business 9. You’re not Promoting Your Content 10. Your Site Is Too Slow 11. Your Site Is Too New 12. You’re Not Beating the Crap Out of Your Competitors 13. You Didn’t Submit a Site Map AND Add Schema Markup Why Isn’t My Website Ranking? Bonus Tips from Real-Life Web Developer & SEOs Why Am I Not Ranking in Google? A 3x Case Study: How Jessica Campos at Marketing for Greatness Turned Her Rankings Around How to Turn Things Around if Your Content Doesn’t Rank on Google [bctt tweet=”You’re halfway to your goal: You’ve created great content primed to drive traffic and convert. So why aren’t you ranking yet?! Let @JuliaEMcCoy show you what you’re still doing wrong in this ultra-helpful guide. ” username=”ExpWriters”] A Story of Google Ranking Success: A Content Agency Built on Awesome Content In 2011, I started my content agency Express Writers. I didn’t have a ton of capital, years of business experience, and I had little to ZERO knowledge on how to rank on Google. In fact, my situation back then was desperate. I was failing nursing school, and dropping out of college. On top of that, I had no parental support. I grew up inside of a cult (yes — think Handmaid’s Tale-style). I had no safety net, nowhere to go, no support system. All I did have: $75 in my pocket A passion for writing A determination to learn and grow (If these are all you have right now, too, be inspired—that’s all you need to start.) I started Express Writers from scratch. No thousand-dollar courses. No big names. No expensive tools. Did we make it? You bet! J Fast forward nine years later, and we’ve earned over $4 million in sales. In fact, Express Writers is growing every single year. Exciting stat: traffic to our site literally doubled this year! According to Google Analytics, we have over 106,000 unique site visitors per month. Our domain authority score is at 54. We’ve worked hard to earn this benchmark. Sites with a score of 50 and above are considered high authority. On Alexa, our site ranks 25,724 in global engagements. This is amazing, considering there are now 1,744,517,326 websites online today! If we paid for the kind of traffic we get, we’d spend over $200,000 per month. But the thing is, we don’t pay a single cent for the traffic we’re getting. We don’t have a backlink campaign. We’ve never participated in the trendy growth hacking strategies that explode and disappear every year. So, how did we do it? How did we go from a tiny $75 startup to a successful agency worth over $4 million? How did we get from nothing to ranking for 18,600 keywords on Google? The secret behind it all boils down to three words: consistent quality content. Consistent content. This is a rule we stuck to from the very beginning. We committed to posting at least one piece of content every single week. If you want your site to take off, you’ll have to do the same. Quality content. At the start, there were times when we clicked “publish” just to get a blog out there. But once we started incorporating quality (around 2016), our agency REALLY took off. Read the story of my content strategy framework. A commitment at all times to value first, over selling. We don’t just “sell” to our customers. In fact, we don’t hire a single commission salesperson! Instead, we treat our inbound leads with respect, and have a simple core commitment inside of … Read more

How to Work from Home and Not Lose Your Sanity: 10 Tips from a Fully Remote Business (for 9 Years Running)

January 1, 2021April 6, 2020 by Adam Oakley

These are trying times for everyone. COVID-19 is the biggest crisis we’ve faced since World War 2. As of writing this, the number of infections has passed the one million mark. Lockdown measures are enforced on a third of humanity. School closures impact the education of 87% of the world’s student population. In the business sector, there has been a sudden increase in the number of employees who work from home. Yes, these facts are heavy-hitting. Chances are, you’ve been affected by the coronavirus crisis and are struggling to make sense of what’s going on. Maybe your boss has ordered you to work from home. What’s more, your kids’ school is closed and the young ones are around 24/7. They’re feeling grumpy, bored, and even act out more just from being stuck at home around the clock. Ever felt this one? Suddenly you find yourself in the middle of the kitchen with a pile of dirty dishes to wash. The toddler is crying, and your teen is sulking in his room. It’s mid-afternoon, but you haven’t finished even a third of the work your boss assigned you. What do you do? Can you survive this lifestyle until lockdown ends? What if things don’t get better soon, but worse? If this sounds like you, take a deep breath. That’s it. In and out. Then, start moving forward. In this blog, I’ll show you how to juggle working from home and taking care of the kids. I’ll share the secrets I use to run five brands on a completely remote basis (for now, I’ve put two brands completely on hold to find margin and juggle it all with homeschooling now added to my to-do list). You’ll find out: How to be more productive than you ever were at the office How to create the perfect workspace What to do with the kids when you need to work And more! I’ve also gathered input from my team of expert writers, content strategists, and QA personnel who work entirely from home. Their suggestions and tips are gold because like all freelancers (except the superhuman ones who work passionately from dawn till dusk) they too once struggled with productivity. So, are you ready to start turning things around? Let’s begin! What’s in this post: The Top 10 Tips You Need to Work From Home without Going Insane 1. Remind Yourself it’s not the Weekend 2. Throw Your PJs in the Laundry Basket 3. Feel Free to Stretch and Look out the Window 4. Find Your Biological Prime Time 5. Send the Kids Away 6. Set Boundaries 7. Surround Yourself with Comfort and Beauty 8. Invest in Quality Tools 9. Keep Your Social Life Alive 10. Take Care of Yourself Three Tips on How Businesses Can Help Their Teams Work from Home 1. Set Your Team Up with the Right Tools 2. Keep Communicating 3. Provide Training Working from Home: Is it Possible to Do it without Going Insane? [bctt tweet=”These are trying times for everyone. Lockdown measures now affect 1/3 of humanity. If you’re forced to work from home… now what? These 10 tips are here for you via the #WFH veterans at Express Writers ♥” username=”ExpWriters”] The Top 10 Tips You Need to Work Productively at Home without Going Insane Unless you were homeschooled (I was! My life in a cult growing up meant I was homeschooled every day until 12th grade), you started following a structured lifestyle from the age of three. Playgroup. Kindergarten. Elementary school. High school. College. Work. Get up in the morning. Have breakfast. Go to school/work. Get home. Dinner. Homework/assignments from the boss. Watch TV. Sleep. Yes, you groaned and complained about it (good-humoredly, of course). But the fact is human beings crave routine. It makes us feel secure. It helps us avoid the “unknown.” It satisfies us because it forces us to get things done. So, what happens when our routine is suddenly removed? When we have to let go of our structured lives and face day after day of fluid time we don’t know what to do with? Chaos. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Read on to find out 10 secrets expert WFH’ers use to put their own structure on life. 1. Remind Yourself it’s Not the Weekend Feeling tempted not to set your alarm for Monday morning? After all, you don’t have to arrive at the office at 9am sharp. Just do it. Just set that alarm. “Working from home – luxurious or tedious? The answer – BOTH,” says Cassie, our team QA and content writer at Express Writers. “For someone who has never worked from home before, it can seem like a great time. However, it takes a lot of time, commitment and perseverance to get into a routine that works. Routine is the key word, because, without it, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with everything on your list of things to-do. Start by building a schedule that fits your work and family’s needs. Then STICK TO IT! No matter what.” [bctt tweet=”Working from home – luxurious or tedious? The answer – BOTH. – Cassie, QA and content writer for EW. Read more tips and lessons from our 100% remote staff ‍ , now on the Write Blog.” username=”ExpWriters”] The key is to get structured. Wake up at the same time each morning. Make breakfast a special time for your family. Set a specific schedule. Don’t limit yourself to writing a To-Do list. Set a time for each item on the list. Plan activities for the kids in advance. I love Khan Academy Kids and Education.com as resources for great activities that also educate. Go to bed on time. “Plan your day ahead, because you won’t have as much time available as you think,” says Lorien, our team’s client success agent based in South Africa. “Try to set a schedule for yourself during your ‘working hours’ so that you remain productive. If you spend a lot of time behind your computer, … Read more

How to Use SEO Writing for Your Blog and Website to Earn More Traffic From Google (Video)

September 27, 2022April 1, 2020 by Adam Oakley

Today’s epidemic is bringing lots of shifts. I believe the trend of search-friendly, user-first, awesome content will emerge as no longer a trend. More like, a must-have. For marketers, business owners, creators, brand builders… There has never been a better time to jump into online content, SEO, and building your online presence. Why? Before today’s pandemic, we were already looking at statistics like this — 71%+ of the world’s online traffic comes from a search. 3/4 of the internet is reading blogs. On average, there were 3.6 billion Google searches per day from humans looking for answers to their problems. During the pandemic, this number shot up to over 6 billion Google searches per day! (To verify this incredible stat for myself, I followed a Worldometer live tracking all day till 8 pm CST the other night… yep, clocked in right over 6 billion live searches that day ) Think about the fact that 140 countries in our world as we know it are impacted by COVD-19. There are 195 countries in the world. This is already impacting 72% of our world! That’s a ton of people that have had to take their “IRL” work/social life online. Given how much of the world this is impacting, and how many countries have made it mandatory to stay at home as much as possible… Creating content to pull in your online audience just got 10x more valuable. In today’s brand-new YouTube video, I’m covering a valuable topic for us in the economy we’re in today: What you need to know when it comes to SEO writing for your blogs and websites, in a way that produces REAL results. This is an evergreen how-to video built on tactical methods that work. You’ll learn evergreen strategies that you can immediately put to use to get more results and Google traffic from your blog and site content. I’ve tested and tried these strategies over nine years and throughout 1,500 blog posts to earn over 20,000 keyword positions in Google (and that’s just on one of my five sites). Watch this video, focus in and implement these tips, and you WILL see results — guaranteed. How to Use SEO Writing for Your Blog and Website for More Traffic From Google (Video) …Who likes checklists? Good, me too! This video is checklist-style, focusing on SEO writing optimization tips that work to rank your blog and website high in Google. Let’s go! [bctt tweet=”Watch @JuliaEMcCoy check off everything you need to know to nail SEO writing for your blogs and websites in a way that produces REAL results ” username=”ExpWriters”] Video Notes: How to Use SEO Writing for Your Blog and Website for More Traffic From Google But first, a quick recap of “a day in the life of Julia.” The last time I talked to you guys, it was book launch day for Woman Rising: A True Story. WOW! WHAT a rewarding book launch! This is my third book, the true story of escaping my father’s cult and building a life I love. It was an incredibly hard book to write, but I believe it will change and transform lives, and give hope to those who read it. We had over 1,000 people pick up a copy from Amazon in the first three weeks since launch day February 10. We also hit #1 Amazon New Release and #1 Amazon Best Seller! My first local book signing event on February 29, at the Springhill Suites in Cedar Park, was a tremendous success. I did all this while running my agency, so this past month was a bit hectic. We’re planning a roadtrip and a beach retreat when the kiddo is off of school for spring break. Time to chill a little and celebrate! Now back to today’s video! How to Use SEO Writing for Blogs and Website for More Traffic From Google First, we’re going to run through the checklist, and then I’m going to switch over to my site and a high-ranking blog to show you how this was actually applied. Step 1. Do your research before you write. Everything in SEO writing for your blog and website begins by finding the right focus keyword. This is a must! The top tools I recommend using are: AHrefs, SEMrush, KWFinder. Avoid using free tools. They can give you misleading data. You can’t go wrong if you use any one of these three top tools to research your keyword. The top two metrics to focus in on would be: Keyword difficulty score (aim for 40 or less if you have a new site), and High relevancy of the keyword to your actual customers/buyers. Step 2. Create 10x content. This step is your most important. First, quick reminder of how to use your keywords. Use the focus keyword as the TOPIC, & synonymous keywords throughout. How do you find synonymous keywords? Go to Google and look up Searches Related to after plugging in your actual keyword. This works better than any tool, because you’re mining real, people-populated data. Know WHERE to put the keywords. Keyword placement matters far more than keyword density. Keyword density is an outdated concept — forget it! Place your keywords in your: Headlines (all H2s, H3s) Intro Throughout the content naturally with synonymous keywords (once per every 1-2 paras) Conclusion Use relevant secondary keywords to frame your H2s and H3s (also called LSI or synonymous keywords). Here’s my checklist of important points to know in your SEO content. Forget keyword density and think keyword placements. Your keyworde needs to be placed in headers, naturally in the first sentence, and conclusion. Remember the focus keyword should guide your topics. Your content must be topical. Don’t get distracted! Stay on the topic. In the meta description, keep the keyword far left at the meta title, BUT also keep it natural. Web page meta content can be a bit more branded, promotional. Use the vertical bar for cleanliness (Google reads it as a space). Blog Example: Meta title: How to Be a Content Marketing Writer: The Future of Freelance Writing & Meta Description: Have … Read more

How Today’s Pandemic Is Impacting Business & Marketing + 5 Ways to Keep Thriving

March 24, 2022March 31, 2020 by Adam Oakley

The past month has been one of the craziest in our collective memory. I’m banking on the inevitability that NO ONE will forget March 2020, when a global outbreak known as COVID-19 wreaked havoc on public health, economies, jobs, livelihoods, and day-to-day living. Business is NOT as usual. Instead, many of us in marketing are facing scary unknowns. IRL marketing events got canceled, just like everything else. Those of us who rely on trade shows, conferences, speaking gigs, and other events suddenly have to adapt. Digital marketing – and content in particular! – just got way more important. This is huge, but it’s also dependent on the niche you’re in. Since COVID-19 came on the scene, internet use in Europe has been up by almost 50%. If you think about the worldwide impact, Google searches went up from 3.5 billion/day to almost 6 billion! Streaming services saw a 20% rise in usage. Netflix has had to lower streaming quality for everyone just to handle the load. That said, for many marketers, it’s not all doom and gloom. ? Search traffic is UP for many industries. Niches reporting traffic gains include: Health and wellness Online grocery and meal/food retailers Remote work, remote teams Preparedness Online dating Online toy and puzzle makers (fun fact: puzzles are HOT right now! ?) Let’s talk about it all – the impact of the pandemic on business and marketing, which niches are winning, which ones are losing, and which are holding steady despite the doom-and-gloom. The good news is, hope is here for many content and SEO marketers. ? [bctt tweet=”NO ONE will forget March 2020, when COVID-19 wreaked havoc on public health, economies, jobs, livelihoods, and day-to-day living. ? Business is NOT as usual. On the Write Blog, @JuliaEMcCoy talks about the ups, downs, and ways to keep thriving. ?” username=”ExpWriters”] How the Pandemic Impacts Business & Marketing: 3 Ways the Pandemic Is Impacting Business Search Traffic and Content 1. Who’s Winning Search Traffic During the Pandemic? 2. The Downside: Who’s Losing Search Traffic to Their Site and Content? 3. Companies Holding Strong During the Pandemic and Giving Back How to Survive and Thrive in Business & Marketing During a Pandemic: 5 Important Tips 1. Don’t Panic 2. Lead with Empathy 3. Communicate Well (and Often) with Staff and Customers 4. Make a Plan 5. Be a Helper How is the Pandemic Impacting Business Search Traffic and Content? Here’s the gist of what’s happening in the world of search traffic, and what it might mean for your marketing, business, and content. 1. Who’s Winning Search Traffic During the Pandemic? It’s not all doom and gloom out there! ? Search traffic is UP for many industries. According to a recent survey Marie Haynes conducted on Twitter, niches reporting gains in traffic include: Heath/wellness Online grocery/food retailers Remote work and remote teams Preparedness Online dating services Online toy and puzzle retailers (puzzles are HUGE right now ?) Source: GIPHY Besides puzzling in their downtime, people are also furiously Googling anything to do with remote work, especially tools, methods, and ideas for collaboration. Kevin Indig from G2 recently shared on LinkedIn how traffic to many of the site’s remote work-related categories is exploding: Noticeably, the top categories include: Audio conferencing Telemedicine Video conferencing Webinar Collaborative whiteboard This holds on Google Trends, too. When you compare the search interest over time between the topics “work from home” and “coworking,” there’s a clear winner. “Work from home” interest spiked as the pandemic took hold, while interest in “coworking” flat-lined. [bctt tweet=”What impact is the pandemic having on business and marketing? Search traffic is UP for many industries like health/wellness ♥, remote work/teams ?, online dating ?, and online puzzle retailers ? (puzzles are HOT right now).” username=”ExpWriters”] Beyond industries related to remote work, who else may see gains during this time? Mark Schaefer wrote a great post about the coronavirus’s implications for marketing. He made some predictions about which business niches have an opportunity right now: Comfort foods like candy and baking Nostalgia Cozy wear like sweatpants and pajamas Comedy Old TV shows and movies Hobbies (puzzles, knitting, sewing, crafting, reading) Delivery of essentials like groceries and food Small luxuries that can be home-delivered [bctt tweet=”.@markwschaefer recommends looking for marketing opportunities in baking/cooking/comfort foods ?, nostalgia, comedy ?, blankets/pj’s/comfy clothes, hobbies ?, food/grocery delivery, and more.” username=”ExpWriters”] 2. The Downside: Who’s Losing Search Traffic to Their Site and Content? Despite the gains for many niches, most are seeing a decline in traffic (as reported by Wordstream and SEO Roundtable). Here’s Marie Hayne’s Twitter survey from March 23 that shows 59.6% of sites reporting a downturn, out of 726 responses: Let’s do this again. How has COVID-19 affected your site’s organic traffic (or your clients’ sites)? We’ll keep running this poll weekly as a way to track what is happening. Results will be published and discussed in newsletter. — Marie Haynes (@Marie_Haynes) March 23, 2020 Some of the affected niches include: Travel Motorsports Ecommerce – fashion Personal finance Child care and daycare Additionally, Yelp’s Coronavirus Economic Impact Report shows other struggling niches include: Wineries Bridal stores Shopping centers Tax services Day spas The takeaway: These trends aren’t surprising to anyone. Social distancing and quarantines are forcing people to cancel their weddings and big events, avoid services they previously frequented (hair salons, spas, massage therapy), and rethink where their paychecks are going. Unless this pandemic wipes out the relevancy of your business right now, for struggling niches, it’s time to start thinking of creative ways to stay afloat. (More on that later.) ?‍♀️ [bctt tweet=”What business/marketing niches are losing out during the pandemic? Travel ✈, motorsports, personal finance ?, wineries, tax services, childcare ?, and more, now on the Write Blog ➡” username=”ExpWriters”] 3. Companies Holding Strong During the Pandemic and Giving Back Keeping the positivity going, let’s take a look at the many companies doing well despite mass unemployment, layoffs, and the stormy economic weather right now. Some are even using … Read more

The Modern-Day Content Creator: What They Do & Why You Need One

June 19, 2024March 24, 2020 by Adam Oakley

do content marketing – and ALL of those employ content creators of some kind. That said, for brands and businesses, not just any content will do – and not just any content creator will do. The content you publish on your website, on social media, and everywhere else needs to be purposeful, targeted, and valuable. It must be goal-oriented. It has to be search engine optimized. Without those essentials, your content WILL fail. ??? So, how do you make sure you hit all the right notes with content? You need the right content creator. But what IS a content creator, exactly? What makes them unique as professionals in the content marketing industry? More importantly, WHY do you need one (or a whole team of them) for your content? (Can’t you just DIY? Spoiler alert: NO. ?) That’s precisely what we’re exploring today: What a modern-day content creator looks like, what they do, why you need one, and the 5 indispensable habits every great content creator nurtures in their work life. Let’s explore this modern-day profession that’s gaining in importance as we deal with content overload and the difficulty of standing out from the slush pile. ? [bctt tweet=”How do you ensure you hit all the right notes with content? ? You need the right content creator. But what IS a content creator, exactly? ?‍? Learn it all on the Write Blog via @JuliaEMcCoy.” username=”ExpWriters”] The Modern Content Creator: Everything You Need to Know – Table of Contents The Definition of a Modern-Day Content Creator What Kinds of Digital Content Do They Create? Freelance vs. In-House vs. Agency Content Creators The Mega-Growth of the Content Creator Role Why Do You Need a Content Creator? Content That Gets Results Is Tough to DIY Crafted Content Increases Traffic to Your Site & Generates High-Quality Leads Targeted Content Reaches Your Audience Like Nothing Else When Do You Need a Content Creation Agency or Team? You Need ALL of Your Content Taken Care Of You Need Multiple Content Formats Created, Not Just Blogs 5 Key Habits of Successful Content Creators Use Skills to Improve Skills Stay Current on Digital Trends, Including SEO Best-Practices Make Researching an Instinct Clearly and Effectively Communicate Ideas and Information Read Up on the Best Industry Content Regularly The Definition of a Modern-Day Content Creator For a proper description of a content creator, we need to first define “content”. As you know, content is simply information wrapped up and presented in a shiny package. That package can be physical (such as the content within a book, newspaper, or magazine) OR digital (such as the content you’ll find on a website, blog, or social media platform). Thus, a content creator is the person responsible for creating that information. And, when we talk about modern-day content creators, we mean anyone who creates content for the digital, online realm of information. In general, content creators are always aware of 3 main elements when carrying out their jobs: The combination of the audience and platform they’re creating content for (Who are they talking to? Where will the content be published?) The point-of-view they’re representing in the content (Who’s speaking to the audience? A brand or company? An individual?) The main idea or topic they’re trying to explain or get across (including target keywords when relevant) [bctt tweet=”#Contentcreators are always thinking about 3 elements: 1) Their audience + platform ? 2) The point-of-view they’re representing ? 3) The main idea or topic they’re trying to get across ?” username=”ExpWriters”] What Kinds of Digital Content Do They Create? Digital content spans a wide range of media types and platforms. In general, if you can read it or view it online, then a content creator probably created it. Here is a basic list of digital content types that content creators have a hand in: Blogs and articles Ebooks Web pages (about pages, product pages, homepage copy) Graphic design (infographics, branding, logos, and blog images) Photos (photojournalism, Instagram posts, stock photos, and brand photography) Social media copy (tweets, Facebook and LinkedIn posts, Instagram captions, etc.) Videos Email newsletters and promotional email copy [bctt tweet=”Blogs and articles ?, web pages ?, emails ?, social media copy ?, videos ?, and more: If you can read it or view it online, then a content creator probably created it. ?” username=”ExpWriters”] Freelance vs. In-House vs. Agency Content Creators Beyond the type of content they specialize in creating, you also can distinguish content creators by the way they work. Here’s a quick rundown: Freelance content creators are not tied to any single company or brand. Instead, they serve a wide range of clients across multiple industries. They are usually paid by the work they complete, though hourly pay isn’t uncommon. (Type and method of pay depend on the relationship between content creator and client.) Where do they work? Freelance content creators tend to be remote workers. In-house content creators, meanwhile, are employed by one specific company. These content creators get a salary, report to an office daily, and may work in a content marketing department (even with small teams of 1-3 people). Where do they work? In-house content creators may work remotely, too, but a more common set-up is to work part-time in an office and part-time from home. Content creators working for an agency represent the middle-ground between freelancers and in-house employees. They aren’t permanent staff, but they do have an investment in your content. If you work with one agency, you’ll get the same creators working on your content from project to project. This means they’ll have deeper insight and knowledge into your brand voice and guidelines than a one-off freelance hire. That consistency makes a HUGE difference in the end-product. Where do they work? Most agencies will handle your content projects remotely. For an example of an agency workflow, check out our process at EW. The Mega-Growth of the Content Creator Role Content creators are more in-demand these days than ever before. 84% of marketers outsource content creation, and … Read more

We’re Doubling What We Pay Expert Writers… & More: Spring 2020 Updates at Express Writers

April 8, 2021March 13, 2020 by Adam Oakley

Did you know March 19 is the first day of spring? …As of today, we are just six days away from that! Crazy to think that, as it seems the beginning of 2020 just rolled around. Over here at Express Writers, it’s the beginning of a new season. And it’s time to share the details of this ‘new season’ with all of you. For a while now, we’ve been listening to our clients who have brands in high-level, advanced niches; watching the hiring industry change for expert writers; and testing what works. About three months ago, we launched a higher-priced industry writing service called Legal Copywriting, and we’ve found that it was an absolute no-brainer for our law industry clients to invest in $120/500w and get a practicing or retired attorney-turned-copywriter on their work. (We headhunt and do all the hard work of finding that expert for them, and then train them on modern content writing using my elite, Express-Writers-only training.) Our test with high-level writing experts for the legal industry was a success. It made sense — we’ve had clients leave over not receiving a true depth of expertise in their industry content, but we’ve found we simply can’t hire deep industry experts at the same pay rate we pay general experts. So, here’s what just went down today in a short TL;DR (too long, don’t read) summary: Our Industry Expert Blogs are now called Blogs, and feature a basic industry expert writer. This is the same price you’ve already gotten familiar with, if you’re an existing client: $90/500w. We aren’t axing that at all — yes, you can still get this price and service — and we still have phenomenal writers for that category. However, if you are looking for a more tenured industry expert writer that will craft authoritative writing to satisfy a very high-level niche industry, that is now $120/500w, and you can pick your industry from the revamped Content Shop. The writers we hire for these industries must have a degree in the industry, 10 years of experience, and industry accomplishments under their belt. (It takes some serious HR time. And then we continue to train them once we hire them.) Here’s our list of industry-specific expert content creation services, available at $120/500w: Medical and Healthcare Health, Fitness, and Wellness Finance Real Estate Insurance Tech and Engineering Legal Marketing Sports Keep reading for all the details. [bctt tweet=”Did we just decide to pay our expert writers… double? ? We did. Learn all about our Spring 2020 changes in this Write Blog post by founder @JuliaEMcCoy.” username=”ExpWriters”] We’re Doubling What We Pay Expert Writers… & More: Spring 2020 Updates at Express Writers As already mentioned above, our former Industry Expert Blogs are now called Blogs, and feature a basic industry expert writer. You can still receive $90/500w expert content; it will feature a basic, high-quality expert writer. Our writers for this category are rockstars. You’re getting beautiful content. What you’re not getting at $90/500w is a tenured industry expert writer that will craft authoritative writing to satisfy a very high-level niche industry. Specifically, these industries: Medical and Healthcare Health, Fitness, and Wellness Finance Real Estate Insurance Tech and Engineering Legal Marketing Sports The reason we had to go up to $120/500w for these industries, and pay double, is because we simply cannot hire industry experts (true experts) and train them into expert industry writers at the $90/500w price. Storytime: How We Found Ourselves Up Against a Pay Wall Last December, I spent an entire month trying to hire for one specific expert category we needed to fill at the “old” rates (the non-doubled pay rates). Guess what happened? After going through 1,500+ applicants and spending hours testing and interviewing, I didn’t find a single person. ? I remember even working on vacation in the terminal during our Christmas family trip to Boulder, Colorado. If I had a photo to document the stress, I’d share it, but you can imagine in your head: my five-year-old was running around the terminal, the hubby right behind her, juice and snacks in hand. There I was, typing away furiously on what should have been a family vacation — spending every spare moment I had like a madwoman to hire for the open vacancy. We went through so many resumes and did not find anyone to stick in our team for the industry I was hiring for. At the time, we weren’t ready to raise rates yet because we weren’t sure it was the right decision. Well, after not finding a single expert available to put in their talent for us at that pay rate, we decided it was time to implement a simple campaign we called Pay-Our-Experts-Double. Our Content Manager, Korilynn, suggested it — good thing she did. To put it bluntly, there was no other choice. I couldn’t find an expert available at our old pay rate. We began by hiring in the Legal industry at the new pay rate/client bill rate, and I worked closely with Korilynn to hire actual J.D.s who had passed the bar and practiced as attorneys. We found a former patent attorney with 20 years of experience who was ready to transition and work from home. We hired him full-time, and he has written some phenomenal content for our law clients. Our new team of high-level legal writers, hired with a J.D. as the basic requirement and then trained by us in content writing, not only worked happily at the new pay rate (so important to a great work culture!), but also made every client that hired us for the $120/500w legal expert content writing service incredibly happy. ? Win, win. So, we’ve decided to apply this to 9+ more industries, and that’s what just happened today. At $120 per 500w, we are paying double to hire expert writers that fulfill our new “deep expertise” requirements. These are the requirements we’ve learned work best for our industry-expert clients (especially brands in tech, finance, medical, insurance, real estate industries, etc.): Have a minimum … Read more

Why Does Content Work? Plus, 39 Reasons You Should Invest in Content

January 1, 2021March 6, 2020 by Adam Oakley

You’ve heard content being praised time and time again by marketers. (Myself included.) But, why does content work? In today’s shifting business world, they say, content marketing is the way to go. It beats paid ads and other forms of traditional marketing by a long shot. (90% of consumers find custom content useful. Compare this to Facebook ad ROA, which sits at .66x. What kind of content works? Educational, useful, blog content. 3 out of 4 of internet users read blogs regularly.) We know content works. And although you believe what the experts are saying, you wonder: why? Why does content work? What’s the science behind it? Should you start your own content marketing campaign? Let’s dig into the data to find out! Why Does Content Work? Plus, 39 Reasons You Should Invest in Content – Table of Contents What Kind of Content Works? 1. Content with a Strategy 2. High-Quality Content 3. Consistent Content Why Does Content Work? 40 Reasons to Invest in Content Marketing Does Content Work? How to Move Forward with Your Marketing Goals [bctt tweet=”Why does content work? What’s the science behind it? ‍ Should you start your own content marketing campaign? Dig into the data with @JuliaEMcCoy via the Write Blog ” username=”ExpWriters”] What Kind of Content Works? Before we dive into why content marketing works, it’s important to point out that not all content works. You can’t just get on your keyboard and type up a frenzy of random blogs to publish online. Doing this is a waste of time, energy, and even money. So, what kind of content should you be producing? Here are three things to aim for. 1. Content with a Strategy Approaching content marketing without content strategy is like going on a trip without a destination. No matter how many miles you travel, you’ll never reach your goal because you don’t know exactly what your goal is. To keep your content from going in circles, you need to develop a content strategy. This is your master plan and blueprint. It’ll guide you on what type of content to create, the target audience to create it for, where to publish it and how often, and all the details that’ll make your content unique, purposeful, and powerful. 2. High-Quality Content When publishing content, remember that quality trumps quantity every single time. And when I say quality, it’s not just making sure your blogs are free of grammatical errors. It’s superb content. Share-worthy content. Content that gets your audience hooked. So, if you’re tempted to click publish on the mediocre blog you wrote, just stop. Publishing a day or two late is better than damaging your online authority with low-quality content. 3. Consistent Content That being said, try your best to stick to a regular schedule. Your readers will lose interest if you publish content randomly and inconsistently. If you’re having trouble writing everything yourself, hiring an awesome content writer is a promising and profitable step. [bctt tweet=”What kind of content should you be producing? 3 things to aim for: 1) Content with a strategy 2) High-quality content 3) Consistent content ⌚” username=”ExpWriters”] Why Does Content Work? 40 Reasons to Invest in Content Marketing Let’s start with exactly why content works, then explore statistics that’ll get you excited about content marketing. 1. Why Does Content Work? Content works because of what the buyer’s journey is like today. Buyers nowadays can’t be bullied into an old-fashioned sales funnel. They don’t like feeling “sold,” or “closed.” Instead, they want to feel powerful. They want to be in control during every step they take towards the solution they’re looking for. So no, you can’t put your audience into a rigid, linear sales funnel. What you can do is offer them value. For instance, let’s say your potential client wants to feel attractive and confident with a flashy white smile. If you’re selling teeth whitening products, you can do two things: Bombard your prospect with paid ads, or Teach your prospect how to whiten his teeth through quality content. As you’ve guessed, your prospect will respond positively to your brand if you choose the second option. He’ll see you as an authority in your industry. He’ll trust you. He’ll consider your expert advice and feel attracted to your product. That’s how content marketing works. [bctt tweet=”Buyers nowadays can’t be bullied into an old-fashioned sales funnel. They don’t like feeling sold or closed. Instead, they want to feel powerful. ” username=”ExpWriters”] 2. Your Audience is Constantly Online In the U.S. alone, 81% of people go online on a daily basis. Of this number, 28% are online constantly, and 45% go online more than once a day. 3. The Number of Internet Users is Growing Each Year Today, there are 4.54 billion internet users worldwide. That’s more than half the total population of the world! 4. There Are Six Billion Searches on Google Per Day That’s 230 million searches every hour, and two trillion searches per year. 5. Google Is the Number One Place People Go When Searching for a New Product or Brand Every single day, hundreds of millions of people go to Google to perform shopping-related searches. 6. People Are Spending More and More Time on the Internet Source: thenextweb.com The Philippines leads the pack on total time spent on the internet with a whopping nine hours and forty-five minutes per day. Worldwide, it’s six hours and forty-three minutes per day (the same number with the U.S.). 7. 90% of B2B Marketers Use Content as Part of Their Strategy The brands using content for marketing aren’t all small. In fact, hugely successful brands like Toshiba, Cisco, and Marriott all take advantage of content marketing. 8. A Huge Chunk of Marketers are Investing in Content Marketing It’s not just B2B marketers, it’s B2C marketers as well. 70% of all marketers now invest in content marketing. 9. 3/4 of All People Who Use the Internet Read Blogs Regularly That’s 3.4 billion people who’d potentially be interested in reading … Read more