Buffer Suggestions Gets Shut Down: Another Case For Original Content
Originality – it’s what we all crave, isn’t it?
Whether it comes in the form of fashion, food, fitness, or content, original content (useful, unique, engaging) is important to consumers everywhere.
And 2015 has been a buzz of news about moves on the parts of major content platforms when it comes to providing original content.
Buffer is joining the ranks of Google, Facebook, and YouTube, providing clients with great, new content hot and fresh daily (just like your favorite baked goods).
These companies are focusing on reducing the amount of filler in their content and making things significantly more substantial (who wants an apple turnover that’s just apple jam?).
The Latest In Original Content Happenings: Bye-Bye, Buffer Suggestions
Since the content world is ever expanding, that means there will always be some new newsworthy things to share with you.
The latest on the content front is that Buffer is making a change to their content and will slowly be getting rid of their Suggestions panel.
The Buffer Suggestions panel was a great way for people to come up with content ideas based off of a few suggestions added to the panel. It wasn’t necessarily to give exact topics, but more so a pool of inspiration.
This might seem like something Buffer really should keep around, so what is their aim in getting rid of it?
Why is Buffer Retiring Its Suggestions Panel?
In their announcement linked above, Buffer states that the choice was to help bring about more natural and authentic content and shares.
As they point out, the Suggestions panel promoted sharing content over consuming content.
When it came to sharing content, a lot of people were sharing the suggestions instead of other content, which made Buffer feel like they were missing the mark.
While you won’t have to say adios just yet, it will be phased out until it no longer exists.
Never fear; there are plenty of other ways to gain inspiration and come up with excellent content ideas without the Suggestions feature.
Original Content is the Way of Content in 2015
Buffer isn’t the only one focusing on original content over generated, bland content that would get shared instead of consumed.
Who are some of the others making changes when it comes to content?
1. Facebook is Implementing a New Newsfeed and Long-Form Content Platform
Facebook is making changes to make people’s newsfeeds fit what the user wants to see. This is an often-discussed part of Facebook, and giving the users more power is important to the company.
The new newsfeed means that there is every chance that users aren’t going to see your advertisements, and if they do, they’ll just skip right over.
This is why creating excellent original content is vital to Facebook because it will be shared more. However, it won’t just be shared but it will also be consumed, which is what we all want for our content.
In addition to the newsfeed changes, Facebook is also redoing notes and creating a powerful native long-form content platform similar to Medium.
This gives you the ability to put your excellent original content directly on Facebook, making it easier for your clients to access.
Is this even beneficial? Well, Facebook’s native videos might just be the best example.
According to Brent Csutoras from Search Engine Journal, native videos reach 2 times the number of users as a 3rd party video, which brings in quite a bit more traffic for businesses.
Image Credit: Search Engine Journal
This means that the new long-form content platform is probably going to be just as successful. And both of these show just how important original content is.
2. Upworthy is Leaving Aggregated Content in the Dust
Upworthy is known for the random bits of content they’d find, throw out at will to users, and watch as the viral numbers spiked higher and higher.
They were the epitome of the viral world, and something many aspired to be like and for good reason.
Soon, however, Upworthy started losing its famed numbers due to many changes in algorithms and aggregated content.
And they had to revamp their approach.
They ditched the once famous, but now dead, aggregated content and went for a better approach. What was that approach?
Ding ding! You got it – original content!
3. Google Phantom Means You Need to Amp Up Your Original Content
Google Phantom isn’t someone hiding out in the bowels of an opera house (though if you want to start singing, I won’t stop you).
Phantom isn’t quite as terrifying as it sounds, but it does mean that you need to focus on creating great, original content.
It is looking out for the dreaded filler content, which isn’t something that really provides value to readers and users. Google wants all searchers to find great content, and that means doing away with ranking filler.
4. YouTube is Seeking to Launch an Original Content Effort by the Year’s End
Another website that is looking to remove filler content and push people to create original pieces is YouTube.
They’ve announced that they are working on an original content effort that they want to release by the end of the year. This is going to encompass a wide range of video and business types so if you’re on the channel, it’s time to focus on great original content.
All of these great websites are making wonderful changes. And, all you need to do is focus on making great and original content for your users and clients.
6 Ways You Can Create Original Content
“You keep talking about the importance of original content, but how do I create it?”
Great question; I’m glad you asked! Let’s take a look at a few tips to help you on the way to great content your clients will love.
1. Plan Your Content and Create an Editorial Calendar
Making sure you have a great pool of unique ideas can get overwhelming if you’re coming up with it on the spot.
Instead, make sure you create and plan out an editorial calendar to help keep you in the game, giving your clients excellent content.
Having a plan in place will help you create consistently great content and keep you from feeling bogged down when things start getting hectic.
2. Create Your Own Podcast Content
You can’t just focus on written content anymore. People love variety, and they love having access to various types of content.
One of the best and hottest ways to get out original content is to create a podcast. Creating a podcast isn’t all that difficult, and according to Carol Tice, guest blogger at ProBlogger, it can be an immense benefit to your marketing strategy.
3. Invite People to Become Guest Bloggers or Content Creators
Let’s face it; sometimes you simply cannot come up with great original ideas. You’ve watched all the Netflix shows, stared at your screen for hours, and nothing. Your brain betrays you.
What’s a business to do?
Hire a guest blogger. They can provide excellent new content for your blog, without you overly stressing about what you should write about next.
In fact, you can even hire professional copywriters to take over your blog, helping you create expert content that is 100% original.
4. Repurpose Old Content to Get More Traction
You already have a great wealth of information when it comes to creating original content and you can easily repurpose it.
At first, it might seem like “repurposing” goes against “original” but that isn’t so. In fact, you can get great original content in multiple formats, and get tons of mileage out of your posts.
Wordstream gives some excellent example of how to repurpose. You can turn your content into webinars, podcasts, videos, eBooks, and more.
Look at all that great new content.
5. Host an Interview On Your Blog or YouTube Channel
Interviews are awesome because they give you the chance to share new information from industry insiders and look excellent at the same time.
You can post a text interview on your blog, host one on a podcast, or even have a video interview.
Simply find the people you want to interview and reach out to them. You can also interview your employees, giving a great insight into the company.
6. Run a Case Study and Feature It
Case studies are excellent because they help you show how well your business is doing or looking into something specific within your industry.
When you run a case study, you’ve just created great original content that your clients will love to see.
Don’t Lose the Content Game – Create Original Content
It’s time we put more thought and investment to the type of content we produce. We all need to be ahead of the game when it comes to establishing our online presence.
And creating original content is the best place to start.
Creating excellent, original, and unique content is something we at Express Writers are absolutely stellar at. Take a look at how we can help you!
Photo courtesy
Featured cartoon (c) Express Writers
SEJ credit Brent Csutoras, Search Engine Journal