As little as two years ago, some of us said the infographic got hammered and it just wasn’t worthwhile anymore when it came to content marketing strategies. Is this true? Are infographics on the down and out, incapable of spicing up and improving our content marketing plans? Is it possible to still create quality infographics, or should we forget about them entirely and try something else?
According to a recent article by CopyBlogger (and we’re talking end of September kind of recent), research suggests that publishers who leverage infographics tend to grow in traffic by about 12 percent more than those who don’t. In fact, they went so far as to present the information in…can you guess it? That’s right! An infographic:
Photo credit CopyBlogger
Wow! It makes you think twice about infographics, now doesn’t it? Maybe these little visual packets aren’t so bad after all?
The What’s What of Infographics
According to Wikipedia, infographics are information graphics. They have a pretty rich history, dating back as far as 1626 when Christoph Scheiner published the Rosa Ursina sive Sol. The very first infographic debuted in this publication and illustrated the Sun’s rotation patterns so that non-scientific minds could easily grasp the concept.
Today, infographics are still visual representations of data or information. They’re a prime means of turning complex information into something almost anyone can quickly understand. Unlike 1626, today they are social media friendly. It’s not uncommon for these tidy pieces of content to go viral. They appeal to our visual senses, which often make them initially more powerful than our standard text based content.
Yet, these handy marketing tools have flaws. You’d think that a content type dating back to the 1600s would be perfected by now! Then again, how many of us saw the Internet coming? And in all honesty, how many of us can accurately predict just how Google will react to the content types we choose?
The Downfall of Infographics
The biggest downfall to information graphics is the fact that Google can’t index the content contained within them. The same issue applies to any image we choose to use. Crawlers are not (yet) sophisticated enough to capture the words on images and index them.
As is the case with every type of content out there, it’s entirely possible to produce low quality. If you’re not careful, you can create awful infographics. According to CopyBlogger, Google’s Matt Cutts had some pointed observations about bad infographics:
When it comes to topics, they can get off topic.
It’s not uncommon for the facts contained within them to be of poor quality.
The link (or links) associated with infographics often go to sites that are completely unrelated.
The link (or links) embedded in the infographics are sometimes undetectable by viewers.
Cutts wrapped up his observations by concluding that in the future, infographic-type links just might be discounted or devalued by Google. So, the point is you have two outcomes when it comes to infographics:
Nail it! Produce a high quality, well researched, gorgeously presented, relevantly linked information graphic. It won’t be indexed by crawlers, but it will be a one hit wonder that can be repeated with new products that increase traffic and boom your business.
Fail It. Produce low quality infographics void of confirmed facts and relevant links that are eye catching but otherwise worthless. They won’t be indexed by crawlers, but they won’t be one hit wonders either. Low quality = get hammered (no, not with alcohol) and you’ll be in danger of infographic type links getting devalued.
But there’s something else to think about, too. Are you infecting the Web with an unwanted virus?
Second-Degree Duplication
Do you have a case of second-degree duplicate content? It’s a plague that just doesn’t seem to let up, as discussed by Eric Enge and Matt Cutts. What are we talking about? Second-degree duplicate content is when a user goes to pages that all contain the same information. Even though they aren’t identical and thus identified as duplicates, they’re so similar that the user frowns and clicks the back button because the information they’re after just isn’t there.
The problem with this scenario is that no additional value is being brought to the reader. No, the content isn’t duplicated, but it’s not bringing anything new to the table either! How does this relate to our discussion of infographics? Well, if you’re not careful, your infographics will simply rehash information and cause second-degree duplication, the kind that isn’t technically duplicated, but doesn’t offer anything of value either.
Repurposing Content Doesn’t Mean Rehash the Same Old Same Old
Infographics have taken off in the content industry as a means of repurposing older content into a new form of media capable of drawing a diverse (and fresh) audience. We’ve talked about turning long-winded copy into a handy infographic as a tactic for making your content go viral. But there’s an element that you have to consider if you expect infographics to be a worthwhile content marketing investment: Fresh perspective.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with repurposing content via an infographic, but you must offer somethingof value. This means you must offer something new. Otherwise, your repurposed content will be little more than a fancy case of second-degree duplication, and it could very well fail.
Infographics as an Asset
At the start of 2014, we ran a series of blogs tagged 2014 Success, and success number five was all about why you should create infographics. We even provided a brief how to that handed our readers 10 popular ways of using infographics. The truth is this content type is a worthwhile investment IF you do it right. So without further ado, here’s your short guide to creating assets in infographics:
Focus on Relevancy: It’s the key to every type of content. If it’s not relevant, don’t use it. It’s really that simple! Google is not a fan of irrelevant links or content. Period. (I want to add in an exclamation point because this point just cannot be over emphasized!) It doesn’t matter what we’re talking about content wise. If a link is irrelevant or a stretch, it’s just not going to do good things for your content or your website, and in the end, it contributes to low quality. So don’t go linking to irrelevant websites just for link value. You’re aiming a gun at your foot, and it’s only a matter of time before it goes off.
Fact Quality Matters: You can present facts within a layout that is to die for, but it will be for nothing if those facts are flimsy. Audiences know what infographics are, and they know that these content mediums are supposed to contain facts. If they realize the facts you’ve chosen are unverified and ultimately inaccurate, you’ll lose readership instantly. And what’s worse, you’ll lose credibility, authority, and trust. Ultimately, you will risk alienating your audience, which includes paying customers. Customer loyalty could quickly become a thing of the past. Fact quality really does matter, even when the text isn’t crawled and indexed.
Hunt for Sources: It’s easy to get so carried away with the visual aspect of an infographic that we forget to pay attention to our fact quality, but the same applies to hunting for sources. Before you even begin creating an infographic, you should be hunting for sources to reference or link to, and they must be relevant. If you’re repurposing content, it’s not a bad idea to build in a link to that original piece of copy. It’s also helpful to build links to sources that back up the claims your graphic is making. And don’t forget to make those links visible. If your audience doesn’t see them, they’ll never know to click.
Repurpose That High Value Content: So, it’s not going to happen overnight. Let’s just state that up front. Infographics are one of the most amazing ways of repurposing your high value content into an audience frenzy that contains a little something new. But you’re not going to create 10 of these overnight. They’re going to take time, just like that high value content takes time to create.
Infographics are an asset, but they’re also a workhorse. They have few limitations outside of staying away from thin or poorly prepared content. We thought the value of these assets was degrading, but the truth is it was a dip in quality that sent us reeling. Is it really surprising? Bad quality causes bad things! High quality causes good things.
Dedicate yourself to awesome quality. It’s the key to everything. I know, it almost sounds too good to be true, but don’t let this simple statement fool you. Awesome quality isn’t easy. You can’t snap your fingers and make it magically appear. It’s going to take work, hard work. But you can do it. And as a result, you’ll find that infographics are truly a worthwhile investment for content marketing.
Content pieces are the indispensable aids that highlight the cool factor of your company, products and services, increase brand awareness and customer loyalty and help you get (and stay) on the same page with your prospects.
But unless you are commercializing your product—whether it’s the fairy dust that can prevent aging or sleek cars that run on tap water—chances are that you have a lot of competition in your sector.
Why Should You Invest in Content Marketing Tools?
A customized, cohesive content marketing strategy can help you separate yourself from other players in your field, reflect the best features/most notable benefits of your products and interact with your target audience in an ideal manner. In this context, great storytelling skills could guarantee your success. You may ask: what makes a good story? While your merchandise may be truly mundane, the story of your company and the message that you’re trying to send to your potential buyers should be anything but tedious and unoriginal.
A Plethora of Handy Tools for Every Conceivable Marketing-Related Problem
Maybe you’ve got a mean case of writer’s block. Perhaps you don’t speak SEO or don’t know how to adapt your content flow to the real necessities and expectations of your audience. Maybe in the absence of awesome content distribution strategies, your web writing looks like a crowned king who is yet to find his influent queen. Last but not least, maybe you’re the real ninja of words, but can’t or don’t know how to measure the success of your current content marketing strategy. Regardless of the real root of your problem, a great variety of content marketing tools can enable you to overcome any challenge and step up your marketing efforts the easy way.
What Are the Main Categories of Content Marketing Tools That You Should Focus on?
According to an awesome infographic introduced by ClickZ, content marketing enhancement tools can be broken down into 5 main categories, based on the specific purposes that they have been designed to serve:
Content research
Content organization
Content creation
Content organization
Content marketing analysis
It is advisable to use at least 1 or 2 tools listed in each category, to make sure that all your everyday tasks, ranging from extensive research that represents a major first step to content marketing analysis, are absolutely flawless.
15 Excellent Content Marketing Tools That Will Help You Steer in the Right Direction
Most content marketing tools are free or almost free. If you need another great reason to put them to good use, think about the fact that everybody else is already doing it. Without any further ado, here are 15 excellent aids that every online marketer needs in his life.
Quora. One of the most popular sources of knowledge, Quora is one of the basic tools that you should use while doing your homework. By simply selecting the topics that actually interest you (technology, luxury fashion, economics, history, psychology and so on) and following them you can stay in the loop and expand your knowledge database. Moreover, Quora defines itself as an accessible place to create new content and share existing pieces that float around the Internet.
Content Forest. Do you feel lost in the middle of a thick, dark forest of unwritten thoughts? If so, you should know that you can actually exit this labyrinth by using Content Forest, a handy end-to-end, complete marketing solution that ensures the hassle-free automation of all your daily operations, ranging from content creation to marketing and analytics. Flexible, modulated and powerful, this tool could become a valid substitute for your marketing consultants who are costing you a small fortune.
Pinterest. A great image is more valuable than 1,000 carefully chosen words. This is not a cliché; it represents the mechanism that made Pinterest so popular in the first place. People like to collect and organize images that reflect their style and aesthetic demands. Why wouldn’t you turn this hobby into an activity that could boost your content research efforts? Analyze different boards and create your own to become a cool trend scout and find out how you could put your products and services in a different light, to increase their power of seduction.
Curata. Content curation is one of the hottest trends that you cannot afford to ignore. If you are an avid collector of rare written gems that are only a few clicks away, give this useful tool a try to achieve business success in 3 easy steps. With Curata, you just have to find, curate and share first-class web content that can truly make a difference in the lives of your readers.
Contently. In case you are interested in finding the ultimate storytelling platform, remember to check out Contently. This handy tool ensures a win-win situation for brands looking forward to perfecting their marketing strategy and also for freelancers who are eager to get new assignments. Driven by the desire to create a “better media world” governed by great content and not by mercantile goals expressed via more or less compelling ads, Contently arms brands with all the tools and the talent that they could ever require to compete with the most gifted and influent publishers.
Storify. Your images are breathtaking and your calls-to-action are compelling. Your body copy is 100% unique and your headlines make your visitors ignore the fact that curiosity killed the cat. But what is all these essential elements don’t add up? Use Storify to glue all the pieces together and create an awesome whole. You just have to collect media online, publish the best pieces on Storify, share your content with the whole world and go viral. In addition, a Storify VIP subscription would enable you to unlock real-time updates and additional customization options that could come in handy, when it comes to telling a convincing story about your brand.
Percolate. Percolate defines itself as the complete content marketing software that is good enough to provide great answers to all your daily web writing-related problems and concerns. From proper planning, brand governance, content creation and outsourcing to comprehensive audience acquisition and analytics, Percolate is focused on all key marketing assignments that you need to conduct and monitor to grow your company and boost your profit margins.
Buffer. A content marketing strategy is pretty much dead and buried before its time without a proper social component. Buffer lets you discover the easiest way to distribute your content on networking websites, engage with your followers and build longer-lasting relationships with your audience. If you need to handle multiple social media accounts simultaneously, Buffer can lend a helping hand by enabling you to schedule posts, work closely with the members of your team and measure the success rate of your updates.
SlideShare. Maybe you feel the need to repurpose your old content. According to Quicksprout, it wouldn’t hurt to turn some of your articles into slide decks and promote them using SlideShare, the content marketing tool that brings you in front of more than 15 million presentations. By allowing you to discover, wrap and share what you love the most, SlideShare lets you build a bridge between your brand and your targeted audience and draw your inspiration from other people’s slides.
BuzzStream. Are you constantly tossing and turning in bed, trying to come up with new ways to build buzz around your brand and develop relationships with trusted influencers in your industry? If so, BuzzStream can provide the best solution for you and your team. Focus on two major components, link building and PR & social media, BuzzStream lets you source prospects, simplify your SEO and social workflow and improve your online presence in different environments without wasting time and money in the process.
Outbrain. Dreaming about simplified long-term monetization? Want to find the easiest way to turn your words into solid gold? If that’s the case, you may want to start using Outbrain. Known as a premium content discovery platform, Outbrain displays two handy components: Outbrain Engage (created to help you make great recommendations on your website and count on an extra revenue stream by promoting quality third-party content), and Outbrain Amplify (designed to help you broaden your audience by distributing your web writing on other platforms). No matter which options you choose to use, Outbrain will help you understand that engagement matters a great deal.
Addvocate. Want to empower all your team members by giving them access to a tool that turns content marketing into a child’s play? Try Addvocate, a neat advocacy platform that prioritizes content and internal messaging. According to a TopRank Blog on top content marketing tools, Addvocate lets your employees understand how, when and what to say about your business and helps them use analytics to improve their own performance.
Google Analytics. Launched by the mastermind that regulates and monitors all your online activities, Google Analytics allows users to breathe new life into their marketing strategy on a daily basis. Encompassing a wide range of killer features focused on different segments (analyzing and testing, campaign performance, audience behavior and characteristics, data collection and management and so on), Google Analytics gives you everything you may need to run a perfectly healthy online business and follow your plans for expansion.
Facebook Insights. According to Mashable, Facebook Insights dashboards let you assess the effectiveness of your digital marketing strategies and implement the right changes. By examining both user insights (likes, unlikes, demographics, total number of page links, media consumption and so on) and interaction insights (feedback for your daily stories) you’ll find out where you are, determine where you want to be, and estimate the distance between these two points.
Optimizely. Looking for a testing tool that doesn’t play with your nerves and doesn’t actually demand otherworldly technical skills? In this case, look no further. Optimizely is perhaps one of the most user-oriented A/B testing software that you could profit from at this point. Basically, it gives you prompt, precise answers to any questions that you may have on level of engagement, conversion rates, signups and clicks and more. It gives you the opportunity to test every little thing that goes on your website, from assets placement to the color of your buttons. Coding skills are not required, but constitute a major plus as they enable you to take this handy tool a step up.
You can definitely survive without all these handy tools, but why sweat more when you can have all the extra support that you may require at your fingertips? Whether you need a helping hand when it comes to creating, distributing and promoting content or analyzing the overall performance of your web writing, there are plenty of tools that can make your life a whole lot easier. Choose wisely and put them to good use to harvest the ripe, juicy fruits of your labor before anyone else.
Great content is a top way to get in Google’s favor today. But with all the content variations you could and should publish, how do you correctly sort? Blogs, articles, web pages, landing pages—don’t pile ‘em up and forget to organize!
Avoiding content clutter amounts to a basic principle that we all learned at a young age. Do you remember your mom or dad telling you to put your toys away and clean your room? The idea was to put things where they belonged, thus cleaning up your space. Well, to avoid content clutter the same principle applies. You need to know where all of your cool toys go and properly put them away after you’ve played.
Your Cool Content Toys
We all love show and tell! It’s time to show off your super cool content toys. So whatcha got? Well, here are a few of the toys that should be somewhere on your website floor, and if they’re not, you better get them:
Niche and product specific content: Back in the day when businesses marketed on a local level, competition was fierce. The Yellow Pages and highway side billboards were prime advertising real estate, and the potential audience pool was seen as huge. Successful marketing took specifics. Imagine how much more important this is today.
The Internet isn’t local; it’s international. Your potential audience pool is a lot less pool and a lot more ocean. Niche and product specific content are essential content variations you must utilize. So if you haven’t already, focus on reaching you sales goals by creating various blogs and content for precise products and niches.
Storytelling your way to sales: According to Forbes, “storytelling is used to create an emotional investment” in marketing content. The ultimate goal of storytelling is to make the audience pay attention. Emotionally charged headlines grab attention. Investing the readers’ emotions as they read keeps them reading all the way to the most important part of your copy: the call to action.
Storytelling is a good start, but it isn’t a standalone toy—it’s like the hot wheel that needs a racetrack. You also need to organize your content logically. Otherwise, your audience won’t have a clue.
Well-organized content: Structured content can break down into a lot of detail, but for the purposes of this post, we’re going to focus on the big picture: your publishing platform, tags and categories, SEO, and meta tags.
Your publishing platform: Get a good one. It should be easy to use, easy to understand, and capable of basic search engine optimization features. A recommended and epically popular platform is WordPress.
Build in SEO: Most publishing platforms hand you simple SEO tools. For example, WordPress sports several plugins that offer full site, per web page, and per blog post optimization options including keyword and meta information insertion.
Utilize tags and categories: This takes a little finesse. You create blog categories and tags to logically sort and label your posts. The trick is to keep it simple. Each post should fit into a specific category, not a ton. And each post should carry relevant tags, not every possible tag under the sun that applies just a smidge. Your audience will use your categories and tags for search purposes. Keep them simple and highly accurate.
Don’t be afraid of meta tags: Wait just a minute! Am I talking about HTML? Yes, I am, and it’s nothing to be afraid of! I’ve seen people react to meta information like these little tags are the gigantic spiders just in from the Forbidden Forest of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. There’s nothing to be afraid of, folks! Meta tags are easy to use, and they structure the big picture of your content. Don’t be without them!
Tap into the power of a monthly newsletter: Use a monthly newsletter to pull together your best blog topics and send them out to all your clients. It doesn’t matter if these people subscribe to your content updates and social media channels. You should still leverage the power of a newsletter because chances are they’ve been too busy to catch everything. In fact, they likely missed that one topic that was just for them. Help them out. Hand them a monthly newsletter.
Get the most mileage out of your content: Use social media. Share, share, share! Think of shares as miles. For each share, you gain a mile of exposure. The more miles you gain, the farther your content traveled, and the more area your message hit.
Always Put Your Toys Away
To cut down on clutter, you have to put your toys away. Copyblogger points out that we are all “searchers” seeking the best way to solve our problems or satisfy our desires. We make split-second decisions about clicking on a headline, and the last we want to do is trip over a scattered mess of toys the moment we land on a website.
Now, putting your toys away isn’t just about putting up your content when you’re done. No, it’s about putting it where it belongs. That means completing the following steps logically:
Sorting: Meticulously order your content. Ensure that the how and why of its labels and the display make sense to the audience. If it’s not organized, it’ll just look like endless, chaotic, and unhelpful clutter.
Publishing: Be sure your content is proudly published. Build in SEO, use the tools provided by your publishing platform, and don’t be skittish of meta information.
Publicizing: Maximize your miles. Use social media. Publish a monthly newsletter. Don’t just publish and hope it gets to the right people—publicize it straight to them!
It’s a content jungle out there, and your audience won’t hesitate to ignore less than stellar content because if you can’t provide it, someone else will. Your goal should be to display your best toys proudly, as they relate to your uniqueness; i.e. avoid content clutter by putting the proper tools in the proper place.
What comes to your mind when you hear the term “online content?” You might think of anything from the content populating your website and blog to social media presence, and you would be right. Online content is basically everything you put online. It can include your website, blog, social media posts and shares, and even e-commerce. It’s everything floating around cyberspace with your name on it. So if online content were to rule the (online) world, how lofty would your throne be?
A New King Ascended the SEO Throne In 2014
If you’ve asked why it’s important to publish content online, you’re not alone. Many business and brand owners have posed this question. Isn’t it enough to create eye-catching graphics, slap those puppies onto your website and social channels, and let them do the selling? After all, good marketing happens when the product or service sells itself, right?
If this were 2010, and if Google were still supporting old SEO tactics, you’d have a winning strategy. But it’s not. It’s 2014. Google’s beastly search algorithms are poised to shred online presences clinging to old habits while increasing rankings for those that play by the rules. The new rule is that content is king.
5 Types of Content You Can’t Do Without
Content comes in all sorts of flavors. It can be short or long. It can be black and white, gray, or colorful. It can take on whatever shape you need. It is 100 percent customizable and capable of achieving whatever you need, if it’s crafted with skill and care. Although the current content menu on display at copywriting agencies all over the net is sizeable, there are five types of content you simply cannot do without:
Blog posts: Blogs are super important to businesses and brands. Your goal should be to blog at least a few times per week or month. Each topic should be relevant to your specific products or services. Be educational and informative versus sales oriented when blogging, but don’t be afraid to subtly point out the benefits or value your product or service brings to the table. A meaty blog packed full of solid material hands your audience the ability to be well informed and educated. They are much more likely to buy from an industry expert versus a company that focuses solely on conversion.
News: Your business is constantly growing. Show your growth by creating and sharing interesting news content. Press releases are a great way to tackle newsworthy topics. Don’t shy away from posting news from your industry as well. News content has the ability to position your business as a subject matter expert that is in the know and in touch with current news and trends.
Timely: It’s vital to ensure your content is timely and properly positioned. For example, displaying outdated news or information on your site’s main page will give the impression that you’re not prioritizing. In fact, the audience might conclude you are outdated and unworthy of attention in the now. Take the time to inventory your content. Either ensure it is timely and that old information is positioned in older, dated content for those conducting research (recommended), or weed it out completely.
Products and services: The goal of your online content is no doubt to develop interest in your business and compel the audience to take action. Therefore, your copy should include enough of an explanation about your products and/or services to generate audience appeal. They should know enough to either want to research more (via your online presence) or contact you. Always take care in deciding how much information you will present about your products and/or services. You don’t want to overwhelm your audience with so much info that they lose sight of the value you’re offering.
Social media: It’s the “in” thing of 2014. Social media and search engine rankings go hand-in-hand because the strength of your social media will affect the strength of your overall rankings. Building this type of content is an absolute must. The key to creating killer social media is in crafting the sort of content people simply must share. This requires interesting and fresh content. Variety is vital. Give your audience a generous mix of both serious and entertaining material while keeping self-promotion to a minimum.
6 Tips for Writing Killer Online Content
According to Social Media Today, we’ve reached a point in the content marketing industry where “the line between writing [killer] SEO copy for search engines and engaging copy for humans has all but disappeared.” It sounds silly, but writing for humans means you’re writing for search engines and writing for search engines means you’re writing for humans. Confused? Don’t be! It all boils down to the basic ingredients of killer content:
Get to the point. Don’t beat around the bush. People don’t have time for that. They want value, and they want it now. They are inundated with information at an alarming rate. Get to the point quickly or risk losing their attention.
Keep it tight. The majority of your audiences are likely using mobile devices, which means they’re viewing your content on a compact screen. Make your copy user friendly by keeping it tight. Sentences and paragraphs should be short and concise. Headings and subheadings should be easily visible and contain the main point of the text beneath them.
Don’t be shy. You must compel your audience to take action. Don’t be shy! Tell them what to do. Make each call to action logical and blunt. Ensure copywriting from one web page to the next transitions smoothly.
Be professional. There’s nothing wrong with a little entertainment value, but your copy should reflect your professionalism. Tap into personal stories, funny anecdotes, and peppy wording, but don’t go overboard. Oh, and don’t misspell words either. A typo or two is understandable, but if you display a pattern of misspelling, people won’t take you seriously.
Stay active. What’s the old adage? “A body in motion stays in motion.” The same is true of copy. Active writing engages the audience; it keeps them motivated to move through your content. Lose the active voice, risk losing that important movement.
Choose audience friendly topics. Unless your topics are of interest to your audience, all of these tips will be for not. The best way to brainstorm is to find out what works. Invest in learning how to use a good analytics tool. Business2Community recommends researching the topics people are looking for through your website search tool or search engine referrals and cater to them.
5 Industry Standards To Remember
The best strategy for creating online content is incorporating tactics that have a proven success rate. The tactics with proven worth all have a simple quality in common: they revolve around your online content. For example, you should consider:
Always striving to create FRESH content: Business2Community points out that when search engines determine ranking, they factor in a website’s size. More pages equates to more credibility. One of the best ways to achieve this is by constantly brainstorming, crafting, and publishing fresh content. Staying fresh also means following and using the current trends, problems, and solution in your industry to keep your audience happy and stay relevant.
Invest in content: The truth is not everyone is gifted in the writing department. Some of us can weave words and craft a 1,000 plus word piece at lightning speed, while others struggle to craft a single paragraph. If you are the latter, don’t feel iffy about investing in a strong copywriter. It’ll likely be the best content investment you make.
Think outside the box: Online content isn’t just written copy. Get creative with your content. Consider using infographics, podcasts, videos, and SlideShares.
Consider syndication: According to Business2Community, search engines index content from multiple sources. Therefore, syndicating your content is something to consider. It can significantly increase visibility and ranking.
Create and publish regularly: Business2Community points out that Google author rankings inherently favor authors who publish valuable content on a regular and frequent basis. Not only that, but Google also favors content pushed through Google Plus. Credibility and a boost in search engine rankings can be quickly earned through content that bears a combo of code markup and +1 sharing.
Online content is rapidly evolving into the foundational aspect of online presence. It really does rule the online world. It’s present in everything we publish, no matter how major or minor. It’s the biggest factor in SEO today, and it doesn’t look like this “trend” will be trending down anytime soon.
How decked out is your content throne? Are you a shining spectacle folks can’t take their eyes off of and want to exam in detail? When they pull out the magnifying glass, what will they find? If your online content isn’t ready for close inspection, then it’s time to take an inventory and apply the tips we’ve discussed. Online content is king. Don’t be caught without it!
As sad as it may be, the times are quickly moving away from print and heading towards online content. It is more expensive than ever to get something printed because of the decline of the printed word. This means one of two things: 1) either you can spend a lot of money participating in antiquated methods or 2) you can save money and get a lot of bang for your buck.
Online content is a great way to gain access to a wider audience and a much wider audience than you got with paper content. This blog is going to explore why today is YOUR (and our) day; the day of online content; and how this powerful tool can benefit you.
Let’s Clear Up The Myths, First
The Internet isn’t the swamp monster. It isn’t here to destroy everything you hold dear. In fact, it is here to promote what you hold dear and make it successful. Your business is close to your heart and you want to see it succeed; the best way to do this is to jump into the 21st century with both feet. Once you’ve jumped in it is time to get ready for some awesome results!
How Can Online Content Work For Me?
Simple. It can bring in more customers than you could have dreamed of when you were relying on print content. All someone has to do is type in a keyword with the location and your business will show up on Google’s results page. Did you realize that one simple investment into an online press release can be instantly published to over 4,000 online media locations? Pretty awesome, huh? This is what online content can do – it can get you more coverage than ever. It is super exciting!
What Types Of Content Do I Need, Sensei?
Let’s take a quick look at a few forms of content that will be excellent for your business: 1. You’ll Need A Blog. Have you watched the latest Sherlock series? If not, we are sure you’ve at least heard of it. In the series, Sherlock’s cases come to him not just from the police but also due to Watson’s blog postings. Sherlock tends to scoff at the postings, but the reality is not everyone is keen on the different types of pipe tobacco ash out there. Watson understands how important a blog is to a small business and he utilizes this so that he and Sherlock can actually afford their rent payments for that London flat.
Just as it is important for Sherlock’s consulting detective business, blogging is important for your small business. It is a great way to interact with your customer base and provides you with an amazing way to give updates on what is going on in the company. If you are worried about staying up with a blog or writing great quality, you can always hire a copywriter who is trained in SEO (search engine optimization) and will craft excellent content for your site. 2. Online Press Releases Are Very Important. Just as in print, press releases are still crucial to a successful business. These are great ways to let everyone know what your company is up to and what to expect in the coming year. It lays everything out in a professional format and is easy for news outlets to use. The main change to the modern press release is the need for it to be social media ready. This is crucial when it comes to anything written for the Internet, which you will see in the next point. 3. Let’s Talk Social Media. If you aren’t on social media, now is the time to create a profile. It isn’t as terrifying as news outlets make it sound and, in fact, is very crucial to a successful small business. You don’t have to be an expert in using social media; you can have someone else in your company be in charge of that aspect. Just find a person who knows, and understands social media, and ask them to take over. The most important outlets are Facebook and Twitter, though many companies are finding Instagram and Pinterest to be very beneficial, as well. Social media gives your client base a way to interact with you and your company, and also provides you easier access to advertising specials coming up in your shop. It is important to remember to use this to your advantage but don’t abuse it (i.e. Don’t over-share on social media). 4. Don’t Scoff At Email. Email campaigns still bring in a lot of success for many a small business. Reports show that people are checking their email constantly throughout the day and many of us check our email when we are still in bed. We wake up and check our email on our iDevices. This is a great opportunity for you to create marketing campaigns that will lead to some awesome sales for your company. Again, don’t abuse this excellent tool! Learn how often your customers expect an email from you and don’t go over that expectation. You don’t want to annoy them into avoiding or unsubscribing from your email updates. 5. Does All Content Have To Be Long? No! Short content is honestly one of the best approaches to having a successful marketing campaign. Shorter content is also one of the best ways to go viral, according to Quicksprout. You can hire graphic designers to craft short, sharable content like an infographic. These are really handy tools to use for Internet content, as they tell about your company and highlight the important information you want customers to know. You can also do videos, write shorter articles, and even repurpose your content to make it last longer. You don’t have to be constantly creating new and unique content. Utilize the content you’ve already crafted and you will get a lot of mileage out of it! It’ll also save you significant amounts of time.
The Internet Is Good, Use It
Don’t let the naysayers scare you away from using Internet content, if you do, your business will absolutely suffer. Print is going the way of the Model-T, and no matter how much we lament that fact, it is still a fact. Start coming up with great content strategies and set a portion of your budget aside for content marketing. You can always hire professionals to help get you started on making excellent content. Once you start doing this, you’ll watch your business flourish!
