Jeremy Goldman says, “I see it time and time again: Stellar content marketers spend so much time developing great content for their brands that they don’t spend enough time thinking of their own brand. While Instagram, Snapchat, and many others are great platforms, LinkedIn is the single best tool you have at your disposal to build your own brand. (highlight to tweet) I want to shed light on LinkedIn’s top personal brand-building features: 1. Comment on Your LinkedIn Feed Your connections are posting articles, commenting on the activity of others, and starting group discussions—and... [...]

Ann Smarty says, “Being a writer today has its ups and downs. On one hand, we have a very different process involved in becoming well known for our works; and a great deal of the PR efforts that once would have gone to an official publishing house now rests on our shoulders. On the other, we have an infinite number of tools, publishing platforms, and increased global visibility at our fingertips. Our success is entirely within our own hands, and that is an empowering aspect of writing today that only increases as the years pass and the rules change. Another benefit is the ability to collaborate.... [...]

Yoav Vilner says, “If we take a quick glimpse into the crystal ball, we see a future of content marketing less about the impact of words and more about the experiencescreated for the consumer. Traditional content has flooded the Internet and is starting to feel stale. Admit it – how often do you find yourself briefly skimming an article only to move on within seconds to something new? Brands are coming to terms with this reality, fostering tools that engage their audiences in an activity – answering quizzes, watching clips, or exploring scenarios. It’s the perfect way to capture the... [...]

Ben Davis says, “If one of your team is new to content writing, what are the potential pitfalls? I’ve been writing articles for Econsultancy for a few years and although I certainly don’t profess to be an expert, there are a few things I look out for. In fact, I still get caught out, which is why creating a list like this is a good way to encourage vigilance. 1. Beware common grammatical errors Know when to use ‘less than’ and when to use ‘fewer than’. Here’s a guide. Remember that ‘Coca-Cola is launching a campaign’ (a brand is singular). Check... [...]

Carly Stec says, “Who doesn’t love free stuff? If I can find a free tool to do something I’d otherwise have to pay for in my marketing, I’m going to try the free one first. As long as I can achieve the same quality result from the free tool, there’s no need to waste budget. And in my quest to find alternatives to fancy computer programs, I’ve come across a lot of free tools that help take my marketing up a notch. In particular, I’ve adopted a ton of free tools for creating visual content that don’t cost my team a dime. From templates to... [...]

Matt Cooper says, “Name any of the most highly regarded data visualizations offered in the last half decade and there’s no doubt the most stunning examples involved intricate design and elaborate storytelling. Take The New Yorker’s wonderfulInequality and New York’s Subwayinteractive graphic as an example: You can toggle through each subway line and hover over each stop to see the neighborhood’s median household income and compare it to the incomes along the other stops on that line“. How to Craft Visual Content for a Mobile Audience Content Marketing Institute  [...]

Lindsay Kolowich says, “Gearing up to create your next piece of marketing content? If you want it to stand out from the rest of the noise on the internet, you have to be focused on producing something both delightful and engaging. That said, there’s some planning to be done before you jump right in. What’s the purpose of this piece? Where can you fit in credible data and examples? Who’s gonna edit it once you’ve written — and rewritten — your draft? How do you plan to spread the word about it so, you know, people actually read it? You need a strategy. To... [...]

Entrepreneur team says, “In general, two types of successful content exist: Topical content that is relevant now and will lose its influence over time, and evergreen content that is pertinent now and will continue to be in the future. While both are important components of a content strategy, evergreen allows a brand to re-use, reshare and repurpose the same information, saving both time and resources while increasing the amount of traffic the website and business receive. Create evergreen content with: 1. Instructions According to Internet Live Stats, Google processes over 3.5 billion searches... [...]

Rainmaker team says, “Have a sense of humor? Want to try a lighter style of marketing without looking like an idiot? Today’s episode of Hit Publish is for you. Using humor is a great way to build bridges and tear down barriers with your customers. More and more, consumers today want to see the “personal” side of a business and light-hearted content is perfect for this. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a “comedian,” Hit Publish host Amy Harrison has six simple rules to help you test the water (safely) for using humor to win over your customers“. How to Use Humor in... [...]

Brian Clark says, “What’s so magical about the number three? It’s no accident that the number three is pervasive throughout some of our greatest stories, fairy tales, and myths. It’s also no coincidence that some of the most famous quotes from throughout history are structured in three parts, nor is it surprising that the Rule of Three also works wonders in the world of comedy. It all comes down to the way we humans process information. We have become proficient at pattern recognition by necessity, and three is the smallest number of elements required to create a pattern. This combination... [...]