Jay Acunzo says, “If there’s one mortal sin content marketers commit way too often, it’s obsessing over tools or tactics instead of customers. When we talk marketing, we love to jump right into a discussion about a given social network, a new tactic hitting the blogosphere, or some other content format we “have to” learn. Instead of asking customers how we can help them, we ask other marketers how many words make up an ideal blog post or which marketing automation tool they use. Important? Sure. Good place to start? Nope. It’s understandable that we do this. We’re experiencing... [...]

Brian Clark says, “In 2008, Pat Flynn was happily employed by an architectural firm. And then, like a lot of people in 2008, just like that … out of a job. It was the best thing that ever happened to him. Since that point, Pat has built a business that supports his family through blogging and podcasting. And he’s just getting started. Rather than some “Master of the Universe” type, Pat shares with you that (like most of us in this industry) he was initially scared and winging it. But it wasn’t long until he had the confidence to take the next step, and then the next … all by... [...]

Skip Besthoff says, “At least eight of every 10 pieces of content flatline when it comes to generating web traffic – often the goal of many content marketing campaigns. So, how well do your pieces of content perform? It’s possible to leverage your analytics to measure, improve content performance, and create content that drives better web traffic. Most publishers and marketers only look at general, site-level trending graphs to see how content performs. This single measurement approach is not only misleading, but it will not work if you’re serious about improving content performance.... [...]

Allison Howen says, “AddThis is helping its Pro subscribers get personal, as the content engagement platform has unveiled new audience targeting capabilities that enable brands to deliver more personalized content and offers to site visitor. The new audience targeting tool leverages insight from 1.8 billion unique users across the Web and is designed to improve engagement, increase conversions and boost revenue for website owners. With the tool, site owners are able to personalize a visitors’ experiences based on factors such as the websites they are coming from, the devices they’re... [...]

Demian Farnworth says, “Customers. Complex bunch. They pull out their wallets and purses to trade hard-earned dollars for stuff. Stuff we design, organize, grow, program, or manufacture. Stuff like curved TVs. Endurance events. Spicy vodka. Graphic design textbooks. Massive multiplayer online games. Lilac bulbs. Tax preparation software. Workout regimens. If customers buy the stuff you make, then you got two things right: You built a healthy audience. You built products they love, which, of course, explains their buying behavior”. How to Use an Experience Map to Develop a Winning... [...]

Simon Penson says, “In a world now overflowing with ‘content,’ standing out is critical to breaking through. And while almost all digital marketers are aware of the challenge that presents, the solution chosen simply extenuates the very issue it was designed to fix. Unfortunately, too many people see the answer to standing out and achieving reach as becoming a ‘shout louder’. But that’s an approach that misses so many critical strategic objectives. Maturing markets, as the ‘content market’ now is, require subtlety of approach and refinement. A campaign... [...]

Aaron Agius says, “There’s no doubt that content marketing can boost your brand awareness and improve public sentiment towards your company and its product offerings. But for you to really make an impact on your business, you need to know whether you’re getting a good bang for your marketing buck — and that means you need to figure out how much you’re affecting the business’ bottom line. Tracking the return on investment (ROI) of your content marketing efforts isn’t always an easy process, but there are ways to approximate the dollar value of each content piece... [...]

Jerod Morris says, “Mike, Julie, and Darren have big ideas and want to grow their online businesses. And they have questions. Like you do. Like I do. Mike wants tips on how he can avoid getting distracted by the “‘Yo, try this!’ tsunami” (his words) and make smart decisions about what action he should take next. Julie wants to start building her email list to sell her ebook, but she needs to know how to connect her email account to her website. Darren has a BIG plan for 2015 and a family counting on him to make it work, and he wants to know if his content strategy fits his goals”. Get... [...]

Rosalyn Lemieux says, “What makes content shareable? What makes content great, for that matter? The formula for social media success is quite simple: great content + large fan base + high engagement = conversions. It’s a formula which goes around in circles too, since you can’t normally get a large fan base or high engagement rates without great content. Your audience won’t share content they don’t love. There’s no artificial way to get them to share content. Sharing almost always happens after a user looks at the content in question, regardless of what the content is. However, there... [...]

Adele Halsall says, “With the growing emphasis on blogging, videos, and social media, online content is becoming a high priority for many businesses looking to expand their reach and boost conversions, without investing in expensive advertising. If you’re looking to tap into new audiences, make meaningful connections with potential customers and enhance your brand credibility, then it’s high time you paid more attention to that thing constantly being churned around the net – content. What Is ‘Content’? Content on the web can be anything – from videos, images, infographics, and designs;... [...]