If you’re like me, last week was a complete blur, so you probably didn’t have time to read any good blogs on content marketing. Reading blogs by your peers sounds like a reasonable task for marketers, but it’s actually more like mission impossible for most marketers who are busy implementing ideas and developing strategies to help ourselves and our clients succeed. *Image Credit: universal-media-consultants.com
Luckily, you don’t have to wade through last week’s top marketing stories looking for valuable content, because I’ve already done it for you. This post features the top content
marketing stories from last week. They’re not the standard “how-to” quick guides, so don’t worry about wasting your time. The stories below can not only add value to your work, they offer a fresh take on types of marketing activities that we tackle everyday.
A Warts-and-All Guide to Kickstarter: What Works and What Doesn’t (Plus Where We Royally Screwed Up)
By Sean Platt and Johny B. Truant
When I first began reading this article, I wasn’t sure it held any true ‘content marketing’ value. Then I saw the connection. It was crystal clear and if you’ve witnessed the all too common crash and burn effect of most Kickstarters, you'll soon see the connection. Crowd sourcing, like any campaign, requires planning and a group of supporters to make a real impact. The same goes for content, which is meaningless without a thorough strategy behind it.
Sean & Johnny cover helpful lessons that make a Kickstarter project successful, but their insight translates easily to making any content type successful. Relying on the old way of thinking, “if you build it they will come,” seals your campaigns fate. By building up the buzz, using your social capital wisely, and adding value, your content actually has a chance of not only being consumed by the target audience, but actually converting people to take the desired action.
How to Avoid Getting Slaughtered by Penguin 3.0
By Neil Patel
Penguin updates are always a popular topic in the realm of inbound marketing. Why would Internet marketers spend so much time feeding amazing content to their websites just to have it be slaughtered? Neil understands your fears and wrote this detailed blog to help soothe them.
He reviews the previous Penguin updates, so you understand how we’ve gotten to Penguin 3.0, which is apparently the mother of all Penguins. Neil also gives us a few tips on how to avoid getting slaughtered. Heed his warnings, implement his suggestions, and most importantly, stay on the lookout for news from Google to find out what exactly will be impacted. Think you were impacted by previous Penguin updates? You’ll find some resources in this blog that help you figure out if you were already touched by Penguin.
20 Rules for Writing So Crystal Clear Even Your Dumbest Relative Will Understand
By Glen Long
Writing about complex topics can quickly become a confusing read if the author lacks structure. That’s why these 20 rules for writing are so handy. Glen boiled it down to 20 points and I’m sure he had a hard time deciding which would make the cut. His title is what first drew me to this post, because of its humor. I skip over 'writing' blogs a lot, because most approach the ‘rules of writing’ from a boring angle instead of following Glen’s lead. As a writer, I also appreciate his brevity and use of his own rules throughout the post.
Don’t be intimidated by the number ’20,’ because you’ll miss out on these great tips.
The 7 Deadly Sins of Content Marketing
By Yael Grauer
Just as the title suggests, this post is all about the most sinful behavior in content marketing: Greed, Gluttony, Envy, Pride, Lust, Sloth, and Wrath. We’ve all been guilty of one (or more) at some time or other. On the road to content greatness, we’ll all be tempted to commit one of these deadly sins. Yael encourages us to resist the temptation and follow the light to a higher plane of enlightenment. If you doubt whether you’re guilty as sin, you might want to glance over this article. I’m convinced that some of us are completely oblivious to our own behavior which directly impacts the effectiveness of our own content. Committing one or more of these deadly sins puts your content on the fast track to marketer’s hell. If you want avoid the fiery pit, read this post, repent and clean up your act.
5 Reliable Ways to Use Content as a Referral Tool
By John Jantsch
With a new Penguin update on the horizon, you need to start thinking of alternatives to guest blogging sites because they’re supposedly on the chopping block.
That doesn’t necessarily mean give up on guest posts, it just means find a more credible way to make those connections and generate traffic. John gives 5 reliable ways to use content as a referral tool. All of which are credible methods that won’t put you in the line of Penguin fire. Guest blogging is a legitimate way to build strategic relationships that are mutually beneficial. Can you think of any non-competitive and complimentary businesses you could potentially partner with? Luckily, that’s not the only way to use content as a referral tool. John gives a couple of more ways to make your content work for you. Read his post and see what works for your strategy.
