Content is king on the Internet, especially as long as Google is calling the shots. Thanks to the recent introduction of their "Google Penguin" algorithm updates, it's become significantly harder for SEO outfits to use questionable methods - like cloaking, spamming, or link-buying - to boost their brand.

A lot of SEO firms and content providers had gotten into the habit of using these tricks to get short-term marketing boosts without putting in the time and energy required to create good content. Those times, however, seem to be nearly at an end.

Basically, if you are looking to buy content for your website, you must buy website content that is entertaining, informative, and organically attracts visitors.

The Case for Organic Growth

It's certainly understandable why some people would want to take a shortcut in Internet marketing. Everyone wants to get ahead, and it's tempting to take the proverbial path that's quicker, easier, and more seductive. But it's just not a good way to build real, sustainable growth in your business.

People who, for example, fill their website with content created through autospinning do succeed in quickly setting up a huge website that's going to get a fair amount of hits initially. The thing is, if all of the content is repetitive and hard to read, no one's going to hang around your site. You'll see a big jump in page hits, yes, but you'll get a nearly equal jump in bounces as well.

And, most importantly, you won't see those hits translate into sales, which is the only real way to know that your website is working for you.

The only way to buy content for your website that's guaranteed to attract visitors who hang around long enough to buy something is provide them with content they honestly want to experience.

Finding Compelling Content

When considering what to put on your website for content marketing purposes, the most important thing is to think about what your visitors might want to see. Generally, this means not just providing information about your own products, but also information about your industry and materials that are relevant to your customers directly.

Of course, to do this, you need to know who your customers are and what they want. Like in any marketing venture, you need customer profiles for the various demographic groups you target. The profiles track statistics such as their average age, income level, education, and interests. Once you know who they are, you'll start to have a good idea what they want to see.

Once you've done that, you can start looking for content to buy for your website that appeals to them directly. For example, you might:

• Create Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about issues people commonly have about your industry.

• Discuss important news or political matters relevant to your business.

• Create how-to guides in using products like yours.

• Have a series of Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced lessons on applied strategies for your product or industry.

• Set up forums for user discussion.

Also, don't forget that content comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. When you buy content for your website, you should look for a variety: text, pictures, video, slideshows, and more.

Be a Better Distraction

No matter your industry or what types of content you're looking to buy, the most important thing to keep in mind is audience engagement. It's a big wide Internet out there full of things that distract potential customers and keep them from finding out about you. To fight those distractions, basically, you need to be a better distraction.

That means knowing your audience, knowing what they want, and buying content that matches their interests. Once you fill your site with quality content that people want to see, your page views will grow steadily and - most importantly - so will your sales.

When you buy content for your website, what types or mediums do you prefer?