Evergreen Content: What Is It and Why Should You Care?

There was a time when those who wanted the latest news had to wait until 6:00 pm and turn on the TV. Then came cable news networks, which featured top headlines 24 hours a day. Now, if you want to know what’s going on right now, all you have to do is go online.

There’s no doubt that some of the most popular sites online are those that feature the latest news, gossip, technology and such. But if you’re focusing your content exclusively on what’s hot right now, you could be doing yourself a disservice, especially if you are looking for long-term search engine traffic. Including some evergreen content will help you keep the traffic coming in.

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Social Media: Don’t Set It and Forget It

It’s amazing how far social media has come in such a short time. Ten years ago, people who used their computers to communicate with others were often referred to as geeks. Now, the tables have been turned. If you don’t use Facebook, MySpace or Twitter, people begin to wonder which rock you just crawled out from under.

That’s not to say that everybody is using social media. There are still plenty of people who aren’t. But there are enough people who are using it that if you’re not, there’s a good chance that you’re alienating at least some of your customers.

I just finished reading a post over at the Outspoken Media blog about businesses using Twitter. Most of the corporate big dogs are doing it, as well as a rapidly increasing number of small business owners. But as Lisa Barone pointed out in that thought-provoking post, hiring someone to do your tweeting for you and then forgetting about it can easily backfire. Read more…

Recipes for Traffic

Not too long ago, if you needed a recipe, you either consulted a cookbook or called your great aunt Martha. Today, more and more recipe seekers are going online to find out how to make their favorite dishes.

And it’s not just wannabe chefs that hit the Web to search for recipes. It’s everyday cooks who want to try something new. It’s budget-minded individuals who are looking to lower their food bill. It’s health-conscious eaters who can’t find suitable prepared meals. It’s people who want to lose weight but don’t want to follow a diet that involves frozen meals or pills. The list goes on and on.

What does this mean for Internet marketers? It means that there are lots of great recipe niches to fill!

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Potential Content Marketing “Mistakes” – Here Are 3 to Avoid

Following up on last week's Top 3 Content Marketing Plan Tips, let's consider the "mistakes" (well, nothing is really a mistake, but we can always do better) many of us make...maybe you? ;-) 1. Not being consistent. You can just write a few articles or blog posts and be done with it. You also can’t create a 5-day auto responder series and thinks that’s enough. You need to stay in the mind of you prospect and your customer - so they will buy and they’ll buy over and over again. And helpful content is the perfect way to prime them to do that. 2. Not having a traffic plan. A lot of people have an “if you build it, they will come” attitude when it comes to content. They may have been told that great content Read more...

Content Marketing Plan: Top 3 Tips

Just starting or looking to rev up your content marketing plan? Try these 3 tips to get things really rolling. 1. Plan it. There are no right and wrong answers, but once you have your own content marketing plan (which can be modified anytime), make ongoing and detailed plans. Plan topics in advance, so it’s easy for you to quickly whip up your content or for your ghostwriter. Stay on top of it and hire help where you need it (to publish to your website, add to article directories, etc.). 2. Know your audience. Get to know the people who are interested in your content, so you know what they want to learn about, what concerns they have and how you can connect with them on a deeper level. Here are some ideas for getting to know them: a. Read more...

Crafting Bylines That Make Your Readers Click

Creating content for others' websites is a great way to get traffic to your own. But it only works if you generate a healthy amount of interest. Writing an intriguing or helpful article is a good start, but if you don't have a great byline, chances are good that readers won't bother seeing what your website has to offer. A byline is a short bio that is included at the end of your article and links back to your website. It can say just about anything you want it to. You could tell readers about your favorite hobbies, or your cute little Pomeranian, or your views on the environment. But if you want to use your byline to its fullest potential, it must be well thought out. There are certain characteristics that can make a byline stand out. Read more...

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