Posts filed under 'Content'
Podcast Number 69 – November 2011
In this podcast Glenn and Tom talk about content for the Web and how often should content be added to blogs and Websites. When is it too much for the user and when is more content needed to drive conversions and traffic.
How often should content be added to a Website or blog?
- It depends on the goals of the site and why is content being added to the site?
- There are pros and cons to the volume and timing of content.
- Content can be added to drive traffic or conversions
How can new content drive more traffic?
- Google is now rewarding new content and punishing stale Websites.
- Find a happy medium from daily posts to monthly updates.
- Think like your target market.
- Seth Godin blog’s too much.
- Steve Marten and Stephen Colbert Twitter too much.
What about back-dated content?
- This is OK to help spread out the dates of your posts.
- Does not work as well if you write many articles or posts.
How does new content drive conversion?
- New content creates new search engine landing pages.
- Fresh content shows the site is relevant.
- Content-rich sites compete better.
- Google loves new content.
Who should write the content and how do we come up with ideas?
- Find a writer or do it yourself?
- Content writers for the Web are available for higher.
- Use topics that happen in your everyday work life.
Here are the action items from the Podcast:
- Schedule and write new content based on your site goals.
- Keep notes of interesting stories and events that happen during the work day or week and turn them into blog posts.
- Review www.CastingWords.com
- Content comes in many varieties including videos, audios, photos with captions and more. Use a variety of content sources.
- Track the results in Google and in your stats.
- Go back and listen to our podcasts on content for the Web for more information.
November 28th, 2011
In this podcast Glenn and Tom talk about strategies to avoid clutter on a Website and the importance of simplicity and ease of use. Here is an outline of their discussion.
How do we avoid a busy Website?
- Understand the most important needs of your Website users.
- Focus on only those items.
- It takes courage and smart marketing strategies to make this work.
- The best Websites implement these strategies.
Here are the Websites reviewed in this podcast:
We end each podcast with an action item plan. What are the key action items for the listener?
- Go back to your business marketing or strategic plan and determine three things you do really well.
- Develop a tagline that works.
- Simplify the design around your brand tagline.
- Fight the urge to add more stuff on your site!
This has been the Intuitive Websites Internet Marketing Podcast. For more information and to see all the available podcasts and much more, visit IntuitiveWebsites.com.
November 24th, 2010
In this podcast Glenn and Tom talk about the right way to get content distributed on the Web. They review how to write content for blogs, corporate sites, eCommerce sites, FaceBook and other types of Websites. Here is an outline of their discussion.
What is important to know about online content?
- Content drives the Internet and is never done.
- Content must be Web friendly.
- Content varies greatly depending on the type of Website and strategy.
What do you mean by types of Websites?
Here are the types of Websites most common on the Internet and each needing different forms of content:
- General company Website driving leads or branding.
- eCommerce Websites, content is product focused.
- Blogs and articles or content posting Websites.
- FaceBook and other social networking sites.
- Develop content and strategy for each site type.
- Track results for each.
How does content motivate Web users to action?
- Motivations are different on each Website.
- Content drive searches and word of mouth.
- Users look for content, including photos with captions.
- Website call to action is almost always content focused.
- Know how your target market uses each Website.
Key action items for the listener:
- Develop a strategy and content wish list for each Website.
- Hire a writer to post content.
- Track the results in your stats as users vote on the content they like best.
- Modify and continue to add content to drive results.
- Realize that your Web strategy is constantly in need of fresh content.
- Register your brand on all social networking sites.
- Your Web visitors and search engines will appreciate the effort.
This has been the Intuitive Websites Internet Marketing Podcast. For more information and to see all the available podcasts and much more, visit IntuitiveWebsites.com.
August 19th, 2010
In this podcast Glenn and Tom talk about Google News and online PR as a
method for driving traffic to your Website. One of our clients requested
this topic, Brett from HardtoFindItems.com.
What is Google News?
- The future of news and information.
- Online news portal, like a newspaper on the Web backed by the power of
Google.
- It can be customized for each user.
- Extremely current and updates can be posted immediately see Google
latest news.
- All stories are included and can be very niche.
- Google fast flip lets the user see all their favorite news sites in
one place.
- Another way to get your pages indexed by Google.
How can companies and Websites take advantage of Google News PR online?
- First develop a content distribution strategy.
- Know the difference between information and news.
- Your PR must be relevant news.
- Find the PR sites to submit your custom news articles.
- Press releases should be very relevant and key word rich.
- Include the right contact info in each release.
- Have a strategy for conversion from PR traffic.
- Your news can be fed anywhere online where it is relevant.
- It supplements your current content strategies.
Here is a List of Free PR Websites and their Alexia rank:
- http://mashable.com/2007/10/20/press-releases/
- Free-Press-Release.com (2,425)
- 24-7pressrelease.com (Alexa Ranks: 12,951)
- clickpress.com (16,379)
- ecommwire.com (29,418)
- free-press-release-center.info (23,322)
- i-newswire.com (12,808)
- newswiretoday.com (22,199)
- pr9.net.com (15,806)
- prbuzz.com (118,660)
- prcompass.com (85,418)
- prurgent.com (17,766)
- pressabout.com (20,259)
- pressmethod.com (19,814)
- prleap.com (23,091)
- prlog.org (1,243)
- theopenpress.com (26,034)
Here are two very good paid PR Websites:
Who is going to do all this work?
Brafton.com, HelpaReporter.com, IntuitiveWebsites.com and related sites
can write PR articles for you.
We end each podcast with an action item plan. What are the key action
items for the listener?
- Develop a content strategy for news and PR about your Website.
- Review the major PR sites we have discussed and find the best one for
you.
- Assign writing to an internal or external team member.
- Track results and monitor search engine rankings and traffic.
- Track conversions back to the press releases.
This has been the Intuitive Websites Internet Marketing Podcast. For more information and to see all the available podcasts and much more, visit IntuitiveWebsites.com.
March 22nd, 2010
December 2009
What is a generic Website?
- The Website’s only tagline is “Welcome to our Website”
- The Website does not communicate well online
- It does not add value or special insights
- There is nothing unique offered by the site
- The site is an online brochure and NOT dynamic
- It has a high bounce rate
What are few pointers on making the site unique and engaging?
- What works offline should be translated online
- High-level branding and management staff should be involved in the Website messaging and marketing
- A clear direct tagline and /or slogan is needed on every Website
- A well-defined understanding of the target market is critical
- The Website content must speak in the language of target market
Many Websites are loaded with brochure copy or marketing-speak copy, does that lead to a generic site? Brochure copy is the best example of a generic Website. Learn how to write for your target market and the Web in general. Don’t talk about your business too much and use direct and clear communication on all site pages.
How can graphics, images and photos keep a site from being generic?
- Avoid clip art with no messaging
- Use real people with captions in photos and graphics
- Focus on real product photos with as much detail as possible
- Use optional video, slides Flash and other media to tell the story
What are the key action items for the listener?
What makes your business unique and special? Add those benefits to your Website
- Evaluate your Website from the target market’s point of view
- Use clear direct taglines and messaging
- Use dynamic, but unique photography and media with captions and messaging
- Offer product views and descriptions not offered anywhere else on the Web
- Make it very easy to contact your company
- Get feedback through user testing
This has been the Intuitive Websites Internet Marketing Podcast for more information and to see all the available podcasts and much more, visit IntuitiveWebsites.com.
December 14th, 2009
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