It’s a shiny, brand new year for you and your business. What are your resolutions to supercharge your content marketing strategy?
Web 2.0 is a fast-paced and constantly changing landscape. It’s important to keep an ear to the ground for new content trends, but it can be difficult to know what approaches will stick and what approaches will cause your content to go unnoticed. It’s a sad fact that the 50% of content created goes unread. With this being the case, businesses can’t afford to waste time and resources on content that doesn’t achieve its marketing goals.
In order for your content to stand out from all the background noise, it needs to be addictive. Addictive content pulls readers in over and over again and can generate plenty of backlinks, shares and organic traffic. Addictive content offers readers real value through actionable tips and advice and through entertainment and genuine human connection.
But how do you create addictive content or repurpose and sell an ebook online? You could pay for professional SEO services. Or turn to Google–Google searches will yield thousands of often contradictory results, making it difficult for marketers to know which information will be beneficial to them and which information they should pass on. That’s why the Venngage team made it our goal for the new year to make it easier for businesses to extract the right information from the sea of content.
We asked 140 highly successful content marketing and SEO experts the questions, “What makes for good content?” and “What is your #1 SEO tactic?” We then compiled the exclusive answers of 46 of those experts into one beautiful ebook and infographic.
These exclusive answers offered by each expert will act as the springboard that businesses need for developing a content marketing plan that works. Some of their approaches may differ but you will quickly notice some overarching trends for what works. We’ve pulled and gone over these trends in more depth in the “Takeaway Tips” section at the end of the ebook.
These tips are tried and true. They’re a compass for any business looking for direction.
This comprehensive ebook is completely FREE and contains the in depth and exclusive statements of these 46 content marketing and SEO experts. Just download it using the button below. No email required!
To accompany the ebook, we also created this infographic and blog post which highlights some of their quick and actionable tips for easy reference. After all, infographics are what we do best! You can embed the infographic on your site using the code below.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3845" src="https://venngage.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/EXPERT-SERIES-INFOGRAPHIC-resize-2.png" alt="Addictive Content Infographic" width="1200" height="13533" /></a><p style="text-align: center; font-size: 14px; padding-top: 4px;"><a href="https://venngage.com">Infographic made with Venngage</a></p>
1) Neil Patel @neilpatel
Founder of NeilPatel.com
“Research what all of your competitors are creating and one up them. Make your content more detailed, more actionable, and wrap it up with a pretty design.”
Research what all of your competitors are creating and one up them. @neilpatel Click To Tweet2) Jeff Bullas @jeffbullas
CEO of JeffBullas.com
“Our top strategy at jeffbullas.com is to create 1,000+ word blog posts that add value to our readers and to become such a great resource that we get inbound links from other websites and blogs.”
Create 1,000+ word blog posts that add value to your readers and become a great resource @jeffbullas Click To Tweet3) Lee Odden @leeodden
CEO of TopRank
“Create highly relevant, useful, visual, informative and entertaining (info-taining) content that’s easily shareable and answers the kinds of questions people have relevant to your company, products or services.”
Create highly relevant, useful, visual, informative and entertaining (info-taining) content @leeodden Click To Tweet4) Guy Kawasaki @GuyKawasaki
Author and Speaker at GuyKawasaki.com
“‘Post good shit and let Google find it.’ That’s my entire approach!”
Post good shit and let Google find it. @GuyKawasaki Click To Tweet5) Chester Branch @storynotes
Transmedia Architect at MediaShift
“The key to creating addictive content is through a compelling story.”
The key to addictive content is a compelling story. @storynotes Click To Tweet6) Michael Keshen @MichaelKeshen
Content Marketer at Hover
“Don’t create content just for the sake of content. It’s better to write one amazing blog post a week than ten that no one will care about.”
Write 1 amazing blog post a week rather than 10 no one will read. @MichaelKeshen Click To Tweet7) Susan Payton @eggmarketing
President of Egg Marketing PR
“The secret to creating content people actually want to read and share is to make it really valuable and irresistible. What problems can you solve for your audience?”
Make your content really valuable and irresistible @eggmarketing Click To Tweet8) Eugene Woo @wooyi
Chief Data Scientist and Co-Founder of Venngage and Vizualize.me
“I always ask myself, will this content be relevant in 1 year? How about in 10 years? This is the test of longevity and relevance.”
Will this content be relevant in 10 years? This is the test of longevity. @wooyi Click To Tweet9) Andrew Davis @TPLDrew
Author of Brandscaping
“The new SEO (Social Engine Optimization) is my priority. Good content is content that provides value to your audience.”
The new SEO (Social Engine Optimization) is my priority. @TPLDrew Click To Tweet10) Erika Heald @SFerika
Vice President and Head of Content at Highwire PR
“Put together an editorial calendar, a quarter at a time, that provides a variety of content types that will keep you top-of-mind as a useful resource for your audience.”
An editorial calendar will help keep you top-of-mind as a useful resource @SFErika Click To Tweet11) Barry Feldman @FeldmanCreative
Founder of FeldmanCreative
“My formula’s a two-parter. One, make content that solves a real problem you know potential customers grapple with. And two, make the experience of consuming that content fun.”
Make the experience of consuming practical content fun @FeldmanCreative Click To Tweet12) Arnie Kuenn @ArnieK
CEO of Vertical Measures
“We are counting on organic traffic. So create content people are searching for, optimize it, keep creating it and be patient.”
Create content people are searching for, optimize it, keep creating it and be patient @Arniek Click To Tweet13) Neal Schaffer @NealSchaffer
Social Media Keynote Speaker at Maximize Your Social
“My top strategy for creating good content is to focus on the customer and what content they need to be educated or inspired about before they even know it.”
Focus on the customer and what content they need to be inspired about @nealschaffer Click To Tweet14) Chris Kubbernus @ChrisKubbernus
Marketing Leader and Entrepreneur at ChrisKubbernus.com
“Many customers in many industries don’t spend time sharing content. Flip it around and start creating content for those that do share and you have an opportunity to get it out there through those influencers.”
Create content for those that do share and you have an opportunity to get it out there @ChrisKubbernus Click To Tweet15) James Reynolds @FollowJames
CEO of SEO Sherpa
“Use website’s like Alltop or Buzzsumo to find influencers in your niche.”
Use website's like Alltop or Buzzsumo to find influencers in your niche. @FollowJames Click To Tweet16) Ted Rubin @TedRubin
Social Marketing Strategist and Keynote Speaker at TedRubin.com
“I like to say the best content is conversation, and empowering that to happen requires being in touch with results, listening, and allowing your team to adjust accordingly.”
The best content is conversation @TedRubin Click To Tweet17) Steve Wiideman @seosteve
SEO Expert at SEOSteve.com
“Start by using question-based keywords, bundled into groups by similar user intent, and prioritized by search volume.”
Use question-based keywords bundled by user intent and prioritized by search volume @seosteve Click To Tweet18) Jen Van Iderstyne @Vanetcetera
Senior Strategist at Overit
“The quality of presentation matters. If you’re going to do text content make sure it’s not just a block of text, but make it scannable and attractive.”
The quality of presentation matters. @Vanetcetera Click To Tweet19) Larry Kim @larrykim
Founder of WordStream
“I’ve found that paid social media advertizing on Facebook and Twitter is more scalable and easier than doing link outreach by email or leveraging expensive PR firms.”
Paid social media advertizing is more scalable and easier than link outreach @larrykim Click To Tweet20) Danny Dover @DannyDover
SEO Consultant at Intriguing Ideas
“Diversify your efforts outside of traditional SEO. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in particular are already massively disrupting traditional SEO.”
Diversify your efforts outside of traditional SEO @DannyDover Click To Tweet21) Shane Barker @shane_barker
Digital Marketing Consultant and SEO Specialist at ShaneBarker.com
22) Eric Enge @stonetemple
CEO of Stone Temple Consulting Corporation
“By getting your content featured on the top sites covering your space, you are sending clear signals to users (and Google) that you are one of the top authorities in your space.”
Get featured on top sites and signal users that you are a top authority @stonetemple Click To Tweet23) Siddarth Bharath @siddharth87
VP of Growth at Thinkific
“Whenever possible, present your readers with data, case studies, real examples, and step-by-step instructions to achieve something so that when they finish reading, they have an action plan.”
Whenever possible, present your readers with data, case studies and real examples @siddharth87 Click To Tweet24) Brenda Stoltz @BSStoltz
Founder of Ariad Partners
“Map the questions a prospect would have at each stage of the buying process. Give them the content that maps to the stage they are at.”
Give prospects content that maps to the stage they are at in the buying process. @BSStoltz Click To Tweet25) Oli Gardner @oligardner
Co-Founder of Unbounce
“Reuse, reuse, reuse – turn content into an ebook, infographic, webinar, guest blog post on sites with similar followers, Medium, Slideshare, podcast, speaking topic.”
Reuse, reuse, reuse - turn content into an ebook, infographic, webinar, etc. @oligardner Click To TweetRepurposing your content into an ebook? These inspiring ebook examples might come in handy.
26) Brad Hess @fresholdidea
Senior Digital Marketing Manager at Ceros
“Be unique. There is nothing worse than regurgitated listicles and how to articles.”
There is nothing worse than regurgitated listicles and how to articles @fresholdidea Click To Tweet27) Ian Cleary @IanCleary
Founder of RazorSocial
“People get more engaged with video, imagery and interactive content than text so you need to have a mix.”
Have a mix of video, imagery and interactive content @IanCleary Click To TweetRelated: Interactive Ebooks 101: What They Are and How to Make Them
28) Cassandra Jowett @cassandrajowett
Content Marketing Manager at Influitive
“The best way to create engaging content is to get your customers involved in the content creation process.”
Get your customers involved in the content creation process @cassandrajowett Click To Tweet29) Ryan Hoover @rrhoover
Founder of ProductHunt
“Be authentic. Say what others aren’t saying. Add value to the conversation.”
Be authentic. Say what others aren't saying. @rrhoover Click To Tweet30) Meryl K. Evans @merylkevans
Content Maven at Meryl.net
“A top strategy for creating valuable content is to tell stories. They’re more memorable and let your target audience get to know one of the company’s most important assets: its people.”
Tell stories. They're more memorable... @merylkevans Click To Tweet31) Alina Bradford @alinabradford
Contributing Writer at CNET and Tech Writer for MTV
“Make sure your content is something people are actually searching for. Type a couple keywords into the Google search bar to see what auto-populates.”
Make sure your content is something people are actually searching for. @alinabradford Click To Tweet32) Scott Stratten @unmarketing
Unmarketer at Unmarketing
“We tell stories and we share emotions. We relate to things. Creating content is sometimes about finding the stories that tell customer experiences, and also employee stories.”
Creating content is about finding the stories that tell customer experiences @unmarketing Click To Tweet33) Michael Brenner @BrennerMichael
CEO of Marketing Insider Group and Head of Strategy at NewsCred
“Identify and answer your customers’ top questions and address their biggest challenges. If you provide the best answer consistently, then you will rank for the search terms your customers are using.”
Identify your customers' top questions and address their biggest challenges @BrennerMichael Click To Tweet34) Lauren Moon @elmoonio
Content Manager at Trello
“Creating good content is about educating your users on subjects they actually care about, rather than always trying to sell them something.”
Educate your users on subjects they actually care about @elmoonio Click To Tweet35) Christine White @christinew603
Co-Marketing Manager at HubSpot
“Repurpose your content because what may start out as an ‘ok’ ebook may end up doing better for lead-gen as a SlideShare, blog post, or webinar.”
Repurpose your content @christinew603 @hubspot Click To Tweet36) Leo Widrich @LeoWid
Co-Founder/COO of Buffer
“Every single piece of content is the only one that matters. We give it all of our attention.”
Every single piece of content is the only one that matters @LeoWid Click To Tweet37) Evan LePage @EvanLePage
Content Marketer at Hootsuite
“Perform your own searches, read the top posts and identify the holes in their content. You’d be surprised how much great content can be created simply by seeing where the top-ranking posts are falling short.”
Read the top posts and identify the holes in their content @EvanLePage @Hootsuite Click To Tweet38) Nadya Khoja @NadyaKhoja
Director of Marketing at Venngage and Founder of thisisnadya.com
“Most people look for content that offers Practical value, is Entertaining, is Awe-inspiring, and is Credible. P.E.A.C. content is good content that people actually want to read.”
P.E.A.C. content is good content that people actually want to read @nadyakhoja Click To Tweet39) Pratik Dholakiya @DholakiyaPratik
Founder of The 20 Media
“Even if I focus on the topics that are not fresh, I share some tips/ideas/strategies which are very new and in general would help users to think from a different perspective.”
If I focus on the topics that are not fresh, I share some ideas which new @DholakiyaPratik Click To Tweet40) Melissa Lafsky Wall @Lafsky
Co-Founder and President of Brick Wall Media
“At Brick Wall, we customize our definition of “good content” for every client, for the simple reason that “good content” is a different thing for every market, product, and audience. Good content for one of our clients isn’t good for another.”
Good content is a different thing for every market, product, and audience @Lafsky Click To Tweet41) Kevan Lee @kevanlee
Content Crafter at Buffer
“My hunch is that when things are actionable–when people leave with something new to try–there’s likely a lot of positive emotion that comes with that, which will end up leading to shares, traffic, promotion, etc.”
When things are actionable there's likely a lot of positive emotion that comes with that @kevanlee Click To Tweet42) Danny Ashton @dannyashton
CEO of NeoMam Studios
“One approach we take in our process is to test all our infographics on Imgur before we ever publish them on our clients site. We get valuable feedback from a large audience that we can then use to improve our content and design.”
We get valuable feedback from a large audience to improve our content and design @neomam @dannyashton Click To Tweet43) Hana Abaza @HanaAbaza
VP of Marketing at Uberflip
“Bottom line: relevance. Great content comes down to truly understanding your audience and creating content that they care about.”
Great content comes down to truly understanding your audience @HanaAbaza Click To Tweet44) Sara McGuire @sara_mcguire
Creative Content Specialist at Venngage
“Back up your points with concrete examples in the form of images, links to articles, and case studies. This classic writing rule rings true: show, don’t tell.”
This classic writing rule rings true: show, don’t tell. @sara_mcguire Click To Tweet45) Ann Smarty @seosmarty
Founder of MyBlogU.com
“My definition of high-quality content is basically the content that you, the creator, the publisher or the content marketer, find good enough to share on your own Facebook wall.”
High-quality content is content good enough to share on your own Facebook wall @seosmarty Click To Tweet46) Adam Connell @adamjayc
Founder of BloggingWizard
“The truth is that the web is full of good content, so your content needs to be better. It needs to be more detailed, more usable, more engaging and readability needs to be a high priority.”
We hope that these expert tips will point you in the direction of addictive content marketing success. Let’s rock 2016!
What are some of your content marketing and SEO tips? Let us know in the comments!