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46 Expert Tips For Creating Addictive Content [INFOGRAPHIC & EBOOK]

By Sara McGuire, Jan 12, 2016

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!

46 Expert Tips
contents page addictive content venngage

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

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.

Addictive Content Infographic
Embed this infographic by copying and pasting 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 Tweet

2) 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 Tweet

3) 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 Tweet

4) 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 Tweet

5) 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 Tweet

6) 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 Tweet

7) 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 Tweet

8) 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 Tweet

9) 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 Tweet

10) 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 Tweet

11) 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 Tweet

12) 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 Tweet

13) 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 Tweet

14) 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 Tweet

 15) 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 Tweet

 16) 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 Tweet

 17) 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 Tweet

18) 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 Tweet

 19) 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 Tweet

20) 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 Tweet

 21) Shane Barker @shane_barker

Digital Marketing Consultant and SEO Specialist at ShaneBarker.com

“One tactic that has stood the test of time for me is “Link Building Outreach”. By providing the right content to the right authoritative sites, it is great for exposure, a back link and is a win-win for you, the blog and readers.”
 
Providing the right content to the right authoritative sites is great for exposure and a back link @shane_barker Click To Tweet

 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 Tweet

23) 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 Tweet

24) 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 Tweet

 25) 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 Tweet

Repurposing 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 Tweet

 27) 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 Tweet

 Related: 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 Tweet

29) 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 Tweet

 30) 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 Tweet

 31) 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 Tweet

32) 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 Tweet

 33) 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 Tweet

34) 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 Tweet

35) 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 Tweet

36) 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 Tweet

37) 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 Tweet

38) 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 Tweet

 39) 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 Tweet

 40) 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 Tweet

41) Kevan Lee @kevanlee

Content Crafter at Buffer

“My hunch is that when things are actionablewhen people leave with something new to trythere’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 Tweet

 42) 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 Tweet

 43) 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 Tweet

 44) 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 Tweet

 45) 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 Tweet

46) 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!

About Sara McGuire

Sara McGuire is the former Content Marketing Manager at Venngage. She believes that growth by content doesn't require a big budget if you're scrappy. Her writing has been published on Marketing Profs, HubSpot, and Content Marketing Institute. Follow her on Twitter @sara_mcguire