Content Marketing

Do you write your own Web site and blog content? Your own articles? If you are paying to have your content written, consider the source.

There’s an old saying that still holds true – you get what you pay for. If you purchase from freelance writing boards and only offer low-ball pay, the odds are good that you may end up with regurgitated content that was previously written for someone else, or student work. Now, that may not matter to you when you get the great idea to stick a Web site up as a feeder and fill it up with inexpensive copy to pull the reader into another site, but a quality job of feeder site building can be done without sacrificing reputation.

Not that you can’t find good writers on a freelance job board, of course you can. But some writers who are willing to work for less may not believe your project is worth their best effort. If you do hire off of a job board, offer a decent rate of pay for the job to be done. This benefits everyone and gets you closer to the writer who knows what good content is worth and is willing to do a great job if paid fairly.

“Fairly” isn’t the lowest price. Fairly understands that a writer has to know style, grammar, punctuation, and often conduct research. Your writer may need to be capable of writing in your voice. You may need the material to be humorous, edgy, maternal or technical. All of these characteristics make up more than most realize when it comes to a writer’s competence. Some writers just can’t deliver creative, original, style-appropriate copy. The ones that can’t, often don’t understand what good writing is worth. Some offer their services on the cheap because after all, at least it’s money … and there probably won’t be much effort required for such a low-paying job. So do you want 20 inexpensive, somewhat usable, lower quality posts? Or do you want four, great, keyword-rich, insightful and professional sounding posts at a higher rate per post? It’s all in how you look at it.

If you don’t want to take chances, get your writing done by people who understand the writing business. Hire writers who have their work reviewed, and are knowledgeable about how to convey your perspective in the correct style to the right people in the right arena. At Zero To Sixty Marketing, that would be Shari Voigt and Susan Hamilton. Call us today for more information about how we can help you with all your copywriting needs, and be sure you’re getting the best copy for your money.

We’ve been talking quite a bit about content marketing between Express Marketing Memo and our blog here at Zero To Sixty Marketing. By now you’ve probably got a good idea about what content is, basically:

• the milk in the jug
• the words in the paragraph
• the  media that gets your expertise from your company to the   public who will be buying your service or goods.

Content marketing is not sales and it’s not advertisement. It is, however, the most effective way to promote yourself online. Certain names have always been associated with certain products or services, and like branding, content marketing promotes you over time through reputation.

Content Marketing Options

What vehicles you decide to use are completely up to you, however, some are more effective than others and even that depends on your market, and how often you can or should communicate with them. We recommend:

• articles submitted to article directories
• blog posts
• social media profiles and updates
• video
• blog replies/comments to other authors
• web copy
• newsletters

Content Marketing Packages

Every circumstance is unique. One company may need all of these services on a regular basis, another may only need the holes filled in that they cannot get to or have no personal interest in doing themselves. One company may need articles submitted for them, another may only need their blog updated. Some businesses can easily find the time to provide and distribute their own content.

When figuring out what your company’s particular needs are, keep in mind:

• How much time do you have to devote?
• What is your writing and computer skill level?
• Is your target market local?
• What is your marketing budget?

Many times answering these questions will help you decide how to proceed. No matter what you decide, you’re not alone. We hope the information we provide on this blog will have you up and running successfully in no time. What solutions work best for your company?

Photo Credit: kellypuffs on flickr

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So many new online marketers and small businesses new to the online aspect of their business ask us, “Just what is content marketing?” As my mentor and co-worker, Shari Voigt,  pointed out so well in her post to Express Marketing Memo, it’s the many ways you present yourself interactively online. In order for you to be useful, you need to offer a constant stream of information, and quite frankly, it’s hard for most businesses to  offer content effectively and still do the day-to-day activities involved in running a business. Many companies choose to outsource that function, and in an effort to meet that need, we offer content marketing packages.

Shari and I were talking about the difficulties beginners face when it comes to content marketing. As we mulled it over, we started talking about what doesn’t work. Basically, there are businesses we would never respond to because of their annoyance factor or the poor presentation. I’m sure you wouldn’t want that to be you. Let’s hit on those issues so you’re better prepared when you hit the online world.

Blogging:

Let’s keep it relevant. Your title should reflect the material being covered in the blog. Links should be helpful and serve to support statements made by you.

Newsletters:

Is your newsletter just a sales page invitation for an expensive program that I have to purchase to know whatever the heck you’re talking about in the first place? An opening bait title question should be answered without having to read an entire, meaningless newsletter that when finished, still has not answered the question. Hint: If your title asks a question, answer it and please do it quickly.

Social Marketing:

This is an important component to your content marketing strategy. Its effective, fun, and time-consuming. When I’m interacting with other businesses and potential clients, getting constant machine-gun style rapid fire updates on your next teleseminar, countdown to it, or repetitive quotes that are obviously automated, I don’t see who on earth would respond to that. Those type of updates don’t make me say to myself, “OOH! OOH! I’m dying to talk to YOU, obviously you have what I’m looking for!”

Also, if you catch yourself talking about food constantly, and you’re not a chef selling food or marketing your restaurant, think about how that looks to everyone in the free world.

ALLRIGHTEE then. Enough about that from me, any of you agree with me? Love to hear it, comment below!

Photo Credit: Chris Friese on Flickr

Related Posts: What Is Content Marketing?