Content marketing has hit its golden years. According to the 2017 B2B Content Marketing report: Nine out of 10 (89%) B2B businesses have adopted content marketing as a key marketing strategy. More than half (63%) are strongly committed to content marketing. Two-thirds (68%) feel that they have realistic expectations about what content marketing can achieve. Seven […]
20 404 Pages You Can Write Home About (& 3 You Shouldn’t)
It happens. A link breaks on an old blog post, and the webmaster is too busy to notice. Or a URL gets typed wrong. Trouble is, people clicking on those links end up… on your 404 page. What’s a 404 page? It’s that page you sometimes land on that tells you the page you were […]
A Message for Content Creators: Release Your Inner Artist
Have I mentioned before how much I love helping creative professionals find their “thing”? Even if you don’t consider yourself a true creative, but “just” a content creator or Web writer, you can take your writing to the next level by thinking like an artist. So today I want to share two lessons I typically […]
The Missing Link for Content Marketers: More Input
Ever feel like the well has run dry… that you’re completely tapped out of good content ideas… that finding a drop of moisture in dry dirt would be easier than coming up with even one more blog post idea? Usually that happens to me when I’m working too hard. I fill my schedule from dawn […]
Fearless Content Marketing
Have you noticed? Every now and then, a particular idea takes hold and every content writer in your industry writes about that one topic. Sure, some posts are interesting. Some add to the conversation or make a unique point. But most just rehash everything that’s been said before. It’s as if there are conversational trends, […]
Follow the Trends, not the Gurus
Building a profitable business — especially in a sluggish economy — can be a challenge. It’s even harder when you factor in new technology, industry changes, and changes in marketing and communication. So what’s the smartest route? Do you rely on old-style business and marketing wisdom? Do you do what the gurus say? Or can […]
Direct Response Copywriting: 13 Formats for Winning Campaigns
Your research is done. Your strategy is set. It’s time to start writing copy. How do you begin? Before letting the words flow, you need to decide on the strategic approach that will best express your message and connect with readers. To help, I’ve compiled 13 direct response formats that are proven to provide a […]
Why Some Promotions Sell and Others Fail
“Perception is reality.” That’s how my professor started every marketing class, repeating the words as a mantra until they became a permanent part of our thinking. Even so, when you’re on the job and deadlines loom, it’s easy to forget. We get so caught up in features and benefits, headlines and leads, offers and guarantees, […]
The Simple Way to Find Your USP
One of the most challenging assignments for any marketer is the elusive (and intimidating) unique selling proposition (USP). “Own a piece of the market,” instructs your marketing manual. Okay, but what does that even mean? Today, I’d like to share some simple ways to identify your USP so you can own your own unique share […]
Beg, Borrow and Steal… with Integrity
Is there ever such a thing as pure, unadulterated creativity? Probably not. Which is why even great writers like Shakespeare borrow ideas and plots. Hey, if Shakespeare wasn’t above a little non-plagiaristic stealing, who am I to argue? The truth is, when you need to come up with a lot of great ideas fast, there’s […]
