Some content links and thoughts for 2014

Content is coming back again, thankfully. When social media came out first we fiddled with the mechanics of it. Then as always, there was a huge advantage to being early adopters of it but now as it settles down and reaches saturation, the idea of good content (even in a status update) is coming back into play. The same thing happened with Google Ads. So easy when it first began but as more used it you had to be creative, cunning and change-receptive.

I wrote last year about the GIF economy and writing for timelines. Hopefully we’ll see more leaning on the idea of genuine content this year.

The New York Times rightly pats themselves on the back for their work in interactive storytelling in 2013.

Some fantastic tips from Upworthy on getting your content noticed. Write 25 headlines for a single article and see what ones work is but one of many tips.

And on that, Reddit data shows that timing and headlines mean so much to getting pushed up on Reddit with many links being previously added but getting to attention.

Frank Luntz rules on effective language:

1. Simplicity: Use Small Words
2. Brevity: Use Short Sentences
3. Credibility is As Important As Philosophy
4. Consistency Matters
5. Novelty: Offer Something New
6. Sound and Texture Matter
7. Speak Aspirationally
8. Visualize
9. Ask a Question
10. Provide Context and Explain Relevance

SEO still works and here is a fantastic infograph on some of the factors Google takes seriously when looking at your content. A lot of cross-over but here too are some SEO guidelines.

And of course, paying for traffic makes financial sense if done right. Handy guide to Google Adwords.

And as a counter to the SEO idea, Johnston press talks about using social to push their content more these days. They talk about going back to the older days when you didn’t write headlines for SEO.

This guide, on how to use Twitter well, also by the New York Times will come in really handy for you too.

Karl’s stats from Broadsheet show that Facebook and Twitter are a big pusher for their content so that might be an inkling as to where your traffic sources come from.

BUT, lots has changed with Facebook of late and it’s harder and harder for your fanbase to actually see your content due to Facebook Edgerank so be very very aware of the possible dwindling returns with Facebook. It also makes me wonder whether Edgerank is the new SEO and you will need experts to basically manipulate your Edgerank in order for you to be seen inside in Facebook without paying each time. And in a way this is full-circle in Internet Marketing. Paid advertising and SEO, paid updates or organic updates…

We also have this idea of tiny information. Apps like Circa and Potluck give you a small amount of news in short articles instead of bombarding you with content all day.

Via Paul Watson, Love this idea with the Yahoo sports app that allows you to create your own GIF from their footage. Yes!

So a question too, when does Conversion Optimisation techniques come to Facebook? It’s not all funny pics of otters looking like some English bloke.

4 Responses to “Some content links and thoughts for 2014”

  1. David Quaid says:

    Wow Damien, we are going full circle. I like your big picture presentation here. I think I’ve been consistent in trying to challenge binary views of Digital Marketing.

    Digital Marketers need to bring balance to help SME’s make head or tail of this animal! I’m all for Balance.

    If SEO doesn’t work for you, then it’s because of 3 things: 1) you’re doing it wrong 2) You’re not doing it right 3) Maybe people don’t know about the services you’re providing so that’s not how they’ll find you.

    Here’s the best of my 14 years in selling online (not marketing online)

    I think Facebook has to develop to the “ultimate fan” level – then Conv/Opt will work. But Facebook provides really, really dumb analytics. What facebook did was provide 1980’s style segmentation to advertisers.. Is there any wonder that it’s as fractional as TV advertising segmentation?

    The reason PPC (and SEO) does so well – is because it doesn’t assume that all 35 year old men drive BMW’s. Its just as happy to take a self-identifying female BMW driver who is aged 21 and just happens to be in the market for a 6-series.

    You get 22%-70% conversion Rates in PPC because you’re talking to the person who wants to buy. Unless you do something to screw it up.

    Right now everyone’s pushing mobile. It won’t stop until the The Fear has set in.

    Mobile isn’t aways cannibalising Desktop in all segments. IT, Finance (Investments), complex purchases (i.e. most B2B stuff) has 1% of the search volume on mobile as on desktop. Even if you’re #1 and buy all the ads, if that’s not where your market is, being first on mobile might not help. Mobile is just making the internet bigger.

    But if you’re B2C – get mobile fast.

  2. Oh and that Google Ranking infographic is the shittiest “infographic” I’ve seen in a long time. Why make it a giant, poorly optimised, barely readable image? Kinda ironic seeing as Google can’t tell what’s written on it.

  3. David Quaid says:

    Too true Stu – even though they only see the infographics as link-trojans, quality still helps!