Online Marketing for Local Business
Uncategorized
4 Steps for Selecting Topics for Blogs and Articles
13 years
by jhaynes
in Uncategorized
One of the most critical components of publishing blogs and other articles online for marketing purposes is the proper selection of topics. Topics are such a vital factor in online article marketing because they play such an important role in attracting the right kind of traffic to your website and business.
Traffic is the primary source of potential revenue for any online business. The need to attract quality traffic through web content writing is the key reason why you need to publish useful and beneficial information for your target audience.
The attractiveness of your topics determines the volume of traffic – and thus revenue – they will generate, which are the real measures of success for your online marketing campaigns. So you should select them wisely.
Here are four quick steps of for choosing article and blog post topics that will catch the attention of your target audiences:
1. Identify Need
The main purpose of selecting a great topic is to give your audience what they are looking for. If you can correctly identify their wants and needs, you are on the right path to offering content that they just can’t refuse. One simple way to identify what your target market wants is by researching the most popular keywords they utilize when searching for information using Google and other search engines. One handy way to do this is with the help of a keyword suggestion tools, such as Google’s Adwords Keyword Tool.
Almost everyone now runs to the web for answers to all of their questions, potential solutions to their problems, and lists, tips and procedures for doing something properly. Give them what they want and they will give you their attention.
2. Topics Need to be Related to Your Business
Writing web content to promote your business online will give you a chance to showcase your knowledge and expertise on that niche. Your articles should be directly related to what product or service you sell. This establishes you as “the expert” on your subject or in your field. This can also help build your company’s credibility and win the trust of your readers. These are critically important elements of any business relationship.
3. Research Fresh Issues Related to Your Niche
People are naturally curious, and they will always want to be the “first to know” new and interesting information. This is why fresh, relevant information is so attractive to readers. Take advantage of this by starting a routine of researching the latest issues, trends and developments in your industry or field. Authoritative sites are often your best sources of these, and you should check them out regularly in order to become one of the very first to relay the info to people who share your interest.
4. If You Run Out of Topics, Write a “Tips” List
Tips and “Top 10” lists and how-to guides are still the easiest and most attractive types of articles and blog posts to write if you run out of other fresh topics. People love these types of articles because of their usefulness and power to assist people in doing things on their own. This post itself is one good example of this style of web content writing. And if you need additional ideas, or help sticking to a publishing schedule there are resources that can help you, with Hat Trick Associates just one of your many options.
The Significant Effects of Social Media Today
013 years
by jhaynes
in Uncategorized
The Social Media Effect ~
How have social networks and the short bursts of information affect today’s typical user? Some would say in a potentially negative way. The average attention span is now down to 5 seconds (!), which means that some of you will quit reading right about…..NOW. That’s a pretty unbelievable number, especially when considering that 10 years ago that number was a full 12 minutes, according to the recently published infographic down below. What do the think the quality of understanding and depth of thought can be conveyed in 5 seconds?
Mult-tasking is also increasing greatly. The average white collar (computer) worker checks their email 30-40 times AN HOUR. That is another staggering number. How do you think this constant stream of information is affecting today’s worker? Do you think this multi-tasking is helpful…or distracting?
Young people are also becoming alarmingly self centered. A recent survey found that 57% of young people feel that social media is primarily used for self promotion and to generate attention to one’s self.
Even though we do actually help companies with their social media when appropriate, these are all reasons (are more described below) that we at Hat Trick Associates advocate using SEO – your website content – as your primary means of communication. You can write as much as you wish, and provide real insight into your industry or field…far more than constant 140 character updates. Give your customers and potential ones something that the competition isn’t.
SEO & Web Content Marketing vs. Other Options
013 years
by jhaynes
in Uncategorized
Click here to see a very interesting chart showing where companies spend their online marketing dollars, on average, in 2011..
As expected, Business to Consumer (think “retail” companies for the most part) spend more on Pay per Click (PPC). The ROI numbers may absolutely justify this, but they should remember…PPC ends the minute you stop paying for it, SEO based on quality web content lasts forever!
But a couple other questions arise:
1) Who are the 16.3% and 8% of companies that spend nothing on any of these categories? (It does make sense for a number of companies, such as small one-man shops, or folks who get gov’t contract work, etc.)
2) Is social media a productive use of dollars for all of these companies? For some products, services and industries, spending $$ on social network marketing is more about ego than it is about real ROI…there are just some companies that no one wants to connect to, regardless (think “funeral homes”, HA).
The takeaway is that for most companies – regardless of what they sell or service they provide – should be allocating some of their marketing dollars on building up their website, writing and sharing articles on their industry, and distributing other quality web content on the web. Soon the yellow pages and even online directories will be completely replaced by Google or other search engine inquiries.
Will your potential customers find you, or just your competition?
We can provide you with a SEO-focused, web content plan with our recommendations for free, whether you decide to use our writing services or not. Contact us today to learn more.