For a long time, B2B (business-to-business) marketing was all about inbound. The goal was to attract customers with valuable, tailored content. Companies put marketing dollars into developing engaging material. The content showed the companies’ offerings without pushing sales. The goal was to create brand awareness and attract new business. They
Interviewing subject experts for top content marketing isn’t scary – if you’re prepared. If you don’t set yourself up for success, well … No one wants to see that happen. That’s why you need to lay the groundwork before you contact anyone. Interviewing: Why would I do that for content
Why are customer case studies so important? Customer case studies prove your company delivers results. You can tell prospects that your company “meets and exceeds expectations. Doing that, however, isn’t as credible as real customers sharing real successes. Unfortunately, case studies often promote what businesses do. Instead, they should focus
I’m working with one of our on-demand creative teams. We’re imagining a new brand for a software client. This is from-the-ground-up work. And it keeps our content, branding and digital marketing agency minds happy. Plus, let’s not forget a big splash of SEO thinking. Every brand needs to plan for
Here’s a quick test: Go to your homepage and read the first sentence or phrase of your website content. Does it start with “We”? If so, it’s time to change your website’s perspective. Still not convinced? OK, go back to the quiz. Q: Do your eyes glaze over when your
April Fools’ Day is this Friday. This is perhaps the only date on the calendar when benign cruelty is celebrated, apart from Black Friday. One of the most effective April Fools’ jokes my daughters played on me preyed on my pre-first-cup-of-coffee state. I stumbled into the kitchen, making a beeline
When a client gives you the green light to create content, it can be tempting to jump in and start writing instantly. To shield yourself from stress and scope creep, nail down answers to four key questions. These questions are critical. You don’t want to start drafting if you don’t have
Business owners, executives and marketing directors know that quality writing helps drive marketing efforts. Many of them don’t know, however, that marketing writing comes in two forms: copywriting and content marketing. These writing forms are not the same. They cross paths frequently, but the goals for each are different. Before
Content marketing for beginners is hard. Consistently publishing valuable, relevant and high-quality content takes effort and teamwork. Why? You must find the perfect managing editor who is equal parts project manager and keeper of your brand’s voice. You must also scale a team of writers, designers and video editors to
Questions for content marketers have changed. Back in the day, marketers focused completely on inbound marketing. They invested their marketing dollars into developing engaging content. They waited for potential clients to discover said content and hire them. Seems too easy, right? Reality check: “Build it and they will come” doesn’t
