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Summary: In content marketing, you need to define your topic, choose the right tools, outline your content, and mark your content for maximum impact.
In recent years, a flurry of content-based Web sites has emerged, each claiming to offer the next-generation take on marketing. But what works and what doesn't in this world of keyword-crunching, Google-powered optimization? Enter Patrick Neel, a content marketing veteran with a four-decades of experience in the field. In this blog post, he answers four questions about content marketing: What it is, what it does, why you should do it, and what to avoid.
Defining Your Topic
The first step in content marketing is defining your topic. This is generally a fragile area, as people tend to be biased in their opinions and want to tell their side of the story. But once you've chosen your topic, it's easier to make sure your message is clear and not just another bunch of repetition.
Choosing the Right Tools for the Job
Once you've chosen your topic, it's time to choose the right tools for the job. These tools can help you produce compelling and valuable content, but they must be chosen wisely. If you use the wrong tools, you can mess up your work in ways that are difficult to fix.
Outlining Your Content
Once you've chosen the right tools, it's time to start outlining your content. Outlining your content is the first step in ensuring that your message is clear and not just another bunch of repetition. The process varies from person to person, but it can involve writing down key points, writing out a list of benefits, and so on. Once you're done outlining, take a look at your content and check for clarity. If anything seems off, go back and try to improve it.
Marking Your Content for Maximum Impact
The final step in content marketing is marking your content for maximum impact. This step is important because it shows that you're serious about your message and not just another bunch of repetition. To do this, simply search online for images and other content that you want to use in your content and use a tool such as PicMonkey to add them to your post. Be sure to credit the photographer or other people involved in your content when you publish so that they have a chance to get credit for their work.
In conclusion, what works and what doesn't in content marketing can be fought, but there are some important steps you should take to ensure that your message is clear and not just another bunch of repetition. So next time you're in print or online, take a look at what's working and what's not and learn from their mistakes. You never know what might work better than what everyone is currently doing.
