Comments for Content Marketing Today http://contentmarketingtoday.com How to connect to your customers: online, in print, and in person Fri, 16 May 2008 19:14:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 Comment on 15 Secrets to Getting the Most Bang for Your Content Marketing Buck by Carolyn Allen http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/05/08/15-secrets-to-getting-the-most-bang-for-your-content-marketing-buck/#comment-1639 Carolyn Allen Thu, 15 May 2008 01:22:17 +0000 http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/05/08/15-secrets-to-getting-the-most-bang-for-your-content-marketing-buck/#comment-1639 Great list of follow-on ways to repurpose and market good content. I'm amazed at how much extra effort goes into publishing these days -- so much more complex than print was! But the population is growing and with more people, we have more innovation...more options and more splintered audiences. Thanks for the overview of ideas. Carolyn, CaliforniaGreenSolutions.com Great list of follow-on ways to repurpose and market good content. I’m amazed at how much extra effort goes into publishing these days — so much more complex than print was! But the population is growing and with more people, we have more innovation…more options and more splintered audiences.
Thanks for the overview of ideas. Carolyn, CaliforniaGreenSolutions.com

]]> Comment on "That’s So Old Mutual" is Such an Awful Ad Campaign by BJ Johnson http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/01/29/thats-so-old-mutual-is-such-an-awful-ad-campaign/#comment-1635 BJ Johnson Thu, 15 May 2008 00:42:11 +0000 http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/01/29/thats-so-old-mutual-is-such-an-awful-ad-campaign/#comment-1635 I like the ad, and use the phrase occiasionaly as a joke. I like the ad, and use the phrase occiasionaly as a joke.

]]> Comment on Key Counterintuitive Concept: The Internet Has Lengthened the Buying Process by Tuesday Links for 5/13/08 « Entrepid http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/05/07/key-counterintuitive-concept-the-internet-has-lengthened-the-buying-process/#comment-1626 Tuesday Links for 5/13/08 « Entrepid Tue, 13 May 2008 22:25:33 +0000 http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/05/07/key-counterintuitive-concept-the-internet-has-lengthened-the-buying-process/#comment-1626 [...] Newt Barrett of Content Marketing Today expands on the recent trend of the internet lengthening the buying process. This is horrendous news for you [...] […] Newt Barrett of Content Marketing Today expands on the recent trend of the internet lengthening the buying process. This is horrendous news for you […]

]]> Comment on How to Improve This Insurance Agency Website by Hersh Bhardwaj http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/05/01/how-to-improve-this-insurance-agency-website/#comment-1623 Hersh Bhardwaj Tue, 13 May 2008 08:35:31 +0000 http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/05/01/how-to-improve-this-insurance-agency-website/#comment-1623 Hi Newt, I agree with most of your points. Here are soem I have picked: 1)As you mention the only bold text on the page is 'our history', 'our mission', and 'our agency values'. I wouldn't be interested to read all that from home page as a customer. They have so much of 'WE' going in their content.Need to calm their ego down. 2)When I m on a website as a visitor, I need to find out three things very quickly:A)Whats the site about?, B) WHats in it for me?, C)Am I seeing credibility proof on the page? I am afraid this page doesn't do any of these. 3) As you mentioned they are missing out on collecting visitor info. They need to offer either newsletter subscription or highlight 'I9' download a bit more. 4) Their information architecture is all over the place. The first lin kon left navigation is About US again. They spent 4 links on talking about themselves. Could have used at least 3 of these to explain their products and services. Hersh Hi Newt,
I agree with most of your points. Here are soem I have picked:
1)As you mention the only bold text on the page is ‘our history’, ‘our mission’, and ‘our agency values’. I wouldn’t be interested to read all that from home page as a customer. They have so much of ‘WE’ going in their content.Need to calm their ego down.
2)When I m on a website as a visitor, I need to find out three things very quickly:A)Whats the site about?, B) WHats in it for me?, C)Am I seeing credibility proof on the page?
I am afraid this page doesn’t do any of these.
3) As you mentioned they are missing out on collecting visitor info. They need to offer either newsletter subscription or highlight ‘I9′ download a bit more.
4) Their information architecture is all over the place. The first lin kon left navigation is About US again. They spent 4 links on talking about themselves. Could have used at least 3 of these to explain their products and services.
Hersh

]]> Comment on Content Marketing Today Named #4 from Field of 100 Blogs in Junta42 Research by Newt Barrett http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/05/08/content-marketing-today-named-4-from-field-of-100-blogs-in-junta42-research/#comment-1612 Newt Barrett Fri, 09 May 2008 22:48:36 +0000 http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/05/08/content-marketing-today-named-4-from-field-of-100-blogs-in-junta42-research/#comment-1612 Thanks, Patsi. I may not have been blogging for long. However, I have been sharing my opinions freely for years. :-) Also, my wife and I owned a regional business magazine for 5 years and I wrote blog type opinion pieces every month. I will say that coming up with lots of ideas every week is a challenge. Thanks to really smart bloggers like you I get lots of inspiration and have a much easier time of it. Thanks, Patsi. I may not have been blogging for long. However, I have been sharing my opinions freely for years. :-) Also, my wife and I owned a regional business magazine for 5 years and I wrote blog type opinion pieces every month. I will say that coming up with lots of ideas every week is a challenge. Thanks to really smart bloggers like you I get lots of inspiration and have a much easier time of it.

]]> Comment on Really Bad Online Marketing Concept: Refuse to Tell Your Visitors How You Can Help Them Solve Their Problems by Newt Barrett http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/05/07/really-bad-online-marketing-concept-refuse-to-tell-your-visitors-how-you-can-help-them-solve-their-problems/#comment-1611 Newt Barrett Fri, 09 May 2008 22:44:41 +0000 http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/05/07/really-bad-online-marketing-concept-refuse-to-tell-your-visitors-how-you-can-help-them-solve-their-problems/#comment-1611 Ayo, Thanks for the comment. You are right that I probably don't have enough about how I can solve problems in an obvious. That's because this was intended originally as a content companion to a company site, SucceedingToday.com. Stay tuned. The FutureIncNow guys really understand this stuff, that's for sure. My key point is that you need to identify what your most important customers need to solve and describe how you can solve it. The other component is to include lots of content that helps them solve problems--or at least understand solutions--before you try to sell them anything. That's the big problem with Avail. You just dont' know what problems they can solve without digging really deep. Ayo,
Thanks for the comment. You are right that I probably don’t have enough about how I can solve problems in an obvious. That’s because this was intended originally as a content companion to a company site, SucceedingToday.com. Stay tuned.
The FutureIncNow guys really understand this stuff, that’s for sure.
My key point is that you need to identify what your most important customers need to solve and describe how you can solve it. The other component is to include lots of content that helps them solve problems–or at least understand solutions–before you try to sell them anything. That’s the big problem with Avail. You just dont’ know what problems they can solve without digging really deep.

]]> Comment on Really Bad Online Marketing Concept: Refuse to Tell Your Visitors How You Can Help Them Solve Their Problems by Ayo Ijidakinro http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/05/07/really-bad-online-marketing-concept-refuse-to-tell-your-visitors-how-you-can-help-them-solve-their-problems/#comment-1609 Ayo Ijidakinro Fri, 09 May 2008 18:12:33 +0000 http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/05/07/really-bad-online-marketing-concept-refuse-to-tell-your-visitors-how-you-can-help-them-solve-their-problems/#comment-1609 Hey Newt, I hear what you're saying in this article. But this is my concern: Every website lists their services, so how do you identify your services without becoming just another of the 10,000 websites with roughly similar services to offer? It seems like a good homepage offers an informative article that teaches the visitor about his problem, but loosely discusses how your services address his problem. I notice ContentMarketingToday's homepage is very article heavy and skimps on the service description, whereas Futurenowinc's homepage offers one semi-article that explains the problem and ties in the services. I guess the real question is, 'Is it enough to just explain your services on your homepage or should the homepage be largely educational?' Best, Ayo Owner and Operator Ayo's Website Design http://www.ayoswebdesign.com Hey Newt,

I hear what you’re saying in this article. But this is my concern:

Every website lists their services, so how do you identify your services without becoming just another of the 10,000 websites with roughly similar services to offer?

It seems like a good homepage offers an informative article that teaches the visitor about his problem, but loosely discusses how your services address his problem.

I notice ContentMarketingToday’s homepage is very article heavy and skimps on the service description, whereas Futurenowinc’s homepage offers one semi-article that explains the problem and ties in the services.

I guess the real question is, ‘Is it enough to just explain your services on your homepage or should the homepage be largely educational?’

Best,
Ayo

Owner and Operator
Ayo’s Website Design
http://www.ayoswebdesign.com

]]> Comment on Really Bad Online Marketing Concept: Refuse to Tell Your Visitors How You Can Help Them Solve Their Problems by Discover the secret to online success: Answer three simple questions « Training Marketer http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/05/07/really-bad-online-marketing-concept-refuse-to-tell-your-visitors-how-you-can-help-them-solve-their-problems/#comment-1608 Discover the secret to online success: Answer three simple questions « Training Marketer Fri, 09 May 2008 16:58:32 +0000 http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/05/07/really-bad-online-marketing-concept-refuse-to-tell-your-visitors-how-you-can-help-them-solve-their-problems/#comment-1608 [...] Barrett at Content Marketing Today used those three questions to form a quick case study of website home pages. After analyzing a [...] […] Barrett at Content Marketing Today used those three questions to form a quick case study of website home pages. After analyzing a […]

]]> Comment on Content Marketing Today Named #4 from Field of 100 Blogs in Junta42 Research by Patsi Krakoff, The Blog Squad http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/05/08/content-marketing-today-named-4-from-field-of-100-blogs-in-junta42-research/#comment-1594 Patsi Krakoff, The Blog Squad Thu, 08 May 2008 14:27:21 +0000 http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2008/05/08/content-marketing-today-named-4-from-field-of-100-blogs-in-junta42-research/#comment-1594 Congratulations, Newt. I didn't realize you've only been blogging since October 2007, that's amazing! My my, you are a quick study. I read your blog regularly and was also honored to be included among a list of top blogs that I admire. Blog on! Congratulations, Newt. I didn’t realize you’ve only been blogging since October 2007, that’s amazing! My my, you are a quick study. I read your blog regularly and was also honored to be included among a list of top blogs that I admire. Blog on!

]]> Comment on Yes, Content Marketing Can Make Welding Cool! by Julie Power http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2007/10/10/yes-content-marketing-can-make-welding-cool/#comment-1578 Julie Power Tue, 06 May 2008 13:46:31 +0000 http://contentmarketingtoday.com/2007/10/10/yes-content-marketing-can-make-welding-cool/#comment-1578 Great post. Inspiring to many marketers who think that you can't do much to market industrial products. My view is there is always someone who loves your product, whether you sell a drill bit, an industrial pump or new video games. Great post. Inspiring to many marketers who think that you can’t do much to market industrial products. My view is there is always someone who loves your product, whether you sell a drill bit, an industrial pump or new video games.

]]>