Open Source Blogging

Kristina Halvorson (@halvorson) from Brain Traffic did an amazing presentation about Content Strategy as the Future of Marketing.  It's thanks to Kristina that I've been presenting more about a greater focus on content strategy as THE critical part of a total content marketing strategy. 

My key thoughts while reviewing her presentation include:

Relevance is key to your brand's importance to a customer.  Relevance is created through the distribution of consistent, compelling content.
Information from a brand must be useful. It must solve challenges or entertain (depending on the brand). hmmm, I wonder what can do that (yes, content)? 
When thinking … Continue Reading

Big thanks to my good friend Susan Friedmann, CSP for having me as a guest on her radio talk show, Riches in Niches, this week. As you'll hear, Susan is a real pro and we had a great time chatting about the subject of attracting and retaining customers with content marketing.

Susan's radio audience is mostly small business marketers, so we talked specifically about what small, smart companies can do to become trusted advisers for their customers (and turn prospects into buyers).

… Continue Reading

I had the opportunity to sit down with Steve Woods (CTO at Eloqua) recently when we were both speaking at Online Marketing Summit - DC. We came to the subject of our respective books (mine Get Content Get Customers, Steve's Digital Body Language) and how they serve as the ultimate marketing tool.

Readers of this blog know that we (Newt Barrett and I) originally … Continue Reading

Every other Sunday, The Simple Dollar reviews a personal productivity, personal development, or entrepreneurship book.

Discover your passions and make a living from it.

It’s an idea I talk about quite often on The Simple Dollar - and it often gets pooh-poohed by people who believe strongly in work-life separation, that you should do a job that maximizes your income for your effort. My belief is that you can reach that same point and enjoy yourself along the way by following your passions.

Others argue that their passion … Continue Reading

Attorney General McGraw Sues James R. Armstrong, Jr. and His Web of Florida Shell Companies Over Fraudulent Credit Counseling Scheme

Attorney General Darrell McGraw filed a suit today alleging that James R. Armstrong, Jr. of Coral Springs, Florida, masterminded a web of for-profit companies to enrich himself under the guise of providing debt management services with Family Credit Counseling Corporation, a company also controlled by Armstrong to financially-strapped consumers. Recently, Armstrong tried to “take the money and run” by selling his interest in the accounts to another Florida corporation.

Today McGraw’s office sued Armstrong and his shell companies in the … Continue Reading

I was on the road again this week (this time DC) for two presentations (Speakerbox and Online Marketing Summit) on content marketing and social media, one MENG webinar (from Reagan National airport) and what seemed like dozens of meetings. While on the plane trip home, I jotted down some things I learned about, discussed with others, or thought about along the way. Thought you would enjoy.

Analytics - The three most important areas to continuously monitor for content improvement are … Continue Reading

Wanted to send out this final reminder on the early bird savings for Social Media Success Summit 2009. If you are interesting in the best of social media learning, today's the day!

Social Media Success Summit 2009 is the first major online event dedicated to helping businesses succeed with social media marketing. OVER 500 of your peers have already signed up.

Simply one of the best lineups I've seen anywhere.

Presenters include bestselling authors and social media marketing experts such as Gary Vaynerchuk (Wine Library TV), Darren Rowse (Problogger), Mari Smith (Facebook guru), Jason Alba (wrote the … Continue Reading

Sat in on a great panel yesterday with Amanda Watlington (Searching for Profit), Christina Howe (Avid) and Rebecca Lieb (eConsultancy) discussing what the world's leading brands are doing.

The discussion was all about content (loved it!).

One attendee asked this question to the panel. "Right now social media is hot, but what is the next big thing we should keep our eyes on?"

I was the first to answer, and this immediately came to mind, and it will happen (is happening).

Over the next few years (not sure exactly when), we won't be … Continue Reading

Thanks to Keith Wiegold for today's guest post.  Great stuff!

Scene:  in swanky men’s locker room of Bushwood Country Club

Judge Smails:  “What did you shoot today, Ty?”

Ty Webb:  “Oh, you know I never keep score, Judge Smails.”

Judge:  “Then how do you measure yourself against other golfers?”

Webb:  “By height?”

                        — Caddyshack, 1980

Right now, maybe more than ever, your content marketing efforts deserve a little measurement.  Amidst budget cuts and strapped resources, elements of a marketing communication plan that lack at least some metrics linking … Continue Reading

An excellent report from Michael Stelzner on the state of social media marketing today.  Michael received responses from over 900 marketers, and compiled this report that shows trends on social media in general, usage of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and others.

Download the report here.

A couple key statistics:

72% of marketers have either just started or have only been using social media for a few months.
64% of marketers spend five hours or more per week using social media.
Advanced users of social media (more than … Continue Reading