There are a lot of reasons why I dislike the term content marketing, but the most important one is that it's vague. Are we talking about a YouTube "let's play" gaming video? A clever tweet from a big brand? Or maybe a blog post or podcast episode? Because that word content is there, the content Read More...

The post Set the Strategic Goals that Drive Your Content Marketing appeared first on Copyblogger.

OK, I'm just going to say it. In today's world, publishing second-rate content is a total waste of time. There's no point in contributing to the growing pile of mediocrity. It wastes your time, and, worse, it wastes your audience's time. Sometimes I'll see a marketer complaining that: "I spent two years doing all of Read More...

The post 3 Areas of Focus for Consistently High-Quality Content appeared first on Copyblogger.

I never realized just how important it was to connect content with business goals until I had a particular conversation with a client. The client, excited to get started on blog content together, had a running list of topics for me to cover. But then something strange happened. When I asked for background information on Read More...

The post How Successful Marketing Writers Plan Their Content appeared first on Copyblogger.

When you run a content marketing platform, you’ll get other types of messages from your audience in addition to blog comments. You’ll get emails. Many people have a love/hate relationship with email. When it’s good, it’s really good -- but when it’s bad, managing your inbox feels like a huge waste of time. But like Read More...

The post Easy Email Inbox: Reply to 3 Types of Messages (and Don't Sweat the Rest) appeared first on Copyblogger.

Okay, maybe not "ruthlessly." But we all have lots of things we need to get done, and that means we need smart strategies to work efficiently -- without compromising quality. This week, we shared some adjustments you can make to your systems that will help you kick your productivity into a higher gear. If we're Read More...

The post Become Ruthlessly Productive by Tightening Up These 3 Systems appeared first on Copyblogger.

In the last few years, content marketing has become the marketing approach that all the cool kids are supposed to be doing. Coca-Cola is doing it, IKEA is doing it, Copyblogger has been doing and talking about it for more than 10 years now. So it's a no-brainer, right? Except, uhhhh, what is it exactly, Read More...

The post The 10-Step Content Marketing Checklist appeared first on Copyblogger.

When I sat down to write this post, I drew a blank. I knew what I wanted to write about, but the words just weren’t there. My head was empty -- a smooth, cavernous zilch. So I answered some emails. And then I went to the gym. After the gym, I headed for a coffee Read More...

The post How to Architect Your Day to Be More Productive appeared first on Copyblogger.

I think the best way to introduce the topic of this post is to remind you that my favorite word is No. At the risk of sounding no-fun, I like rules. If you’re in a position to set rules for any given situation, they can help you reach solutions to issues faster and avoid future Read More...

The post Try This System to Manage Your Blog Comments Faster (and with Less Stress) appeared first on Copyblogger.

Sometimes, we're fearless with our writing and content. We know what we want to say, and we pour it onto the page with passion and courage. Other times … not so much. Nerves or a lack of confidence can keep you from publishing excellent work. This week, we've got three resources that will get more Read More...

The post 3 Resources for Creating More Courageous Content appeared first on Copyblogger.

Recently, a writing student asked me about the dilemma of keeping to a publishing schedule, even when you can see all of the flaws in your own writing. How can we publish content every week, or even every month, when we still have so much to learn? Most of us run into this sometimes -- Read More...

The post How to Publish Regularly, Even If You Lack Writing Confidence appeared first on Copyblogger.