Tag: content development

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Creating Meaningful Website Content

You never know where you’ll find the next great idea.

While scrolling through Fast Company (admittedly one of my favorite sites) I found an article that caught my eye: “4 Ways to Create Meaningful Content.” Considering that as a freelance writer I spend a lot of time creating content for websites, it was most certainly something I wanted to read…and I’m glad I did. Here’s why:

Several years ago the world of SEO, or search engine optimization, was being built on a variety of ideas ranging from how many times a word or phrase should appear on a page to using “link farms” to make the site look more relevant that it really was–and everything in between.  Working in the industry, I understood the theory, but never cared for it or put it into practice. I believed, as did those with whom I worked, any content included on a website must provide good information that was authentic to the client.

The Google Penguin updates in 2013 helped to address many of the so-called “Black Hat” SEO techniques, and by doing so, placing greater emphasis on good content. Now, as this article suggests, the industry as a whole is focusing on incorporating meaningful content on both websites and social media platforms. So what is “meaningful” content?

Author Dan Greenberg proposes such content include or more of the following:

  1. It provides a connection between the content owner and the audience they are targeting.
  2. It introduces new or original ideas.
  3. It shows new uses of media or helps mediums evolve
  4. It causes the reader or viewer engage with the content

Creating good and meaningful content isn’t easy, but it is well worth the the time or monetary investment it requires.

 

 

Blogging • Brand Message Development  •  Newsletter Content •  SEO-Rich Content Development/Web Copywriting • Sales Materials

 

 

 

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Why This Writer is Fascinated by Graphic Design

Were I to begin my career over again, which would mean rolling back the hands of time to such a point they might actually snap off, I think–no, I know–I would have become a graphic designer.  Now keep in mind that when I headed off to college with communications in my sights, I didn’t really know a lot about graphic design. But when I had the opportunity to begin working with great designers, I instantly became fascinated by their work.

As a freelance writer, I generally spend my days crafting content.

Some copywriting is obviously pretty straightforward; after all, a website sometimes has to be more informative as opposed to more entertaining. Other days, I do get to play, creating “word pictures” as I strive to describe people and events in a way that bring them to life on a page (or screen, depending on the medium.)

Good graphic design has the power to do the same, but with color and images and lines and circles. If I see a great design on a web page or a beautiful logo, it speaks to me. I can see in an instant what a business is all about in a font or a shape. It can convey an emotion from elegantly peaceful to wildly energetic.   As noted by Randall Smith in this Forbes article,

“If good design is doing its job, it is managing your perception of an experience in many ways–both obvious and not so obvious. How you feel, and therefore if whether you’re going to engage and buy, is directly influenced by the design of a website, a package or a business card.”

Most importantly, however, good writing and content development can and should go hand-in-hand with great graphic design.  Quality design can bring your prospective customers to a website or inspire them to pick up a package; quality content can help them finalize their buying decision.

Do you have thoughts about how great graphic design and great content can work together? I’d love to hear them.

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Why Your Business Needs a Content Development Strategy

Why did you decide to create a website for your business or organization?

Don’t worry, if you’re sheepishly thinking “because everyone else had one” or “people said I needed to put something up online” you’re not alone. In fact, there are countless business owners just like you who went through the process of buying a domain, adding some copy and launching a site perfunctorily, just another check on the long list of things you had to do.

You’re also not alone if you thought that creating a site was enough. Your full-time job, after all, is running a business. The odds of you gleefully looking forward to updating the site with new copy, videos or blog posts are slim, if not non-existent. 

If this describes you, then you’re not going to love what I have to say next–but I need you to stay with me.  If you want to make the most of your online investment, then you need to have–and execute–a content development plan is a must.

So what is content development? Google it, and you’re sure to find a lot of definitions. This is how I explain to my clients, however:  content development is creating, organizing and strategically sharing articles, videos, graphics or other types of content to attract and engage with existing and potential customers.

Whether your company is B2B or B2C, a good content development strategy

  • allows you to educate your audience about who you are and what you do
  • keeps your website and other online properties looking and feeling new
  • can, when executed with SEO in mind, improve your website page rankings

I’ll be discussing content creation in future posts, but if you have any questions or would like to talk about developing great content for your business, contact me today.

 Blogging • Brand Message Development  •  Newsletter Content •  SEO-Rich Content Development/Web Copywriting • Sales Materials