Author Archives: Julia McCoy

The 5 Types of Blog Posts You Need to Publish for Killer Engagement Rates

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Blog engagement is a fickle metric.

Sometimes it’s hard to quantify why it happens for some types of blog posts but not others – especially if your posts and articles are pretty consistent, quality-wise.

If more/better engagement is one of your content goals, you need concrete data to help you decide what to post types you need to see improved numbers. Guesswork will NOT work. In fact, measuring and tracking your content goals/results is an integral component of a successful content strategy – a concept I teach in my Content Strategy & Marketing Course.

That’s why I’m sharing one major method I use to research content types to focus on for awesome engagement. It sings to this tune:

Using the BuzzSumo Content Analysis Report to Research the Best Types of Blog Posts

For my content platform, the Write Blog at Express Writers, I use BuzzSumo to monitor my …

How to Create Powerful SEO Content For Your Brand Site for Traction, Ranking & Customers

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Search engine optimization and content go together like peanut butter and jelly.

One without the other is like eating a jelly sandwich – and who eats jelly sandwiches? (If you’re raising your hand right now, no judgments.)

The main point is, SEO and content are each powerful on their own. But, once you mash them together, you get a much, much more effective result.

Why Content Needs SEO (and Vice-Versa)

When I teach content strategy to my students and team members, I use the metaphor of thinking of your content like a house. Your content “house” should be built on a solid foundation of strategy, with walls made of expertise, smart SEO keywords, long-form content, and a consistent posting schedule.content-house-SEO-Content

SEO should be embedded in every part of your content house. It helps make it strong, sturdy, and solid, not to mention plottable online.

Without SEO, your content house would …

7 Components of a Viable, ROI-Based Brand Content Strategy

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Content marketing is easy, right?

I mean, if 89% of B2B marketers are using it, it can’t be that hard. Right?

Well, here’s the thing. While a majority of marketers have committed to content marketing, not many of them are having a ton of success.

In fact, out of those 89% of marketers, only 21% of them said their content marketing approach was very or extremely successful.

So, what’s the problem here? Why aren’t marketers breaking through with content marketing?

The reason, for most, is simple: far too many marketers and brands are unaware of how to build a content strategy that’s ROI focused.

But that changes today. Because today we’re going to simplify the process and break down the seven components that make up a viable, ROI-based brand content strategy.

Let’s get started.

  1. Getting Clear On Your Content Differentiation Factor

First things first, you need to find a way …

Top 30 Huffington Post Most Shared Headlines & Why They Went Viral

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We’ve all heard the saying, “you can’t judge a book by its cover.”

What’s funny is that you almost only hear that adage in reference to people: you shouldn’t judge people based off how they look.

Yet, when it comes to books, you can actually tell a lot about them by their covers.

That’s why publishers spend so much money on them.

This principle applies to the headlines of your blog posts, as well. While you can’t learn everything about the post from one simple line, headlines are clearly very important; it will either pull a reader in or keep them scrolling.

Last year, Steve Rayson at BuzzSumo wrote the definitive post on viral headlines. Once you read it, you won’t be able to look at headlines the same way.

To put his many great points into context, I used BuzzSumo to find Huffington Post’s most-shard article headlines of …

A Guide to Creating Content for Every Stage of Your Marketing Funnel

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A well-designed marketing funnel turns your site’s visitors into customers. The better you can improve that funnel, the better your profits will be.

This type of improvement is only possible, though, if you understand the unique demands of each stage of your funnel. Otherwise, your would-be customers will end up in “funnel purgatory” where they quit progressing toward making a purchase.

One very important aspect of each of these stages is the content you use. Nail this important requirement and you’ll not only enjoy higher conversions; you may also find they happen much faster, too.

Creating Content for Every Stage of Your Marketing Funnel

4 Ways to Win at the Beginning of the Funnel: Attract, Don’t Repel, Early In

At the very beginning of your marketing funnel, you need to engage your prospects. They already have some interest in your product or service, so it’s your content’s job to make …

7 Effective Techniques for Better Email Marketing

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Have your email marketing efforts fallen flat?

Do your email messages feel more like messages in a bottle?

Is it possible your subscribers are only sticking around because they don’t want to hurt your feelings?

If any of this sounds familiar, don’t be too hard on yourself.

As you’re about to see, some of the most important techniques for succeeding at email marketing are actually very counterintuitive.

Once you get done reading this post, though, you’ll be ready to put these methods to use right away and turn your email marketing around.

7 Killer Techniques for Your Best Email Marketing

Ready? Let’s dive in!

1. Your Ending Line: Start Strong by Finishing Strong (Better Responses, Proven)

We’re going to start this article with the ending of your email.

You’ve probably heard a million times that you need to begin your emails strong. If your subject line is lacking, interest will …

15 Examples of Evergreen Content That Will Win Links, Traction & Results for Your Brand Online

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Have you spent lots of time and money creating content but have nothing to show for it?

If so, the problem may be that you’re not creating evergreen content.

What exactly is evergreen content?

This is content with a lengthy shelf life that will always be relevant to your readers, your brand, and your area of expertise. Great evergreen content is shared constantly and also does well in search engines.

Below, I’m going to give you 15 examples of evergreen content that you can begin creating right away to grow your links, traction and results.

15 Types of Evergreen Content That Work

Now that you have a fundamental understanding of what evergreen content is, here are 15 types of evergreen content that will work wonders for your site and online presence.

Ready? Grab a coffee (latte, tea – your choice!) and let’s delve in!

1. Cornerstone Content: First, Answer Common

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7 Brands That Win At Millennial Content Strategy Marketing

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You’ve heard about them – those terrifying youngsters known to all as the Millennials. Legend says they like to stare at their phones, use social media way too much, and take selfies. They are the group that marketers fear, crying, “Are we doing our ads correctly? What do we do?”

Are you one of those marketers that just knows the Millennial generation is the hardest possible generation to market to? Well, the Millennials aren’t really all that terrifying: they’re actually quite easy to advertise to, if you know how. I’ll tell you a secret: they live online.

Let’s take a look at today’s advertising world in the Millennial land, discuss this group, and show you who’s doing successful ad campaigns to this targeted younger audience – so you can, too.

 

How To Think When Marketing To The Millennial’s

Before we jump into learning about excellent brands

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