Category: content marketing

  • Perspective and Timing

    Perspective and Timing

    This is actually a jellyfish that floats upside down. It is not the wrong way up. Or from downunder. We only consider this jellyfish to be wrong as we’re conditioned to see them floating bell up, tentacles down. But it could be onto something, maybe it catches falling food better that way? Over the next week I…

  • Giving away valuable information online

    I’ve just been listening to Brian Clark’s talk on affiliate marketing and loved the elevator pitch he mentioned for @copyblogger. “Build an audience and sell them stuff”. Succinct and definitive. This seems to be the root of all we do as content marketers. Yet as we see content marketing trending as a topic in Google…

  • Tried and true vs. something new on Pinterest

    Tried and true vs. something new on Pinterest

    It’s often possible to try something different in beta. Soft launch or A/B test your marketing campaigns and  in fact turn them into iterative waves of content. I’m into residential architecture and my Pinterest board Modern Residential Architecture has been gaining real traction since Pinterest added the “Also pinned to:” feature. From 100 odd  followers last week to 801 today. The site really seems…

  • Strategy vs. tactical implementation in digital marketing

    Strategy vs. tactical implementation in digital marketing

    We face a fine line right now between Minimal Viable Product or Post and launching something with no sequel. For those close to the software and technology sectors Eric’s Lean Startup and Agile principles push us to launch a product that will bring SIGNIFICANT value to the user but under the premise of minimal viable…

  • The Minimal Viable Post

    The MVP epitomises the top layer of Inverted Pyramid with just enough, value, excitement, resonance or information to motivate readers to share it, NOW! Your most important thoughts and work are done first as Agile Marketing encourages us to ship, and ship often. You launch analyse learn and adjust. It is an iterative process, not…

  • Content marketing – The recipe and secret ingredients

    The recipe I was prompted recently by @contentSTHLM to discus a technique that should be in every content marketers arsenal. We were sparked by the idea of print magazines after reading this article on the Waitrose Kitchen magazine. Free and in full view of those waiting at the checkout, the magazine is often seen prompting…

  • Excite customers with video storytelling in your content marketing mix

    Storytelling has been around for many years and used by smart marketers to hook you on their brand messaging. Aligning your message with stories that: resonate, entertain, educate or delight your clients, can be used to pull clients through the purchase cycle and enforce bonds with brand advocates. Typically they focus on a company’s history,…

  • User paths and calls to action

    Or what my sons have taught me about good online content and looking ahead. As we were watching the waves at Brighton beach the other day, it struck me that there are many parallels between parenting a young child and website best practice. Here are some of the things they have taught the old man.…

  • Developing brand equity before it is needed

    Advertising and shouting messages to the masses has become a Boiling frog. Ad volume has crept into prime-time television until there’s just 25 mins of show in an hour of TV. 90% is traditional push advertising: discounts, bad mouthing competitors, competing on size, speed, strength or price. All with a backup band singing, me, me,…

  • Content Marketing Case Study: Fisher and Paykel – Our Kitchen

    Today I thought I would explore a little arm of the online presence of one of New Zealand’s iconic brand names. Our Kitchen is a recipe blog with a great about us intro: Our Kitchen was born from the passion of food, from a group of friends here at Fisher and Paykel. Like any good…

  • Co-creation in Social Media, Risky but worth it!

    In business and marketing we are seeing a number of co-creation initiatives sprouting up. Partnering on projects, with an upstream or downstream business partner, or even with a competitor for scale, is now common practice. Some lead to acquisitions for the lucky few, and others form powerful networks. I’ve got my headphones on as I…

  • How To – Create And Maintain A LinkedIn Group

    How To – Create And Maintain A LinkedIn Group

    As marketers and consultants we are constantly looking for new ways to engage with our clients. LinkedIn as a business social network, always appeals to us in B2B and as HubSpot (the inbound marketing leaders) research shows: “Of the three top social networks – LinkedIn converts 200% more than Facebook or Twitter.” A LinkedIn group…

  • The Content Life Cycle. La la la la…

    I’m reading through Eric Reis Lean Start-up at the moment and the principles of the agile/lean business model. My version makes the exact sound I use to block out disruptive ads or in fact any kind of marketing/sales that is not content marketing these days. La la la la la la la la la la.…

  • How To Set A Simple Editorial Calendar

    With brands having so many websites and social networks to maintain and feed a proper editorial calendar is a must. Regardless of whether you are Redbull or a personal one man brand. So today I’m declaring DEPENDENCE to my editorial calendar.  With a hat tip to @DanielleMorrill I’m going to do my best to not…

  • eCommerce and Classifieds Sites – Tips for Content Marketing

    Content Marketing has really taken off over the last few years. Two prime examples being Redbull www.redbullmediahouse.com – powering video and media content into “extreme channels” around the world for B2C American Express Open Forum www.openforum.com – a platform for business clients to discuss SME issues. But what has caught my interest this week is…

  • Ozone Coffee Roasters – Content Marketing Case Study

    Ozone Coffee Roasters – Content Marketing Case Study

    I have a particular penchant SMBs that keep it simple and focus their products and services on delighting their clients. ozonecoffee.com is a fine example of a small company who get online marketing and what it can do to highlight their obsession with pleasing their customers. They’re engaging with their clients on Social Media On…

  • SoLoMoCo the four essential pillars of online marketing

    SoLoMoCo the four essential pillars of online marketing

    Digital Marketing has its old favourite acronyms and phrases that marketers, heck anyone online needs to need to understand at a tactical level: SEO, PPC ,CTR, CPA, Long tail, edge rank, to name a few. But at a strategic level there are four characters we should all be focusing on over the next year. So…

  • Marketing The Unfinished Product

    Marketing The Unfinished Product

    Social Media and sites like Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook live and die on human interactions and engagement. They’re built around our human need to be social. Yet over the last few years many inanimate or slightly animate objects have started to appear on the web. “Speaking” and communicating with us. The Tower Bridge – now…