My latest article at Inc Technology is up. The topic is about the glut of content on the Web today.
The bar for quality content keeps getting higher.
What that means for you, if you publish content on a blog or website, is that you have to be choosier about topics — and more creative in how you present them.
I give 3 tips for content:
– Focus on topic niches, rather than general topics. Before you write that “top 10 list of marketing ideas” do a search in Google and see if there are already articles on that topic. If so, consider how to make your article different. One good way is to go narrow and deep — because a lot of the broad and general topics have been done to death. Narrow the topic. Make it “top 10 marketing ideas for under $5” or “top 10 marketing ideas for home-based landscaping businesses.”
– Write about your own experiences. The one thing that I guarantee has not been written about ad nauseum are YOUR experiences. Instead of writing on broad topics, write from the perspective of what you have experienced, done, learned, etc. Only you can write that. Want an example? Here is an article I wrote about a true story that happened to me — it got tons and tons of readers and links: Hacked: It Could Never Happen to My Site (Famous Last Words).
– Add value to the news, don’t repeat it. Even when writing about current news articles, add value to the basic story, don’t simply regurgitate it.
The key is: stretch yourself when it comes to creating quality content.
Anita, I’m surprised you don’t write more about your own experiences. I’m also surprised that other bloggers don’t write more about their experiences.
Too bad … as you say, they’re the only topics that you can’t find elsewhere on the Web. I like a good long tasty post filled with some real life lesson to nosh on.
I really enjoy reading articles that are based on someones own experiences. I find them much more interesting and they often provide a lot of useful advice and tips. Learning from someones success or bad experiences makes for interesting reading.
I’d like to know more about how to produce a *lot* of quality content online. When you’re pressed for time, it gets harder to be original. I’ve noticed that writing about my own experiences, for example, is pretty time-consuming, especially compared to news commentary.
I will soon write a post on blogger’s block. I saw a thread on LinkedIn Bloggers on this topic. On Friday, Independence Day, I will write a post on being an American in spirit. I have been studying a history course that I write more about.
All the Best,
Martin Lindeskog
Gothenburg, Sweden.
http://Martin.Lindeskog.name
The demand for higher-caliber content will continue growing as long as the internet continues to thrive. There exists a plethora of information on similar subjects (in the internet world), thus webmasters must make every effort to differentiate themselves from the crowd. It’s no longer about providing the same run-of-the-mill information that will sufficiently quench a web surfer’s needs. You need to go above and beyond and establish yourself as an authority on a particular topic. We can only expect the demand for good quality content to surge in the coming years, which is why every site owner needs to ramp up their creative efforts. As web surfers, we have become so accustomed to having quality information available at the push of a button that we won’t accept anything less. Unless site owner’s take action now, it’s very unlikely their respective sites will be able to handle the numerous rigors of the future.
I like all of your points Anita. I think focusing on a specific niche will be of increasing importance as time goes on. The competition for the people’s attention is ridiculous due to all of the content on the web. Trying to grab attention for general subjects (marketing, blogging, social media, etc.) is near impossible for someone just starting out. Find a niche you can own, or at least you can be a key player in. Once you find a comfortable niche, create all kinds of interesting content in formats that will captivate those searching for it. You don’t need everyone on the web to consume your content. You just need enough of the right people to check you out. Those that value the products and services you provide.
I agree with all your points. Basically for content to work it has to be unique and offer the reader something that can’t already be found on the Internet. Using personal experiences and focusing on niches is an excellent way of doing this.
I get very frustrated up with content writing machines who churn out article after article believing it will help their website flourish. In reality less is more. A few good articles or interesting blog posts will attract far more web traffic that 50 articles about the same topic.