Creating Web Content Google Will Love

Introduction to Web Site Content: how to develop a Content Plan for your web site; pre-planning essentials you must have in place before writing your content plan; why the right content will drive tons of traffic to your site; how to optimize content yourself; the role of Design in your content strategy...and more

Transcript

1. ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
2. Content!  What is “Content” ???  Short Answer: everything on your site!  Examples: ◦ Articles ◦ Portfolios ◦ Videos ◦ Galleries ◦ Audio files ◦ Downloads (PDFs, mp3s, software) ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
3.  What’s the BIG DEAL about Content?  People need information (content)!  Create content that others need/want!  Content can drive “traffic” to your site ◦ …if properly planned & written  The best traffic is “organic” traffic… ◦ Organic traffic is FREE  Well-designed content can bring you lots of organic traffic! “Content is King” ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
4. Ways to Get “Traffic”  Paid online Ads, such as Google’s Adwords  Paid Media (Radio, TV, Print) Ads ($$$$$)  “Organic” search results – FREE  Optimized content (DIY)  Descriptive terms, carefully constructed  Hand-crafted “meta data”  Use an ‘SEO’ plugin  Google Authorship https://plus.google.com/authorship ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
5. Content “Ground Rules”  Google determines “quality content”  What this means to you…  Google makes the rules  The conundrum: “rules” change! (see these articles:  How Will 'Hummingbird' Impact SEO?  Understanding How Google & Search Impact Your Site Traffic  Know the current “rules” (See Google Webmaster Tools to stay current) ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
6. What is “quality content?” Google defines quality content as…  Original  Useful  Instructing  Explaining  Demonstrating  Think “tutorials”  New; fresh material  Written for people (not search engines) ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
7.  You are unique  Be yourself  Put your own spin on every topic  Express your opinion  Find improvements on existing information  Show your readers “a better way”  Create a consistent “message” Original Content ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
8.  Where you start depends on where you are!  This presumes you’re just starting out…  Initial Planning creates a road map for your Content Plan…  Do the Process!  Only YOU know what stage you’re at right now! First Steps: Preliminary Planning ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
9. “Content Plan” Overview  Your Unique Message  Your Site Goals  Your Business Vision  Your Niche  Your Demographic ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
10.  What do you want to tell your site visitors?  Hint: it isn’t “Buy from me!”  What sets you apart from your competition?  Why are you in business?  Tip: it shouldn’t just be “Making lots of money!”  Who are you writing for…and to?  What is your niche? *Like all planning, this is a process… Your Unique Message ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
11.  Clarify Your Site Goals  Tip: this will change over time  Examples: ◦ Getting traffic ◦ Promoting services ◦ Showcasing creative work ◦ Selling products  Express Your Business Vision  Define Your Niche  Describe Your Demographic  Who is your ideal customer? More Planning Elements ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
12.  Consistent & Holistic  Avoid “mixed messages”  Deliver an integrated “whole” ◦ Your overall “Content Plan” ◦ Your “Message” ◦ Your Site Design  Examples -- ◦ Design for your visitor ◦ Within your niche & industry ◦ Supporting your site goals Design’s Role in Your Content ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
13. Step-by-Step 1. Do the Preliminary Planning Process This becomes your road map 2. Plan Detailed Content  Articles or text-based content ◦ “Best Practices” ◦ Beginner’s How-To ◦ Product Reviews ◦ Interviews  Research pays off! ◦ What do your customers want to know? ◦ What are they asking? ◦ Why? ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
14. Creating Your Content  Be Completely Accurate!  Cite & Credit All Sources  Make Sure It’s ORIGINAL!  Do NOT cut & paste from others’ articles on the web!  Google indexes ALL content  You can be removed from all indexing if you copy others’ work  If you are not a confident writer (or English is not your native language), outsource it! ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
15. More Content Tips  Ongoing Process  This is not a “one-off” project!  Remember: Google highly values NEW content  Content Planning is “forever”  Schedule your continuing content planning: ◦ weekly ◦ monthly ◦ Quarterly ◦ Stay flexible: write for your readers needs ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
16. Yes… It’s Hard Work!  I hear you…  Content Creation is hard work!  There is no quick fix!  It takes lots of planning  It takes lots of writing  It takes lots of formatting  It takes lots of editing  Overwhelmed? Outsource it! (remember, I’m a writer & content specialist…Email me if you need help!) ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com
17. The Good News! ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com  It’s Totally Worth It!  It Works!  Draws “organic” traffic (FREE!)  Establishes you as an expert ◦ You’re “published” ◦ You have your own site ◦ You are credible & helpful  Your visitors get to “know” you  They are more likely to hire you!  Caveat: this process takes time!
18. ©2014 Karen McCamy  FreelanceTechnologyReview.com Email me: kmccamy@freelancetechnologyreview.com