Need Great Content?

If you believe content is King, and you should because it IS, then you need to start using content to increase your traffic and start gaining more revenue.

But that's not all, your content needs to be quality content if the search engines are to find favor with your site.  Your content must fit these qualifications:

• It must be relevant
• It must be unique
• It must be recent
• It must be informative

Meeting all those items can be a challenge but in today’s internet environment it's important for getting more traffic and sales, especially with Google because it is highly content driven.

Here are a few suggestions that have driven more traffic to my sites.  They work really well, particularly #8...

1. Place a forum on your site.
This isn't as hard as it sounds and I mention it because it's HUGE for getting tons of traffic.  The search engines also love it because it helps your site maintain gradual, relevant, fresh content.  It's a natural draw for visitors because people are always looking for information that is 'real' and most comments and information in forums are based on people's experiences and thoughts, so people flock to them constantly.

PHPBB is one of the top forum creation applications and it is still free. If you have a host that uses Fantastico they probably have PHPBB and the install is fairly easy.

The hardest part is that you may have to administer the forum and respond to questions or comments from time to time, but there's no better way to get visitors, meet friends and encourage sales.

2. Attend Conferences, seminars, web seminars or workshops.
Take time to go through a live event or even an online workshop or webinar and publish what you learned.   Always include your opinion, good or bad.  Your readers will appreciate your candid view. 

If you're looking for a live event, Armand Morin has a good one.  He hosts the "Big Seminar" which is coming up this month if you'd like to take a look.

Of course live events aren't free but the benefit to your business and what you learn comes back to you tenfold. 

3. Read Industry Publications for ideas.
What's going on in your specific industry?  Is there anything interesting? What is your opinion of events that are going on?  If you're an expert in your field, your readers will appreciate your comments and views. Keep your eyes open for TV, radio and newspaper articles.  All these things can spark ideas and topics that you can comment on.

4. Offer tips and ideas
What are your favorite tips, tactics or ideas you have concerning your field.  What little tidbits of information have you acquired along the way? Post tips that you have developed to get something done or figure something out. 

5 Sign-up to your competitors' newsletters

This one can help give you creative ideas.  Let others in your position be your inspiration by monitoring their newsletters.  This is an easy way to get ideas and topics that are of interest.  

6. Conduct a frequently Asked Questions section
Look for questions being asked about your site's topic and place those questions and answers in your newsletter. You could also try polling your email list for questions people have and post them either in your newsletter, website or blog.  You could even poll your email list with one specific question and post all the answers you receive.

7. Let readers decide what they want to hear about

On your sign-up forms, try adding an entry for preferred topics or ask them to go to a webpage where they can leave a message about the topics they are interested in and always encourage reader feedback.

8. Use Other People's Articles
There are many excellent writers out there who post some really exciting information in all fields of interest.

I have found that it is well worth my time to find a few good articles and post them on my site or in my newsletter. 

The downside to using existing articles is that you are required to include the author's information and depending on the articles, they may be found on many other websites or blogs as well which the search engines won't like as much.  A good alternative to this is to use private label rights (PLR) articles.  These are what I use A LOT and I love them because they are easy to get, I can modify them if I want to and they are much cheaper than hiring a ghost writer.

Also remember that it's important to keep the focus on "YOU" as much as you can so posting articles that you write or have private label rights to is preferred. 

I use a service called 'Niche Content'  Niche Content has article packs that include roughly 20 articles plus graphics to go with them for about $45.  These are nicely written articles that I can put my name on.  Also these article packs are limited in quantity so you won't see them all over the net.

Hint:  The PLR topics that you will find on 'Niche Content' are a good indication of some of the hot niches online.  So if you're still stumped for a niche, you'll find some good ideas here.

9.  Don't forget to include fun things such as jokes or amusing anecdotes whenever they are appropriate.

Also, if you can, and especially if it fits your newsletter's theme, interactive items like quizzes and puzzles. Both Freesticky and clipcopy are excellent sources for such items. http://www.clipcopy.com/ and www.freesticky.com

10. Do a Little Keyword Research
Try going to your favorite keyword research tool and type in your site's main keyword.  It will likely turn up a list of additional keywords that will give you ideas on what you can write about.

Hope that helps,
Ms. Liz