Reader Friendly Content Ignites Google SEO

Sunday Links With Social Media ReInvention February 12

reader friendly content ignites

 

Reader Friendly Content Grows Buyer Trust and Improves Google Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Each of this week’s articles support that theme differently. These experts’ insights show how reader friendly content builds trust and enhances SEO:

  • Writing naturally benefits the reader and sends a positive signal to Google (versus forcing keywords into our copy).
  • Gaining a buyer’s trust begins with trusting our instincts. Being ourselves is attainable and healthy. “Being remarkable” can be misleading because it’s a relative standard.
  • Earning trust in a machine learning age (aka Google’s RankBrain) will continuously redefine what’s “reader friendly content.” Artificial intelligence search applications will line up content marketing and SEO even more closely with personal branding and thought leadership authority.

Trustworthiness and its link to helpfulness is a major signal in Google’s secret sauce.

How the company chooses to measure trust in its search algorithm continues evolving. We better pay close attention because Google wields the monopolistic power to either reward or punish our content.

That’s why I think WHAT we write and HOW we write is a vital SEO tactic. Here’s my take on why reader friendly content is great SEO now (and in the future).

(more…)

Content Marketing And SEO Work Together: Smart Links January 29

Sunday Brunch Reads With Social Media ReInvention

content marketing and seo work together

Successful Inbound Marketing and Public Relations Requires Content Marketing and SEO Work Together

This past week, I attended webinars, started studying books, and read articles with a common theme: When content marketing and SEO work together, long term, impactful business goals are achieved.

This resounding theme also touches upon another key element: a publishing strategy integrating content marketing and SEO (search engine optimization) is sustainable. These experts share their views on important changes in marketing organization (and individual) skills, mindsets, and organizational structures.

That’s a huge deal for all businesses:

  • Large Corporations
  • Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)
  • Freelance Professionals

Here are links to these great articles on where inbound marketing and public relations are heading to deliver more meaningful business outcomes and results.

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Five Reasons Why Self-Publishing Exclusively on LinkedIn Is Bad Business

Invest in Yourself. Protect Your Personal Brand. Publish a Self-Hosted Blog.

Runner with LinkedIn Logos

Bolota Asmeron, a member of the Linkedin Elite Centipede outs on a temporary Linkedin tattoo before the start of the 2010 Bay to Breakers race in San Francisco.

Photo Credit: A Name Like Shields Can Make You Defensive

 

Important Note: An intelligent and thought-provoking discussion from The Writing on LinkedIn Group inspired this latest post. Matt Sekol initiated the discussion thread, Where’s The Traditional Blog. It’s people like Matt Sekol (and many others) who reaffirm my belief and commitment to why The Writing on LinkedIn Group is one of the most important, intelligent, and enjoyable communities for engaging with and learning from like-minded individuals within LinkedIn.

Last week, I read Alexandra Samuel’s thoughtful post on Harvard Business ReviewHave LinkedIn and Medium Killed the Old-Fashioned Blog? Almost three years ago and 1 million Linkedin writers later, LinkedIn launched its self-described definitive publishing platform.

I submitted a comment stating why limiting our self-publishing investments to third-party platforms like LinkedIn’s Publishing Platform and Medium without investing in a self-hosted, personal website or personal blog is a career and business mistake.

Here are more detailed thoughts expanding on my comment in Alexandra’s post.  (more…)

Sunday Brunch Reads With Social Media ReInvention: 06/28/15 to 07/04/15

Chris Sacca on Fixing Twitter, LinkedIn and Medium Killing Blogging, and THE Trusted Advisor Way to Getting More Client Meetings

Sunday Brunch Newspaper

Photo Credit: Anton Diaz

 

Please indulge me until Friday, July 31st 12:00 AM Midnight Central Time as I use the introductory paragraph of Sunday Brunch Reads with Social Media ReInvention to promote my nephew’s Kickstarter Campaign for his company, QuadshoX LLC.

I wrote about Johnny Morris’ spinal cord injury and remarkable story in this blog post: America’s Gutsiest CEO and His Kickstarter Project Need Your Support.

Here’s the link to QuadshoX’s inspiring YouTube video to promote its Kickstarter Campaign:

(more…)

Sunday Brunch Reads with Social Media ReInvention: 05/03/15 to 05/09/15

Sunday Brunch Newspaper

Photo Credit: Anton Diaz

 

Hi, Social Media ReInvention Community! Here are your share-worthy links for your enjoyment and discussion. Thanks again for your continued support and taking time to read my work. I hope you’ll enjoy these links during your Sunday Brunch!

Quick Heads Up: I  moved from Social Media ReInvention from TypePad to WordPress. It’s work-in-progress so please be patient as I continue improving this site.

 

1. The Wall Street Journal: There’s an Uber for Everything Now (by Geoffrey Fowler); ‘Unicorn’ Startups Say High Valuations Justified, Citing Big Growth Ahead (by Lizette Chapman); Mashable: In Silicon Valley, ‘unicorn’ is a dirty word (by JP Mangalindan). The Fowler and Chapman articles show important trends signaling the second coming of The Silicon Valley Tech Bubble: (more…)

Social Media ReInvention Blog: 2014’s Top 10 Most Popular Posts

WooHoo Subway Graffiti

Photo Credit: Gerard Stolk (vers Noël)

Thank YOU. Publishing and writing for Social Media ReInvention Community Members brings me immense joy and fulfillment. I can’t thank you enough for your amazing support and generosity to read and share my content. Thank you of sticking with me for five and half years! Time’s flown by.


2014’s Most Popular Social Media ReInvention Blog Posts

If you missed some of these, you can check them out here:

1. Lesson 2 of 6: Reinventing You After Age 50 Case Study — Michael Ovitz and Shifting Your Behavior

2. Mark Zuckerberg’s 5 Point Plan for Facebook’s Future Growth and Mobile Domination

3. Lesson 1 of 6: Reinventing You After Age 50 Case Study – Michael Ovitz Proves Status Can Be Taken With You

4. 3 Career Management Lessons for a Social Media Age I Learned From My Dad

5. Lesson 3A of 6: Reinventing You After Age 50 Case Study — Michael Ovitz and Developing Validators

6. Book Review: The New Rules of Sales and Service by David Meerman Scott

7. #FAIL: #AppleLive Debacle Exposes Apple’s Real-Time Marketing Weaknesses

8. 4 More Gifts to Support Others That Power Your After Age 50 Reinvention

9. 3 Tips on Writing and Storytelling from Twitter’s Investor Relations Team

10. Tim Cook’s Killer Innovation Hack: Diversity in Thought in Apple’s Ecosystem (with a Capital D)

 

LinkedIn Pulse Featured Three (3) Posts in Selected Channels

That’s Kind of a Big Deal. I’m grateful because I reached that achievement through your support:

Have a Joyous and Blessed Merry Christmas and Holiday Season

Be Well. I look forward to seeing you soon after the Christmas Holiday!

 

Your Turn

Please let me know if you agree or disagree with my thoughts in the comments. I would love to hear from you. I’m here to read, listen, and learn from YOUR PERSPECTIVE.   Comments are open. So let’er rip!


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Ideas that spread win. Please share my work with your friends.

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YAY! LinkedIn Pulse Publishes Social Media ReInvention Post About Tim Cook in Big Ideas and Innovation Category!

Yay Wow Jump for Joy

Photo Credit: Rob Boudon

 

GREAT NEWS!

LinkedIn Pulse selected my latest blog post, "Tim Cook’s Killer Innovation Hack: Diversity in Thought in Apple’s Ecosystem (with a Capital D)," for publication in its "Big Ideas and Innovation Category!” 8,780,062 LinkedIn members follower this category in their LinkedIn News Feed (as of December 3rd).

Wow! 

LinkedIn Pulse Screen Shot 2014 12 01 at 9 14 11 PM

 

Here’s the link to the Tim Cook post on LinkedIn Pulse. As of writing this blog post, the Tim Cook / Apple Ecosystem article earned:

  • 1,052 LinkedIn Views
  • 54 LinkedIn Likes
  • 45 LinkedIn Shares

BuzzSumo analysis showed these social shares late last night:

Buzz Sumo Tim Cook Screen Shot 2014 12 03

 

Third Time Hitting the LinkedIn Pulse Lottery

Fingers Crossed, It Won’t Be the Last. Social Media ReInvention Community Members know of my excitement when LinkedIn Pulse published two other blog posts in the LinkedIn Pulse Social Media Category: 

 

#GRATEFUL

Thank You for Your Continuing Support! I published my first Social Media ReInvention blog post more than five (5) years ago. Time flew by.

Thank you for granting me permission to share with you my love of technology, digital marketing, social media strategy, personal reinvention, and writing.

Here’s a screen shot one of my closest friends sent me from his iPhone. Thank you for taking time to read and support my art:

IPhone LinkedIn Screenshot of Published in Your Network

 

Did You Enjoy This Post?

If yes, please share it with your friends and subscribe to my blog. Many Thanks!

 

Tony Faustino is a marketing and corporate strategist.  He thinks and writes about how The Internet reinvents marketing strategy in his personal blog, Social Media ReInventionFollow his tweets @tonyfaustino or circle him on Google+.

3 Tips on Writing and Storytelling from Twitter’s Investor Relations Team

 

Twitter Investor Relations Logo (TWTR)

Twitter Investor Relations Logo (TWTR)

Earlier this week, Twitter released its 2014 Q2 Earnings Report. Here are highlights as reported by The Wall Street Journal’s Yoree Koh:

  • A second straight quarter of increased user growth: 16 million new users
  • Revenue doubled to $312 million (driven by mobile use and mobile ad consumption)
  • Mobile advertising accounts for 81% of total ad revenues
  • The stock price spiked 29% in after hours trading
  • 271 million monthly active users

How Twitter’s Investor Relations Team (@TwitterIR) framed these positive results is worth studying. Their critical and judgmental audience includes (but is not limited to):

  • Wall Street Analysts
  • Technology Journalists / Bloggers
  • Mutual Funds Managers
  • Silicon Valley Competitors
  • Individual Investors

Writing and storytelling skills are important in the financial and investment community. Investor Relations Teams are tasked with building credibility, trust, and transparency. The ability to convey confidence with a compelling and memorable story (particularly when financial performance suffers) makes or breaks organizations.

Real-time, Internet speed and scope, play a crucial role in addressing public scrutiny. Here are three (3) writing and storytelling tips I learned from the Twitter Investor Relations Team.

Tip 1. Play to Your Strengths

Twitter recognized before any social media network the competitive advantages and implications of real-time communications. It knew consumers were moving towards a mobile, one-screen world.

And, it maximized this competitive advantage during the July 29th earnings call. Topsy analysis shows @TwitterIR‘s (Twitter’s Investor Relations Team) published 23 real-time tweets supporting the earnings presentation.

 

Topsy Query for @TwitterIR for July 29 Tweets

Topsy Query for @TwitterIR July 29 Tweets

Tip 2. Be Simple and Concise

Communicating financial analyses (or other complex information) into simple, bite-size messages isn’t easy. Twitter’s Investor Relations Team addresses this challenge head-on knowing they have to frame a memorable, compelling story in “pulses” of 140 characters or less. I’m sure their rehearsals resulted in multiple iterations of tweets to constantly refine and simplify the gameday message.

According to Topsy, here’s the top tweet during the July 29th call …

Topsy Twitter IR Screen Shot - Top Tweet

Topsy Twitter IR Top Tweet

 

Topsy Top Twitter IR Tweet

Topsy Top Twitter IR Tweet

 

… and it clocks in at 136 characters (with spaces).

 

Tip 3. Draw Pictures for Key Messages

 

Twitter Quarterly Revenue Chart

Twitter’s Steady, Consistent Positive Revenue Growth. Note: I drew the red arrow.

As an individual Twitter investor, I appreciate and respect the Investor Relations Team sharing key metrics like quarterly revenue, EBITDA, and net income. But, the tweet has too much math for my simple brain.

The hyperlink and chart are vital. They impart two (2) positive impressions:

  1. “We know you want more details. Here’s where you can find/analyze the details.”
  2. “Remember This: Twitter’s quarterly revenue growth remains positive.”

The high “retweets” and “favorites” by the conference call attendees indicates this important information was share-worthy and memorable:

 

62 Retweets and 47 Favorites Shows the Audience Likes This

62 Retweets and 47 Favorites Shows the Audience Likes This

Closing Thoughts

Leverage your strengths. Be brief. Draw pictures. Define your story’s outcome from the beginning. Structure the argument.

That’s hard. But, your audience will love you for it.

 

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If yes, please share it with your friends and subscribe to my blog. Many Thanks!

 

Tony Faustino is a marketing and corporate strategist.  He thinks and writes about how The Internet reinvents marketing strategy in his personal blog, Social Media ReInventionFollow his tweets @tonyfaustino or circle him on Google+.

Blog Because You Have Something to Say (Not SEO)

Heart in Coffee Cup

I've shared articles about about the online benefits of blogging (i.e., search engine optimization / SEO, inbound links, increasing number of indexed pages, improving Google search engine rankings). 

But, the real reason I love blogging is because I love writing.  Freedom in blogging inspires and informs my creativity (unlike any other hobby or passion).  I didn't understand its importance in my personal life until I stopped blogging for a brief time.  

That's why I stuck with the blogging and writing process for close to three (3) years.  It's why I do it for free.

Mitch Joel published this inspiring article: This Blog Sucks (And You're Probably Not Reading This).  It's one of Mitch's many responses to the pundits claiming blogging is dead (and is no longer relevant).

The Business of Blogging.  He describes many business-related reasons why individuals or agencies choose to publish a blog. Here are some:

  • Attracting clients
  • Search engine optimization benefits
  • Sharing links and advice

The Love of Blogging.  But, if you want to publish for the long haul, Mitch lists nine (9) reasons to pursue blogging.  Here are some of the "real" reasons described:

  • Because you love to write
  • Because you have to write
  • Because if you had more time, you would write even more
  • Because you have something to say

Mitch's advice comes from his almost decade-long experiences in blogging and writing.  

It's the right mindset for long term success and commitment in self-publishing a personal blog.  Those four (4) reasons capture why I become frustrated when I can't invest the time in writing.

Otherwise, why do it? 

I'm so happy Memorial Day Weekend is finally here.  Time to get back to writing ….

 

Tony Faustino is a marketing and corporate strategist.  He writes about how The Internet reinvents marketing strategy for organizations and individuals in his marketing strategy blog, Social Media ReInvention.  Follow his tweets @tonyfaustino or circle him on Google+.   

3 More Lessons In Writing and Blogging From Fast Company’s Leadership Hall of Fame

Eraser and Pencil

When Hugh Macleod launched his latest book: Freedom is Blogging in Your Underwear, I counted the days till Amazon delivered it.  Hugh's love letter to blogging describes:

Similar to how "writing for yourself" addresesses blogging self-sabotage, experimentation, the writing process, and writing's iterative nature are also important.

1. Experimentation Drives Improvements In Writing

A personal blog is an adult's sandbox for experimentation, learning, and sharing. William C. Taylor, author of Practically Radical and co-founder of Fast Company magazine shared these thoughts about writing:

"The third thing I did differently with this book, which I guess is not so different anymore, is that I used blogging and other social media to experiment with my ideas before I commited them to a book."

"For a writer, what's great about the Web is that it allows you to experiment with language, to tell stories, to tease out lessons, and to see quickly what material strikes a chord with readers, what really engages them."

Listen and Learn.  If the audience doesn't respond, you received a gift.  The readers taught you something valuable (just keep looking).  If they responded with criticism, open your mind and listen. 

Record the learnings in your idea notebook (so you can these lessons in your next blog post).  It's all part of your "permanent beta" to continue learning, iterating, and improving.

2. Writing Is About Action

Marshall Goldsmith (author of What Got You Here, Won't Get You There) describes an effective writing process as three key actions:

  • Focus
  • Simplify
  • Repeat

Showing up and doing the work is everything.  It's not glamorous.  It's about repetition and discipline.

3. Iterative Design RULES (Especially in Digital Media)

Dan and Chip Heath took a design approach to writing latest book, Switch:

"We were much more iterative in writing Switch–we went through many drafts and many cycles of feedback. Chip and I have both been inspired by the "design thinking" that's taught at Stanford's D-School and elsewhere, and the more iterative writing approach was our way of moving in that direction."

Ship Your Work — That's What Counts.  There's nothing wrong with tweaking and modifying after pressing "Publish." Take advantage of digital publishing's "permanent draft mode."

Get your work out there.  Get your art out the door.  Publish it.  And, don't look back …

 


 

Tony Faustino is a marketing and corporate strategist.  He writes about how The Internet reinvents marketing strategy for organizations and individuals in his marketing strategy blog, Social Media ReInvention.  Follow his tweets @tonyfaustino or circle him on Google+.   

 

Link to Photo Credit by Shawn Campbell via flickr