| Once again, it's being made clear that the old isn't | | | | checker. Hey, if you need to, use a speech to |
| old at all. Google's latest update seems to make it | | | | text processor, just get that first one done and |
| clearer than ever that actual website content | | | | submit it. Believe me, it gets a lot easier after the |
| continues to be a vital element in creating a | | | | first time. |
| successful website. Of course, there's lots more | | | | It's a rare marketer who can write enough |
| to it, but what we do know is that all search | | | | articles to provide the full content of a new site. |
| engines like content, especially when it's new, | | | | Over time, however, more and more of the site's |
| different and unique. Static sites where new | | | | content could come from your own unique |
| content is not being added on a regular basis, | | | | articles. Meanwhile where else can you look for |
| become stale and their rankings often drop. | | | | high quality content? |
| Solutions that involve large amounts of content | | | | PD (Public Domain) materials offer great |
| from RSS feeds or search engine results are now | | | | possibilities. Sure, you have to make certain that |
| looking like a good method to get you dropped | | | | the content really is in the public domain and it |
| from Google. Scraping is illegal. While imitation may | | | | may involve scanning, editing and proofing, |
| be a form of flattery, stealing the full content | | | | breaking the materials down to suitable size and |
| from a site or blog is just criminal. If this seems | | | | then making the appropriate pages and articles. |
| even slightly tempting, forget it. You won't last | | | | Still, depending on your niche, you could find unique |
| long and the consequences aren't worth it. | | | | PD content that has never appeared in the SEs |
| So where is your content? The absolute best | | | | and which will be highly attractive to your site |
| source of content remains articles you write | | | | visitors. Aside from using it to create pages, you |
| yourself. Why? First, they're unique. Second, you | | | | can create articles, viral PDFs or eBooks, products |
| can submit them to article directories for links and | | | | to sell, autoresponder series, newsletter content |
| wider distribution. Third, branding. The people who | | | | -- you are really only limited by your imagination. |
| write and publish good quality information become | | | | Membership sites offering private label products |
| known. | | | | are also a valuable source of content. With this |
| The downside? It all takes time and you have to | | | | sort of content, you'll probably want to do some |
| do your research. Few people can write quality | | | | rewriting and rearranging, adding some new |
| niche content without doing at least some | | | | content of your own and so on. Naturally, the |
| research. However, if your plan involves a | | | | more you modify the content, the more unique it |
| long-term business in a niche, it's well worth it. | | | | will be. Since the rights to different products may |
| While all the information you use in your articles | | | | vary, make sure you understand what you can |
| might be easily found with a little searching, the | | | | and can't do with any particular item before you |
| reality is that very few people will do that simple | | | | begin working on it. |
| search. By doing it for them and creating articles | | | | Other sites offer packages of ghost-written |
| and content based on your research, you become | | | | private label articles. Some you might use as |
| an expert. Your time investment can pay off in a | | | | articles pages, others you might rewrite and |
| major way as you become an acknowledged | | | | submit as well as put them on your site. Again, |
| expert in your niche. Your site becomes an | | | | check your rights to be clear on what is |
| authority site. It doesn't get a whole lot better | | | | permitted (or required). |
| than that. | | | | Another alternative is to hire ghost writers to |
| No magic, no instant solution. We keep buying | | | | produce content specifically for you. A great deal |
| books and tools that promise quick easy solutions. | | | | of the information on a lot of sites and in a lot of |
| But a little thought should tell you that if they | | | | info-products has been ghost-written. Content |
| existed, the owner certainly wouldn't be selling (or | | | | produced exclusively for you should definitely be |
| at least not until they stopped working well). | | | | unique. This may be more costly than other |
| Everything requires learning, testing, modifying and | | | | alternatives, but you are paying for the time |
| just plain hard work to get the best results. No | | | | saved, the uniqueness and for full rights to the |
| matter how you go about it, you need to invest | | | | content produced. |
| time, and writing articles is a great investment for | | | | Third-party articles are another source for added |
| long-term success. | | | | content. By including your own introductions |
| If it seems impossible, start with the simplest kind | | | | before and/or comments after each article, you |
| of article. Gather tips, hints or tricks about a niche | | | | can differentiate your site from any other |
| subject. Write each one as a separate paragraph. | | | | publishing the same article. |
| Write a short introduction - a paragraph explaining | | | | Use a mix of the ideas in this article, and you're |
| the subject and the type of hints or tips in the | | | | on your way to creating a valuable and sticky site |
| article. That's your first paragraph. Next come the | | | | that visitors will find useful and want to return to. |
| tip paragraphs. If you need to, add linking or | | | | And your site will be attractive to the search |
| bridging sentences like: "Here's another way to | | | | engines. Keep in mind that this is on-going process. |
| improve your whatever-it-is." This kind of article is | | | | Don't stop. Adding new and unique content |
| meant to be simple, clear and easy to understand. | | | | regularly is one of the very best methods of |
| Nothing fancy required, just plain straightforward | | | | guaranteeing a successful and long-lived web site. |
| text. Use a spelling checker, use a grammar | | | | |