With almost nine out of 10 companies now using some form of content marketing to attract leads, just try to visualize the sheer volume of content that needs to be produced on a daily basis.

Following is a list of 35 content marketing tips you can use to ensure you’re never without a great idea again.

1. Invest in quality over quantity: Focus on creating fewer, but higher-quality pieces. If you’re currently writing three to five short posts on your blog, consider switching to one to two longer, more “meaty” posts.
2. Define your ideal persona: If you haven’t already done so, figure out exactly who you’re writing your content for.
3. Find new sources for high-quality images for your blog (hint: using cheesy stock photos can make your blog look cheap).
4. Compile a comprehensive list of industry statistics and research. These types of posts are great for getting inbound links.
5. Write a “Top 50…” post on a relevant topic in your niche.
6. Write a blog post responding to a controversial article or video in your niche.
7. Write a post predicting trends in your niche or industry.
8. Put in a pop up opt-in list to see how it affects conversion rates.
9. Ask your readers to submit a story of their experience with your product or service.
10. Use Ubersuggest.com to find tons of possible keywords or phrases for your next blog post.
11. Install ProBlogger’s new Sticky Top Bar Plugin to display an opt-in box or other call to action at the top of every page of your site.
12. Use Portent’s Content Idea Generator  www.portent.com/tools/title-maker to find new ideas and headlines for your next blog post.
13. Try using Quora.com to find questions people are asking in your niche or industry.
14. Subscribe to relevant subreddits  www.reddit.com/reddits/ to see what topics are trending in your industry.
15. Join three private Facebook groups in your niche to see what topics your audience is really interested in.
16. Look through your analytics to see your top three blog posts, then write a follow up post for each one.
17. Contact three key figures in your industry to talk about opportunities for cross promoting content via your email lists, guest posts and social media sharing.
18. Do a poll or survey of your audience and publish a post with your findings.
19. Ask your readers, subscribers and social media followers to submit videos, ideas, or images: Choose the best ones and create blog content around them.
20. Create a list of content ideas and keep the list nearby so it’s easy to add to as you get ideas.  This will ensure you never run out of things to write about.
21. Create categories on your blog that can make finding your content easier for your visitors.
22. Create at least one info product (such as an eBook) you can publish on your website to grow your email list.
23. Create a blog post that includes an excerpt of your eBook; then encourage your readers to download the rest.
24. Compile Top 10 resource lists for your niche: Top 10 blogs; top 10 companies; top 10 tools, etc.  then pull from those resources for blog content ideas.
25. Create a ‘hack’ post: A list of workarounds for a common problem or issue in your niche.
26. Write a blog post about a conversation that’s taking place on social media: For instance, if your Facebook fans are having a particularly lively debate, write a post summarizing the main arguments and offering a solution or answer.
27. Put your URL or website name on all the original photos you use on your blog; this way, if they get pinned or shared, you’ll be sure to retain credit.
28. Create a beginner’s guide with helpful, actionable information and tips.
29. Write a blog post about a popular movie, relating it to your specific audience or industry.
30. Write a post inspired by a comment left on your blog (the more controversial, the better).
31. Write about a hypothetical situation, and ask your visitors what they do in the same situation.
32. Review a recent book that would be relevant to your audience.
33. Compile a list of inspirational or motivational quotes your readers would enjoy.
34. Create a blog post that lists all the most useful articles or resources on a particular topic (not just your own).
35. Write a post listing and linking to all your articles on a particular topic or theme. This is great for SEO and for increasing readers’ time-on-site.

Gleaned from Jayson DeMers

The post 35 Content Marketing Ideas For Your Website Or Blog appeared first on Websites by Robyn.

With today’s internet, we can find any business in the world by just Googling some vague information about it. Not only that, but we can map its location with a click of a button, go to their website, email them, call them from the computer with Skype, and read recommendations for that business from other consumers. Within 5 minutes we’ve compared 5 plumbers, their hours, prices, and distance to our home, liability insurance they carry, and read 5 recommendations, both good and bad.

It is imperative for your business to exploit every avenue of free directory listings available on the internet. And don’t stop there…. then ask your customers, clients and friends to add recommendations to those sights. People listen to recommendations. And these recommendations can make or break your business. Be pro-active in maintenance of your listings and be in control of who is commenting on and recommending your business.

The procedures to list your business will differ slightly on each, but each will have an option that says “List my Business” or “Claim your Business Listing”.

First, search for your business. If it’s not listed, list it. Your business may already be listed with just basic information. If so, there they will ask you to claim the business with ways to prove that you are the owner.

These directories have free options, but of course they will ask you to upgrade to a paid version which you don’t necessarily need to do.

Filling out the forms over and over again can be a big pain. Your computer may have Auto-Fill, but if not, you can save time by beginning with a cheat-sheet — a Word Doc with all of your pertinent business information to copy and paste. Include: business name, address, phone number, website, email address, number of years in business, owner’s name, and a brief description of your business.

BUSINESS DIRECTORIES:

1. Google
2. Bing
3. Yahoo!
4. Yelp
5. Merchant Circle
6. LinkedIn
7. YellowPages.com
8. Dex
9. Whitepages
10. Supermedia
11. Yellowbook
12. CitySearch
13. Mapquest
14. Biznik
15. Local.com
16. Foursquare
17. ThinkLocal
18. CitySlick
19. USYellowPages
20. SuperPages
21. Outside.in
22. UsCity.net
23. BizJournals.com
24. TeleAtlas
25. JustClickLocal
26. Manta
27. Metrobot
28. EZ Local
29. LocalEze
30. Kudzu
31. Local Site Submit
32. InfoUSA
33. Yellow Assistance
34. MojoPages
35. Brownbook
36. Magic Yellow
37. CitySquares
38. TeleAtlas
39. Judy’s Book

The post Internet Business Directories appeared first on Websites by Robyn.

FREE online image editors are all the rage today.   From among the great number of programs available, I have chosen some of the best ones below.  Each has its pro’s and con’s and some are good for beginners and others for more experienced photo editors.  Like I said, they’re free to use to play around with each of them and bookmark the ones with features you like!

1. Picnik.com – Picnik may be one of the most popular online image editors for the internet savy because you can upload photos from Flickr, Picasa, Facebook and Photobucket. The one negative would be that to use ALL the features, you must upgrade to Premium which costs $2.08 per month… though a small fee for someone who will use it all the time. You can remove blemishes, make yourself thinner, whiten your teeth and get rid of red-eye for FREE, but you must UPGRADE to use the wrinkle remover, sunless tan, change eye color, or to take the shine off your nose. Here’s a scarey trick, upload a photo of your face and go to Effects and then down to HDR-ish….you won’t frame this photo, but it’s great to take to your dermatologist because it emphasizes your skin damage!
2. Splashup.com – Splashup is a web based photo editor that looks just like a desktop application. Very impressive. Users coming from Photoshop should feel right at home with this editor. Click on “Jump Right In” to begin. If you’re new to photo editing, I’d choose another one of the applications below. Because this program has more options, it is more difficult to learn.
3. Pixlr.com – Pixlr is described as Photoshop in a browser. Definitely one of the most impressive professional online photo editor I’ve seen. If you are used to using Photoshop, but just don’t own it, this is the program for you. If you already know how to edit a photo, go to “Open Photo Editor”, if not, go to “Retro Vintage Effects” to choose from an array of instant retouching for your photo.
4. Aviary.com – This is an easy to use program for beginners or advanced artists who just want an easy fix. If it’s retouching that you need to do, this on-line program is very good.  With Aviary, you can click on sharpen, contrast, brighten, saturation and then simply choose from one of the variations they offer.  Whiten teeth, retouch blemishes, erase wrinkles, flip it, rotate it……all with one push of a button.  Aviary is a tool from Phoenix, an online image editor.  The Phoenix page contains many videos on using it to produce some stunning photo effects.   This program is my choice for beginners.
5. Pixenate.com – Editing your photos in Pixenate is pretty simplified….not very impressive. The best features of this program is to turn your photo into an oil painting, crop it into a heart shape, add snow, add a lens filter and other effects like this.
6. Picture2Life.com – Not impressed with the retouching apps in this program, but the Effects are really nice. Turn your photo in to a watercolor, emboss it, make it a watermark, sepia tone, etc.
7. LunaPic.com – I’ve got to admit I have the most fun playing with this program…especially the effects and animation options. LunaPic provides ability to convert your images to animated GIF files (make your photo move), and there are lots of ready made fancy animation effects that you can apply to your photo. This one was a blast!
8. FotoFlexer.com – Besides editing out blemishes, adjusting color, and all the other normal editing features, Foto Flexer as fun editing software that can turn your photos into comics, neons, and even crop your face onto Paris Hilton’s body, add animated stars, a metallic frame, a mustache….very fun software.
9. Adobe Photoshop Express – photoshop.com/tools/expresseditor Photoshop express is a free editor from Adobe. Besides having the usual features to retouch, crop and enhance, there is also a “Decorate” tab to add word-bubbles, Groucho Marx glasses, etc. to your photo.
10. PortraitProfessional.com – This program was so much fun! You can play with it for FREE by clicking on the download tab, although you won’t be able to save your creations unless you purchase the program (on sale for $39.95 reduced from $89.95) You can easily and instantly retouch yourself to look like a model….and it’s even fun to go a bit too far and see what you would look like with too much plastic surgery. (If you download the free program, just be sure to uninstall the McAfee virus cleaner it also installs.)

The post FREE On-Line Programs…Retouching Photos appeared first on Websites by Robyn.