Building a blog post is a process - just like any writing project - with the possible exception of keeping a journal. If you only write one or two blog posts a month, it's probably not as critical to have a content creation strategy in place. On the other hand, if your goal is to produce fresh and … [Read more...]
How social media engagement wrote a blog post
Every now and then, cool and amazing things happen when you least expect it. Earlier this week, I was having a conversation about politics with my friend Michael Josefowicz. Michael has retired from the graphic arts and printing industry, which I still call home. Our conversations are always … [Read more...]
Stop giving content away for free
There are a whole lot of people writing for free these days. My question is why? Why would you give away your time? Yes, I believe there are plenty of situations that warrant donating your time to a cause. Open source software projects like WordPress are just one such example. Even contributing blog … [Read more...]
Editorial Planning
For one guy who also manages to run a successful business, I generate a fair amount of content. That does not happen by accident. I have an editorial plan and I constantly refine said plan. If you have a blog where you don't publish regularly (like this blog was until July 1, 2010), you know how … [Read more...]
Why Content Matters
My first post of the year revealed my three words for the year: customers, content and strategy. A couple of weeks back, I shared my thoughts about customers and, today, I'm going to drill down into content. Content is at the heart of what ColorMetrix and Jim Raffel do. Content is the glue that … [Read more...]
The 2011 Plan
For me, 2010 marked a year of radical changes in the way I do business. It was in many ways a year of rebirth, learning and growing. While the learning and growing will continue in 2011, it will also be a year of solidifying positions established in 2010. In 2010, I developed an over-arching … [Read more...]
The value of public speaking
Blogging and public speaking are closely related pursuits so it shouldn't surprise you to learn that the value derived from each is similar. When you write a blog post, over time you get to share your story with dozens, hundreds or even thousands of people who find their way to your post and read … [Read more...]
Content marketing scales
Make no mistake about it, this blog is a marketing platform. While there are times when I write for my (mental) health even that ends up being marketing, of a sort. Best of all the marketing I do here and the marketing you do when you create content can scale exceptionally well. Especially when … [Read more...]
Planning Pays Big Dividends
I've managed to get to the point where I am writing my blog posts about a week ahead. All it took was a little planning and now that effort is beginning to pay big dividends. It's not just me. The quest to get ahead began when I read Chris Brogan's With Just A Little Planning. I'll still write … [Read more...]
Amazing Content Means Taking a Stand
During the #unGeeked conference last week I was able to capture Scott Stratten (@unmarketing on Twitter) thoughts on the craziness of book endorsements. Scott takes a stand. Here we have a man about to have his first book published and he takes on the publishing establishment by having a whole … [Read more...]